Allegedly, the landlord has rescinded his 'eviction' notice; he hasn't given us anything in writing, but he told my DH he decided not to sell until next summer. You can imagine how I feel about not having something in writing, especially when I got noticed in writing, by certified mail which I had to sign for, that he was ending our lease on October 15.
I'll follow up with a letter in writing memorializing the conversation he had with DH when I go to pay rent in a day or two. In the meantime: I'm still downsizing, getting rid of a bunch of stuff, and looking at things through the eyes of: is it worth $300 a month to keep it? (Answer is usually no.)
The problem I have come to realize, is my home storage. I have worked hard on getting us to a point where we have a year-ish supply of "real food" storage (even after the year of unemployment), plus the means to live reasonably independently. If we have to move before next summer, it will likely be into an apartment--and they don't really lend themselves to storing ten 55 gallon water barrels, if you get my drift.
Engraven on my heart is the mantra:
you can sleep on the floor, you can't eat furniture.
I said that to a friend a decade ago when she moved out of state and couldn't decide what to bring: food or furniture. She opted for the former, and then was glad she did when the paychecks got "lost" (it was an interstate job transfer with the same company.)
So in a downsizing move, I'll move food storage and genealogy and get rid of everything else if I have to. My furniture is 20-30 years old anyway.
But eventually, I'm moving to Texas! So the question is: how much am I willing to move? So if I won't be willing to move it THEN, I better start getting rid of it NOW and save myself the grief.
More importantly, if we are living light in an apartment between now and then, how does that change my home storage? We've used all our home-canned chicken for example. I debated for weeks about whether or not we should replace it. In the end, due largely to this week's sale at Stater Brothers, I opted to buy and can 40# of bone-in chicken breast, which will translate to about 24-28 pints of chicken: a 30 day supply.
I ran across another huge sale today: boxes of Ronzoni pasta/elbow macaroni were being cleared out at .34 cents a box. I'd have gotten it even if I was living in an apartment. For those who buy in bulk: one 16 oz box of Ronzoni macaroni measures out as 4 cups uncooked. That's WAY MORE than enough for my family of five...it'll pretty much last us dinner then lunch the next day. I bought all there was: 23 boxes. So there's another 30 day supply.
I think about moving to Texas. We may very well be living in a travel trailer, on land we purchase, saving up to be able to pay cash for a house. That could be a year! Which means I'd have to put all my food storage in some type of shed, unless they let me put a ConEx on the property (and given the CC&Rs, not likely!) So I'd really have to shed stuff. And have a plan for the stuff I do move!
You recall the freezer died. That means the only "freezer" storage I have is the one in the refrigerator. Sure, I've done dump-chicken frozen recipes. I know I can get 30 meals in a freezer..as long as I don't have to freeze anything else...
If I was living light, I think I'd almost have to go the freeze-dried or dehydrated food route. Not sure how I'd solve the water problem though. Your average "year's supply" of freeze dried food needs 350 gallons just to rehydrate, not including drinking or bathing. Dehydrated uses about twice that (there's a reason I have ten 55 gallon barrels.) Plus figure out what I'm doing for fuel, since I'd no longer have my wood supply.
I'd have to get rid of almost all of my "kitchen stuff" : stoneware, china, bazillion bowls etc. It's funny: I used to pack a year's worth of home storage AND 4 kids and a DH into an 810 square foot condo, and did just fine. Ok, it had a decent size outside patio with premade planter boxes where I could sort of grow stuff. But really, we did pretty well from a prepping standpoint in an uber tiny space. So I'm trying to figure out what's changed.
My prepping has morphed over the years: some years I have focused on home canned goods, some years on dehydrated, some years on commercially canned. It's not like I'm some huge gardener, living off the land or anything. And I've never just done the "wheat, sugar, shortening" route.
Well regardless. Change is coming. I can prepare now the best I can, or I can bury my head in the sand and hope the sandstorm passes me by. The point of this rambling blogpost is to start planning and preparing. Doing nothing, like failure, is not an option.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
HB City Council Race
Our life finally calmed down enough to attend the Huntington Beach City Council candidate forum on Monday August 25th. My youngest son who was working on his Citizenship in the Community merit badge attended with me.
Candidates attending were: Erik Peterson, Lyn Semeta, Mike Posey, Billy O'Connell, and Barbara DelGleize. Before attending, I only knew Erik Peterson and his positions. I came away with hope that if any four of the five are elected, Huntington Beach will be a far better place.
The following is from Erik Peterson's website, but its sentiments are echoed by the five:
"The two primary jobs of the city are to provide for the public safety and to maintain and improve its infrastructure. I want these two functions accomplished proficiently and within a reasonable budget so we can invest in additional public services and economic development.
"Aren't you tired of the City managing your daily life? With little public input, the City Council has passed the following laws which do little in practical good and limit your freedoms: How we must carry our groceries from a store to our homes; they have tried to regulate restaurants on how they package take out food; they have taken fundraising opportunities from our schools and needed money from our public safety; determined what types of pets we can buy locally. They want to annex property that has no fiscal advantage to the city, but rather has nothing but costs."
Erik Peterson, Lyn Semeta and Billy O'Connell are opposed to the high density building you see at Bella Terra and Beach Blvd near Yorktown. Mike Posey and Barbara DelGleize are not vehemently opposed, but rather cede that there is little which can be done to oppose it, so it is best to limit where it is placed.
I mean this nicely: my son prior to entering the meeting could be considered your "average, uninformed voter." Here's his take:
Adam's post:
All the candidates made valuable points, although I didn't agree with some of them. The two which made the most sense to me: Lyn Semeta and Erik Peterson. They had concrete ideas and specific reasons why they were opposed or in favor of something, where the others were a little more vague. I specifically liked their positions on high density building.
I didn't like Barbara DelGleize's and Mike Posey's position on high density. I think there probably IS something that can be done to stop it, and fix the problem. Even if you couldn't do anything about it now, to throw up your hands kind of bothered me.
