Yeah, It's a Bit Cramped

OAFS Photo

I am enjoying the new laptop, though it is still in the process of being setup. As you can see above, it sits atop its cooling pad, which sits atop my TV tray. That latter thing was a Christmas gift from The Missus Herself some years back. The tray served well for dining while watching television.

As most program watching is now done via the desktop, we use the TV downstairs (big one it is) only when the kids and their kids visit. Amazon Fire Stick serves as the source for programming on the big TV. 

The tray graduated to laptop stand about two years ago when The Naviguesser bought me the Razer as a combination birthday/Christmas gift. That laptop served me well until one day it said, "This is as far as I go, no more."¹

After a delay of some weeks, I purchased the new machine, which I cleverly named The Machine, which now sits atop the tray. Alongside the old ASUS desktop which has a few more years (I hope) of life in her. I shall use the laptop for gaming and the desktop for writing. And watching movies and selected TV series.

But my area is rapidly filling with stuff (things The Missus Herself refers to as "junk," shudder). Behind my chair is a large pile of old Naval Institute Proceedings magazines, games, and ball caps. I have lots of those (ball caps), mostly Navy because hey, all three kids and both sons-in-law were in the Navy (Big Time SIL#1, still is). Not to mention that I have worked naval combat systems (primarily, one foray into Patriot missiles during my exile) for nearly 25 years, I've already worked at my current place longer than I was in the Air Force. So I feel kinda Navy most days.

Anyhoo, I'm starting to shop for a newer (bigger, as in longer) computer desk so the TV tray can go back to doing what it was designed for, though indeed, it's been a fine laptop stand. When I retire I plan on "cleaning my room." It pains me to say that, no doubt my better half will convince me to (shudder) throw things away to make more room.

But for now, I'll take my cramped workspace and live with it. (Note that to the right of the chair, off camera, is my electric drum kit. See the pic below, it's very cozy in my command center man cave, but I like it.)

OAFS Photo

Oh yes, in the background are more games, more books, my childhood panda and his buddies, and yeah, more hats.

Okay, my room isn't this cramped ...

Tiger I turret interior, loader's position
(Source)

... but it's getting there. At least I don't have the breech of an 8.8 cm KwK 36 cannon running through it. (Hhmm, I wonder how I'd traverse that, ya know, just in theory.)

I'm sure The Missus Herself (not to mention the neighbors) might have a problem with that ...

Okay, enough of that, I must get back to work, filling that laptop with all the games I had on the desktop and the old laptop. Through the magic of Steam, they're all out there, just waiting to be downloaded again, I mean the stuff's paid for, innit?

Editor's Note: Speaking of things which were lost but weren't really. My Microsoft Word, knowing what a disorganized putz I can be, actually saved the final edit of Almost a Lifetime on OneDrive, didn't know I'd set that up. After I activated Microsoft 365 on the new box (it came free for a year with the machine), there was my book. It said, "Hi, miss me?" And I answered, "Well, yeah, saved me having to redo all that work. Hallelujah!"

¹ A line from the most excellent film Prey.