Before we get started today, we have ANOTHER office tour (that puts our total up to 17)!  Heather over at A Life For Rent showed us what she’s got right here.  Please enter at your own risk – she’s got fire hazards.  And if you still haven’t done yours – it’s not too late.

Also, if you haven’t entered my Great Canadian Butter Tart Giveaway, then you should.  But you only have until 6pm EST today (Wed July 14/10) to get on it – chop chop.

Okay, now to get on with my story . . .

I live in the suburbs.  The neighbours on one side of us have a pool, a hot tub and 2 teen-aged kids.  We’re not particularly friendly with them.  Well, its not that we’re UN-friendly, it’s just that they kinda keep to themselves.  As do we.  Which is quite fine!  We’ll give each other the mandatory polite smile and head nod if we should find ourselves out front of our houses at the same time.  We’ve spoken on a few occasions when it involved changes to our properties that we felt the other should be advised of.  But that’s about it.

That being said, my boys kick balls against our adjoining fence EVERY. BLOODY. DAY.  Thump.  Thump.  Thump . . . it NEVER ends.  I swear I hear that sound in my sleep.  And every day, a ball – or two – end up OVER the adjoining fence.

Our neighbours are kind enough to just toss them back over the next time they are in their backyard.  Over the years, I’ve apologized for this.  Willie has apologized for this.  I’ve had the boys apologize for this.  And we thank them when the opportunity arises.

Fortunately they just chuckle about it and point to their own kids and it’s understood that they have also “been there”.  Since they’re often away on the weekends, they have indicated that if their back gate isn’t locked, the boys can just run around and grab the ball(s) if necessary.

But when a hand-held sized water balloon that my boys were tossing went over the fence on Saturday night, in the dark, I couldn’t just let it go.

I had visions of the little thing floating around the surface of their above ground pool until it was grabbed by the skimmer hole, forced down into the basket where it would block the flow of water, thus burning out their pump and causing considerable, expensive damage.

Have I ever mentioned that I can be a little OCD sometimes?

This was one of those times.  Panic set in.  Destructive visions danced around my head.  My ears were on high alert for odd pool filter noises.  I knew there would be no sleep that night until the situation was resolved.

So I told Willie “you’re going to have to go over there and get it”.

To which he replied “It’s fine.  Nothing’s going to happen.  I’m not going over.”

Which I took to mean “do it yourself”.

And so I did.  And thus my search & rescue mission was born . . .

Armed with a flashlight, I headed next door.  Rang the door bell.  Noted that the interior of the house was in darkness.  Waited.  And waited.  No answer.  No car in driveway.  Clearly the occupants were not home.

I go around to the side gate.  It’s pulled closed but not locked.  So I enter.

I scour the yard near the fence for the water balloon.  “It was kinda in that direction” the boys say as they attempt to guide me.  But it’s not on the ground.  Ha!  Just as I suspected – it MUST have landed in the pool.  Thank God for me.

I shine the flashlight on their pool and begin to systematically check all areas of its surface.  No balloon.  It MUST be in the skimmer basket as I had feared!  I hope I’m not too late . . .

I head to the back corner of their yard where the skimmer is located and try to peek in.  This proves to be difficult.  It would be easier to remove the lid and look in .  Lid is stuck.  Can’t remove it.  Damn.  What next?

Just then their bright security light in the backyard comes on.  Crap!

It’s at that moment, with my eyes temporary blinded by the security light, that I notice the teen-aged son has come out onto their back step.  BUSTED!  The lazy bugger must have been sleeping when I rang the bell!

“Oh hi!  It’s just me, Cher, from next door” I awkwardly explain (in case he had a gun or a baseball bat)

But it’s not just the teen-aged son.  Behind him I notice the parents.  Who have clearly JUST arrived home and found someone with a flashlight prowling around their backyard.

And so my nervous, busted rambling begins . . .

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.  No one answered when I rang the door bell.  But you see the boys accidentally put a ball over the fence again, but its a really small one, and it floats, and um, they thought it landed in your pool and um, I was really worried that it’d end up in your skimmer and damage your equipment . . . ”

At this point I notice that it is strangely quiet over the fence at my own backyard.  And that my guys have ran into our house like a flock of nervous girls and left me out there on my own to dig myself out of this embarrassing hole – nice.

“Anyway, I don’t seem to see it in there, so I think it’s okay.  ha ha.  Really sorry.”