I don't remember much about Billy O'Connell other than his introduction, and the fact that he's Irish and lived in Ireland.
I liked Mike Posey's analogy on the plastic bag ban tax: if the City Council can arbitrarily impose a tax on a bag, what's to keep them from arbitrarily imposing a tax on anything else they want?
If I had to vote today, the four I would vote for (in order) are: Erik Peterson, Lyn Semeta, Billy O'Connell, Mike Posey. I would really prefer the first three, but there are four seats open on the City Council and I liked most of what Mike had to say, except for high density.
Back to Kathryn:
I think Adam's observations are telling. He felt the candidates which were clear and concise on message were Erik and Lyn. What is interesting is the Huntington Beach Republican Assembly held an endorsement vote after the forum. Only two candidates carried a majority of the vote: Erik Peterson and Lyn Semeta. The other candidates evenly split the vote, which were not enough to earn an official endorsement.
Personally, I am troubled by Billy O'Connell's backing by the teamsters. My brother, a union carpenter, would likely be ecstatic.
Although Mr. O'Connell says the right things about limited government etc., I worry that such a close association with "organized labor" will have an impact on workers in this city. I can't work for a grocery store without being part of a union, even if I disagree with everything the union does, and even though it does little for me in terms of wages or benefits. Will that type of situation expand or contract with a city councilman closely tied to the unions? I don't know.
I'd like to make a suggestion to Lyn, Mike, Billy and Barbara. You really need a website or at the minimum, a blog. Call me an old-fashioned journalist, but a paragraph on Facebook or 120 characters on Twitter are just not going to cut the mustard when it comes to getting your message across. You cannot possibly meet enough HB residents to get your message across in person. Only Erik Peterson has a website containing his message. And, although Erik's my guy (feel free to contact me for a yard sign), I'd like to have like-minded people join him on the City Council. Additionally, a website or blog will allow you to link YT videos where you have appeared, so people can see you "live" or at least, "in person." Call me if you need help putting one together (blog. I don't do websites.)
A nod to Barbara DelGleize here. She was the first to tie High Density to SB375. You may remember from my previous post, SB375 is the state's Agenda 21 agenda. So my question to Barbara is: if you recognize it for what it is, why are you throwing up your hands at it?
One last point. Joe Shaw once made the snarly comment that "if people don't like the job he and Boardman are doing on the City Council, kick them out of office."
Please. If you only agree with Joe Shaw on one thing---agree with him on that, and kick him to the curb. Vote for any of the five attending this candidate forum. You'll be glad you did.
Candidates attending were: Erik Peterson, Lyn Semeta, Mike Posey, Billy O'Connell, and Barbara DelGleize. Before attending, I only knew Erik Peterson and his positions. I came away with hope that if any four of the five are elected, Huntington Beach will be a far better place.
The following is from Erik Peterson's website, but its sentiments are echoed by the five:
"The two primary jobs of the city are to provide for the public safety and to maintain and improve its infrastructure. I want these two functions accomplished proficiently and within a reasonable budget so we can invest in additional public services and economic development.
"Aren't you tired of the City managing your daily life? With little public input, the City Council has passed the following laws which do little in practical good and limit your freedoms: How we must carry our groceries from a store to our homes; they have tried to regulate restaurants on how they package take out food; they have taken fundraising opportunities from our schools and needed money from our public safety; determined what types of pets we can buy locally. They want to annex property that has no fiscal advantage to the city, but rather has nothing but costs."
Erik Peterson, Lyn Semeta and Billy O'Connell are opposed to the high density building you see at Bella Terra and Beach Blvd near Yorktown. Mike Posey and Barbara DelGleize are not vehemently opposed, but rather cede that there is little which can be done to oppose it, so it is best to limit where it is placed.
I mean this nicely: my son prior to entering the meeting could be considered your "average, uninformed voter." Here's his take:
Adam's post:
All the candidates made valuable points, although I didn't agree with some of them. The two which made the most sense to me: Lyn Semeta and Erik Peterson. They had concrete ideas and specific reasons why they were opposed or in favor of something, where the others were a little more vague. I specifically liked their positions on high density building.
I didn't like Barbara DelGleize's and Mike Posey's position on high density. I think there probably IS something that can be done to stop it, and fix the problem. Even if you couldn't do anything about it now, to throw up your hands kind of bothered me.
I don't remember much about Billy O'Connell other than his introduction, and the fact that he's Irish and lived in Ireland.
I liked Mike Posey's analogy on the plastic bag ban tax: if the City Council can arbitrarily impose a tax on a bag, what's to keep them from arbitrarily imposing a tax on anything else they want?
If I had to vote today, the four I would vote for (in order) are: Erik Peterson, Lyn Semeta, Billy O'Connell, Mike Posey. I would really prefer the first three, but there are four seats open on the City Council and I liked most of what Mike had to say, except for high density.
Back to Kathryn:
I think Adam's observations are telling. He felt the candidates which were clear and concise on message were Erik and Lyn. What is interesting is the Huntington Beach Republican Assembly held an endorsement vote after the forum. Only two candidates carried a majority of the vote: Erik Peterson and Lyn Semeta. The other candidates evenly split the vote, which were not enough to earn an official endorsement.
Personally, I am troubled by Billy O'Connell's backing by the teamsters. My brother, a union carpenter, would likely be ecstatic.
Although Mr. O'Connell says the right things about limited government etc., I worry that such a close association with "organized labor" will have an impact on workers in this city. I can't work for a grocery store without being part of a union, even if I disagree with everything the union does, and even though it does little for me in terms of wages or benefits. Will that type of situation expand or contract with a city councilman closely tied to the unions? I don't know.
