Reporting in on the new developments in the office:
- New desk from Ikea, the result of research and no little frustration with the lack of connection between ergonomics, women's bodies, and the furniture industry. Ikea came through with a nice adjustable desk that suits my frame whether I am typing, writing longhand, or standing. It adjusts from 22" on up. Not too expensive, in light of maintaining a healthy body.
- I've added new weird keyboard that is supposed to help prevent RSI injuries. The keyboard is manufactured by Kinesis and is called the Advantage2. My speed is improving and thanks to my high school typing class teacher, my fingers and brain already knew how to touch type. I've yet to achieve my old speed. All in good time, my girl. The best thing is that my hand pain is diminished using this keyboard. Win.
- My hand and arm are also happier using a vertical mouse. Another win.
Now just to keep working at making this work for me. That will be a challenge.
Speaking of making it work: Dan and I aquired a new-to-us lawnmower. It's one of those zero-turn models that I've always wanted. Imagine my surprise the first time I climbed aboard when I couldn't make it go where I want to go! Jerky movements, my feet trying to control the speed, and going from really fast to backwards in a flash. Someone should have filmed me for one of those "Most Funny" programs. My brain had a very hard time using the different controls. The machine is controlled completely via hand and arm movement, where the old machine is driven like a car using your hands and feet. You would not believe how frustrating that first timeout was. In fact, I drove it back into the shed and got on the old machine to finish my mowing after only 20 minutes, but not before I had to shake out all the grass that blew down my shirt. I have no Idea how that happened!
Given my experience last week, I surprised myself this week by deciding to give the new machine another try. And, even more surprising, within 10 minutes I was driving, maybe not like a pro, but with a certain amount of confidence that I wasn't going to kill myself driving into a tree or fence. I was thrilled and amazed. My brain is a wonderful organ, and quite mystical don't you think?
Driving the newish mower was a challenge and now I've bonded with the darn thing. It made mowing the slanty sides of the driveway easy...and that is saying something for a task that used to seriously scare me every time I mowed.
Tomorrow I'm heading to the Gencon Writers Symposium in Indianapolis. As it happens, about 60,000 gamers are also going to be in town. Whee! So many challenges there I'll let you think them up and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Challenges are good. If I have them, I am still living Living. That is a good thing.
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