Top List

bookchick posted a meme I hadn't seen before: Comment and I'll give you a topic for either a top five or a top ten.

My assignment: 10 things (not people, not animals, not intangibles) that you can't live without.


I'm kind of pleased that I'm having a hard time coming up with 10 things. I have a lot of stuff, but with the clearing I've been doing my sense of attachment is signficantly diminished. In fact, this meme is providing me with a good tool: is this whatever-it-is something I really can't live without?

Anyway, here's my list:

1. My Gadget: My phone/internet browser/email device that fits in the palm of my hand. I've become a connectivity addict, and have become compulsive about being able to read my email and reach the internet. I'm trying to get better at that, but since most of my friends are not part of my daily life, it really is my lifeline to my social and emotional network. It also guarantees that my daughter can reach me if she needs me. I always have this with me, even if I have it turned off or turned to silent.

2. My Birth Control: My warm-hearted, ferocious, whip-smart, beautiful daughter is more than enough offspring for this woman to handle, but there's no way I'm giving up sex.

3. My Laptop: It gets me to the internets where I socialize and pay my bills and shop, holds my creative writing and my check register, and plays DVD's. What's not to love?

4. My Countertop Grill: Now that _storyteller_ and uncrowned_king are in my life I'm actually cooking (or being cooked for!) on a regular basis, but I still lean heavily on my grill for making my favorite quick-and-dirty food, like grilled chicken quesadillas for breakfast.

5. My Car: Work and family are at least 20 miles away, and taking the bus would add almost two hours -- each way -- to my commute. I am planning to move closer to work and parents this summer, but I cherish the freedom my car gives me. Next vehicle will be a hybrid.

6. Diet Coke -- preferrably in a glass, with a straw, light ice: Yes, I'm an addict. I've gone off it a few times, but always come back. Right now, I'm just pleased that I'm drinking a lot more water during the day and less of the Red and White Death Drink (as my Ex husband used to call it).

The rest of these are more to fill out the list.

7. The iPod: Music isn't nearly as present in my life as it used to be, but the iPod is also something I take just about everywhere. It's certainly the best option for storing, transporting, and playing back music.

8. Palm Pilot: It does all kinds of things, but is vital for me as my on-the-go check register and password storage system. The grocery list, address book, and documents are also very nice. I love being able to put writing projects on it, work on them while away from the laptop, and then have the new work synched with the original document.

9. My Body Pillow I sleep so much better when I have my body pillow.

10. A Large Purse: I usually carry the following with me: large wallet, gadget, Palm, iPod, whatever book I'm reading, my journal, my writing notebook, a brush, tarot deck, and a couple of cosmetics. This means that I need a large purse or a messenger bag style carrier.

Finances

I feel so much better when I check my bank balance daily and pay my bills in advance of their due date.

Why is that simple fact so hard to remember?