My friend Jon is our worship pastor for the church I work for. He’s currently taking some time off along the same lines as my recent time off. It’s been strange not having him around at work and since I was starting to miss the weirdo, I decided to give him a call to see what he was up to. He told me about a list that he’d created to get some things done around the house and that he was having a blast getting things done. Some of them were practical items, and some of them were just fun things. He invited me over to sit on his porch and smoke a cigar and we sat and talked for a couple of hours about nothing in particular. As I went into his kitchen to grab a drink…I saw the list. It was so huge I thought it needed to be shared with the masses to see just what kind of stuff they’ve been up to. Look at this thing:
My favorite part is that they are in the middle of building a sweet tree house for the 3 boys in the family. It’s design is based on the tree house depicted in The Dangerous Book For Boys, which I own and love.
Jon loves to get his hands dirty and do work-work. In some odd sense it actually provides rest for him. His family will be taking some short trips to truly rest as well, and I’m excited to have him back soon.
What are some of the things on your to-do list that you’ve been putting off for too long?
Silly as it may sound to most men, I have been meaning to finish up the scrapbook of my solo pre-baby travels. I had 7 countries’ worth of photos to sort, arrange, and put into a book with some modicum of creativity. It was important for me to look back at the places I’d been and set them to paper, and since I don’t write, I told the story through photos.
I finished it yesterday. 2 years after arriving home from my last trip. Huge sense of accomplishment.
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How many of those items are in Melanie’s handwriting…?
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melanie says:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
@Fran, Surprisingly, only two items are in my handwriting. I would NEVER make a list like this because I would hate that list staring back at me with no progress!
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I love that in the middle of his list, among all the other chores, there is “Lemonade stand”.
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Well first of all my husband fondly (sometimes not so fondly) refers to me as a “listy”. So I found this post quite amusing. Secondly I bet Melanie is loving this. Thirdly, I thought all the different additions with different hand writing was funny. Last but not least. Give this man some more time off!
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looks very similar to my post it notes everywhere. my husband has 43 items listed on his…oh my!
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My list…
-Bake pumpkin bread for work colleagues
-File 2008 US taxes
-Get more wooden hangers (40-50)
-Make dentist appointment
-Buy train ticket for church healing retreat
-Get cracking on the UK visa renewal (preferably before I get deported..)
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I love, love that “lemonade stand” was on his list.
I have lived in my apartment for 4 years and have barely done any decorating. I decided what i wanted to do with my kitchen and have slowly been gathering materials (including a few of your prints), but just lack the time/money/gumption to get it done. I am inspire by Jon’s list and will get something accomplished in my kitchen this weekend!
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What is the most impressive is how many he already has accomplished! Good for him! Love your blog
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Funny, I just weeded the side-garden and balanced my checkbooks. Next on the list: sew curtains.
I totally get how just getting caught up at home can be rewarding, relaxing, and rejuvenating. He is one motivated guy!
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To be honest……his list wore me out…….I’m too tired to think about what I need to do.
Reverb……so glad to have you back.
So glad your worship pastor is resting.
Our pastor is “resting” as well right now as well…..
What a time!
Enjoying your time back.
Missed you and your family!
Love,
Me…………
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My list, short version:
-Clean corner of bedroom (where I have blankets and out-of season clothes stacked up).
_Sort through clothing, launder unwanted items and give to Goodwill.
-Organize craft items, put items I won’t use for a while in basement storage.
-Wash windows.
-Buy accordion file for medical receipts for 2010 tax return.
-Organize and total above receipts.
-Organize all drawers in my desk.
-Go through kitchen cabinets, get rid of unwanted kitchen items.
-Make Excel spreadsheet for budget.
-Clean off shelves of entertainment center.
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On the last day of school in June my kids made a “to do” list for summer http://www.flickr.com/photos/tormol/4746499913/in/set-72157624255182268/. We finally visited the beach yesterday (and today) while on vacation in Oregon. Our last item to accomplish is visiting an amusement park.
I will have a whole new kind of to do list when I get home.
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i love lists. love crossing them off even more!
our list includes:
*Clean Basement
*Clean Garage
*Paint Front Porch
*Paint Under Back Patio & Install ceiling fan
*Paint Back Porch
*Get stuff ready for yard sale
*Organize office
*Organize paperwork (it eats me alive!)
*Paint living room
*Make Drum Lampshades for living room
*Hang tin-like wallpaper on ceiling in living room
*paint baseboards & door casings in entire house
*Finish butcher block countertop in kitchen
*Finish basement family room
*paint boys bedroom
*gut upstairs bathroom
*replace carpet upstairs
*start Dave Ramsey’s FPU
*scan old developed camera film to archive digitally. (this is the project I am most looking forward to!)
*Read Crazy Love
*work-out daily
*take more pictures
*stop making lists.
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