April 25, 2005
the mind was willing
“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)
Posted by This Fish at April 25, 2005 01:43 PMIs 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!
Posted by: Derek at April 25, 2005 01:57 PMawesome 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." :)
Posted by: red at April 25, 2005 02:08 PMIKEA is my idea of heaven...even the food is good. I love those Swedes I tell you!
Posted by: annush at April 25, 2005 02:16 PMDamn 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...
Posted by: Jasika at April 25, 2005 02:37 PMShit, 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.
Posted by: Mike at April 25, 2005 02:47 PMmy 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...
Posted by: bobby at April 25, 2005 02:59 PMWow.....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 :P
Posted by: danny at April 25, 2005 04:47 PMThat 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....
Posted by: Carrie at April 25, 2005 05:40 PMWill you two just get married and have a thousand babies already?
Posted by: tanya at April 25, 2005 06:01 PMi 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.
Posted by: kate at April 25, 2005 06:16 PMSounds like a perfect time!
Posted by: robin alexa at April 25, 2005 06:58 PMLove 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?! :*
Posted by: AdventureGirl at April 26, 2005 08:43 AMYou could push my shopping cart anytime.
No, I don't know what that means either.
Posted by: G at April 26, 2005 08:44 AMUmm, can I borrow that outfit? Way cute! :)
Wish I a had a friendboy to frolic and make frivolous purchases with.
Posted by: Tootsie at April 26, 2005 09:16 AMParamus or Elizabeth?
Posted by: Chex at April 26, 2005 10:44 AMElizabeth. Paramus is closed (closed!!) on Sunday. The insanity.
Posted by: Fish at April 26, 2005 10:45 AMYou have to go to NJ to hit IKEA, that's dedication. Although Schaumburg, IL is the 6th ring of Suburban Hell.
Posted by: Mike at April 26, 2005 11:17 AMMy 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.
Posted by: MsOktober at April 26, 2005 12:49 PMI 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!
Posted by: mrsmogul at April 26, 2005 01:29 PMOh, 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.
Posted by: PLD at April 26, 2005 01:46 PMNice - 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.
Posted by: Chex at April 26, 2005 01:57 PMIKEA 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.
Posted by: Dealmaker at April 26, 2005 02:42 PMThat 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.
Posted by: bm2m at April 26, 2005 03:36 PMi echo the comment on the outfit. nicely done, fish. two thumbs up.
Posted by: S at April 26, 2005 07:09 PMNice. Sounds like one of those wonderfully pleasant days to file in away in the memory bank : )
Posted by: Daisy at April 26, 2005 10:06 PMsounds like a terrific day, to be honest! :)
Posted by: Beth at April 27, 2005 12:56 AMHaving 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. :)
Posted by: eclectic librarian at April 27, 2005 01:22 AMIKEAing 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!
Posted by: Carrie K. at April 27, 2005 01:50 PMoh 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.
Posted by: j2 at April 28, 2005 01:06 AMHave you seen the opening in moscow I am telling you: 150.000 mad people at IKEA...
Posted by: ratenkredit at May 7, 2005 01:50 PM