I'm Downstate

I left home at 3 a.m. Sunday to drive to Ionia County to stay a couple days with my elderly friend. Arrived at her home at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Now I don't have to imagine what her living conditions are. I can see them for myself. Needless to say I've been busy cleaning. We've been out for a couple drives and today I took her to the cemetery to place artificial lilies on her husband's grave.

I know I've mentioned my friend before here. Got to meet the woman who's been stopping by and checking on her - my ex-husband's former girlfriend. So we all had a nice visit and laughed about how his ex wife and ex girlfriend are the ones who bother to help her out. Oh well.

Feel so fortunate to have stayed with her a few days, reminiscing and laughing and wishing to time wouldn't go by so fast. She has an opthamologist appointment next Tuesday & we're all hoping he can do something to restore at least some of her sight.

I head home tomorrow, stopping first at our old home to pick up a few things Sweetie had left behind. Have called home twice a day and thus far all is well. My Dad has his SUV at our home now and has decided to save my brother the dilemma of coming to our home to pick him up for a visit. Of course, we're all waiting to see if a visit is forthcoming.

Went into Save-a-Lot and filled a cart twice with cases of food. Had to stack it all on the back seat to save room for the stuff I'm picking up tomorrow. Great to pay 39-69 cents for canned veggies, etc. instead of 89-$1.39.

Well, have to scoot. Computer time at the library here is almost up. Treesong

I Will Not Apologize

If someone doesn't like me, no matter their reason, fine. If anyone expects me to apologize for who I am, what I believe, how I live or any other reason that "troubles" them, forget it.

I am who I am. I don't covet the latest fad; nor do I agree with "going along to get along." I don't let intimidation instill fear in me and the condemnation of others is simply their attempt to feel better about their own pathetic lives.

You do know the old saying about opinions, don't you?

So my fathers' only son and a few other judgemental jerks can get take their opinions elsewhere. Surely there are plenty of insecure people who interpret your holier than though persona's as love and acceptance. Seek them out because once again you need to prop up your fragile psych.

Please Check My Profile

The link to my new blog is contained within my profile.

Otherwise, I'm taking the day off. Have some concerns with my father and work to do around here. Keep Prepping!

Survival Isn't Mandatory

"It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory." - W. Edwards Deming

When I read this statement two concurrent thoughts kept competing for my attention.

One interpretation was: It's not necessary to accept the "Change" promised by Obama because, despite increased government intervention and mandates, your survival isn't mandatory.

Or, it could be interpreted as: It's not necessary to change with every government intervention into my private affairs because I know that survival of the powers that be is not mandatory - though the PTB thinks so.

Either I choose to take care of myself to the best of your ability while resisting government intrusion or I become a co-dependent, delusional, trusting individual who willingly follows the dictates of fear-mongering, lying, criminal morons who think they know what's best for me.

The choice is obvious.

And this thought goes right along with the following statement:

"Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think." - Thomas A. Edison

I'm a five percenter. How about you?

I Was Thinking...

A friend who reads my blog says I ought to write another blog called "Living In La-La Land." There is MUCH I don't mention here and she claims the entertainment value alone would be worth my effort. Personnally, I think it would be good therapy for me. Better than going ballistic and knocking a few heads together or destroying THEIR property.

So in a short time "Living In La, La Land" will make it's debut.

The First Load of Posts!

Other than seeing my beloved Sweetie, there's no better sight than the first load of cedar fence posts - at $1.50 each! Due to the terrain, we're using a mix of cedar and steel T-posts. Cedar for all the corners and as a blockade in two areas where steel posts were pushed down.

And to clarify, the neighbor who wound up in the mental ward DOES NOT have land adjoining us. However, it would be nice if the two neighbors who are jerks on our property line become fellow ward mates. ONE of them previously spent a few days there so there's always hope.

Well, it's time to help unload, do laundry, carry in firewood - temps in the mid 20's here at night - and fix supper. Have a great day. I'm feeling pumped because this is the first step toward progress!!! And I love to see progress around here. Yahoooo!!!!

