Furnishing My Office

Right now I am playing interior decorator. I'm terrible at the job and would never want to do it.

A nice thing that I had not considered when I took the job at Parkway is that I am their first additional staff member, which means I get to furnish my office. I have spent much of the last two days shopping around and getting ideas for what I want. I absolutely do not want to spend much money, but I don't want to buy poorly made stuff either. I am looking at computers, desks, bookshelves, and a chair. I think I have found the computer I'm looking for. But I don't yet know what I can spend on the furniture.

The only thing I am really willing to splurge on is the chair, since I will be sitting in it a lot. The rest I simply want as sturdy and durable. I don't care what it looks like as long as it is functional. But that is where I need the help, because most other people DO care what it looks like. I am so unmotivated by human aesthetic.

Right now I am sharing the secretary's office, which doesn't really work when she is there, and I don't feel like I can do much in the way of organizing until I get the office situation taken care of. Of course, I can; I can do much of that from home. But that means I would have less time in the office, and I probably wouldn't work as well on it.

So far my office just has all my books which I removed from the boxes to look for a couple I might use to do some research for my sermon next Sunday scattered all over the floor.

The interesting part of this is I hate spending other's money, yet I have no problem spending my own, which is why I have so much stupid credit card debt I have to pay. I am doing much better on that front now. I no longer spend money I don't have.

It is weird for me to spend money on things that I probably wouldn't spend my own on. The truth is, I need some permission to buy nice things that are economical because they are well made, which also makes them a little pricier. I was told to spend what I wanted on a computer. I found one that suits my purposes just fine under $1000. I hope to do the same with the furniture.

But I also hope I am aggressive in getting everything I would like up front, because my tendency is to back off, and it is just easier to get it all up front than ask for special permission later.

Everything on the people front is going well right now, especially with the kids, so all this is my secondary concern. And I'm really just venting and I feel like I should post every so often so here you go :). Somebody help me to not feel guilty spending the church's money for stuff, because I don't think I should feel guilty, especially for getting something that will be a one time purchase that will last, meaning it is more up front, but much cheaper in the long run.

If I was buying music or books, I wouldn't have this dilemma because I really like those things.

Oh no, I have exposed an inconsistency that I have been aware of for quite a while.

I could never be an interior decorator, it would murder my soul with a pick axe, lemon juice, and red wasp hive. That would be painful and gruesome.

--written to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" Soundtrack