July 02, 2025

I really shouldn’t be left alone — too much at one time

I’m fine spending my days working from home. In fact, I love it.

Should I stir at 2 a.m. and find myself wide awake, if I choose, I can simply take about 14 steps from my bed and be sitting at my computer ready to work. It doesn’t happen very often, but I’ve been known to put in some odd hours.

I did give up seeing my coworkers on a daily basis. We still interact via our Zoom meetings and occasionally at the office as several of us still go in of an evening to do some finishing work. But I’m often there roughly 5 hours a week working alone. Doesn’t bother me.

I’m just one of those people who is comfortable with my own company.

I do, however, allow myself to be talked into some stupid stuff by ... well ... me.

A few months ago I “redecorated” my office area at home. I decided if I’m going to be in a little 10x12 foot room for 7 to 8 hours a day, it needed to be a space I enjoyed. I needed organization. But my office area isn’t just my office, it also serves as my sewing, craft and laundry room. There can be a lot going on in here at times.

I started with painting the walls and woodwork. Then I tore out the carpeting. Next was creating a DIY unit to include a desk for my computer, a place for my work files and personal files, accommodations for my Cricut along with all the supplies, my sewing machine and materials. That meant 12 feet worth of bookcases and shelving, all for around $60. I also found the perfect old tapestry-looking room-sized rug.

I painted some old picture frames for my farmhouse signs, located a few wire baskets and tada! Well, tada might be a stretch because the all happened over the course of roughly 6 weeks and I’m still tweaking it.

So that kept me busy for a while.

Then a few weeks ago it was Amazon Prime Days. My daughter called, all excited, and suggested we each purchase an Echo Show so we could video call one another and link it to other smart devices in our homes. Like I’ve said, I’m not really tech-savvy, but OK. I ordered it, I received it and I’m I’ve now met and have a fond relationship with “Alexa,” whose only duty to date is turning our living room light on and off twice a day. I think an $8 timer could have done the same thing and saved me a nice chunk of change.

So anyway ...

As I continue to spend my days without much human interaction and am most often on the computer, I stumbled across a little ditty explaining the simplicity of becoming a landowner in Scotland. I’m of Scottish descent so I’m thinking, oh my gosh! It’s meant to be!

After entering my credit card information, I’m now in possession of a plot of land in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. According to the Proclamation I received “by the virtue of the ownership of land in Scotland, by way of a dedication ... may henceforth and in perpetuity be known by the style and title of Lady and shall hereafter, to all and sundry, be known as Lady Dana Jean Archer King.” (Don’t worry. I still put my pants on one leg at a time.)

I’m happy to let guests visit my land should they ever find themselves up north in the countryside of the United Kingdom. Let me know if you want to stop by and I’ll provide you with my Plot number. I only allow one visitor at a time, though. It has nothing to do with social distancing. It’s more the fact my piece of land is only one square foot in size.