Soo here we are

Recently I heard a rumor - actually it was more than a rumor, it was a complaint.  From my back.  About the shoveling.  And the walking on ice.   And the cold.

Ayuh (as we tend to say around here),  it's winter.

As time goes by I find myself with fewer new issues to address on this site so at the risk of repeating myself, here goes.

It's winter and we should be ready. 

There should be plenty of hot chocolate laid in along with enough milk and bread or the equivalent so that it's not necessary to rush headlong to the store at the mere hint of a coming storm.  This past month was the first time I ever heard the term "milk sandwich".  I think it was coined in an attempt to explain why people buy huge quantities of both milk and bread in that "getting ready for a storm" mode that flips in the minute Jim Cantore shows up anywhere in your neighborhood -  or even your state!  If people want to stock up on something useful that won't sour in the refrigerator or turn to bricks on the sideboard, why not buy toilet paper?  Shelf life of at least 1,000 years and definitely irreplaceable when you need it.

Side note:  when I was getting ready to retire several years ago someone asked me what I was doing to get ready.  My answer was that I was buying lots of toilet paper - for some reason they looked at me like I was nuts.

Anyhow, we should be ready with more than the T.P.

There should be gas laid on for the snow blower unless we are lucky enough to have a "plow guy"

The Plow Guy

If you are that lucky, cherish him, treat him well in the summer and bring cookies in the winter.  He's worth far more than the money you pay him!

Moving on. you should have a shovel - a snow shovel - and the back and strength to handle it!  It's a recipe for disaster to jump out there after a summer and fall of sunbathing and perhaps raking a few leaves and start shoveling that first heavy wet snowfall.

As the proud owner of a "bad back" I can tell you it's possible to shovel but you'd better approach it with the same level of caution as you would a sleeping cat:  you never know when it's going to jump up and claw at you for disturbing it!  So use it but don't abuse it!

I have apparently reached that stage of being the "older neighbor" that we are all adjured to look out for in bad weather.  I admit to bribery - I take the couple next door homemade bread and strawberry jam at random intervals during the fall and winter. This has conditioned them to think that if I can't get to their house they won't get any goodies, so the man of the family has taken to emailing me that he will take care of my driveway with HIS snow blower and I should stay inside and be warm - and, by implication, cook.

All kidding aside, I am blessed not to have to go out there and "do it myself" unless I want to.  I do get my snow blower out just so it won't feel left out but only to blaze a few trails in the back yard for the dog walks (sprints in this cold weather) and sometimes just to prove I still can, I do the driveway.

So this is just a short installment in the saga of winter - something to think about and something to be ready for.  And don't forget that damned door key in your back pocket for after the outside hidden key is under 4 feet of snow!

We all know, we got this!

Quick question

Ok!  Now we've had a couple of comparatively minor storms to kick off winter.  Yup, that first one was heavy and wet and the snow blower just sort of pushed the stuff around but it wasn't really all that deep. 

Yesterday we got a mix of snow and then sleet and then pouring rain and then the temperature has dropped like the proverbial rock.  Whatever we didn't get off the driveway or porch is now as hard as that same proverbial rock!

So my question is this:

Now that the last few days are over, what did you discover that wish you had or wish you had done before these two storms?

Myself I discovered that I only "thought" I had doggy safe salt for the porch and/or the "other" salt to finish off the driveway.

Salt can really do damage to a dog's feet - so we were reduced to slogging through the trails I'd made in the back yard to keep his feet safe from the road salt - and we tiptoed across the frozen porch cause, well, it was frozen! 

I don't recommend any particular brand of "paw safe" salt but do lay some in if you have a pet who needs to go outside!

I had gas for the snow blower, I had food and I found both of my snow shovels.  So other than the salt issue we were in decent shape.

One thing I did notice once I ventured out on the roads:  people do not seem to realize that "clean your car off when it snows" doesn't just mean a peep hole on the windshield! 

I suspect these might be the same folks who find the whole concept of using directionals a mystery but that's a discussion for another day.

So check what you wish you had laid in before the storms, clean all the snow off your car before you venture forth and then relax,

You got this!

