Saturday, February 28, 2015

100 Things I Must-Should-Ought-Want to Do (1-10 March 2015)


(symptom:  checking and re-checking several to hundreds of times a day, such as self- evaluation)


    1. Dishes [x15, #4 x2]
    2. Laundry [x5]
    3. Wipe down the kitchen counters [x6]
    4. Clean the sinks [x6]
    5. Sweep the kitchen floor [x6]
    6. Clean the toilet [x6]
    7. Plan and prepare dinner [x2, DH x3, shared x3, takeaway x2]
    8. Pick up and drop off #4 [x9, x2 x1, DH x3]
    9. Take rubbish and recycling to the transfer center 
    10. Pay bills due in the next 10 days (5th)
    11. Buy more retaining wall blocks, mulch, cinder blocks 
    12. Back up new computer, then replace hard drive and set up again
    13. Upload vacation pictures
    14. Fix the fence, then move the cows
    15. Shop for Mom's birthday (5th)
    16. Mammogram (3:30pm, 3rd)
    17. 27-pick-up in the addition (3rd)
    18. 27-pick-up in the storage room/garage (9th)
    19. 27-pick-up in the office (11)
    20. 27-pick-up in the back porch garden (9th)
    21. 27-pick-up in the dining room (9th)
    22. 27-pick-up in the lounge (9th)
    23. 27-pick-up in the front porch garden (9th)
    24. 27-pick-up in the kitchen (1)
    25. 27-pick-up in the bedroom (3)
    26. 27-pick-up in the laundry room (9th)
    27. Spray weed killer in the shed garden; kill thistle and gorse in the paddock
    28. Buy seeds and seedlings for the back porch garden 
    29. Weed and mulch established beds in the front porch garden (20 mins, 6th)
    30. Buy seeds and seedlings for the front porch garden
    31. Plant seeds and seedlings in the front porch garden 
    32. Weed and mulch established beds in the water tank garden (30 mins, 3rd)
    33. Buy seeds and seedlings for the water tank garden
    34. Plant seeds and seedlings in the water tank garden 
    35. Weed and mulch established beds in the shed garden
    36. Remove grass from kill zones in the back porch garden 
    37. Remove grass from kill zones in the front porch
    38. Knock down cobwebs in freezer room, office, back porch
    39. Clean back porch furniture
    40. Sweep and tidy the back porch
    41. Clean windows, window sills, and doors in the freezer room
    42. Clean switch plates and walls in the freezer room (6th)
    43. Dust the office (6th)
    44. Straighten and dust office bookcases (6th)
    45. Clean switch plates, door frames and walls in the office (6th)
    46. Clean windows, window sills, and French doors in the office 
    47. Clean monitor in the office
    48. Vacuum office
    49. 15 minutes of filing
    50. Knock down cobwebs in dining room and lounge
    51. Dust dining room and lounge
    52. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the dining room
    53. Clean windows and window sill in the dining room
    54. Polish dining room table
    55. Straighten and dust dining room bookcases
    56. Clean ceiling fan blades in the lounge
    57. Clean light fixtures and lamps in the lounge
    58. Clean under couch cushions in the lounge
    59. Polish furniture in the lounge
    60. Vacuum dining room and lounge
    61. Knock down cobwebs in entry, kitchen, front porch
    62. Wipe down tables, banisters, and light fixtures on the front porch
    63. Sweep the front porch
    64. Clean windows, window sill, and door in entry
    65. Clean light fixture in entry
    66. Vacuum entry
    67. Clean fridge, microwave, upright freezer, other appliances
    68. Clean kitchen cabinet fronts
    69. Straighten and wipe down one shelf or cabinet interior in the kitchen
    70. Clean windows and window sill in the kitchen
    71. Detailed clean stove and oven
    72. Mop the kitchen floor
    73. Make a grocery list (3rd)
    74. Grocery shopping (3rd)
    75. Knock down cobwebs in the toilet, bathroom, hallway, bedroom
    76. Vacuum hallway
    77. Clean the tub
    78. Clean windows and window sills in bathroom and toilet
    79. Mop bathroom and toilet room
    80. Dust bedroom
    81. Change sheets
    82. Vacuum bedroom
    83. Knock down cobwebs in laundry room, garage (5th)
    84. Wipe down top of washer/dryer (5th)
    85. Wipe down laundry counter (5th)
    86. Clean inner washer lid (5th)
    87. Clean washer lint filter (5th)
    88. Sweep laundry room floor (5th)
    89. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the laundry room (6th)
    90. Change rubbish bin bag in the laundry room (6th)
    91. Mop laundry room floor (6th)
    92. Deflate and store the spa pool
    93. Clean storage room (#4, 6th)
    94. Code business bank accounts
    95. File annual company returns for HT and TW
    96. Email Mom
    97. Call #3
    98. Make up the day bed (5th)
    99. Thor to vet (2nd)
    100. Update calendars and to-do list