I'd like to make a suggestion to Lyn, Mike, Billy and Barbara. You really need a website or at the minimum, a blog. Call me an old-fashioned journalist, but a paragraph on Facebook or 120 characters on Twitter are just not going to cut the mustard when it comes to getting your message across. You cannot possibly meet enough HB residents to get your message across in person. Only Erik Peterson has a website containing his message. And, although Erik's my guy (feel free to contact me for a yard sign), I'd like to have like-minded people join him on the City Council. Additionally, a website or blog will allow you to link YT videos where you have appeared, so people can see you "live" or at least, "in person." Call me if you need help putting one together (blog. I don't do websites.)
A nod to Barbara DelGleize here. She was the first to tie High Density to SB375. You may remember from my previous post, SB375 is the state's Agenda 21 agenda. So my question to Barbara is: if you recognize it for what it is, why are you throwing up your hands at it?
One last point. Joe Shaw once made the snarly comment that "if people don't like the job he and Boardman are doing on the City Council, kick them out of office."
Please. If you only agree with Joe Shaw on one thing---agree with him on that, and kick him to the curb. Vote for any of the five attending this candidate forum. You'll be glad you did.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Major #FAIL = Major Success
Ok, it's more like a small victory.
I read in a Twitter training manual that when complaining about a company, if you use #FAIL in the tweet, a company who is actively monitoring their cyberspace will sit up and take notice. Doesn't mean they'll actually take action to correct the issue, but they will at least take notice.
I've used that leverage a few times. So far, I'm batting about .500 with responses. The last two were my problems with @caredotcom (the boilerplate responses to scams and 'connections'), and @Walmart (their tire/auto center: 2 hour wait to do a 10 minute patch job because "ALL of the oil change customers have to be completed before they can even begin to work on a tire customer." Yeah, that's a quote.) The other quote was "Sorry, but that's just the way it is." They had a captive audience: for an emergency repair on a Sunday, they were the only place open.
Anyway, using the phrase Major #FAIL actually got a response from @caredotcom and @Walmart. I don't anticipate that anything positive is going to happen, but one never knows. It would be nice to think that both of them might modify the way they do business (particularly Care.com, who does very little to protect their customers, and despite their name, apparently does not care.)
In Wal-Mart's case, maybe they'll issue a refund :) But, I won't hold my breath. After all, two hours and 15 minutes later, they charged me for the repair!
I make this blogpost in the hope that armed with the phrase Major #FAIL, your next encounter in the war against poor customer service, you may emerge victorious !!
#WishingYouSuccess
I read in a Twitter training manual that when complaining about a company, if you use #FAIL in the tweet, a company who is actively monitoring their cyberspace will sit up and take notice. Doesn't mean they'll actually take action to correct the issue, but they will at least take notice.
I've used that leverage a few times. So far, I'm batting about .500 with responses. The last two were my problems with @caredotcom (the boilerplate responses to scams and 'connections'), and @Walmart (their tire/auto center: 2 hour wait to do a 10 minute patch job because "ALL of the oil change customers have to be completed before they can even begin to work on a tire customer." Yeah, that's a quote.) The other quote was "Sorry, but that's just the way it is." They had a captive audience: for an emergency repair on a Sunday, they were the only place open.
Anyway, using the phrase Major #FAIL actually got a response from @caredotcom and @Walmart. I don't anticipate that anything positive is going to happen, but one never knows. It would be nice to think that both of them might modify the way they do business (particularly Care.com, who does very little to protect their customers, and despite their name, apparently does not care.)
In Wal-Mart's case, maybe they'll issue a refund :) But, I won't hold my breath. After all, two hours and 15 minutes later, they charged me for the repair!
I make this blogpost in the hope that armed with the phrase Major #FAIL, your next encounter in the war against poor customer service, you may emerge victorious !!
#WishingYouSuccess
Friday, August 15, 2014
Living in Gratitude
January 1 my New Year's resolution was to live in gratitude. Like when people ask "How are you?" I try to respond: Living in Gratitude.
Clearly, these past 6 months have been meant for me to practice living in gratitude. In the past 6 months:
-1 car stopped running (engine died)
-Replaced it with a 20 year old $2500 vehicle, solid but gets 12 miles to the gallon
-Which meant our total gas vehicle bill doubled from $400 to $800+
-Decided to buy a moped to transport kids, which my son laid down day 1
-Same son was rear-ended in our best vehicle, which was out of commission 10 weeks
-Landlord decided to sell our house rather than do the exterior repairs the city wants, which could end up costing us $7000 in moving and increased rent
-We ended up buying another vehicle to replace the one in the accident (which I was hoping they were going to total out, but no.) So now we're in debt another $24,000.
But you know what? I Live in Gratitude.
My son who was involved in two accidents in 3 weeks, walked away from both with barely a scratch. You can replace vehicles. Children not so much. The kid who hit my son? His car was totaled, but he walked away without a scratch too. The idiot pedestrian who ran in front of both of them...lived to be an idiot another day.
We reconnected with our come-to-our-house mechanic. Who was willing to take the price of the $2500 vehicle and take payments over 3 months while we used the car. So for the price of renting a car for 3 months, we own a truck with a tow hitch free and clear.
I'll end up selling the car which died once I get the title cleared (another story), for about $400. We were able to get the other car for 0 down and a very low payment.
My husband has gainful employment after nearly a year of unemployment. While it's 1/3 less than he was making, it's way more than he was making unemployed !! And it keeps a roof over our head.
The person my son ran into day 1 on the scooter was honest: the scratches she could have claimed were from the accident, previously existed, so no harm no foul.
I know where my kids are, what they're doing, and when they're coming home. I had a child who was kidnapped and gone for hours until she was found, so believe me when I say that I live in gratitude knowing the answers to who, what, where, when and how of my kids. And they're in good health.
My kids are headed in the right direction. With all the tribulations of the past 18 months, my kids have shown they can stand up and be counted.
I've been decluttering my house. Now I get to declutter it faster.
Financially, although we can't seem to catch a break to get ahead, so far, we're not getting any further behind, either.
I was privileged to bless someone else's life with 400 pounds of wheat food storage today due to us moving. A year's supply for one person is considered 250 pounds. So that's nearly a year's worth for two people. That's pretty cool.
