The car is now clean. Even after a few days and the cleaner smell has worn off, it still smells nice, even nicer than my truck. More than good enough to sleep in. There are a couple things that he missed/didn't clean, like there is still a coffee stain on the rear passenger door, but he also did a bunch of things I didn't expect him to, like he pulled apart the gear selector and got the gunk out of it, so it slides a lot smoother, and apparently there was mold under the passenger seat contributing to the smell, and that is cleaned up as well. The floor mats also came out a lot cleaner than I expected. Overall, I think it was well worth the $285 to have a professional do it.
Other than that I have been working on the CR-V build-out stuff off and on, though I haven't been working diligently at it. It is now no longer a concept and the first two layers are all glued and stapled in (the last post everything was cut but not assembled). I also went out last night and picked an array of storage bins that were roughly the right size for the larger storage area. I have measured out the last piece but haven't cut it yet since it has been raining the last couple of days.
I haven't found a deep C channel yet, so I might just make one. This is so I can attach a shelf going the other way (so I have counter space essentially). Just take a board, plop it on top of one of the other boards, and this would act similar to a clamp. I am not too worried about it tipping over, I think there is more than enough weight (several gallons of water plus a 45lb Jackery to hold the build out down). Either that or get one of those super compact quick folding camping tables. Just something so I have a place to put the stove when I pull it out and maybe a cutting board. If I get a folding table, I can also use it as a laptop stand when lying down on the bed, but it is another thing I will have to make sure I have space for.
I did pick up a couple of things on Wednesday when I went out shopping to get stuff that wasn't available on Monday. I got a cheapo battery operated fan from Walmart.
I ran it for an hour or so and it went down less than 5% on the battery (it had 83% on it coming out of the box), so it should be okay. I mostly wanted to make sure if I needed to run it overnight it would last. It is a little noisier than I like but I will get over it. It isn't a piercing high pitched whine or anything, it is just as much white noise as a bigger fan.
This morning I actually remembered I had the two long strips I cut of the other shelves in the unit, and set them on it. It looks okay. It will need some more support for the top shelf, the microwave is a lot of weight and made it sag a little, but that isn't a big deal.
I am not sure I like using two separate boards for it, but oh well.
The plan is to use this drawer (the only actual drawer in this cheap as possible build out) as a shelf for if I want to run a movie or something at night while I go to sleep. I can pull this out and just set the laptop on it. This drawer was something I had lying around, from one of my failed attempts to make the pantry in the house better.
Since I am using the scraps for the top, I also now have a complete sheet of plywood to make the bed platform out of. There is also plenty of underlay there if I want to glue it on the top shelf so it is a smooth surface.I might add a piece on the back just to add some more rigidity to the build, though it hasn't felt like it needed it. It hasn't seen potholes yet though, so I might beef it up anyways.
This weekend looks miserable from a weather standpoint again, but I should hopefully be able to finish the CR-V buildout, even if I don't get around to testing it. I need to remove the back seats to test it, which while simple (I have read), I don't want to do in the rain which would not be good for the leather. I will probably spend a fair bit of it cleaning up before Jess arrives next week.
Thinking of traveling, I have completed the itinerary for my spring trip and made the reservations, so it is set in stone at this point. I am not doing anything too crazy, basically just going to KY and hitting some spots I have missed over the years on the way back. Despite going to Toronto a couple of times I have never visited Niagara Falls for example. Not much in the way of National Parks on this one (just one National Monument):
4/24 - Thursday - Drive to KY. Work half day
4/25 - Friday - Finish drive to KY. Work half day
4/26 - 4/27 - Saturday and Sunday - in KY.
4/28 - Monday - Drive to Niagara Falls. Stay at Niagara Falls
4/29 - Tuesday - Niagara Falls (NY). Visit Yancey’s Cheese Store. Stay at Falls
4/30 - Wednesday - Niagara Falls (CA). Stay in Webster
5/1 - Thursday - Visit Letchworth State park, Chimney Bluffs state park and The bluffs on Mcintyre road. Stay in Syracuse
5/2 - Friday - Visit Green Lakes and Wegmans. Visit Chittenango Falls. Visit Carrier coworkers. Stay in Syracuse
5/3 - Saturday - Visit Taughannock Falls State Park. Visit Fort Stanwix NM on route east. Stay with Aunt and Uncle
5/4 - Sunday - Go to Dog Shack, Hicks, Argyle. Stay at Mike Kelley.
5/5 - Monday - Work remotely half day, visit Mike Kelley, drive home afterwards.
I haven't thought too much about the fall trip, but I am not sure if I will need to use any vacation time this year for project work. I intend to avoid it if at all possible, but I really want to get all that done before winter.
Available Projects and annual tasks:
- Dunks and bug repellent.
- Clean up yard
- Take scrap metal away
- Finish cleanup on the pile in the back
- Do something with the trailer.
- Fix excavator
- Finish drainage
- Build deck
- Push back trees
- Install concrete pilings
- Install landscape fabric and gravel underneath
- Build frame
- Lay decking
- Set up hot tub and pool
- Build insulated platform for hot tub
- Put down pool sand to level spot for pool
- Get water delivered for both
- Fix mowers and equipment
- Get tractor serviced
- Build travel station for CR-V/prep CR-V for travel
- Move carport
- Build the roof extension over to the rocks
- Fix front stairs
- Test travel options (rent u-haul and test that, rent trailer and test that)
- Install storm doors
- Build overhangs for windows
- Insulate the water lines
- Front yard drainage
- Fix snowblowers (broken grease fitting on big snowblower, gas leak on small one)
- Gravel/hardpack driveway
- Fix grade to the shed
- Level a spot for a lean-to up the hill
- Build a small lean-to for off-season equipment
- Make shed mouse-tight
- Create walking trails (put up markers, maybe put down some gravel).
- Clear and level a spot for orchard
- Build a bridge over the creek
- Build a gazebo or something on the other side
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