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    Friday, February 20, 2015

    100 Things I Must-Should-Ought-Want to Do (21-28 February 2015)



    (symptom:  checking and re-checking several to hundreds of times a day, such as self- evaluation)

    1. Dishes [13]
    2. Laundry [x6]
    3. Wipe down the kitchen counters [x5]
    4. Clean the sinks [x5]
    5. Sweep the kitchen floor [x5]
    6. Clean the toilet [x4]
    7. Plan and prepare dinner [x4, DH x2, scrounge x1]
    8. Pick up and drop off #4 [x7]
    9. Take rubbish and recycling to the transfer center (23rd)
    10. Pay bills due in the next 10 days (22nd)
    11. Buy more retaining wall blocks, mulch, cinder blocks 
    12. Sort out #3's accommodation deposit (22nd)
    13. Set up new computer
    14. Upload vacation pictures
    15. Fix the fence, then move the cows
    16. 27-pick-up in the addition (24th)
    17. 27-pick-up in the storage room/garage (24th)
    18. 27-pick-up in the office (24th)
    19. 27-pick-up in the back porch garden (11)
    20. 27-pick-up in the dining room (25th)
    21. 27-pick-up in the lounge (12)
    22. 27-pick-up in the front porch garden (1)
    23. 27-pick-up in the kitchen (4)
    24. 27-pick-up in the bedroom
    25. 27-pick-up in the laundry room
    26. Spray weed killer in the shed garden; kill thistle and gorse in the paddock
    27. Weed and mulch established beds in the back porch garden (22nd)
    28. Buy seeds and seedlings for the back porch garden 
    29. Weed and mulch established beds in the front porch garden
    30. Buy seeds and seedlings for the front porch garden
    31. Plant seeds and seedlings in the front porch garden 
    32. Weed and mulch established beds in the water tank garden
    33. Buy seeds and seedlings for the water tank garden
    34. Plant seeds and seedlings in the water tank garden 
    35. Weed and mulch established beds in the shed garden
    36. Remove grass from kill zones in the back porch garden 
    37. Remove grass from kill zones in the front porch garden 
    38. Move daybed to the office (22nd)
    39. Knock down cobwebs in freezer room, office, back porch
    40. Sweep and tidy the back porch
    41. Dust the office
    42. Vacuum office
    43. 15 minutes of filing
    44. Knock down cobwebs in dining room and lounge
    45. Dust dining room and lounge
    46. Clean baseboards in the dining room (24th)
    47. Dust curtains in the lounge
    48. Clean baseboards in the lounge (24th)
    49. Polish furniture in the lounge
    50. Vacuum dining room and lounge
    51. Knock down cobwebs in entry, kitchen, front porch
    52. Wipe down tables, banisters, and light fixtures on the front porch
    53. Sweep the front porch
    54. Clean windows, window sill, and door in entry
    55. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the entry
    56. Vacuum entry
    57. Clean fridge, microwave, upright freezer, other appliances
    58. Clean kitchen cabinet fronts
    59. Straighten and wipe down one shelf or cabinet interior in the kitchen
    60. Clean windows and window sill in the kitchen
    61. Empty fridge and thoroughly clean in the inside (24th)
    62. Mop the kitchen floor
    63. Make a grocery list (24th)
    64. Grocery shopping (24th)
    65. Knock down cobwebs in the toilet, bathroom, hallway, bedroom
    66. Clean light fixtures in the hallway (25th)
    67. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the hallway (25th)
    68. Vacuum hallway
    69. Clean the tub (26th)
    70. Clean windows and window sills in bathroom and toilet (25th)
    71. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the bathroom (25th)
    72. Clean baseboards in the toilet and bathroom (25th)
    73. Straighten bathroom shelves and drawers (26th)
    74. Clean siding in shower and around tub (26th)
    75. Mop bathroom and toilet room (26th)
    76. Clean ceiling fan blades in the bedroom (26th)
    77. Clean windows and window sill in bedroom (26th)
    78. Straighten and dust bookcase in bedroom (26th)
    79. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the bedroom (26th)
    80. Tidy one section of bedroom closet
    81. Dust bedroom 
    82. Change sheets
    83. Vacuum bedroom
    84. Knock down cobwebs in laundry room, garage
    85. Wipe down top of washer/dryer
    86. Wipe down laundry counter
    87. Clean inner washer lid
    88. Clean washer lint filter
    89. Sweep laundry room floor
    90. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the laundry room
    91. Change rubbish bin bag in the laundry room
    92. Mop laundry room floor
    93. Pick up library books (24th)
    94. Deflate and store the spa pool
    95. Clean storage room
    96. Email Mom
    97. Call #3 (27th)
    98. Code business bank accounts
    99. File annual company returns for HT and TWS
    100. Update calendars and to-do list (28th)
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    Reflections on a Year-Long Behavioral Experiment: List-Making

    (symptom:  making light of accomplishments, or minimization)


    It has been a year since I began making lists of things I must-should-ought-want to do.  It is easy to focus on what remains to be done rather than acknowledge what has been done.  Rather than a statistical analysis of the number of times I cooked dinner or washed dishes, the percentage of tasks completed in each 10-day period, or the change in meals cooked by others since I started keeping track, I will attempt an unvarnished look at the larger picture of what has been accomplished in the past year.

