Then, by golly, you need to write them down. We recommend this trio of 48-page unicorn notebooks. Measure 5-1/2" x 3-3/8" with ruled pages and a different unicorn on each cover, plus a keeper inside the back cover that lists pretty things and unicorn lore. Take notes with these at the staff meeting and you’ll likely avoid some ugly assignments.

Accept no amateur rulers. But seriously, this 24-inch professional steel ruler from Helix® is cork-backed, and marked in 1/32” increments for the first two inches, 1/64” for the third, and 1/16” for the rest. Also shows 60cm x 0.5mm for the first 10cm, and 1mm for the remainder. Markings are etched, so they won’t rub off with use.

For photos, or anything else that will fit in the (30) 5-7/8” x 4-1/2” sleeves inside, these approx 6” x 6” 2-ring binders are made of aluminum in a license-plate style, complete with top-mounting holes. You pick the patriotic ones, marked USA or AMERICA against a red, white and blue flag background, or the CHICAGO version, which is a replica of the current Illinois plate.

Nice mahogany-stained thingy, too, with faux pleatherette sides and a drawer. Measures 7" x 4-3/4" x 4-1/8" with a 6-1/4” wide x 4” deep (with an open front) shelf on top and a slot for a wire in the back. We think it was made as a phone charger caddy. (It’s just wide enough for an iPhone 6 Plus without a case, and would probably take a wireless charger.) Also has a 5-1/4" x 3-9/16" x 1-7/8" drawer, clearly made to hold stuff.

Where else can you find (lightly) scented erasers shaped like giant rings with 1” square jewels? And packed inside clear plastic spheres? We’ll pick (1) in white, yellow, blue, green or another lovely color, but if you simply must have pink we’ve got that, too, and we’ll send it to you.

When is a spiral-bound notebook not just a spiral-bound notebook? When it’s got a turntable embossed on the plastic cover, dude, so that taking notes is like, deejaying, practically. Also when it has a pair of nunchaku (or “nunchuks”) embossed on the cover, with an actual little chain for, like, verisimilitude. Inside are 94 pages of ruled, white 8” x by approx 11” sheets, like that part matters.

From our selection of things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them, these 32-sheet notebooks have lightly ruled pages that are 8-1/4” x 5-3/4”. Open them up and place the center crease on your nose, however, and they turn into a mask. You pick the Gas Mask notebook, with eye holes; the Zombie mask, ditto; or the pink Pig mask, that you just look over the top of. Perfect for adding a little something to Monday morning meetings.

This 18-inch x 1-1/2” wide clear acrylic office ruler from Helix® is marked as an office ruler, and we don’t know why, but we like it. Measures in 1/16” increments, and all the way up to 460mm on the other side. Edges are cut at 45 degrees for your non-smearing, line-drawing pleasure.

Do we love multi-purpose stuff? Yes, we do. Herewith, we present our Swiss-ish army-like file folder organizer. A 14-1/2" x 9" x 7-1/2" gizmo with (4) plastic file holders and a 13" x 3-7/8" white dry-erase board on the front for you to write messages to yourself on with the thoughtfully included black marker.

InkJoy is the Paper Mate® name for a particularly smooth ink, but it’s the medium 1mm points that make these so pleasant to write with. Measure 6” long with black ink and pocket-clip caps. Our each is a pack of (8) pens.

Don’t forget your #2 pencils, because we’re pretty sure it’s against the law to take a standardized test in America without them. Our each is a pack of (8) with erasers. From Dixon® and marked 100% Real Wood, which is a relief. And to any automatic-pencil users who might not care so much about wood, these pencils have HB lead.

From Dixon®, the pencil people, this 25-piece set includes (14) #2 pencils with erasers, (6) additional 1” pencil-top erasers in assorted colors for the error-prone, (4) rubber pencil grips, and a little plastic pencil sharpener. Almost makes us want to go take the SATs again. Almost.

Mental notes aren’t worth the synapses they’re stored in. Best get this set of (3) little, 3” x 4” hardbound notebooks with (100) blank pages in each. They’re cute, with covers that are genuine Monopoly® cards: Boardwalk, marked “shopping list”; Electric Company, marked “Bright Ideas”; and Reading Railroad, marked “Travel Journal.” Just ignore those, and write down whatever you want, because who are the Parker brothers to tell you what to do? 

And in black and gold only. This 4” dia, tilting political globe has landmasses in black against gold oceans, and is available at a particularly teacher-friendly price. On a 3” dia base, it stands 5-3/8” tall. Quite complete, with names in small type. Anyone who beholds this beauty will see the world in a whole new way.

Actually, we have (105) questions, in (5) levels of difficulty, about the world we live in and the stars we live under. Test your knowledge with one of these 3-7/8" dia globes, complete with a deck of quiz cards, a single die and a set of game options. You pick the physical world globe or the celestial globe.

There’s power all around us. Surging like crazy. In many media. This is why we all need a multimedia surge protector like this 125V 15A 6-outlet surge protector, which will take up to 1500 joules with a max surge voltage of 6kV and a max spike current of 75kA. Has 400V protection between hot and neutral, and neutral to ground, and 500V protection between hot and ground. Also has inline coax protection and EMI and RFI filtering. The (2) sets of (3) outlets each can be tilted 45 degrees to the side. Indoor use only. UL.

This 125V 15A surge protector has (3) outlets that swivel 90 degrees from front-facing to side-facing, so cords will run along the wall. This device keeps cords hidden, behind couches and other furniture without protruding from any standard grounded double wall outlet. Made by RCA, it will handle up to 1,200 joules with a max surge voltage of 6kV and spike current of 45kA. 500V protection between all three lines. Has a 20dB EMI/RFI noise filter. Measures 4” wide x 5-1/2” high x 1-1/2” deep. ETL listed.

You say your office is the coffee shop on the corner? You say you wish you had a desk like all the big kids in the offices downtown? You’re in luck because this all-black plastic desk set has everything you need in a 4-1/2" dia x 4-1/2" tall rotating pen stand, including (2) pencils, a pen, scissors, 6” ruler, (5) pushpins, a pencil sharpener, small stapler with (500) staples, (10) paper clips, a gum eraser and a staple remover. It’ll be like having a job!