When I worked in the office, I had a little routine. I would arrive sometime between 8:05 and 8:15 (late), say good morning to my co-workers, and put my things in my cubicle. Then I’d turn on my computer, grab my coffee cup, water bottle, and oatmeal bowl and head to the kitchen, where I’d wash my cup and bowl and fill my water bottle and coffee cup. I’d return to my desk, where I’d mix my fat-free sugar-free Suisse Mocha. Then I’d usually sit around with my boss and co-workers just B.S.-ing and killing time.

When we’d wasted sufficient time, I’d head back to my desk and log on to my computer. I’d open Outlook and scan my business e-mails. If anything appeared urgent enough, I’d reply. Then I’d open my personal e-mail account. If there were five or more e-mails there (not counting spam and other crap), it was a good day. I’d take my time reading and responding to my personal e-mails. Then I’d log onto the Internet and peruse the headlines and other stuff. If something caught my attention, like “Is Mary Kate Olsen a Drug Addict?” I’d read it. Then I’d start reading my favorite journals. This could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how many people had updated. Then I’d usually check my own journal to see if anyone had left me a note or made me a favorite (yeah, right) or joined my diaryring.

At some point during this process, I’d pull out my Tupperware bowl filled with oatmeal, measure out a scoop, mix it with water from my water bottle, and stick it in the microwave located about six feet from my desk (really). I’d eat my oatmeal while reading journals and whatnot.

But alas, the real work day had to begin at some point. After all these steps were completed, I really had no choice but to start actually doing my job. I’d reluctantly start dealing with e-mails or writing newsletter articles or editing some crappily written brochure or the like. And then sometime during the day I’d take a break and start drafting my own journal entry. Sometimes I’d write it all at once, sometimes in little bits and pieces throughout the day. And usually, right before I left at the stroke of 5:00, I’d post it. And that was a typical work day for me.

Anyway, since starting my new life as a stay-at-home-non-mom, my routine has gotten thrown off course. Wasting time is fine and good when it’s your employer’s time. But when it’s your own time, wasting it isn’t quite as enticing. So the first few days at home, I wasn’t keeping up with my journal reading and, as you know, I wasn’t staying on top of my journal writing. (Not that the journals are a waste of time, per se.)

For the last few weeks I’ve been working on my laptop sitting on a barstool at the kitchen counter. After a few days of that, I realized it really wasn’t working. Not only was it extremely uncomfortable, but I didn’t have any of the standard supplies – like, say, a pen? – on hand.

So yesterday I moved camp to the desk upstairs. Yes, I have my own desk, but for the past year it’s pretty much functioned as a place to display my framed photographs and other pretty knick knacks. I’ve now cleared a space and set up a little work station here in my work nook. The perks? It’s far from the evil TV that beckons me to watch crap like the Dr. Phil Show, and it’s next door to B’s office where the fax machine and file cabinets are.

It’s not perfect yet, and I may set up a docking station so I can work on a real keyboard instead of the laptop, but we’ll call it a work in progress.

So today was the first day B and I have been home together during the work day. We got up, went for a run, took showers, got dressed, and started our days – B in his office, me in my little nook. I had made my “coffee” and was sitting at my desk drinking it and perusing my favorite journals when B walked by.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Oh, just looking at this girl’s website,” I answered casually. (B is completely oblivious to the world of online journaling.)

“What’s it about?”

“I don’t know. Just her life, I guess. I just found it yesterday.” (True. See? I added a new favorite to my list – Crazy Us.)

He gave me a quizzical look and then headed downstairs.

A few minutes later he returned and I was looking at another journal. “Where do you find this stuff?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “When you’re stuck in a cubicle for nine hours a day, you just find it.”

He shrugged and returned to his office.

A little while later, I had made my oatmeal and had returned to my desk to eat it and look at more journals and stuff. He walked by again. “Is this what you do at work all day?!” he asked, incredulous.

“Yup,” I replied. Then I added, in my defense, “Well, I HAVE to entertain myself while I’m eating my breakfast.”

He rolled his eyes.

After I’d exhausted all my resources for wasting time, I headed into B’s office and flopped down on the couch.

“OK,” I said. “What do I need to do today?”

“Huh?” B asked.

“Well, I’m ready to start working now…”

“That’s good,” he interrupted.

“… and I want to make a list of the things that need to get done.”

He looked at me. Then he looked at the bumblebee-shaped notepad I’d brought with me. “And that’s what you brought to write it on?” he said.

“Yup.” Then, “What’s wrong with my bumblebee paper?!”

He just rolled his eyes a little and then we started brainstorming. He even wrote a few notes on the bumblebee paper. See?

It actually wasn’t a terribly productive day. I tried, though, I really did. But my printer wouldn’t work and my computer wouldn’t send to B’s printer and everything I tried to do brought up 10 other questions that needed to be answered, most of which required B’s involvement and at least a couple of phone calls. So B didn’t get any work done either. Also? It’s difficult to work with a schnauzer in your lap. Or with a cat lounging across your papers.

By the way, B is now sound asleep in our bedroom. I can hear him snoring. He said he had a headache. Oh, the joys of working from home…

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Working at home - Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004

Toronto - Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004

On the way to Toronto... - Tuesday, Nov. 09, 2004

A Good Day - Monday, Nov. 08, 2004

Another letter - Thursday, Nov. 04, 2004