Insomnia, Confusion & Zombies

No one in this house had a peaceful, restful night's sleep. About 2 a.m. someone in the neighborhood behind us started yelling. Soon after tires were squealing and I heard a crash. Probably a smashed fender and an arguement between drunken lovebirds. Don't know for sure and I'm not going to investigate.

Next thing I knew Dad was up wandering around asking why I hadn't put his cat outside. Told him it doesn't go out until 8 a.m. and he promptly told me I didn't know poop. Then he turned around, got back in bed and asked me to cover him up. "And please stop making so much noise," he said as I left his room.

He was awake again about 4 a.m. asking for sugar free cough drops and coffee! He forgot his request after using the bathroom but was awake again at 6:40 a.m. After eating a banana he said he'd had a rough night and planned to "sleep all day."

No sooner had he climbed back in bed then there was a loud knock at the door. Scared me because it's rare we have visitors, especially at that hour. It was still dark so I turned the outside light on but saw no one. I stepped away from the door and heard a knock again. This time I went to a window to look at the front steps. On the ground was a man, stumbling around, knocking on the deck. I saw no car so I opened the window to ask what he wanted. "A damn drink would be nice!" he shouted. Took about two seconds to realize it was the jerk next door - our pontoon boat trespasser. I woke Sweetie up and told him to deal with the guy.

One thing you don't want to do is wake Sweetie from a sound sleep! First thing he did was accuse me of "hearing things," followed by stomping his feet down the hall and yelling about no coffee being made. When he heard pounding on the door he asked,"what the hell is that?" Then Dad's standing in the hall yelling about the noise. I calm him down, Sweetie opens the door and yells at the neighbor who stumbles down the driveway. With the commotion over, Sweetie heads for the bedrooom and tells me he's going to "sleep all day!" At least two people in this house have the same idea!

Like I said, whoever thought life in the country was boring and we're weird has no idea what they're talking about.

Prophetic Words

Twice in the past week - during moments of frustration with the neighbors - I said: "Maybe the only way things will change around here, aside from us leaving, is if they all either move, drop dead or become disabled!"

Today, while working on the ceramic tile, my son says: "You guys hear about your neighbor?" No and which neighbor, we asked.

Wednesday, the man who's an arrogant jerk but doesn't have property adjoining ours, tried to kill himself. Seems his bartender girlfriend wasn't interested in being amorous so he drove home 10 miles - after drinking for 8 hours - swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills and texted her: "See you in the next life."

She never read the text until the next morning at which time she called 911. According to our source, 911 and the cops have had plenty of experience with him. Anyway, they found him with a faint pulse, rushed him to the hospital in time to put a vent in him and them took his blood alcohol level - 2.04. Yesterday he was vent free so they shipped him to a hospital Mental ward. Today was his birthday and he wanted to party. The staff had other plans so he tore apart a room and knocked a cop out who'd been summoned to help handle his efforts to leave.

After my son left Dad and I took a walk. The ambulance was at an elderly neighbor's. He'd fallen and couldn't get up. Sadly, he's also an alcoholic who drinks every day. Last week we were told he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.

This makes two out of six full time residents who are not doing well. They guy with the pontoon boat parked on our land kicked his girlfriend out and has been banned from the country bar. Last year about this time, he too was in a mental ward. He'd barricading himself in his house after he ran out of drugs and booze. His ex-wife refused to return and his disability case for mental problems had not yet been awarded.

That leaves us, another elderly man who was wild until he had a stroke, and a neighbor about 10 years younger than me who I grew up with. This man suffered a head injury in an accident and sometimes repeats himself but seem to otherwise does well. He has three rental homes in town, does woodwork, guides fishermen and hunters and built a log cabin here for a rental.

And people think it's boring in the country and we're the weirdos? Hmmmm...

Comments Regarding Our Fence Line

I appreciate the comments regarding our fence line. Just to fill you all in - the BOTTOM photo shows the survey stake and the junk beyond it. The peach colored building on the left is part of the owner's camp. The building to it's right is his shed. Our property line goes THROUGH his outbuilding. Everything to the right of the building needs to be moved - one way or another. The TOP photo shows the survey stake of another owner and everything to the right is over our line - pontoon boat, snowmobiles, sheds, bed spring, trash, etc.

