Cleaning Closets can be fun

OK, not fun but definitely necessary.

Part of the construction project's "might-as-well-do-this" projects is removing the metal casing around the closet door that is adjacent to the kitchen/dining area.

Removing these metal things is a BIG pain in the butt. I had done this to the upstairs closet and without the right tools you're trying to manhandle metal that just doesn't want to be removed. These door frames are secured on both sides and the floor so removing them is not an easy task.

Plus, since we're having the floor repaired where the old kitchen tile was it is logical to remove this ugly thing and fix the floor. It does however go on the list of projects I need to do. While they will repair the floor around where they remove it, I still need to hang a new door, and then repair the wall around it (plus re-paint it). This is ok though.

This brings me to my problem of too much stuff in the closet. This sucker was packed with clothes that needed to be removed to do the work, so logically the clothes need to go somewhere. What better place than the cedar closet downstairs.

Unfortunately, this closet was packed with other clothes that would now need to be displaced.

In going through this closet there were only 3 items (2 of which my wife said, 'that's ugly and ratty, don't keep that') that I elected to save. The rest goes to good will today.

Based on this I offer a piece of advice: THROW OUT YOUR OLD CRAP AND GAIN VALUABLE CLOSET SPACE!

To Pod or Not to Pod

In order to redo your kitchen you need to first move all the crap that is in the current kitchen and either throw it away or put it somewhere.

If you have a garage, this is relatively easy, just haul it out there and you're good to go. But if you are like me and your garage has been converted to living space then you must consider other alternatives such as a pod.

For those of you unaware, a pod is mobile storage unit that they put on a flatbed truck and they bring to you. This saves you taking your boxes and furniture to the local storage place, which requires a truck anyhow, plus it is a real pain in the butt to move your stuff anywhere else.

Now, the problem with a pod is the expense. For 3 months of on-site storage it will cost a bit under $1000. In the grand scheme of things, this is not a big nut, but since it is one of the only things I have control over right now, I am trying to avoid this thing.

Doing this requires me to take all of my stuff and put it somewhere else in the house or leave it with relatives.

The boxes of dishes and cookware are mostly in the attic, a glider/rocker is going to my sister (for good) and the current kitchen table/chairs which we won't need after the new kitchen are going to my mothers. This leaves a big couch and chair, dining room set and assorted crap which now goes from 3 rooms down to 1 (the living room) which is not going to be touched.

So, right now no pod for me, and $1000 back in my pocket.