Thank God it's not me

This is going to be short and sweet and driven by something I saw on Facebook this morning.  It has nothing to do with politics or prepping per se except that the interviews I saw were kicked off by the supposed decrease in Meals on Wheels benefits along with a few other cuts in assistance programs.

Hey, perhaps it won't happen but, then, perhaps it will.

At certain points in our lives we all are apt to need help.  Years ago I applied for Aid to Dependent Children when I had (a) no job and (b) no husband (no loss there) and (c) no money.  Even though I was in legitimate need I still felt ashamed to have to ask for help.

That being said, some of the people that the video showed were in a pathetic way - and it's easy to say they should just grab their bootstraps and pull themselves up but that ain't always possible McGee.  Some were old, some were old and infirm, some were old, infirm and housebound and surrounded by what was obviously a messy environment that they couldn't even clean up and apparently had no one who cared enough to do it with/for them.

I know the video was designed for political purposes but perhaps look beyond that to the actual situation.

So the next time we are bitching about our bills, or the amount of yard work we've had to do or even the day to day tedium of shopping and cooking and cleaning up after it all?  Take a minute to be thankful that we have the money to pay our bills and shop and the physical ability to do the rest of it.

It's like when I see young people jogging and running:  I always think "enjoy your knees while you still have them!"

So enjoy taking care of ourselves while we can, reach out to those who need us and hope to hell that it never comes to sitting in a cluttered room hoping that someone in Washington doesn't decide we don't need any help any more!

And don't forget TC's advice:

Keep your hands to yourself, leave other people's things alone, and be kind to one another. All we have is each other.

Indeed, TC has it nailed as always - look around and see if there is anyone you could help along - best Christmas present ever!

And here we go again

It's been a wonderful fall - full of warm days with just a little rain and actually mowing the lawn into late November (that wasn't the fun part).

There has been plenty of time to indulge in our favorite outdoor hobbies - maybe hiking in the woods and enjoying the changing colors of the leaves or perhaps just road trips with the motorcycle to see what other parts of our state look like.

Whatever your choice of fall activities this year has been a gift for the outdoor lover in all of us.

Looking ahead at the latest weather reports it sounds to me like fall may actually be morphing into winter.  No big blizzards (yet) but cold temperatures and even snow in some parts of the state are coming down the pike.   Perhaps this is a good time to look inside for a change.

I don't mean meditating or contemplating your navel, I mean inside your house.

Every year around this time I try to take a good look at my supplies - not just the "oh my god the world is ending" selection - but also the "how long could I have decent meals without going to the store and where the hell are all my flashlights" area.

I am making the assumption that you checked for soon outdated supplies earlier in the year - and hopefully donated the ones close to the "use by" date to a local food pantry.  It'd be a shame to let them go to waste.

That being said, did you replace them?  Yeah, you know:  did you get newer versions of the things you had to discard or donate?  So there isn't a big gap on the shelves where you keep extra supplies. 

If you are still trying to remember if you replaced the staples you had to toss, that means you probably didn't.  Admittedly the owner of the shelves in my example is set for beer for a while (although I do question his/her taste) but otherwise not in such good shape.

So take a few minutes to look around at what you actually have and make a vow to fill up those blank spots on the shelves.  It's a wonderful smug feeling when the weather turns to crap to be able to be confident that you and yours will continue to have the meals that you are accustomed to.  That you won't have to try to explain that it's actually a new cholesterol lowering diet and they can learn to love oatmeal - several times a day - for several days!

Or, worse yet, that fried mush is actually something you have been meaning to try for a long time....trust me on this one I speak from an epic fail!

There is one outside thing to address - throughout the year I try to keep my car at least half full of gas but in the colder weather I pay extra attention to it.  If for no other reason that a full gas tank prevents the condensation that may, in a real cold snap, end up freezing your gas line and you will go nowhere!  I don't really expect the emergency of having to get out of Dodge at the drop of the proverbial hat but then, the definition of "emergency" must have the word "unexpected" in it somewhere.

And, by the way, where the hell are your flashlights anyhow?

Wish I could write like TC

TC is a Lieutenant in the Bangor, Maine Police Department.  He writes their Facebook page with a flare that is second to none.

