4 May 2003
Submitted by eve on Sun, 05/04/2003 - 8:01pm. Funny
"I never even knew it was possible to have feelings one way or another about a drawer organizer. About hanging shelves. Now I've never wanted anything more in my life."
"I won't protest if you start reading Harlequins again."
--A woman and a man in IKEA
Comment viewing options:
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to submit your changes.
Browse 57 comments:
»1« • 2 • next
There are more than 50 comments in this node. Use these links to navigate through them.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Fri, 05/09/2003 - 8:59am.
Archived comment by Paul:
Yes, the song that I heard of people using for that was the theme to Gilligan's Island. Which has always struck me as being hilariously wrong on so many levels.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Fri, 05/09/2003 - 6:31am.
Archived comment by daen:
If I remember correctly, you can sing Emily Dickinson to just about any 8.6.8.6 hymn tune. (Sorry-- that would be 8 syllables first line, 6 syllables second line, etc.) That would be, oh, two-thirds of them. I amused myself by singing "Because I could not stop for death" to "O for a thousand tongues to sing", "While shepherds watched their flocks by night" and "Amazing grace."
Posted by Anne Onymous on Thu, 05/08/2003 - 11:01am.
Archived comment by ParU:
n-Guy - thanks - Chemical Engineers are OK, I just wouldn't want my daughter to marry one. *g*

Course that's my standard defense as my Father got his PhD in Chem. Engineering (at Michigan - 'Hail to the Victors'!).

And being a chemist we always have our 'shields' up against chem. engineers cause they make more money.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Thu, 05/08/2003 - 9:20am.
Archived comment by Noyock:
Obs - that's a new one, although I did know (from Babylon 5, oddly enough) that any Emily Dickinson poem can be sung to the tune of The Yellow Rose of Texas.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 11:43pm.
Archived comment by n-Guy (m):
ParU: I am a chemical engineer, but I also teach some general enginering courses and some chemistry to my engineering students. I'm at a smallish college in Michigan.

Obs: Being an engineer, I can sing the Lumberjack song, but I would have to look up the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 4:23pm.
Archived comment by Cebu:
Yeah, I agree, except that I'm only able to get cheap furniture from more common stores. I don't have an Ikea anywhere near me.

Though a lot of our furniture here is real wood, but it's either old or old and inherited (my bedroom stuff). For bookshelves and computer desks I go cheap.

Oh! And as of yesterday we have the most beautiful wood flooring in the dining room. Stunning, really. Long overdue as the carpet was 20 years old.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 3:22pm.
Archived comment by The Eileen:
Sorry people, I must weigh on on the side FOR Ikea. Yes, real wood furniture would be wonderful. Got a spare $1000 for real wood furniture, buddy? No? Okay then. Have no skills or time or space to become a wood-worker? No? Okay then.

For those of us with only a certain amount of money and a house to furnish and who prefer to spend our money NOT on crappy fake OAK furniture or the other crappy, overstuffed, rejects from the 50's that is the "less expensive" alternative for a lot of people, then Ikea can be a reasonable alternative.

I have Ikea bookshelves and wall units that are over 15 years old and still look decent. The bookshelves cost $29 and the wall units (each) cost $40. I can buy stuff that matches and so I look coordinated. You just have to pick out what is decent.

Do I think it is all good - heck no. Some of it really is unadulterated crap. The plastic stuff just looks plastic. But I just redid my bathroom with some Ikea furniture and the total cost me $300 and looks good and works well. As opposed to the utter boring everything looks the same like it came out of the Brady household stuff available at Home Depot or Lowe's or the even more expensive and it still looks like it came from the Brady household of "bathroom fixture" showrooms>

It isn't all bad; it isn't all good. But some of it is really helpful to we poor people who do not want to furnish in early Salvation Army.

/end my rant with a nod of respect to Mike.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 12:27pm.
Archived comment by Jon:
Geez, I thought we already were a support group... supporting the IP habit, at least. :*p

Welcome to the fold, n-Guy!
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 11:22am.
Archived comment by steff:
wow. you... you really can. huh. although i don't know if i should thank you for the info. it's just one more thing to run through my head. *grin*

i guess that's what we get for being the type of people who know both of those off the tops of our heads, eh? there should be a support group. or something.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 9:31am.
Archived comment by Obs:
*Speaking

That's what I get for not previewing.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 9:29am.
Archived comment by Obsidiana:
Seaking of John Cleese, here's something a friend of mine brought to my attention last night.

