Adventures in Caffeine Withdrawal
Okay, I admit it. My wife is smarter than I am and she has proven it many times over the years. I have learned to accept it. Recently I was under the weather from a bad caffeine withdrawal induced headache. I insisted that her idea wouldn’t work, how could I possibly function as a photographer with a bed box/platform in the back of the van? No, that just wouldn't work. As the veins in the side of my head popped out from the pain of the coffee-coloured monkey on my back, Lori explained again what she wanted to do.
Finally she said, "Maybe today isn’t the best day to do this."
So I fell into a fitful sleep. The next day, I was a little better. I was still grumpy but able to go out in public. We went to Home Depot with a drawing and a list of what we needed. Lori handed the list to a guy by the big saw at the back of the store. He looked at it once and quickly made all the cuts in the two sheets of plywood. We grabbed some screws and brackets and headed for home.
“You know this will require beer,” I said as we gathered all the tools. She just sighed and got out her drawing. We laid out all the boards and everything looked good.
We screwed the thing together and put the large boards on the top. With a few adjustments we were able to make up a comfy bed and get in. If I move the seat forward a bit I can stretch right out.
I felt a bit sick. No not from the caffeine withdrawal. But because I would have to yet again say that dreadful thing that we men have to say all too often,
"Yes dear, you were right. And yes, you were also right about quitting coffee for the summer. Although next time I go through withdrawal, I suggest you stay at your sister's place..."
Finally she said, "Maybe today isn’t the best day to do this."
So I fell into a fitful sleep. The next day, I was a little better. I was still grumpy but able to go out in public. We went to Home Depot with a drawing and a list of what we needed. Lori handed the list to a guy by the big saw at the back of the store. He looked at it once and quickly made all the cuts in the two sheets of plywood. We grabbed some screws and brackets and headed for home.
“You know this will require beer,” I said as we gathered all the tools. She just sighed and got out her drawing. We laid out all the boards and everything looked good.
Van Bed Platform - Click for larger
We screwed the thing together and put the large boards on the top. With a few adjustments we were able to make up a comfy bed and get in. If I move the seat forward a bit I can stretch right out.
The Completed Bed - Click for larger
I felt a bit sick. No not from the caffeine withdrawal. But because I would have to yet again say that dreadful thing that we men have to say all too often,
"Yes dear, you were right. And yes, you were also right about quitting coffee for the summer. Although next time I go through withdrawal, I suggest you stay at your sister's place..."
Labels: caffeine addiction, camping, van
posted by Ron Erwin at
20:48
5 Comments:
Heh, brilliant! Now you just need to get Lori to figure out how to install indoor plumbing...
This was wonderful! I'm still giggling!
Ha! After so many years together, you still have to remind yourself that the woman is always right??? That bed is amazing!! Good work, Lori!!!!!!
Actually Marta - Ron should be given credit for much of the work. He was the one that screwed on all the brackets and used the hand saw when we needed some more cuts. But probably the hardest part for him was trying to decipher what I meant when I said things like, "we could put a thingee there for support", especially when he had that coffee-coloured monkey on his back!
Ron, It seems you need some support from the male gender ... tough; you're on your own. :>)
Do yourself a great favour and go back to Home Depot. Get some long strips of velcro with an adhesive on one side, and stick that around the rear window on both sides of the van (I am assuming those rear windows open - I believe all do) . Next cut and place window screen over that velcro, and of course, take the second required piece of velcro and hold the new window screen in place.
This will allow you to have cross-wind when sleeping and thus not allow condensation (a precursor to a major chest cold) to build up inside the van overnight.
Steamy windows are not good for one's health!
Travel safe, shoot well, and we look forward to the blog keeping us updated.
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