Since we bought our Airstream fifteen months ago, we have used the built-in televion a grand total of one time. We tried to watch a documentary on it together, but honestly, we are both so used to our individual iPad form factors and the control we have over them that we just didn't enjoy the experience, and never bothered to try again.
Well, Badger was thinking to use it as an external monitor for his laptop—and he did try doing that, once. The TV is mounted is on an articulated arm, so it stretches out from the wall maybe four feet or so, and thus can be placed at eye level above the table. But honestly, the resolution wasn't anywhere near good enough to bother trying to use it in that way again—have I mentioned that we are thoroughly spoiled by our deliciously clear Apple laptop screens?
So, it's been hanging there, bothering me, for fifteen months. I have gone so far as to start attaching my current projects to it. Things that I have been thinking about or working on ... in this case a genealogical chart for an old friend.
And recently—I guess since Badger has gone back out to sea—I have started writing in my journal about methods to cover it, repurpose it ... anything to have it not be just sitting there, staring at me. It's been really bothering me since he left (that's his side of the table, so when I look up, I guess his huge head is usually blocking my view of it).
I have mentioned to Badger on multiple occasions that we could just remove it, but it looked pretty solidly attached and there were so many cables and cords and screws—and the bloody thing weighs a ton. And for some reason he cares about the Airstream's resale value (like he'll *ever* get rid of this gorgeous thing!). So neither of us looked into it very closely to see what would be involved because we both figured that the cables would have to be cut, and that was a unquestionable deal-breaker for him. And I also figured that the piece of awesome 50s-style sheetmetal would have a huge hole in it that I'd then need to cover up.
So I did nothing. Until today!!!
Crap! Just realized that I clearly must have an incredibly long list of very important things to do today if what I choose to work on was a totally unnecessary TV-removal project, LOL. (Yup: true-dat.)
In the end, it took only me ten minutes and I needed just two tools to complete this project, a screwdriver and a pair of scissors. All that went to waste were two pieces of duct tape and four zip-ties, and I had to cut out the rubber plug that held the cords in place (all of which are easily replaceable if the TV ever gets remounted; in fact, I have new materials on hand).
So yeah, fifteen minutes later and the TV was even tucked into the truck and strapped in, destined for our storage unit (and with the twelve screws in a sandwich bag, taped to the back of the mounting plate; yup, I'm organized like that). Check!
So now that I've written a blog post about it, I suppose I really should probably get back to one of those work projects that is on my actual agenda for the day. Sigh. SIGH!