IKEA Virgin to Veteran

So on Friday night, while Bob & Mark were at their fantasy football draft, Amy & I went to IKEA. This was my first time at IKEA. I had previously gotten various comments from friends & co-workers about IKEA, mostly about what a zoo it is, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. I figured Friday night was safe. I went there on a mission: shelving & a table for the hobby room, as well as a curtain rod for the memory quilt. Amy guided me around the aisles, and it was a very interesting store. I ordered my table upstairs and got the shelving & curtain rod downstairs. Amy picked up some small goodies as well. After the trip, Amy went home (long day) and I hung out with Bob & the folks at the draft until it was over.

Saturday morning, I got up to start putting up the shelves. I then discovered that the wall studs are a standard 48 inches apart. The shelves were only 47 inches, and the brackets I had gotten (BJARNUM) wouldn't work, as the shelves had to slide into the brackets. Ugh, I didn't want to go on a Saturday. So I went back to the store, returned the Bjarnum brackets and got these cool Slinga brackets on which the shelves would rest. I discovered to my surprise that it wasn't that busy, and learned from the IKEA sales guy that it doesn't usually get crazy until noon on Saturdays & Sundays. The secret on weekends is going early! While I was there I picked up some clamp lights on my way out. I had gotten screws at IKEA as well, which is something one should never do. They are poorly made and it is cheaper to get good quality screws at the hardware store. I managed to get the brackets & shelves up with Bob's help by evening. I then started working on putting together the desk, when I discovered that the Galant A-legs with castors weren't height adjustable. Agh!

Sunday morning, it was another trip to IKEA. This time Bob came along for the ride. I returned the screws and A-legs and found I would have to re-order the legs in the style I wanted. By this time, I knew the shortcuts around the store...upstairs to the office area to quickly order the legs...downstairs through shelving to pick up a magnetic board...and out through the registers in 15 minutes. Here is the finished room and the mounted curtain rod with quilt...

Care Package for Ang

Check out what I got in the mail! My mom made a memory quilt from pictures of our wedding and quilt squares which we had our guests sign at the wedding! It's very cool. Also, came with 2 pillows. My mom is an awesome quilter!!





She also sent me her old knitting needles, an instructional knitting book, and a knitting magazine from the 70s... I know my friend, Amy of Amyville.com, will be dying to check out the magazine once she sees this!!

Home Project #1 - The Workout/Hobby Room

This weekend I (Ang) painted our Workout/Hobby room in Mystic River from Behr, which is like a light cornflower blue. I'm being inspired by all the home improvement shows I'm watching on HGTV and TLC! The treadmill got moved in front of the mounted TV so we can look straight ahead, instead of left, while running. :D The plan for the rest of the room is to go to IKEA next weekend to get shelving and a craft table, so that we can actually start using the room for hobbies, instead of just using the treadmill! Bob did some home improvement as well, and replaced our garbage disposal! All in all, a very productive weekend!

Ang doing Memes

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored.

You'd like to your lover to think you are optimistic and happy.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

Your Birthdate: February 6

A birthday on the 6th of the month adds a tone of responsibility, helpfulness, and understanding to your natural inclinations. Those born on the sixth are more apt to be open and honest with everyone, and more caring about family and friends, too. This is a number associated with responsibility and caring - this birthday lends a degree of concern for others.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

We are alive!

We have fully recovered from our Scotland jetlag and have finally posted all our pics and written up our Scotland Travel Blog. Click on the link and start reading from the bottom.

Not much new on the home front since we've been back. Ang is still taking a break from dancing. Chris gave Ang a knitting lesson last weekend...we'll see if she joins the dark side... :P