My lamp exploded and my chair punched me in the face

So, I've been furnishing my room with the essential computer desk, computer chair, and since I don't have a light fixture, I obviously need a floor lamp.

Well, the floor lamp and the computer desk I got on Saturday and Sunday respectively. The lamp worked fine to begin with, though I thought it a bit odd that the switch didn't seem to respond as well as it could have. I could turn it, but it didn't click all the time. Also, the socket it was attached to had the habit of getting wedged out of place, I guess from the tension in the packed-in cord that I had to stuff inside.

Next day, I get my computer desk, and by the time I'm ready to assemble it, it's around 11. So obviously, in order to assemble my desk, I should be the one to fill my dark room with liiiiiight.

... Or so, I should have been. The big compact flourescent I put in my floor lamp isn't getting nearly as much juice as it was yesterday. Okay... strange. Is it the contact? I experiment with other bulbs, before going back to the 120-watt equivalent compact flourescent bulb (the lamp was advertised as maxing at 150 watts). Maybe it was because I... removed the plastic piece surrounding the cylinderical contact... or something... but the next thing I hear after I flip the switch is a big pop. Sparks. Fire. In my room.

Well, thankfully there's not too much circuitry to burn, as the flames died after two seconds, but now there's a hole through the light socket and a number of plastic parts are now no longer attached to the lamp. Frustrated, I go out to get a new lamp.

... And the guys at Wal-Mart are waxing the floor, making me go out for food instead, come back and wait 20 minutes before allowing me into the section with their floor lamps. Grr.

Well, the new floor lamp works now, it just takes a bit for the bulb to warm up, which I guess was the case from the very beginning. Except the switch clicks like it works and the socket doesn't come loose.

I also got a computer chair on Sunday with my desk, but buyer's remorse hit me like a truck, and I went out and got a cheaper one for less than half the price that was still comfy. Maybe not as, but I still can't justify spending $140 on a chair when I can get one about as comfy for $60. So, as I'm assembling that chair, two days ago, I decide to find out how exactly the single support beam that holds the chair up fits into the bottom of the chair. Well, it fits in alright... and it really... really fits in. I still have a plastic cover to put on it, and I can't get it out!

Well, unless I push the bottom of the chair with my feet and pull on the beam with my hands. No sooner does it come out, that the thing slams into my face like a piston. The impact left a cut about halfway through my nose. I really hope this doesn't leave a mark.

It's assembled though, just as I started writing this post, and now I have a computer desk (assembled as of my last post, sans keyboard tray which I will get to soon), so now I've got me a comfy little spot for Tsuruya-san.

Pictures to come. I hope you're all good with cell phone pictures. I still want to get a bookshelf atop some sort of cabinet right next to it, though.