I know The Secret
. I know that the Law of Attraction is real, and that if you want less chaos in your life, you stop focusing on all the chaos IN your life. Single minded focus (the Law of Attraction) works the same for good or ill. We intuitively understand that if we want great grades at school, we need to focus our attention on that goal. Spiritually, the scriptures refer to this type of focus moving toward holiness when they state "an eye single to the glory of God."
So rather than focus on the chaos in my life, I focus on gratitude for the things which are going well. Focus on the blessings rather than the burdens. Concentrate on the actions which I can take to better my life, than the actions which have been taken against my life (choosing to be a vic-tor rather than a vic-tim.)
And I acknowledge that though it may feel like persecutions rage, mobs combine, and armies are assembling against me, no unhallowed hand can stop me from progressing: because God truly holds me in the palm of His hand.
Clearly, these past 6 months have been meant for me to practice living in gratitude. In the past 6 months:
-1 car stopped running (engine died)
-Replaced it with a 20 year old $2500 vehicle, solid but gets 12 miles to the gallon
-Which meant our total gas vehicle bill doubled from $400 to $800+
-Decided to buy a moped to transport kids, which my son laid down day 1
-Same son was rear-ended in our best vehicle, which was out of commission 10 weeks
-Landlord decided to sell our house rather than do the exterior repairs the city wants, which could end up costing us $7000 in moving and increased rent
-We ended up buying another vehicle to replace the one in the accident (which I was hoping they were going to total out, but no.) So now we're in debt another $24,000.
But you know what? I Live in Gratitude.
My son who was involved in two accidents in 3 weeks, walked away from both with barely a scratch. You can replace vehicles. Children not so much. The kid who hit my son? His car was totaled, but he walked away without a scratch too. The idiot pedestrian who ran in front of both of them...lived to be an idiot another day.
We reconnected with our come-to-our-house mechanic. Who was willing to take the price of the $2500 vehicle and take payments over 3 months while we used the car. So for the price of renting a car for 3 months, we own a truck with a tow hitch free and clear.
I'll end up selling the car which died once I get the title cleared (another story), for about $400. We were able to get the other car for 0 down and a very low payment.
My husband has gainful employment after nearly a year of unemployment. While it's 1/3 less than he was making, it's way more than he was making unemployed !! And it keeps a roof over our head.
The person my son ran into day 1 on the scooter was honest: the scratches she could have claimed were from the accident, previously existed, so no harm no foul.
I know where my kids are, what they're doing, and when they're coming home. I had a child who was kidnapped and gone for hours until she was found, so believe me when I say that I live in gratitude knowing the answers to who, what, where, when and how of my kids. And they're in good health.
My kids are headed in the right direction. With all the tribulations of the past 18 months, my kids have shown they can stand up and be counted.
I've been decluttering my house. Now I get to declutter it faster.
Financially, although we can't seem to catch a break to get ahead, so far, we're not getting any further behind, either.
I was privileged to bless someone else's life with 400 pounds of wheat food storage today due to us moving. A year's supply for one person is considered 250 pounds. So that's nearly a year's worth for two people. That's pretty cool.
I know The Secret
. I know that the Law of Attraction is real, and that if you want less chaos in your life, you stop focusing on all the chaos IN your life. Single minded focus (the Law of Attraction) works the same for good or ill. We intuitively understand that if we want great grades at school, we need to focus our attention on that goal. Spiritually, the scriptures refer to this type of focus moving toward holiness when they state "an eye single to the glory of God." So rather than focus on the chaos in my life, I focus on gratitude for the things which are going well. Focus on the blessings rather than the burdens. Concentrate on the actions which I can take to better my life, than the actions which have been taken against my life (choosing to be a vic-tor rather than a vic-tim.)
And I acknowledge that though it may feel like persecutions rage, mobs combine, and armies are assembling against me, no unhallowed hand can stop me from progressing: because God truly holds me in the palm of His hand.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
The SHTF Stockpile
Just finished reading two prepper books. Both interesting. I'm a little on the fence about both of them: did I really learn anything new?
The first, The SHTF Stockpile: What you need on hand before it hits the fan by Bill Hoyt has an interesting premise. His basic theme is: do, learn, gather, acquire NOW. And not just "food", everyone knows that. No, he goes further and really talks about becoming self-reliant now, and by that he means tools and skills.
It's actually similar to what my friend Wendi has been preaching at me for quite a few years. Both of them have urged me to start now. For example: I am a horrible gardener. Really. But a few years ago thanks to Wendi's urging, I sucked it up and started vegetable gardening. I think I grew one pepper plant successfully that year. But her point (and Bill's) is: Do I want to make all my horrible gardening mistakes NOW, when I have the option of going to the stores and purchasing a year's supply straight out? Or do I want to be learning for the first time THEN, when there are no other options than to grow it myself?
Bill goes further: discussing the need to collect tools to be self reliant, and the ways to maintain them. Do you really want to dig a garden with a spoon? Or would you rather have invested in solid gardening tools and stockpiled extra handles? How about stockpiling ways to sharpen those tools?
Now, when he says stockpile, I didn't envision like a 10 year supply. In fact, unlike the TV show Revolution which presumes we go back to the stone age and after 15 years, we're still there, Bill presumes that at some point after a cataclysmic event, the world will rebuild. In fact (my opinion), look at "third world" countries. Somehow, they manage to get along just fine without the internet. Or Big Banks. Or even, gasp, electricity.
But they do have something we tend to not value in the USA: skilled trades- or crafts-men. (Or women, let's not be so PC shall we?)
Bill stresses this point in the chapter: You need a hobby: planning your post SHTF occupation. Now, doctors, nurses, medics, plumbers: they're probably going to do just fine. Teachers (and that means us homeschoolers too) might be as well, if you're able to teach the "old fashioned way" without relying on the internet. The rest of us who make a living in the "service" industries are probably going to be in trouble.
