At first, I only laughed at myself. Then I noticed that life itself is amusing. I've been in a generally good mood ever since.

Know about the appeals process, especially in the case of the most serious crimes.

Stop asking for directions so much. Assuming that you're in a safe environment, pay attention and figure things out for yourself. Have the nerve to take a wrong turn now and then. You'll develop better working instincts and have more self-esteem too.

Working in an office with an array of electronic devices is like trying to get something done at home with half a dozen small children around. The calls for attention are constant.

People who work crossword puzzles know that if they stop making progress, they should put the puzzle down for a while.

Know how and how much to tip people who expect gratuities, even in the case of poor service.

Be able to decline a date so gracefully that the person isn't embarrassed that he or she asked.