My mom and I went to Minneapolis at the end of my visit to see about getting me properly coloured lenses to help treat my Scotopic Sensitivity. Afterwards, we had a few hours to kill, and what should happen to be next to the airport but IKEA. We both had never been, so we decided to check out what all the hype was about. It was a pretty interesting place - we both especially liked the three or four "demo" homes - how to set up a whole little house in less than 600 Sq ft. I've come to the conclusion my kitchen is woefully laid out. Ah well.
There happens to be an IKEA in Brooklyn. I was hoping for a partner in crime for this little adventure, however, all my friends were unavailable for one reason or another. I was going it solo. Something I've become good at. Which has its ups and downs. But we shan't dwell on that now, dear readers. I traipsed myself down to the South Street Seaport this morning to await the free (on the weekend) ferry that would charter me over chill waters to the Brooklyn destination. The ferry was supposed to leave at 12, according to the online time chart. To my dismay, as I got there a little past 11.40, I saw the ferry already leaving!! I look at the chart they had posted at the dock, and sure enough, it said departing at 11.40 - and the next one wouldn't leave 'til 12.20. A hitch already. Ah well, at least I'd brought my book. I sat down and started reading, and boy did the time fly, because soon people were already lining up to get on the ferry. I closed my book, joined the queue, and made my way to the top deck, so I could enjoy the breeze and sunshine. I look over and see the giant sign across the water telling the time and temperature. Ok, seriously - why did it tell the temperature in Celsius? This is America here, and we're not all scientists. It was one of the silliest thing I ever did see. And it also seemed to be only 12. Huh. I checked my phone, and sure enough - the ferry seemed to leave on the original time of 12pm, even though the time at the dock said 12.20. Well, lucky me.
After a mere 10 minute jaunt, the blue beast that is IKEA loomed before my eyes like a squat troll on the shore. In no time at all, we were docked and ashore. I double checked the time chart at this ferry port to make sure I had the correct times. Well, they also had the messed up times, but someone had scratched out the Pier 11 Departures and over it wrote IKEA, and crossed out the IKEA Departures and written Pier 11. Funny that IKEA/whoever was in charge of printing these rather important signs had gotten them mixed up, and that someone had to revert to scratchitti to get them right.
I had a few things in mind to acquire on this little adventure of mine - a large wooden cutting board (check), micro-wave safe mixing bowls (double check) and some sort of bin-age (triple check). I browsed their showroom then went to the first floor to get what I'd really gone there for. This store had a better selection of bins than the MN store, but the people here were definitely NOT as nice - they were actually rather rude, which was annoying. Anyway, I ended up getting a 6 piece set of purple bins that can fold up, and 2 super nice, sturdier dark colored bins for my living room. The purple ones are currently helping organize the cupboard under the sink in the bathroom, and the tupperware in the kitchen. The living room ones are now holding all the random cords/chargers/electronics/office supplies that had been cluttering up the cubbies in the table. They fit perfectly in the cubbies and look smashing (and it's so nice to look at now!). I may end up getting some more larger bins in which I can stash all the random papers I have floating around.
I must also say how fantastic the bag I made for myself is - the one for which I created the pattern. It holds a lot. I was able to fit everything into it to carry back to Manhattan, and therefore didn't have to spend extra money to buy an IKEA bag. I also got a yummy, warm cinnamon bun on my way out :) I kind of want another one.
I boarded the ferry (after getting a few more minutes to read), and the ride back to Manhattan was quite enjoyable - clipping through the water, cold air refreshing my face, passing The Statue of Liberty and thinking about all the very many people who came to this country and saw her as a symbol of freedom and a fresh start, and now seeing the skyline of this great city, with the new Freedom Tower just peeking above the other buildings. It was rather moving, and made me think about a lot of things, which I won't bore you with now.
*I don't mean to imply this is the only thing I've inherited from my mother - far from it! I've gotten many of her wonderful traits, chief among them her gentle heart and spirit :)