We stuck metal fence posts in the ground about every 50 feet last fall and ran a nylon line along the entire 1320 feet of our south line. Every 15-20 feet we tied orange plastic flagging tape on the line. We thought this would get everyone used to where the line was.

The south line is not a straight 1320 feet; it travels straight for about 750 feet before making a series of turns around adjoining lots. Picture a rectangle that on one end has a few "bites" into it along the 1320 foot side.

The lot owners have been respectful until the last 188 feet (where the pontoon boat is)before our first turn. Everything from that point on rankles the owners who have stuff piled well over the line. In the neighborhood they're the biggest trouble makers, litterbugs, drunks, fighters and just plain stubborn people. The guy we bought this place from was one of their good buddies. So the three families had long standing "traditions" that we have now "ruined" in their opinions.

Five owners within this 40-acre plat have had their lots surveyed. There are 75 lots within the plat and about 25 structures. We own four lots and all the acreage on the north and east sides that was never developed into lots.

According to a neighbor, most owners "assumed they knew where their lines were and haven't been willing to spend the money to know for sure." So along we come and basically put ONE THIRD of the neighborhood "on notice."

Three of the six full time residents have no problem with the survey. One full time and one part time resident who's lots adjoin us aren't happy and you can see why. A third full time resident, who lives on the second trail into the lots, is tolerated by most people. He claims we're acting like "big city nerds" for having our land surveyed.

After we bought the place people said they were glad to see it "get cleaned up" and warned us we'd have trouble from the two owners giving us headaches.

The nylon line and posts we installed last year were removed from nearly half the south line! The materials were thown into the woods and some are missing entirely. Trash, targets and arrows now litter MORE of our land than last year.

In other words, the disgruntled owners damaged our property and basically communicated f.y. A complaint was filed regarding this but no formal charges were pursued because both men are known as "loose cannons." A visit from the township supervisor and his recommendation was noted in my previous post.

So, yes, we'd love to be on good terms with everyone but they make the situation tenuous at best.

The Lines Are Drawm

If you've read this blog for any length of time you know we had our land surveyed - so the neighbors would know for certain where their boundaries are. And, as stated before, a few aren't too happy about it. Well, the time has come to pick up 1320 feet of fencing, cedar posts for the corners and T-posts for the straight runs. With luck this will be done by next weekend. In the meantime, I've been out cutting brush and snipping away at tag alder shoots. The neighbors behind us who winter in Texas have not arrived yet, which is just as well, because by the time he does the plan is to have the fence erected and his crap moved back onto his land.

That's the plan, and you know how plans go...

I've decided to make copies of the survey, place them in plastic protective covers and tack a few on some posts along the fence line - along with NO TRESPASSING/NO HUNTING signs. Maybe, and that's a big maybe, the jerks will get the message. If not, it's war.

While brushing the line behind us, I discovered the neighbor had set up a series of targets in a new location 50 feet inside our line. Broken targets and bows were embedded in the ground so I cleaned up the mess and dropped it all at his doorstep. His son's name was recently in the paper for assault and property damage so I suspect they fell from the same tree. Times will get interesting, for sure.

The spaghetti spined Township Supervisor (who is a cop) says we'll "have to tread lightly with him." In other words he knows he's a drunken powder keg who thinks he can get away with anything. And, thanks to our beloved supervisor, he has thus far.

Well, I'm gonna get dressed and continue brushing. In the meantime Sweetie is awaiting my son's arrival. If he shows, the ceramic tile may be completed today.

It's about 25 degrees here today with a lake breeze. Good working weather. We counted snowflakes during our walk yesterday and that was the extent of our traditional St. Patty's Day storm. Just in case, the shovels are still outside and the winter clothes have not been packed away!

