“Are we still doing this?” I asked his voicemail as I slid on some jeans a bit too early on a Sunday morning.
I got my answer when he called back moments later, post Central Park run and just way too chipper. He’d bought us breakfast and was on his way over. I yawned, frowned in the mirror and patted at my puffy face. It was 9 AM and Ben and I were going on an IKEA adventure.
We went for pillows. We came back with furniture. You know how it goes. Forget that neither of us has much restraint when it comes to shopping, but who leaves IKEA without using one of those huge carts? Not us, boy howdy.
And then ten hours later, full of dumplings and imported beer, we finally called it a day. Cart races at Ikea, reorganizing of Ben’s big boy apartment, beer and wings at the Dead Poet, tipsy but not breaking anything at Fishs Eddy, a quick trip ‘round the farmer’s market, and a last stop for more drinking and the dim sum sampler at Ruby Foo’s.
Ben went home to be productive, and I cabbed it across town to be…out cold by 9pm. The mind was willing, but the flesh? Oh so very drunk.
(photo by benjamin wagner)
Is that picture of you? If so, growl. Someone, somewhere once said heaven is in the angles. Who knew?
Before I sould like a perv internet stalker let me just say that some Sundays it just feels good to be bad. Hope the next time you go Ikea shopping the furniture is for you!
I hate those bastards at IKEA. Once I finally uncover their sinister, subconsciously coercive sale methods that compel me to buy all those things I didn’t know I existed BUT CAN’T POSSIBLY LIVE WITHOUT, I’ll expose them to the world!
awesome angle on that pic! glad you had fun – i had a similiar experience with the mind/body thing not too long ago. i really wanted to go meet my friends out but was oh so drunk and my body would not let me get up from my “quick 30 minute cat nap.”
IKEA is my idea of heaven…even the food is good. I love those Swedes I tell you!
Damn Ikea…Damn Ikea to hell….my bedroom is something like page 47 of the catalog…my living room…pg 68..my bathroom..you get the idea.You just can buy one thing, everything goes together too perfectly…I can no longer stand in those lines wasting my paycheck and staring and the Cinnamon bun counter…
Shit, my fiance and I have to use the big car just to carry our receipt out to the car after our IKEA visits. When the catalog replaces the Maxim in the bathroom (ala Fight Club) you know you’re on to something, and that it is NO DAMN GOOD!
We represent for the Chicago IKEA, probably more suburban than the LI version(s)? But we always hit Sweet Tomatoes salad buffet when visiting. Nothing like making a salad with more fat grams then a Quarter Pounder…inside a Whopper.
my friends are sloppy drunks, so the $3.99 for a six pack of wine glasses at Ikea is the best thing ever. oh, and the pretty stainless steel kitchen gear…
Wow…..as sad as this sounds I’m under 18 and even I am instantly hyptonized right when I walk into Ikea. It’s like you’re a puppet and the puppeteer is making you buy more and more….if that made any sense
That picture is great. And oh how I love Ikea. However I have to drive for about 4 hours to get to one. Damn west coast anyway….
Will you two just get married and have a thousand babies already?
i have yet to actually step foot in an IKEA but i’ve spent countless hours on the website if that counts. needless to say, i’m jealous of your ventures.
Sounds like a perfect time!
Love the pict.
Jealous of the IKEA trip. Unfortunately for me, they won’t ship to Alaska. So, have tons of fun while you are there… for those of us who can’t shop there.
You know, I have never liked Ikea and somehow just now, you made it seem cute and fun! How do you do that?! :*
You could push my shopping cart anytime.
No, I don’t know what that means either.
Umm, can I borrow that outfit? Way cute!
Wish I a had a friendboy to frolic and make frivolous purchases with.
Paramus or Elizabeth?
Elizabeth. Paramus is closed (closed!!) on Sunday. The insanity.
You have to go to NJ to hit IKEA, that’s dedication. Although Schaumburg, IL is the 6th ring of Suburban Hell.
My niece just got an apartment and we are going to IKEA for ideas. No doubt we will walk out with plenty of ideas….and furniture.
I actually threw away IKEA vases yesterday! Also, I used to get my male friends to build all the IKEA stuff for me! Great picture! Its’ so Elle!
Oh, I’ve done that trek from Port Authority to NJ, and I sympathize. I think couples actually break up when they go to IKEA together. Such stress.
Nice – I love how the Elizabeth location parallels Newark Airport so you get the rush of planes taking off and landing so close-by.
Brings back my own memories of tying a bedframe to the roof of my car and hitting the Turnpike, freaking out the whole time that it was going to fly off at 80 mph.
I sometimes wish I could hop in the ballroom like a kid again.
IKEA is pretty much cheap crap that my Ex-GF used to let me karate chop in half. Good times. I love her don’t I? Damn.
That would be exit 14 not 13. Get lost for 3 hours Satursday before last when get off exit 13 instead of 14. Give up after 3 hours searching.
i echo the comment on the outfit. nicely done, fish. two thumbs up.
Nice. Sounds like one of those wonderfully pleasant days to file in away in the memory bank : )
sounds like a terrific day, to be honest!
Having an IKEA within a two hour drive from home was a big motivator for moving to Washington from Kentucky last fall. For the first month, I was still sleeping on an air mattress, but I had two IKEA bookcases in my bare living room.
IKEAing it on the weekend? you are brave! i usually go on weekday evening to avoid the madness!!!
I love that picture! You look very Sydney Bristow!
oh man! we’re about to get an IKEA here in Atlanta! i have been waiting my whole life! from the sounds of it, you can call me broke when their doors open. i didn’t know that had food either! damn.
Have you seen the opening in moscow I am telling you: 150.000 mad people at IKEA…