Monday, January 6, 2014

Buffer Overflow

I've been meaning to post more, no, really, I have entries written that ended up getting discarded due to the complexity of the posting process without a fixed internet connection. The best I can muster is the remote BT keyboard to iPad arrangement, which works well enough for the most part.

So here we are at the end of 2013, and what a year it's been. While I would chalk this one up to "improvements", there have been a number of notable accomplishments for the year.

One cannot over-emphasis enough the prospect of finishing a major project. My life is a major project. But what I'm talking about is the living room. Walls painted, carpet installed, furniture in, yes, that was done before. But we still were living with record albums stacked on the floor, an old glass and chrome shelving unit from my parents that barely held the Sansui, and a makeshift coffee table under the north windows as a catch-all. Nothing integrated the way the architecture did. Now the black and glass cabinets are in- dust-free display space for my computer rarities, shelving for DVD's, tapes, records and LaserDiscs. Plus a credenza-type unit for the stereo, turntable, reel to reel and other media devices that otherwise stick out like sore thumbs. The trick to this project was using inexpensive Ikea cabinets with more upscale trim pieces, and then ditching their cardboard backs for 1/4 plywood I bought and sized to the units. I picked up some special stain at a woodworker's supply shop in Chicago that matches better than factory. That said, the total bill was tough to swallow. Now, I just need to finish my display cards.

2013 also saw the completion of the insulation and wall boards under the Lodge stairs, the completion of the kitchen trimout- both stain and trim for the wall cabinet, but also trim beyond the drywall where insulation was previously the finished surface. Let's be honest, it really did look like the set from a TV show!

While on that subject, the room divider/display cabinet in the dining room reached completion- banded, stained, and glass shelves cut and installed along with lighting. As if that weren't battle enough, I managed to go through all the glasses in the collection and pare them down to the essentials, then washed every frickin' one.

Big deal you might think. Well, consider that each one of these things is a knot untied. Like driving a car with a steering wheel but no speedometer, it's the completion of the whole that makes the home.

And speaking of tying knots, I proposed to Cara this year with a wedding planned for 2014. Details to come!

In the pocketbook-pinch department, out came the 18' bi-fold garage doors and in went the pricey, but all-so-needed glass and aluminum doors. With the increasing prospect that we'd live in the Lodge longer than initially anticipated, it made more and more sense that we wouldn't be driving cars in and out of the Lodge daily and hence moving forward with the pulley and cable system I wanted to implement for the bi-fold doors didn't make much sense. As it stood, I couldn't trim the doors out because of the way they folded, and the smooth exterior wasn't a good match for the textured siding. The new doors, while pricey, look nice and bring in lots of natural light that really changes the interior feel of the place during the winter months. Even when below freezing, if the sun is out, the interior warms up more than the old insulated, but solid, doors.

And with the doors open, the cars and other miscellany moved out. The ETC needed a home and found one in the form of The Annex. The '59 needed a home and it was clear I wasn't going to get around to the '60 for a few years, so the '60 moved on down the line to my friend Ben where it will stay in the area and the '59 moved into CS3. In a few years time, we'll be cruising the two cars down University. Pretty cool. And with the southwest area opened up downstairs, we were able to finally epoxy coat the floor and clear out all the construction tools and materials stashed down there, effectively turning the downstairs into the area that I had always envisioned.

A 2009 Sky joined the fleet this summer which is very atypical of my automotive purchases, but it meets my criteria- Last year of production, turbo, 5-speed, convertible, metallic green. Plus I can cruise anywhere without those "old car" worries.

With the '59 out of the Lodge, Ben and I put the finishing touches on the engine, and after several bone-head moves, actually got the car running under its own power. This brings the total for running cars in CS3 up to 4 for 4. 2014 will see a gas tank recoat and the necessary work required to get her fully roadworthy.

Parallel to this little trial and error, my friend Geoff from Australia visited the states for 2013 and we had a blast showing him around Iowa and enjoying his Cadillac ATS rental. The only regret is that we were not able to host him in CS3 this time around, but it all worked out.

Early in 2013 Cara and I took an amazing trip to Disney World which took years off our lives (in a good way). Even the Sebring convertible rental was palatable after purchasing a pair of Walgreens aviators and a fedora! We can't wait to return.

As summer hit full stride I refocused on the siding of CS3. Not an easy task considering the reveal of each course is dependent upon lots of little factors, such as the beltline height, the lower course reveals, the top and bottom planes of windows both front and west, and so forth. When you go with horizontal siding and mitered corners, you basically work as though you're drawing continuous belts around the building, and all lines must match up. But it all worked out, including the cedar trim-out of the front 40' window section. When the thought crosses my mind that I should hire the siding out, it occurs to me that none of this will be considered and the job will look like shit. What remains is siding on the east side, and upper rear. I'll be glad to put that to bed this spring.

We also saw the opening of a Cedar Falls Menards which has saved an uncountable number of hours and dollars in travel. I haven't been to the Waterloo Menards in a long, long time. Helps with those pricey deliveries, too!

On the work front, this fall saw a promotion which has added to the gray temples, but not to the extremes I've seen of others. Let's just hope the ride doesn't get too crazy. How long am I going to go on with this? Well, we'll see. Too many unknowns at this juncture. 

And then there are the 2013 hobbies. Oye.

2014. Welcome.