 His latest post contained some of the old standard hints for holiday shopping.  Most should be a given - like keeping your packages out of sight and not punching other shoppers over the latest toy because you will hate to have to Skype the kids from county jail on Christmas!  Cause sure as you give in to that urge to HAVE THAT TOY AT ANY COST  someone will whip out their phone, film it and send it to the police and  ruin your holiday (see comment regarding Skyping at Christmas)!

Drive through (carefully) a parking space rather than choosing one you have to back out of - and if you have to back up try to at least glance in those decorative mirrors on the sides of your car.  They are there for a reason.

But I think my favorite in today's post was his recommendation for wearing mittens.

 Middle fingers are not the best way to say, "Happy Holidays." Keep those things down low in the car. If you have a hard time keeping "the bird" to yourself-wear mittens. Mittens make the WOTB (waving of the bird) appear to be a friendly salutation or a "go ahead of me at the traffic-light" wave. Mittens will make you appear kinder.

Anything that makes us appear kinder (or even makes us be kinder) in the tumultuous world of today is worth sharing.

So if you have a hard time controlling your fingers?

Buy mittens!

The thing we don't have - edited a bit

Thanksgiving is traditionally all about being thankful for what we have.  Not a bad thing since most of us have friends and family, food in our stomachs, a roof over our head and a modicum of stability in our lives.

We have the choice of whether to have the 2.5 children along with the cat and the dog (or neither, or both) or instead to choose to focus on a job we love or a hobby that consumes us.  Even in today's not so perfect world a person has a ton of choices on what path to follow...

As a matter of fact you can even choose to be a follower if that is what, as they say, floats your boat!

I know that we don't live in a perfect country where we all get together and sing the same song.  We argue about everything up to and including which weather report is the most accurate.

So what don't we have?

Anyone telling us what to think.  We don't have someone saying "you can't think that" or "man, that's not a popular idea".  We are free to speak our minds or, even, choose to shut up!

I'm not sure exactly where I am going with this Thanksgiving post but I have to say that even when I am annoyed with the way the world is turning I know I am at liberty to say so.  Imagine living where there is metaphorical duct tape over your mouth!

This is still a free country, dammit!

And this would be the edit:

Saying that we live in a country where we are free to speak our minds comes, in my mind, with one caveat (a caveat is defined as a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.

synonyms:

warning, caution, admonition;  proviso, condition, stipulation, provision, clause, rider, qualification)

It's fine to speak your mind but doing so in an abrasive, aggressive or abusive manner does nothing but anger others.  An angry person cannot hear anything but their own anger!

So, speak your mind in a way that may actually do some good and, if not that, at least makes your point without hurtful words.  One of the things that bothers me the most about today's communications is the apparent license to be just as offensive as you possibly can without regard for anyone else.

Hold your family close this Thanksgiving Day (remember "family" doesn't always mean "blood") and be thankful for what we don't have along with all the wonderful wonderful things that we do!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember to be keep your words as soft and sweet as possible cause you may just end up having to eat them!

As I am so fond of saying, you've got this!

But it might be winter

Definitely might be winter!

22 degrees here yesterday and now it's officially NOT Indian Summer any more.  My beautiful flowers- especially the Nasturtiums -

have been reduced to a yuckiness and so cold they froze my hands when I pulled them out of the gardens. Not to mention being slimy and hard to even get a grip on.

My volunteer sunflower which was doing so well sadly never got a chance to bloom.

I had thought the bird bath was just skimmed over with ice but when I dumped it out I found a big honkin slab of ice!  Past time to retire that for the winter for sure.

So, what's to do?

Bow to inevitable and get ready (more ready) for the next season.

In many ways this has been a hard summer and fall.  Too many "moments of silence" for innocents slaughtered and too much dissension among formerly close friends with different ideas of how to "fix" everything.  I stay away from politics most of the time here - at least partly because I'm not really qualified to "fix" anything and just tend to stand to one side and remain horrified at the things we do to each other.

So I focus on what I can hopefully have an impact on!

As in:  do you have that spare key securely stationed somewhere outside your house so when you inevitably lock yourself out this winter you can smugly stroll over, retrieve it and come in out of the cold?   And don't count on the world's battery backups for automatic doors - just don't!

I get to revisit some old favorites:  what will you do if you lose power?  What do you have for extra food in case you're unable to get out to the store? And how about your pet's food?  Is your car kept at least half full of fuel to avoid condensation in the tank and/or being "that guy" who runs out of gas at the absolute most inconvenient time?

