Monday, September 21, 2009

Cramped Space

The only real issue that I have with this house is that our bedroom is too damned small. It's only about 10x10, and we have a queen-sized bed, two bed tables, a chest-of-drawers, and this postage stamp sized desk. The desk is crammed into a corner, where one's back is right up against the bed's footboard. This is especially hard to deal with because the desk chair is really uncomfortable when used for any real length of time. Our good chair wouldn't fit in the space, so we have to use a smaller, less ergonomic one. Plus, we gave Joel the nice desk and we had to use this little piece o' crap. It's claustrophobic to say the least. Especially when you consider that over the past five years we've gotten used to a bedroom that was larger than some apartment's I've had--a room with its own dedicated office area.

The real trouble is that, with my laptop, I've gotten used to sitting in my wingback, on the sofa, or on the bed, places that are more accommodating to my backside. Now that I have to use the desktop, I'm really experiencing the pain of "monkey butt". But I can't gripe because I can at least look forward to getting the laptop fixed. Poor Nettl has nothing to look forward to. I'm trying to think of how I could reposition this desk to make it feel less cramped, but I'm coming up with nothing.

This is the office area in our other bedroom:

This is our office area now:

Yeah, I know the chair is hideous, but it's the only one we have that will fit in that space and has at least a little padding. Meantime, I at least have enough work to keep me busy into October and my laptop will be going to the hospital this week. Thank the Force for warranties!

Have a great beginning of the week!

P.S. Has anyone else noticed that Blogger has been acting a little wonky the past few days? At first, I thought it was my laptop, but it's on this computer as well.

12 comments:

Lynette said...

I've been wracking my brain trying to think of some way to change the situation with the desktop as well. But the only thing I can think of is to move the bed closer to the eastern wall. That would free up a bit more space and let us pull back from the desk a little bit. But that would mean that the bed wouldn't be centered under the window and that would make you be weird. :(

Steph said...

Then we'd be feeling cramped trying to get to the bathroom. I've thought of turning the desk 90 degrees to the right. The processor could sit sideways on the shelf beneath the desk. I may try that today and see if getting around to my side of the bed would be harder or easier.

ILDMW!

Lynette said...

UILDML...FIUEUDT!

B.E. Earl said...

No other room anywhere else in the house for the desk?

At my last apartment, I had a big walk-in closet that I never would have used and not a lot of room in the bedroom for my desk. So I converted the closet to a mini-office. Jammed a desk in the back of it and voila! It was a great work space. Plus I got to close the doors when I was done with work and it was like it never existed. Fan-freakin-tastic.

And I haven't noticed anything wonky with Blogger lately. What's been going on?

Lynette said...

The dining room has been used before, but amazingly enough, we're using it as a dining room! Plus the piano sits against the wall where the computer would go in there. We've considered the little alcove off the kitchen but there isn't a phone jack there to plug in the DSL equpimnet.

It's really a problem.

I haven't had any trouble with blogger. Maybe it's your new template.

Steph said...

Earl: After Micah moves to England next year we're going to turn his room into an office. Until then we can deal. This house was built in 1930... closet space is nearly non-existent!

willow said...

Hey, I kinda like the cool blue chair! Oh, and tell me about monkey butt. A laptop is at the top of my wish list. (well, maybe second, after the Nikon D80) :^)

Steph said...

Willow: Have you ever seen a baboon's ass? Yeah...

Steph said...

To everyone: Well, I turned the desk 90 degrees to the right and it fits even better! We even have a view out the bay window now and I can get to my side of the bed when Nettl's on the computer. Woot!It doesn't feel so cramped because there's a view from about 1:00 to 5:00 (directionally speaking) - we're not just staring at two walls.

MUCH better!

Lynette said...

I was about to send you an email and ask you how it worked out. GOOD DEAL! I can't wait to see it when I get home! :)

Kathy Handyside said...

I knew you could solve the problem with your vast amount of creativity! : ) Just takes time for your brain to look at all the parameters, and then voila!

Teri and the cats of Furrydance said...

Problem solved, I love happy endings (and know about Monkey Butt--not that ending)