A List

This is a list of random things I have been enjoying or meaning to post about. Since I am working on de-cluttering my surroundings, my e-mail, my life...I am also working on de-cluttering my mind and instead of storing up things for future posts I thought I would just put it all here in one random list. Plus, I have to admit I love lists. I am not good at keeping track of them and frequently find my lists months later in various places like the lint filter, or stuffed in a pocket,or in Camille's stash of found items. Finding the old lists is kind of like finding pieces of my life. A way to look back at all of the mundane things on my shopping lists or the things I thought were urgent "to-do" items or the books/movies I wanted to find. Random little bits of scrawled writing on little scraps of paper. Here's an on-line version:

1) Kaboodle is my list dream come true. Finally found a place on line where I can create a wish list for each person in the family from any and all websites. Perfect timing for upcoming holidays and birthdays.

2) This funny Japanese video clip from Cami's blog. So Japanese, so bizarre, and brings back so many memories from teaching English in Japan...happy to report I didn't have teach any of these phrases but I do remember having a Japanese co-teacher who wanted me to teach the students what the phrase "Freeze" meant in case they were ever in front of a gun toting madman or policeman.

3) This cool site for keeping track of places you have visited. Our neighbors in Okinawa had a huge framed map in their living room with little flags on all of the spots they had been. I keep wanting to create something like that for us, but for now the on-line version is my best option. It is fun to see where we have been but also amazing to see how many more places there are to visit.

4) I was trying to figure out where and how to vote since my living situation has become so complicated. Our official address is in one state, our voter registration is in another, I am living in a different state and my husband is living in a different country....the joys and complications of military life. So here's an important link with info for military families or Americans living overseas... Most importantly Vote!

Ok, just like in real life I have to add a couple of things to this list that I made yesterday.

5) The To-Do List Blog (thanks to Morninglight Mama's comment) which "celebrates the world of the overlooked and mundane, letting our lists serve as unique windows into who we are. Nothing is more revealing than someone's to-do list".

6) And One Pretty Thing which does an amazing job of collecting cool ideas and projects from all over the web. Be forewarned it is a dangerous place to visit because you can get drawn in for long periods of time...inspiring, humbling, and lots to see. I am especially enjoying the Halloween ideas right now.