Five knickknacks that have followed me from job to job and office to office for the last 20 years

I'm always interested to see how people who work in offices (at their place of business or remotely at home) decorate their desks, cabinets and bookshelves.

Photos are most common, it seems, and for good reason. I have a photo of Terry and me on my desk that I look at often and that serves to remind me why I do what I do 40-50 hours a week for the Materion Corporation.

But beyond the pics of kids, spouses and significant others, there are other little bits of office decor I always find fascinating. They provide some insight into what people value, what they do with their free time, and in general what their personalities are like.

I have worked in an office setting since 1988, if you want to call newspaper newsrooms "office settings." They are unlike traditional business offices in that they're generally loud, sometimes frenetic, and usually filled with what could most politely be described as irreverent conversation. I worked in newsrooms from '88 to '96 before moving into more genteel offices.

Since 2002 I've had something like 10 different offices at six companies. Each time I've switched jobs or undergone an office move, there is a core set of items I've smothered in bubble wrap and carried from place to place. They have stayed with me for most or all of these past two decades, and I can't imagine an office without them.

Draw whatever conclusions you will about me from these longtime office knickknacks:

The Laughing Buddha

In December 2005, I spent two full weeks in China meeting with journalists to pitch story ideas on behalf of the clients I represented as a vice president at Cleveland public relations firm Dix & Eaton. I picked this up at a Shanghai market for what I'm sure was a criminally low price, as the dollar was particularly strong against the Chinese yuan at the time. There's something about him that makes me happy, and I've always made a point of putting him in parts of my office where I'm sure to see him.

The Mexican Porcupine

Speaking of Dix & Eaton, about a year and a half after I joined the firm, we moved from Downtown Cleveland's Erieview Tower maybe a half-mile away to the 200 Public Square building. As people were cleaning out their Erieview offices, there was a table where you could discard stuff you didn't want to take with you, just in case others might be interested in it. This little guy was placed on that table (by whom I don't know) and I snatched him up for no other reason than I thought he was cool. A few of the toothpick quills have broken over the years, but he's still going strong and watches me all day long as I work.

The Globe

I always wanted a globe, and one Christmas Terry gave me this little beauty. It serves no practical purpose, but then again, what true knickknack does? Actually I take that back. In 2019, a day before we were scheduled to fly to Australia for a cruise, I spun the globe to North America then spun it to Australia, and it was the first time I realized how truly distant the two continents are from one another. It made the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney a little more understandable, so I guess the globe provided some benefit in that one instance.

The Puck

I am an ardent fan of the National Hockey League's Ottawa Senators. Have been since they came back into the league (following a 70-year absence) in the early 90s. I think I bought this puck and cheap plastic display case in Niagara Falls when I took one of our kids there way back when. It's a good conversation piece when someone asks the valid question, "How does a lifelong Clevelander become a fan of the Ottawa Senators?"

The Appalachian Trail Rock

Some years ago, my neighbor Tim did some hiking on portions of the Appalachian Trail. Knowing that a through-hike of the trail is a likely-never-to-happen bucket list item of mine, he very graciously brought back a rock for me, just so I could have a little piece of the 2,150-mile pathway I would love to traverse at some point before I get too old. I always thought that was really nice of him, and it serves as a reminder that we all need to have dreams.

Should you get a stand-up desk?

Yes, you should.

OK, that's a sweeping generalization. A stand-up desk isn't for everybody, but I would suggest it's a good option for most people. I have one in my office and have benefitted greatly from it. Here's what it looks like:

You will note a few things:

(1) See that blue mat? It's a life saver, especially the first few weeks when you're getting used to standing up for most (or part) of the day. Vitamix Chef Adam Wilson gave me that tip, something culinary professionals who are on their feet all day learned long ago.

(2) The desk is adjustable. It can go down to desk level in case I need to sit for any reason.

(3) That little shelf is nice for my coffee cup, Post-It Notes, a handy pen or pencil, knick-knacks, etc. I also have on my mine (you can see it on the left side of the shelf in the bottom photo) a rock from the Appalachian Trail given to me by my neighbor Tim Warneka. It's a reminder that one day I really will walk the entire 2,150-mile AT. I'm telling you, I'm going to do it.

The adjustable height thing is important because you want to get your monitor level just right. Otherwise you'll eventually pay for it in your neck and shoulders. But once you make the initial ergonomic adjustments, you'll be golden.

I find that standing all day keeps me more alert and attentive, and lends itself to having more energy. It's to the point that I can't take sitting for long periods anymore.

Speaking of which, the reason I got the standing desk in the first place wasn't because I have back problems, which is why a lot of people prefer to work standing up. It's because of the emerging body of research suggesting that long periods of sitting are just plain bad for you. That whole "sitting is the new smoking" thing is real. Or at least it's real to me, which is why I keep myself upright most of the day.

Anyway, it's something to consider, assuming your company will allow and/or pay for it. There are other types of stand-up desks from which to choose, including some with larger shelf/desk space, and even treadmill desks on which you can walk while working and get your steps in. I haven't tried one, but they do seem cool.

Ultimately, I wholeheartedly endorse the stand-up work lifestyle. It's what all of the cool kids are doing! Or maybe it's just one uncool kid: me. Either way, think about it.

Six things I don't get the popularity of

(1) Professional wrestling: Look, I know this is probably just me because a lot of smart people love wrestling and have fond memories of watching it when they were kids. I just...I don't get it. I try and try to find some entertainment value in it and I come up blank. But then again, there are a lot of things I personally like that others don't get, either, so I guess it's all good.

(2) KISS: The band, not the physical act (I like that). Again, I know they're talented. I know people just love their music. I'm pretty sure there's something I'm just not understanding about their appeal that, if it would just click for me, I would become a fan.

(3) Gardening: Lots of people love gardening. They love growing food and flowers. They love being outside on their hands and knees and digging into the soil. Good for them. I in no way share their passion, though maybe I will in a few years when I become an official Old Person. After all, I never thought I would like coffee and wine, and I love both now. We'll see.

(4) Almost any given binge-watched TV series: You know the ones I'm talking about – Breaking Bad, The Wire, Walking Dead, Boardwalk Empire, Sons of Anarchy, etc. The only one I've ever gotten into (and I'm not quite sure how it happened) was House of Cards. I like House of Cards. Then again, I would probably like those other shows, too, if I had the time to watch any of them. But I don't.

(5) Tattoos: Understand something, militant tattoo people: I don't care if you have a tattoo. I don't judge you because you have a tattoo. If you're a good person, you're a good person whether or not you choose to get some ink. I don't have any problem at all with tattoos or the people who have them. It's just that I personally don't want one, and I can't identify with the desire to have one. That's all. Nothing more than that. You people get really sensitive when you think others are criticizing you.

(6) Camping: I really, really WANT to like camping. And I hate to say it, but I think I would like camping if I were doing it myself. This isn't anything against my family or anyone else with whom I'm likely to find myself sleeping in a tent. It's just that I think I would enjoy the experience much more if there was no one else, you know, there with me. Which is why the idea of a multi-person two-week camping trip to Yellowstone does nothing for me, but the idea of walking the entire Appalachian Trail and sleeping outside every night seems awesome. But as always, that's just me.