His point is to develop a hobby which will stand you in good stead THEN. Since it's a hobby and that means most people enjoy doing it so it doesn't feel like "work", you will put time and effort into it now, benefiting you then. He came up with a list (not inclusive) of 50 hobbies which would easily translate to an occupation THEN. You may already be doing some of them, and to increase your skill set: are you developing the skills/supplies in your hobby to ply your trade if you don't have the means to perform your "hobby" the way you do today (i.e., #2 on the list: Baker. Develop the skillset to bake without electricity.)
Hobbies which can turn into occupations such as: Ammosmith, Baker, Barber, Basket Weaver, Beekeeper, Blacksmith, Boat Maker or repairman, Bow Maker/Fletcher (not the kind you wear, the kind you shoot!), Brewer/distiller/winemaker, Butcher, Candlemaker, Carpenter, Cobbler, Construction, Cowhand, Dentist, Doctor/Medic/Nurse, Electronics repairman, Engineer, Entertainer, Farmer, Fisherman, Forager (wild foods), Gleaner (scavenger of goods), Goldsmith/jeweler, Gunpowder maker, Gunsmith, HAM Radio Operator, Law Enforcement officer, Lumberjack, Maker of feminine hygiene products, Mason, Mechanic/engine repairman, Merchant, Midwife, Miller, Miner, Painter, Plumber, Potter, Saddlemaker, Soapmaker, Tanner, Teacher, TInker, Veterinarian, Wagon and Wheel maker, Well digger.
He makes the point that most of these occupations will demand not only skills, but specialized tools...so you should be stockpiling the tools and means necessary to ply your craft.
He discusses stockpiling things I had not given much thought to: shingles for your roof, plywood to board up windows, maybe a replacement window (or here's a thought: developing the skill set and stockpiling tools to make "stained" glass. Not so much the stained part, but the pieced together part.) Stockpiling plumbing fixtures (I've been living for a year without one working toilet because I lack the skill set to fix it, and the piece to fix it too!), rubber washers, a general assortment of 2x's (wood), stored somewhere the elements won't get to it.
He makes the point that you should be acquiring capital, then defines what capital is: something which can be used to create wealth. For example: your home is wealth, but your hammer, because it can be used to build a home, is capital.
One shouldn't neglect building a personal library (I've got this one covered in spades!) In the list of real not electronic books you should have, he suggests books on: First Aid, (he likes the American Red Cross First Aid & Safety book and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer), Homesteader manuals or encyclopedias (I like The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre!
LOVE IT!), specialty books on livestock such as growing chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep, goats; gardening books, crafts books (think basketry and how to do fly tying rather than scrapbooking); canning and food preservation, including jams, jellies, chutneys; basic cookbooks including dutch oven, solar oven, BBQ or open fire cookbooks; nature/wild plant books; books on home repair; fiction.
He doesn't advocate stockpiling toilet paper (my goal: 365 rolls of 1000ct TP) instead suggesting you focus on non-electric food preparation items like cutlery, spatulas (wooden spoons), frying pans in cast iron, manual can openers, bottle openers, nut crackers, metallic measuring cups and spoons, cups, mugs, plates, mixing bowls in stainless steel, graters and grinders, sharp knives and wetstones, hand operated whips and beaters etc.
His point on that is that you can store a lot of those types of things in the same space it takes to store toilet paper. Yeah, that might be true: but I'm still going to err on the side of toilet paper.My logic is kinda like wheat: I figure don't need to store a lot of wheat (versus rice) because I know all those Mormons who only store wheat will come knocking on my door looking to trade a bucket of wheat for a quart of rice <grin.> Speaking of wheat...how about a non-electric grinder? Milling non-electrically will be a high demand skill !!
I actually learned quite a bit, and that's something valuable. I don't know everything about being prepared, but I'd like to think I know a lot: and The SHTF Stockpile: What you need on hand before it hits the fan
gave me a lot of food for thought. It opened my eyes quite a bit, and I heartily recommend it.
The first, The SHTF Stockpile: What you need on hand before it hits the fan by Bill Hoyt has an interesting premise. His basic theme is: do, learn, gather, acquire NOW. And not just "food", everyone knows that. No, he goes further and really talks about becoming self-reliant now, and by that he means tools and skills.
It's actually similar to what my friend Wendi has been preaching at me for quite a few years. Both of them have urged me to start now. For example: I am a horrible gardener. Really. But a few years ago thanks to Wendi's urging, I sucked it up and started vegetable gardening. I think I grew one pepper plant successfully that year. But her point (and Bill's) is: Do I want to make all my horrible gardening mistakes NOW, when I have the option of going to the stores and purchasing a year's supply straight out? Or do I want to be learning for the first time THEN, when there are no other options than to grow it myself?
Bill goes further: discussing the need to collect tools to be self reliant, and the ways to maintain them. Do you really want to dig a garden with a spoon? Or would you rather have invested in solid gardening tools and stockpiled extra handles? How about stockpiling ways to sharpen those tools?
Now, when he says stockpile, I didn't envision like a 10 year supply. In fact, unlike the TV show Revolution which presumes we go back to the stone age and after 15 years, we're still there, Bill presumes that at some point after a cataclysmic event, the world will rebuild. In fact (my opinion), look at "third world" countries. Somehow, they manage to get along just fine without the internet. Or Big Banks. Or even, gasp, electricity.
But they do have something we tend to not value in the USA: skilled trades- or crafts-men. (Or women, let's not be so PC shall we?)
Bill stresses this point in the chapter: You need a hobby: planning your post SHTF occupation. Now, doctors, nurses, medics, plumbers: they're probably going to do just fine. Teachers (and that means us homeschoolers too) might be as well, if you're able to teach the "old fashioned way" without relying on the internet. The rest of us who make a living in the "service" industries are probably going to be in trouble.