Jerking Government's Chain

Sweetie's son has been awarded Social Security disability. What a crock he went through to get it - since having his leg amputated - and a further travesty he's endured to receive a damn cent! Twenty six months after filing for disability, he went before a judge! The judge said: as of today you are awarded full social security disability benefits including Medicare." He then asked him if he had been on Medicaid during all this waiting period. "Yes, you honor. For three months, then I was kicked off." The judge nearly had a coronary and told him, "As of today you also qualify for Medicaid and you let me know if there's anymore waiting."

Kind of remarkable to hear from the bench. Well, fast forward three months. Today, he received his Medicaid card. In the meantime he has talked with Social Security numerous times by phone and in person and had two formal appointments with them but still no check. In fact, the bastards won't even tell him how much his monthly check will be. Nor will they tell him the amount of his back pay. Ludicrous, plain ludicrous. When he asks why they won't give him any pertinent information he's told, "I'm not allowed to release that information."

Then the census taker knocked on the door. He asked me to verify our address. I said, "look on the mailbox or the green post out there with the 911 address." The guy didn't think it was funny and repeated the question. I said, "If you can't read the address how did you manage to get a job with the census?" He commenced to explain the penalty for not cooperating. Well, I gotta tell you. Any idiot who knocks on my door before I've had my morning cup of coffee and wants me to answer an asinine question or fill in a form needs a wake up call. "Tell you what, come back when the owner's here," I said. "I don't know a thing. Besides, I could be a squatter and the owner could be buried in the back yard for all you know." Poor guy looked like he wanted to walk backwards very carefully. I smiled, told him to have a nice day, and shut the door. He walked back down the driveway, sat in his car awhile and kept trying to get cell phone reception. After about 10 minutes he left. Maybe that cop car with the spotlight will be paying me another visit!

Later it occurred to me, I was never counted in the last census. Never filled out a form, never had a visit, never, never, never. And look how well our government continues to pillage the country? Little old me not being included didn't change a damn thing.

Maxine's View Of Health Care

Y'all are familiar with the cartoon Maxine, right? This is her view of health care. Let me get this straight......we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke.

What the hell could possibly go wrong?

News From Here

The last few days have been interesting to say the least.

Sweetie and I actually had a date night! Drove about 6 miles to Gay to watch the sled dogs arrive at their first checkpoint. This was the inaugural run for the CopperDog150 and despite mid-40 temps and intermittent rain the race continued. Snow was hauled into Calumet's 5th Street where the race began and plenty of shovelers were on hand near Gay to keep snow on the trail as it crossed the bare road. Yooper perseverance at its best!

Yesterday we had our St. Patty's day dinner. In all my years I've never cooked a better corned beef brisket. Melted in our mouths and left me feeling grateful I'd bought and cooked TWO. Today we'll feast on Reuben sandwiches, peach pie and ice cream.

My oldest son paid us a visit yesterday, so the day was extra nice. He whooped my Dad at cribbage and promised to finish the ceramic tile in our hall and above the wood stove today. So, here I sit waiting to she if he'll call for a ride. He's the son without a license who manages to travel like a saleman!

The weirdest thing to occur was my trip home last night after bringing my son home. As I approached the turn for our road an oncoming car slowed down. I thought to myself: "Either it's a drunk, some one's lost or a deer has crossed the road." No. It was a Michigan State trooper who shined a spotlight on my car! I stopped, rolled the window down and he asked who I was, where I lived and where I was going.

Now, if you know me at all, you know those questions got my dander up. I'm thinking: "I don't like his attitude and I'm not under arrest. Therefore, I'm not answering!" Instead I said, "There's nothing wrong here officer. I'm turning here and heading home." And that's exactly what I did!

He turned around too and came about 300 feet down the road. Whether he'd run my license plate I don't know. We live one mile down the road and five minutes later he raced by with his spotlight on. Maybe he'd had a call about a domestic dispute or an altercation of some kind, I don't know. We watched for more than an hour but never saw him return. So that means the two track along Lake Superior is open and he circled around or - he was on a call for several hours.

