Sweden's Contribution to the World, The Hex Screw

The hex screw. If you ever have purchased furniture from Ikea, you have intimate knowledge of this fastener, and the Alan wrench that you get with each furniture purchase. Sure the hex screw is trendy, neat, and somewhat European, but you get over that after using that small, ridiculous Alan wrench after 2 screws. On our last trip to Ikea, I bought a utility tool that included the two standard sizes of hex heads. And looking back at that $5.95 impulse purchase, it is one of the best things I've ever bought:



See, my Sharkey had her heart set on new deck furniture this year. She wanted the wicker stuff with the all weather cushions (which I'm waiting to see if the cushions really are all weather). She purchased it, and the honking box came last week with the furniture ready to assemble. As luck would have it, it came with one of those nice little Alan wrench things for 32 hex screws. The locations of some of the holes were a little tricky, but my Ikea impulse purchase came in handy. It was way faster than using that cheap ass little wrench that came with the furniture. Two hours and a few colorful metaphors later, Sharkey's furniture (sans cushions, I'll let her do that) was finished!

Quick Poll...

After attending a Phillies game recently and the US Open, it left me with a few questions. Here they are:

1. On a hot dog, do you use mustard or ketchup?

2. If you had the choice, Coke or Pepsi?

3. At a ball game, Budweiser metallic bottles or Tap beer?

4. Would you root for Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson?

5. If you catch a foul ball and are sitting next to a 10 year old, do you keep the ball or give it to him?

6. If you had the choice, soft pretzel or Cracker Jacks?

7. Would you ever consider buying tickets from a scalper?

8. Cheesesteak or cheese fries?

9. If someone initiates the wave, do you participate or look around aimlessly like it never happened?

10. Would you use a Port-O-Potty 10 feet away or beat feet to a real bathroom 1000 yards away?

I Am Back!

It has been a very long time since I posted. Whew!!! My monster projects are C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E! It is hard to believe, but I can now say I am done. It feels good!



The official score is:

JP: 2

Godzilla & Rodan: 0

I have basically been living at the office. Sharkey called me at 10pm one night and told me I needed to come home. Yeah, definitely not good. But now that those two projects are behind me I can get back to some normal life. It is amazing how the 40 hour week seems like nothing after working on these projects. I can take a breather and enjoy the summer!