His point is to develop a hobby which will stand you in good stead THEN. Since it's a hobby and that means most people enjoy doing it so it doesn't feel like "work", you will put time and effort into it now, benefiting you then. He came up with a list (not inclusive) of 50 hobbies which would easily translate to an occupation THEN. You may already be doing some of them, and to increase your skill set: are you developing the skills/supplies in your hobby to ply your trade if you don't have the means to perform your "hobby" the way you do today (i.e., #2 on the list: Baker. Develop the skillset to bake without electricity.)
Hobbies which can turn into occupations such as: Ammosmith, Baker, Barber, Basket Weaver, Beekeeper, Blacksmith, Boat Maker or repairman, Bow Maker/Fletcher (not the kind you wear, the kind you shoot!), Brewer/distiller/winemaker, Butcher, Candlemaker, Carpenter, Cobbler, Construction, Cowhand, Dentist, Doctor/Medic/Nurse, Electronics repairman, Engineer, Entertainer, Farmer, Fisherman, Forager (wild foods), Gleaner (scavenger of goods), Goldsmith/jeweler, Gunpowder maker, Gunsmith, HAM Radio Operator, Law Enforcement officer, Lumberjack, Maker of feminine hygiene products, Mason, Mechanic/engine repairman, Merchant, Midwife, Miller, Miner, Painter, Plumber, Potter, Saddlemaker, Soapmaker, Tanner, Teacher, TInker, Veterinarian, Wagon and Wheel maker, Well digger.
He makes the point that most of these occupations will demand not only skills, but specialized tools...so you should be stockpiling the tools and means necessary to ply your craft.
He discusses stockpiling things I had not given much thought to: shingles for your roof, plywood to board up windows, maybe a replacement window (or here's a thought: developing the skill set and stockpiling tools to make "stained" glass. Not so much the stained part, but the pieced together part.) Stockpiling plumbing fixtures (I've been living for a year without one working toilet because I lack the skill set to fix it, and the piece to fix it too!), rubber washers, a general assortment of 2x's (wood), stored somewhere the elements won't get to it.
He makes the point that you should be acquiring capital, then defines what capital is: something which can be used to create wealth. For example: your home is wealth, but your hammer, because it can be used to build a home, is capital.
One shouldn't neglect building a personal library (I've got this one covered in spades!) In the list of real not electronic books you should have, he suggests books on: First Aid, (he likes the American Red Cross First Aid & Safety book and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer), Homesteader manuals or encyclopedias (I like The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre!
LOVE IT!), specialty books on livestock such as growing chickens, ducks, rabbits, sheep, goats; gardening books, crafts books (think basketry and how to do fly tying rather than scrapbooking); canning and food preservation, including jams, jellies, chutneys; basic cookbooks including dutch oven, solar oven, BBQ or open fire cookbooks; nature/wild plant books; books on home repair; fiction.He doesn't advocate stockpiling toilet paper (my goal: 365 rolls of 1000ct TP) instead suggesting you focus on non-electric food preparation items like cutlery, spatulas (wooden spoons), frying pans in cast iron, manual can openers, bottle openers, nut crackers, metallic measuring cups and spoons, cups, mugs, plates, mixing bowls in stainless steel, graters and grinders, sharp knives and wetstones, hand operated whips and beaters etc.
His point on that is that you can store a lot of those types of things in the same space it takes to store toilet paper. Yeah, that might be true: but I'm still going to err on the side of toilet paper.My logic is kinda like wheat: I figure don't need to store a lot of wheat (versus rice) because I know all those Mormons who only store wheat will come knocking on my door looking to trade a bucket of wheat for a quart of rice <grin.> Speaking of wheat...how about a non-electric grinder? Milling non-electrically will be a high demand skill !!
I actually learned quite a bit, and that's something valuable. I don't know everything about being prepared, but I'd like to think I know a lot: and The SHTF Stockpile: What you need on hand before it hits the fan
gave me a lot of food for thought. It opened my eyes quite a bit, and I heartily recommend it.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Kindle Unlimited
You probably already know this, BUT...
Did you know when you go to Amazon.com - Read eBooks using the FREE Kindle Reading App on Most Devices
and download the Kindle reading app, there is a FREE 30 day trial for the Kindle Unlimited program?
I have to tell you, it's pretty sweet. Ok, I read 900 words a minute, and so far I've blown through like, 20 books in about 4 days. But even if you're NOT me: $9.99 a month (once the promo ends) for unlimited reading is pretty cool.
There are a BUNCH of prepper books on Kindle Unlimited; can't wait to read all of them. For example, this book: Prepper Barter Items: How To Stockpile & Barter For SHTF Scenarios
is free with Kindle Unlimited. Ok, so you're only saving .99 cents.
HOW ABOUT THE BOOKS BY MAX VELOCITY?
Yeah, NOW I've got your attention, don't I?
How about The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman? Or all the others by Gary Chapman, hmm??
I hate to sound like an ad for Amazon (seriously. Because me and Jeff Bezos? Not so much.) but it's really worth taking a serious look. "For the price of a movie" (so the ad tag line goes) you could be reading a bunch of books, every month.
Biggest drawback? Jeff & Amazon have burned a few bridges with some of the major publishers, notably Simon & Schuster, so you're not going to find anything by Glenn Beck, Brad Meltzer or Brad Thor on KU. Nothing by Bill O'Reilly either.
So you might have to hunt around, but you know what? It's better than my eBook section of my public library.
Kills me to say it about Amazon: but I'm loving it so far.
Have a good read!
Did you know when you go to Amazon.com - Read eBooks using the FREE Kindle Reading App on Most Devices
and download the Kindle reading app, there is a FREE 30 day trial for the Kindle Unlimited program?I have to tell you, it's pretty sweet. Ok, I read 900 words a minute, and so far I've blown through like, 20 books in about 4 days. But even if you're NOT me: $9.99 a month (once the promo ends) for unlimited reading is pretty cool.
There are a BUNCH of prepper books on Kindle Unlimited; can't wait to read all of them. For example, this book: Prepper Barter Items: How To Stockpile & Barter For SHTF Scenarios
is free with Kindle Unlimited. Ok, so you're only saving .99 cents.HOW ABOUT THE BOOKS BY MAX VELOCITY?
