This is what Leigh commented the other day:
Well I read your *to do* list - and it has just reminded me why I NEVER do lists - unless I am getting incredibly stressed and can't sleep and then it's a 3am job. Because I am Leigh....my lists go like this; I am walking through the lounge and the sun is shinning through the doors, and I think I must wash those windows - so I put down the pile of whatever and go and clean the windows - unfortunately the pile of whatever was my previous job, which now that I have cleaned the windows doesn't look quite so exciting....somehow by the end of the day I get my house back into some form of tidy - but my surprise visitors throughout the week are often welcomed by an eyefull!! Oh but it is fun, and does make my day a bit more unexpected!
July 9, 2007 1:21 PM
LEIGH, my dear, you are Missing Out.
You don't get the *satisfaction* of CrossingOff the list "make winter clothes". I did it on Tuesday...and y'know what? The absolute best part was - not actually finishing something (though that does rate Very Highly round here, given how not good at it I am) - but it was being able to Cross It Off The List! (OK to be totally honest it was a metaphorical crossing off, seeing as the paper list has disappeared - in spite of my predictions to the contrary - and just this virtual one remains). But it's crossed off. And I'm satisfied.
Dearest Leigh, I think I worked out one of your issues.
Window washing.
That is simply not a task worthy of elevating to list-standard, no matter how humble the list.
This is how window washing happens round here.
Every so often, Father Bear gets out the squeegy-thingy and a bucket of water and disappears for an hour or so. Soon afterwards, I re-discover the scenic New Zealand bush just beyond my house without having to go outside to see it....and about this time I usually hear murmurings of "WOW, look out the window! Crikey, you can hardly see them, they're so clean!!" (that's Father Bear)
You see, I figure that if Father Bear likes washing windows (and it's never occurred to me that he doesn't - if he does it with such alarming regularity, that can only mean he actually enjoys it, right? I mean, he wouldn't do it if he didn't like it, aye. Surely he wouldn't take on this task just because I'm such a bad housekeeper and it wouldn't get done otherwise....surely?)...anyway, before I get sidetracked, as I say, if Father Bear loves window washing so much, why would I put it on my list? (like lawn-mowing....I've never mowed a lawn in my life.....you see, I'm not sure at which point it would be safe for me to do. All through my childhood when I wanted to mow the lawns I was told it was too dangerous....well I got to being twenty years old and getting married and I still hadn't been allowed to mow a lawn....and I don't consider myself to have matured an awful lot in the ensuing seventeen years, so that means it's still too dangerous for me to mow lawns....one day I will be eighty years old and will say "I never mowed a lawn in my whole life"....it's one of my life ambitions, you know.....why would I start now? I have a Father Bear and a handful of kids who are big enough to push a mower...if I start they just might think that mowing lawns should be one of *my* jobs.....and even though it does have some attractions (the main one being that you put on earmuffs and can't hear anyone for half an hour), they just don't outweigh the thought of having another job to do, a job that falls in the same category as window-washing, no less)
So, Leigh, find some things you love and pop them on a list!
Things like putting away folded washing, cleaning toilets and cooking dinner can be done in your sleep - the list has to be reserved for things you are looking forward to doing! That's the first principle.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
Well since I got first right of reply here goes....my 'to do' lists have always consisted of things that needed to be done by a certain time - so they were often task orientated. In my mind are all the other things that I need to do at some stage - and every day I can just pluck them out and think "hey the weather is bad so lets stay inside and sort through all the kids clothes, and pass on everything that's too small"
or "The kids have chicken pox and we can't go out, so I will teach myself to use MS Movie Maker, and make cool little movies of the kids and put them to music"
My list is added to in my mind daily, so a big list would get messy and need to be rewritten too many times (I can't bear messy lists - but I can't bear spending half an hour rewriting a list when I could have knocked 3 things off it!!) You can always tell someone's character by their lists (or lack of). And Rach - I am totally with you on the lawnmowing - Dad never let me either (it was too dangerous), but when we finally got lawns I was so excited to be able to mow them - even though I was 7 months pregnant!
but I can't bear spending half an hour rewriting a list when I could have knocked 3 things off it!
but do you write a l-o-n-g list and then go off and do all sorts of other things so that you can avoid doing The List Items, and then go back to your list and write All the Things You Did Do, and then cross them off???
and what does that say about my character..???? X
"do you write a l-o-n-g list and then go off and do all sorts of other things so that you can avoid doing The List Items"
Dearest Kate - this would tell me that the things on your list originally are rubbish, and should be removed at once. (another problem with lists is that you can see this huge list of things you don't really like doing...like cleaning out the garage - we all know we have to do it at some time, so why go writing it down??!)
But let's talk personalities...a Choleric has a very ordered list - possibily broken down into sub headings - and some have been known to put date and times beside each item. The jobs get done, and the list remains in very ordered condition, with neat ticks in the margin.
A Melencology also has an ordered list (maybe even with sub headings) but does a lot of worrying about whether they have left something off it, and whether they will ever get it done, and that there is so much left to do.
A Sanguine (now that's you and me) we either don't have lists (cause we kept meaning to do it, but just forgot - or got busy doing something else) or else we have lists that seem so blow with the wind....they will often have doodles all over them, phone numbers that you just must remember and dates for events which you will forget you wrote on the list, and then forget about the event till the day of (or sometimes even the night of...)
