It was commented that my values are at opposites with my wacky former cube mate.
Because they are ingrained in me even more deeply that my name, they seem like a given. Like air. We all have air. Isn't it the same air? Isn't everyone breathing the same air?
Honestly. Isn't 55 a wee bit long in the tooth to try to pass for a naif? I don't mean to have a narrow world view - it just built itself up around me over the years. These are the foundations for my life, things that determine how I spent my day-to-day life.
Just a note here at the beginning: I may hold some very specific beliefs. That doesn't mean that I expect other people to have them. And if it all makes me seem like an ass, so be it. Ass that I am, here goes:
1. The 10 Commandments are a good starting point. I've broken every one of them except murder. I have also repented them, confessed them, but some habit are harder to break than others.
2. I get to work on time and do a day's work. I know I'm famously bad for my internet addiction, but at Big Finance, I actually have work to do.
3. There is no point in disciplining cats. The best thing you'll get results with is saying the cat's name in loud disapproval. I learned this the hard way and would like to publicly apologize to my first cat. One day last week, I tried to pick up Sophie. Sophie did not want to be picked up and clawed the inside of my elbow. When Rosy saw it, she asked me how it happened. I told her and she said, "Not in my house. That cat would have hit the opposite wall, hard."
Thank God I did not give one of my cats to her. Thank God.
4. A fair day's work for a fair day's pay. I realized that over the last month, Rosy has spent much of her time in the colonnade on her cell phone. I'm talking hours here.
5. Think what you might and do what you must about illegal drugs, they are still illegal.
6. Hitting is wrong. It's just wrong. Use your words or walk away.
7. Responding to force with a stronger show of force can only lead to escalation to the point of absurdity.
8. Civility costs nothing, as Miss Claire from the Miss Read books always said.
9. Flies. Vinegar. Honey. You know.
10. Despite my advanced years and world weariness, I still believe my pumpkin patch is most sincere.
11. Pay your bills on time. Juggle if you must, but pay them. Do not stop making payments on something. If it comes to the point where you can't juggle any more, sell it, walk away from it, make other arrangements with the company providing you the service. But pay your bills. On time.
12. Plotting in the workplace brings you only a Pyrrhic victory. If you like the games, meet up with clever other gamers and go to it. In fact, why don't you just go out and play paintball? This way, no civilians get hurt.
13. Only wear white shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
14. MYOB. Yeah. I still have a tough time with that one. In case you haven't noticed.
15. "It is better to give, than not." - Steve Martin, 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'
16. Sane habits help you stay sane. Or get a little closer to it. My idea of sane habits are sleeping in a bed (right now I'm on the couch), making my bed, washing my hair on Sundays and Wednesdays, going to the gas station on Wednesday mornings. Etc. etc.
Without going too much further into various compulsions, I was firmly taught about not lying, not stealing, not cheating, and playing fair.
Really, it's a wonder I'm still alive.
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