Yup, I do tend to go on about the same things - sort of an endless loop of stuff that really needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.  Things that are easy to do ahead of time and harder than hell to try to accomplish if you are playing catch up from behind the eight ball.

I've noticed through life that the 8 ball never seems to be on level ground - just sayin!

So break out the winter coats, the long underwear, the doggy jackets

and whatever else makes you feel warm and fuzzy!

You've got this!

It doesn't have to be winter

No secret that a lot of people in New England are living through the "it doesn't have to be winter to have a storm that raises hell with everything" scenario right now.

Now I have to ask:

are

you

that

guy?


Not throwing stones here but how prepared are you for an out of season storm that takes down power for loads of people?  No, you don't even have to have a generator - it's still relatively warm out.  But you do need a plan:

Even if your plan is just to go to a hotel for the duration of a problem, it IS a plan!

So what do you actually need to account for (assuming it's not the dead of winter and cold enough to freeze the bazokas off that old brass monkey) in your plan if you want to stay home?

Just hitting the high spots here - you need a functioning phone so you can call for help if you need to.  That's actually a pretty high priority in the giant scheme of things.

And, no, it doesn't have to be that complicated - sometimes just a car charger can mean the difference between a charged phone and one that might be useful as a paperweight.  And since you always keep your car at least half full of fuel you can run it to charge the phone - no problem here!

You also need sources of light - flashlights (with extra batteries), perhaps a battery lantern (I'm not a big fan of the ones that work off propane or liquid fuel) and maybe some solar lights?

You also need a way to cook, water to do it with (and flush that all important commode) along with enough for basic hygiene.  The key word here is basic:  water to wash your hands, brush your teeth and drink.

A simple one burner propane stove will be enough to cook with for the short term.  Doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.

As usual this is not a "how to" deal - it's meant to start you thinking about what you might need/have to do if you lost power unexpectedly.  We all expect it in the winter - this time of year?  Not so much.

So take a look around your world and be that OTHER guy!

Does it have to be perfect?  No.  Will it be perfect?  Not a chance - there is always something you will wish you had done better/more of/sooner/whatever.  But it's a place to start and something to improve on for next time.

If you were totally not ready for the first time it's also a wonderful opportunity to make a list of what you wish you had done - honest.

Because there will be a next time - there always is.

Housekeeping

A note to those hardy souls who follow my blog by getting an email telling them there is a new post - and actually showing it to you right there on your e mail.

Apparently not everyone knows that if you click on the title of the post (or the "Sometimes I talk to myself" at the top) it takes you to the actual blog website and the post.

You not only get to see it in living color (orange:  my favorite) but you can see the other links that are there on the right side of the posts.  And if you are really feeling adventurous you can page down and voila!  all the other posts are there in sequential order to be paged through.

I'm grateful to anyone who reads my posts at all but being able to see the whole deal gives you access to other blogs that are worthwhile - not to mention that wonderful orange!

P.S.  there is also a place to leave comments

Just sayin!

I saw a hawk this morning

Actually I didn't see it at first, I heard it as it left it's perch on the top of the church up at the center - the flapping caught my attention.  That's how quiet it is around here that early.

The reason I didn't see it is easy - I was walking with my head down.  Wondering if my back was going to hurt too much to do yard work today - thinking of what I had to get at the grocery store and hoping I would beat the rush.  Hoping that no one did anything incredibly stupid today and started WW3.

When I walk/I worry and that keeps my head down.

Once I heard the hawk flapping across over me I stopped looking down - he (or she) landed in the top of a tree across from me and started looking for breakfast.

After I'd looked up once it was hard to look back down - the trees are in full fall color around here and the air is cool but not really cold yet.  Walking along became easier once I stopped looking 2 feet ahead of my feet!

What kind of a hawk was it?  Not sure - probably a Marsh Hawk cause there are a lot of them around here.  If I had been paying more attention I would have seen it flying rather than just landing.

Short and sweet this morning - stop looking down and pick your head up - you might see a hawk.  It's amazing!

Words to live by

Keep your sense of humor and always take it with you; always!

Keep your sense of trust in your family and friends and always take that with you; always! 

