May 8, 2006
After grabbing a few books at about half a dozen library book sales the last two weekends, I realized that I needed a new bookshelf. Off to the Ikea in College Park I went. (Woodbridge is probably closer, but College Park is easier to find.)
I managed to track down an exact duplicate (at least, it damn well better be) of my current bookshelf, and rather clumsily loaded it into the car. After I bungeed the trunk lid shut I drove back, wondering how the hell I was going to get it up the stairs to my apartment.
Upon my arrival at the apartment I unloaded the trunk (easier this time) and caught a quick glimpse of the bookshelf's vital stats. Most notably, the one that said it weighed about 80 pounds.
You know how, in some horror/thriller movies, the victim will look at his/her destination and it'll seem to recede into the distance? My apartment did that.
After "walking" the box to the steps (annoying), dragging it up the first flight of stairs (moderately successful) and lifting it step-by-step up the next flight (far less successful) I managed to wrestle the thing into my apartment.
I have no idea whether the thing is still in good condition or not; I'm leaving it until I grab some dinner.
Edit: The shelf came through just fine, one corner of one shelf is a little dinged up. It's not the right size, though it does seem to have a similar height-width ratio. It's about 6'7" tall, instead of about 5'11" for the old one, and a little bit wider. I shoulda measured. But I ain't lugging that thing back down the stairs and a new one up them. I can live with mismatched shelves.
