on workspaces and white elephants

a martha stewart, I am not

and my desk 

(which is NOT a lovely shade of bottle glass green)

is in a constant state of array

ar-ray

[uh-rey]

- verb (used with object)

to place in proper or desired order

to marshal: Napoleon arrayed his troops for battle

but my mind, of late, is in a constant state of disarray

it hits me hardest when I walk into ANY store

even the grocery store

it's the the christmas music and the displays 

they propel me into an instant state of wandering aimlessly and losing any focus

it's intentional I'm sure

a conspiracy to help boost the economy, right?

which brings me to the white elephant:

this is the white elephant gift I won last night

it was the last gift on the table

I had already lost the John Deere tractor clock

 (which makes real tractor noises)

this last gift was the messiest wrapping job in the bunch

so it was the last one picked

when I opened it I could hear a collective groan

and the guy who brought it apologized.

he said,

"it's really good for falling asleep."

I said,

"I love it."

but I don't think anyone heard me say that.

and I do love it.