You can since "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to the tune of "The Lumberjack Song."

No, really. You can. Try it. Though you might not want to if you're at work or something. My roommate gave me a really funny look when I was singing it last night.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 8:49am.
Archived comment by ParU:
Welcome n-Guy! And doubly welcome if you teach chemistry! What type and where?
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 8:41am.
Archived comment by n-Guy:
Err... Kris's advice.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 8:40am.
Archived comment by n-Guy (m):
I was wondering if the threads had a special name, like for instance "rumor". You know, how a rumor gets started by something that someone hears accidentally and out of context.

Following Obsidiana's advice, I can tell which threads have new posts by the color of the comment links. But how do I know if the dream thread has a new post at a glance? I could look at the threads from January 2001 and see which links had changed colors, but is there a way to sort the threads by activity instead of date (so you can see all the active ones)?

PS my frootbat is named Mr Cleese, or is there another IP frootbat named Mr Cleese already? Two would be confusing. I mean frootbats are confused enough already. They are mammals that fly. I don't know if they could handle being named the same thing...
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 8:24am.
Archived comment by marinerd:
Yes, I've killed a couple threads in my time. As many of us have. Why? No one knows.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 7:52am.
Archived comment by Obsidiana:
...as for moving on, no one really knows why threads die. They just do sometimes. And some threads (for example, the dream thread) seem to be immortal. The death of threads is one of the great mysteries of the universe.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 7:29am.
Archived comment by Kris the Girl:
Hi N-guy! Have a frootbat. You have to name him, too, but don't worry--he'll let you know when you've reached a good decision.

Yes, these are threads. THIS is a post. I read inpassing several times a day, and comment when I feel like it. I'm not sure what you mean by "when to move on"--if I've read all the comments since my last visit, then I move on. I like to keep track by which numbers are purple V. blue on the main page, but that might not work if your PC isn't set up to hold cookies (I think. I'm no computer guru so someone who is will now come along and laugh at me.)
Basically, we post when we have something to add, something to say, to challenge, to agree with, to change the subject, to ask questions, to give out a variety of points (most of which are fodder for the frootbats), and to talk. We be friendly. Post again, and post often. We love fresh blood.
Welcome!

ps...I hope you liked my very inventive screen name. heheheheheeeee!
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 6:41am.
Archived comment by n-Guy (m):
The I-want-my-sex-crazed-goddess back theory, while having a Friends-ish sort of appeal seems to me to lack credibility.

I think either the man is becoming irritated about the new Martha Stewart like behavior and wants the woman to go back to reading Harlequins, OR that he's protesting the hanging shelves. The way I see it, she wants the shelves to store a large collection of Harlequins. He's saying, "Fine, we can get the shelves if you will actually read the damn books. But if they're just going to sit around unread, we may as well not get the shelves at all and instead just throw the books out like the trash they are."

PS, I'm a long-time lurker. I have posted only a few times before, mostly because I couldn't think of a good name. I was teaching a little chemistry this morning and so this name came to me. ("good" = somewhat descriptive of the real me, somewhat humorous, inventive, and unique.) How often do the "regulars" post, read, and so on? How do you know when to move on to the next thread? (And do we call the comments-about-overheard-bits "threads"?)
Posted by Anne Onymous on Wed, 05/07/2003 - 6:37am.
Archived comment by Jon:
Only if you have problems with Reading and Driving, Cube. Is there a Mothers Against Literate Driving where you live?
*grin*
Posted by Anne Onymous on Tue, 05/06/2003 - 8:37pm.
Archived comment by Inuki:
My grandfather worked with wood in his spare time. We have a sideboard, dining room table, several end tables and coffee tables, chests, little puzzles, a gyroscope, a six-foot long bookcase (only three feet tall, though), a complete set of dining room chairs, and a grandfather clock he made. The clock is entirely wood, and doesn't run anymore because the wooden gears warped, but it's still beautiful. And the things he made look so much nicer than the store-bought wooden things in my house. His house was wonderful - full of wooden things that glowed slightly in the sunlight.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Tue, 05/06/2003 - 8:30pm.
Archived comment by Cebu:
So... with that reasoning, an alcoholic should have access to as much liquor as they want?

Just cause you're addicted to books doesn't mean you need to lose all of your space to them. Hee.

zudd, zudd.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Tue, 05/06/2003 - 7:46pm.
Archived comment by Intelligirly:
Mia, you and I have a LOT to talk about. Let's start with how our nearest and dearest don't understand the obsession we have. I'm constantly being told I don't need any more books. To that I say, have you ever MET an addict before?

