Monday night, I flew into Phoenix for work. I didn’t check luggage so I quickly got off the plane and took the bus to the car rental place. While waiting in line for a car, I realized that I forgotten to print directions to the hotel. I didn’t think it would be a problem because rental car places usually provide good directions.

Unfortunately, this car rental place didn’t have an automated terminal that allows you to print out directions. The woman at the counter gave me some directions and wrote them down on a piece a paper. However, when I left, I still wasn’t completely sure where I was going.

I jumped onto the highway and headed in what I thought was the right direction. After 15 or 20 minutes, I figured I had gone too far. I decided it was time to use one of my life lines, a call to Anna. Its always embarrassing to call Anna because I always tell her I never get lost—which is still true.

While chit chatting with the Anna, I saw one of those things that reinforced the fact that I am married to a Swede–IKEA. That’s right; the great, bright blue and yellow store was glowing off to the left. Here I was running around lost in Phoenix unable to find my hotel, but I could still find Ikea.

After making a really big circle, I eventually found the hotel. Though, the thought did come to my mind if I couldn’t find my hotel, it would probably cost the same amount of money to buy a new mattress and bed frame at Ikea as it would to pay for the hotel room. Then again, it would take me all night to assemble the Ikea bed frame. Go figure.