There are 38 days remaining until our office move. The moving coordinator is trying desperately to instill a sense of urgency in the staff but we just don’t care. It isn’t that we’re apathetic, although we are. It’s simply that it is hard to get excited about moving to a space that you have only seen on a large piece of foamcore. It’s a nice looking piece of foamcore and all but it just isn’t the same as actual space.
Our initial task is to put dots on things. Red dots are for items that are going to be thrown away and green dots are coming with us. The thing is, since I haven’t seen my new office, I don’t really know exactly what I want to bring with me. I have a big table that holds all my teaching materials. My boss seems to think that it should go. However, if I don’t have it I don’t know where I will keep my teaching materials. Will they get me a new table? Is there room for a table in my new office? No one seems to have answers for me.
The Executive Director and the Moving Coordinator suggested that I keep my desk. I told them I can but the bottom left drawer doesn’t open. They said I can put a red dot on it. Although I am excited at the prospect of a new desk, I am having visions of arriving to my new office and being deskless. I also have red dots on all my file cabinets because they don’t lock or they have locks and no keys. We are now to be required to lock all cabinets containing private information. Duh, we should have been doing that already. At least my office door is always locked so I feel a little better about the confidential stuffs in here. Anyway, I am picturing myself sitting in my chair, the only piece of furniture with a green dot amid a pile of student files, teaching materials, and random desk crap. It sounds awful.
I also don’t know how I can get the rest of my stuff ready for the move. I know I am supposed to purge things but the problem is that I don’t really have all that much to purge. My office, which I inherited, has all these old pictures on the wall of students, employees, and employers gone past. I know who maybe two of them are. If it were up to me, the pictures would all get red dots. I don’t want them in my new space. I don’t think I can throw them away though. Maybe someone else will want them in their new space? I just don’t want to deal with stuff that isn’t mine. In addition to the pictures I have a bunch of books, magazines, and assorted gunk that came with the office. I guess I can just toss it. That will feel kind of nice.
The biggest hassle about the move is that I have to take all my shoes home. The Eight or so pairs of heels that live under my desk are quite happy there and don’t’ really want to be carted back to my apartment and then brought to the new office. I thought about throwing them in the moving bins we will eventually be getting but we have been instructed to bring home “personal items”. I would assume that includes my shoes. If there is room in my bins they are so going in there. Screw it.
One wind song left. Four random new ones.
1. I listen to the wind/ To the wind of my soul/ Where I’ll end up well I think/ Only God really knows. The Wind of my Soul, Cat Stevens. Identified by Mood Indigo
2. Once I had a love and it was a gas/ Soon turned out had a heart of glass/ Seemed like the real thing, only to find/ Mucho mistrust, love's gone behind. Heart of Glass, Blondie. Identified by Katrina
3. Oh Elise it doesn't matter what you say/ I just can't stay here every yesterday/ Like keep on acting out the same. A Letter to Elise, The Cure. Identified by Danielle
4. These are the games that we employ/ I am a girl and you’re a boy/ No matter what you said to me/ I didn’t have the energy.
5. Can you hear them/ The helicopters/ Are in New York/ No need for words now/ We sit in silence. This Mess We're In, PJ Harvey featuring Thom Yorke. Identified by WLFG
Showing posts with label Furniture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Furniture. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Friday, October 20, 2006
THINGS THAT I LOVE- PART I
I have decided to have a nice little theme for the rest of the week called things that I love. Many of you may assume that I will write about Tony, or my wonderful friends, or my fantabulous family but I won't. Everyone knows I love those people and I write plenty about them anyway. These will be slightly more random things that I lovee. The first is a thing that often gets mentioned on this fun little page. This thing is my couch.
One day, Tony and I decided we were going to go shopping for a dining room set. See we have this adorable little sunroom that acted as a storage closet for the first year we lived here. I decided it would be the perfect size for a 4-seater dining room table, and it is. But that is another story. So we are looking at Broadway Antique Market for a dining room set and I turned this corner and came upon a couch. This was not just any couch; it was a vision of loveliness. Birds started tweeting and the stars came out. In the store, the couch was set up in a big square. When arranged as such it was about the size of a king sized bed. I ran to find Tony and brought him to it. He was as impressed as I. We had to have it. The couch we had was free and ugly and came with the apartment, we really did have to have it.