Be ready when folks look to your for help and advice. Do not let them down!!

Do not back peddle, wane  (decrease in vigor, power, or extent; become weaker) or ever become a victim. 

Make the week ahead a very good week.

Alan writes a blog - yeah, a lot of people blog these days (that word always sounds to me as if you have your foot caught in something that is going to suck your shoe off) but Alan is my buddy.

He encourages me when I think I have nothing to offer the blogging world (that's most of the time after I read what he or my nephew or his daughter or my brother wrote), he aims me in different directions when I get stuck in prepper doom and, most of all, he's just Alan.

The bolded lines at the beginning of this post are the ones he used to end his latest post.  I did let him know I was planning on stealing them.  Stealing them because if you stop to think for a moment, they really summarize a way of life.

If we lose our sense of humor we really are sunk - even dark humor is still...well, humor!  




Admit it - you chuckled.

Pretty much says it all.  There is no love without trust.

Be ready to help:  technically you do not even have to wait to be asked!

No victim here!

Sometimes the best way to approach a new week is to forget the old one!


Now lest I come across as some wacko version of Pollyanna, let it be said that I do none of these things perfectly - ok, some of them I do poorly - that trust thing is hard.  The dark humor?  I get that.  I have no problem helping people even if they aren't helping themselves but I spend too much time looking over my shoulder trying to outrun things that probably aren't even chasing me and no doubt worry about the wrong things (they never happen - something else does).

So Alan's parting shots came at a good time - a reminder to get my head out of where the sun doesn't shine and get on with things.

Care to join me?

Everyone should have a ball they love

My little dog is ball obsessive.  He loves all his different kinds of balls and will run to greet visitors - spitting the ball out at the feet of anyone who comes to the house.  He's positive that people were put on the face of the planet to toss it for him to chase.

Throw it up in the air?  He'll have it before it hit the ground.

Skate it down the hall?  He will "burn rubber" as he takes off to chase it and slide in like the best home run ever when he gets to it.

He's an equal opportunity toy lover - but balls are his favorite.  Partially perhaps because they seem to hold together better than a lot of his other possessions.  Which obviously have a far more limited shelf life!

They start out fine:

But the end result is pretty much the same.

So, what is my point, you ask?  If in fact you are still along for this ride.

The past few weeks I have really struggled to find anything meaningful to write about.  I have tried to pass along good information on surviving and preparing for everything from bad weather to hurtful family members (yeah, that was the Christmas present one) but never sure if I am having any impact.

And then this past week the horrific event in Los Vegas seems to have crushed anything I can think of to say that is even a little uplifting.  There is no rhyme or reason to the deaths and injuries that happened that night.  There is no way to put a good spin on most of the outcome.  Yes, people stepped up and helped strangers. 

Yes, the lines to give blood for the injured stretched around the block and the money poured in for the victims  and the survivors.

Yes, we are spared the endless trial and angst of a living person who would be continually paraded in front of us with all the reasons why.

And, yes, now the debate on gun control will rage for at least two weeks and then fade away - again.

So I say to you all:  find something you love to do and do it.

Chase a ball that you love no matter what form it takes.  It's probably the only thing that will lift the cloud that hangs over us all at this point.  I'm not a particularly religious person but if God didn't want us to chase our "balls" he wouldn't have made them round.

Just sayin!

Side topic

We all get distracted in our daily lives - if it's not something as simple as the weather, it's worrying about a certain North Korean guy and what he might do in a fit of stupidity.  All in all, life itself is pretty distracting.

But this is not the time to forget to take care of ourselves.  

A few years ago I was in Arizona and scheduled for cataract surgery - I was one of the lucky few who have "fast acting cataracts" - they seemed to come out of nowhere and over a span of just a few months, viola!  They were operable.

Strangely enough I now count those cataracts as one of my more fortunate afflictions because if I hadn't had cataracts, I wouldn't have known I had glaucoma!

A little information about glaucoma:

Visual loss from glaucoma results from characteristic deterioration of the optic nerve leading to progressing loss of the field of vision.  Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of adult blindness and it is also the leading cause of preventable blindness.

