Why I hate my office

While I love the idea of an office, there are a few reasons I hate the one I have.  Overall I'm glad to have a place to come to everyday (and one with a door in case I need to pretend I'm not here) but.....this little lovely leaves a few things to be desired.  As I sit here today on a insert appropriate weather description here Saturday afternoon, here are a few observations.

1.  I wish I had a window.  On days like today, or when my colleagues across the hall are not in, I have no idea what the outside world looks like.  I never know it it's sunny, snowy, windy.....if it weren't for the clock on the computer I might end up in here for days on end because I just didn't know nighttime had arrived.

2.  I really like my colleagues, but two desks for three people isn't quite enough.  I'm lucky that I get my own, but I feel bad for my less than full time colleagues who are forced to share space, a computer, and the resources we are given.  I suppose, however, we are lucky to have an Italian office and can at least share a common language and common students in here.

3.  I don't have enough bookshelves and I can't find anymore.  Publishers keep sending books, I keep bringing books from home, I store all of my notebooks of lesson plans here and the space is very limited.  I know the world is going digital, but us academics love our hard copies.  Where am I supposed to put them?

4.  There are two plugs and a wad of wires on the floor.  At least once a week I trip over the many different cords in this office.  The computer stuff is plugged in on one side of the room (but of course the ethernet plug in is on the other side of the room) and the phone is plugged in on that side, but the phone plug itself is on the other.  Therefore, there are ugly grey cords running all over the place.

5.  Flourescent lighting.  I made the realization that bringing in lamps from home would help, but they also go through lightbulbs faster than the death rays coming from the ceiling.

Why didn't I pick one of those professions where they give you a big corner office with walls made out of windows?  I don't even think we have one of those on this campus.