As I prepare to sleep on the sofa this evening, it occurs to me that maybe I'm being punished for years of kvetching about the little things.As Dick tucked himself into "bed", I laughingly punched the top of it. He had to laugh, 'cause even though I punched with nearly all my might, I could not make a dent in that mattress . "Punch it", I said. He didn't want to. "C'mon. Just do it." He punched, but not too hard (for I doubt he believed I hit it all that hard). Surely enough, that thing did not budge.
Earlier today, Dick sent me an e-mail with a link to someone else's blog, who is going through the same thing with an Ikea mattress. The subject line of his e-mail? "Ikea has to make this right." Well, somehow I don't think that is going to happen. If I knew how to launch an anti-Ikea viral campaign online, I would make it happen, but I don't, and so it won't.
I've got so much to do, and yet this is taking up a large amount of mental energy. Ikea, if I were someone else, I'd be thinking of lawsuits that include money for mental anguish. Wait. I am thinking of lawsuits that include money for mental anguish. Uh oh.
It's really all so absurd. Once, I complained about a thirty dollar bra right here on this blog, and the head of Maidenform did everything in his power to make things right. Thank you, Mr. Maidenform (and excuse me for forgetting your name). Now, that is great customer service. Over the top, perhaps. But, it made me feel that there were some decent people at corporations. Whether the "problem" was solved didn't matter after I received such caring attention. Three different people at Maidenform went through some trouble to see to it that I got a proper fitting bra.
But now I think I'm getting payback for moaning about ill fitting underwear.
I forgot about the whole thing for three whole hours today while I worked at the yarn shop. It was bizarrely hot out (92 degrees on an April day in Maine?!), but the shop was lovely and cool. I expected it to be packed, but it was fairly quiet. Every time I'm there, I am transported from whatever sour, sad, or bad mood I'm in. There is something about knitters, and fiber, that is just so wonderful. Whether it's helping a woman learn how to knit a sock or talking to an expert knitter while she knits one, I always enjoy the company. When I figure out just what makes knitters such lovely people, I'll get back to you. Right now I'm flat out of the capacity to analyze anything, and besides, I've got to make up the sofa. It's time for
Image note: For more information on how to construct a bed of nails, go here. You'll even learn the physics of the thing. It's supposedly pretty comfortable. Hmm. Maybe that's what I should be sleeping on. It'd help with the feeling I have that I'm due some karmic payback, especially if I sleep on my side.
10 comments:
Karma doesn't work that way. It's nothing mystical. It's more like, I lose my temper, kick the door, and end up with a broken toe. Pure cause and effect.
I think knitters are probably good people - and I'll take your word for it, as I don't know many knitters - because they understand the value of sitting still and paying attention to something for more than a minute or two. They develop the patience to focus on something with total absorbtion until it becomes second-nature.
Sorry about the ongoing bed saga :o(
Wow, look at these reviews of your bed: http://www.ciao.co.uk/Ikea_Sultan__72477
:o(
I have always suspected that my complete inability to do anything like knitting is a character flaw. I know one really serious knitter, and though I wouldn't call her "patient," she has a tremendous tenacity that I totally envy.
One more thought on the mattress sage, and I should say up front that it's a slightly dangerous one: You might be able to contest the charge with your credit card company. If you really believe that Ikea knowingly sold you something other than what they promised, you might have a case for just refusing to pay. Obviously, this approach could backfire. I'd only try it if I were sure I'd been conned, and the credit card company was a willing participant. Pressure from them just might get Ikea to back down and actually issue you a refund.
Jaime, I know karma doesn't work that way! I was being silly. The words "guilt", "payback", and really "neurotic guilt because a person such as myself should never complain because I was brought up to keep my mouth shut" would have been better.
Those reviews weren't for "my" mattress, and I've read excellent reviews for the one I got, but that still doesn't make the one I have any better. . .still, ya have to wonder when Ikea sells another mattress that is so terrible. Believe me, I researched this whole thang to death.
And yes, I do believe the "sitting still" is part of what makes knitters special. I know I've thought that, but yesterday I was just being an airhead for my amusement.
Maria, the credit card charge will not be paid until at least we are sure what's going on. Yes, that's a bit of a danger, but Ikea has already said, "What you tried in the showroom should be exactly the same as what you've brought home." Such a subjective experience, though, wouldn't you say?
As to not being able to sit still and do needlework, it's okay. We need different sorts of people!
Boy, I'm really picking on you today, between here and Facebook. I didn't mean any of this as negatively as it probably sounds. Of course you know how karma works (or, rather, vipaka, since karma is just the action side of the coin), and of course you researched your bed. It's just a shitty situation all 'round, and I'm babbling unhelpfully for lack of anything useful to do.
Aw, Jaime, I never felt picked on. Isn't that strange. Just vaguely misunderstood, which I am VERY used to, so it doesn't bother me. Most folks can't tell when I'm being "silly." Why should you!?
And before I forget, I find what you called "babbling" to be a form of caring. So there!
Well, good, caring was how it was meant! Sometimes I'm - or nearly all of us are - inept at expressing caring.
So, how 'bout those peepers ... they really made my night.
Here I am again, with some info on your mattress that may help you. My husband, who is (among other things) an expert on plastics (but doesn't work for or even like IKEA), says that the type of foam used for these mattresses reacts not only to body temperature, but also to the temperature in your bedroom (or in the store). The warmer the surroundings, the quicker the mattress will soften to accommodate the contours of your body. It's possible that the store was much warmer than your bedroom is. Does your husband notice a difference in the mattress after he's been in bed for, say, five minutes? If so, he could warm your side of the bed before you join him. Or you could use an electric underpad (between mattress and sheet) to warm the bed.
I have a Tempur pillow, which is pretty darn hard when I get into bed in the winter and absolutely wonderful a few minutes later.
Hope this turns out to be a helpful hint!
Donna
Hi Donna,
Thank you for leaving your comment. Thank your husband, too.
I did know about this particular quality of memory foam, and it's something that all folks should be aware of when they buy it. Dick finds the bed softer than I do and I think it's because he runs hotter than I and he weighs more.
And yes, it's true; a memory foam bed is softer in a warmer environment. My bedroom is probably cooler than the store's.
But, all memory foam is different. I have a memory foam pillow and a memory foam topped wedge that I sleep on. Both soften up very quickly. They are probably less dense than the foam on the mattress. Memory foam purchasing is difficult for these reasons. Now I know that I won't buy any large memory foam purchases unless a company says what the pounds per inch density is. For ME, one that is less dense is probably better. The more easily air can move through it, the faster it warms up and the softer it is. This also is one reason why some people do not like memory foam. I'm worried that Dick won't like what I need - a very soft bed, for he mentioned that he feels the mattress depresses (probably now that it's warmer out) when he's sleeping. For me, it just doesn't at all.
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