And then I leave.  Without really giving them a chance to say anything.  Trying to walk calmly and slowly back to my own house like it was no big deal.  When in actuality, my heart was pounding and my face was red and I was totally embarrassed that I had been caught.

I know they were probably thing “WTH???  Does she come over here every time we’re out?  Should we believe her story or was she up to no good?”

Somehow, I’d like to blame this on Willie.

Ever been caught red-handed doing something sneaky?  Will I ever be able to look them in the eye again?  Do you want to win butter tarts?

Good Day!

I have a few items to go through before we get to the real reason you’re probably here . . .

First, we had another International Office Tour on Friday! (that’s right folks, its not too late to do yours.  Just look at the long list on my sidebar over on the right – are you feeling left out?  Then get on it!)  My favourite jewelery designer & army wife, Allyson from Magnolias & Mimosas, coughed up the goods.  Be sure to check her’s out right here.  Don’t let the glass head put you off.

Next, I had the opportunity to hang out in Chicago on Saturday!  Okay, well maybe not so much “hang out” but more like “was featured” over at A Modern Day Ricky and Lucy.  I wrote a post about a few of the things new Moms of boys should watch out for.  See?  I’m entertaining AND educational.  Check it out here.  Or else.

Next, I’ve added a “Subscribe” button over on my sidebar.  Due to an overly busy life recently, and not wanting summer to pass me by while I’ve got my head stuck over a keyboard, I’m currently trying to post on a Monday / Wednesday / Friday schedule.  I figure that’s better than not posting at all.  Or is it?  Whatever.  So if you’re not using a Blog Reader, and you get tired of clicking your bookmark to my site all the time and coming up disappointed when there isn’t a new post there waiting for you, this is the button for you!  Simply add your email address and hit subscribe.  Then, Feedburner will send you a confirmation email.  Once you confirm, they will email my posts right to your In-Box on the day I post them!  That’s some sweet service!  You can also cancel your subscription whenever you want.  But what loser would want to do that?!

And finally, we get to the celebration giveaway!

This is officially my 200th post!  I started blogging back in August of 2009 and can’t believe it’s been 200 already.  I either really like writing, or I really need a way to ignore my family.  Regardless, I think it’s cause for celebration!  Which is why I’ve decide to award one of you with a little piece of me.  That’s right folks!  I’m giving away Butter Tarts!

Many of you might remember that I blogged about this Canadian delicacy back in May.  You were very curious and rightfully devasted that these little darlings could not be purchased in other countries.  So, here’s the deal – the winner will receive 1 pack (I believe there’s 6 in a pack) of my favourite ones delivered right to their door!  Huh?!  Huh!?  Has THAT ever been done before???

Now, I feel that I need to add a few caveats . . .

1)  I can not guarantee what condition they’ll show up in.  I’ll pack them well and cough up large for a quick reliable delivery service, but shit happens.

2)  I hope that the quick reliable delivery service can get them to you while they’re still fresh.  But again, no guarantees.

3)  I have no control over the beasts at the Canadian, or any other country’s, Customs Department.  In fact, I’m not even sure I’m allowed to send food across the border.  So if it doesn’t work out, I’ll send you something else.  It’s the chance you’ll have to take.

4)  Although I’m SURE you’ll love them as much as I do, this also can not be guaranteed.

So, if you’re interested, here’s how you earn entries;

• simply leave me a comment today – 1
• be a member of this site using Google Friend Connect – 2
• subscribe to me via email (with the swanky new button) or in a Reader – 2
• follow me on Twitter – 2
• Tweet this giveaway – 2 entries per time (please include @theonlygirlcher so I know you did)

And, for those of you that left me a comment on Friday’s post BEFORE today, I did promise you’d be looked upon favourably.  Which means you automatically get 1 extra entry if you leave me a comment for today’s contest.  Kinda like a “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today” thing.

Now, since I never understand that whole “leave one comment for each entry thing”, you don’t have to do that.  Just leave me ONE comment detailing all the requirements you meet and the total entries you feel you’ve earned.  Good?

Contest closes Wednesday July 14th, 2010 at 6pm EST.

I’ll use some kind of random selection thingie, or maybe the boys will do a draw.  Haven’t thought that far ahead yet.

Winner to be announced here on Friday, July 16th.

Okay . . . GO!

*UPDATE:  This contest is now closed.  Winner to be announced Friday July 16/10.

First order of business – we have another Office Tour!  Apparently guilt is a powerful thing because ScoMan has finally coughed up!  Be sure to check out what an Australian Accountant’s office looks like and leave him some love over here.  Who’s next?!