Yeah, NOW I've got your attention, don't I?
How about The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman? Or all the others by Gary Chapman, hmm??
I hate to sound like an ad for Amazon (seriously. Because me and Jeff Bezos? Not so much.) but it's really worth taking a serious look. "For the price of a movie" (so the ad tag line goes) you could be reading a bunch of books, every month.
Biggest drawback? Jeff & Amazon have burned a few bridges with some of the major publishers, notably Simon & Schuster, so you're not going to find anything by Glenn Beck, Brad Meltzer or Brad Thor on KU. Nothing by Bill O'Reilly either.
So you might have to hunt around, but you know what? It's better than my eBook section of my public library.
Kills me to say it about Amazon: but I'm loving it so far.
Have a good read!
Monday, August 4, 2014
BEWARE The Latest Nanny Scam
JUST RECEIVED A BOILERPLATE RESPONSE BACK FROM CARE.COM. WITH A RESPONSE LIKE THAT, VERSUS OH SAY, ASSURANCE THEY ARE SHUTTING THE SCAM ARTIST DOWN, NO WONDER IT IS SO PROLIFIC ON THEIR BOARD. ABSOLUTELY NO ACTION TAKEN TO PROTECT CAREGIVERS JUST A BOILERPLATE: HEY BE CAREFUL, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN OUT THERE.
There's a horrible scam going around, using the Deaf Community and a handicapped child as the cover story. What happens is a person contacts you asking if you do child care, offers to pay you slightly better than market rate because her child has special needs. Then offers to pay you one week in advance by check (runs about $300). Then asks for a favor: having her child's special wheelchair shipped to you COD and of course, she'll send you a $2500 check for that too. That's when it starts sounding fishy, and checking scamwarners.com, it turns out it is.
Worse, is the photo this scammer uses to bolster her claims, is stolen from a real kid (in England!!) in a wheelchair:
This photo was taken in Shropshire England when the child had his wheelchair stolen and it was later found and returned to him.
Here's the letter. Name changes every week. Evidently they use Care.com A LOT. So you need to be careful if you list with them.
There's a horrible scam going around, using the Deaf Community and a handicapped child as the cover story. What happens is a person contacts you asking if you do child care, offers to pay you slightly better than market rate because her child has special needs. Then offers to pay you one week in advance by check (runs about $300). Then asks for a favor: having her child's special wheelchair shipped to you COD and of course, she'll send you a $2500 check for that too. That's when it starts sounding fishy, and checking scamwarners.com, it turns out it is.
Worse, is the photo this scammer uses to bolster her claims, is stolen from a real kid (in England!!) in a wheelchair:
This photo was taken in Shropshire England when the child had his wheelchair stolen and it was later found and returned to him.
Here's the letter. Name changes every week. Evidently they use Care.com A LOT. So you need to be careful if you list with them.
Thanks for your message. My name is Victoria Nelson. I recently moved from Phoenix to Seattle with my family but i'm moving to your area. on 21st of August and i will need a nanny for my son immediately. His name is Joe, 6 years old and the time would be from 9am to 4pm Saturdays and Sundays only. This is a long term position but its fine to start temporary. Some weekdays are also flexible if you are available but we may need to discuss that in person. I`m willing to pay 18/hour. I believe its a great pay and i`m paying that much because i want quality care for my son.
I lost my husband and a 7 months old baby in December. It was my late husband`s birthday and he decided to take the kids out while i was still at work. Joe happens to be the only survival from the accident but he currently uses a wheelchair. I have had terrible times in the last few months and this is one of the reasons i have decided to move to your area because staying here brings back some sad memories. Kindly be honest if you have experience with childcare because i want the best care for Joe. I'm hard of hearing and can only communicate via writing, reading lips or text messaging. I hope that isn't problem? I'm easy going and love to laugh. I can send you a picture of me and Joe in my next email.
It will be nice to read about you. I want a nanny who is willing to be a friend and family. Please note that i have a few applicants for this position but i made you our first choice so i wouldn't appreciate a waste of time. Make sure to include your complete name, address including zip code and cellphone number in your response so i could check the map to read the distance between us also to have your address on file. You may ask questions in case you have any. I await your quick response.
Thank you!
Thank you for your email. Here is my own 8400 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach. We are moving in on 21st of August. The sitting could be in our place but if you want Joe at your place,I wouldn't have any problem dropping him. You're free to do outdoors if you wish. I suggest that we meet on Friday 22nd before you start working on Saturday 23rd. That way we can get to know each other in person and share some interest about ourselves and the babysitting activities. As said in my previous email, the last couple of months hasn't been good and i wouldn't want to get stocked with my Son on arrival so i'm willing to make a deposit to you ahead of time to ensure a secured appointment to avoid disappointment. The total cost of your pay per weekend is $252($18/hour x 7 hours/day = $126/day x 2days). I hope i can issue your first week deposit check with the below information. Kindly let me know if everything is clear so i may proceed. Also attached is a picture of me and Joe.
Thank you for your prompt response and i`m glad that were on the same page. I have made arrangement to get Joe a powered wheelchair and i got a cheaper one in Huntington Beach and i`m wondering if i could have the seller deliver it to you so you can help pay on delivery. The wheelchair cost $2523 so i will be sending you a check to cover your first weekend deposit and the cost of the chair so you can take out your deposit and pay the cost of the wheelchair to the seller on delivery and we will follow you to pick the chair after our meeting on Friday. Please understand that the aim of having you purchase the wheelchair is to ensure the wheelchair is available for Joe on arrival. The wheelchair isn't assembled yet. Its still packed in pieces so its not big at all. Due to his condition, i wouldn't want any delay with the arrangement of the chair so you can let me know if everything is clear.
