Michelle Goodrum over at The Turning of Generations has a very interesting project/meme going on, she is trying to help us all get our files, digital and paper, organized. I have seen Michelle organize via her blog before, she is VERY good at this. I am following along, because I just know she will challenge me or teach me something new. I can use all the challenges and hints I can get.
Somehow, I felt Michelle was talking right to me this week when she posted as part of her challenge and directions for the week:
" We will need an area where we can work and return to. This week's project is to set up or designate such an area.
For those of you who don't have a space to dedicate for these projects, due to small living area or living the mobile lifestyle, you will have to get a bit more creative..."
Well, yes, we do live the mobile lifestyle and yes, it is a small living area. Were you talking to me Michelle? LOL
I took that challenge personal, and then, I looked around Tana, and I started giggling. And, even though I really don't believe I am going to do this, I am going to show you why finding a dedicated space for a work area is just NOT happening. I grabbed Sony and started taking photos, I did not clean up, nor pick up anything, this is what it REALLY looks like to live in a less than 400 square foot RV. True grit sorta stuff here.
GULP!!
Let us begin. Below: my kitchen on one side and the office on the other. The office is a small desk and yes, the kitchen dining table as well. What you see on the desk is my computer to the far right (under a pad of note paper. To the left is the keyboard and the monitor. Yes, I could do without both of them, but, well, NOT happening! As much as I work and use my computer, I want and need that monitor and keyboard. They stay! Let's see what else is there, web camera on the monitor, a wireless mouse, my Ott light (that stays as well, you don't want to be around me in the winter sans Ott light.) There is a small cup of pencils, pens, emery boards. My small external hard drive. Back in the far right corner, my earring board, beside it on the wall, is a gray plastic file folder thingy, it has papers in it, and I also dump my fanny pack, diabetes testing kit, battery charger for the camera and cords for the camera in there. Hanging from the Ott light is my headset with microphone, the cord for the scanner and my little iPod Nano thingy, with ear buds. Between the desk and the table, are dog crates, dog bed, and a bunch of other stuff, a BUNCH of other stuff. Oh, and down in the foreground, right, Man's foot resting on an electric heater! LOL
Below: Here is the rest of the office, the kitchen dining table. Shelf with plants, a photo digital frame, that small wooden basket holds our salt and pepper and stuff. Man and Captain Hook are sitting at Man's computer desk, err, the kitchen dining table. Assorted papers.
Below: a closer look at my desk area, let's see, a bottle of water, partially finished, some walnuts for a snack, hand cream (the really good stuff, made from goat's milk, yummy) and even a pair of earrings near the wireless mouse. There are any number of cords, including 2 USB hubs. To the far left is my cell phone, upside down in a little wooden wall thingy, getting charged. And, please don't look at all those electrical cords plugged in behind that. Whew. Maxed out. And, my string of holiday lights, I have 4 of these in the main living area of Tana, they look so nice at night, make it cozy and warm, atmosphere enhancers.
Below: is the space just to my left when I am sitting at my desk, currently not covered with something, frequently covered with papers, or other office equipment.
Oh, geesh, I thought hard before I included this photo. SIGH. This is a closet in the bedroom area. Down at the bottom, my washer/dryer combo. LOVE my Splendide. But, what I wanted to show you is where I stash some of the other techy toys.
Below: On the shelf immediately above the Splendide you will find, an extra set of wireless headphones for Man (in a black box), the scanner (which is currently not in this storage area, it is in the office), the printer and the projector, as well as the laundry detergent and fabric softener, our bath towels, one of Man's shirts he wants laundered, a 3 drawer storage container, and a couple of rolls of toilet paper. The techy toys are stored here because it is a very stable place for them to ride when we are running down the hard road. In other words, stuff does not bounce up here, those drawers will slide open, (that is why the bungie cord), but nothing else moves. It is safe for my techy toys. I like safe places for my techy toys.
Below: back out in the kitchen/office, when I want to scan I may use this space:
Or, I may use this corner of the kitchen dining table. Note that little round thing beside Man's computer, is his new compass to assist in finding the best direction for the new Dish satellite to be pointed. And, to the left, a few papers waiting to have something done with them. Piles of paper have a habit of showing up just everywhere!
The printer may occupy either space as well, here I am using it on the sink area. I have to catch the paper so it does not go in the sink and the printer is plugged in over by the coffee pot.
So, Michelle, my work area is, mmm, where I can find the space at any given moment for the techy toys. I'll have to rough it, with no specific area set aside for my projects. In a pinch, I can use the other side of the sink, where there is that huge hunk (about 3 running feet) of counter top, see the first photo. Don't laugh, 3 feet is a LOT of room when it is free and available. We were using that the other week when we had 3 computers, the printer, the scanner and two external hard drives all running and working away at the same time.
Not shown: several cupboards where I have boxes of research and books stashed. Shhhh, we don't want to upset Man, boxes of research and books are heavy. Tana needs to loose a few pounds. Ooops.
Before I added the keyboard and monitor to the mix, I could get the computer, the scanner and the printer all on the desk top. Oh, well, like I said before, the monitor STAYS!
Looks like Tana and I have failed this assignment. Michelle, does that mean I have to turn in my 21st COFH badge??
Not shown: several cupboards where I have boxes of research and books stashed. Shhhh, we don't want to upset Man, boxes of research and books are heavy. Tana needs to loose a few pounds. Ooops.
Before I added the keyboard and monitor to the mix, I could get the computer, the scanner and the printer all on the desk top. Oh, well, like I said before, the monitor STAYS!
Looks like Tana and I have failed this assignment. Michelle, does that mean I have to turn in my 21st COFH badge??
.
