NeverNormal.com

Life's Little Instructions #7

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 22:17:00 +0000

I'm on a role now, so here's some from 301-350.

301. Become an expert in time management.

303. Never go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. (Literally or figuratively?)

304. Judge your success by the degree that you're enjoying peace, health, and love.

308. Make the bed when you're an overnight visitor in someone's home.

309. Contribute 5% of your income to charity.

312. When tempted to criticize your parents, spouse, or children, bite your tongue.

313. Never underestimate the power of love.

314. Never underestimate the power of forgiveness.

315. Don't bore people with your problems. When someone asks how you feel- say "Terrific; never better." When they ask "How's business?", reply "Excellent and getting better every day."

316. Learn to disagree without being disagreeable. (Working on this- not having much luck, however.)

317. Be tactful. Never alienate anyone on purpose. (Working on this- slow going, however. I have a bad habit of putting my foot in my mouth without meaning to and not much idea how it got there.)

318. Hear both sides before judging.

320. Be courteous to everyone. (ESPECIALLY the ones you don't want to!)

323. When there's no time for a full workout, do pushups.

324. DOn't delay acting on a good idea. Chances are solmeone else has just thought of it too. Success comes to the one who acts first.

325. Be wary of people who tell you how honest they are. (Wish I'd known this before I met Dirty D!)

326. Remember that winners do what losers don't want to do.

327. When you arrive at your job in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyone's day.

328. Seek opportunity, not security. A boat in a harbor is safe, but in time, its bottom will rot out.

330. Rekindle old friendships. (I would, if I wasn't worried how much I've changed would scare them off.)

332. Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.

333. Instead of "if only", try substituting "next time".

334. Instead of using the word "problem", try substituting the word "opportunity".

335. Every so often, push your luck.

338. Live your life so that your epitaph could read "No regrets". (I'm working on it!)

339. Never walk out on a quarrel with your spouse.

346. Be bold and courageous. When you look back onb your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the things you did.

347. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Life's Little Instructions #6

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:54:00 +0000

Know it's been ages since I listed bits from this collection, but here's some more from 251-300.

251. Learn to show enthusiasm, even when you don't feel like it.

252. Take good care of those you love.

254. Keep it simple. (stupid lol)

258. When meeting someone for the first time, resist asking what they do for a living. Enjoy their company without attaching any labels.

260. Every day, show your family how much you love then with your words, your touch, and with your thoughtfulness.

261. Take family vacations whether you can afford them or not. The memories will be priceless.

264. Don't nag.

266. Beware of the person with nothing to lose.

269. Don't whine. (Why not? Can I have some cheese with it tho?)

271. When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail. If you're going after Moby Dick, take along the tartar sauce.

273. Remember that overnight success usually takes about 15 years.

274. Leave everything a little better than you found it.

278. Don't expect money to bring you happiness

280. No matter how dire the situation, keep your cool. (Easier said than done!)

281. When paying cash, ask for a discount.

284. Never underestimate your power to change yourself.

286. Practice empathy. Try to see things from other peoples' points of view.

288. Discipline yourself to save money. It's essential to success.

289. Get and stay in shape. (Working on that...diet is becoming DIE with a T on the end tho!)

292. Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river. (Already found that out- to my detriment.)

294. Keep overhead low. (What exactly does this mean?)

295. Keep expectations high.

296. Accept pain and disappointment as part of life

297. Remember that a successful marriage depends on two things: 1)Findingh the right person and 2) Being the right person.

298. See problems as opportunities for growth and self-mastery.

300. Don't expect life to be fair.

Version 11

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Tue, 30 May 2006 14:52:00 +0000

Finally got up off my ass and made a new layout for nn.com and also cleaning out my fanlistings...though I forgot when I transferred servers that the old cgi submit form was with my old server provider so I've gotta work on making a php version, so gimme a couple of days on that, but you can email me the submit info, but read through the rules on the adopt page.

