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:
- homework
- health class
- people who try to be matchmakers
- video discs
- the feeling that there isn’t enough time in a day
- dead bird guts
- cleaning out the swim bus after a swim meet
- running out of cookies
- backstroke, it was my best stroke
- scantron
Secret Locations of Important Documents–compiled 06/99 while on a class trip to France for three weeks between 10th and 11th grade.
- Extra francs in red binder pocket.
- Used film in side pocket of swim bag.
- Travelers checks in journal from Adriane.
- 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.
- Toilet paper [address of student house #1] and [address of student house #2]
- Have a kegger in our room.
Thoughts on a Day Off– compiled 6/14/07 while living in Boston.
- Stop the drilling.
- It’s the time to get sappy over bad TV.
- Make a British mix CD.
- Have a dance party to drown out the drilling.
- 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.
- Eat New England Clam Chowder.
- Wine in a box.
- Eat Mike’s Pastry.
- Chill in the North End.
- See a 3 cornered hat.
- Tag our names.
- Yell in Faneuil Hall.
- 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.
- 4th smartest animals.
- Actually really clean; roll in mud because they don’t have sweat glands.
- 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.
Ramblings 
A room mate of mine in college had a girlfriend (Travis and Kristin, respectively) who had this long, super cheesy list/poster of things to be happy about. We wrote a 31 page list of things to be upset about. It became a kind of party game as the days went by. Many, many people contributed to the list. I think I still have it.
I am also a list person and appreciate this post on many levels. I would share some of my lists but they are things like “Super Hot Women” or “Hat Manufacturers of the 1930s that I admire”.
I’m glad someone else out there appreciates a list post. I like the idea of having a long list available for party guests to contribute to. I’ll have to think of a new idea for a list and then do that.
I would be interested to see who would make the “Hat Manufacturers of the 1930s that I admire.” Another list I made that was too long to add here was “Red Flags that Cannot Be Ignored in the Future.” It was comprised of 27 “red flags” about a person’s personality that I felt couldn’t be ignored any longer. Pretty entertaining.
I love it, Sonja! Another fun activity: write an untitled list, give it to another person, have them guess the topic of the list. I especially like that you wanted to have a kegger in your room sophomore year. I’m glad you didn’t.
Although it would have been fitting to have a kegger in Peet, I’m glad I didn’t do so either. I will also have to try the untitled list game. Perhaps at my next party…Thanks for sharing!
I am a huge list person too, but in all forms. Love your 1998 list – especially scantrons (haven’t heard that word since high school). It’s always fun to look back and see what your thoughts and/or priorities were at different points in your life.
Thanks for commenting! I agree, it’s fun to look back at different points of your life and see what your priorities. I wish that “running out of cookies” was still the biggest issue in my day-to-day life. 🙂
What I Wish I Did Less Frequently:
–go to work late
–reach the bottom of my bank account before payday
–get home from work late
–wash dishes
–leave unfolded laundry all over the place
What I Wish I Did More Often:
–Shop for and buy fabulous clothes
–walk, run, hike, swim, climb
–read blogs
–sew
–ignore the call of technology and farmville
–intake water