My desk is an ever-evolving collection of things. It operates like a museum, with temporary exhibits and a few permanent showstoppers. I tend to clean off the entire desk every December when it’s time to decorate for the holidays, and then in January items and nick-nacks find their way on the desk.
Because the day is getting away from me and I refuse to let a day pass without posting anything, today’s Daily Transmission is the first in a series. Here are five things I look at when I can’t think of anything else to write.
Belvedere Zippo Lighters
In 10th grade, my history teacher gave us an assignment to write a paper explaining our own thoughts on the Kennedy assassination. I wrote a detailed, though silly, explanation on how Mr. Belvedere was involved. (Of all the old TV shows about butlers/housekeepers, Mr. Belvedere was one of the very worst.) My gruff and grumpy teacher gave me an A on the paper, laughed and said I should be writer. So I became a writer, because I’m easily influenced. When I received my very first paycheck as a very real writer ($200 for a magazine article in 2001), I used most of the money to buy myself a lighter with the word “Belvedere” engraved on it to remind me of how it all started. Years later, I thought I lost the original lighter, and had another made with “Belvedere II” engraved on it. I’m not a smoker. I just like having a lighter as a small, lucky trophy.
Weird Postcard
Someone took a bad photo of a staircase and turned it into an old postcard from (I’m assuing) the 1960s or 70s. The back says it’s from Mansfield, Ohio. I’ve never been to Mansfield, Ohio. I think I bought it for 25-cents at a used book store because I thought it looked haunted and wonderfully dumb. Notice how they didn’t crop out the door jamb on the right? Perfect! The back of the postcard identifies this image as: “Interior of Kingswood Hall. Residence of the late Charles Kelley King, philanthropist. Used for extensive gardening and nature library, meetings, exhibits, and offices. Open free to the public.” I just did a Google search and the Kingwood Center is still around. Judging by the website, it looks like a lovely place. I have no idea why the owners of a garden with trees and nature decided the best way to advertise and make your friends back home jealous was a weird picture of a random staircase. But I love it. Anyone else get a creepy, ghost vibe from this postcard?
Fake Egg
This is a fake egg. It’s made of…I don’t know. Ceramic? My mom gave this to me as a birthday present saying, “It’s a fake egg, because it’d be weird if I got you a real one.” I love her. I miss her. How many fake eggs are on your desk? If the answer is more than one, let’s be best friends!? The cup holding the egg is from Israel, and I wore the flower pin at my brother’s wedding in memory of my mom. Awww!
Lego Gargoyle
Though the characters change throughout the year, there is always a Lego mini-figure patrolling my desk. Sometimes it’s Batman, sometimes it’s Santa Claus. The Gargoyle is one of my favorites because he’s got the short-y legs and wings. He’s fantastic.
Booze
Back when I was an editor at Stuff Magazine and Maxim Magazine, I received a lot of booze. A lot. Companies tried to drown me in fancy liquor. I’m not a huge drinker, but I did enjoy this bottle of somewhat fancy-pants Scotch for two reasons: First, its called Thor. Second, Thor is its name. It tastes okay…though I prefer my Scotch to be less sharp and more smokey. Is “sharp” an okay term to describe Scotch? I’ve written miles of words on booze and have run out of ways to describe it. The little bottle of Jack Daniels is there just in case of emergencies. It’s been there for more than five years. Hope it doesn’t go stale.
That’s it for now. I’ll share more of the 6.2 million things on my desk throughout the year. See you tomorrow!