Summer Lists, Guest Blogging, and an Apocalypstick Review

My Summer Lists

Lists can be helpful things. I make a lot of them, so I know what I I’m talking about. I’m learning that some lists can more valuable than others, though, and for more than just keeping the items next to the bullet points in order.

Some of the lists I use include:

• Weekly Menu
• Grocery List
• Weekly and Daily ‘To Do’ lists
• Daily activity schedule
• Reading Lists
• Writing Lists
• This List of Lists

Each of these breaks down into more detailed lists, but you get the picture. One list I don’t have is a bucket list. It just seems sort of ghoulish to me. Yeah, I know. I’m a horror writer. Something like that shouldn’t even make me blink. What can I say? The idea still creeps me out.

Bucket List?

So when my wife came across a Summer Bucket List article in one of her magazines, I thought it sounded pretty horrible. Was the writer planning on dying at the end of the summer? I’ll admit the idea does have a natural, symbolic balance, and a bold contrast between a bright, hopeful summer and the grim darkness of the final item on everyone’s bucket list, but…

Sorry, sometimes I read too much into a magazine article’s title. It turns out, the writer was just being cute, but the premise of the article was actually a good idea.

Make a list of things to do before the end of the summer. I’m not talking about finally getting that stump out of your front yard, or cleaning the garage. This list is to force you to do new things, or at least help you find some joy in some of the ordinary things you already do.

Amy and I made our list. I refused to call it a bucket list, so Amy came up with “Greg and Amy’s 2012 Summer Wish List.” It includes some of the article’s suggested items, like skinny dip, and run through a meadow with scissors, plus some that we came up with.

I made a colorful page with fun shapes, one for each item on our list, and she wrote it down. The rules are simple. Carry a camera whenever we leave the house together, in case the opportunity presents itself to check off an item. Do one item each week, and take plenty of pictures. As we complete each item, I’ll print out a photo and stick it next to its slot on the list, checking it off.

We aren’t planning any of our activities, except a couple that don’t lend themselves to spontaneity. Here’s a picture from our first item. We did this one last week:

This is us taking Bonnie for a ride in our convertible to go get ice cream. I’ll share more pics as we check items off. Don’t worry, I’m not taking skinny dipping pictures. I don’t think my camera could bear it.

Oh, I almost forgot,[important] I’m guest blogging on the WG2E today! [/important]Actually, I didn’t forget. I’m pretty excited about it. The Writer’s Guide to ePublishing changed the way I look at the business of writing, and now, less than a year later, they’ve invited little ol’ me to guest blog! Pretty cool, eh?

Apocalypstick is also going to be busy this week.[important] It’s being reviewed by Penelope Ann Bartotto[/important] at The Library at the End of the Universe! She’s such a great reviewer, and I’ve enjoyed her author interviews for months, so I was thrilled when she offered to review my book and interview me. It’s gonna be fun, and she’s doing a giveaway, too, so put it on your schedule, and stop by.