——————————

It has recently come to my attention, via Beckles at Foresight Is So Often Blind, that some Americans do not know what a “butter tart” is.

This news was shocking news to me.  And outrageous.  And unacceptable.  And frankly – horrifying.

As I tweeted about these little pieces of Heaven the other day, Beckles replied that she had no idea what they were, and that she had to Google them for more info.

Again – utter disbelief.  Disbelief that there are people out there that are completely in the dark about Butter Tarts.

So I Googled them myself to see exactly what info Beckles would have been given.  And low and behold, I discovered something that stopped me in my tracks.

Wikipedia (the source of all things) says that the butter tart “is a type of pastry best known as a Canadian treat.  It should not be confused with butter pie (a savoury pie from the Preston area of Lancashire, England) or with bread and butter pudding.“

A Canadian treat?!  I had NO idea.  Honestly.  I thought the entire planet, or at least North America, enjoyed these little babies.  I was shocked.

Wiki continues to say “Butter tarts were a staple of pioneer Canadian cooking, and they remain a characteristic pastry of Canada, considered one of only a few recipes of genuinely Canadian origin.”

Canadian Pioneers?  Seriously?  Why do I suddenly feel so grossly inferior?  I would have put money on the fact that they were a French thing.  As in – from Paris.

So all weekend I conducted a very informal and non-scientific survey of many other Canadians.  The questions included in this survey were;

a) are you familiar with the Butter Tart?
b) were you aware these were a Canadian delicacy?

The results were a resounding OF COURSE and NO WAY – YOU’RE KIDDING respectively.

Let me tell you a bit about my love with Butter Tarts.  I’m not big on chocolate.  Sure, I like it.  But it’s not really my thing.  However I have always loved butter tarts.  And not the homemade kind.  No, no.  I like the cheap, mass produced, convenience store, pre-packaged kind.  So don’t try making a recipe to see what it is I eat.  It won’t be the same. 

Basically, they are a pastry shell with a sweet, gooey filling.  I like mine with raisins in them, not nuts.  And I like when the middle is less runny and more like gel.

They look like this;

(I did not make these – I don’t bake.  Ever.  Via Google)

And they taste like this;

(supposedly Heaven, but who really knows - via Google)

There’s a restaurant in the lobby of my building that sells just such an animal.  And they are divine.  I spend most days trying to avoid jumping out of my chair and racing down there to buy one.  But every now and then I simply can’t resist.  So I somehow convince myself that I deserve it.  Whether I’ve had a very productive day at work, or a very bad day at work, or I’m PMSing, or maybe just feeling sorry for myself because my gosh darn Friend Connect numbers are so low, I can always find a good reason to go on a butter tart run.

You foreigners have no idea what you’re missing.  I’m sad for you.  Like REALLY sad.

Have YOU ever heard of butter tarts?  Ever had one?  Like or no like?  What’s your most favourite guilty pleasure treat?

Just when I thought we were going to be Office Tour-less this week, Lena at Stella Sola stepped in to save the day!

You have never seen a tidier desk, or more organized drawers.  I mean that.

Check her out here.

You can see all the other Tours over on my sidebar.

And be sure to send me yours.  I have a few outstanding promises, but am still waiting.  You know who you are (cough – Scoman – cough).

Huge props are going out to Monique at “A Day In The Life Of A Surferwife”.  She joined in the International Workspace Tour the other day and upped the ante by doing a VIDEO tour!  Before you head over to check it out and hear her darling voice, I must warn you – if the fact that she lives in sunny California isn’t bad enough, she gives us a peek at her kick ass backyard and you will immediately become sick with envy.  I’m just saying.

You can see all the other tours over on my sidebar.  Who’s doing the next one???  

And thanks to everyone for their vlog questions.  You people have really submitted some doozies.  Of course as both the vlog’s Director and Producer, I have given myself full authority to only select the easy questions.  I hope to post it tomorrow.  If I can only figure out how. *pounds fist in frustration*

Next item . . . a few weeks ago I placed an order at Daisy & Elm, which is the fab Etsy store from my girl Allyson at Magnolias & Mimosas where she sells her gorgeous handmade jewellery.  Each piece is an original because she makes only 1 of each item.  I had wandered over there from the link on her blog and immediately fell in love with a certain item named “Not Your Mamas Pearls” (I love how she gives each piece a name!)  A quick click or two of the mouse and it was mine, all mine!  

