I like the awning approach... just don't have one in this apartment. I'll have to come up with an artificial sun and rain block.
something small like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Designer-Retr...oryZ20721QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem?refid=store
~b
Thanks for the link. That's going to be ~$100. I'll have to come up with something a lot closer to free.