Life's Little Instructions #5

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 18:13:00 +0000

Here's some more from 201-250.

201. Don't carry a grudge

203. Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full

205. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems (Yeah, but it's still really hard for me to truly relax...I'm much better at panicking)

208. Attend high school art shows and always buy something

210. Commit yourself to constant self-improvement (Isn't this kinda like a small step in the right direction?)

212. Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's

215. Don't plan a long evening on a blind date. A lunch date is perfect. If things don't work out, both of you have only wasted an hour

216. Don't discuss business in elevators. You never know who may overhear you

217. Be a good loser (I'm trying to get better at this)

220. Spend less time worrying who's right, and more time deciding what's right

222. Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret

223. Praise in public

224. Criticize in private

226. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go (I've been trying this a lot lately...it's fun)

227. Resist giving advice concerning matrimony, finances, or hairstyles (What if said advice is asked for? Does this still apply?)

228. Have impeccable manners

229. Never pay for work before it's completed (Dances don't count, cuz it's entertainment, not work! :P)

231. Keep a daily journal (So what do ya call this? lol)

232. Keep your promises (I'm trying really hard to be better at this)

234. Teach your children the value of money and the importance of saving (You can never start saving too early!)

235. Be willing to lose a battle in order to win the war (I've never understood this phrase...what's it really mean?)

236. Don't be decieved by first impressions

237. Seek out the good in people

240. Drink eight glasses of water a day

242. Be cautious about lending money to friends. You may lose both

244. Buy a bird feeder and hang it so you can see it from your kitchen window (I would, but the way my house is, the only trees are in the backyard, so I guess I'll put it there)

247. Tape record your parent's memories of how they met and their first years of marriage

250. Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you don't feel like it (This one's really hard for me)

Some of these have really given me room for thought....what about you?

Life's Little Instructions #4

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 03:08:00 +0000

Here's some more of Life's Little Instructions, from 151-200.

151. Get acquainted with a good lawyer, accountant, and plumber.

154. Resist the temptation to put a cute message on your answering machine

155. Have a will and tell your next of kin where it is

156. Strive for excellence, not perfection. (Sometimes I wonder if they're not just two sides of the same coin)

157. Take time to smell the roses (Can I grow 'em too?)

158. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage (This might work- if I actually prayed anymore)

162. Keep your desk and work area neat (As any of my friends will tell you, I'm constantly losing the battle to get this done)

163. Take an overnight train trip and sleep in a Pullman

164. Be punctual and insist on it in others

168. Resist telling people how something should be done. Instead, tell them WHAT needs to be done. They will often surprise you with creative solutions

170. Be neat (Again- a losing battle)

171. Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts (So where does the persons with the useless trivia come in?)

173. Be kinder than necessary

174. Encourage your children to havbe a part-time job after the age of sixteen

175. Give people a second chance, but not a third

177. Never take action when you're angry (Do I have to?)

178. Learn to recognize the inconsequential, then ignore it

182. Be romantic

184. Don't quit a job until you've lined up another

185. Never criticize the person who signs your paycheck. If you are unhappy with your job- resign

186. Be insatiably curious. Ask "why" a lot

188. Be the most positive and enthusiastic person you know (This one'll be one of the harder ones to do)

189. Learn how to fix a leaky faucet and toilet

190. Have good posture. Enter a room with purpose and confidence

191. Don't worry that you can't give your kids the best of everything. Give them your best

195. Determine the quality of a neighborhood by the manners of the people living there

197. Don't forget- a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated (I put this one in as much from myself as to others)

198. Feed a stranger's expired parking meter

199. Park at the back of the lot at shopping malls. The walk is good exercise.

Life's Little Instructions #2

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 04:30:00 +0000

Here's some more of the Life's Little Instructions list, from 51-100.

