Shortly after Christmas, pumped up by some fly-tying books I got as gifts, I decided to explore some options for the little space I have for a desk. I looked at all the super-deluxe custom tying-specific desks. I looked at the catalog stores' websites; like Cabela's and Orvis. I looked at cheap options like Ikea and Staples. I even thought about asking the guy who built my custom CD rack if he'd be up to the challenge. Then, on a whim, and because it's an amazing resource for cheap stuff, I checked Craig's List. I saw a heading that said "Secretary's Desk, $30." This picture was in the ad.
That might work. I don't think it's technically a Secretary's Desk, as those usually have a fold-down work surface that covers the hutch, but it does look a lot like some of the tying-specific desks I saw. I sent an email and they still had it. I sent another and said I'd be there Saturday. They replied that a few people had inquired, and it was first come first serve. Fair enough. I lined up my pal, Wes, to help me in his truck with the promise of lunch.
In the morning - this morning - I woke up and turned on English soccer, as I often do on Saturday morning. In fact my favorite side, Arsenal FC, were playing Everton FC at 9 a.m. PST. During half-time (Arsenal down 1 - 0), I walked up to Golden Hill Liquor, and withdrew $60 for the desk and lunch and crossed the street to Starbuck's to get a black coffee and to be sure I had a ten for the transaction. Then I went home to wait for Wes to clean up after surfing and pick me up. By the time I sat down with my coffee, Arsenal had tied it up. It was 2 -1, Arsenal, by the time Wes called from downstairs, and Niklas Bentdner had gotten tossed with second yellow card. So, with ten men, 20 minutes to go, and a 2 -1 lead, I reluctantly left Arsenal to go on the desk mission.
While I was loading my pockets with wallet, keys, phone and cash, I realized I'd lost a twenty somewhere between the market and home. The desk had cost me $20 and I hadn't even left the house.
Michelle, the desk's current owner, lives in Santee, and said she would be available around 11 a.m. for a transaction. We were within 5 minutes of her house when I called her at 11:02. She had a cheery voice. I asked if the desk was still around, and yes, it was. She and her husband were in the process of moving and were clearly getting rid of nearly everything. When we rang the doorbell at the open front door, she asked what item we were here to get. She asked which desk, and I pointed to the desk I saw on Craig's List in a room in the back of the house. They had another desk about the size of a twin bed. It was gigantic. I had a look at what I'd come for. It was a little smaller than what I'd imagined, and not in as good of shape as what she said; which was "good." But for thirty bucks (now $50) I thought I'd give it a try. Plus the tree hugger in me liked the idea of recycling a desk instead of buying some pressed wood piece of crap new.
Wes's truck is 12 years old and in remarkably good shape, but the motor seems about to die, and he's a little stressed about it. So he gets extra karma for driving me on a 32-mile round trip to pick this desk up. When I asked him where he wanted to eat, he said Crazy Burger (on 30th, it's awesome) I had no problem. Crazy Burger is run by this German guy, and they have great burgers, sausages, beer etc. I got a Dansk, cooked medium. The Dansk is a regular burger with a pile of crumbled bleu cheese on it. It's toe-curling delicious. Wes had the blackened Cajun Burger. We both had pints of Black Butte Porter, from Oregon. Delicious lunch, and it was one dollar, with tip, more than the desk. So my 30-dollar bargain was now an 81-dollar desk. Fine, worth the money, and I probably would have bought lunch today anyway.
We actually put the desk in my place before lunch, checked the outcome of the Arsenal match (4 - 1 Arsenal, with both teams having finished with 10 men), and went to lunch. So when I got home I wiped the desk down, assessed its condition - not too bad really, and got out my fly-tying vice to check how much space I'd have. It's a little on the small side, but if I manage and organize my tying materials I should do okay. I have a Renzetti foam tool caddy due to arrive any day now, and that'll get my tools in easy reach. Here's a preliminary shot with the CD rack next to it.
If you look at the back, left leg, you'll see a largish white object. That's the transformer for that tiny light on the desk. Ridiculous. It's a little halogen lamp I bought at Ikea today. I hate halogen, I'm going to replace it with an LED when I get a chance. It won't get hot, it will use way less electricity, and it will cost as much as the desk. I also need a book holder so I can follow the instructions in my new tying books.
And a close up.
I'm pretty happy with so far, we'll see after some long tying sessions. Anyway, that's that. I may update this when the tool caddy shows up, for full effect. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading my ramble. Peace out, yo.
Posts