The couch cost more money that we really were planning to spend. Remember we were looking for a cheap dining set. The couch happens to be a Milo Baughman design (for any of you who know about furniture it may mean something, it didn't to me) and was from 1979. It wasn’t cheap. It wasn’t unreasonable either. I start to have a "what if someone else buys our couch panic" so I call my Mom. My birthday was coming up, in like a month, and I asked if she would pay for some of the couch as my birthday present. She said she would, she is a really good mom. Then I did something bold and daring. I asked if she would call the store and buy the couch for us and then we would pay her back for the rest of it because that way we could get it right away and not have to wait for checks to go in the mail. She said she would, she is a really good mom. Like a spoiled dork I called the store and told them I wanted the couch and that “My Mommy would be calling to purchase it”. Tony made much fun of me for that one, and I deserved it.
When we got home, we realized the couch was not going to look right in out living room. We took the room that is supposed to be a dining room but was the book and computer room and moved it into the old living room thus making room for the couch. It was a serious process. I have a lot of books. It had to be done, for the couch’s sake. Plus, the room that used to be the living room has no light in it (switch but no light) and we didn’t even realize that we were leading a life of needless darkness. Mere days later, our couch arrived. We had a hell of a time arranging it to our liking but we got it done and promptly began to relax. It is a heavenly place of joy and happiness. I like to have people over and we can all sit on the couch and all be comfortable. Plus the house flows better with this room arrangement. My couch, my couch, what would I ever do without you.
Now, because you can't totally tell in the picture, because it is darker than it is supposed to be and because of the angles, you can't really see the shelving, the couch's best feature. See those things like the lamp, Jabba the Hut, The Electric Mayhem, etc, are actually on a little shelf that is attached to the couch and upholstered as part of the couch. You never have to look for somewhere to put your cup, snack, beer, etc. Couch is wonderful. I love couch. And yes, my table has clutter and my house is not spotless. It is pretty clean for me in this picture though so give me a break.
One day, Tony and I decided we were going to go shopping for a dining room set. See we have this adorable little sunroom that acted as a storage closet for the first year we lived here. I decided it would be the perfect size for a 4-seater dining room table, and it is. But that is another story. So we are looking at Broadway Antique Market for a dining room set and I turned this corner and came upon a couch. This was not just any couch; it was a vision of loveliness. Birds started tweeting and the stars came out. In the store, the couch was set up in a big square. When arranged as such it was about the size of a king sized bed. I ran to find Tony and brought him to it. He was as impressed as I. We had to have it. The couch we had was free and ugly and came with the apartment, we really did have to have it.
The couch cost more money that we really were planning to spend. Remember we were looking for a cheap dining set. The couch happens to be a Milo Baughman design (for any of you who know about furniture it may mean something, it didn't to me) and was from 1979. It wasn’t cheap. It wasn’t unreasonable either. I start to have a "what if someone else buys our couch panic" so I call my Mom. My birthday was coming up, in like a month, and I asked if she would pay for some of the couch as my birthday present. She said she would, she is a really good mom. Then I did something bold and daring. I asked if she would call the store and buy the couch for us and then we would pay her back for the rest of it because that way we could get it right away and not have to wait for checks to go in the mail. She said she would, she is a really good mom. Like a spoiled dork I called the store and told them I wanted the couch and that “My Mommy would be calling to purchase it”. Tony made much fun of me for that one, and I deserved it.
When we got home, we realized the couch was not going to look right in out living room. We took the room that is supposed to be a dining room but was the book and computer room and moved it into the old living room thus making room for the couch. It was a serious process. I have a lot of books. It had to be done, for the couch’s sake. Plus, the room that used to be the living room has no light in it (switch but no light) and we didn’t even realize that we were leading a life of needless darkness. Mere days later, our couch arrived. We had a hell of a time arranging it to our liking but we got it done and promptly began to relax. It is a heavenly place of joy and happiness. I like to have people over and we can all sit on the couch and all be comfortable. Plus the house flows better with this room arrangement. My couch, my couch, what would I ever do without you.
