I saw my Dream Desk on Twitter the other day, courtesy of Russ Linton.
Photo from Russ Linton
I need that mug! And that secondary computer. I need that huge-o monitor…and those cool colored Post-its!!
But mostly I just need that mug. 🙂
Although my sister said she’s getting me THIS mug for my birthday. Squeeee!
What is your “must-have” for your desk? What ritual do you perform at your desk before starting your work day? Enquiring minds LOVE to know these things here at More Cowbell!
Happy Weekend, y’all!!
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Both those mugs are fabulous! I’m thinking Chuck Wendig must have coined the phrase on the first one??? 😉
My must-have: a drink. Coffee is the first drink of the day (at my desk; water comes before coffee, gulped at the kitchen sink), is sometimes followed by a breakfast smoothie, and is always followed by water for the remainder of the day.
Ritual: Coffee is placed on the cloth coaster beside my laptop – not so close that I’ll spill it, mind you. Next, I tear away yesterday’s date from the page-a-day calendar, read its message, ogle its image (today: rainforest from above). Then, as I allow my sorely overused laptop to warm up for its laborious day, I catch up on Words With Friends plays (I only play once or twice a day, and mornings are the constant). Finally, I dive in and try to remember to come up for air. 🙂
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You might be right on Chuck. I’m so impressed that you’re able to balance your coffee with water!! That’s awesome, and I’m really bad at that. Your ritual sounds peaceful as hell. 🙂
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I’m not sure this qualifies for something I must have on my desk – but I must have the view of the lake before me when I sit down to write. That’s why I’ve ended up working at the kitchen table even though I possess a beautiful desk. The view is really the best from spot at the end of the table. Oh – and coffee, too. Must have coffee to write.
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I think that’s a lovely “must-have,” Francis. A great view helps me when I’m staring off into space, thinking. 🙂
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Coffee, computer, cat. In that order.
Happy Friday, everyone!
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I can’t believe Harley has allowed himself to be third in that line-up!
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That mug is {{{awesome}}}!
My desk (at home) is not perfect, yet. I’m weird about room on both sides of the computer for hand written notes and I need a place for sticking those colorful post-its–maybe that’s what I’ll do today! Rearrange my desk!
So, wish-list must-haves:
awesome coffee mug
Post-its
White board
Room on desk for scrawling (and possibly sprawling)
Vision board of what I’m working on (that sounds fun)
Thanks for the inspiration!
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That’s a fantastic wish-list. I have some of those on mine too, especially the whiteboard. I need to move so I can have an office that starts from scratch. 🙂
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You can have that first mug.
Until your darling daughter starts to read.
Which, knowing the way your genes combined with your hubby’s, will be any day now.
Happy weekend!
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I don’t know, Renee…Babykins does nothing fast. Seriously, she practices until perfect, and THEN whips out the skill. It cracks me up. So, on the reading front, I don’t see her getting there for at least another year. 🙂
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Those mugs are awesome. Coffee is a must when I write, so is music, and my laptop. My cat is usually sitting close by too. I have to show him some love regularly or else he’ll find a way to get between my fingers and the keyboard. He can’t seem to understand my love for the laptop. Go figure. 🙂
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Your cat just knows that your love for your laptop couldn’t POSSIBLY out-do your love for HIM. 🙂 (Smart kitty.)
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Hi, Jenny! I love both of those mugs! I’m a tea-drinker – gotta have my iced tea, with lemon. 😉
My fave place to write is actually in the dining room, because it has a nice window where I can see the flowers I’ve planted outside, the water fountain I’ve set up, and the bird feeders. I saw my first hummer of the season just a few days ago! Of course, once the kids are home for the summer I’ll have to move up to my desk sometimes for some peace and quiet.
The only downside to the dining room? It’s too close to the kitchen, LOL.
Hope you’re feeling better, hon!
~Kathy
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P.S. – Did I beat Gloria today? *gasp* She must be in the throes of house-selling purgatory…
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You did beat Gloria. She has not been by. 🙂
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I’m in the dining room most of the time for the same reasons. I love the view, and being in the middle of the house. Plus, I can see into the living room when Baby Girl is playing, thus keeping an eye on her.
Of course, her and her toys ease their way into the dining room with me and the ever-present laundry pile. That’s just the way of the toddler. 🙂
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I want your view, Kathy…especially the fountain. 🙂
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Diet Dr. Pepper. I get sort of sentient about halfway through the first can. Full sentience takes more. lol Um, yeah, not quite through my first can. lol Junior Mints help. Then I open email and read a few blogs. I kind of stay off Twitter until my judgement is better. lol
Hope the flu is in the rear view mirror by now? What a bummer to get it now, when it’s spring! Not that there is a good time to get the flu. 😦
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Sentient…LOL. I know the feeling, but for me, it’s coffee that clears my cobwebs.
The flu is gone, but the secondary bronchial infection is still clearing itself out. And I want my voice back! My voice started going on May 4th and it’s still not all the way back. I hate it!
