Jigsaw puzzle...

I am taking a long weekend from work, partly to use some of my use-or-lose vacation time. So I'm taking off today and Monday and with the Tuesday federal holiday, that means five days of giddy freedom.

I wanted to really make a last push to get the house in better shape, so purchased a computer desk. I like putting things together, so I am actually looking forward to this project. It's like doing a more practical jigsaw puzzle. I found the one I wanted at OfficeMax and it was on sale, too!

I was proud of myself first for figuring out how to get the carton to fit in my Honda Fit. I had to resort to the owner's manual, but managed to get the back seats nice and flat. I loved one comment in the owner's manual "Do not put anything heavy on the backseats while in the folded down position." Uh, and why do they think we need to put the seats in the folded down position?



So far I have counted out all the pieces and matched them to the parts list. Since I've got four pages of parts list (23 altogether), I've also labeled them with little post-its. Now I think it may be time for lunch...







12:04 (burp) Lunch was a havarti and turkey sandwich on ciabatta bread from Safeway's deli. Now, must get back in there. Next step, remove the existing makeshift desk that Chris cleverly constructed.
















12:35 I have gotten the frame together and it will stand up on its own. I consider this a momentous enough event for another picture. So far, so good. Not all the holes are a completely perfect match but no major problems either.

1:01 So far, no bad words have been spoken. I had a bad moment attaching the rear stabilizer, a cross-piece with four screws, and of course the last one wouldn't fit. I eventually had to unscrew two of the others and select another one to be the "last". Why that worked, not exactly sure, but it did.

1:22 I noticed what appeared to be a mismatch in the keyboard shelf support pieces, and sure enough, that definitely appears to be the case. I am going to try something creative before I call the help line...

1:41 My creative bit doesn't work. I call the help line and tell them I think the holes are drilled on the wrong side. They take address and will send replacement part.

I can't let go, though, and try again. I try the DIY'ers favorite technique - force it in... Doesn't work...

Resort to reviewing the instructions again. Sure enough, catch a subtlety in the picture that I missed before. Or rejected, because it didn't make sense to me. I take the sub-assembly apart and try again.

2:22 I have figured it out. Call the help line back - cancel that part...

2:40 Tighten everything up and put in glass shelves. Voila! Still cleanup to do but my thumbs are sore from pushing the allen wrench. The pool is beckoning... My evil twin tries to convince me that this is enough stretching and bending and no yoga is necessary today....















3:19 Cleanup is complete. Well, more or less. Still need to get carton to recycling and wash sheet I used, but hey, enough is enough. It's warm and sunny and there's water to go jump in!