Most people who go blind from glaucoma are blind in at least one eye at the time of original detection, which points to the need for better early diagnosis.  Because it usually does not manifest any symptoms until extensive peripheral visual loss becomes apparent  in the final states of the disease it is often likened to the "sneak thief of sight".  Unlike most eye diseases, most varieties of glaucoma are chronic - virtually lifelong disorders that can be controlled but not cured.  Like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma or arthritis, glaucoma requires some modification in lifestyle, such as compliance with medical regimens, regular physician visits and acknowledgment of the disease to achieve successful treatment.

Since my glaucoma was only found coincidentally while dealing with other issues I cannot stress enough to have your eye pressure checked yearly!  High inter-ocular eye pressure is the condition which damages that optic nerve and, believe me, you CANNOT tell when your eye pressures are up.  And furthermore, apparently most of those who lose their vision (that's right: go blind!) do so from a failure to adhere to their treatment schedule.

I've been dealing with glaucoma for about 4 years how and I still keep a log of every time I use my eye drops - I'm fortunate in that mine is controlled with just two different drops on a complimentary schedule.  The only way to be sure I've really done what I'm supposed to is to keep track on that form.  When you do something every day (twice a day in my case) you soon become unable to remember if you actually did it or not.

So I slavishly make my little check marks every time I "do" eye drops and also faithfully show up at my eye specialist's appointments no matter what.

I totally admit that I have never been as frightened in my entire life as I was when I got the initial diagnosis and was told that without pretty radical surgery that I was sure to go blind.   I drove back across the country sure that I was doomed and was incredibly fortunate to find a specialist nearby who was knowledgeable and who soon found the combination of drops to lower my eye pressure - no resorting to fast surgery for that doc!  

So along with making sure you get your eye pressure checked, be sure to get at least one additional treatment option if you get a glaucoma diagnosis.  Sometimes, yes, it requires some rather drastic measures to ensure keeping your sight - other times?  Not so much.

So off my soap box for the time being but, as I always say,

Do NOT be "that guy"!

Loose ends

I can't be the only one to notice that the days are getting shorter and the year is winding down towards fall and then winter.

Now is a good time to take stock and see what needs clearing out, stocking up or fixing in a lot of different areas of our lives.

In the garden it's that time when the plants are looking kind of scraggly and perhaps we haven't been as diligent in our weeding as we were during the season.  As each of my tomato plants gives up the ghost I try to get it pulled up and composted before we have a hard frost:  nothing is slimier than a frozen and then thawed big old tomato plant!

Then there is the question:  what in the world do I do with all the hot peppers that are just now starting to flood the plants?  It's not as bad as zucchinis but, still, my family, friends and neighbors are starting to slither away when they see me coming - I suspect they have all the "heat" they need. Fortunately I have a food dryer and also hot peppers are easy to pickle - so they may think they are off the hook but there is always Christmas.

So as I clear up what I can and things progress in the garden I remember to take time to enjoy the furious flowering of the nasturtiums.  They seem to take off like crazy at the end of the summer!  I love the deep colors and the spicy smell of the flowers and the plants.  Some day I will work up my courage to actually eat the blossoms in a salad.

Inside the house this is good time to look at food stocks and make sure nothing is close to expiring.  I try to go through my canned goods every fall and if there is anything that is close to it's expiration date I take it to a local food pantry - I know it will get used up way before it's "overdue".  Replace anything you have to pass along and buff up your overall stocks - making sure you lay in supplies of things you will actually eat.

Don't forget your water storage - as I always say, it doesn't have to be fancy, just available. If you add 1/2 tsp of regular bleach to 10 gallons of water or even 2 drops per quart this will keep the water safe to drink for a long time.  Hint:  use plain bleach - not the scented versions!

Also check your basic OTC medications - bad enough that the insurance companies won't let us stock up on  prescription medications, there's no need to get caught short on fever reducers or any of the other common medications that we can lay in a supply of.  Cold season is just on the horizon - just sayin!

Along those same lines it's a good time to take stock of your first aid supplies - a simple kit can go a long way in an emergency.

Speaking of emergencies, before the bad weather arrives (as we know it will) it's good to get in the habit of keeping at least half a tank of gas in your vehicle.  If you have to get out of Dodge, it's much easier if fuel isn't on the "gee, I meant to do that" list.  And as we have all seen in Florida in the past couple of weeks, sometimes if you don't already have gas, there isn't any to get.  That could leave you up that famous creek with no means of propulsion for sure.

