Duct Tape Fixes Anything

What a day.. what a week. Thank goodness that one's in the can.

I've been thinking about the computer situation here at home. Currently, my little link to civilization (and I use the term loosely) sits on the bar in a corner of the living room. It seemed like a great idea when I put it here, but one small problem soon became evident. Without a barstool or a "high rise" office chair (or drafting chair) I spend alot of time trying to figure out how to sit up high enough to comfortably type. At the moment, I've got a pillow and a folded bedspread in the chair, but that leaves my feet dangling so I've had to add a stool and it's all getting very complicated and crowded. It finally dawned on me that I was going about this all wrong. If I could lower the keyboard it would solve all my problems.

I priced a few keyboard trays. Why does a hunk of plastic and some hardware have to be so flipping expensive? There is another problem. This being a "mobile home" means that nothing that appears to be wooden is actually wood. Everything is this thin pseudo wood that won't hold a screw at all, including the bar. There are a few cross pieces underneath, with a little innovation I could probably rig something up.

So today, I was eyeing the old receptionist's desk at work. I don't mean we have an elderly receptionist, we don't have one at all, but when we did (I think I was the last one now that I think about it) the desk had a nice, big keyboard tray underneath. I checked it out and sure enough, it was still there. I asked one of the big bosses if maybe I could buy it, since no one was using it anyway. He said, "Hey... if it were to just be gone when we came in here Monday morning I doubt anyone would notice."

I made sure it was okay to take it, repeatedly, to the point of getting on his last nerve. I ended up having to borrow a screwdriver, then convinced my bubbly coworker to be the one to crawl under the desk and get it for me. I really didn't want to get caught with my big ass sticking out from under there, then having to explain what I was doing.

So now I have a spiffy new keyboard tray. I have NO clue if I can figure out a way to attach it. If all else fails, I guess I can always duct tape it.