Unplugged

I emptied the desk -- completely. Pulled out the drawers, dismantled the computer and the phone and all the peripherals. Removed all the books and paper from the hutch. Stashed all the paperweights and other decorative items in a laundry basket. Together, Miguel and I hustled the desk and filing cabinet out of the office and prepared to paint it. My office is wood paneling, stained and finished in a dark and ugly brown. Miguel likes it, but he's a man. After three years of complaining intermittently about the color of the office, he finally agreed to paint it. So, whipping out the brushes and rollers, he rolled up his sleeves and began the relatively minor task of painting our office. Now, two days later, it is a very soothing shade of light brown (though now that I see it on the wall, I wish it had a bit of red in it) on the top and creamy white on the bottom, separated unobtrusively but effectively by new moulding. And finally, I am plugged in again, able to check blogs and e-mail and receive phone calls. Now, I just have to get some curtains up.