Just a little preparation at this point can ease your mind and put you in a  position to be a bit more...well, prepared.  No matter what comes down the weather pike in the coming season being ready for it really does beat the alternative!

As I have said before:

Don't be "that guy"!

Shameless plagiarism

And here comes Irma!

As usual there is a ton of stuff rolling around on Facebook about how to get ready for the impact of hurricane Irma.  This particular list actually addresses some items that even I haven't thought of.

Some thing are just common sense but some? totally out of the box.  How many of us think to "start clean" for instance?  - clean clothes and clean bedding and clean surfaces before the proverbial poop storm.  To me that makes great sense and I wish I had thought of it.

Even if you just pick up a couple of new ideas it's worth it!

So I stole it.

Take a few minutes and breeze through even if a storm isn't looming on your particular horizon.

It's good stuff.


Be prepared!
1. Charge any device that provides light. Laptops, tablets, cameras, video cameras, and old phones. Old cell phones can still used for dialing 911. Charge external battery back ups.
2. Wash all trash cans, big and small, and fill with water for flushing toilets. Line outdoor trash cans with trash bags, fill with water and store in the garage. Add bleach to sterilize.
3. Fill every tub and sink with water. Cover sinks with Saran Wrap to keep it from collecting dust. Fill washing machine and leave lid up to store water.
4. Fill old empty water bottles and other containers with water and keep near sinks for washing hands.
5. Fill every Tupperware with water and store in freezer. These will help keep food cold longer and serve as a back up water supply.
6. Fill drinking cups with water and cover with Saran Wrap. Store as many as possible in fridge. The rest you can store on the counter and use first before any water bottles are opened. Ice is impossible to find after the storm.
7. Reserve fridge space for storing tap water and keep the sealed water bottles on the counter.
8. Cook any meats in advance and other perishable foods. You can freeze cooked food. Hard boil eggs for snacks for first day without power.
9. Be well hydrated before the storm hits and avoid salty foods that make you dehydrated.
10. Wash all dirty clothes and bed sheets. Anything dirty will smell without the A/C, you may need the items, and with no A/C, you'll be sweating a lot. You're going to want clean sheets.
11. Toss out any expiring food, clean cat litter boxes, empty all trash cans in the house, including bathrooms. Remove anything that will cause an odor when the A/C is off. If you don't have a trash day pickup before the storm, find a dumpster.
12. Bring in any yard decor, secure anything that will fly around, secure gates, bring in hoses, potted plants, etc. Bring in patio furniture and grills.
13. Clean your environment so you have clear, easy escape routes. Even if that means temporarily moving furniture to one area.
14. Scrub all bathrooms so you are starting with a clean odor free environment. Store water filled trash cans next to each toilet for flushing.
15. Place everything you own that is important and necessary in a backpack or small file box that is easy to grab. Include your wallet with ID, phone, hand sanitizer, snacks, etc. Get plastic sleeves for important documents. Copies of your insurance policies and insurance company phone numbers to file claims
16. Make sure you have cash on hand.
17. Stock up on pet food and fill up bowls of water for pets.
18. Refill any medications. Most insurance companies allow for 2 emergency refills per year.
19. Fill your propane tanks. You can heat soup cans, boil water, make coffee, and other stuff besides just grilling meat. Get an extra, if possible.
20. Drop your A/C in advance and lower temperatures in your fridges.
21. Gather all candles, flashlights, lighters, matches, batteries, and other items and keep them accessible.
22. Clean all counters in advance. Start with a clean surface. Buy Clorox Wipes for cleaning when there is no power. Mop your floors and vacuum. If power is out for 10 days, you'll have to live in the mess you started with.
23. Pick your emergency safe place such as a closet under the stairs. Store the items you'll need in that location for the brunt of the storm. Make a hand fan for when the power is out.
24. Shower just before the storm is scheduled to hit.
25. Keep baby wipes next to each toilet. Don't flush them. It's not the time to risk clogging your toilet!
26. Run your dishwasher, don't risk having dirty smelly dishes and you need every container for water! Remember you'll need clean water for brushing your teeth, washing yourself, and cleaning your hands.
27. Put a small suitcase in your car in case you decide to evacuate. Also put at least one jug of water in your car. It will still be there if you don't evacuate! You don't need to store all water in the house. Remember to pack for pets as well.
28. Check on all family members, set up emergency back up plans, and check on elderly neighbors.
29. Remember, pets are family too. Take them with you!
30. Before the storm, unplug all electronics. There will be power surges during and after the storm.
31. Gas up your car and have a spare gas container for your generator or your car when you run out.
32. Place clean towels in trash bags in your dryer to keep dry.
If you can, take a video of your house and contents....walk room to room--open cabinets/drawers and closets. This will help if you need to make a claim later. It will show proof of items and help you list all the items (help your memory, so you don't forget anything)...I highly recommend!!!
I also heard you should freeze a cup of water, place a coin on top after it is frozen...keep this in your freezer to help you gauge the temperature if the power goes out. If the coin stays on top, the food is staying frozen. If the coin falls into the water, the freezer thawed out and most food will likely need to be thrown away. This is super helpful is you have to leave and come back, as it may appear everything is still frozen, but if the coin is in the cup--you will know!!
Finally, anything that you want to try and preserve, but you can't take with you---place it in a plastic bin and put in your dishwasher, lock the door---this should make it water tight in case of any water intrusion into your home. But of course, take all the important/irreplaceable items you can!!

