I lost my IKEA virginity yesterday and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Mrs. Geek is getting a new computer this week -- a recycled e-Mac, for those who want to know -- and we wanted to get a new computer desk. After trying a local seller of used and consignment furniture, we faced the inevitable and made our pilgrimage to a nearby franchise of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mock Swedish Furniture.
IKEA is an interesting store on so many levels. There is the floor plan; rarely do retail spaces have a museum-like floorplan that guides shoppers through a serpentine collection of displays dedicated to home furnishing. There also is the nature of the furnishings themselves, all rendered a very bright, clean European style that simultaneously speaks of an early 60's New Frontier, Kennedy-esque chic of the past and a decidedly science fiction future. I especially liked the displays showing an entire apartment in about 600 feet. Standing in one, I felt I was either living in present day downtown Tokyo, or in my quarters aboard the first manned interstellar space mission to Tau Ceti.
In the end, we found a Jerker Desk. Getting it home was a bit of a problem; neither Mrs. Geek or I have a car large enough to hold the 6'x4'x2" box containing the Jerker kit. I was able to improvise a solution though by removing the Jerker parts from the Jerker box and putting the Jerker box in a nearby dumpster. Assembly went pretty smooth all told, with Mrs. Geek completing nearly everything while I went out to attend a rock concert at a nearby Music Hall of Much Renown.
On a happier note, I am now at peace with Thai cuisine. Friends D. and J. took me out for Thai food before the concert. I was somewhat apprehensive, remembering some prior experiences with Thai food as being either soupy, mushy, or oddly spiced, but willing to look at Thai food with a fresh eye. After a delightful shared repast of Larb, Pla Prawns, Chicken Pad Prig, Beef Prig King, and Kee Maw, I can say that I was obviously eating at inferior Thai restaurants when I formed my opinions of Thai food. This food was hot, spicy and delicious! J. and I are both fond of spicy food, and we got a good sweat on, while downing a couple of locally made microbrewed beers.
The concert itself was quite enjoyable, but we had to leave early. D. came down with a touch of food poisoning (or a 24 stomach virus) that did not take well to be riled up by all that spicy Thai food. As she was in pain, we decided to duck out just as the last tune in the regular set was starting. That did not disappoint me much as we saw 90+% of an excellent show.
There was some disappointment, however. The walls of the Music Hall of Much Renown are adorned with custom posters produced for shows there that sold out. Copies of those posters are often handed out to patrons as they leave the hall after a show. We did not have the opportunity to even see if said posters were available... and I very much wanted one.
Oh well, next time.
said drgeek
on 2006-05-08 at 3:42 p.m.
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