Corner of Bourbon & Division

I mentioned that IKEA and I have an iffy relationship, right? I like their products, hate the way the store is organized. It makes me crazy in very short order. I don't know if it's the harsh lighting, the lack of windows, the fact that the store is designed to make you go in circles even if you only want one thing, the vast crowds of shoppers who randomly stop in front of you for no apparent reason, or all of the above.

So I have IKEA mostly down to a science. If I'm not sure what I want, I plan two trips: one is an advance scouting trip. I go in, I navigate the maze, I measure, I look at all the products, and I make lists of potential stuff. Then I go home, compile a final list that works with my budget, and I go back for a second trip.

The second trip is designed to be one or several surgical strikes. If I have a lot of stuff to buy, I'll make two round-trips from the car. The first trip is all about the light-but-awkward stuff: lamps, small tables, bits and bobs. The second trip is for the heavy DIY stuff.

If all goes well, none of these trips ever takes more than 45 minutes. That's about the length of time that my sanity will tolerate. After that I start gibbering and foaming at the mouth. No, really, I canNOT stay in IKEA for longer than that without having to fight down insane urges to hurt and/or kill people.

So yesterday I had two surgical strikes prepared. The first one went off almost without a hitch. I say almost because I couldn't find the right type of storage basket, in spite of the store's claim that they had them in stock. Fine. I can live without baskets.

Then people started getting in my way. A lot. They stopped in the middle of the aisles, their carts at an angle so as to maximize the impact on the flow of traffic. They congregated in groups in doorways, their carts touching noses in a tender metallic embrace, chatting merrily and ensuring that no one should pass through said doors. They argued about prices with the cashier, holding up the line. Their small children ran around unattended, swinging the barriers near the cash registers so that they repeatedly bashed into my legs, and then the parents *glared* at me when I firmly took hold of the barriers and told the child to stop. Dude, if you won't control your kids, then I will. At least the child stopped bashing into people with heavy metallic objects.

So the first surgical strike, which normally should have taken about twenty minutes, took thirty-five. I still had the modular shelving units to obtain. Back I went, once I had loaded the car. I was already twitchy, but since my primary goal was the modular shelving units, I decided to tough it out and go in anyway. I discovered when I went back in that, unlike the Billy bookcases and other things I had previously bought from IKEA, the modular (GORM) shelving is entirely DIY. That is, it doesn't come in boxes. The customer must pick and choose from a relatively disorganized pile of wooden debris, and out of that eventually one can apparently construct a shelving unit of one's choice and design.

I was little nervous about this, since it apparently doesn't come with instructions on how to assemble it, either. Okay. Still, I reassured myself, people do this all the time. Why shouldn't I? I began putting together my stuff... only to find that they were out of the shelves I need. Not a single solitary shelf to be found. Plenty of corner shelves. Plenty of shelves that were totally the wrong size. Nothing in the size I want or need.

I went to find a helpful employee, and stood in a line of people asking inane questions. "This box, does it contain what it says it contains?" "Yes, Ma'am, it does indeed contain the components listed on the box." "And I can pay for it at the cash?" "Yes, Ma'am, the cashier will be happy to take your money." "And to get it delivered, I go to that area over there that says 'delivery'?" "Yes, Ma'am, the delivery service will deliver your boxes if you pay them."

*headdesk*

Helpful employee informed me that they were expecting a shipment in today. Fine. By this time, though, I had spent well over an hour in IKEA, and if I had had a military-grade assault rifle I probably would not have been responsible for my actions.

I am now trying to call to find out stock inventory, and am being given the run-around by the phone system... Ah-hah! Got hold of a human being, and the shelves are in stock! HUZZAH! I shall go back this afternoon.

Busy busy busy, same as yesterday. This entry is STILL all about domestic stuff, so feel free to skip it if you don't want to hear about dishes and furniture. ;)

I actually got the dishes done today. Have I mentioned lately how much I love my dishwasher? I've had it for ten months and it *still* hasn't gotten old.

I went on a scouting trip to IKEA yesterday. It was originally going to be a proper shopping trip, but then I realized once I was there that I had a much longer list than my current budget would permit, and that making a decision would put me over my time limit. To explain: I can't spend more than 45 minutes to an hour inside IKEA before I go insane and my whole body starts screaming "Get OUT! Get out NOW!" I get this in a lot of large stores, but IKEA especially is overwhelming to me, and it's worse when there are lots of people around.

So I wandered around the store with paper, pencil and measuring tape, found all the useful items that I want, and came home to make up a budget for myself. Today I will be going back and picking up said useful items and bringing them home. Then I have to set it all up and put out the boxes and things for recycling. My timing is off, really, as today was the recycling pick-up, but I think if I'd tried to do it all yesterday I would have lost my mind.

In other domestic news, I got the cats' new water fountain set up. It's the schmancier model (to steal a term from luvenditti, but at least this one works as opposed to the last one, which refused to reassemble once I put in the motor. I also got the new microwave set up (I think I mentioned that yesterday), and it looks very nice indeed.

The Parental Units recently visited their storage locker, and I scored a whole bunch of artwork from the loot. Now I have to figure out where I want to put it all, and how I'm going to hang it. I have wall space to spare, so that's not a problem. The problem, of course, is that Phnee has to make a *decision*, and we all know how good I am with those. Life-and-death decisions I can do no problem. Deciding where to eat or where to hang a painting? I will angst for days.

