Comments on: Assembly Required http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/ Listen to stories on anything from honeymoons to WWII, from award-winning journalists to first-time writers alike, from anywhere in the world. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:59:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Harmless Eccentric http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-46613 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:58:01 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-46613 I have nothing to say except that I found this blog entry by googling looking for help in assembling my Alve desk. This was... amusing. But I'm still not sure how to finish putting the desk together. I have nothing to say except that I found this blog entry by googling looking for help in assembling my Alve desk. This was… amusing. But I’m still not sure how to finish putting the desk together.

]]> by: mike G.(retired corrections officer) http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-37339 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:54:34 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-37339 Mark this is a great story.Mike G. Mark this is a great story.Mike G.

]]> by: Janet http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-1332 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 03:55:22 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-1332 Mark, Having put together our share of IKEA furniture made your extremely funny and well-written piece even more hilarious. I had tears streaming down my face while reading it! I also loved your story about the air-hockey table. Your style and tone are very Dave Barry-esque. I look forward to reading more--keep submitting! Mark,

Having put together our share of IKEA furniture made your extremely funny and well-written piece even more hilarious. I had tears streaming down my face while reading it! I also loved your story about the air-hockey table. Your style and tone are very Dave Barry-esque. I look forward to reading more–keep submitting!

]]> by: Zelda http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-1292 Mon, 01 Jan 2007 22:43:32 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-1292 I just now discovered the "Common Ties" blog. I went in to the Archives and clicked first on your "Worst Gift Ever" story. It was so much fun, so rich with detail and wry humor, that I decided to read some of your other stuff. "Assembly Required" is great! And like some of your other commenters, I too was reminded of my own horror story. It was, believe it or not, a desk from IKEA! My story turned out a little better than yours, however, because I am a woman. A woman is not afraid to admit she's in over her head, so, after several hours of humiliation, I called on a man friend to help me. He got it together, lickety-split, probably because I had done the hard part already, that is, the unpacking and spreading of pieces around the entire room, so they were easy to get to. But, back to *your* story, I absolutely love your sense of humor and your writing skills are top notch. I just now discovered the “Common Ties” blog. I went in to the Archives and clicked first on your “Worst Gift Ever” story. It was so much fun, so rich with detail and wry humor, that I decided to read some of your other stuff. “Assembly Required” is great! And like some of your other commenters, I too was reminded of my own horror story. It was, believe it or not, a desk from IKEA! My story turned out a little better than yours, however, because I am a woman. A woman is not afraid to admit she’s in over her head, so, after several hours of humiliation, I called on a man friend to help me. He got it together, lickety-split, probably because I had done the hard part already, that is, the unpacking and spreading of pieces around the entire room, so they were easy to get to. But, back to *your* story, I absolutely love your sense of humor and your writing skills are top notch.

]]> by: Carol http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-382 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 10:33:11 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-382 Mark, you're hilarious! I find myself laughing out loud at 5:30 in the a.m. while my husband and son are fast asleep. I remember many days of him assembling things with my oldest son. Hubby kind of gets a kick out of it--he's a visual guy who gets into measurements and stuff. But, there have been times when he's gotten pretty frustrated with directions. That's when I exit the house. Thanks for the laugh! Mark, you’re hilarious! I find myself laughing out loud at 5:30 in the a.m. while my husband and son are fast asleep. I remember many days of him assembling things with my oldest son. Hubby kind of gets a kick out of it–he’s a visual guy who gets into measurements and stuff. But, there have been times when he’s gotten pretty frustrated with directions. That’s when I exit the house. Thanks for the laugh!

]]> by: Mark http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-241 Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:18:30 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-241 Linda: I'm afraid I can't blame any sarcasm on the Northeast; I grew up in the Midwest. As for the Atlanta Ikea, here's one thing I've learned: never try to casually browse there on a Saturday morning with a 3-year-old in tow, unless you enjoy hearing Ikea staff repeatedly tell you, "You know you'll have to pay for that." Linda: I’m afraid I can’t blame any sarcasm on the Northeast; I grew up in the Midwest. As for the Atlanta Ikea, here’s one thing I’ve learned: never try to casually browse there on a Saturday morning with a 3-year-old in tow, unless you enjoy hearing Ikea staff repeatedly tell you, “You know you’ll have to pay for that.”

]]> by: Linda http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-236 Thu, 02 Nov 2006 02:09:51 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-236 Mark, Loved your story. Your writing was funny and realistic with a nice hint of sarcasm. (Are you originally from the northeast?) I wonder if I ever saw you at the Atlanta Ikea! I can feel your pain; I had someone help me put together an Ikea bed, but I did a dresser and 2 nightstands myself. Mark, Loved your story. Your writing was funny and realistic with a nice hint of sarcasm. (Are you originally from the northeast?) I wonder if I ever saw you at the Atlanta Ikea! I can feel your pain; I had someone help me put together an Ikea bed, but I did a dresser and 2 nightstands myself.

]]> by: jamie http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-225 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:36:40 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-225 v. funny, Mark. also v. funny how same exact thing happened to me and my signifincant other, except our project was one of those huge basketball goal things. the base was supposed to be secured by pouring water in. we never really got that far. we got divorced over entire maddening project. but i ended up with basketball goal, and thanks to rain water it was remained erect in my life ever since. unlike my husband. ok -- all that divorcing stuff is joke -- just can't seem to get rid of the guy. maybe i should look into one of these ABBA desks? v. funny, Mark.

also v. funny how same exact thing happened to me and my signifincant other, except our project was one of those huge basketball goal things. the base was supposed to be secured by pouring water in. we never really got that far. we got divorced over entire maddening project.

but i ended up with basketball goal, and thanks to rain water it was remained erect in my life ever since. unlike my husband.

ok — all that divorcing stuff is joke — just can’t seem to get rid of the guy. maybe i should look into one of these ABBA desks?

]]> by: Mark http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-224 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:08:38 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-224 Thanks, Alison. I certainly enjoyed writing about putting the wretched thing together more than actually putting the wretched thing together. Since the desk debacle, I've also assembled an Ikea bed, which my slumbering 6-year-old son rolls off of every night because of a subtle slant that may have been caused by my unique furniture assembly skills. Thanks, Alison. I certainly enjoyed writing about putting the wretched thing together more than actually putting the wretched thing together. Since the desk debacle, I’ve also assembled an Ikea bed, which my slumbering 6-year-old son rolls off of every night because of a subtle slant that may have been caused by my unique furniture assembly skills.

]]> by: Jody http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-223 Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:00:41 +0000 http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/10/31/assembly-required/#comment-223 I enjoyed reading your experience with assemblying your wife's new desk. This reminds me of a time my buddy's wife bought him some brand new tools for Christmas. He was so excited about the tools because he has never owned a set. Low and behold, his wife's mom bought her a brand new unassembled computer desk. Guess who got to use their brand new tools? It's ironic how those things happen. I enjoyed reading your experience with assemblying your wife’s new desk. This reminds me of a time my buddy’s wife bought him some brand new tools for Christmas. He was so excited about the tools because he has never owned a set. Low and behold, his wife’s mom bought her a brand new unassembled computer desk. Guess who got to use their brand new tools? It’s ironic how those things happen.

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