I should be working right now; there’s plenty to do. I have a prop to build, which includes a special effect. Yesterday required three trips to Radio Shack as the design evolved (on top of several visits on previous days), along with trips to a hobby store for rocket igniters, to the thrift store for a spare digital clock, and to K-Mart for an automotive cup holder. Today I will be going back to Radio Shack for spade connectors and a crimping tool, and to the grocery store for larger potatoes.

The design of the best rocket igniters has changed since the first batch I bought, complicating the wiring inside the potato. Now I want extra igniters to make sure the system will fire reliably when the potato probes are applied. Gotta make sure the rest of the pyrotechnics are activated.

Tearing apart the clock-radio went well; I felt like I was defusing a bomb as I cut wires I didn’t think were important, watching the display with each cut as I severed the radio from the clock. I only electrocuted myself once, so that’s all good.

Today is as much about mechanical engineering as electrical, as I attach all the parts into one complicated whole.

Gotta sign off now; I need to design the label for the 8-track cartridge.