Lists, lists, lovely lists

In my "Who I am" section to the right, you'll see that I am a self-proclaimed list maker. It's time to talk about it.

I love lists. Mainly to-do lists because the power of marking something off the list makes me nearly drunk with satisfaction. Sometimes I write things on the list after I've done them just for the sake of marking it off. I've asked around and the consensus is: that is not cheating. It's good for my soul.

I like other lists, too. I have a list of things my youngest daughter, Hanna, has done in her life that are sort of outlandishly imaginative or sneaky or downright frightening like the time she bought a toy from a classmate at school for $25. No, I have no idea why she had $25 at school. She's a little sneak. I think I may start a blog one day about her. And I have just the list I need to do it.

I have a list of projects that need to be completed on my house so I can sell it and move to Colorado. I have a list of story pitches I would love to query if I had like 5 minutes to do it. I have a list of design projects I want to do for a portfolio should I ever pursue a design career. I have a list of business contacts to make in Colorado. I have a list of quick, low-calorie snacks to grab in a hurry.

The April 2005 edition of Real Simple had an article in it about 12 women who make lists. I tore it out to keep forever. And I was able to find it just now when I wanted to. I once saw another article that I did not tear out, but wish I would have. I can't remember what the piece was about, but the people had their walls painted with chalkboard paint and there were lists everywhere on their walls. I could beat myself up for not keeping that one. It's like porn for a list girl.