51. Take out the garbage without being told (And don't forget to put a new bag in the can, either!)

54. Surprise loved ones with little unexpected gifts (I just need to figure out what kinds of stuff they like)

57. Make the best of bad situations

59. Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you

60. Admit your mistakes (I still need to work on that)

62. Use your wit to amuse, not abuse (Does being sarcastic count?)

66. Support a high school band

67. Demand excellence and be willing to pay for it (Would that be literally or figuratively?)

68. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.

70. Hug children after you discipline them

72. Give to charity all the clothes you haven't worn during the past three years (I think that would get rid of half my closet!)

76. Choose a charity in your community and support it generously with your time and money

78. When someone wants to hire you, evenif it's for a job you have little interest in, talk to them. Never close the door on an opportunity until you've had a chance to hear the offer in person

81. Avoid sarcastic remarks (But that's no fun!)

83. In business and in family relationships, remember that the most important thing is trust

85. Never encourage anyone to become a lawyer

87. Even if you're financially well-to-do, have your children earn and pay part of their college tuition

88. Even if you're financially well-to-do, have your children earn and pay for ALL of their car insurance (You can bet on that!)

91. Don't let anyone ever see you tipsy (I think it's a little late for that!)

93. Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90% of all your happiness or misery

94. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who'll never find out (Sounds like a great idea to me)

96. Lend only those books you never care to see again (I sure learned this one the hard way!)

99.Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures

Life's Little Instructions #3

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 05:07:00 +0000

Here's some more of Life's Little Instructions, from 101-150.

101. Learn how to read a financial report (And how, exactly, do I go about doing that?!)

102. Tell your kids often how terrific they are and that you trust them

103. Use credit cards only for convenience, never for credit

105. Treat yourself to a massage on your birthday (You don't have to tell me twice!)

107. Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price. (Yeah, I need to remember to do this more.)

108. When dining with clients or business associates, never order more than one cocktail or one glass of wine. If no one else is drinking, don't drink at all

109. Know how to drive a stick shift (I tried- Rich won't lemme near the 'stang now!)

111. Never use profanity (Little late for this one too)

112. Never argue with police officers (Uh- duh?)

113. Learn to identify local wildflowers and trees

116. Consider writing a living will

118. Don't buy expensive wine, luggage, or watches

122. Stop and read historical roadside markers

123. Learn to listen. Opportunity sometimes knocks very softly

124. Know how to change a tire

125. Know how to tie a bow tie

126. Respect your children's privacy. Knock before entering

127. Wear audacious underwear under the most solemn attire

128. Remember people's names (I try to but too many don't wanna stay in my head!)

133. When someone is relating an important even that's happening to them, don't try to top them. Let them have the stage

137. Keep your watch five minutes fast

139. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have

141. Give yourself an hour to cool off before responding to someone who had provoked you. If it involves something really important, give yourself overnight

143. Join a slow pitch softball team (And where, pray tell, am I supposed to find one of them?)

146. When playing games with children, let them win

Update to Opportunity Knocks

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 04:37:00 +0000

I finally got around to actually updating some of the stuff on Opportunity Knocks, my adult fiction archive. I don't know why it took me so long to convert them for this website, but I now have up the first two parts of my four part (right now) Harry Potter Wild and Wacky Series (mainly Draco/Hermione, but more get added as the series progresses). Fumbling Fingers is Part One and Wandering Hands is Part Two, and it's best if you read them in order. I will post Part Three (Teaching Methods) the moment I finish typing it up. You can also find these two stories posted on RestrictedSection.org (warning- adult content!) under my penname mzwebfreak, but you can find them on Opportunity under my real name, Christy. Also, I'm in the process of figuring out how long and how big of a project it would be to convert OK and Drastic Measures to the eFiction program. Will have more info when I find it.

