Like most working people I spend my days at a computer in a cube in an office. Because I spend most of my waking life at my desk I have tried to make it a comfortable place, decorated with things that make me happy. I have been very deliberate in the things that I have on my desk and their locations. Everything that I can see while I am sitting at my computer is there for a reason and helps me get through the day.
Orange Lei - Just one of the few Oregon State things in my cube. It hangs on the hook that I hang my coat on. Always there in case I need to add a little Oregon State spirit to any occasion or outfit.
Dilbert Cartoons - I had a 365 day Dilbert calendar one year and I have 4 cartoons that I find amusing and applicable to my workplace, job, and previous boss. (To be fair my boss was actually a great boss.)
The London Section - My favorite place on the planet is London. It is the most amazing place I've every been to. It is my second home. I still hold onto the dream of someday living there. It is my happy place. As my happy place I have some reminders of it prominently placed in my view so that I can retreat there if need be.
Calendar - I always have a London calendar (the 2013 calendar has not arrived yet so its still sitting on December 2012).
Tri-Picture Frame - This is a set of pictures that I got at Covent Garden the last time I was in London. It has three pictures of London sights in black and white and red. Three of my favorite places/things are pictured. The top is a picture of a Lion Statue at Trafalgar Square with Big Ben above it. The middle is a double decker bus. And the bottom is St. Paul's Cathedral.
London Underground Sign - One of my favorite things about London is the Tube. So I have a Underground sign that I got from the London Transport Museum so it's official. In fact my desktop picture is of the London Underground map. It has been my work desktop for years. Whenever someone sees it for the first time they always react the same way, "Woah! What is that." It makes me happy to have those constant reminders of my favorite place.
Woodstock - Years ago when I worked at Novell, every Christmas we would have a cube decorating contest. Our cubes where huge and contained 4 people, one in each corner. The first Christmas I was there we decided (okay it was mostly me, because I was the only girl) that we would do A Charlie Brown Christmas. I made Snoopy's Dog House, the Christmas tree, Snoopy dressed as Santa with his chimney. And on top of Snoopy's Dog House was Woodstock. After Christmas everything was disassembled and recycled except Woodstock. I was so proud of him and he was small enough that I kept him, and he's been at my desks ever since.
Not pictured: Behind that Kleenez box is a stuffed Snoopy to go with Woodstock. He is a recent addition to the shelf.
Keep Calm and Carry On - The last 6 months or so at work have been pretty stressful. Lots of changes and adjustments to changes and reworking the changes to the changes. One day several months ago I was having a particularly stressful day and was nearing a panic attack. Suddenly the phrase, "Keep Calm and Carry On" popped into my head. I repeated that phrase for the rest of the day. I knew that I needed that phrase somewhere in my cubical. That weekend I happened to be at a scrapbook store and found a sheet of stickers that had that very thing on it. I bought it, took it home and framed it. It now sits directly in my line of vision so that I have it as a constant reminder, "Keep Calm and Carry On."
Yellow Squishy Star and Little Rubber Duck - The little star leaning against the frame is a stress squeeze thing. I never use it as a stress squeezer but it is a star. And as I love stars I have kept is as a fun little decoration. Little Rubber Duck was a freeby from an inservice and who doesn't love rubber duckies?
Batman - My most recent addition to my shelf is the Vinyl Batman figurine. I love Batman. He is my favorite superhero. I love everything about Batman. I am kind of secretly a little obsessed with Batman. When a friend of mine showed these to me I knew I was destined to have one on my shelf cute. For my birthday present to myself I bought him. I mean how could I resist. For one thing it's adorable and for another its BATMAN! Now he watches over my cube and protects it from villainy.
What Kittens Are - A co-worker of mine several years ago gave me this adorable book. It has pictures of kittens and each page tells what kittens are, ie soft, curious, playful, etc. When I need my kitty fix it is there.
Shotglass - A previous boss went to Mexico and brought each of his employees back a shotglass. I don't drink but I thought it was a good idea to put it on my shelf at work in case the job ever drives me to drink; I wouldn't have to search for a shotglass.
Toothless - Perched atop the book is Toothless from the movie "How to Train Your Dragon." This is most likely my favorite movie of all time. I mean I saw it seven times while it was in theatres, yeah, don't judge me. Toothless reminds me so much of my cat, Sydney. Their mannerisms are the same, their eyes are the same, and Sydney basically has no teeth. Just thinking about that movie makes me happy so I needed Toothless. He's on the book ready to swoop into flight.
The Mugs - Everyone needs a mug at their desk. In my case I have three. I have gotten all three while I worked at PCC as gifts. I keep all three because they are all slightly different sizes and depending on how much hot beverage I am craving determines the mug I use.
Measuring Cup Man - I was visiting my friend Rosina one day and I saw that she had this measuring cup that was a bendable man. It made me giggle and I commented on it. She promptly gave it to me and I promptly brought it to work. I mean I wasn't going to us it for cooking, I have real measuring cups for that. I just find great pleasure in the little pink man with a measuring cup for a head. Yup, I'm odd.
Mini Toothless & Hiccup - Like I said, I really, REALLY like HTTYD.
Jade Plant - Every cube needs some plant to liven things up and clean the office air. I got my Jade from Rosina who was propagating Jades and needed homes for them. I am happy to say that my Jade has done quite well and is very happy. And it's nice to have a little green. (I also have a Japanese Peace Lily on my shelf on the opposite wall for some more green.)
Skelanimals Cat - I love cats. I will freely admit it. And I will also admit I have a bit of a darkside. And I think that this stuffed skeleton cat is adorable. It also has the added benefit of being a stuffed animal which are pretty hard to resist. It's adorableness mixed with macabre; totally up my alley.
Dilbert Phone Customer Service Cartoon - The Dilbert Cartoon was something that someone left behind at my desk when I arrived at Novell. It is a very funny take on phone customer service. I hate the phone (mostly as a result of that Novell job.) and this comic is hanging above my phone. It makes me laugh. It doesn't, however, make me hate the phone any less.
So every day for 9 hours those are the things that I look at. Maybe some day I'll show you the other two and a half walls of my cube. But for right now that should be enough for you to analyze me and gauge my level of crazy.
No comments:
Post a Comment