Ridiculous Project underway

[dreamshark]

This is the one I've been putting off for literally years where I move this comics cupboard so I can get to the outlet hidden behind it. The power strip that was plugged in there burned out, so the only way I can plug in my iron and vacuum cleaner is via a 15-foot extension cord into the bedroom. 





Simple in concept, right? But there are SO MANY STEPS. Starting with moving 36 boxes of comics out of the cupboard so that it is possible to move it. Just touching this thing dislodged a stack of old rolled up posters cleverly stored out of sight on top, which unleashed 35 years worth of fluffy dust that had to be vacuumed up, using a vacuum cleaner plugged into that aforementioned extension cord. This cupboard is 7 feet high and solid oak, so even empty it is not easy to move. To make it even trickier, it was sitting on an isolated rectangle of ancient shag carpeting. Because, y'know, when I removed the rest of the carpeting 20 or 30 years ago I wasn't about to move this damn thing so I just cut around it. We actually managed to slide the cupboard off the carpet and onto the floor without capsizing, whereupon I could finally see whether the outlet still worked or if it blew out back when the power strip did. Along the way I had found a second dead power strip curled up on the floor, so I was a little concerned about that. 

Halleluiah! The outlet works just fine! And it's closer to the edge of the cupboard than I realized - I don't need the 9 foot heavy duty extension cord with flat plug that I bought to plug in back there. So maybe I'll go to the hardware store and buy a shorter extension cord with a flat plug. But first... sigh I guess I should tear up that piece of hideous gold and brown shag carpet. That means finding gloves, a utility knife, and a nail puller...

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ETA 4 hours later. Pulling up the carpet was easier than I expected, but involved several more rounds of vacuuming, emptying the little vacuum bag, and unplugging the hose. The thin backing board was pulling loose at the bottom because a bunch of the nails had fallen out. I picked up the ones I could see and pounded them back in, and sent Richard off to find more nails. Okay, now the backing is on tight. Yay! And I found the missing shelf support that had come loose and fallen through the loose backing board. Yay again! 

BUT!  One of the heavy leg pieces on one side has partially caved in sideways, further endangering the stability of a cupboard that is meant to be leaning on a wall, not free standing. I had the guys hold the cabinet while I whacked it into position with a rubber mallet, but when Richard and I tried to move it, the leg started to cave in again. Well, fuck. The three of us can probably contrive to move the piece straight back so we don't dislodge the leg, but two of us can't move it without wiggling it back and forth, which turns out to be a bad idea.  And of course Thorin picked this exact moment to go for a walk. 


ETA:  10pm.  OKAY! Cabinet is back in place, powerstrip affixed to the side, plugged in and working! Tomorrow I still have to put the shelves and comics back in, but I can do that myself. Now we're going to check out the new Sandman series.