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The second mug – love.
Here, I’ll share a little glimpse of my desk: http://morgandragonwillow.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/001_Snapseed.jpg
(The photo was taken for an interview – I don’t usually have my novel sitting prettily on top of a notebook of ideas. BUT all the items pictured do have a permanent place on my desk 🙂 )
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WHY don’t you have your novel sitting on your desk always?? 🙂
I am in awe that you have a microphone sitting on your desk at all times. Do you do a radio show? Karaoke? What??
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Voice over work. The day job has been taking over so I’ve had to turn down work lately, but I’m the voice behind Jenni James’ retelling of Beauty and the Beast. 🙂
And the little man likes to read stories into the microphone. Maybe I should have him do a guest voice post. 🙂
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Yes, yes and YES!!
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Definitely coffee, in my Minnie Mouse mug (hey, we can’t all be cool!). I also have a whiteboard on which I scribble not story ideas, but all the events I want to attend this year: Montreux Jazz Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Marathon du Vin… Not likely, but it keeps me motivated.
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Au contraire, Marina! In my house, Minnie Mouse is the ultimate in cool. She is the current fave for Baby Girl and all things Minnie are revered over here. 🙂
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I love both of those mugs! A good mug is a must, I think. My desk absolutely has to have at least one My Little Pony on it, otherwise there’s not enough color 🙂
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I want both of those mugs! The first one reminds me of Samuel L. Jackson’s wallet in Pulp Fiction. LOL. LOVE!
My desk is the kitchen table, so I can’t keep too much on it. I keep a notebook and a coffee mug. But my mug varies. I’ve started collecting them from trips I take so each day is a little transport back to one of those places.
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A coffee maker on my desk would work! That second mug is true. Snacks. I must have snacks around when writing. Especially peanuts. I am obsessed with them. Music is also a must so good desk speakers. Also, the winning Powerball ticket would look good on my desk!
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I must have multicolored sticky notes!! And notebooks. And pads of paper. LOL.
Although, that coffee cup is pretty darn awesome…
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I need Mountain Dew and Post-It Notes and I’m good. And I adore those lovely colored sticky notes and I hoard them like mad, only using one for the most important of messages.
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Thought you might appreciate more Foamy the Squirrel coffee humor. Like you, my “desk time” starts with coffee…in my Chicago Blackhawks mug. Must haves are always paper and pen/pencil…
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Love the mugs! Both of them. Coffee is a necessity for communication in the am, especially with children, spouses, or those whose emails I try to type before six. What would we do without it? And as for the extra computer? I’d settle for a desk. Right now I work on a folding TV table. Nice height for the laptop, but kinda small for sticking stickies. 🙂
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I require a spill-proof mug. And colored markers. Both the skinny ones for writing and the ones that smell like treats for brainstorming.
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I love process-y stuff and writers’ desks/offices/writing spaces rank right up there for me. Tools and trappings are more important than many think. After I saw Diana Gabaldon’s office, and my online friend Brian Braden shared his last year, I was inspired to give everyone a virtual tour of mine: http://melaniemarttila.ca/2012/07/16/a-virtual-tour-of-mels-office/
Don’t have any cool mugs, but the space she be mine, and the fact that Phil and I renovated it ourselves makes it that much more special 🙂
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The bright post-its are my downfall. I’m sure if I only had dull yellow ones, I wouldn’t write nearly as many notes to myself and life would be simpler, my desk neater. I have a gigunda mug with a chicken on it that I bought in France and NOTHING is going to replace that … even though you did tempt me …
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The top of my desk would be nice from time-to-time. But as long as I have a bottle of water, a stack of index cards and a pen…and my jar of coconut oil and a zip top bag of plastic spoons handy, I’m good to go. Sometimes I need the jar of herbal tea that works like coffee but doesn’t make me jittery. That’s here, too. Oh. And my little basket of supplements. If they’re not in my face, I forget to take them. Yeah. My Kindle, camera, and phone. And a brush and hair clips/scrunchies/barrettes now that warm weather is here.
Hmm. Wonder why I usually can’t see the top of my desk. 🙂
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I’ve got a great desk with an amazing view – a beautifully landscaped lawn leading down to a creek – thank you perfect, wonderful husband. What I need most for writing now is time. I’m in the editing phase and a few moments here and there do not make for cohesiveness. I also need emotional energy. The role of caretaker for my 85 year-old-mother has been a lot more demanding since her recent fall. Will my masterpiece ever make it off my computer?
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I love those mugs. And colorful post-its are a great way to organize thoughts and to-do-lists.
My desk needs to be clear of clutter or my mind starts wandering and I want to sort all those piles of papers instead of writing. It’s perfectly fine that the house is cluttered elsewhere 😛 I just must not see it when I create.
An important thing is having a pen close. When thinking, I roll it in my hands and make annoying noise as I push the tip on and off and on and off. My work mates sitting beside me love me for that habit. *grins* Not.
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