You may recall that I replaced the washing machine hoses in my brother-in-law and his wife's condo apartment. They complained about their bed — probably over 20 years old, and their TV or at least their closed-caption accessory device. What are these deaf people going to spend their money on anyway. So, today we met them at Costco because the store had a $100 off coupon offer for a matching Queen size bed and box spring set this week. And they also looked at TVs finally deciding on a 27" Sharp model and they also purchased a DVD player. Of course, being deaf, they don't need that expensive amplifier and 5 speaker theatre surround sound system. Their neighbours should be grateful. It was also quite a feat wheeling a queen side bed through the main aisles on a busy Saturday afternoon.

I had brought the old Grand Caravan (doesn't smell good inside now that my son sneaks a smoke or two there now and then.) However, though the van can fit 4x8 sheets of plywood it can't fit a 60" width Queen size mattress, even on the diagonal, so I had to tie them to the top of the van with ropes. Two ropes I fed through the side windows and tied inside and the third I tied from the frame under the front bumper to the the frame under the rear bumper. Then I drove at 60km/h tops, from Costco near Dundas and 403 to my brother-in-law's place in Milton. I think the only casualty was the plastic moulding aroung the side windows: it might have cracked under the strain of taut ropes or because it is so cold out. The drive with Queen-size mattress and box springs' set on top was the first part of the adventure.

I was the first to arrive even at my snail's pace. Once my brother-in-law arrived we took the old mattress set and stacked it in the garbage/recycling room by the door. I rember doing a similar thing at my son's old apartment with a old couch. Then I got the van and backed it up to the receiving doors. Well, apparently this was against the condo by-laws where furniture may only be moved in between 12 and 1 on alternate Saturdays (I exaggerate slightly of course!). The super (on his day off) had been roused by some busy body on the board I guess. He said, well I guess you can leave the new mattress set in this locked area near receiving and exchange mattresses on Monday. Oh, I said, I guess we'll have to take the old one back up to his apartment. Oops. Condo owners are supposed to get rid of their own discarded furniture. Otherwise, the super does it at their expense! "Just following the condo board's rules", he said. Well, Derrick and Carol showed they were reasonable people: I put the old mattress and box spring in my van and we took the new ones (on the QT) up to my brother-in-law's apartment. My wife had suggested I unload the van from the underground parking but I was afraid the van, stacked with mattress and box spring, wouldn't make it through the garage door. The second part of the adventure was over.

I set up the new bed and my wife and I put on the sheets. She had stopped by an M&M Meat Shop so we had lasagna, cataloni and garlic bread. Then we moved the 27" TV, this time from the underground parking, up to the apartment. Fortunately, the only hard part was lifting the sucker out of the box: pretty routine connecting the cable and DVD box. I just made sure the sound was down low and that closed captioning was enabled. Now the two of them are happy and will probably sleep well tonight on the new mattress.

Damm, upon leaving the apartment the van's "Check Engine" light is on. I drove to the gas station. Filled up. Paid $40! (First time I have every paid that much but at 80.9¢/l it's no wonder.) The "Check Engine" light didn't come on again — perhaps there's a loose connection to a sensor somewhere. End of adventure and time for a beer I'd say.