I admit it. I’m pretty messy, especially at work.  I’d like to attribute it to how well I multi-task, but mainly, I’m a slob.  I’m not slobby by way of leaving food out to rot, stacking up drink cans or peeing in my work area, but I leave a lot of stuff hanging around because I’ll “get to it eventually.”

There are a few reasons for this

• I really really dislike throwing anything away. 
  Because I honestly think I’ll probably need it eventually.  I think the problem is that I equate the concept of “eventually” to hundreds if not thousands of years, and assuming I’ll actually live that long because we’ll find a way to extend our lives before mine ends.
• I’m a procrastinator
  So I’ll stick whatever gadget there, thinking I’ll get to it soon, but frankly, after two years of having a twist-on BNC adapter on my desk, am I really ever going to get to crimping it on that other gadget over there in the corner?  YES!
• I’m, um, “opportunistic”
  When faced with something I *have* to do vs something I *want* to do, sometimes the latter gets the upper hand.  Hey, maybe I should delegate more of the crap jobs?

Now for my new and improved work area.  The first section is some excess space that was available, to make the work area more inviting.  On second thought, that’s probably not a good idea, because do I really WANT more people staying longer to bug me?

How sweet is that.  Some potpourri, candles, pictures.  Oh, and the network cables look so inviting.  btw, if you look real hard, the three pictures on the left still have the factory models in them; I still haven’t put my own pictures in the frames.  For shame, for shame. 

Now for the actual work area: 

1. Avaya 4620 IP Phone
   I love my phone.  I use a headset all the time, and I use speakerphone every once in a while because the Avaya IP phones actually have great full duplex speakerphones.  I can record calls, run our company calls, dual-connect my cell phone, see phone system alarms and more with my phone.
2. Family Picture
   What desk is complete without a family picture or two?  I probably will put more, maybe up in area #7
3. Evacuation Supervisor Fireman’s Hat
   I’m the building’s facilities manager and evac supervisor.  I make sure people leave the building on time during our test runs.  I do sweeps and check that people aren’t sitting there browsing MySpace when they should be out in the parking lot so we can pass our certification.
4. 8-port KVM Switch
   No REAL IT Director is complete without their KVM switch.  This one is old-skool, with no USB or speaker connectivity - just PS2 keyboard, mouse and VGA.  I don’t like having to move monitors around when I test laptops, desktops or whatever, so I just hook it up to an available cable and share one set of keyboard/video/mouse for as many systems as I need to test. 
5. Fridge
   Yup, I keep my fridge right at my desk. I can’t tell you the times I had a need for emergency Pepsi infusion and my life was spared because as I fell to the floor in my withdrawal-induced shock, I was able to miraculously open the fridge on the way down and grab a shot of sugar and caffeine.  It’s also a good container for ketchup and mayo for when the local fast food chains forget to put them in my bag.
6. Printer
   Another electronic testament to my laziness; I click print and do not need to get up to pick up the printout.
7. Wide Open Space for more crap
   Soon, I’ll be able to put up posters, signs, pictures, funny comic strip cutouts, New Orleans Looter photoshops, mirrors, action figurines and all sorts of stuff to make the place truly “mine”.  Heck, I’ve been here seven years; might as well start acting like it.
8. Kung Fu Squirrel
   Please, for your own sake, don’t mess with me.  My ninja squirrel who sings “Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting… WHUUAH!” in a chipmonk-style voice will lay waste to anyone who crosses me.  And beware, he has no volume control.
9. Toolkit
   Just in case. 

If you’re interested in the before pictures, click for the extended entry.  You know you want to!

Here are some examples of how my cube and our work area(s) looked before all these changes.