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What’s on your to-do list?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some people never make to-do lists. Some people live by them.
But no matter where you stand on lists in your own life, you’ll get a kick out of the new book “to-do list,” by Sasha Cagen. Subtitle: “From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us.”
Cagen, who lives in San Francisco, has collected a wide variety of lists through her blog, ranging from the usual hum-drum stuff (“clean shower floor,” “hole punch”) to the big Life Lists (“break the sound barrier,” “throw a hand grenade” … hmm, wonder what gender that lister is?) to the TMI (a woman’s list of men she has slept with).
To non-listers, the whole to-do list thing can sound a bit obsessive-compulsive, but Cagen helpfully includes a chapter on obsessive-compulsive lists, so we can see the real McOCD.
There’s the occasional celebrity (Nick Hornby’s list of desert-island CDs). Most are anonymous/first name only but a few brave souls let their names be used. They’re on my list of people braver than me.
I’m a small-l lister. This year, for the first time, I’m listing every book I read during the calendar year. Not for this blog, just because I just wanted to look back at the end of the year and think about all those books again. I’ve started my list of Christmas gift suggestions for loved ones — how do you survive without one? And I have my own little Life List tucked away — stuff I hope to do before I die.
How about you? Do you make lists, other than grocery? What kind? Care to share?
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: News and Reviews
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By ron
November 20, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this
1-Sell house
2-Buy sailboat
3-live on it
By Jeff
November 20, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
Well, I’m not all that big on lists, though a couple of years ago I did try to keep track of all the books I read on my Myspace. My goal was 80 in the year (because I had heard that Stephen King had read nearly 70), but I think I only hit about 50 or so.
If I can find that list, I’ll post it here….
By Anne
November 20, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
I make lists for everything! If I’m traveling, grocery or holiday shopping, to-do lists for home and office chores…..I guess I’m a little “list obsessed”!! I like the idea of listing all the books I’ve read in a year….maybe I’ll do that in 2008. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
By Jeff
November 20, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
Clive Cussler’s Inca Gold.
Preston and Child’s Dance of Death, which sets up a sequel that should be VERY interesting.
re-read of Dee Henderson’s The Protector.
Dee Henderson’s The Healer
Lee Child’s One Shot.
Blood of Heaven by Bill Myers
Threshold by Bill Myers
Fire of Heaven by Bill Myers
For Men Only by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn
The Loch by Steve Alten
This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (reread)
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
Dragon by Clive Cussler
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks (reread)
Resurrecttion by Steve Alten. (FINALLY came out in paperback!!)
Vixen 03, Clive Cussler. Bio weapon that can kill for hundreds of years at a time. Terrorists have it. Dirk Pitt has to stop it…
Flags of our Fathers, James Bradley. (The story of the flag raisers of Iwo Jima. Concentrates on the ones on the memorial, one of whom is tha author’s father. The picture that the memorial is based on though was actyally the SECOND flag raising on Iwo Jima that day… very compelling read…)
Act of War, Dale Brown. Brown starts a new set of characters off with a bang!
Raise the Titanic, Clive Cussler. Very rare item on the Titanic. The US Government needs it for a super secret project. Dirk Pitt has to do the impossible: Raise the Titanic!
Unknown (now, more than a year later) Dale Brown
By lovelyliz
November 20, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this
I stopped making to0do lists when I realized the list was never ending, There is always something to do and something to add.
Part of the human condition
By jmd
November 20, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
I have a to do list, want list, wish list, need list and a should have done list. Geez….i NEED to get back to work…wait a minute, let me write that on my need list.
By Daisy Perezq
November 20, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
i have list for everying grocery list bills to pay list for every week what to pack list when traveling x-mas list very detailed to do list weekly work task list
…i like lists they keep me organized and on track…
By Noelle
November 20, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
I make to-do lists all the time. I love marking things off — makes me feel so accomplished. :)
My mom and I are big list-makers. That’s always the first thing we say when we have some event to plan for: “Let’s make a list!”
By Kiki
November 20, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this
I LOVE lists. I keep an ongoing list of things I want to accomplish around the house that pops up on my Outlook calendar every Saturday. I modify it as necessary and love to delete an entry once a task has been completed. I also keep a detailed chart of all the household maintenance, repairs and improvements that we do. I include the description of what was done, the date, and how much it cost. That way, I can look back and have a reference point. I make lists when traveling, getting ready for house guests, you name it, I’ll make a list for it.
By JT
November 20, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
I’ll admit it: I’m an obsessive compulsive and I am a great big list maker.
I make lists about everything. To do lists. Grocery lists. Topic lists for discussions in meetings. You name it, I’ll make a list for it.
It’s a trigger mechanism with me. I’m afraid my memory isn’t good, so I create memory triggers. Just the act of writing the list helps me remember the things.
The only problem is……I now need to make a list of the lists that I need to list……
By greg
November 20, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
I was never a list maker until I attended a Franklin Time Management class. For those of you who feel like your life is out of control with too much to do with too little time you should take the class. It will give you back time in your day and control of your life. In a nutshell you divide everything into three catagories. A - must be done today, B - must be done within the next day or two, C - nice to have. Then you number them by priority (not which ones you would LIKE to do) and start doing them and checking them off. A1 is always “planning and solitude” when you plan your list. That way you start your day by checking off the first thing almost immediately. When you work in this way the things that need to be done today get acted on first and eventually you will find you even have time for the “nice to have” tasks. How good would that be??? I won’t bore you with my list but I will say that I only have 2 things left to do today and they are both “nice to haves”
By Amber
November 20, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
I’m a list-aholic. One of my favorites was my list of qualities I want in a guy:
1 - Must have a relationship with God (not just say he’s a Christian; most Amberican claim that. I wanted him to have a real relationship with Him and for the guy to be able to be my spritual leader in a sense.)
2 - Non-smoker
3 - Intelligent
4 - Responsible with money (doesn’t have to be rich, but uses what he has wisely…doesn’t waste it away on comic books and Star Wars toys - coughexboyfriendcough)
5 - Takes care of his body
6 - Not ugly
7 - Can make me laugh
8 - Loves animals and kids
By Kate
November 20, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
I’m more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal. It serves me well, mostly. I’ve never been accused of being anal, but I may come across as flighty or distracted.
I do appreciate lists, though. I’ve mentioned the McSweeney lists in another thread….they are Way Fun.
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/
Happy Thanksgiving!