You can imagine how excited I was when this beautiful box came out of the package in my mailbox!

And here’s me sporting my new little beauty!  It’s it lovely?  Just wait and see how good I look once if I get a tan.

Although, while surfin’ the net the other day, I couldn’t help but notice that it bares a striking resemblance to a little number that a few other people have worn . . . is it just me???  

(Charlize Theron)

(we all know who)

(Monique’s BFF aka Chelsea Handler)

(The Ga)  

Ha –  I kid!  I like to showcase practice my crazy photoshop skills whenever possible. 

Seriously, Allyson’s pieces are truly originals, top quality and gorgeous.  Be sure to check them out.  

Laters!

In case you missed yesterday’s Office Tour craziness, we had FOUR new ones!  How cool is that?!  I did update yesterday’s post throughout the day, but in case you missed any, they are all listed in my previous post AND over on my sidebar.  I know of a few more good ones that are still to come, but if you haven’t joined in yet, we’d love to see yours.  ‘Cause we’re nosey.

Also, Jessalyn at Cape Code Awesome has done an Office Tour Follow Up today!  Apparently there were several unanswered questions from her original post that needed to be addressed, so she has kindly tied up some loose ends for us today.  As always, you don’t want to miss Jessalyn because she is indeed Awesome – with a capital “A”.

I’m also looking for a few more vlog questions.  No questions = no vlog.  It’s just that simple folks.  And frankly, after further consideration, I’m a tad scared of the whole thing anyway, so “no vlog” would suit me just fine.  I’m just saying.

(not really me – just a picture I found on Google)

(but I wish it was me because she’s cuddled up in bed and I’m . . . not)

What I will leave you with today is something a little more serious.  I am going to make myself a promise and I’m putting it out here on The Nets so that I can’t possibly pretend that I didn’t.

“I, Cher of The Only Girl, do hereby promise that I will wake up 15 minutes earlier in the mornings in an attempt to avoid the daily mad scramble that inevitably happens as I attempt to get the boys and myself out of the house on time every day.”

There!  I’ve said it.  Now I have to stick to it (don’t I?).

But here’s the problem . . . I’m not a morning person.  At all.  I really, really love sleep.  And I really, really love my bed.  Which is why I have 2 alarm clocks.  A clock radio beside my bed and a really annoying loud beepy one in the ensuite bathroom so that I actually have to get up OUT of the bed to turn it off.

But mainly I like to listen to the Hollywood Update that my radio station does every morning because I NEED to be in the know about all things celeb.  My life depends on it (right Surferwife?).  And I also like to listen to the top news stories and traffic report that immediately follows the Hollywood Update.  This is important and necessary information because I have a 45 minute drive into Toronto on a very busy highway and need to be in the loop on traffic issues because that will determine;

a)  do I get a coffee for the drive to work because I’ll be in the car for a really long time?

OR

b)  do I wait and buy a coffee from my little coffee place friend in my building’s lobby when I get to work?

Clearly these are important decisions that deserve educated answers.  Thus my lounging in bed to listen to the radio.

But no more!

I will get up 15 minutes earlier, BEFORE said Hollywood Update and news/traffic report.  I will have my shower, and then and only then, will I listen to these important things while continuing to get ready for work.

Won’t I?

Are you a morning person or do you scramble out the door every day too?  Got any good suggestions for me on how to wake up earlier?  Do you feel I might have had my fingers crossed when I made that promise?

Monday morning brings about another week at the office, which in turn brings us more Office Tours – and lots of them!

Be sure to stop over and see Beckles at Foresight Is So Often Blind.  She has some very unusual items under her desk and a creepy guy at her work.

Then head over to see Mimi at Living in France.  Her office kinda resembles her house, but don’t let that fool you.  There’s still plenty of work going on there.  And lots of fake fruit.

Next, go see my girl Meredith at (Flash Pasteurized).  She has one of the nicest offices we’ve seen so far and some major organizing skills.  Which I love and appreciate (OCD rules!)

Then go see Jade at Now that I’m no longer 25.  Her tour is of the Paris hotel room that doubled as her office last week when she got stuck there while on business, courtesy of the Iceland Volcano.  Could I be any more jealous???

(If you’re doing a tour, be sure to let me know so I can link to you, twitter it and add it to my sidebar.  You get to use the cool, new button and we get to be nosy.  I’d say that’s a win-win.)

Next, I’m pleased to announce that both the bunk bed refund cheque sitchy AND the new laptop purchase have been resolved!  woot woot!  May I introduce my sweet new blogoshere ride . . .

