MacGuyverette vs. Mercury

Although *I* intended to run all 26 miles on Saturday, my left shoe apparently had different ideas. It blew out somewhere around mile 12 leaving me with absolutely no arch support. Have you ever tried to run long distances (or really, any distances) without arch support? You don't get very far.

About a mile, in fact, which is just about how far it was from the scene of the blowout to my car.

I also intended to stick around and cheer in the rest of my group, but the volunteers were low on ice and I really needed to get some on my poor arch so I headed home.

My early departure ended up being a very good thing as the guy from The Gas Company showed up four hours early to fix my water heater. If I'd been able to keep running, or had stayed to cheer in the rest of the Libbys, I would have missed him entirely.

That wouldn't have been much of a loss, in the end. The water heater stopped working again about three hours after he left.

I learned my lesson about freezing cold showers last year, so I had to MacGuyver myself a better system this time around.

Tools:

• 1 Large stock pot full of cold tap water (thank you, Val. Best gift ever.)


• 1 Thermal travel mug w/ lid removed


• 1 Chopstick


• 1 sense of whimsy and adventure

Method:

• Heat water on stove until almost too hot to touch. Test periodically by hand; you'll know when you've heated it too much.


• When heated thoroughly, transfer (heavy, hot, dangerous) pot from kitchen to bathroom. Try not to step on cat, or burn him with hot water as he winds himself between your ankles on the journey.
• Balance pot precariously on tub's edge.


• Set thermal mug & chopstick on opposite edge of tub.


• Follow all pre-shower rituals as usual & step into tub.


• Turn on cold water through lower tap only.


• Dip thermal mug into water until half full.


• Fill mug to top with cold water from tap.


• Mix thoroughly with chopstick (this step is VERY important, otherwise you'll end up pouring freezing water over your head followed by scalding water. Not. Fun.)


• Pour water over head until hair is wet.


• Lather. Rinse.


• Repeat as necessary with various body parts, reserving at least a quarter of the hot water.


• Mix last of water with cold water from tap until suitably temperate.


• Pour over head


• Follow all post-shower rituals as usual.


• Hope that The Gas Company can fix your water heater before you have to go through this song & dance again.

Take that, Mercury.