The Office: A slob's fight for survival

Annie had a surprise for me when I got home – an office. She painted the walls, strategically placed the bookshelves my parents contributed, bought a desk and did what Annie does best – made things tidy.

It looked perfect.

And then it happened. I came home.

I’ve always described my dream office as being lined with bookshelves and a place where I could put whatever I wanted wherever I wanted.

I have lots of bookshelves, but that’s where the dream ends.

When I got home I started to fill the space. I put books and knick-knacks such as my lucky Tiki statue, my S.S. Cookie Hut cookie jar, and my autographed picture of Punky Brewster wherever I wanted. I settled in.

Less than an hour later I returned to the room. Everything had a new place. The cookie jar was no longer on top of the last book shelf, but on the second bookshelf on the third row. The books had found new much more thought out, neater homes.

It was creepy.

My dreams of a cluttered work space had been ripped away, folded, and perfectly placed right where it belonged – just out of reach.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my new office, but I am a little concerned about my fiancé and the years of counseling that it’s going to take for her to deal with my stacks, piles, and heaps of books.

The battle for the bookshelves has ended. The war for the office is about to begin.

Wish me luck.