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one miss, two hits

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Today we set out early to do some dreaded shopping. At the dreaded IKEA.

I need a new computer desk, because I gave away the IKEA POS that I had in Tokyo. Deciding that something lightweight and minimalist would do the trick for our new place, we decided on another in the same vein. Mari also had a small list of things that she wanted for the same reason: we only brought half an apartment.

But it was a bust. I don't know what the hell IKEA is thinking, but we found that the things they had on display just weren't worth it. The computer desks in particular seem to have taken another big step down in quality even from the one we couldn't bother to bring with us. And everything Mari found on her list either wasn't well built enough to consider or was otherwise unappealing. We walked out with $3.50 in food storage containers!

But then we had a surprisingly decent lunch at one of those low-key family places where you can find good brunch on a Sunday. It was in Hamilton and perhaps unsurprisingly was full of scruffy types with brats and tattoos. I fit right in.

From there we went to the Hamilton Museum of Steam and had a great guided tour with a guide who was really into her work. She talked in an animated fashion about the situation that led to the construction of the massive steam engines around which the museum was situated. One very surprising thing that I learned: the causway that connects Burlington and Hamilton is actually natural! It's made by litoral drift and not, as I'd always assumed, by a massive engineering stunt. Kenny seemed to really enjoy the whole affair.

We took a leisurly stroll back along highway eight (Sunday drivers, oh no!).