Words to Live By, Observations and Some of My Favorite Quotes

I've been compiling these for years.

  1. "I'm turning off the noise that makes me crazy." (Journey) Steve Perry, Be Good to Yourself. This is my personal theme song. "http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21awn_journey-be-good-to-yourself_music"
  2. It seems as though there are few problems in this world my sister and I can't solve over a long talk, a good cry, and a pot of coffee.
  3. "Never drop a rock at the top of the hill." Spoken after someone dropped a 35 pound rock that rolled down the hill and crashed through the neighbor's roof.
  4. "Don't peek." Spoken a hundred times by my golf coach DJH. I still haven't figured out that game...
  5. A nice hot bowl of mashed potatoes can fix most any illness or heartbreak. My Mom.
  6. "It doesn't matter what other people think of you; what matters most is what you think of yourself." Source unknown.
  7. "Never buy cheap paint." Trust me, you'll regret it.
  8. "Surround yourself with nice people." Don't give people permission to make you feel bad.
  9. "If your friends are there, then everything's all right." Elton John, Friends. How true.
  10. "You can only do what you can do." A guy I worked with at Kodak always said this; wish I could remember his name to credit the source.
  11. You will never know how much you will miss someone until they're gone. 5/10/1994.
  12. "If your slacks smile in the front or frown in the back, they are too tight." JAWB's Mom, circa 1972.
  13. "... I'm out of tears." The Rolling Stones, Out of Tears. At some point, it's OK to just say you have had enough - and walk away.
  14. "Life is a journey; select your travel partners carefully." I'm sure someone famous and insightful said this, but I don't know who.
  15. "I wish I could go back and tell the 16-year old me that things really will get better." Paraphrased from a line spoken by character Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory.
  16. If you have the choice between buying an e-book or a book in print, always buy the printed copy.
  17. Never ride if you can walk; always take the stairs.
  18. "Never try to cut your own hair." My sister S.
  19. Read the food label. Determine if you really want it based on the amount of time it will take you to work it off in the gym.
  20. Think twice before you throw out an old textbook.
  21. There is a linear relationship between the actual length of a meeting and the amount of time scheduled.
  22. "I'm still a 20-something trapped in a 50-something body." JAWB.
  23. Honor the real heroes. Here is one - my friend Jeanne's brother Thomas. See also War Letters (Scribner, 2001) edited by Andrew Carroll, p. 388.
  24. Carpe diem.
  25. "You can't solve every problem in the world. Pick one and do a good job. You want to get done." Dr. T., my dissertation advisor.
  26. "Now it's your turn, girl to cry. Na na na na na na." Steve Perry, Lovin Touchin' Squeezin' Don't you just love it when someone gets what they deserve?
  27. "Do it right the first time." Lasting words of wisdom from my quality hero Philip Crosby.
  28. "Don't stress over things over which you have no control." My (former) doctor, Dr. S-R.
  29. "When you see someone in dire straits, remember that could have easily been you." My Mom.

My all-time favorite playlist:

  1. Faithfully by Journey. Hands-down my favorite song of all time. Beautifully written by Jonathan Cain, but what makes this song absolutely amazing is Steve Perry's vocals. An enduring favorite for decades.
  2. Be Good to Yourself by Journey. Perry-ism at its best. Love the lyrics and Steve Perry's vocals.
  3. What Was by Steve Perry. Beautifully arranged, and those emotional vocals make this not-so-well-known song one of my favorites.
  4. Foolish Heart by Steve Perry.
  5. Anyway by Steve Perry. Beautiful song, great arrangement and outstanding vocals. So sad to think of what could have been.
  6. Someone Saved My Life Tonight by Elton John. A favorite since the 70's, Sugar Bear. I grew up to the music of Elton John, playing his 8-tracks in my 1968 VW.
  7. Still They Ride by Journey. Great lyrics, vocals, and Schon's guitar and Jonathan Cain's keyboards are amazing.
  8. Remember and Without You by Harry Nilsson.
  9. Classics Imagine by John Lennon, and Get Together by the Youngbloods.
  10. Can't Stop by Steve Perry. Fun to listen to because it's ... well, ... go listen to it yourself - it's on FTLOSM.
  11. Why Can't This Night Go On Forever from Raised on Radio and Still She Cries from Trial by Fire. No idea how these two amazing songs never ended up on a GH album.

    I most admire singers/songwriters. So many people can sing, but so few can write really good music and sing. That's why Steve P. and Elton John are so high on my list. I also like the music of John Ondrasik whose music is so down to earth - and wonderful to listen to. Most recently, Adele has made my short list of favorite singer/song writers.

Favorite Albums:

  1. For the Love of Strange Medicine by Steve Perry.
  2. Tapestry by Carole King. I wore out two of these vinyls.
  3. Trial by Fire by Journey.
  4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.

Favorite Book:

  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.