Life's Little Instructions #1

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 04:45:00 +0000

I don't know how many parts this "series" is going to have, but I was at a friend's house recently, and saw this book called Life's Little Instruction Book (you can find it here) and was inspired to write down all the instructions I either didn't know to do yet or hadn't gotten around to doing yet. Hopefully it will inspire more than just me to try and do some of them. So, here's the first 50 of them...listed by the numbers as they appear in the book, so don't yell at me when numbers are missing. That just means that they're ones I already know or have already done. Oh, and the italics after some lists are just my little side comments.

1. Compliment three people every day

2. Have a dog (Can't it just be a pet? Won't that count?)

3. Watch a sunrise at least once a year

7. Look people in the eye (I don't do it enough- that's why it's here)

12. Use the good silver (I will when I get some!)

13. Learn to make great chili

14. Plant flowers every spring

19. Buy great books even if you never read them (Not read them?!?)

20. Be forgiving of yourself and others (This'll be one of the harder ones to do)

23. Floss your teeth (I don't do it enough- that's why it's here)

24. Drink champange for no reason at all

25. Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it

26. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard

27. Return all things you borrow (I'm bad about this one!)

28. Teach some kind of class

31. Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards

32. Once in your life, own a convertible

33. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated

35. Plant a tree on your birthday (Guess I'll have to wait to do it til next year)

37. Make new friends, but cherish the old ones

39. Take lots of snapshots

41. Don't postpone joy

42. Write thank-you notes promptly

43. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day

48. Keep a tight rein on your temper

49. Buy vegetables from truck farmers who advertiser with hand-lettered signs

I'll write more down later when I have the time.

Everything's Done

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 15:35:00 +0000

Got all of my pending fanlistings up and off the ground. I combined the two Huey Lewis songs into one fanlisting site at Through Time and Kayleigh also gave me the Dogma movie fanlisting, so that one's up too.

Been Busy Behind the Scenes

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 16:11:00 +0000

Sorry you haven't seen many visual updates here at nn.com, but I've been going through a rough patch where work's been hectic, and then I got sick, and I'm just now feeling better, so I have more time to devote to my sites. Speaking of which, I just got notification that I was approved to do the fanlistings for "Power of Love" and "Heart of Rock and Roll" by Huey Lewis and the News and "Goodbye Earl" by the Dixie Chicks, so this should be fun. Should have the other two up by next week or so, but, since I pretty much had a ready made layout for the Dixie Chicks song, due to the fact that I already had done one for their Fly album, I went ahead and banged out the first version of Earl Had to Die, the "Goodbye Earl" fanlisting. And, I just got word today that I'm the new owner of the Dogma movie fanlisting, so I'm gonna work hard to make a great layout for that one too!

New Layouts

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 06:58:00 +0000

Seven new layouts, all told: Stars, Unicorns, Grape Juice, Onyx, Spells, Hpnotiq and Literotica.com. These all needed new layouts, since it's been over a year since I've changed any of them...yes, very lazy of me, I know.

Getting Rid of Deadweight

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 03:00:00 +0000

Okay, when I went through to update the info on all my sites, which I've been lax on lately due to the holidays and all such nonsense, I realized that there were quite a few sites that haven't been updated in months, mainly due to the fact that nobody's joined the fanlistings. I've adopted out quite a few, and those remaining ones, well, I'm just going to put in a closed form to TFL.org, since noone seems to want them.

Layouts Needed

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 01:46:00 +0000

Yes, even I have realized that some of my layouts for my fanlistings are in need of a refresh, and I plan on working on them, but I'll have to find time for it around all my work hours and such, so please excuse me if they're not always the best layouts, but I felt that some of them need a new outlook, if you understand my meaning. I'm also working on including more information about some of these fanlistings when and where it's appropriate now that I have fewer fanlistings and can devote more time to those that I do have left.

Adopting Out 26!

mzwebfreak@yahoo.com (Christy) — Mon, 31 Oct 2005 02:09:00 +0000

I have recently come to the realization that my fanlistings are taking up more of my time and my life than is healthy for someone my age. So, with a heavy heart, I'm giving away 26 of my fanlistings. If you're interested, you can apply for them here.