Those Swedes...And Their Sense Of Humor

 It was an afterthought, really. I almost missed it. Tucked away in an unoccupied section of a large put-it-together-yourself furniture store was a section of non-furniture items. 

I found myself in the food section.

And there was no one else there.

What's strange is, the main reason I was at the put-it-together-yourself furniture store in the first place was for the food. 

People go to the huge Ikea super centers for many reasons. I went for lunch. Decades ago I lived in a country just south and west of Sweden, but much of their food is the same and it's good food...good enough for me to travel quite out of my way for it. After lunch, my friend and I wanted to buy some of their famous Swedish meatballs so we went downstairs and searched them out. Because it was on a weekday, it was not very crowded. There was actually no one in that section and we rooted around looking for the frozen deliciousness. 

That's where I spotted the chocolate moose.

If you'd like to watch a video demonstration from the company's website, click: HERE. Personally, I thought the confection hilarious. Who says Swedes don't have a sense of humor? Not me...I personally know several Swedes and I found them not un-funny. But seriously, they are amazingly warm and caring (and beautiful...) people. They make a delicious meatball and a funny moose.

So, if you're in an Ikea store and you'd like something that will make your day a little bit more fun, just look around the food section at the checkout...it'll be worth your time.

Apparently, It Takes Two To Build A Fjellse...

We pulled out the box from the basement and brought it upstairs. I opened the box and saw the few pieces of wood and metal screws found therein. Those who have put together Swedish furniture delivered in a box know that, "Life is like a box of IKEA furniture--you never know how it's going to turn out."

Thankfully, the project was simple enough, but what I thought was most interesting, was the instruction manual...

And the illustrations.

It was the second illustration, specifically, that caught my attention. You see, according to the producers of this fine product, they feel having two people put the bed together is key. My first thought was they're telling me I needed a supervisor for the project. Of course, it's not necessarily a supervisor, just another smiling builder with a pencil behind his year--a clear supervisor trait.

Throwing caution to the wind, I forged forward, alone, buddy-less, supervisor-less. And I found success. But, unfortunately, when we purchased the Fjellse years ago, we failed to purchase the support that you put inside the Fjellse, thus making it an actual bed.

See, you never know how it's going to turn out.

Such is life.

IKEA...Not A "Quick Stop" Place

I knew I was going to drive past the IKEA furniture store this past weekend. I attended a writing conference and the huge monument to Swedish capitalism (not to be confused with Volvo or Husqvarna...) rose just west of the Interstate 15 I'd be taking. With my wife engaged in a de-clutter experiment, we needed something only IKEA offered, plastic lids to cover their stackable plastic tubs.

No problem, I thought. I can stop by either on my way down, or on my way back. It'll be quick.

I should have known.

I did not stop Friday as I drove south. To be honest, I kind of forgot. But, I knew by leaving the convention after my last panel Saturday afternoon, I'd have plenty of time to stop, run in, grab the lids, pay, then jump in my car and head home.

Thankfully, the traffic traveling north was far better than I experience the day before as I drove south. I was feeling good Saturday afternoon as I pulled into the parking lot, spotted a beautiful yellow VW Beetle the store uses for promotions (I still wonder if the thing runs...), found a sweet parking spot as close to the entrance as possible, jumped out of my car and ran inside.

If you've been inside an IKEA store, you know it's a labyrinth. Once inside I could have gone upstairs to the showroom, or stay on the main floor and search among the thousands of items with funny names on the sales floor.

I chose the main floor. 

Once I entered the sales floor, I realized I had no idea where the things might be. Not kitchen, not lighting. I made my way to the storage section. They had to be there, but I couldn't see either the tubs or the lids. I spotted an employee and asked him a simple question, "Where are the plastic lids that go over the plastic storage tubs."

He just looked at me. 

I had instantly become "one of those guys," the ones who think the employee should know exactly what I was thinking--as if, the store only sells one type of tub and one type of lid for that tub. The employee was more than professional. He politely said they have hundreds of types of storage tubs and asked if I knew the name of what I was looking for. Of course I didn't. I told him it was for a storage unit like you see in kids rooms. He suggested I go to the kids section upstairs. Luckily, I've been in IKEA and shopped enough in that section, I knew right where it was.

Once I got there, I saw the tubs. I looked for lids. They had none. I flagged down another employee who looked it up on their little computers. At first they said they didn't know if they still made those lids. But after checking, they directed me to the aisle and section to find what I was looking for. After a quick jog, I found my six lids, hit the "20 Items of Less" checkout lane, hopped in my car and I was on my way.

Next time, if I have to do a quick IKEA stop, I'll be doing my homework...you know, to save time.

Anyone Want A Free Entertainment Center? Authentic Swedish Design, Assembled In USA...

If you're looking for a low-profile, Swedish-designed entertainment center, assembled here in the good old U-S-of-A, have we got the entertainment center for you!

Is that a question or a statement?

No matter,. Yes, if you're in need of just such an item (and the rolling castors work, too...!), and you're in the Davis County area, just contact me--it's yours!

And why is this quality item being given away?

Because we bought a huge piece (or pieces...) of furniture today and it's now in our house. Just looking at it makes my muscles hurt. We bought the entertainment center for several reasons, the biggest of which, is the new puppy. Normally, we have stuff all over the front room. It's cleaned up, sure, but not on a regular basis. Now, because the puppy is getting bigger every day. Soon, he'll be able to reach those left out things. He'll even be able to snap up food from off the counter. 

Upward and onward is the puppy's new motto!

I can't talk about the new entertainment center without mentioning the people from which we bought it. We found the item on KSL Classified, a local on-line classified service. Thankfully the sellers live only a couple of miles from our house. Not only did they help us load it into our van, they loaded half of the cargo (it comes in four huge pieces...) in their truck. They then drove it to our house and helped us unload. I'm sure they would have helped us bring it into the house if we had asked.

As far as my family moving everything, I had doubts the six of us could get all the furniture into the house. At one point each of us stood around the heaviest piece and all lifted together. I know it sounds corny, but it was one of those "bringing the family closer" moments.

We now have a huge entertainment in our living room. DVDs, video games, cables connecting everything are now protected from the puppy, and I'm dog-tired. It's been a crazy day.

Public Libraries & IKEA Furniture...

We ran an errand today and picked up some examples of the finest put-it-together-yourself Swedish furniture and on the way home. We also stopped by our little town library. If you grew up where I did, the library is one of the few remaining buildings from our youth. Of course, the building's not old enough to be considered "sacred" by people in the town who make such decisions. We have a lot of century's old structures in our town, but I guess a half century-old structure doesn't count and is not worth saving. The library's modern, 21st century replacement is being built right next door. I guess you wait long enough and everything changes. Now, I admit that the old library is not pretty on the eyes...it's kind of like the Pontiac Aztek of buildings, but then again, I happen to like Pontiac Azteks...

 

We brought in the big boxes, opened them up and began building. The other kids have all experienced the thrill that is furniture assembly before. This time their interest wasn't there, but our youngest son wanted to help build. He did and I'm happy to say no one suffered any major (or minor...) injuries. 

I looked at my today's pictures (a library and putting together furniture) and a thought came to me. It's sad to see things go, old buildings, friends, our health as the years go by. As I saw my son put together most of those units, I realized that he's moving on too. And one day I'll turn around and my children will have children of their own who will want to help build things and will--hopefully--want to go to the new library as many times as possible.