This is my new improved place of business. I can’t even describe the 90 day odyssey to transform the old kid’s play area into a semi-civilized home office, a room where I can shut the door and get stuff done.

Over the past couple of months I’ve been working on a project on my wife’s laptop in the living room- nothing like trying to write a coherent short story while flooring guys are running around, with more distractions than you can shake a stick at.

The flooring was the only bit of the job that I hired out. The rest was done in house- sanding, plumbing, painting, electric, etc. Had some help from my dad and a good friend. Their technical know-how sped the process.

Oh yeah, re-did the adjoining bathroom as well. No sense freshening up one room when the next one needs help as well. The project started in May, and is nearly finished. In any case, the furniture is back in the study, and we can use it again.

It’s important to have a decent work area, a place where when you sit down you can say, “OK, now it’s time to get something done.” I did write my books in this same room, but now it feels official. It’s not just a catchall room anymore, where you trip over a doll house on the way to the desk.

This has been a long-needed upgrade, and I’m glad it happened.

I’m also glad the job is done. There went the summer of 2018…