(photo via Future Shop)

No, it’s not a Mac.  I know – big sads for me.  It was purely a budgetary thing.

And finally, I’ve decided to bow to the pressure and hop on the vlog band wagon (Cath & Mom – a vlog is a blog post that you do via a video that I’ll put on my blog.  So that everyone can hear me talk and see how old boring I really am).

But first I have a few vlog stipulations;

1)  I’ll have to wait for a good hair day.  Obviously.  And there’s no knowing how long that could take.

2)  I need you to give me some questions, either in the comments or via email.  No questions = no vlog.  It’s just that simple.

3)  The only topic off-limits is hockey.  Because as much as my life is built around it, and I’m Canadian, I really know nothing about it.  And it’s very boring.  Very.

4)  My lawyer has advised that I can, in no way, promise that I won’t slip an unintentional “eh” in there.  That is 100% out of my control.

Perhaps you’ve often wondered “who is the REAL Only Girl?”  Is she the smiling, boa’d darling in her avatar?

Or is she really more like this . . .

And quite possibly related to them . . .

(Bob & Doug video here courtesy of You Tube)

. . . then you’ll leave me/send me some questions and get this vlog thing rolling.

(BTW, do non- Canadians know who Bob & Doug are, or is it just a Canadian thing?  I’d be interested to know)

Woot Woot!  We have another International Office Tour today folks!

My girl Salt is taking us around her place today, and it’s not too be missed.  Not only because I dig her to bits, but because there’s a hot dog costume and Christmas lights involved.  How many of you can say that about YOUR office?!

Be sure to stop by and check it out -- here.

I’ve also had a few more volunteers come forward with promises of showing of their stuff, but I’m always looking for more.  Be sure to let me know if you’re going to join in so I can link to you, Twitter your tour and add it to my sidebar.  And you get to use the cool and newly created button.  I’m all about giving back, people.  Please remember that next time you’re having a giveaway.

In other news, I’m urging you to drop over to see Amanda at It’s Blogworthy.  This whole office tour thing was originally her idea.  I loved it so much I decided to do one of my own and things have kinda snowballed from there.  So I’m totally giving the credit to Amanda for starting it off and am hoping she’s not all bitter with me.  AND she recently revealed some very exciting news that deserves some congratulations.

I’m uber enjoying the tours!  Don’t you feel like you know the blogger a little better after you see their tour?  That you can totally picture her sitting at that desk blogging?  That they become more like a real person?  I love that!

Final items – I’m still working on both the bunk bed refund AND the laptop purchase.  I know – it’s ridiculous.  But this just might be the weekend both of those get settled, which would be good because my OCD is in overdrive on both.  I’m loosing sleep, lacking in productivity at work and getting headaches.  And most importantly, I’ve lost all ability to be witty in both posts and comments – as this particular post will attest to.  So once those two items are cleared off the old noggin, I should be back to my old self.  I currently feel like a man who can’t multi-task.

And now I’ll leave you with this little video gem.  Which is super funny to me because I married into a very Scottish family (that I love dearly – don’t get me wrong).  Willie and I have been randomly shouting out “eee-leven!” to each other all week -- just for fun.

Cheers my lovelies!

Thanks to Meredith at (Flash) Pasteurized‘s suggestion, The Workspace Tour (over on my sidebar) now has it’s very own button!  Can I get a “woot woot” for my mad techy skillz?!  And can I get a big fat “FAIL” for not knowing about www.picnik.com until Meredith told me about it last night.  Yeah.  Big Looser.  I know.

But I’m all over it now and am convinced my blog will skyrocket in popularity due to the fab pictures and wicked buttons I’m now able to create.   Maybe I’ll even be able to add a few more numbers to my paltry Friend Connect total (WTH???).

So if you’ve already done a tour, feel free to grab the button.

And if you’d like to do a tour, feel free to grab the button, but be sure to let me know so I can add your link to my sidebar.  And give you a shout out here.  And on Twitter.  You’ll have a post that keeps getting posted.  And what’s better than that?

Only butter-tarts and super fresh jujubes.  That’s what.

In the meantime, be sure to check out the latest tour from Brandy at You Don’t Know.

Your workspace doesn’t have to be an office.  If you work at home, or outside, or in space, you can show us that too!  I’m particularly interested in my Readers on the International Space Station – you know who you are! (I’m kidding – sheesh).  Seriously, there are all kinds of jobs in all kinds of places.  Let’s see them!

