I am big a Battlestar Galactica fan (I even do a podcast on it with two other geek pals) so when this came over the Google alert I knew I wanted to post it…

Commander Adama has a shaving mirror in his cabin. This mirror is made by IKEA, and is a model called “Fräck” (spelling according to IKEA Web site). This word is similar to “frak” (spelling according to the subtitles with an “a” and without a “c”, which is the primary vulgarity in the Battlestar Galactica universe. Link

Now that’s funny. I know one of the set decorators had to do it on purpose… love it.

I bought about a dozen of these for myself and my vet's office. It's a BASTIS wall hook for leashes – or whatever really. I love them, they are cute as hell. Finally looked at the receipt today when I was folding up the bag – and broke up laughing. It's listed on the receipt as "HOOK ASS".

Damn I love them swedes.

Well IKEA is open! Opening was a madhouse, but it was fun. And exhausting, we froze our tushes off from the time we got there till we got inside. A bunch of pics up on flickr. Lots of folks came by to meet the patroness of OHIKEA.com, that was fun.

Tomorrow, the whole fam is meeting up to go to the store for the first time. Mom and Dad haven’t been to one before at all, so this should be interesting. Mr Man seems actually excited to go, he really enjoys shopping there. It’s gonna be a long day though. To get through painlessly as possible we’re showing up for breakfast and going through early as they open. Today I hear it was a madhouse, I’m trying to avoid it, but everyone really wanted to go shopping today. We’ll have to check out the AS-IS section first though.

I blog so rarely h ere anymore for some reason I found myslef wanting to sign this post with my name! Sorry i shodl be able to start blogging here more often now that the OHIKEA thing is played out.

They had me sign in when I got there, then I went out and started wandering with the camera. A few minutes later one of the IKEA guys I met during the accidental meeting approached me saying they wanted me to have a media kit. I was smooth but inside I was squealing ‘They WANT me to have a kit! I’m REALLY media!’

I tried to stay out of the way of the pros, hung out on one wall shooting pictures of the people there as much as the IKEA folks. I got some nice pics as a result but some I missed good shots for trying to stay out of the way. If I had a better camera I could have tried acting like I was a big shot, but my 3+ year old minolta (4mp! still good!) wasn’t lying to anyone.

Once in a while someone would see the shirt and place me as “that woman with the website” and I’d reward them with a magnet. I apologized to a few people I got in trouble (oops! But I told them it was for the site!) but largely just hung and wooted (softly) during the speech at the right spots.

I have some more over on OHIKEA… but it was a fun day! I couldn’t get the pictures online fast enough.

I didn’t sleep last night much either.

Today is the IKEA groundbreaking. I’m actually nervous. Last night I tossed and turned with visions of IKEA in my head.

I made up the gift bag (baskets don’t flat pack for travel, and it wasn’t an IKEA basket anyway). I’m going to look like a huge dork, but that’s okay, I am a huge dork. At least I won’t be misrepresenting myself.

Ikea instructions for making Dick in the Box (kottke.org)

I think he missed the boat since IKEA only uses one word product names they should have called it “DIKBØX”

Oh and be sure to read this post I just put up on OHIKEA…

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE’ TALKING ABOUT. We just watched this in the hotel (we’re in Michigan hitting the IKEA and the Casino) and it was NOT funny. Urgh.

This hotel is nice though, we do o love Doubletrees. We’re in Dearborn, which is where all the “celebrations” we happening in the news, though we never saw any) in the US since this are has a very high islamic population. (Higher per capita than anywhere else over here I think.) We left IKEA and ate at “Al Ameer” for lunch and gorged on much meat – and a nap was required of course. Mmm, meat.

Full IKEA trip report on OHIKEA.

Too bad we won’t be back, ours is supposed to start building soon.

Five people chosen to live together – In IKEA
(Maybe they should have told them first)

This Vimeo Video is most cool: If only all decorating (and assembly) was so easy!

And here is a video montage of some folks having too much fun in an IKEA.

That’s my house at the top… IKEA is at the bottom… all in all about 8 or 10 miles. I won’t even have to take the highway.

It’s happened! Go to OHIKEA! I can’t belive it and here I am OUT OF DAMN TOWN! STUPID SCA! I’m just on cloud nine here, it’s * MILES FROM MY HOUSE! .

Butler county is truly blessed, Jungle Jims, IKEA and Touchdowwn Jesus.

I Just wanted to touch in with everyone, i’m on vacation and my idiot brother is not posting! BAD CHRIS! No Boursin for you!

I haven’t forgotten you justs out of town, be back maybe friday! (Chris post some links will ya!?)

it’s been a BIG OHIKEA news day! – go read!

To top it off, I’m in the Plain Dealer today too! AND a reporter from the Dispatch called to see abotu doing an IKEA story featuring me.

I should be on the freaking IKEA payroll by now!

Imagine my surprise when I saw this article on the Google News alert I have set up for IKEA news. Not often you see your name as the first words of an article. (Okay, honestly it’s the second time I’ve seen that!)

