Want To, Need To, HAVE To Lists

Every year about this time I revise my list. I am a list person. I HAVE to have lists to stay somewhat sane. This year, I think, I am a little later than usual on the revising. If any of you remember when I started this blog, it started as a challenge with my sister to do thirty projects in thirty days. That was a real stretch. I worked really hard and managed to finish all thirty in the thirty days of November. Guess what? November is gone! Where did it go? and I have MORE than 30 projects that need/have to be done in 24 days? When I revised the list from "want to" to "need to" the other day, I was surprised, well it was more of a sick feeling in my stomach. You see, I have not taken on painting orders for a few years and this year with the Open House, I took a few, well maybe several, actually way more than I should have. So here I go, I have to finish these projects. Well truthfully, finish is not exactly the word I am looking for here, most of them need STARTED!
This is the first project on the list. I started these ornaments for in my cards at church. I do this every year but usually I start a little earlier, ok, most of the time I try to start them right after Christmas for the next year. I did get quite a few done before I realized that there was so much recliner work on the list for this year so I revised the rest of the ornaments into these little painted tags that I painted this morning. Right now they are sitting on my painting table drying, waiting for their dusting of diamond dust and the ribbon. That will be #1 item off the LIST!
Another NEED to item that is not on any list is the sudden realization, while watching the Biggest Loser last night, that my annual mission trip is 60 days away. At the beginning of the year, John and I went on a weight loss, should I say change of life plan? For him, it has been really successful. He has lost over 80 pounds and has exercised regularly and is so much more healthy than this time last year. I, on the other hand have waivered back and forth and initially lost 25 pounds by April, HOWEVER, I have managed to gain 12 of that back. How did I let that happen? Mostly sweets and lack of any regular exercise plan, although I would think that if I would vacuum my house once a week that would have to be about as many steps as a 5K run, anyway...60 DAYS! The one contestant lost 59 pounds in those 60 days at home. Not that I want to do that, but 10 would be nice, the 12 I gained back? even better. I'll keep that progress, or lack of it posted.
And the final list. Yesterday afternoon, after finally getting in touch with the quilting person that is going to do the boys' quilts (and no she did not say bring them out and I'll get them done before Christmas) John and I took them to her home about 75 miles from here. I just wanted them delivered and it was a nice time for he and I to catch up and talk without interruptions. Coming home, I noticed that his driving was making me car sick. I don't get car sick, I can ride any amusement park ride out there, ride in the back seat of a car with anyone, ride in a back of a cattle truck in a third world country, and even cab drivers from Santo Domingo to New Orleans to one harrowing ride in Indianapolis years ago don't make me sick. At one point I looked at the speedometer and gently suggested that he might want to slow down. I travel that road a lot and he does not and I know that they patrol it regularly and I also know that 75 MPH is way over the posted 55 and 45 on that road. He confesses that he is having trouble with night driving and I say "Do you think it would help if you slowed down a little at night? (not to mention the speed he travels in daylight) and the conversation deteriorated from there. His thoughts are that he is losing his edge and after several examples of 50+ year old people, including some friends and Mark Martin...50 year old Nascar driver. I suggest, so very gently that perhaps he needs his eyes checked, only to met with another whole head game involving how he is finally getting "fit" and now I think his eyes are going, when I finally come up with this list/thought.
"First of all, John, you should have slowed down your driving YEARS ago and here is my reasoning:
If you have ever had the State Police say these words to you, 'Sir, if I gave you a ticket for the speed you were actually going, it would be automatic loss of license.'
You might need to slow down
If you have had speeding tickets in more than four states,
You might need to slow down
If you have ever drag raced a Camaro in South Carolina while you were driving a TAURUS, only to find out it was actually a state police car tricking you into a ticket,
You might need to slow down.
If you have multiple tickets in a state (he needs to behave in Virginia) that is not your own,
You might need to slow down.
If you have had to go to court for your speeding tickets and beg to not get the points so that you don't have to go to traffic school,
You might need to slow down.
If you have had people in the church van complain of the G Forces on their faces on the Ohio Turnpike,
You might need to slow down.
If you have ever heard a truck driver on the CB radio say 'Dang, I ain't never seen a motorhome go that fast, drive on Driver' and be proud of it,
You might need to slow down.
If you have ever had people tell you that you are ON Route 95 and that is not the speed limit,
You might need to slow down.
and last...if you have ever had people videotape your speedometer while you are driving to show their friends later (if they live through it) ,
You might need to slow down. "
He laughed, but is he going to slow down, I doubt it.
Back to my list!


Comments

Jody said…
What an enjoyable post! Thanks for the smile this morning. Also, I love your ornies, they are all just too cute. I am a list maker too, and believe me it does help. Wishing you luck with yours.
Ann said…
Cathy, I have another item to add to your list. You need to start writing a column for the newspaper. I am not kidding! Your writing is wonderful. I look forward each time I see a new post from you and can't wait to read it. Yours is always the first one I read when there are several blogs that have been updated. I know that you'll have something witty to say and I'll enjoy the post tremendously. ~Ann
Ann said…
Cathy, I have another item to add to your list. You need to start writing a column for the newspaper. I am not kidding! Your writing is wonderful. I look forward each time I see a new post from you and can't wait to read it. Yours is always the first one I read when there are several blogs that have been updated. I know that you'll have something witty to say and I'll enjoy the post tremendously. ~Ann
ohiofarmgirl said…
I am so cheering you on..in your weight loss journey...you can do it!!!
All your projects look so nice...good luck getting them done on time. Dianntha
Lesley said…
And I thought you clipped along fairly well??? LOL
Tell John he isn't losing his edge, he is only gaining more sensibility...never mind, forget I said that.
I feel like you, I have lists and they never end, just when I figure I have it all organized I find something else to tackle or it tackles me. My painting and paper lists never end, too much I want to do and never seems to be enough time.
Love your posts, always give me a smile or chuckle.
Take care and slow down.....

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