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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Decluttering Part II: the computer nook

The next phase of our declutter and organisation was to dismantle a computer nook that  I had created a few years ago. With the purchase of a laptop it had outlived it's usefulness.


This is the computer nook just before I took everything apart.


So today I set about making sure I had everything off the old desktop and started to dismantle it. Then the shelf had to come down. Not such a big deal until I pulled it off the wall and lost some of the mud off the wall. Some patching is now in order to set the wall right. I just have I hope I have enough of the paint on hand to touch it up after the patching dries.



This is the computer nook now that everything is gone. You can see the patching on the corner of the wall. I just don't know what we'll do with the space that we've taken back in our dining room.

I do like the fact that we've been pretty successful this year in getting the clutter out of the house and taking back our space. The added bonus is that in a few years when we look to sell we will have less stuff to move.

More to look at later when I have the last of the baseboard molding up in the living room.

Friday, March 19, 2010

DVD Storage-It finally happened!!!

Wow I can't believe all my DVD's are finally organised!! I have tried to keep everything in a neat and orderly fashion for a number of years. Box sets and films with sequels/trilogies are in one area and organised by alpha and chronoligical. The rest of the films are just alpha arranged.

Being a movie whore my collection has grown. I honestly didn't think I had as many as I do, but all told when I put everything into an excel spreadsheet for inventory (and insurance) purposes it turns out I have 401 DVD's. How can one person watch that many DVD's? As I said, I'm a movie whore.

So in the process of remodeling and decluttering my good wife and I mutually decided after painting the livingroom that we would only put back what was necessary. Perfect. We did just that and we really opened up our living room. When you live in a 900 sq ft condo space is everything.


When we put it back together we left out our blue wingback chair. It was no loss. We bought it in a thrift store for $20 about a year ago. I just sold it last weekend on Craigslist for $35. Still totally worth it at that price. It wasn't ripped or worn out. It just didn't fit literally and figuratively in where we are headed with our remodel and our lives.

This past weekend we ventured out to IKEA and purchased 14 pair of DVD storage racks. What a great find! Once they were all installed we started putting all the DVD's in and now everything is off the floor and out of the old storage system in one neat little area. We gained so much room by using this system. They are relatively cheap as well at $5.99 each.


So now we have room to expand where we didn't have room before and it really makes the room look quite a bit larger than what it really is. This is just the first part of our living room remodel. Next will be to mount the flat panel to the wall and install an IKEA floating shelf system for the componets to free up the space on the wall just to the right of DVD's.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Jake files: volume 1 & 2

Let's just dive right into this one.

We all hate having to take our cars to the shop. There's always the worry that something will be found that has nothing to do with why you took the car in in the first place.

Flashback to November 2009. I have just taken possesion of one Guards Red Porsche 944 from my father in law. Nice man. Gave me a deal at the time. Still in process. You'll find out why later on in this ditribe of my wandering fingers connected to my brain.

Jake, as he's been called, is taken to Specialty Import Motours for a clutch and new engine mounts and brakes. The mounts are in my possesion already and I've priced the clutch kit I want.

For three days I wait. I get a call finally that the car is done. Brakes are fine and still at 54%. Just squeeky like a mouse. The other items are done. There was some bonus work that was done at the same time since the engine was out. Rear main seal. Very important. Some coolant hoses and a heater core valve. Very important.Power steering hoses replaced and system toped off. Car running very nice now. Still leaking like a sieve up front. Specialty provides a list of what still needs to be done. Great. More work. See. There's always more that needs to be done when you take your car in. All this for $2600 and some change.

Labour is what got me here. The clutch in a 944 is a 15 hour labour job. Remember that if you decide you're in need of one of these little gems. Get one that doesn't need a clutch. Very important.

Flash forward a few weeks. I've had Jake now for about a month. I've driven him periodically on the weekends only at this point. Now one full week prior to Christmas holiday I'm out with my neighbour and upon getting back Jake proceeds to hemorage fluids all over the carport. Bullocks.

That Monday I take poor Jake to Specialty Import Motours and leave him for the next two weeks.

The week of New Years I get a phone call. Jake is going to be pretty costly this time. The valve cover gasket is going to be rather difficult to get to. Seems the valve cover is attached to the upper cam and the main serpentine belt has to come off. Also there is a special tool for vcg bolts. Great. Once in there the pulleys have to come off so all the cam and crank end seals can be replaced. The water pump is leaking so that will be done while in there as well. The only way to do it. I should have the car back in the next two days.

I wait. No calls. New Years eve comes and goes into New Years.

The following Monday I receive another call. The owner (who is also wrenching little Jake) was in on the two holidays while the shop was closed to get it put back together. Seems once it was and the system was repressurised the radiator blew and the main coolant hoses blew. More work to come. Radiator, thermal switch for the twin fans and hoses.

First Thursday of the new year. Success!!! I get the call to come and get Jake out of there. YES!! It's cutting it pretty close. I lose my carpool next week and need my little Jake running and now.

$3400 and some change. Bullocks. There goes my credit card. It was paid off. Mostly. Fortunately there is room.

Fast forward middle of February. It's a warm (60 degrees) winter day and I get home and Jake pisses fluids all over the carport again. Now what?

Happily I"m picking him up tonite. No charge from Specialty Import. Seems the hoses have been expanding and relaxing and settling over the past month. The hoses are fine but the clamps are now loose becuase of this. I have never heard of this before. I worked in car dealerships in parts for 9 years and never heard of this. At least it's nothing serious and it was under warranty.

Seems I need to get the PCA membership soon so I can meet some folks locally that really know the 944. My wallet has been inspired to have me get intimate with Jake in a manner of speaking if he's going to continue to have a home with me.

It will be good to have him back though. Sure is fun to drive.