Then There Was a Desk!

I will be the first to say that I, without a doubt, have some of the craziest things happen to me! However, it's from those crazy mishaps, that the best memories arise! For example, the past 24-hours. I am sitting at work, with a back that is less than pleased with any movement right now, and eyes that are heavy from lack of sleep. But in order for those to make sense in this story, we should start near the beginning instead of the end!

Yesterday was payday, and not just any payday; but rather my first pay day from my big job at the library. Furthermore, my first paycheck period since I moved here. After the move, and a few weeks of groceries, new items for my apartment, clothes for work and other necessities... I was desperate for that little piece of paper signed by my boss and holding the wonderful weight of monetary value. So desperate in fact that after making 4 trips to the mailbox to check and see if it had come, and neurotically looking out the window every 5-10 minutes... I decided it would be easier if I just parked it outside and waited for the mailman; and that's exactly what I did! I grabbed my navy blue, crushed velvet, mushroom chair, a container of neon pink Playdoh (good for relieving stress, FYI), the daily newspaper and the book I am currently reading (Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen), and set up camp on the front balcony of my apartment building...for 3 hours and approximately 17 minutes. Then, about the millionth time looking up from my book, I saw him walking down the street! It was everything I could do to restrain myself in the chair until he delivered the mail; but I saw the check go into the mailbox, and when I did, I hit the ground running! It was officially payday!

Later that night, my friend Kathy and I set out to grocery shop after grabbing a bite to eat. This is where the story truly begins! At Wal-Mart, in the furniture isle! It stood slightly taller than 5'6' and was made of a dark brown wood, with black trimming. It was designed to fit at an angle, and had numerous shelves... and before I realized it... I had fallen in love with a desk! In case you didn't know it... true love with furniture goes a little like this. You fall in love and start deciding which part of the house it would look best in and whether or not you will need a lamp to go with it BEFORE you ever see it's price tag. Which in my case, happened a few minutes later when I realized the only thing that kept me from shoving this thing in my cart was it's enormity and weight, and then.... the price... $99. Leave it to me to fall head-over-heels in love with one of the most expensive desks in the store! So, we decided to take a look at a few other desks being held in the back that were in clearance. It took some convincing, but I settled for one that was on sale $45. Even to the point that two clerks took it too the front.... or halfway that is. Because walking back, we had to walk by the original desk isle. When, I felt my heart pang... and with one look, Kathy said, "Oh my god, I'll go get them! Just go stand by your desk!" So, that is how we ended up going to the grocery store and coming home with a desk! Now getting home was interesting part 2!

I live on the second level of an apartment complex. To get to my place, you have to walk up a rather steep set of wood stairs (known for giving it's fair share of splinters). When we got the rest of our items inside, it was time to haul in the very long, very heavy cardboard box that held the pieces of my desk. This process alone took a good 10 minutes. Halfway up, we couldn't budge because we were laughing so hard and it really was SO heavy. Eventually though, we managed to get it into the apartment and in one piece (well, technically many pieces, but you get the point)!

It took over 4 hours to assemble the cute little desk we saw at Wal-Mart. In the time frame, we laughed, we nearly cried, and we dealt with a lot of frustration; but we did it! Now, when you walk into my apartment, the very first thing you will see is a very pretty corner desk, perfect for any writer who needs a place to spread out! Furthermore, it's more than just a piece of furniture because it has it's own little story. Overall, the perfect place to set up my little writing office.

When I woke up this morning I came around the corner to see it still sitting there, and before I dashed (ok stumbled) off to work, I smiled. Now sitting here, aches and pains, sleepiness and all... I know that when I get off work I won't head straight to bed like I joke about. I plan to head straight to my writing desk!