My To Dos

I like lists. I always have.

A well-formed, well thought-out list is a thing of beauty that has the power to motivate and reward, by simple virtue of its existence. For example, on Sunday, a well formed list will mean that all my chores get done in the most time-efficient manner possible. Rather than haphazardly mopping the floor, only to have to re-mop it after taking the laundry to the basement, my list of Sunday cleaning means that Sunday cleaning is only done for a few hours on Sunday - not all day long for three days.

Monday through Friday, I use my list of 7 to-dos to elevate myself to the lofty height of A Highly Effective Person. Some would say I could use a pen and pencil, but at $250, my PDA comes with a task list, calendar, and annoying little alert beep. Add all these - and more! - functions together, and I know walking into work what my day will be. And, when you add in the eep eep eep eep alert chime, my list becomes a slave driver, eeping at me to hurry the @#!& up and finish whatever project is taking too long. Ok, so I take the good with the bad, and you get the picture.

Why am I blogging about lists? Because it seems that I've forgotten some of the most important lists out there: The lists of fun things/places/events/experiences that I have to do/see/etc. Thank heavens one has been published in a book: 1000 Places to See Before You Die. (Personally, I think "In Your Lifetime" would be a more pleasant-sounding title, but then, I digress.)

I bought the book, and am pleased to announce that I have done/seen/experienced/whatever 41 of the 1000. Yes, I have my work cut out for me, although I am not sure I agree completely with the inclusions and omissions. Why so many hotels? And how could Songkran not be in there? Or a fortune teller in Calcutta? Or the All Japan Fireworks Competition (I mean, honestly, I've been to the Sapporo Snow Festival, and while impressive, I didn't think it was as wow-ing as 12 fireworks companies in firework display competitions)? Or the Similan Islands? Or Osorezan? Or the Northern Lights? Or diving the Andrea Doria?

I think the theme here is "each to her own."

Which got me thinking: What is my list of 1000 places? I'm working on it, and I hereby request my dear readers to help a girl out. What is on your list? Where have you been that is truly phenomenal? Is there an experience that everyone must have? Even a good book or movie? What, in short, must I do in my lifetime?

While I compile my list, I'm also compiling a list of things I'd like to do every year. Since the warmer months are almost here, I'm thinking mostly of those seasons. However, you'll notice that I have stuff for every time of year. I'll update my blog as I add to the list. I welcome your suggestions!

To Do, Annually

Caving
Walk 50 miles in races
Dive the Material Service Barge
Go to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to hear Beethoven
Go skiing
Visit out of town relatives
Make a gingerbread house
Visit the Shedd for all their special exhibitions
Go to the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues
Read all the Harry Potter books
Go to a Cubs game
Go to the theatre
Take a dinner cruise on a fireworks night
See the Festival of Lights
Go bowling
Visit a new place in the US
Go to a lecture on natural history
Take a bird watching tour during the May migration
Visit all the Chicago museums
Take a walking tour of the art galleries
Read the Sunday paper for as long as I like
Go to the International Film Fest

A City Alive

Everyone knows that I love Chicago. Its not a secret. At all. Whenever anyone asks me why I love Chicago, I go on and on and on. At some point, usually after 10 or 15 minutes, I will notice the questioner has gone glassy eyed and is drooling. At that point, I stop my laundry list of "Chicago is the greatest city in the world because…" items and begin to feel I've over-answered the question. It can get a little uncomfortable.

However, in a blog I have the distinct advantage of not seeing my readers eyes. Or their drool. This allows me to brag about my city as long as I like.

If I were forced to give one reason (as in, if someone were driving toothpicks under my fingernails), I'd say that I love Chicago because the city always surprises me. Take Tuesday night for example.

On Tuesday, I hosted a dinner party at Opera. The food, ambience, company, etc. were all wonderful. There were laughs, some exclamations of "wow, that is delish," and "you found what in the snow?" and the wine flowed freely. All around, a fabulous Tuesday night, especially considering that it was Opera's $25 prix fixe night. Food always tastes better when its cheap.

As Opera is in the South Loop, a suburbanite friend with a car (they all have cars out there, or so I hear) offered a ride to State and Lake so that I could choose between a cab or a bus home. It was 10:00 PM. A light snow was falling, there was very little wind, and….. I realized I hadn't been downtown at 10:00 PM on a school night in years. Maybe ever.

I spent the next hour and a half walking around, people watching, and just enjoying this metropolitan marvel.

I ogled the Channel 7 newscasters with some teenagers, inquired where one could obtain hot cocoa (it was heavenly), and petted a Golden Retriever. And, of course, I people watched. There were people strolling arm-in-arm, couples kissing at the river, taxis honking their horns for no apparent reason, and befuddled tourists who weren't sure if they were downtown or in Wrigleyville. (Yes, I did give them some directions.)

It was the best 90 minutes I've spent downtown in a long time. I felt like a tourist, catching a glimpse of a living city that I'd never seen before. No matter how long I live here, or how well I think I know it, Chicago always surprises me. Even a street I've visited hundreds of times can be a whole new experience.