Here's an update on what I've done to the north side yard and deck and yard. Here's the old thread, where I got a lot of excellent advice which I didn't end up following, mostly because I was in serious need of instant gratification:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/718406/
The problems: lack of privacy because the neighbor's deck is very close, dog runs and trampled plants around deck and in front of fence and lack of deck accessibility to yard. I also have a new central air conditioner unit that's more visible than I want. The previous thread has some of the problem pictures. Here's another, before shot from the backyard to illustrate how closed off the deck was:
