End Of Year Roundup

  Happy New Year! I hope everyone's holidays were relaxing and fun. Every new year I do a "What I Learned post. Here's this one....

What I Learned 2013:

Cherish your friends and coworkers. I lost two people I knew this year. One I knew strictly from work, and the other from home. Both were taken before their time and both hurt. As the pastor of my church growing up used to say, "We are all only one heartbeat away from eternity."

 Bob, I wish we had more trips to the gun range and the Vietnamese restaurant. You were a good dude. Don't worry, Lilly is in good hands (she's snoozing in my lap as I write this).You had a hard road. Rest my friend.

Paul, I didn't know you well but if the measure of a man is the love he leaves behind, you were a mountain. We all miss you.

Don't be so rigid. If you read through my posts from the early years of this site, you'll see a lot of rules about dolly riding assistants etc. Learn to bend. I did and it was fine. Jules, you are allright.

Trust your instincts, and don't think too much. It helped me get the camera another inch closer to the car. Scrape the paint.

You have to spend money to make money. Even if you don't make money, it's only money.

Don't be such a crabby-ass all the time. Life is fun. It's a gift. Appreciate every moment.

I don't have to be right all the time.

Demand the best out of your dolly vendor. (I knew this already but it's been reiterated).

Sometimes, I'll blow a take on purpose to make a point. (I don't know where that came from but it sounds good).

If a stranger needs a hand and you can do it, do it. The returns on that investment can be enormous. But even if they're not, you have the satisfaction of helping another. (Thanks Billy O).

Take some time off. It's OK.

Be patient with your children. Even when you want to strangle them.

Pet the dog.

The whole thing is a big, messy rollercoaster ride. Your moves should be perfect, the rest doesn't have to be.

Listen to more music.

Pray.

That is all.

D