Don't be that guy

Anyone with a set of ears and eyes knows about Hurricane Harvey.  One of the better results of our "communication age" is that we hear ahead of time about things that can kill us.  Admittedly sometimes these events are over-hyped but, hey, better safe than sorry.

So Harvey came ashore last night and is creating havoc up and down the Texas coast - flooding areas that haven't seen water like this in 40 years (which means almost a generation of residents who don't get it when they hear "storm surge") and blowing almost anything taller than a parking meter down or over.  Old Harv is causing power outages that may last for weeks since repair crews can't get to an area to fix things until the roads are clear and safe.  He is also flooding places with rainfall that are so far inland they haven't seen the ocean in years!

The officials have, for the most part, avoided mandatory evacuations - leaving it up to the individual to exercise their innate right to stay in their houses and take their chances.  Although, having been told no one is coming to save them in the event they are in danger, it would seem to me the wise thing would be to get the hell out of Dodge!

All that being said and with the advanced warning you would think that:

People

Would

Be

Prepared


You wouldn't expect that they would be tearing out at the last minute to gas up their vehicles.

Even if there was still gas!

And if you are smart enough and able to have a generator?  That's going to need a supply of gas most likely:

Or rushing to the grocery store and then bitching because there was a 2 pack limit per person on bottled water.  They are actually doing this in Texas as of yesterday.

That they would have either alternate sources of power or (see above) get out of Dodge now.

Amazingly you would, in a lot of cases, be incorrect!  And there they are, out of luck!

Either they don't believe the hype (who could possibly not put faith in Jim Cantore?), they are preoccupied with everyday life (benefit of the doubt here) or they are just plain dumb.

In New England, as I have probably said to excess, we are not generally subject to severe weather - not as many tornadoes as some parts of the country, not too many hurricanes and, except for an occasional blizzard even our winters aren't normally as bad as some areas of the world.

As usual, all this is leading up to what I hope is a recognizable point:  the time to be ready for an emergency is when there isn't one.

Simple, yeah?

Have a supply of non-perishable food for at least a week and an alternate way to cook if the power/gas goes out..  Have a water supply stashed away (and don't forget what's in your hot water heater).

Keep your meds up to date - fill those prescriptions when you can and not when you just ran out.  It's really hard to plan an emergency, yeah?

Have your important documents gathered together so if you have to leave, it's a grab and go sort of thing.  That applies to a BOB (bug out bag) also but that's really another subject.

Gas the car/truck up regularly - keep it at least half full and relax knowing you can get out of the danger zone if you have to without sitting in one of those lines at the gas station while your time line winds down to zero.

Do not be "that guy" - the one who is ill prepared or, worse, not prepared at all for an emergency.  In that case you will be either in severe discomfort or, worse, serious danger that could have been avoided if you had just put a little thought into preparing for the unexpected.

Simple, yeah?