Assembly required

Carmen volunteered to help me put together the new bookshelf I’ve been avoiding for three weeks. “How hard can it be?” she said. Famous last words.

Assembly required

Turns out there are approximately fourteen different types of screws and the diagram looks like it was drawn by someone who’s never seen furniture before. We’ve been at this for two hours and have successfully attached one shelf. Upside down. Carmen keeps insisting we don’t need the instructions while simultaneously asking me to read them out loud.

Step 47 of 6. Obviously.

We’re now in the “lay everything out and start over” phase. Jake’s been helpful by occasionally walking by and offering commentary like “that doesn’t look right” and “are you sure that piece goes there?” Thanks, babe. Very constructive.

I’m beginning to think this bookshelf is going to be Carmen’s legacy in our apartment. If we ever finish it, I’m putting a little plaque on it: “Assembled by Elena and Carmen, August 2010, with minimal swearing.”