I am having a lot of trouble with my need for instant gratification with this place. I *know* that making a home is a process and won't happen overnight, but a lot of the stuff I thought I would have finished by now is in many cases not even started. A rational person would realize that I have too many projects on the go and expect far too much of myself given the nature of my work and the fact that I live by myself and have no car. Luckily, I am not a rational person, and so I don't have to realize any such thing. ;)

Still, my frustration at how slowly I'm moving aside, this place really is starting to come together. The new paint job is still gorgeous, and makes me happy to look at it. I am looking forward to having proper artwork on my walls. I will eventually be getting the books onto their shelves, which is all to the good. After today I will be able to organize my craft supplies as well as my pantry and eventually my canning stuff.

Most importantly, the place is almost always in a state where I can throw open the door and let people in to visit. Even when it's not "perfect" I am never in fear of being utterly humiliated if someone steps through the door. This was not always the case, especially when the cats were having "accidents" everywhere in my previous places. I don't know what's happened to them, but apart from Pan-Pan (who seems to think that the bathtub is a giant empty litter box), they all use the litter boxes with no exceptions.

Having people over regularly has always been one of my dreams. I like having my friends stop by, and I love being able to say "Take a seat. Would you like a drink?" and just be able to produce said drink without worrying too much about it.

This place is the first apartment I've had that really feels like "home," in which I want to settle down and fill it with nesting materials, in a way that I've never felt before. I don't know if it's my age, or the fact that having two floors makes it feel like a house (or maybe the first-floor entrance), or if the stars aligned just right or what, but I'm not complaining.

The only "complaint" I have, really, is that I'm not moving fast enough for my own liking, and that's just a question of coming to grips with my own limitations.

So the wonderful tcaptain took me to IKEA today, and I am now the proud owner of two more bookcases and a small TV stand. That's it for large purchases for the moment, I think, although the upcoming summer means that I will have to get a barbecue and some garden furniture (yay garden!).

Right now the furniture is still in boxes, and if I'm feeling extra specially motivated tomorrow I'll probably unpack it then and set it up. I have to move the cat tree, which is going to be annoying but not difficult. Then I have to figure out where to put it.

I'm getting the distinct impression that there may not be quite enough room in my small living room for all this furniture. I blame the books. ;) I will have to experiment with varying furniture configurations, perhaps move some of it into the basement.

In other, unrelated news, I am surrounded by sleeping cats. I am pondering some sort of pasta for dinner, and then I have to go to work. *sigh* I haven't slept enough for that today (only about three and a half hours), but I'm too wired to sleep now. Doubtless I'll pay for it later.

The little hamster on the wheel in the back of my head is SCREAMING at the amount of money I spent today, even though it was in the budget and I planned for it and I know it's okay.

SCREAMING.

Oy.

You'd think I'd be over these little neuroses by now. :P



Anyway, I ended up not getting anything other than the sofa-bed, because the little hamster was screaming too loudly. (Sorry, ankhorite: my hamster appears to be more neurotic than average)

So I'll probably head back to IKEA next week, or maybe even someday this week, to get the bookcases and TV stand. Is anyone out there interested in coming with me? That way I can enlist help in schlepping the stuff (it's too heavy for me on my own), thus saving me a whackload of money for delivery services, and offer a car ride to IKEA in exchange.

Anyone interested? Bear in mind I'd be going on a weekday, although an evening trip could probably be arranged, even this week.

I remember when weekends lasted longer than two days.

You think I'm joking, but I'm not. Weekends when I was a kid started at 3pm on Friday afternoon and last until 8am on Monday mornings.

Weekends go by a lot faster than they used to. Of course, so do weekdays, but there are more of those, so it doesn't show as much. Case in point: this weekend. It went by in the blink of an eye, and I didn't get as much done as I thought I would.

Friday night was the first time I went dancing in nearly two weeks, and my body made me pay for it for two days straight. It was well worth it, mind you. I never feel quite so good as when I'm dancing. The only thing that would make dancing better for me would be to have a regular dancing partner. I want to be able to two-step as much as I want, but no one wants to dance with me. I'm constantly stuck having to restrict myself only to the line-dances that mean I can dance by myself (while surrounded by other people, it's true).

If I had to give up everything else I'm doing right now, dancing would be the one activity I'd keep.

Saturday was band practice. We ran through the set list, which went pretty well given the amount of time that's elapsed since we all rehearsed together. We worked on the first of our new songs, and even though I'll be beating my head against the percussion for a long time to come, we can already see where it's going to go. It's pretty exciting.

Working with Random Colour is a vastly satisfying experience. We all have similar temperaments and similar working methods, and so we get a lot done very quickly. Efficiency is our motto. (That and "We need to cut that intro," and possibly "Let's speed this song up!") We had a small band meeting during our break, and we dealt with a number of outstanding issues quickly and efficiently, and painlessly which is most important of all. Consumate professionals and all that. :D

Saturday afternoon found me going to IKEA, as previously mentioned in an earlier post, as well as Christmas-tree shopping for ai731, who blitzed the Canadian Tire so fast she practically left scorch marks in the parking lot. I was amused.

And, of course, there was the famous soup party at luvenditti's that evening. The corn chowder was by far my favourite, but all the soups were marvellous. We got to meet the science teacher we'd heard so much about, and thus the evening was spent with good food and good company and good conversation.

In other words: bliss.

Sunday was originally meant to be the first session of the long-neglected Mage game with meallanmouse and fearsclave, but was cancelled due to plague. Instead I slept in until 1400 hours, only to be awakened by a phone call from luvenditti who told me I had left behind a knitting needle.

I toddled off to retrieve it and ended up staying for dinner. We made rice krispie squares (that's a LOT of marshmallows), and there was a repeat (at my request) of the corn chowder along with the rice and meat and other goodness. I suspect that the Venditti's are beginning to think that I live there. ;)

So, yes. Sunday was quiet, which is a good thing. Sleeping in is highly underrated.

Thus begins another week. I really need to win the lottery. Some day I shall have all the time I want to do the things I love, rather than chase after paycheques all week long. :P