Flannery O'Connor once remarked that anyone who gives advice should spend 40 days in the desert both before and after. I agree, Miss O'Connor: it's soooo dangerous and tricky.

And yet in the past two days I've ranted uncontrollably to two different friends - on this blog! (Most of my readers are not from OS but from my RL.) Two of my go-to pals, who help me with music and fashion and in many other ways, are in pain. They don't need their computers fixed (my only other skill). Like so much writing, maybe the only thing these posts accomplished was to make me feel better, at least temporarily.

In case this turns into a series, I'll post the links (and accept comments - especially those nice ones offering me cheap watches and Viagra) here as I add them.

May 5th: Don't wipe out your journal

May 6th: Don't bleed in the water

In the 70s and 80s I was more careful; there were only two pieces of advice, from all the wisdom available in the universe, that I felt comfortable passing on. They're still helpful: 

• Don't jaywalk in front of a cab (or a car with Jersey plates headed for the tunnel)
  
• Don't get involved with anyone who thinks D. H. Lawrence's Women in Love is "the best book ever written" (and wants to live out some of the scenes with you, I later realized was the problem)

Ciao,

Julianne