Feb 25 - a tiny project

Sometimes tiny projects take as much time as big projects.  That was the case with putting two little pieces of wood on the stair-facing-side of the IKEA shelves that I have setup to house my stereo and all the interlinked flashy-things that connect me to the outside world.

I cut the 24x48 piece into 24x26 and held it up against the shelves and then decided that it would look better if instead I cut smaller pieces and inset them between the uprights.  Ok, but the already-installed power bar is in the way.  Rather than disconnect everything etc etc I had Sandy hold the bar while I unscrewed the supporting piece on both sides, moved it over 5/8" and reattached it.  Then I could proceed to cut and attach the two pieces of birch plywood. 

It looks "ok".  Well, no, it looks "better".  It's very makeshift.  Truth be told, I could do a better job simply buying some wood and making this from scratch. 

The interlinked flashy-things ?  -- From left to right they are: 

-- telephone base, connected to the Vonage box, all-in-one printer (for fax purposes) and the wall (for hard-wired house phones)

-- Vonage box, connected to the telephone base and Linksys router

-- Netgear Wireless Access Point -- connected to the Netgear Switch (this WAP could probably be decommissioned)

-- Netgear Switch -- connected to Netgear WAP, Linksys Router, PC

-- Linksys Router -- connected to Netgear Switch, Vonage Box,  HP network printer, cable modem

-- Cable Modem -- connected to Linksys Router, coax cable from Brighthouse Networks

... and then of course there's the printer and PC. 

Theoretically if I eliminated the Netgear WAP then I could get rid of the switch, since I have a spare port on the router, however there are times when I'd like to connect my laptop directly to the network and I'd be out of ports.  It is a consideration though.

Sandy did find a coffee table and end tables for the den from an add in Craigslist.  They look good.  Of course piled in front of them are all the construction tools etc. that I used to do the flooring.  I've not put anything away yet ... probably should at some point :).

I took Abby for a walk.  Sandy worked in the garden.  Together we dug out and pulled out the peach tree that was in the front yard.  Sandy wants to plant a lemon tree. 

I had a physio appointment first thing yesterday and he corrected one of my exercises (corrected the way that I was doing it) and gave me more.  I'm starting to warm up to this guy but my shoulder doesn't feel any better !

I tried using the X5 and trailer hitch to pull out the stump but the rope broke.  I was prepared for that; no big surprise.  I dug some more and used two ropes.  They broke.  By then, however, it was out enough that I could finish the job manually.  That stump is now ready for next Monday's yard trash pickup.

That's about it.  The M5 (sedan) is in for service.  We're a one-car-couple until later in the week.  It gives me pause every time I go into the garage and it's empty.

We had shrimp, sauteed spinach and rice for dinner, good as always.

Today ... John at 7am; Sandy has her new trainer at 8:30; I'll go for a bike ride, weather permitting (haven't looked at the Doppler yet).

Onward !