Random Access

Thursday – 24 May 2007
Another day at the desk, but yesterday’s excursion was a nice break to the middle of the week. This morning’s commute was relatively painless, and it was made better by the fact that Nomad seemed to be in a good mood:

• Billy Ocean – Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car (which reminded me of… this, again)
• The Wiseguys – Start the Commotion
• Snoop Dogg ft. Bootsy Collins – Undercova Funk
• Outkast vs. Modjo – The Way You Move
• Stevie Wonder – Superstition
• Atomic Kitten vs. Geri Halliwell – Ladies Night
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – Soul to Squeeze
• Girls Aloud vs. Madonna – Some Kind of Beautiful Stranger
• Rhythm Heritage – Theme from S.W.A.T.

Then, I got to work and found the following on my dry-erase board:

…which made me nearly double over laughing when I figured out what it was. For those who need a translation: “…just some oak and some pine and a handful of Norsemen.”  Now, I just need to figure out who put it there.

Namaste.

Wednesday – 23 May 2007
I have been to the new Temple of Sweden. Amen.
*genuflect*

I got up a bit earlier than I had planned this morning, thanks to a series of text messages. After deciding to forego any further sleep, I got up and started getting ready for my pilgrimage. With a few text messages and a little arm-twisting, I also managed to convince Liz that she wanted to go, too. And we did.

When we got there, the line wrapped around 3/4 of the building. Amazingly, it moved rather quickly. I think that we stood in line for a total of maybe thirty minutes, if that long. Lynn and Katarina, former coworkers from Shit Town the REC, in line. And there was… someone I recognized from asdf_cat‘s wedding and a party at everydave‘s, but his name eluded me.

Grand opening madness. Police. Monkeys. Newly-hired IKEAns clapping and shouting and waving. Did I mention “wall-to-wall monkeys?” *nod* Yeah. Monkeys, monkeys, everywhere. And, I discovered that many/most Utahns walk as poorly as they drive. Oh, well… at least they’re consistent.

When I got inside and upstairs, I figured out the guy-from-the wedding/party’s name: Christian. I confirmed it and then he, Tracy (his… wife, I think), Liz and I chatted for a few minutes while the Curious Georges milled around us. Then it was off to soak up the joy of contemporary Scandinavian design.

Given how crowded the top floor was, we opted not to eat in the restaurant. But, as crowded as the top floor was the ground floor – at least until you got to the checkout lines – was comparatively easy to navigate. I ran into Katarina and Lynn again, in the lighting section. They told me that Paul, another former coworker from the REC, was there… somewhere. I called to see if I could reach him; I did – he was in the restaurant. No go, Flight. I’d catch him another time.

I picked up a Poäng chair (with Almè natural cushion), to replace the one I gave away a few years ago; Liz picked up a lamp and some vases. And then… and then… and then… And then along came Jones. No. Wait. Wrong song. Sorry. And then came the standing and waiting in the checkout line. And then, I saw the cinnamon rolls. I had forgotten about them. *sigh* So, I grabbed a six-pack and added it to my items. Selah.

We checked out, walked out – that’s when I saw Paul, sitting at a window booth in the restaurant – and headed northward.

And that concluded my pilgrimage.
*genuflect*

From there, we headed to La Puente for lunch; Perry joined us. And the three of us made a quick jaunt across the street to the good Dr. Volt’s for some four-color goodness.

Namaste.

(And, yes, Jonathan Coulton’s IKEA was playing in the back of my head almost the entire time I was there.)