Now, because you can't totally tell in the picture, because it is darker than it is supposed to be and because of the angles, you can't really see the shelving, the couch's best feature. See those things like the lamp, Jabba the Hut, The Electric Mayhem, etc, are actually on a little shelf that is attached to the couch and upholstered as part of the couch. You never have to look for somewhere to put your cup, snack, beer, etc. Couch is wonderful. I love couch. And yes, my table has clutter and my house is not spotless. It is pretty clean for me in this picture though so give me a break.
Now, for songs you may catch me listening to while lounging on my couch. For the record, my favorite spot is in that corner by the lamp. Tony's favorite spot is in the same place. Somethimes we steal each other's seat.
Take On Me, A Ha- I had this great mix CD that I brought home on I think a Christmas visit and forced my family to listen to. We actually had Dad singing the chorus on this one. He indulges us ladies in the family a lot. Thanks Papa.
Up From The Skies, Jimi Hendrix- After that last survey, you all know how I feel about Jimi Hendrix. I love him and his music. I kind of miss the Hendrix black light poster I had in college. I left it in the Sr. Year common room (along with my boom box) because I was in such a hurry to get the hell out of there. Now I'm all nostalgic and want to go back, kinda. Go figure.
Go Go Gadget Gospel, Gnarls Barkley- In case anyone doesn't know St. Elsewhere was amazing. So amazing that you'd listen to it over and over. Then you realize you never really want to hear it again for another six months at least. That doesn't take away from the fact that it is truly awesome and excellent though.
Monday, September 18, 2006
A RECIPIE FOR RELAXATION
When you lead a life full of relaxation and procrastination you sometimes realize you have a lack of things to write about. Then, upon further reflection, you realize that you have a lot of advice to give people who simply can’t seem to relax and do nothing. With that in mind, I present “Ways To Keep Yourself Entertained Without Using Your Brain.” Before I start, however, let me issue a small disclaimer. I believe that use of the brain is important and should be done on a regular basis. I just know that sometimes, even a brain needs a vacation. Please realize that these suggestions should not be adopted as a typical way of life. I strongly suggest that you limit these activities to one day a week, maybe two if you are having a particularly mentally exhausting time. If you spend much more time than that
1. Purchase couch that is so incredibly comfortable that you rarely want to leave it. Someone could technically use a bed instead of a couch but then you run the risk of not getting out of bed all day and that is much worse than not getting off the couch all day.
2. Cover said couch in blankets and pillows to make it even more comfortable. It is still not a bed. Even if you end up sleeping there it is not a bed.
3. If you do not already possess it, order On Demand cable, preferably with a DVR. Any cable package with fewer than 300 channels is unacceptable. The “Dating on Demand” channel will provide you with hours and hours of entertainment. There is truly nothing funnier than a bunch of guys who really want a date. (Note: the girls, for some reason, are not as funny. Skip them unless you actually want a date). The random assortment of horrible movies at your disposal is more than any functioning brain can handle. Make sure brain is disabled before viewing such movies as: Over The Top, Dutch, Playing God, See Jane Date, or More Valuable than Rubies.
4. If you have not already subscribed, sign up for Netflix. Be sure to mix some decent viewing (decent is not equal to thought provoking) in with horrible but entertaining crap. Along with movies, be sure to have some TV series mixed in for when you have exhausted all TV series that are On Demand because you will not always have the attention span for a movie. For some reason it seems to be easier to sit through four 1-hour shows than one 2-hour movie.
5. Have something else nearby to distract you if cable/Netflix are no longer able to hold your attention. I suggest a pet. I suggest a pet such as fish because dogs and cats require more attention and therefore more brainpower. Fish have pretty colors and sometimes chase each other around thereby providing hours of uninvolved entertainment.
6. Have easy to manage food at your disposal or, make a lot of complicated food before settling into your comfy couch haven. I recommend having various deliver menus easily accessable. Micorwavable foods are also good. Anything that involves chopping is not good. Having pre-made delicious salads available is a good way to remain healthy while being lazy.
7. Have some mentally stimulating activities on hand, just in case. I recommend crossword puzzles, sudoku, and books. If you employ those tools, you still will not have to leave the couch, or even assume an upright position, as a board game would require.
8. Do not engage in these activities alone. That makes you pathetic. If you do these activities alone and then realize you are pathetic you will become mentally stressed out thus negating the relaxing activities that made you pathetic in the first place. In fact, the more people you have together doing these activities the better. Remember how much fun sleepovers were?
