Saturday, December 14, 2013

The "What Have I Done So Far" List

This is an exercise in Barbara Sher's "Refuse to Choose"  She writes, "Take out a sheet of paper or your Scanner Daybook and write a list...with as many experiences and accomplishments, big and small, as you can think of...."

As well, a post by "HappyMind" on the Barbara Sher message board inspired me to "put it into gear."  And long time reader Rummuser gave it the gas to go.

Well, here is my list, just whatever I could think of, which means I might've forgotten some things...
  • Music
    • Play bass guitar and sing in:
      • A Top 40 wedding band.
      • Orchestra pit for musicals.
      • Religious folk group.
      • Various improvisation groups playing rock or jazz.
    • Play tuba and Sousaphone in an orchestra and marching band.
    • Learn music theory.
    • Transcribe music.
    • Sing bass in a chorus / choir and a small solo part in a musical.
    • Write a song.
      • Set someone else's lyrics to music.
      • Set my own lyrics to music.
    •  Study other musical instruments
      • Piano, guitar, harmonica, penny whistle, plus ad-hoc sound-making objects.
    • Repair / modify bass guitar.
    • Select components for, and put together, a stereo system.
    • Build and organize a record / CD library.
    • Enjoy and discover new music with Pandora and Reverbnation.
  • Effect home repairs / maintenance.
    • Replace light switches.
    • Replace light fixtures & ballasts therein.
    • Replace bathroom sink faucet.
    • Clear drains.
    • Fix running toilet.
    • Interior painting (with light spackling).
    • Remove wallpaper.
    • Remove ceiling tile.
    • Bicycle maintenance, plus replace components for upgrade / customization.
    • Repair cassette tape and stereo receiver.
    • Repair various appliances.
    • Fix leaky faucet.
    • Replace shower head.
  • Automotive
    • Maintenance / Repair
      • Change engine oil & filter.
      • Replace coolant.
      • Replace fuel filter.
      • Replace spark plugs. 
      • Check tire pressure and re-inflate when necessary.
      • Check fluids and top off.
      • Clear drain plug of cabin A/C system.
      • Touch up chipped paint.
    • Operate passenger car.
  • Electrical Engineering
    • Earn B.S.E.E.
    • Research, Develop and Design new products.
  • Computer ...
    • Earn technician certificate.
    • Repair.
    • OS installation and setup.
    • Operate and customize a wide variety of programs. 
    • Set up network-wide anti-virus program and automate updates of virus definitions.
    • Programming.
      • Learn new programming languages (self-taught).
        • Assembly (x86 and 68xxx)
        • Pascal
        • C
        • Fortran
        • Basic, Visual Basic and Visual Basic Script
        • Perl
        • MS Office Automation (VBA)
        • Lisp
        • HTML
        • MS-DOS batch
      • Create and maintain DLLs.
      • Create and maintain software.
      • Tutor college students.
    • Create, maintain and contribute to blogs.
    • Learn...
      • TCP/IP fundamentals.
      • Administration of MS Exchange Server.
      • Network administration.
  • Draw and paint with media such as...
    • pencil, pastels or charcoal on paper.
    • pen and ink on paper and parchment.
    • paint on paper and canvas.
    • stratchboard
  • Woodworking, design and create....
    • CD / VHS tape / DVD rack.
    • Bookcase.
    • Frame for nature collage using tree branches.
    • Stand for a piece of cat furniture.
  • Writing of
    • Poetry.
    • Articles for magazines and newsletter.
    • Blog posts.
    • Business and cover letters that Get Results.
    • Book reviews.
    • Journal / Diary.
    • Lists of things that I've done so far.
  • Pet care
    • Up to four cats, feeding, litterboxes, trimming claws.
    • Rescue unfortunate mice from said cats.
    • Dog grooming, training.
  • Horticulture
    • Propagate, re-pot and care for houseplants.
    • Design, create and maintain outdoor vegetable garden.
    • Landscaping and tree pruning.
    • Create and maintain compost.
    • Foraging.
      • Wild mushrooms.
      • Herbs.
  • Crafts
    • Crochet.
    • Sew to repair / hem clothes and even make simple curtains.
    • Rock polishing (Lapidary)
      • Create and sell jewelry from polished, semi-precious gemstones.
    • Create ceremonial masks.
  • Sport / Recreation
    • Fresh water fishing with spinning reel and lure or live bait.
    • Crabbing.
    • Play soccer.
    • Play tennis.
    • Hiking.
    • Yoga.
    • Bicycling.
    • Swimming.
    • Canoeing. 
    • Karate (Green Belt)
  • Photography
    • Nature, mostly: insects, cats, dogs, sunsets, flora, wild animals.
    • Street / fair scenes.
    • Shadows.
    • Artwork (for electronic portfolios)
  • Health and Nutrition
    • Learn Reiki level I.
    • Explore various diet systems.
      • Anti-inflammatory.
      • Atkins.
      • Blood Type.
      • Paleo.
      • Vegan.
      • Gluten Free (with and without Casein Free).
      • Feingold.
      • Ideal Protein.
      • Genotype.
      • Weight Watchers.
      • Dean Ornish.
      • The ADA's evolving food pyramid.
      • SAD.
    •  Learn about
      • Autism / Asperger / PDD
      • Allergies
      • ALS
      • MS
      • Lupus
      • Sjögren's
      • Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
      • Parkinson's 
      • Stenosis
      • Guillain–Barré
      • Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes
      • Glaucoma
      • High cholesterol
      • Drug - Food interactions
      • Sleep
      • Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder, specifically Hoarding.
  • Volunteer as Leader of a 3000-member professional organization.
  • Organize annual dinner meetings
  • Miscellaneous Learning
    • Feng Shui.
    • Religions.
    • Paranormal phenomenon.
    • Lucid dreaming.
    • Meditation.
    • The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything.

4 comments:

Rummuser said...

Square Peg, I am astounded. I can honestly say that I have never come across anyone as versatile as you. Do you mind if I share this post with my readers?

Square Peg Guy said...

Thank you, Rummuser. You certainly may share any of my content, and I would be honored, in fact.

Just to be clear, this list is of things I've *done*. I'm not currently doing most of it every day.

From my perspective, it is lacking. I might respond to myself, "Have you never gone skiing, ice skating or horseback riding? Have you really not learned a second language? What about travel -- have you never visited a foreign land?"

And I would answer, "I can't ice skate. I would bother to count my attempts as actual skating. I do plan to go skiing one day, hopefully. I did go horseback riding once, and I studied Spanish in school (but don't consider myself fluent. I have not traveled abroad. I really don't like to travel, but I do enjoy learning about other cultures."

Anyway, "What Have I Done?" might be a fun meme to share among your circle of talented writers!

Peace

Mother said...

I come to you as a reader of Ramana's Musings. Well, I find the concept and your list fascinating. We share a lot...however, I can't imagine myself being disciplined enough to ever address the list. Good on you!

Square Peg Guy said...

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment, Mother! Please let me know if you post a list of your own!