Python snippet to sort in arbitrary order

comp.py

from collections import defaultdict
def str_md(lexicon,key, value):
    """Generic append key, value to lexicon"""
    lexicon.setdefault(key,value)

# Desired sort order
complist = ['Red', 'Apple', 'Green', 'Tea', 'Purple', 'Haze']
# Dictionary order
alphalist = sorted(complist)
# Create empty dictionary
D  = {}
# Fill dictionary with item:index
for k,v in enumerate(complist):
    str_md(D,k,v)
# Switch key and value
inv_map = {v: k for k, v in D.items()}

# Output the alphabetized list in desired order and then reverse
sorted(alphalist, key=inv_map.__getitem__)
sorted(alphalist, key=inv_map.__getitem__, reverse=True)
# See http://goo.gl/sDbhRQ for other ways to do this