Caitlin's 12 step guide to bike assembly

Step 1: Slice into finger while getting the box open. Get banddaid from nameless roommate to avoid dripping blood on the floor or bike.
Step 2: Assemble the bike. This is the closest thing I've ever done to a bike build. Poor thing was in all kinds of pieces in order to fit in the box.
Step 3: Discover that a tiny piece for the front brake was missing.
Step 4: While trying to make the front brake work anyway, break an essential piece.
Step 5: Yell and curse a lot.
Step 6: Find and call a bike shop that claims it'll have the parts to fit even a very old set of brakes.
Step 7: Ride very slowly and carefully using only the rear brake to said bike shop.
Step 8: Get brake fixed. Offer to pay, get turned down.
Step 9: Buy a rear rack with attached baskets, partly out of gratitude and guilt, mostly because I need to haul groceries.
Step 10: Ride home very carefully carrying rack in one hand, but able to use both brakes.
Step 11: Attach rear rack and baskets.
Step 12: Admire handiwork. Realize that 4 hours have passed and I need to eat dinner.

Now I can get around town. As Mel Gibson so succinctly put it, "FREEDOM!"