I await your email so i can proceed to mailing your check.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Bugging Out for a Week
My kids went backpacking with a youth group to Havasupai Falls, Arizona, a primitive campsite. You have to backpack everything in and out: no car camping, which is what most who went are used to. Car camping is when you dump your stuff in the car, back up the car to the site, unload. No hiking or packing smart required.
Up to three days prior to the trip, group leadership still hadn't finalized a menu. I'd like to think this was because they were still finalizing who was going! Regardless, by then, I had decided mine were bringing their own food (we chose MH Freeze Dried), their own way to cook it (no camp fires allowed, so they brought their own collapsible stove and hexamine tablets), their own water purification filters, (the group did bring campsite water filters), their own 2 cup cooking mugs. It really paid off when they went on an all day hike leaving at 7am and returning at 5pm. When they stopped for lunch, "the group" had crackers, cheese wiz (fake cheese spread), and a bit of salami. Mine sat down to real food like lasagna and pasta primavera (for the record: they offered to share.)
Most of the stuff we already had on hand from their bug out bags. We bought 3 SOL Escape Bivvy Saks just for this trip which will become part of their BOBs: the kids LOVE them. It will be hard to get them to put sleeping bags back in their BOBs. SOL (Survive Outdoors Longer) makes a wide ranging price range for their Bivvy Saks. You want top of the price range, the Escape. It is breathable, which means when your body heat is trapped, condensation doesn't form on the inside so you (a) stay warmer and (b) you don't wake up soaking wet. They come in camo-green or visible-orange; we got orange just because they were in stock. I do like the dual purpose of orange (visible so if you're lost....) but that's the same reason I'd like the green if I'm bugging out in a SHTF situation (green--not as visible.) So it's a toss up.
We added up to a week's worth of freeze dried food, everyone had 3 days' worth already. That's all gone now and will have to be replaced. I chose freeze dried for this trip because it is easy to "heat water and go" versus dehydrated which has to be watered and cooked (more fuel.) It turned out to be a wise decision. My oldest son, who is really in to bushcraft, said it took 2 hex tabs to get 2 cups of water to simmer, and 3 to get it to a rolling boil. That's good to know, and something only experience will teach you. It's about 2 more hex tabs than we thought it would take, so we're going to have to buy a bunch more of those.
Of necessity they used their ponchos. We had heavier duty but still disposable ones: I'll have to find some that are multi-use like these although I'm not happy with the ones shown. In the UK one can purchase Swedish Army ponchos similar to these, but would I be trading utility for weight? They can double as tarp/shelter though, so it's something to think about.
They took my GoalZero solar panels as well, and also added moleskins and Israeli bandages to their First Aid kits. Watch the youtube video by Persys on how cool those bandages are. They are a must have!
Didn't bother to FILM using the bivvy saks, stoves and panels in the Grand Canyon like I asked though!! That doesn't make me happy!
Most of the stuff we already had on hand from their bug out bags. We bought 3 SOL Escape Bivvy Saks just for this trip which will become part of their BOBs: the kids LOVE them. It will be hard to get them to put sleeping bags back in their BOBs. SOL (Survive Outdoors Longer) makes a wide ranging price range for their Bivvy Saks. You want top of the price range, the Escape. It is breathable, which means when your body heat is trapped, condensation doesn't form on the inside so you (a) stay warmer and (b) you don't wake up soaking wet. They come in camo-green or visible-orange; we got orange just because they were in stock. I do like the dual purpose of orange (visible so if you're lost....) but that's the same reason I'd like the green if I'm bugging out in a SHTF situation (green--not as visible.) So it's a toss up.
We added up to a week's worth of freeze dried food, everyone had 3 days' worth already. That's all gone now and will have to be replaced. I chose freeze dried for this trip because it is easy to "heat water and go" versus dehydrated which has to be watered and cooked (more fuel.) It turned out to be a wise decision. My oldest son, who is really in to bushcraft, said it took 2 hex tabs to get 2 cups of water to simmer, and 3 to get it to a rolling boil. That's good to know, and something only experience will teach you. It's about 2 more hex tabs than we thought it would take, so we're going to have to buy a bunch more of those.
Of necessity they used their ponchos. We had heavier duty but still disposable ones: I'll have to find some that are multi-use like these although I'm not happy with the ones shown. In the UK one can purchase Swedish Army ponchos similar to these, but would I be trading utility for weight? They can double as tarp/shelter though, so it's something to think about.
They took my GoalZero solar panels as well, and also added moleskins and Israeli bandages to their First Aid kits. Watch the youtube video by Persys on how cool those bandages are. They are a must have!
Didn't bother to FILM using the bivvy saks, stoves and panels in the Grand Canyon like I asked though!! That doesn't make me happy!
The takeaway from my kids is this: What do they really need in an Emergency Bug Out scenario? For them it was:
Bivvy Sak
Poncho that can double as a shelter
FD food for a week
Way to filter water
Hexamine tablets, compact stove, 2 cup metal mug
Matches or lighter (they had both, ran out of matches)
1 pair shorts/pants (preferably the zip off kind)
2 shirts
1 jacket (light- or heavy- weight depending on weather)
Good first aid kit (my oldest had to use his)
Rope & normal accoutrement: (knife, multiuse tool kit, headlamp/light, flint/steel)
Good hat for shade, with a bandana
Camelback
The GoalZero panels were nice to have. It added weight but the trade off was carry extra batteries or bring something hand-cranked. Either way, it's the same weight if you're planning for a week out. Each of them already has a handcrank multi use system like these, (the solar cells are lightly glued in and come out easily, FYI). They include an AM/FM radio, which is very helpful in an emergency. They're heavier so they didn't take them, but they will go back in the BOBs.
Good learning experience. My kids were prepared to take care of themselves 100%, so they had a vastly different experience comfort and enjoyment wise than most others. But you know? They got to this level because they have had to learn along the way by experience, just like those others are going to learn from this camp out. We learn by doing, not just reading. It really solidified for my kids, and hopefully illustrated for others, the importance of prepping, and how little more you need to do in order to survive and THRIVE, versus just survive.
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