Ikea

Anyone who has moved to a new country will know exactly what I'm talking about: the mandatory trip to Ikea. Today we made our pilgrimage to the holy land of convenience.  Where else can you find everything you need for the home under one roof?  We glutted ourselves on toilet bowl brushes, beds, bedding, wardrobes (there are usually no built-in closets in the older buildings), and other odds and ends. Now I've learned from previous experience not to buy pillows, etc, because you tend to see the same patterns over and over in various homes. You might like that if you're a person who doesn't like change, but that doesn't work for me. Many who read this may reminisce about a similar trip we have taken together, all of us packed into a big van and then set lose with a time limit, like someone in a game show. The fun part is going through the store, marveling at the wonder of what miracles can be wrought in an apartment of 300 sq. feet. But the hell begins when you return home with your plunder. You have to put it together. So because our furniture won't arrive until next week, we went ahead and bought the twin beds for our guest room-fair warning to all those coming to visit. We decided to go the Austrian route and get comforters that are covered in a sheet-like duvet (there are no top sheets in Austria, either). Unfortunately our duvet measurements did not mesh with our comforter measurements. We ended up making a comforter sandwich and stuffing it inside the duvet.

Tomorrow we will begin the battle of putting together the slats that fit into the frame to hold the mattress, called "lattenroste"' I think. I can tell you someone is going to end up mad, hurt, or worse. Let the battle commence! If you don't hear from me, you'll know the outcome.

Keys

Today I am without keys. No car keys, no house keys, no work keys; in other words I am keyless. We sold our cars (I mourn the passing of the Fit) and we have dispensed with all others. This is definitely a strange feeling. Tomorrow we will receive the keys to our new residence, but right now I am without any burdens. I feel like "A Man Without a Country". I realized with each key we obtain comes a responsibility. How often do we get to experience this lack of keys? I know I will gladly exchange my hotel key card for a home, but right now I will savor this feeling. Austria will challenge me, but I think it will free me in many ways. I will keep you posted.