I have a specific example in mind.
Today, having been prepared for a trek in to work for a training that got canceled, I felt restless enough to venture into the old neck of the woods and stop at the non-ghetto (relatively, at least) Wal-Mart to pick up some things such as bulk quantities of toiletries.
While I was there I also grabbed one of those countertop upright paper towel holders.
Ordinarily these kinds of things are relatively simple to put together: screw this into that, put the roll of paper towel on, done.
I would be lying if I said that the assembly of this particular one was any more complex – in theory – than that, yet in practice it proved to be much more challenging than it really ought to have.
For one thing, the screws just didn’t want to go in easily, necessitating that I break out my cordless screwdriver.
After assembling the basic structure I ran into a problem with the bar that goes through the paper towel roll. Basically, you have to put the paper towel in place, slide the bar through the top, try to match up the screw on the end of the bar with the hole at the bottom, then screw on a cap to hold the bar in place.
(And yes, I do realize how many times I’ve said the word “screw.” It’s going to happen even more.)
This is easier than it sounds, as the bottom end of the bar doesn’t match up with the hole very easily, and even when it does you can’t actually get the bar securely in place.
I took it apart to see if there was a way to rectify this, and inadvertently (and unknowingly) twisted the cap off of its screw and left it in the other end of the bar.
I was trying to see if I could get the bar to screw into the bottom piece more securely without the paper towel roll in place as sort of a practice run. What I didn’t realize was that I’d put the wrong end in, placing the different-sized screw from the top cap into the bottom hole. When I tried to take it apart again the bar came off but left the screw in place. This necessitated getting pliers to take the screw out (which did not have a head, as it was designed to screw into things on both sides).
After all this I was going to just put it together the way it had been before, but I noted that you can actually mount the thing to the wall. I decided that I would do that in order to save counter space. As I was putting the thing back together I dropped one of the screws.
The screw bounced, then rolled into the space between the dishwasher and the sink and managed, like a heat-seeking missile, to wedge itself in the small crack between the end of the hardwood floor and the edge of the sink cabinet, like so:
Attempts to get the screw out led to it rolling under the dishwasher where it will likely be entombed for all time (or until I get a new dishwasher).
Of course, as it requires two screws to mount the thing to the wall, I now have no choice but to leave it on the counter, as I am one screw short, which would seem to be the story of my life.
Now, it just seems statistically unlikely that when I dropped the screw it would seek out that crack as if it knew the best possible way to, well, screw me.
On a more positive note, while I was out I stopped at Best Buy and decided to just get it over with and buy volumes three and four of Batman: The Animated Series and volume two of Superman: The Animated Series.
That gives me the complete Batman series on DVD, and I think that covers the Superman series (which didn’t run as long as Batman) as well, but I’m not 100% sure on that.
Next month they’ll finally begin releasing complete sets of Batman: Beyond (they’d previously only released individual episodes) on DVD, so I’ll likely be picking that up at some point.
Speaking of DVDs, last night I watched Mirrormask. It was just as good the second time around as it was the first.
This time around I had the added benefit of knowing that Stephanie Leonidas was at least 19 or 20 when the movie was being filmed, so I didn’t have to feel like a total pervert for thinking about how cute she is and how I’d like to do naughty things to her.
So that actually enhanced the viewing experience a little, as it’s always good to know that you’re not lusting after underage teenage girls.
Turns out I'm not attracted to 14 year old girls...just 20 year old girls who can pass for 14.
As I promised myself I would yesterday, I made myself some Sturdiwheat pancakes this morning.
When I sat down to eat them and took my first bite I said, “Man, these are good.”
After all, it had been a while since I’d had them, so it could have been that my memories of the flavor were enhanced by nostalgia (Like MSG, most Chinese restaurants will omit nostalgia upon request).
Of course, while enjoying my pancakes I had to open up the windows to air the place out.
While cooking, various bits of sauce and grease and whatnot have splashed onto the burners, but I thought that I’d cleaned them off well enough. Turns out a bunch of gunk had collected under the burner, and so all of that was burning and filling the place with smoke while I was cooking.
Just one more reason that I miss having a gas stove.
While I was out I also picked up a set of cheap speakers for Munin (my secondary, or “kitchen” computer), so I can get back to watching DVDs while I’m cooking.
On that note, I’ll round out this post with a couple more images of the condo, which should more or less complete the photo tour.
The island cart that nearly drove me over the edge. It should come as a surprise to no one that the principle use to which I put it involves a computer.
My little dining area, which almost never gets used as I eat most of my meals at the comptuer or at the coffee table while watching TV. I definitely need to get some more stuff up on the walls. The picture that is up is a sketch called “Abundance” by Sandro Botticelli.
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