As you know from yesterday’s post, I’m currently in office work overload.  And to reward you all for my recent a) crappy and sporadic post writing  and b) crappy blog visiting/commenting, I will share with you one of the most intimate things in my life.  My home away from home.  My sanctuary.  My “me time” spot.  No – not the bathroom . . . my office cubby.  The place where I spend 37.5 hours (give or take) a week.  Where I drop the cloak of “Mommy” and play the part of an office worker instead.  It’s generally a much less demanding role and they pay you to do it.

Amanda at It’s Blogworthy did an office tour the other week and I loved it.  So, with her permission, I’m totally copying borrowing her idea.

I work for a national telecommunications company in the department that does property management for all their cell site locations in several Provinces.  My job focuses on Lease Administration, so I ‘m on the computer all day.  I’ve been working for this company for a very long time.  Over 15 years.  It has changed hands a few times and grown dramatically since I started working there.  I’ve also had several very different positions along the way, which is probably why I haven’t gotten bored and left yet.  It is also where I met Willie – who also stills works here, although in a different building in a different part of town.

I drive about 40 minutes from the suburbs into the city to a complex that consist of 3 office towers with 18 stories each.  The buildings are all joined by an indoor walkway.  In the lobby/atrium there’s a coffee place, deli restaurant, Italian restaurant (my fav!) a convenience store, bank machine and a dry cleaners.  There’s also a shuttle bus that picks us lazy people up in the lobby and takes us on a 3-4 minute ride to the major shopping mall across the street.  Bad for the shopping habit, but great for getting errands done on your lunch hour.

Please – come in.  No, no, just leave your shoes on.  Mine’s the first one on the right.

First you’ll see my very cute and oh-so stylist coat, right beside 2 recent pics of my new niece.

Now if you’ll kindly turn around you’ll get the full view of what appears to be a messy desk, but in fact is actually very organized chaos.  I’ve taken the liberty of editing out some of the content of the papers on my wall because a) I don’t want corporate secrets to fall into the wrong hands b) I don’t want to loose my job c) my coworkers really don’t need a bunch of bloggers pulling crank calls on them and d) it’s all super boring stuff that you need not waste value blogging time trying to decipher.

But what you will notice is artwork from my boys, a few photos of same boys, a sweater that permanently resides on the back of my chair for those “chilly” mornings and some neatly lined up “sign here” sticky flags hanging from my shelf.  I’m not really collecting them, I just can’t bring myself to throw a perfectly good sticky flag in the garbage.  Hoarder in the making or environmentally conscious?  You decide.

Zooming in a little closer you will see the really important things . . . bottled water (which is refilled from the water cooler several times a day – all in the name of hydration), multi-vitamins (that a 10am automated appointment reminder tells me to take everyday, but that I often ignore), some hand sanitizer (needs no explanation) and some hand cream (which I rarely use and should probably be relegated to a drawer instead of being given prime desk space).

Let’s head into my top drawer, shall we?  Here we find a typical selection of pens, highlighters, bulldog clips and other general office supplies.  We also find two lip balms (LOVE the Aveeno one BTW) and for some reason . . . a collection of pennies.  Why?  Don’t know.

What you can’t see in the above picture is the very back of my drawer.  Where I hoard post it notes.  I don’t like to use them, I just like to collect them.  Particularly pretty coloured ones.  And right there – in front?  Most favourite pen EVER.  Which goes under lock and key every night just in case the Cleaners decided to get up to no good.

Which brings us to my favourite drawer . . . my SNACK drawer! (again with the hoarding – I’m sensing a theme)  I like to keep quick and reasonably healthy things at the ready.  It helps me fight off those demons that occasionally scream “go down to the lobby and buy a butter tart”.  No thanks Mr. Demon – I’ll just have that healthy and delicious Smartfood!

And there you have it folks!  My home away from home.

I’d love to see your workspace too.  In fact, I’ve started the “International Workspace Tour” in a box over at the right – so far there’s just Amanda and me.  If you do a tour, be sure to let me know so I can link up to you as well.  We’ll get to visit different places all over the globe without ever leaving our own desks and maybe find a potential new career along the way.

Would you/do you love or hate to work in a cubicle? Are you considering doing a workspace tour? Remember – workspaces aren’t just offices, they could be anywhere.  The more unusual your job is, the more interesting your workspace will be – especially if you’re Stripper.  Or an Astronaut.  Or you joined the Circus.