     Outdoors:

    • fences repaired
    • 2 gates installed
    • clean-up of building materials behind addition
    • completion of retaining wall behind addition
    • removed boat, 4-wheeler, and hanging chair
    • built small retaining wall at bottom of small shed
    • built and installed edging in water tank garden
    • installed edging at front porch garden
    • built and planted blueberry, herb, and pepper garden
    • had dog house demolished
    • planted jasmine and daphne
    • painted beehives
    • roof repairs
    • cleared about 1/3 of trash from the large shed
    • topped cedar trees
    • trellis built for new passionfruit vine
    • built and planted small bed for lemongrass
    • replanted shallots in shed garden
    • carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, snow peas, and squash in the vegetable garden

    Main house:
    • organized cabinets in laundry room
    • cleared out 2 storage rooms and organized one
    • began (and nearly completed) clean out of storage room where the mice lived
    • organized office
    • cleaned out and reorganized all kitchen cabinets and shelves
    • purchased canisters for bagged kitchen items, filled them
    • began process of updating filing system
    • packed up some DVDs 
    • unpacked and shelved most of the books
    • cleared rubbish out of garage and began organizing
    • began reorganization of bedroom closet
    • took 4 bags of clothes to community bin

    Addition:
    • linoleum installed in upstairs bathroom
    • cleared out spare bedroom downstairs and organized for storage
    • cleared out downstairs lounge and under-stair area
    • cleaned and furnished upstairs to make suitable for guest use
    • installed baseboards and molding in upstairs
    • installed tub cradle in upstairs bathroom
    • painted upstairs bathroom, one bedroom, and lounge area
    • wall heaters installed upstairs
    • prepared downstairs bathroom for painting
    • installed baseboards and molding in downstairs bathroom
    All of the work in the addition, except for the bathroom linoleum, was done after July when #2 vacated the upstairs.  The downstairs looks like a disaster right now, but this is because as I was nearing completion of the cleanup, DH brought in the picnic table, table saw, drill press, and assorted other power tools.


    This is actually not bad.  I got more done than it looks like because I have so much trouble keeping up with the messes that are made.  Still, I need to not be discouraged and have goals for the future.  I doubt all of these will be accomplished in the next year, but some of them will.

    Outdoors:
    • build Buddha fountain garden
    • transform kennel into greenhouse
    • create two more garden beds off the back porch and make pathways in between
    • finish terracing near the old water tank
    • add gravel to create pathway in water tank garden
    • create four more garden beds off the front porch and make pathways in between
    • have terraced retaining walls built around peach trees
    • bring old water tank back online
    • clean out large shed
    • relocate power tools to large shed?
    • have back fence repaired
    • driveway maintenance
    • get bees for beehive
    • paint exterior of main house)
    • triangle garden (maybe I'll get started this year)

    Main house:
    • finish cleaning future pantry
    • fill gaps behind shelves in future pantry
    • paint future pantry
    • reorganize kitchen and other storage room by moving items to new pantry
    • paint laundry room
    • organize the garage
    • remodel bathroom?
    • install shelves in office
    • move daybed to office
    • add shelves to DH's office
    • remove boxes from DH's office
    • organize our closet
    • paint kitchen, lounge, entry, dining room, hallway
    • new light fixtures for hallway, entry, office, dining room
    • new drapes in living areas
    Really, this list could be so much longer.  It doesn't include new flooring, any work in the bedroom, new kitchen counters (and possibly cabinets), new ceiling tiles.  Unfortunately, the work in the addition will need to be done first before any substantive work can be done where we actually live, because DH insists.

