I'm a hat, dammit. Always been a hat. Always gonna be a hat.

"It's like .. it's like all my life, everyone has always told me 'you're a shoe. You're a shoe. You're a shoe! You're a shoe!'

And then today I just stopped and I said 'what if I don't wanna be be a shoe? What if I wanna be a ... a purse? Yanno, or or or or a hat?' NO! I don't want you to buy me a hat! I'm saying that I am a hat ... it's a metaphor, Daddy!"

And ... 10 years later, we finally understood that yeah, she really was a hat all along.

"Since I'm Awake Anyways ..."

I see it - over there - empty. Taunting me.

I've just been too busy to rotate out what I *have* read with what I WILL read and what I'm reading now, which is all the books that I bought when I was worried that I'd have too much time and wanted to read.

So - read anything good lately?

Life is too short ...

... to listen to bad music.
(It's my iPod - I'll listen to whatever I want, thankyouverymuch.)

... to drink mediocre spirits.
(If I *am* gonna drink, it's gonna be "the good stuff".)

... to share yourself with someone undeserving.
(No matter how important they believe themselves to be.)

... to worry about things beyond your control.
(Be "concerned" as required, but "worrying" hardly ever changes the outcome.)

... to refrain from dancing when you're moved to do so.
(Even if you're alone in your living room. And ya' scare the cats.)

... to have a job you do not like.
(This is different from DOING a job you do not like.)

... to harbor unresolved anger.
(Rant, wail, rave, and scream your head off but then move on. It's not "forgive and forget" ... it's more like "live and learn".)

... to think you aren't worth loving.
(This kind of thing projects to the rest of the world. Let them decide for themselves.)

... to control yourself so ya' don't snort when you laugh.
(Which ya' don't do every time anyway.)

... to live so "safely" that there's nothing to slyly grin about in the final years.
(It'll make everyone else wonder what the joke is.)

... to eat something just because it's good for you.
(Cinnamon Sizzling Hearts from Jelly Belly. They're not just for dinner anymore.)

... to love or be loved half-heartedly.
(Have the guts to give it all or have the guts to walk away.)

... to not smile when it rains.
(Water makes things new again and helps things - and people - to grow.)

... to be taken for granted.
(This includes taking YOURSELF for granted. Take care of yourself and let others assist.)

... to not take the scenic route.
(You'll be a little late but you'll have more to share - otherwise you're just ... the first to arrive.)

... to not respect yourself.
(If you don't, who should?)