Assoicated Press: Ikea fanatics prepare to invade suburban Detroit

For all those wondering where all these reporters are coming from to talk to little old me, believe it or not IKEA themselves has been reffering journalists to my OHIKEA blog to see the Ohio interest. That’s basically a blessing from above with some magical ligonberry holy water as far as I’m concerned.

I was told they liked the and found it quite flattering. They also like branding and consumer hype, and well we got that in spades. I have more rumor info (Southwestern Ohioans stay tuned), but that’s for another post.

With IKEA opening in Detroit I’ve been getting calls from all kinds of reporters the last couple weeks looking for quotes to fill up articels about the opening. (Seems OHIKEA comes up very high on most search engines when searching for IKEA, muhahah!) The latest is the Cincinnati Enquirer in this article and in these shopping tips which I assume was a inset in the article itself.

I’ve also talked to a Detroit newspaper or two, but can’t remember who, if anyone knows, drop me a line.

This is a dupe post from my other Blog, OHIKEA.com, the blog dedicated to rumor mongering a possible about IKEA in Ohio… I know I have Ohians and IKEA fans over here so it deserves a reprint:

I just got a call from the Columbus Dispatch, they want to write an article about US – OHIKEA and YOU – going to the new IKEA in Canton Michigan (opens June 7th). It’ll be about what IKEA is, and what having one means for the area its in (tax money and tourism) as well as what it’s like to shop there, and what’s so special about it. This is a great chance to tell all those Ohio muncipalities that may have been, or might yet be, approached about a possible IKEA to know what an impact and passion the store will have for them. Show them what kind of positive fanactics IKEA has, and they lengths they’ll go to get a nice looking endtable.

Now, the first two weeks are going to be NUTS, and the weekends for years afterwill be too, but what the hell. Let’s do it. Let’s set a date.

I am just gonna set an arbitrary date of Saturday June 24th, 2006.

We’ll all drive up to the Motor City, meet out front of the store bright and early at a certain time and all go upstairs and get some meatballs inside together and shop our butts off. All those in tell me so in the comments, be sure to leave a working email so I can get back with you on details and to get phone numbers.

So – Who’s in? Nows the time!

Anyone in Cinci/Dayton is welcome to join in my caravan. For those wnating to drive up Friday night keep an eye out here I’ll do some research on the closest/cheapest hotel to the store and post it – but Saturday will be IKEA DAY.

Don’t forget to buy your shirts and bumper stickers!

Please comment over here if you wish to join in the fun!

My eventual stardom as the “unoffically official IKEA fan spokesperson” has begun! I’m in Businessweek!

The issue out right now is all about IKEA, with a bunch of articles on IKEA – BUT I’m in the the feature cover article!.
(Ok I’m just the LAST pargraph. I consider the rest to be a warm up for me – I am a Leo after all).

They even have the cover article (the one I’m in) as a Posdcast! where the editors and writers talk about the making of this issue and a lot about Ikea, but not about me. Pout.

After all I know all too well thatOhio Wants Ikea!

My little OHIkea site is sure getting attention in a month or so.

I need to find a new place to meet up with my adoring throngs of paparazzi.

I am waiting for some writer from Cincinnati Magazine who is writing an article about IKEA, and how much Ohio wants one, what they are trying to do to get one, and thanks to my OHIKEA blog where I make it a mission to keep Ohio in Ikea’s mind and hot on the Google love list, he wants to talk to me too. He turned in a sample article and his editor said “talk more to her!” I think Thats good, either that or I’m a total freak. (okay not total one, that would be a Klingon Furry)

I said I’d meet him in a little coffeehouse near 75 that just went in (not a Starbucks oddly enough) I figure I can blog or just hang till he shows up, and well coffeehouses are great places to meetup like this. Anyway, so here I am waiting and the place is of course filled with the smell of brewing coffee.

I HATE coffee. I hate the smell, the taste, everything. I have tried and tried and so far, nothing has worked in seducing my pallette to the way of the bean. So needless to say sitting here with my nose filled with coffee is rather sickening. Bleh.

ELITE DESIGNERS AGAINST IKEA is a very clever little site about IKEA being evil for being so cheap, run by can you guess it… Ikea! All starring a “designer” named van den Puup (yup, poop)

Looks to be a UK ad campaign, be sure to watch all the commercials and videos – funny, funny stuff.

:::twirling imaginary evil handlebar mustache:::

I was trying to figure out a way to bring IKEA’s attention to the fact that we Ohioans want an IKEA soooo bad… then I saw my stack of IKEA temporary tatoos.

So here’s the deal, if you have a digital camera email me for my address ONLY if you live in Ohio, then send me a SASE and I’ll send you a tattoo. I have about 50 of them I got from an Ikea employee.

After it arrives apply it to your cheek, forehead or the face area and take a picture, just show your face. Then email me the pic. (They come off with rubbing alcohol) If you want to paint it or stencil or something else instead, fine, just send me a pic.

I’ll work them all up into a site and a poster (from cafepress) and send it to Ikea with a Ohio Ikea manifesto.

Let’s see if I can get some glances.

IKEA manuals ’show sex bias’.

Norway needs to to kick it’s PM in the butt for being a moron.