I don't do a great deal of observing, but for the nights that I do expect to head out, I get Skytools 3 to generate observing lists for me. Check the software out at
http://www.skyhound.com/skytools.html well worth the price.
This way I can choose a few favorites and a few new objects, and spend some time looking for the fainter objects when they are on the meridian.
Never disappointed!
Cheers
Chris