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I’ve never really actively set out to try to make my work space more comfortable, and to be perfectly honest, those people that have their cubicles just covered in decorations really rub me the wrong way.

It certainly doesn’t help that I move around a lot, both in the company I presently work for and just in general within different companies.

I’ve been with 5 different companies in the last 5 years, one of the joys of being a contract worker; I go where the contracts are.

At the present company I’m at (where I’ve mercifully been for 2 years), I’m at my 5th desk. All that to say, I’ve never really had the chance to properly settle into a work-space. Despite all that, my nerdiness has seeped into my surroundings and a few fun little trinkets and keepsakes have popped up around me.

Since I’m presently on vacation, it’s a good time to visit my work-space, because I hate myself.

What Is This:

This is a file folder that has Optimus Prime on it.

How Did It Get Here:

When Sarah and I visited Taipei, we discovered that the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall kind of doubles as an exhibition hall. In addition to the permanent monument and exhibition dedicated to Chiang Kai-shek, there are other exhibitions.

There was a Transformers exhibition so obviously we had to go. Sure, a lot of the descriptions of things were in Chinese, but we got to see all kinds of toys and models from the shows and comics (and ugh, movies). It was dope.

I knew I had to pick up a souvenir. The only thing that was reasonably priced and really properly reflected the fact that this was from Taiwan was this file folder. So here it is. At work. I’m an adult.

I keep it propped up since it’s more of a display piece for me than an actual file-folder, but one day I’ll take it proudly into a meeting. It will be the best.

What Is This:

Loot Crate Version of the Waka Waka Poster by Manny Peters

How Did It Get Here:

If you’re somehow a diligent reader of this blog (and particularly the Loot Crate reviews I do), then you know that my actual wallspace in my house is a hotly contested issue. Namely, Sarah and I both need to agree on something that goes up on the wall.

Two things came into play that took this little poster out of the running for actual apartment wallspace. The first is that, as you can see in the photo, it got a little crinkled. Which is a bummer. The second is that I’ve already got a number of geeky things dotting the walls in my TV room (the “Keith Room”) and I’m just not that big of a Pacman fan to demote one of the things already hanging there.

So, it’s now brightening up my office space. I’m fine with that.

What Is This:

Montreal Canadiens Game 2 Playoff Ticket

How Did It Get Here:

I won this ticket at a previous job. I’m not normally the type that hangs on to hockey tickets, let alone the kind of person who puts them (even slightly) on display.

But this ticket was a good time. Not only was it in the “Zone Desjardins” (where the expensive hockey arena good is free) it was also my first (and only) time seeing the Habs play in the playoffs. Also, sadly, it was the only game in the series against Ottawa that they won.

The energy of a Montreal hockey game is crazy enough to begin with, in the playoffs it was absolutely mind blowing.

What Is This:

Prop Replica of a SHIELD Access Card

How Did It Get Here:

Another item from a Loot Crate. I really wasn’t sure what to do with this when I got it. I don’t really watch the Agent of SHIELD show, and even if I did, unless I was cosplaying as an Agent of SHIELD (I would cosplay as Patton Oswalt) I wouldn’t really have a use for it.

But, you need an access card to get into my work, and I thought it would be funny to hang my “old” access card from previous job hanging in my cubicle.

The joke is that I used to work at SHIELD… get it? Do you get the joke?

What Is This:

A Tweety Bird Spinning Thing from a Kinder Surprise

How Did It Get Here:

First of all, I’m hoping you know what a Kinder Surprise is. It’s a chocolate egg with a toy in it because in Canada our children know the difference between chocolate and a toy and our youth can stop eating when they get to the toy.

Well, this toy is from one of the giant Kinder Surprises they sell.

I was having a bad day and met Sarah for lunch, to cheer me up she got me a giant version of a chocolate egg with a toy inside. More chocolate and bigger toy. This is why I married her.

I don’t actually have a picture of her at my desk, I should probably fix that situation.

What Is This:

Ice King McDonald’s Toy

How Did It Get Here:

I really like Adventure Time. I actually just went back to where I am in the series the other day and it reminded me that it is probably one of my favorite shows.

Now that I think of it, I’ve got easily 6 or 7 pieces of Adventure Time merch at my house, not counting the custom made Finn and Jake made for me by the amazing Katia at Season of the Stitch.

Anyhow, this toy, despite the fact that it shoots that little ice missile in the front, is kind of a weird design. Not quite nice enough to put on display in my opinion.

What it is good for is shooting at dry erase markers that you stand up on your desk.

I’m an adult.

Well, that’s it for my desk. I mean, other than the boring stuff like the phone, piles of papers and whatever else.

See you next week.

Keith does all sorts of things here on 9to5.cc, he works with the other founders on 9to5 (illustrated), co-hosts our two podcasts: The 9to5 Entertainment System and Go Plug Yourself and blogs here as The Perspicacious Geek.