Yesterday Andy announced that the stove was "good." He had tried a new design which apparently worked pretty well. A narrow can from Red Bull, a protein drink - a can stolen from the trash, I believe - cut down and the metal scalloped (a characterization I'm sure Andy will not agree with) along the edge was burning alcohol effectively. The scalloped edges - which are directly in the path of the flame - encourage the heating of the can which encourages the alcohol to burn at the correct rate. The rate of the burn has been a problem in prior stoves.
Among the pieces of metal cans and other stove paraphernalia, I found an Evian bottle. Not an uncommon sight in our household. And now I'll know never to drink out of an open Evian bottle again. This one was filled with the alcohol Andy uses to burn in the stove.
A friend asked what I'll do while Andy's gone. Not the first person to ask me that, in case you were wondering or getting ready to ask yourself. I have a feeling I'll have trouble getting done the couple of things I want to get done. I really want to double up on my work and double up on my writing. That damn running book is still needing some serious rewriting.
But add to that marathon training and keeping up with Andy (mailing his packages and visiting him here and there) and I think I've got a formula for failure. Oh, and did I mention keeping my eye on Boo? Boo just about it lost it when Andy went to Kenya. YOU try living with a depressed cat. Hopefully, we'll have found a little dog before Andy goes. That way Boo will be too distracted to realize Andy's gone.
As it happens, we DID find a little dog. Unfortunately, it was in a pet store and "We're" against buying little adorable puppies from pet stores. Damn! This is one really cute little dog. And he matches my hair! But we're not supposed to encourage puppy mills. So, we're back to searching the shelters where all the little dogs are 13+ years old and deaf. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
But I have made the one purchase I intended to make in preparation for Andy's absence. Wireless internet service for my laptop so that I can sit in Starbucks and work on my book. I wrote the first draft in Starbucks. I figure the rewrite will only get done there as well. I'll post the Starbucks number on the website....
Tonight we're actually taking a break from the Appalachian Trail. It's not voluntary. Andy's elbow is inflamed. I guess it's from all of the secret tennis he's been playing. He's pretty miserable. Miserable enough that he finally took an Advil. I don't think I've ever taken one of anything. I always take at least one extra after the two "allowed"...for that hospital strength kick.
Aside from a short experiment cooking rice in the camping stove of the day, Andy's not thinking about the trail. Except to wonder what life on the trail would be like if he ever felt pain like this. I didn't mention that the whole trail experience sounds painful. Except for the overlooks, of course.
Well, back to the Osbournes marathon on MTV. Ozzy would never do anything nutty like leave Sharon to walk in the woods....