on contract work...

If you are going to get paid a fixed sum for a piece of work, be very confident that you can get it done for that sum and in the time required. And if you’re quoting for work in this way, make sure all the specifications are very clear, so you don’t have the client interfering and changing things after the fact.

A love of one's fate...

It takes courage to accept life as it is.
Frederick Nietzsche called this amor fati.

one of the ways life improves as we get older

We get better at relationships.

One of the most significant skills gained with age is to employ what we have learned about ourselves in how we conduct our relationships.

We gain knowledge and an appreciation of ourselves.

We are more open about our weaknesses with our intimate partners
as, we try not to repeat the same mistakes that we have made in the past.

We appreciate the loyalty of true friends more and more.

We have less patience for superficial relationships.

I Can't Make You Love Me

performed by Bonnie Raitt
written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin

Turn down the lights, turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don't patronize
Don't patronize me

'cause I can't make you love me, if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and feel the power
But you don't, no you don't
'cause I can't make you love me, if you don't

I'll close my eyes, then I wont see
The love you don't feel, when you're holding me
Morning will come, and I'll do whats' right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight

'cause I can't make you love me, if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and feel the power
But you don't, no you don't
'cause I can't make you love me, if you don't

Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)

by Vertical Horizon

So you sailed away
Into a grey sky morning
Now I'm here to stay
Love can be so boring

Nothing's quite the same now
I just say your name now

Chorus
But it's not so bad
You're only the best I ever had
You don't want me back
You're just the best I ever had

So you stole my world
Now I'm just a phony
Remembering the girl
Leaves me down and lonely

Send it in a letter
Make yourself feel better

Chorus
But it's not so bad
You're only the best I ever had
You don't need me back
You're just the best I ever had

And it may take some time to
Patch me up inside
But I can't take it so I
Run away and hide
And I may find in time that
You were always right
You're always right

So you sailed away
Into a grey sky morning
Now I'm here to stay
Love can be so boring

What was it you wanted
Could it be I'm haunted

Chorus
But it's not so bad
You're only the best I ever had
I don't want you back
You're just the best I ever had
The best I ever had
The best I ever

How long will it take a lily pad to cover a quarter of a pond?

If there is a lily pad in a pond, and it doubles in size every minute and will completely cover the pond in one hour, how long will it take to cover a quarter the pond?

Given that the pond will be covered in one hour and that it doubles in size every minute, at one minute prior to the hour the pond would be half covered. Continuing this line of thought, if we go back another one minute, the pond would be a quarter covered, so the answer is 58 minutes.

Someone Like You

by Adele Laurie Blue Adkins

I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now
I heard that your dreams came true
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you

Old friend, why are you so shy?
Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me, it isn't over

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you, too
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead

You know how the time flies
Only yesterday was the time of our lives
We were born and raised in a summer haze
Bound by the surprise of our glory days

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me, it isn't over yet

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you, too
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead, yeah

Nothing compares, no worries or cares
Regrets and mistakes, they're memories made
Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you, too
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead