To-Do and Do-Do lists

So I wrote a to-do list on May 15th. It has 8 different sections in it, with titles like 'for me', 'for others' and 'emergency'. There are about 50 items on my to-do list. I checked 4 off today...

The problem is that some of the things I must do are things like 'post card to Sorsh'. Having already got the card, addressed the envelope and affixed the stamp, this 'to-do' item is less difficult than 'finish novel' or 'update accounts'.

Wouldn't it be great if you could get yourself a nice wee app on your Google homepage that would let you input all your 'to-dos', and then let you rate them according to difficulty, urgency, importance, reward (how satisfied will you feel if you do the to-do thing). And of course, clever clever Google could do things like read your list and offer you links to services that could enable you to do them quickly and easily. Like a link to amazon so I can Buy Brain Book. Or a link to lots of experienced and reliable joiners, so I can Hire Joiner to Install Kitchen.

Of course it would be *fantastic* if the to-do list would reward you when you tick things off. Like if it would play you appropriate music...e.g. posted Sorsh's card - tick - trigger 'stop oh yeah wait a minute Mr Postman' song).

Or maybe it could reward you with images...e.g. Go swimming/walking once in a while - tick - trigger pictures of self looking fitter, happier, more productive...

Or perhaps it could supply a wise recommendation - 'you have completed your accounts...I recommend that you take yourself to the nearest hostelry and reward yourself with oceans of champagne...' (Even if after completing said accounts I discover that I can only afford buckfast, not champagne).

Incidentally, designing a cool web-based to-do application is not on my to-do list. This leads me to my next idea. I want to design a programme that charts all the things you actually Do Do that weren't on your list, so instead of feeling all dejected at your lack of achievement with your To-Do list, you feel all amazed at the stuff you have done. Like today I have:

- Eaten half a tub of Ben&Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
- Walked in the rain and got cold wet feet
- Half arranged some of my birthday celebrations
- Bought Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate in case of mood emergency

I have achieved other things, but I feel that these are the most noteworthy. And now I think I will achieve sleep.