Obviously being new to Skyrim I have a difficult time grasping the mechanics of the radiant quests due to their perceived inconsistency. Some items seem to have a predetermined location when starting the game, others seem to be generated once accepting the quest. Also, quest givers, if you save before asking about work and get an undesired place you can reattempt and get a new location, other quest givers won't do this and stubbornly keep sending you to the same locale every time. As you can see the latter can create quest conflicts and also regarding the latter sometimes a radiant quest giver will seem to follow a pattern and will give you quests to locales in some predetermined order.

Is there a list anyone has created that shows the order of things in Skyrim and what items are random & selected at game start and which characters will toss things up and send you to random location each time and vice versa?

So the best thing to do if you pick some kind of quest or sidequest (under the menu with miscellaneous) is to try to finished it first but you can freely travel on other parts of the map and add more quest to you inventory. It is reasonable to do the quests and don't travel around and kill as you like. (because you will eventually have a difficult time to finish some quests). (Talk a lot with people, accept every quest if you like it or not if you don't...) (save often and for the best - before every quest you choose.)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim beginner guide: http://www.gamesradar.com/skyrim-guide/
Skyrim Tips and Hints: http://www.gamingreality.com/2011/11/skyrim-tips-and-hints.html
Skyrim Tricks, Tips and Secrets!: http://www.nextgenupdate.com/forums/skyrim/508716-65-skyrim-tricks-tips-secrets.html