When we bought this house we thought it came with a built-in office desk. However, when we moved in we found that the (not built-in after all) desk was gone.  Since I’d already tossed my old (battered, ready-to-be-retired) desk, I was slightly disappointed—one more thing to buy!—but quickly realized that I could now pursue a walking/standing desk.

After doing some online research I decided to start with a “sit-stand” desk to see how much I’d really stand while working before investing in a treadmill. I then test-drove a few desks at Ergot Depot near the San Francisco Design Center. I ended up purchasing the Humanscale “Float” desk for three reasons:

• I already have a Humanscale desk chair that I love.
• I didn’t want to be dependent on the electrical component of other desks (you raise and lower the Float manually.)
• I liked the slimmer, sleeker profile of the desk.  (Form + Function!)

It took longer than expected for the desk to arrive—the company estimates three weeks, it was closer to six—but now that it’s here I’m really enjoying it. Especially if I’m doing research online, I find I don’t mind standing and I feel much better for not sitting all the time while I work.

Do you work at a standing or walking desk?  I’d be interested in hearing about your experience.

***

Here are some other new things that made my life better this week.

Now that we’re settled into our new home, I’d like to have a few folks over for dinner  and incorporate some of these dinner party tips.

Joan Rivers‘s funeral request had me laughing even after she was gone.

When it comes to creative projects, are you a “leaver-outer” or a “putter-inner?”

This cross-country photo project looks like it’s worth kickstarting.

Experience the power of a bookbook.

Classes at my pool/gym were so packed this week, you’d think it was January–which made me think about this post on working out.

It’s always a delight to see the young SYTYCD competitors “float” through the summer dance competition. Now that the season’s over, it’s hard to pick a favorite routine but I couldn’t resist the sheer joy conveyed in Zack and Valerie’s stair stepping tap number.

 Happy Weekend All!

Not much of a sports fan, I can barely distinguish the Final Four from the Fourth Quarter. Case in point. . .

This week while having my teeth cleaned I heard a round of applause just outside the exam room door.  The dental staff is usually pretty supportive of my flossing technique, but I’ve never had them applaud before.

“Wrgh mymbn nyl?”

“Huh?” said the hygienist, removing various implements from my mouth.

“What’s going on?” I repeated. “With the applause and all.”

“Oh, that,” she said. “Do you follow sports?”

Rather than confessing that my interest in sports peaked decades ago when I was dating my high school football team’s quarterback, I just said “not much.”

“Well, there’s a Warrior’s player in the room next door—maybe you’ve heard of Stephen Curry?” she said, hopefully.

“Uh. . .sounds familiar.”

Not.

“You were sitting in the waiting room with him?”

I vaguely remembered a good-looking kid in a blue plaid shirt across from the door when I came in. Honestly,  I was pretty intent on finding out what was going on with Kanye and Kim in the coffee table tabloids.  So I didn’t get a good look at the guy.  Or a surreptitious iphone photo.

“I’m cleaning his teeth next,” said the hygienist  before quickly running a floride swab over my teeth and sending me on my way.   Clearly, she had cooler crowns to polish than mine.

So I “brushed” up against a celebrity sports figure this week.  Sorry that chance encounter was lost on me instead of bestowed on a bonafide Golden State Warrior’s fan.  But it confirmed once again that there’s a whole world of things and people to learn about.  Like:

1. B.Y.U.’s Animation Department  – the Pixar farm team

2.Gnomeophobia at the Chelsea Flower Show

3. Finding Vivian May

4. Fast food phenomenon: Doritos Locos Taco

And just to get you up and dancing on this holiday weekend–

5. Daft Punk/Pharrell Williams “Get Lucky” Supercut Video

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!