Fact.

Oh yes, it's that time again! First, shout out to my mom for expelling me from her uterus this day 25 years ago...you're the best.

So, as I begin a new year, a little update on my list of lessons learned:

13) This one is an addition from mom, after the 2008 list: Children grow up, enjoy them when they are young. Enjoy them when they are grown as they will become truly amazing adults. Each comes with special blessings and joys.

14) Not my original thought, but a friend shared this with me and it stuck:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

15) There is no such thing as too much fresh cilantro. Ever.

16) Mai pen rai. <--- Google it. Live it.

17) Let's just all go ahead and agree that Ke$ha must be stopped.

18) Surrender to the waves <---Think about it.

19) All-you-can-eat buffets should have a Pepto Bismol dispenser on the soda fountain. Because let's be real: they might as well rename them All-you-can-shit-your-pants-at-3-in-the-morning buffets.

20) Austinites will never manage to drive in adverse weather conditions. The sight of rain is literally so shocking, it stops us in our tracks...which is usually southbound I-35 or northbound MoPac.

21) Confession: sometimes at work, I type extra fast and loudly so that it appears I'm working harder than I actually am. In fact, I'm probably just furiously updating my Facebook status.

until next time....