Lists

A few lists have inadvertantly come to my mind lately. I don't know why, but I feel like sharing them for those of you out there that are so painfully bored that you would subject yourselves to them. Here they are:

Things I hate to do: (this list came to mind because I found myself mentioning several things recently on different occasions that I hate more than "cleaning the toilet," which I really don't mind, by the way. Also, these are in no particular order. I just numbered them for fun).
1. Wash dishes- For some reason, this is the most boring job in the world to me. Maybe it would help if there were a window in front of my sink.
2. Put away laundry, especially on hangers. I don't mind folding it, but there is something about hanging it that just seems so tedious to me.
3. Matching socks I know that this goes along with number two, but it deserves a number all its own. Every other item I fold can stand alone and requires no thought. Socks, on the other hand, require that I actually think while folding laundry, which is just wrong. Arthur likes his socks stacked one on the other and folded in half. He says turning them over stretches the elastic. He is right, of course, and I too hate to have slouchy socks. It's annoying to always have to pull them up. However, I'd rather deal with that than have them shuffle around in a drawer and always have to look for the match. Oh well, to each his or her own. I fold his the way he likes them and mine the way I like them. There's no point in fussing over it. Arthur would also like it if I would wash each type of item individually- towels in one load, jeans in another, shirts in another, and so forth. He says it would make it easier to sort and put away, but I say, variety is the spice of life. If I had to do an entire load of socks without any reprieve, I would lose my mind. Actually... it may already be lost. (Anyways, I'd rather sort when I fold since I have to handle every garment at that point anyways. I have a divided hamper, so I sort colors, whites, and denim as things go into the hamper and leave it at that. Any more is just a complication).
4. Packing and Unpacking- I hate them both equally, well, almost. I may hate unpacking slightly more, because it requires that laundry be done. See numbers 2 and 3.
5. Making phone calls- I would much rather deal with any problem either through e-mail or in person. If I deal with it in e-mail, it has the advantage of being able to reread and edit before I send it and the added bonus of avoiding the discomfort of direct confrontation. If I deal with it in person, I get the advantage of seeing the other person's body language and them seeing mine. Also, silences are far less uncomfortable in person than on the phone. There's usually some other distraction nearby. On the phone, if it's a business call I have to make, there are the long periods of waiting before being handed off from one person to the next. If you are so fortunate to finally make it to the person that you need to talk to, and if you are lucky enough to get someone that speaks reasonably good English, they may be able to fix your problem. OR, they may need you to check back with them later, which means starting the whole awful cycle beginning with the person whom you do not understand and who seems to be convinced that they are clearly understanding you.
6. Going back to the store to get the one item that I forgot I needed- I'm something of a tightwad with both my money and my time, and this is a waste of both. I do not enjoy spending time alone in the car, so this seems like the ultimate waste of my time and that 3 something a gallon gas.
7. Waiting for something to load on the computer- see the explanation in number 6

There, that wasn't so bad, was it?

Things that are worth it to buy the name brand:
1. Poptarts- I don't buy these often, because bread and oatmeal are so much cheaper, but when I do, I never, ever, ever buy generic. I like the brown sugar and cinnamon ones, and the name brand is the only one I have found that is really worth eating unless you are exceptionally hungry and there's just nothing else to be had.
2. Shoes- a good pair of shoes is soooo important. I hate achy feet. They can ruin a whole day!
3. Brown Sugar- I WILL NOT bake with the cheap brown sugar. I always buy C&H. The generic brands do not melt well in recipes and just aren't worth buying. You might as well us granulated sugar, because if you put that cheap stuff in a cinnamon roll, it will come out just like granulated. Nothing beats the flavor and texture of good brown sugar.
4. Toilet Paper- One ought not to skinch on toilet paper. One's bottom will not appreciate it. No one likes rough, transparent toilet paper. Do you want to pay for your children's therapy?
5. Tea- Arthur and I drink about a gallon of decaf. tea a day. For pennies more than it would otherwise cost us, we get to enjoy our tea very much. There is no point going through a lifetime of mediocre tea when you can have the good stuff for pennies more a day. I know that, over the course of a lifetime, those pennies add up, but for my three or so dollars a year, I will pay the price to love my tea. Good tea is important to one's sense of well being, especially if one is me. We're talking about quality of life here! One can live without good tea, of course, but if such a simple thing brings joy into your life and the lives of those you love (namely, Arthur), what is a few pennies?
6. Shortening- I have only recently discovered this. Crisco brand shortening is better for you than most generics, because it has no trans fat. Also, my cousin who does cake decorating says it works significantly better in icing.

Things that you are better off buying the cheapo version:
1. Milk- Here in Troy, Aldi's milk is generally considerably cheaper than Wal-Mart's, but it tastes oh so much better! Their cheese is better too, but at most stores, I would recommend buying the name brand cheese over the store brand. Bad cheese is waxy, yuck!
2. Eggs- An egg is an egg is an egg, so unless you are buying organic, what's the point? You will not convince me that the name brand chickens lay better eggs than the poor little generic chickens with the boring looking coop.
3. Butter- similar argument to that above... I have tried several brands of butter (real butter), depending on what was on sale, and they all taste like butter. Margarine, on the other hand, is a different story. Each tub has its own unique taste.
4. Printers- unless you're wanting something really high tech for pictures or something, get whatever has the cheapest ink. Eventually, they all turn on you, so what's the point. My most expensive printer turned on me a lot quicker than my cheapest one!
5. Dogs- The cute little mutt in the parking lot is cheaper, healthier, and just as friendly a companion as that pedigreed pooch. :-)

Things that make me smile:
1. Seeing my husband walk in the house- This most definitely ALWAYS makes me smile. :-)
2. Cookies- Who can argue with that? It makes me especially smiley if the cookies are homemade.
3. Singing in church- I love music and church music especially makes me smile. I love to listen to all the different voices, old and young singing together. There are few if any other places where you can hear so much diversity from one group.
4. Going on a walk on a sunny day.
5. Going on a walk on a rainy day, if it's not to cold.
6. Seeing all of my family.
7. Visiting with old friends.
8. New babies- Wait a second, does anyone know any old babies???
9. Whistling- I don't know why, it just does!
10. Seeing someone else smile almost always makes me more cheerful... So spread some cheer!