    Addition:
    • shelves built for both bathrooms
    • tile installed along shower/bath liners in both bathrooms
    • install ceiling-mounted shower curtain in upstairs bathroom
    • prepare downstairs lounge and stairway for painting
    • paint downstairs bathroom, lounge, stairway, and upstairs bedroom
    • install stair rail
    Sigh.
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    Tuesday, February 10, 2015

    100 Things I Must-Should-Ought-Want to Do (11-20 February 2015)

    (symptom:  checking and re-checking several to hundreds of times a day, such as self- evaluation)

    1. Dishes [x17]
    2. Laundry [x7]
    3. Wipe down the kitchen counters [x9]
    4. Clean the sinks [x10]
    5. Sweep the kitchen floor [x9]
    6. Clean the toilet [x6]
    7. Plan and prepare dinner [x3, DH x2, shared x2, takeaway x2, scrounge x1]
    8. Pick up and drop off #4 [x13, DH x1]
    9. Take rubbish and recycling to the transfer center 
    10. Pay bills due in the next 10 days (17th)
    11. Schedule electrician to install new stove (11th)
    12. Electrician to install stove (8am, 19th)
    13. Buy more retaining wall blocks, mulch, cinder blocks, shower head
    14. Sort out #3's accommodation deposit
    15. Set up new computer
    16. Upload vacation pictures
    17. 27-pick-up in the addition
    18. 27-pick-up in the storage room/garage
    19. 27-pick-up in the office (11th)
    20. 27-pick-up in the back porch garden (6)
    21. 27-pick-up in the dining room (25)
    22. 27-pick-up in the lounge (22)
    23. 27-pick-up in the front porch garden (3)
    24. 27-pick-up in the kitchen (6)
    25. 27-pick-up in the bedroom
    26. 27-pick-up in the laundry room (3)
    27. Spray the driveway (1/2, 20th)
    28. Spray weed killer in the shed garden; kill thistle and gorse in the paddock
    29. Weed and mulch established beds in the back porch garden
    30. Buy seeds and seedlings for the back porch garden 
    31. Plant seeds and seedlings in the back porch garden (15th)
    32. Weed and mulch established beds in the front porch garden
    33. Buy seeds and seedlings for the front porch garden
    34. Plant seeds and seedlings in the front porch garden 
    35. Weed and mulch established beds in the water tank garden
    36. Buy seeds and seedlings for the water tank garden
    37. Plant seeds and seedlings in the water tank garden 
    38. Weed and mulch established beds in the shed garden
    39. Remove grass from kill zones in the back porch garden 
    40. Remove grass from kill zones in the front porch garden 
    41. Remove grass from kill zones in the water tank garden 
    42. Knock down cobwebs in freezer room, office, back porch (15th)
    43. Sweep and tidy the back porch (15th)
    44. Dust the office (15th)
    45. Clean light fixtures in the office (15th)
    46. Vacuum office (17th)
    47. 15 minutes of filing (15th)
    48. Knock down cobwebs in dining room and lounge (16th)
    49. Clean light fixture in the dining room (15th)
    50. Dust curtains in the dining room (15th)
    51. Dust dining room and lounge (16th)
    52. Clean ceiling fan blades in the lounge (16th)
    53. Clean light fixtures and lamps in the lounge (16th)
    54. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the lounge 
    55. Clean windows and window sill in the lounge (16th)
    56. Straighten and dust lounge bookcases (16th)
    57. Polish furniture in the lounge
    58. Vacuum dining room and lounge (16th)
    59. Knock down cobwebs in entry, kitchen, front porch (17th)
    60. Sweep off front porch furniture (20th)
    61. Wipe down tables, banisters, and light fixtures on the front porch
    62. Sweep the front porch (20th)
    63. Clean windows, window sill, and door in entry
    64. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the entry
    65. Vacuum entry
    66. Clean fridge, microwave, upright freezer, other appliances
    67. Clean kitchen cabinet fronts
    68. Straighten and wipe down one shelf or cabinet interior in the kitchen (11th)
    69. Clean windows and window sill in the kitchen
    70. Empty fridge and thoroughly clean in the inside
    71. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the kitchen (11th)
    72. Mop the kitchen floor (11th)
    73. Make a grocery list (17th)
    74. Grocery shopping (17th)
    75. Knock down cobwebs in the toilet, bathroom, hallway, bedroom (11th) 
    76. Vacuum hallway (13th)
    77. Clean the tub (12th)
    78. Clean windows and window sills in bathroom and toilet (12th)
    79. Empty rubbish bags in toilet and bathroom (12th)
    80. Clean outside and behind the toilet (12th)
    81. Clean switch plates, door frames, and walls in the toilet (12th)
    82. Mop bathroom and toilet room (12th)
    83. Dust bedroom (12th)
    84. Change sheets (12th)
    85. Vacuum bedroom (13th)
    86. Knock down cobwebs in laundry room, garage (13th)
    87. Wipe down top of washer/dryer (13th)
    88. Wipe down laundry counter (13th)
    89. Clean inner washer lid (13th)
    90. Clean washer lint filter (13th)
    91. Sweep laundry room floor (13th)
    92. Deflate and store the spa pool
    93. Clean storage room
    94. Install new shower head (13th)
    95. Contact Craig about more work on the addition
    96. Order library books (17th)
    97. Email Mom
    98. Call #3 (17th)
    99. Code business bank accounts
    100. Update calendars and to-do list (20th)

    And also, I must watch film with DH.  Here's what we watched together:
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