9. Make forts whenever possible. I have not made a fort in a long time but I think one lies in the near future. I certainly hope so.
If you follow these tips your brain will return to work well rested and ready to go. Happy relaxing.
Oh, having good music around is also crucial to relaxation. It helps when you are done with TV and are observing a pet. Some songs you may want to try may include:
Big River, Johnny Cash- The reason that Johnny Cash is good for relaxing is that you always know what to expect. This way you don’t have to use your brain. The music is good; it keeps your feet tapping. The songs are generally short so you don’t need much of an attention span. I highly recommend this.
Kyrie Eleison, The Electric Prunes- This song will make you feel as if you are under the influence of something relaxing. As long as you ignore the fact that it is essentially a requiem you won’t think much while listening.
Country House, Blur- Not only do you get to tap your feet but you get to hear about the horrors of the Rat Race. This is exactly what you are trying to escape. It will remind you that although you can live in a very big house in the country that nothing beats taking it easy.
1. Purchase couch that is so incredibly comfortable that you rarely want to leave it. Someone could technically use a bed instead of a couch but then you run the risk of not getting out of bed all day and that is much worse than not getting off the couch all day.
2. Cover said couch in blankets and pillows to make it even more comfortable. It is still not a bed. Even if you end up sleeping there it is not a bed.
3. If you do not already possess it, order On Demand cable, preferably with a DVR. Any cable package with fewer than 300 channels is unacceptable. The “Dating on Demand” channel will provide you with hours and hours of entertainment. There is truly nothing funnier than a bunch of guys who really want a date. (Note: the girls, for some reason, are not as funny. Skip them unless you actually want a date). The random assortment of horrible movies at your disposal is more than any functioning brain can handle. Make sure brain is disabled before viewing such movies as: Over The Top, Dutch, Playing God, See Jane Date, or More Valuable than Rubies.
4. If you have not already subscribed, sign up for Netflix. Be sure to mix some decent viewing (decent is not equal to thought provoking) in with horrible but entertaining crap. Along with movies, be sure to have some TV series mixed in for when you have exhausted all TV series that are On Demand because you will not always have the attention span for a movie. For some reason it seems to be easier to sit through four 1-hour shows than one 2-hour movie.
5. Have something else nearby to distract you if cable/Netflix are no longer able to hold your attention. I suggest a pet. I suggest a pet such as fish because dogs and cats require more attention and therefore more brainpower. Fish have pretty colors and sometimes chase each other around thereby providing hours of uninvolved entertainment.
6. Have easy to manage food at your disposal or, make a lot of complicated food before settling into your comfy couch haven. I recommend having various deliver menus easily accessable. Micorwavable foods are also good. Anything that involves chopping is not good. Having pre-made delicious salads available is a good way to remain healthy while being lazy.
7. Have some mentally stimulating activities on hand, just in case. I recommend crossword puzzles, sudoku, and books. If you employ those tools, you still will not have to leave the couch, or even assume an upright position, as a board game would require.
8. Do not engage in these activities alone. That makes you pathetic. If you do these activities alone and then realize you are pathetic you will become mentally stressed out thus negating the relaxing activities that made you pathetic in the first place. In fact, the more people you have together doing these activities the better. Remember how much fun sleepovers were?
9. Make forts whenever possible. I have not made a fort in a long time but I think one lies in the near future. I certainly hope so.
If you follow these tips your brain will return to work well rested and ready to go. Happy relaxing.
Oh, having good music around is also crucial to relaxation. It helps when you are done with TV and are observing a pet. Some songs you may want to try may include:
Big River, Johnny Cash- The reason that Johnny Cash is good for relaxing is that you always know what to expect. This way you don’t have to use your brain. The music is good; it keeps your feet tapping. The songs are generally short so you don’t need much of an attention span. I highly recommend this.
Kyrie Eleison, The Electric Prunes- This song will make you feel as if you are under the influence of something relaxing. As long as you ignore the fact that it is essentially a requiem you won’t think much while listening.
Country House, Blur- Not only do you get to tap your feet but you get to hear about the horrors of the Rat Race. This is exactly what you are trying to escape. It will remind you that although you can live in a very big house in the country that nothing beats taking it easy.
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