FROM THE EDITOR
A Publication of the State Bar of Arizona
ARIZONA
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VOLUME 50, NO. 5
DAVID H. BENTON
THEODORE CAMPAGNOLO
ANN MARIE CHISCHILLY
NICOLE MAROULAKOS
GOODWIN
ASHLEY KASARJIAN
MAY LU
CONNIE J. MABLESON
HON. WEND Y S. MORTON
JAMES B. PENNY
MARK D. SAMSON
THOMAS STACK
LACEY STOVER GARD
KEI TH SWISHER
ANTHONY TSONTAKIS
Messy? That’s a strong word for my desk. Let’s just
call it dynamic.
That’s how I opened a recent blog post, where I explored what
it is we’re really talking about when we talk about a messy desk.
As I explained (
http://tinyurl.com/messydesk1), my work
space is typically in varying stages of
disrepair. But as the autumn pro-
gressed, things were getting bad, and
my stacks were getting mountainous.
So I buckled down and cleaned. My
follow-up is here:
http://tinyurl.com/messydesk2
I write this in early December, and
so far I’ve maintained a frighteningly
efficient cleanliness. My short-term goal is to keep the surfaces clear
at least until January 1. For me, that would be a remarkable achievement.
What most intrigued me by the process, though, were the reactions I got from folks in and out of the office. Those responses said a
lot about how judge-y we all can get about other people’s clutter
choices.
Some were thrilled at my change—absolutely relieved may be a
better term. (They seemed to have been fretting about my desk’s
decline for quite awhile.)
Others pooh-poohed the need for clean. They alluded to the
well-known fact (or urban myth) that creative types have the messiest
desks. Clutter = brainiac, they suggested. As you might guess, their
own spaces looked like tornado alley.
As we head into a new year, I
wonder how many of you take
pride—misplaced or not—in your
own workspace. Do you find solace
in clutter or in clean? What does
creative look like to you?
I’d really like to know. So I’m
inviting photos of your work
spaces. You may (but need not)
include your own caption describing
what makes that a welcome work
home to you. Send photos and
commentary to
arizona.attorney@azbar.org.
And fair warning: I may
publish them, probably in my blog.
Because we all need incentives, here’s mine: Rather than
give a coffee gift-card or some such, I am offering a book of
legal poetry, titled Poetic Justice. I reviewed it a few months ago
(
http://tinyurl.com/lawpoems), and much of it is quite
good. I was careful not to write in the volume or damage it
in any way. Therefore, it is like-new and ready for reading (or
re-gifting).
Everyone who sends a photo of their desk or workspace will
have the chance to win this book. I will randomly select one
entrant. (How? Let’s not get technical.)
I look forward to seeing your many visions of the creative
cluttered class. AZ AT
Give Me (Office) Space