I’ve always been a list person, but not in the traditional sense. I’m not the type of person who makes extensive daily to-do lists (although I tried to be sophomore year of college).  When I think of something I want to remember, whether it is a task to complete or an interesting idea to write about, I like to scrawl down in list form.  Over the years, I’ve written down some pretty interesting lists and since I’ve always been a journal writer, I still have some of these lists. Since I’ve been sorting through my things lately to prepare for a move, I was easily sidetracked by a stack of journals and notebooks on my bookshelf.  Here’s a look at some of the better lists I’ve made thus far:

People/Things/Traits that I Hate or Piss Me Off-compiled 03/98 as a freshman in high school. I made this list with a friend and the entire thing was 16 pages long. We made it for entertainment purposes so that we’d have something to laugh about in Biology. Here are some highlights:

1. homework
2. health class
3. people who try to be matchmakers
4. video discs
5. the feeling that there isn’t enough time in a day
6. dead bird guts
7. cleaning out the swim bus after a swim meet
8. running out of cookies
9. backstroke, it was my best stroke
10. scantron

Secret Locations of Important Documents-compiled 06/99 while on a class trip to France for three weeks between 10th and 11th grade.

1. Extra francs in red binder pocket.
2. Used film in side pocket of swim bag.
3. Travelers checks in journal from Adriane.
4. American dollars in p. 63 of Summer by Edith Wharton.

Crazy Antics to Do- compiled in the Fall of 2002, while a sophomore in college.

1. Toilet paper [address of student house #1] and [address of student house #2]
2. Have a kegger in our room.

Thoughts on a Day Off- compiled 6/14/07 while living in Boston.

1. Stop the drilling.
2. It’s the time to get sappy over bad TV.
3. Make a British mix CD.
4. Have a dance party to drown out the drilling.
5. Is it too early to have a beer?

List of Things to Do Today -compiled 6/30/07 when some guests were visiting Boston, some for the first time. Wanted them to experience the full culture of Boston.

1. Eat New England Clam Chowder.
2. Wine in a box.
3. Eat Mike’s Pastry.
4. Chill in the North End.
5. See a 3 cornered hat.
6. Tag our names.
7. Yell in Faneuil Hall.
8.  Go to the graveyard and find our birthday buddies.

Facts About Pigs- compiled 10/11/07 after going to the Fryeburg Fair in Maine and seeing all the livestock.

1.  4th smartest animals.
2. Actually really clean; roll in mud because they don’t have sweat glands.
3. Make good pets because they don’t shed.

If you’re not a list person, I suggest you start. Instead of recording things you have to do such as: 1) laundry 2) pay rent 3) buy groceries, jot down things you wish you could do: 1)sleep in until noon 2) buy a yacht 3) drink Mickey’s on yacht. The second kind of list, while not always the most practical, is much more fun to make.