Maybe he was searching for some dangerous criminal but, his line of questioning left me feeling like I'd met the Gestapo. It's rare that I'm out after dark and stranger still to see any patrol cars out here. The previous night we'd been to the sled dog race in Gay, where hundreds of people gathered, and never saw any cops!

DofE Wants Shotguns?

Now doesn't this just leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling?

March 11, 2010 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A week from Monday, a shipment of combat-ready shotguns is due to arrive in Chicago, destined for what would seem to be an unlikely recipient: the United States Department of Education.


ABC7 investigative reporter Chuck Goudie has learned the details of an unusual gun order.

On Monday, the US Department of Education began soliciting bids, not for books or laptops, but for guns, Remington shotguns decked out with all the combat trimmings, such as short barrels for concealment and modified sights.

Why would the department of education need guns? That is what the I-Team wanted to know.

The guns are to arrive in Chicago west of the Loop on Monday, March 22, in the 14th floor offices of the US Department of Education inspector general.

According to the bid solicitation, the department is purchasing 27 Remington Model 870 pump-action shotguns with 14-inch modified choke barrels. They are custom-made for law enforcement and have shorter barrels than required for purchase by private citizens.

The Remington shotgun being purchased by the education department is intended to replace an older, malfunctioning arsenal, according to officials, and would have to be compatible with existing combat armor.

The I-Team called US Education Secretary Arne Duncan Thursday afternoon to find out why his inspector general's office requires guns at all. Duncan, who previously ran the Chicago Public Schools, referred questions to the inspector general's office.

In an e-mail, a spokesperson told the I-Team that their special agents work waste and fraud cases involving education funds and programs, and they have full law enforcement authority and training, and they sometimes conduct search warrants and make arrests.

The shotguns are expected to arrive at the loading dock in 10 days and are being shipped to Chicago because this is where the education department's firearm's inventory manager is located.

And so, as the anticipated $35,000 gun purchase is in the federal pipeline, the I-team asked federal officials when the last time was that an education department inspector general employee actually fired a weapon in the line of duty. A spokesperson said, "in our history, we have been fortunate that our agents have *not* had to discharge their firearms in the line of duty."

She added, "please know that in the course of our work, we have arrested individuals with violent criminal histories, including violence against law enforcement officers."


(Copyright ©2010 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Little By Little

Little by little we either add to our preps or pay the cost of not doing so. Either we refrain from buying trinkets or gaze at them with disdain when we're hungry or can't pay the electric bill.

I've never heard of anyone eating the $19.95 gizmo they ordered off late night TV. Have you? Likewise, anyone who thinks a pot cover that acts as a strainer is a great investment has as many holes in their head as the cover. And how about that gizmo that cracks eggs in half? Don't people realize that a little egg shell adds calcium to their diet? Sheez...

Little by little, people continue to believe the gossip, innuendo, false promises and reassurances from the FDIC or any other alphabet agency. Like hell your money's insured. Just how can they claim it's insured when there aren't enough funds to cover the total deposits? But, I forgot, the FDIC is run like any other insurance scam. An amount is paid in, some claims are paid, others are denied, and the bulk of YOUR money goes to the officers, shareholders and annual junkets to warm climates. Recently the FDIC admitted it hasn't enough greenbacks. The fee banks must pay the FDIC was raised and collected well in advance. Trouble is, they're still broke. Sounds familiar.

Little by little more regulations are imposed, more people are hired to administer them and more people live their lives unaware of how many laws they've broke that day. The time will come when the only people employed are working for the government. The rest of us will be either dead, dying or enslaved. I never used to think to that extreme but lately I'm convinced it's the natural extension of today's world. The question is: will the masses revolt before life reaches that point? Personally, I don't think so. There will be skirmishes for sure, but overall, the populace is too fat, preoccupied, uninformed, fearful, brainwashed or otherwise clueless.

Just yesterday I read the IRS requires people to file a 1099 if they've settled a debt for say $500 when they owed $2500. The $2,000 is income as far as the IRS is concerned. So, I, like millions of others, am waiting to see if I get a 1099 in the mail. I don't file taxes but you can bet Uncle Sam is desperate for cash and will be knocking on my door one day.

