Kirsten M. Lagatree - Checklists for Life: 104 Lists to Help You Get Organized, Save Time, and Unclutter Your Life

Acknowledgements

There are many people whose generous assistance helped make this book possible. Special thanks to my friend, Catherine Carlisle. Her advice and editorial assistance on matters as diverse as children, the law, personal organization, and the importance of having a really good time as often as possible can be found throughout this book.

Id also like to express my love and gratitude to my multi-talented family for their significant contributions: My brother Bruce Lagatree, for his consistently wise and patient help on questions relating to computers and home repair; my sister Marion Lagatree, for her prompt and generous response whenever I had a question on crime prevention or personal safety; and my brother Donald Lagatree, for sharing his hard-won experience and secrets for growing gorgeous flowers and vegetables while foiling insects and other pests.

Thanks to my good friend Cai Glushak, M.D., FACEP, Emergency Medical Services Director at The University of Chicago Hospitals, for his great wit and practical advice on first aid and general medical questions and to Susan Fuchs, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Medical School for answering questions on childrens health and first aid. Edward Fleegler, M.D., FACEP, an internist in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, was an excellent resource on medical checkups for men and women over age 40.

Thanks and hoison sauce to food writer Candy Sagon of the Washington Post for her practical and imaginative advice on stocking a kitchen pantry. Stuart Feil, writer, editor, computer meister, and generous friend, provided invaluable guidance on buying computers and keeping them healthy.

Appreciation to Jennifer Cockburn for her help with foreign phrases and to John E. Barth, Geoff Baum, Deb Cohen, Tad Daley, Lucia de Lisa, John Dimsdale, Kitty Felde, Sandy and Bob Hobbs, Kathy Merritt, Annie, Frank, and Suzanne Paine, Sharon Weissman (and many others Im sure Ill think of when its too late to add their names), who contributed enthusiasm, ideas and information. Im especially grateful to my professional accomplices: my savvy agent Nancy Yost, who came to me with the idea for this book and then helped make it happen; and my dear friend and talented editor Page Edmunds, who made working on the book a joyful experience. As always, love and thanks to my husband John Barth, who served gourmet dinners every night and made the cats run on time while I was absorbed in list-making.

I happily acknowledge the help Ive received from so many people, but must insist any mistakes that may have wormed their way between these pages be credited to me alone.

Resources

Gathering the information for these lists involved a considerable amount of reporting and fact checking. In addition to poring over books, articles and Web sites, I also spoke with many experts who helped me tremendously by sharing their time and expertise. In case youd also like to tap their talents some time in the future, Im including some of their names and contact information, along with books and other resources you may find helpful.

PERSONAL SAFETY

National Safety Council, 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL 60143; 630-775-2307;

National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269; 617-770-3000; www.nfpa.org

National Crime Prevention Council, sponsored by Allstate Insurance; www.ncpc.org and www.weprevent.org

United States Government Bureau of Justice Assistance; www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/

GETTING ORGANIZED

Organizing from the Inside Out. Julie Morgenstern. Henry Holt and Company

Taming the Paper Tiger. Barbara Hemphill. Kiplinger Books.

Taming the Office Tiger. Barbara Hemphill. Kiplinger Books.

STOCKING UP

The Kitchen Survival Guide. Lora Brody. William Morrow & Company, Inc.

The Bloomingdales Home Planner. Bloomingdales Bridal Registry. www.epicurious.com

HOME MAINTENANCE

Bob Vilas Toolbox. Bob Vila. William Morrow & Company, Inc.

Everyones Book of Small Hand and Power Tools. George R. Drake. Reston Publishing.

The Complete Guide to Home Maintenance: How to Prevent Costly Problems Before They Occur. Dave Herberle and Richard Scutella. Betterway Books.

www.doityourself.com

HOUSEWORK AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Household Hints and Tips. Cassandra Kent. DK Publishing.

Hints from Heloise by Heloise. Avon Books.

FLOWERS AND PLANTS

The 20-Minute Gardener. Tom Christopher and Marty Asher. Random House.

Houseplants for Dummies. Larry Hodgson. IDG Books.

The National Gardening Association, www.garden.com National Audubon Society, www.audubon.com

SOCIAL LIFE

Entertaining for Dummies. Suzanne Williamson. IDG Books.

Picnic! by Edith Stoval. Storey Publishing.

Weekend!. Edith Stoval and Pamela Wakefield. Storey Publishing.

Miss Manners Guide for The Turn of the Next Millennium. Judith Martin. Pharos Books.

Miss Manners Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior. Judith Martin. Galahad Books.

Josh Karin at Geppetto Catering in Washington D.C. 202-338-7300.

CORRESPONDENCE

Emily Posts Etiquette. Peggy Post. Harper Collins.

Also see Miss Manners on this topic.

DEALING WITH DEATH

Its Your Choice: The Practical Guide to Planning a Funeral. Thomas Nelson. Scott Foresman & Co., an American Association of Retired Persons Book.

The High Cost of DyingA Guide to Funeral Planning. Gregory Young. Prometheus Books.

McDonough Funeral Home, Belmar, NJ, 732-681-1113

Dying for Business. Marketplace Radio Series. Debra Baer, August 17September 4, 1998. For audio tapes of the series, visit Marketplace Radios Web site: www.marketplace.org

Both Direct Casket and Consumer Casket sell caskets and urns directly to consumers at reduced prices. www.directcasket.comwww.consumercasket.com

CHILDREN (FOR THOSE WHO ONLY BORROW THEM)

Baby StuffA No-nonsense Guide for Every Parents Lifestyle. Ari and Joanna Lipper. Dell.

Guide to Baby Products. Sandy Jones with Werner Freitag. Consumer Reports Books.

The Babysitter Book: Everything You and Your Babysitter Need to Know Before You Leave the House. Jane Crowley Pardini. NTC/Contemporary Publishing.

Baby Catalogs

Right Start: 800-348-6386

One Step Ahead: 800-274-8440

Lands End Kids: 800-356-4444

L. L. Bean Kids: 800-341-4341

Safety Zone: 800-999-3030

Perfectly Safe: 800-837-KIDS

MOVING

Interstate moves are regulated by the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. To see if a mover is registered and insured, call FHWA: 202-358-7106; 202-358-7028; 202-358-7063.

Washington Consumers Checkbook Magazine. Winter/Spring 1998, Vol. 10, No. 4.

Moving, A Complete Checklist and Guide for Relocation. Karen G. Adams. Silvercat Publications.

Barbara and Leon Shoag. This husband and wife team has been selling real estate in the Long Beach, California area since 1981. They have been top award-winners for the past 12 years and represent about equal numbers of buyers and sellers. They can be reached at 562-427-0669 or by e-mail at .

www.movers.com

www.moverquotes.com

www.moversresource.com

www.realtimes.com

www.springstreet.com

TRAVEL

2002 Tips Even The Best Business Travelers May Not Know. Christopher J. McGinnis. Irwin Professional Publishing.