life's lists

I like lists. I'm not sure that I've always enjoyed them as much as I do now, but I find great satisfaction in them. To-do lists are the classic example - nothing is more satisfying than writing out the day's goals, starring the important tasks, and then crossing them off as I go through it, preferably in a different color pen than I wrote the list out in. An average day might be:

make bread, sweep floor, turn compost, talk to Mamofota/Masekhampu/nuns, check phone messages, buy candles/yeast/eggs, (try to) fix sink (again), wash dish rags...

But my lists get way more entertaining than this. They become a form of self mockery:
"Number of days with out washing my hair" (new record, 18)
"How to spot a PCV in a crowd" (back pack in town, skirt + hiking boots, takes public transport, chacos, chastises children for asking for money, wears a blanket (well), carries tp on person at all times...)
"Words I still confuse in Sesotho" (small boy/boyfriend, car/pig, to mix/to meet, criminal/full stomach/dangerous)
"New definitions of a great date" (someone cooks for me, no candle light, music that doesn't include an accordian, lets me use the shower/charge my cell phone and ipod...)

Or a way to remind myself that I can handle anything Lesotho throws at me:
"Number of times I've been called Chinese" (17)
"Places I've experienced flat tires" (11 total in 5 different countries)
"Reasons not to beat small children" (.......) [still in progress]

Sometimes it's things I'm looking forward to:
"Things I'll eat when I go home" (sushi, mom's salsa, corona + lime, sushi, black pitted olives, triscits, sushi, Mexican food, mom's stroganof, fresh fish, sushi...)
"To buy when in South Africa" (limes, couscous, coffee, black beans...)

So maybe I'm a little closer to crossing the crazy line than I used to be... but it's all about finding the small things to appreciate and laugh about. I've lived in Ramabanta one year as of August 15th!