I know I have been a less than attentive blogger the past few weeks. But trust me, I have more than enough blog material now to last months, maybe even years (no, I can't afford therapy so it is on all of you)! The last time I wrote anything remotely meaningful was during my brush with death on May 16th. You will be happy to hear that I have made a full recovery but not before I attended a concert and served punch at a reception for this year's graduates (I really should not have been near people, let alone serving them drinks).

I was starting to feel better by Wednesday, May 21, not 100% but well enough to feed the children and do a few things around the house to get ready for the upcoming party. That night around 7:30, I was surfing the web and talking to Hubby on the phone (yes, neglecting my children, why to you think we bought the big screen TV?). I have been checking Ikea online periodically to see if they have the furniture I want (that furniture I went to buy in March but they didn't have). I type in the line of furniture I am looking for, I click on the beautiful sideboard picture, then I select my Ikea store and click "Check Stock". And I read, "In Stock...NO" for more than 2 months! Not in stock! So frustrating, I really like it, I love the price, the basement is done, but I have no furniture, the party is soon, what should I do?! But on May 21 I clicked and it said "YES"! Yes, my beautiful sideboard is in stock! I click again to make sure..."YES". I checked store hours, open until 9 PM. Can I do it, should I do it? Still on the phone with Hubby, "Honey, I will talk to you later, I am going to Ikea." He says, "Now?" I say, "Yes, now." I hang up the phone and tell the oldest, "I am going to Ikea, watch the kids, put them to bed in a little bit." She says, "You are going to Ikea now?" I say, "Yes, now. Be back in a bit."

I hopped in the van and toodled over to Ikea, I made the 18 mile trip in 20 minutes and only slightly exceeded the speed limit. I found my sideboard! I paid for my sideboard! I picked up my sideboard and loaded it into my van! (I bought a couple of end tables too.) I came home and made the oldest help me carry the boxes in and down the stairs (she dropped her end of the biggest box so then I dropped my end and broke 3 nails and got a major bruise on my leg!)

I resisted the urge to stay up half the night putting it all together but I did build it on Thursday. And I love it! It is exactly what I wanted!