I didn’t want to spend the money on one of those fancy electric stand-up desks so I pieced together an eclectic writing space. It’s in the corner of our small dining area. On top of a long folding table, my computer monitor is on a little wooden chair from my kids’ old set. The monitor is raised to its full height and propped at an angle toward me with a paper towel tube. I have the keyboard on a plastic box on top of another tiny chair. The mouse is on two mismatched boxes. I needed to get everything at a certain height to walk/jog on a treadmill while writing. It was tricky at first, losing my balance and accidentally pulling out the emergency thingymabobber several times. But now, I almost can’t write without walking.

Our miniature parrot has been in the family for 31 years!! Throughout this time, my parents and I have taken turns caring for him depending on our circumstances. After a dozen years, he has once again come under my care. The only space best for his large house, and so he can see out the window, is next to my writing area. I have loved him all these years. Since losing my beloved dog several months ago, things haven’t been the same. It’s nice to have him again, but I’m sad for my parents who had to say goodbye due to health reasons. The computer table is too long for his house to fit next to me. I needed to buy a shorter table and decided it was time to buy one of those fancy schmancy ones.

After taking far too much time to pick one out, I ordered it and eagerly awaited its arrival. I wanted our bird settled into his space as quickly as possible. And then I got the delayed delivery notification. It finally arrived the following week and I dismantled my entire work space and moved the computer. My husband offered to put the desk together. He opened the tattered box and the desk was badly damaged. Almost all of the corners, front and back, (with 2 separate desk pieces) looked like they had been gnawed off by a beaver. And pieces were missing with the nuts and bolts in zip-lock bags. I called the store who had to email the actual seller and wait for a response. The next day they got back to me and wanted pictures of the damage and box and to circle the corresponding damage in the instruction book (which wasn’t in the box)! A whole lot of extra time for a whole lot of nothing! Also, there was a return slip with the apparent previous buyer’s name and shipping address…hahahahaha. Used, returned, and damaged again. How ridiculous! It was dated over a month ago, so who knows what this desk has been through.

…a much too long story to say that I don’t think I was meant to have something fancy. My old set-up works just fine (after I had to piece it all back together because I still don’t know how this will work out). Are they going to pick up this hunk-a-junk? But our bird remains awkwardly in the dining room with nowhere else to put him. We have to squeeze by to get to the kitchen. Besides my mom, he doesn’t exactly love anyone who isn’t me, so this is slightly uncomfortable for my husband. He prefers to keep all his digits. They are known to be a one-person kind of bird. He’s sweet, though. Really! I might write up a story about him one of these days. 31 years—there are stories!