My office is chaos; I'll admit that right off the bat. On my desk, there's hand lotion, an RSI wristband, two dog collars, and dental floss. Incidentally, there's a computer, and a stack of loose notes.
Not a view I brag about.
So let's look at the landscape of other writers, photographers, bloggers. This is a three part series.
The first is titled: You've Got To Be Shitting Me. The second is called That's More Like It, and the third -- Now You're Talking
Kevin McCollister our favorite LA photographer. Get the book.
Karen Klein, journalist and columnist for Bloomberg and BusinessWeek.
Virginia Jones, photographer and instructor, known most particularly for her images of Birmingham, Alabama, and Paris (yeah, that Paris).
And Wayne. Wayne is a talented photographer and our token Canadian. I have another Canadian, but she's off buying a house so I didn't bother her. But how many of you think Wayne swept the mess from the desk and hid it in the closet?
Ok, maybe these folks are sincere. Maybe their desks do really look, at all times, like they're poised for a photo op at the Ibsen Museum in Bergen. So then I wonder, how did I ever get to be friends with these people -- what could we possibly have in common? Ice cream? Or maybe we like the same cheese.
I honestly have no idea how they get anything done in all that neatness.
Part 2, tomorrow.
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28 comments:
You crack me up.
By the way, "You've Got To Be Shitting Me" has been directed my way on many, many different occasions but never before with such a positive spin.
I always envied those people that have a tidy desk until I realised that I don't have a desk and therefore do not care.
Wow! Impressive--but I bet they did some tidying.
wv: verailes iturcher
Ok, so Kevin can strike me from the inner circle (which is fine, because it was a most austere circle, and never included adult beverages), but I have to post his email:
"I think most people's reactions will be more like 'If this guy has a book of photographs out, how come this picture looks like it was shot from the bottom of a well?' Or as Mark Twain put it, 'Darker than the inside of a cow.'
Did not touch a thing, I swear! Yes, it's sometimes messier than that, but having a clear desk is a priority. I just think better that way!
I can't seem to relate to these obsessive-compulsive photos.
Tidy - does that have something to do with the moon and the ocean?
I'm in awe. You mean these people, they live amongst us?
Kevin I believe. I don't know why.
To the rest: hey listen, I'm working on a new novel with a character who has OCD. I need your help with the research.
These are all so orderly and tranquil. They could be photos in an interior design magazine. Virginia's could be titled "Feline Sleek" :-)
Terrific--I look forward to "and now you're talkin"
I can't believe I didn't make this group.
Very impressive. If I manage to find my camera I might make the "now you're talking" category.
I don't know how I didn't end up in this group. Must have been the camera angle. This quartet is very impressive! {Hello, beautiful Meepsie!!}
My goodness, but you're a competitive lot. The majority will be duking it out tomorrow, in the That's More Like It category. Only three or four of us made the Now We're Talking cut, unless there are some last minute entries.
Years ago a magazine had a contest to pick Mr. or Miss Messy. The winner was written up in the LA Times. Turned out to be a writing professor I'd had at Stanford 20 years earlier. It was good to know that he was now at Claremont. It was not good to know what his office looked like.
About once every three months my desk could make this group...
Obviously these are technologically advanced people. Not a "post it" in site. I stand with poet Linda Dove in the "Defense of Objects" - and clutter
And here I trusted everyone to be as honest as I was...
There are some coming up in this afternoon's post that should make PA and Paula very happy.
I did move a pile of c.c. receipts and filed them where they belong.
Mine will definitely be in the Now You're Talking category. My desk at my office looks like these. But I have not been there in 5 years (650 miles is a rough commute).
Do you work at home, KB?
Btw, your office chaos looks like my office organized.
Yes Marjie, you made the cut! Cafe, that's my excuse -- I work at home. But then, so do these folks.
Well don't go getting all hoity-toity on me. I spend the rest of the time when I'm not blogging picking black cat hair out of the keyboard! For the record, right before I snapped her picture, she was reading your blog KB!
And I can assure you W's desk looks just like that 24/7!
V
Ps Kevin, maybe a wider aperture or higher ISO ?LOL
Its evident they knew u were coming... lol... Kevin's I am surprised.. its too clean...then again, when he sent his book to me he had it wrapped so thickly, he must of thought the rain or the postal person was gonna drop it in the gutter..
btw, your page and Petrea has disappeard off my dashboard!.
I was thinking they all looked like incredibly neat work spaces, too. Then I thought about it and realized my workspace was my lap. Yup. Red Flannel Pajamas meets The Couch Potato. Pretty impressive when you really think about it.
Great post, Karin!
Very expressive of each one personality.
Btw, love reading all the comments too.
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