I am a proud dog parent today as my timid Chloe has tackled her second and far less traumatic water experience. Chloe was in desperate need of exercise, so what better way for her to unleash her inner beast than to frolic free and unfettered in the dog park way out in the middle of nowhere. Upon arrival I discovered that whoever designed the park definitely had a fixation on the water feature...The lake in the middle takes up about 60% of the park and is "Retriever Heaven". Chloe is far from a retriever...but she took off like a shot once I unshackled her from her leash. Her initial confusion was apparent as she watched with bizarre curiosity as the other dogs splashed around with no fear. After having roamed the "dry" grounds (well relatively dry as she plopped down in a bog of mud near the shore) we tempted her interest in the water by tossing in the o-so-irresistible tennis ball just inches from shore. Try as she might, she was not able to summon the ball with her own will and took some very tentative steps forward into the murky unknown. Careful not to lose her footing she was soon wading through the shallows with some cautious hints of tail wagging. Finally Chloe had overcome her phobia of standing in shallow water by herself. The heat became unbearable and Chloe became unbearable filthly so we decided to call it a day.
With no lack of ambition we set off onto the next task...putting together a new corner desk for the second and soon to be inhabited office. We were reminded of one very important thing...particle board is heavy...VERY HEAVY...Once we had lugged the two massive boxes into the house the real project began. Sorting through the almost comprehendible directions added lots of time onto the task. But not to worry, we are both "desk building veterans" and after a lunch and then Popsicle break we were nearing the finish line. The heat index outside reached 110 and it did make me feel better about laboring inside all day in the AC. A painstaking 6 and 1/2 hours later, we had completed our masterpiece...corner desk complete with hutch and cabinets. Needless to say I am very happy that we are finished! Furniture is always more enjoyable when assembled. Those loyal IKEA shoppers must all be savy carpenters at heart...I am not so much.
Note to those thinking of skipping the "assembly charge", if you do not have half a day, lots of patience, or a wratcheting screwdriver...turn back now...save it for the professionals.
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