To illustrate the point, everyone's talk about their bookcases is making me extremely jealous--it's SO hard to find good bookcases. It's the one thing that is almost impossible to find at garage sales or flea markets or wherever. I only have six!
Posted by Anne Onymous on Tue, 05/06/2003 - 6:09pm.
Archived comment by Mia:
I have bookcases from two generations. My mother's uncle made a free-standing set of shelves in his woodshop class (!) and they now stand in my room next to my couch. Sorry, bed. I slept on a couch for about ten years (long story). We moved my great-grandmother's bed into my room over Christmas break. Going on, my dad made me a set of wall shelves for some of my paperbacks. At the time, I had about of foot of space left on one of the three shelves. Now I have about five or so large plastic boxes full of books, and they seem to be multiplying. The guy at the bookstore informed me that if Texas somehow became one with the sea in the footsteps of California, that it would be because I never got rid of any books.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Tue, 05/06/2003 - 9:31am.
Archived comment by marinerd:
My grandpa (he's long gone--he'd be about 120 if he was still with us!) was a cabinet maker, woodworker, etc. I have an end table he made. I think our family has gone through several sets of furniture since that thing was made. The store-bought furniture is all landfill now, but that table is as solid as the day he made it by hand. And it's still beautiful, just like he was.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 8:15pm.
Archived comment by dave:
Back when I was living in Singapore we went to great lengths to find a wardrobe that was made of 'real wood'. There was all this cheap stuff about where the doors didn't even line up properly that we just didn't want to invest what they were asking.

Eventually we found a really nice pine one with matching side cupboards. of course it cost about three bloody grand!
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 7:49pm.
Archived comment by Serena:
Yeah, and the cool thing about that, Matt, is that you can litterally throw it away. Hee.

Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 7:01pm.
Archived comment by Matt:
Just because I can't resist taking another stab at IKEA, here's one for the guys. Aforementioned housemate (no, I don't tell her about my feelings on the issue) also bought a regulation, 72-inch couch there. I can, I kid you not, lift the thing over my head and throw it, Incredible Hulk-style. And a considerable distance, that, I'd wager.

Most of what passes for "wood" there appears to be press board, sometimes called particle board. To make it, you mix sawdust and glue and smash it flat as it dries. Glossy veneer optional.

On the upside, all this cheap crap reinforces the American consumerist ideal of throwing stuff away when it's not cool anymore.

Thanks, Cebu. I like Phoebe. Kudrow's a great actress. The Opposite of Sex, anyone?
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 4:57pm.
Archived comment by daen:
I love the whole Mission/Arts & Crafts/Stickley look, and I want a Morris chair. Unfortunately, I have neither the disposable income to buy one, nor the skills to make one.
I suppose I'll have to keep dreaming for a while.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 2:45pm.
Archived comment by Serena:
I have a love/hate relationship with IKEA. I love the plain and simple modern look of thier furniture, but I hate the fact that it's cheaply made. Not to say that it is inexpensive...just that it's crap.

I would also like to be able to make my own furniture. My cousin made a bookcase once. It turned out really nice.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 2:25pm.
Archived comment by pieeater (f):
Are the ikea adverts in the US the shlomping ones? Or do the Swedish think only the British are stupid enough to fall for those...
*looks around her house full of crap IKEA furniture*

Damn.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 12:56pm.
Archived comment by ParU:
Cap'n brian - nice job. Many moons ago I used to make my own bookcases, except I was told that they all looked the same.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 12:36pm.
Archived comment by Iambe:
Nahm...
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 11:54am.
Archived comment by Cebu:
Actually, I would *love* to be able to make my own furniture. But I don't have the skills or the tools. I'm very jealous of Norm and his New Yankee Workshop.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 11:43am.
Archived comment by Brian28306:
The best furniture is that which you make yourself from raw lumber. The bed only took a weekend...
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 11:14am.
Archived comment by Obsidiana:
Personally, I thought he wanted the organizers as well, and wouldn't protest about the Harlequins because then they'd actually have something that required organizing. But on second thought, everyone else's theory seems a lot more plausible...I just tend to think that everyone else buys things obsessively just because they like them, despite having no use for them.

Like the Hello Kitty car seat cover that's sitting, still in its box, in my room at home, waiting for me to get a car...and a learner's permit.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 11:12am.
Archived comment by Molly:
Of course they�re never liable for missing parts either are they, Matt?

