Thursday, January 03, 2013

My Name is WWW and I am a Compulsive List Maker



As I age, I find that more and more I rely on lists. I find a thought I had a minute ago about something really important has vanished, never to return again. So I make lists. Years ago, I found a particular Moleskine daytimer excellent. So excellent in fact that Daughter, this year for the first time, has one of her own. She agrees, Hightech Queen that she is. We've both had tragedies with high tech systems. Hey Moleskine - it would be lovely if you paid me for this blurb!

The advantage of this particular daytimer is it has a blank sheet for a list or a note or a reminder on the right hand side (the left side has your full week) that you can tick off. Ticking is extremely important. Even on a lazy day if I can tick off "brushed out dog", the day fills full to overflowing. It also has tiny little stickies for affixing birthdays or anniverseries. See picture above. I love applying these. I do it publicly to max out the important feeling of managing my life well. There is nothing like an elder woman in Starbucks peering over her daytimer with tiny little pellets of reminders being carefully manipulated on to a page. Try it before you knock it.

So groceries go on there, runarounds (bank, healthstore, Sally, reminders etc). At the back there is a full alphabetical address section and a BIG IDEAS department. The address section can be ported from one year to the next.

Frankly, I've never seen anything better.

22 comments:

  1. That looks very useful - like a pared down version of those....dang, can't recall the name of 'em...they were complex organiser thingies, very cool for the in-crowd to be seen carrying around everywhere a few years ago....Can't find the name anywhere??? You could buy many and various inserts to attach/update via ring-binding... What the heck were they called? The swish ones were very expensively bound in leather.

    I use scrap paper, folded into 4 and use for a variety of memory-aiding lists; and whenever we go on a trip I pick up every one of those little motel complimentary note pads I can find, to use for our shopping lists. :-)

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  2. T:
    Are you sure you're not thinking of Daytimer? They were so bulky and impressive.
    But there was another system and darned if I can't remember it too :)
    XO
    WWW

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  3. I make lists all the time. Especially lists of things I ned to get done, usually broken into smaller tasks so I can have more to cross off the list. But grocery lists and such I tend to keep on my phone, so I'll always have it with me.The other kid fo list I like is things I've done - books read, places visited, that sort of thing.

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  4. That sounds like a great oraganizer system and one that will keep you usefully occupied and sane. It sounds like I ought to have one too because I am forever scribbling things down in my agenda for which there is no room. All my to do activities are written down on seperate lists that do not combine in this way. No, I do not have them organized electronically as I think that would be too much of a hassle and I likw being able to put the whole thing in my purse and go and write the items down with a genuine pen on paper. I have some very special pens in my purse especially for that purpose. There is some pleasure in being able to do that. xox

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  5. SAW:
    As you know I keep lists of books read, etc., too but I do jot down in my Moleskine movies I want to see and books I want to read.
    Also ingredients for recipes I want to try.
    XO
    WWW

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  6. I think you'd like the moleskine, Irene, space for everything and the little stickies are entrancing. I am easily amused :)
    I love my pens and my paper too!
    XO
    WWW

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  7. I use my phone for appointments, but keep a notebook and pen with me when I am out and about. The back page is a list of non urgent items I need or would like. Over the years I have noticed the 'would likes' often lose their charm and are never purchased.

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  8. The other system was the Filofax! I've gone over to the dark side (watch me juggle with incompatible laptop, iPad and Blackberry) but everything still ends up on a scrap of paper crumpled in my handbag. I love your little stickers!

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  9. One of the plesures of reading your and other blogs of a "mature" nature, is finding out I'm not alone.
    It's Saturday morning.I'm having coffee at the "penninsula" in my kitchen (yes, they really call it that) before the sun gets up and I have a thought; hastily, I grab a pen and write it down (it's usually for a poem or article I want to write), and if I fail to write it down IMMEDIATELY!!! I forget it. Forever. No, it doesn't come back later if I think about something else.
    I also have the same problem when I watch some mind candy film on NetFlix.
    The cliche about remembering long-ago happenings is alsoi true. I remember people and events as long ago as when I was one and a half, but I forget to buy yogurt if I don't write it down immediately.

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  10. @broken biro ~~ Filofax!! Yes that's the name I was trying to remember.
    Thank you! :-)

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  11. Something else we have in common.
    Lists I am constantly making.
    One by the kitchen phone
    along with errand list.
    Tablet on my nightstand in case I think of something in the night.
    List on computer desk.
    List on desk in bedroom.
    Could not function
    without these lists :)
    Trying to simplify
    and I sure have a lot of long lists:)

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  12. GM:
    having had so many electronic crashes over the years I pen and paper even addies and phone numbers.
    One crash I had I lost over a 1000 contacts (mainly biz) and the backup was snarled so couldn't retrieve. Turned me off. Love pen and paper again!
    XO
    WWW

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  13. BB:
    All it takes is one bad crash like I said in previous comment.

    And I am also turned off by the fact miscellaneous softwares don't shake hands with each other so one can't merge.

    we have a long way to go still in technology.

    XO
    WWW

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  14. Marc:
    Hey I knew about peninsulas cuz I done have one!!
    I'm with you on the memory thing. Completely. Ask me how my dad reacted to a bee sting when I was barely 12 mos or so in the baby carriage!
    Now what did I have for breakfast again? ;)
    XO
    WWW

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  15. Filofax, Filofax. Worth jotting down.
    Filofax
    XO
    WWW

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  16. OWJ:
    You need a Moleskine for ONE LIST.
    And some post-its that fit in there. :)
    XO
    WWW

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  17. Ah, yes! I could not function without lists either! And I hear all of you saying if you don't write it down immediately it'll leave, never to be heard from again.....so lists---everywhere. This planner sounded great until I saw the dimensions. Even if I start out small and neat, once I hit my stride, my writing gets big and scrawly! I'd have to have a new one every week, and I'd get demerits for mess and untidiness!

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  18. Me too, a dedicated list maker - always have been and, oh joy, when someone gave me a Filofax 20 years ago. I still use it as the calendar (week to view) and annual planner can be replaced every year, lined paper for a Notes Section, Birthdays and anniversary section and of course the address book. All in a black leather case that I rub down with Patchouli oil now and again.

    I have a notebook for memorable movies and books and, thanks to you, books I want to read.

    I have a Gardening to-do list and as you say, it's very satisfying crossing off things completed.

    Alas, no lovely little stickers like your Moleskine - my loss.

    Viva las listas.

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  19. Molly:
    I hear you on the writing, I feel it forces me to keep it small and I can see my often huge lists at a glance!!
    XO
    WWW

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  20. Pamela:
    I tried those bigger ones and had to toss as it was too heavy and bulky for me. I like just slipping into my purse and it has a holder in the back for my post-its.
    I imagine we all get to like the systems we have through trial and error.
    XO
    WWW

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  21. Pamela:
    Sorry you'd think English was my tenth language but I'm sure you'll translate!
    XO
    WWW

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  22. I used to write reminders on the back of my hand, usually abbreviated, often cryptic, before gradually switching to pieces of paper, or my phone, where they're less prone to overcrowding or being washed away.

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