Monday - Labor Day Great Highs and Great Lows!

Woke up this morning very early and reviewed the list. Feeling overwhelmed, I headed straight to the buffet breakfast and had an extra order of bacon as I knew I'd be needing the protein!! Off to wake up lovely Lulu as we want to be at Ikea's doorstep a 10am!

The day started out well enough – the sun was shining and we got directions (easy to understand ones) that pointed us direct south to where “the be all and end all” of college furnishings is located: IKEA. Lulu and I made it there right when it opened and along with every other mom, dad, and ambling teenager we charged through the doors and made a bee line to the furniture department. What a beautiful store – it kinda sucks you in as everything is so fresh and colorful, and the prices sooooo low… but then you have to fight dreamland for the reality of “Can I assemble this”?? Feeling like the answer to that question was a big NO, we moved on across the street to Jordan’s Furniture where we were told there was a whole floor of anything you wanted at huge discount “sample sale” prices.

First stop was the all important Bed department, where in 30 seconds we selected a Queen mattress, boxspring and frame. Feeling flush with excitement at how much we had accomplished and it only was 11am, we headed to the cashier, I waving my AMEX card, and Lulu giving out her address. “What??? Delivery next Wednesday? We need it TODAY!” Apparently every person in Boston is having a bed delivered today – Lulu started in on biting her nails and her brow was definitely furrowed until a light went off in her head “No Problem! Put it on the top of our car and we’ll take it ourselves!!” I reminded her that her room was up a very windy narrow old staircase on the second floor, and oh did you notice my knee is in a brace (more on that later). Undeterred she said “the bed will be in my room today – pay up Mama!”

While the sales assistant went off to finish the paperwork, we went on to the next task at hand – the purchase of a sofa and chairs for the living room. Why is it the kid from California gets put in charge of that room I’ll never know, but as any parent in this position learns quickly, it’s best just to “go with the flow” so we entered a gigantic warehouse where we were surrounded by sofas, ottomans, chairs, rugs… you name it. We cased the room and again in 30 seconds zeroed in on a cozy green sofa and matching chair. Out came my AMEX but…”What? Delivery next week?! We need it TODAY!” This one we couldn’t negotiate our way out of so had to settle for the future date, and from there we drove around the corner to the “Pick up” garage where the bed was awaiting us.

From the corner of my eye, I spot 3 husky Bostonion young fellas standing next to a good sized truck. As they opened the back of the truck, I see it was empty. The store workers lifted a small table into the truck, and… well at this point they COULD have been on their way.

I saw my opening.
I said to Lulu “Get outa the car immediately”. She jumps at my command perhaps thinking someone is stealing her mattress… I, after checking to see if the brace on my left knee was in plain sight, walked a few steps over and said “Oh hello! Are you guys by any chance going in the direction of Boston College?” The guys looked at me, and the driver said “NO we aren’t”. I could have stopped there. I could have, but I did not. I said “Oh we have a bed and mattress that is about to be loaded on the roof of our rental car – but you can see I have a problem with my knee and can’t possibly help my daughter bring it into her apartment.” I paused for effect, pointing to my knee. But they weren’t looking at my knee. They were looking over at Lulu, who was smiling ever so sweetly. One of the guys said, “Oh your daughter is so gorgeous, we’ll drive your furniture wherever you tell us to!!!!”

Next thing you know, the bed was in their truck, the driver handed me his business card “in case we get separated” and off we went for the 45 minute drive up to Chestnut Hill – 2 hours in the opposite direction from their apartment where they were taking their little table! Half way there, Lulu and I got confused on the directions so we called the guy on his cell and he said “Are you kidding me? You're a junior and you don’t know where your college is?” Truly it was DIVINE intervention as God surely sent those “Floor Works Inc. commercial floor contractors aka angels” to help us – next thing you know they are dragging that big mattress & box spring up the stairs pushing & pulling, squeezing & shoving, and “hand me a hammer!” and the frame was set up, the mattresses tossed on top, and off they went! But not before I insisted on a photo to document the moment…and yes, a little cash exchanged hands with great appreciation!!!

This moving in was easy as pie – no problem! The other 7 girls who were Lulu’s roommates had come earlier in the week and brought their dads along to carry, put together, move around, argue with the landlord, etc…spending many days to set up their rooms. Hello, the California girls were getting it done in one day no worries!!!

Feeling emboldened and singing “I am woman hear me roar” we head off to Target where we hear there are dressers and tables “really easy to assemble”. Target is packed but we find the nicest salesman who sells us the very last white 6 drawer dresser and even carries it to the car for us. Maggie from Minnesota, one of Lulu’s roommates says she just assembled her dresser from IKEA last night, and it’s “really easy, plus I’m experienced so I can help you”.

We begin at 5pm… I mention the time as 7 hours later the dresser is assembled that is true. But the drawers do not slide into their openings, the knobs keep falling off, and there is this brown cardboard thing that keeps falling off the inside. As midnight approaches, Lulu declares “ENOUGH”! I assure her even Bill Rock, our HappyHill contractor could not have made that dresser work. “Even Griffy Simon and Zach Scott together” could not have put it together. We are swealtering, have not eaten since lunch, and are just plain mad! Needless to say, the remains of the dresser found its way to the trash!

Lulu spent the night at her house, and I drove back to the Marriott in Newton (as an aside, this hotel was newly renovated and is really nice!). I emailed Lulu and said there will be a dresser in her room tomorrow if I have to steal the one in my hotel room. This seemed to put her at ease, and we both drifted into a fitful sleep…