I've actually never been in IKEA, but I know it's frequently used on shows like Trading Spaces, which definitely fits into the low-quality furniture geared towards folks on a budget.

(I have the urge to go watch Fight Club now�)
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 10:47am.
Archived comment by Iambe:
Owning real wood furniture is one of my two ambitions. The other is to have my own washer and dryer. That would be true domestic bliss - to hell with finding a spouse.

I always think of the material that IKEA-type "wooden" shelves and dressers are made of as "wood product", in the same way that yellow squishy stuff that comes in a tube or a jar is "cheese product".
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 9:49am.
Archived comment by Cebu:
Matt, you sound like Phoebe from Friends.

If only I could afford real wood furniture.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 9:45am.
Archived comment by FuzzyOne:
I LOVE Harlie Quinn! She's SO cute especally when she calls the Joker 'MR J' and....
...
oh wait....

oops.
Sorry!
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 9:38am.
Archived comment by hypoxic:
a fun thing to do in IKEA is to drive your cart straight down the aisles and see how many people get out of your way. The ones that don't you just run into! all while laughing manaically.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 8:55am.
Archived comment by Saint:
I think mike the lurker has it--the man discouraged her from reading romance novels, and directed her towards home improvement books and magazines instead, not realizing her interest would shift entirely from costumed bedroom games to home furnishings. So now he wants his sex-crazed girl back. Or, at least, he wants to not have to install organizers and shelves.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 8:50am.
Archived comment by Matt:
Tyler Durden: Do you know what a "duvet" is?
Narrator: It's a comforter...
Tyler Durden: It's a blanket. Just a blanket.

"Free yourself from bad Swedish furniture!"

I hate IKEA. I hate its mass-market, mass-produced, lowest-quality-possible materials furniture sold to the public at unheard-of low prices under the guise that, because you built it yourself, when the roller wheels on your dresser drawers fall out because the retaining screws weren't set in correctly, it's not really their fault that the wood was slightly warped, causing the rails to be misaligned, which resulted in a shoddy product that was never right from the get-go. I had a number of pint glasses in my room, so I brought them all down to the kitchen to wash them later, stacked one on top of the other. The bottom one happened to be an IKEA glass. It shattered a few minutes later. You know those wooden slotted things with the tilted base in which you store utility kitchen knives? The one my housemate bought at IKEA looks like the kind of thing I was making in Woodshop class when I was 13.

/rant
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 8:36am.
Archived comment by mike the lurker:
Although, since he used "again" I'm not sure what to think. Maybe she wore him out the first time, hehe
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 8:36am.
Archived comment by mike the lurker:
He sees that she is susceptible to advertising, so he wants her to read Hrlequins so that her susceptablity will manifest itself in the bedroom. The guy is just looking out for his own best interests, pretty clever if you ask me (which I know you didn't, its just an expression).
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 8:16am.
Archived comment by Apple:
I read it as she's ultra obsessed with the drawer organizer and he'd much prefer her to read the Harlequins.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 7:41am.
Archived comment by Elise:
Ikea is cool. They definitely have some of the best commercials out there. The one with the lamp is awesome. Directed by Wes Anderson, too, I think.

The way I read the quote was that the man was saying he wouldn't protest about the drawer organizer, but only if the woman started reading Harlequins again. I'm not sure why he would want her to read Harlequins; perhaps because it puts ideas in her head?

I don't own any white socks. Not a single pair. Now that I think about it, that's pretty weird.
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 6:46am.
Archived comment by Jenn:
I must admit that I too have had a love affair with IKEA ;)
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 6:36am.
Archived comment by Kris the Girl:
My sock drawer would be so boring, organized or not: white, white, white, white....
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 5:43am.
Archived comment by Josie:
I rearranged my sock drawer yesterday afternoon. All the happy little pairs of socks, lined up like soldiers, alphabetized...Bison, butterflies, Camouflage, Eeyore, Frogs....
Posted by Anne Onymous on Mon, 05/05/2003 - 5:12am.
Archived comment by Paul:
I interpreted this as meaning that he wouldn't object if she found some other fascination than reorganizing closets and dressers- because when your spouse gets on that kick, you're dragged into it like it or not.

I would advise the guy to also give her a subscription to that soap opera magazine in the supermarket checkout lines...
Control panel
Comment viewing options:
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to submit your changes.
Browse 57 comments:
»1« • 2 • next
There are more than 50 comments in this node. Use these links to navigate through them.