The list will come and go depending on motivation levels. Sanguines will often spend more time preparing the list, than actually doing the things on it.
And the Phlegmatic - they don't have lists, they surround themselves with list makers who will ensure the things get done - and they sometimes even get the phlegmatic completing the tasks - although you must note: the Phlegmatic will never cross the thing off the list - not only will they not be allowed, they really can't be bothered, and would prefer to get back to the book/couch/tv they were previously engaged with.
So that's my take on the list issue - next time I will tell you about personalities and unwrapping presents - it is a real eye opener!!
Leigh, you have made one fatal error. I made it once too. Only once, mind.
Tidying the garage is a Man's Job. I thought I was *helping* Father Bear when I tidied HIS garage for him one day (ONE day, remember, I only did it once). It didn't matter that I uncovered three half used bottles of Bars Bugs and put them all on one shelf with All The Car Things. It didn't matter that I put All Extension Cords and other Electrical Bits and Pieces in one box. It didn't matter that all the gardeing things could be easily located, all now occupying the same corner of the garage.
None of this was significant enough to bring forgiveness to the offender (yep that's me) who Trespassed into The Man's Domain.
I would be worried for you - except for the knowledge of one thing - you don't have a garage!!!!
ohmygosh you girls, i am laughing and LAUGHING down here... yep on the sanguine level leighleigh.
oh rach, i'm sorry but i must have some *masculine* genes somewhere (no idea where...) cos i mow lawns AND the boys'n'i cleaned the garage this morning. well, actually, we sort of Just Moved Things Around (can't bring myself to Clean It Out lol).... so we took 3 tonnes of paper recycling to the gate and stood the bikes up again, and tried to match up the shoes. that nearly worked: we do have a few lonely-only-jandals tho. but i refuse to go anywhere near F's *tool/mess/cupboard*... i'm through with tidying out cupboards this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh, and leighleigh, i'd *love* tho hear your Philosophy Of Present-Unwrapping.
i'm a ripper, myself.
but that's only after i've spent the previous three weeks feeling Every Single Present that made its sorry way to the christmas tree......
Well now that just proves that you are a Sanguine in all sense of the word!!! I too spent the weeks prior to last Christmas feeling the small box under the tree for me - I had decided that it was perfume, so just to confirm I went to Farmers and shook some of their perfumes, and tried to match the size of my box to those on the shelf...what did I end up getting...an iPod!! Infact when Grant asked me prior to Christmas if I knew what the present was...I lied (as I was so sure it was perfume) and told him it could be an iPod - not a shuffle as it was too short, but possibly a Nano - except they are too expensive and well - I *know* you would never buy me one of those while we are saving!!!
Another day I will tell you about my theory on gift unwrapping...maybe I should write a book - "discovering your true personality" hee hee ;)
please tell me *WHAT* is the point of feeling the pressies under the tree? I just unwrap them and then re-wrap them As Carefully As Possible. I cannot do surprises!
oh, and Kate, I'm allowed to keep the shoes tidy and hang up jackets and straighten the bikes....I'm just not premitted to change the toolboxes or move-things-to-reduce- our-looking-time-when-we-need-it-next! Apparently that's None Of My Business;-)
leighleigh
seems that grant switched presents while your back was turned....
but i am oh! so jealous of your REAL LIVE iPOD... i have been dreaming up all these schemes so that i can get my paws on one. i am totally sure my (and hubby's) VISA POINTS need redeeming.
rach *WHAT* is the point of feeling the pressies under the tree? I just unwrap them and then re-wrap them
three part answer here (i'll even number them for the melancholies who might be reading/lurking lol) :
#1 there is a certain sense of pride in feeling/guessing without wrinkling the paper/being caught. it is such an Adrenalin Rush you know. but probably not as Great An Adrenalin Rush as ACTUALLY UNWRAPPING THE PRESENTS!!!!!!
#2 being such a ripper, i cannot undo and re-do paper without being noticed.
#3 i cannot bring myself to tell a lie in any circumstance, except when playing CHEAT, of course, so i can clearly not undo the present in front of you and say i didn't...
oh and leighleigh
maybe I should write a book - "discovering your true personality" hee hee ;)
no, seeing as you are becoming so tech-savvy, i think you should Write An Online Quiz..........
then i can add it to my Quiz Addiction list.... X
whispers to Kate.....noone has ever asked. I guess people just don't expect it's something anyone would do! Try the adrenaline rush this Christmas!
*whispers to rach*
you are such a Bad Influence on me lol
Rach - I am shocked at your confession to opening the presents - and then REWRAPPING them....I am in awe!! You see Grant would almost suspect me of doing that, and so he would actually ask the question directly - "did you open the present for you under the tree?" and since I couldn't possibly lie I would have to admit "yes I did - and I love it thanks..." also the other problem is, I am not such a good actor that I could act surprised all over again....it would be written all over my face.
"*WHAT* is the point of feeling the pressies under the tree? I just unwrap them and then re-wrap them"
The point is there is a great deal of skill involved, the build up, the excitement (which is often better than the gift itself) it's all part of the joy of Christmas. I am confident that the three wise men each swapped gifts and had a feel and sniff to try and work out what each other was giving.
leighleigh
I am confident that the three wise men each swapped gifts and had a feel and sniff to try and work out what each other was giving.
*BWAAA-HAAAAAA-HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!*
i'm totally with you chick, there's no arguing this one X
Post a Comment