The Dreaded 'To Do' List

Yeesh, I just updated my personal 'to do' list (actually multiple sublists). It's outrageous.

I'm a huge fan of time management and goal setting, but the end result tends to look more like a formal project plan. Perhaps I'm just obsessive in this regard.

It wasn't too many years ago I could jot everything down on a notepad. Now it seems I need MS Project and large whiteboard. At last count, I have approximately 30 items on the list, and many of those items have sublists, prerequisites, etc. 'The List' includes everything from mundane items like cleaning out the dryer vent and getting a new battery for the truck, to the big ones - IT certifications, getting a new degree, and investment ideas.

The Still-Youthful Wife is amused by the fact that I put our goals into the format of a five-year plan - a family Gantt chart. But she does acknowledge that it helps prevent us from diffusing our productive energy.

Perhaps there's a business niche here somewhere.

Perhaps I just need to up the meds.

Gearing Up

OK, here I am, just another of the dying breed known as 'middle-aged white guy'. Going through the proverbial midlife crisis (just turned 46 a few weeks ago), dealing with all of those scary, deep, dark, damp (OK, not so damp - at least I don't have that problem yet) issues that most of us deal with at various times. Now being the analytical type inasmuch as my dim, formerly drug-addled mind allows, I've noticed a few issues that need to be pondered.

Issues? What issues?

Well, there's the 'career' issue - where to go with it, whether to chuck it for something else - and still try to pay the mortgage. In case you give a whit, I'm an IT consultant, specializing in Enterprise Data Storage. If you don't know what that is but remain curious nonetheless, investigate here.

The 'faith' issue. I've been a solid agnostic most of my life though I was raised Protestant (you are correct, Mabel, I am a WASP), but recently converted to Christianity. I have literally gone from non-belief to preaching at the front of the church on Sunday. More on this odyssey later.

The 'family' issue - a bit dicey here because I don't fit into a neat mold. I have a great wife and three wonderful daughters but the age range of the kids is a bit skewed - 5, 6, and 25. Yep, started over. Hope I get it right for their sake, but I do believe I'm an infinitely better father to the little ones than I was to the first. The current problem is one of physics, specifically energy distribution. The little ones are blessed with indescribable amounts of kinetic energy while I on the other hand have little kinetic energy but plenty of potential energy - mostly around the waist. Which brings me next to:

The 'health' issue. Exercise. Eat right. Plenty of sleep. All those things I don't do nearly enough of but need to so that I can be around long enough to require my still-youthful wife to take care of me until she has had enough and plants me out back.

The 'financial security' issue. This of course ties directly to the other issues. One of my hobbies is swing trading stocks and options. Definitely not good enough to make a living at it, but fun nevertheless.

So here are the icebreakers. Let's have at it.