#138: To Do/Check Lists

After a long week of work, Dad wants to spend the weekend cracking open beers, relaxing in his chair and watching golf. He deserves it. But that’s when mom hands him the honey-do list.

You may think you’re the only one that has chores. But Dad’s get a list of them. And rightfully so because Dad’s can’t function without To Do and Check lists. While mom’s can multi-tasks (cooking dinner while on the phone with grandma and teaching you algebra all at the same time), Dad needs a break down of tasks that need to be handled one at a time.

While your chores consist of taking out the garbage (And take it all the way to sidewalk? You think I’m a superhero or something?), Dad has to pay credit cards, clean the garage, clean the gutters, pick up dry cleaning, buy gift for the nephew we never see, pick up dinner, build new desk for study, refill ink cartridge, and install router for wireless internet.

The To-Do list immediately goes into Dad’s pocket next to his belt strap phone holder. He will pull it out only to review his progress and also complain to the cashier at the hard-ware store to show “how much the old lady is making me do.”

Don’t worry Dad because as soon as you cross off all the tasks from that To-Do list, there’ll be another one waiting to handle during the week after work. 

#67: Christmas Lights

With the holiday season over, mom looks forward to Valentine’s Day baked goods, cards, and yelling at dad for forgetting a gift. Dad on the other hand still has some holiday chores. And none is more essential than taking down the holiday decorations, particularly the lights.

Before the holidays, Dad was setting up the lights in an elaborate fashion. Even though he groans while climbing up the ladder to hang lights in front of the house, Dad has also made sure that its new state of the art lights that will shine brighter than any neighbors. With the basic display, it shines as a classic setting for the holidays.

And with the holidays over, it’s time for Dad to take down his creation. Well, it’s not that hard, just take it down the way you put it up. That’s what amateurs think. It may look simple, but Dad elaborately put the lights up in such a particular order that it can’t be repeated. Taking the lights down is harder than sorting a jar of M&Ms or wandering through a labyrinth.

The maze of lights must be taken down delicately and methodically, as to allow for easy set up the following year. For anyone else partaking in taking down decorations, it is a frustrating and tedious act. For Dad, it’s just another chore that calls for an ice cold beer...'til next year.

#11 Signs on the Toilet

Oh No! Your toilet clogged, is now overflowing, and can't be stopped! How did this ever happen? If only there had been some reminder on display that tells you how to properly handle this toilet to prevent an unfortunate event like this from happening...

Oh hey flyer with instructions from Dad! Dad has wrestled with the toilet monsters before in his youth. Dad knows it is not a demon to mess with. That is why Dad puts up specific instructions on how to handle the beast. These phrases of wisdom range from "If it's brown, flush it down" to "we aim to keep this bathroom clean, so your aim is appreciated."

Dad isn't telling you to "hold down lever all the way" simply for his sake. But Dad also wants to save you the embarrassment of having your residue left over for others to discover. And it is just common courtesy. Everyone assumes what you did based on your time spent in there, but no one needs confirmation. And if there is a problem, you're not cleaning it up, Dad is. And Dad can't afford time away from His Chair to deal with your mistakes.

Just follow the instructions.