This weekend my youngest son came to visit with his two children. I took them to our inland lake to walk on the ice. The kids marveled at "walking on frozen water." It was heart-warming to watch as my 5-year-old grandson tried pound a stick through the ice. He asked if we had any string so he could catch some fish. As he worked I thought to myself: this poor kid has no idea the world we're leaving for him. It brought tears to my eyes and I had to take a short walk to compose myself.

Later, as they were leaving, I told my son I'd like to take the kids at least once a month for a day-long outing. He said they'd drive me nuts because I don't have the patience for their electronic gizmos. It disappointed me that I had to explain our "outing" would not be held in an arcade.

Told him I'd take the kids to old cemeteries, old mining building, beaver ponds, lakes, rivers, beaches, fire towers, abandoned slate quarries, and the Indian cemetery near L'Anse. Other possibilities are the Hanka Homestead, the Quincy Hoist, and the old community of Alberta where Henry Ford had a sawmill for his Woodies.

My son claimed the kids would be bored. Not one to give in I said, "I'll do it anyway. Maybe someday they'll appreciate experiencing those things."

Picture of Our Keweenaw Outing

Today the temps were in the 40's, the sun was shining and we rolled out of our drive at 10:30 a.m. bound for Copper Harbor. Took the lake route, driving to Gay, then Lac La Belle and finally Copper Harbor. We stopped for coffee and a bathroom break at the Bear Belly Bar & Grill overlooking Lac La Belle Lake. Pictured are my Dad and Sweetie. Note the bear and beaver on the pine log above the bar.

Other scenes are along Lake Superior's shoreline and The Holy Transfiguration Skete, Society of St. John. The monastery is located at 6500 State Hwy. M26, three miles east of Eagle River. The brothers operate The Jampot across the street with a wide selection of jams, confections, fruitcakes and bread. The business is well known throughout this area and does a booming mail order business as well. Google The Jampot for more information. Their products are expensive as far as I'm concerned but their more than 25 years on the Keweenaw coastline is a testament to their determination.

I could write forever about the various natural and man made attractions in this area and our history. But my fingers are fatiqued and it's time for my Dad's backrub!!

Regarding Yesterday's Post

Staying Alive asked where I find these people. Had to laugh at his question because I'm convinced they're everywhere.

It would be easy to say they're of a certain nationality, income bracket and life experience but that's not the case.

They are simply people who - if they watch TV news - rely on CBS/NBC/ABC. I dare say they skim over the newspaper articles regarding world events because - like millions of others - they've been dumbed down to the point of feeling helpless and sure as hell don't want to admit to being clueless. So they insulate themselves in the familiar: family, friends, entertainment, gossip, baby showers, birthdays, weddings, funerals, playing Farmville, the local bar, the Department of Human Services and odd jobs.

They have yet to see the grocery stores empty, the delivery trucks parked, the electric grid go down or the cell service never come back on. Until either or all of those happen they'll hold fast to their mindset.

And by God, anyone who presents a different perspective or talks of having a different experience is considered "weird" or otherwise full of delusional thinking. Even people at the local food co-op promote self sufficiency yet many, many think it overkill to stock food for a year. Afterall, they've worked hard to keep the co-op viable.

In one generation the people have removed themselves from hard work, thrift and self-sufficiency. Many still can still recall the former era but are relieved to be free of its shackles. They're convinced that money and buying what they need is the answer to all their needs. I wonder how many of these people realize their consumption isn't sustainable. When I mention this subject most classifiy me as an anti-job environmentalist. The skullcap of "I should be able to..." and "I'm entitled to...because everyone else has one" is still tightly fit around their heads.

Yet 50 years ago this region was incredibly self-sufficient. Potato warehouses, dairys, slaughter houses and family owned meat markets were common. Huge gardens, root cellars and orchards dotted the landscape. Every little community had its own grocery, repair shop, churches, saloons and community center. Most are gone now in favor of Chinamarts. The old stores, if still standing, have been turned into apartments or storage facilities.

Today, community building has little to do with barn raisings and bringing in the harvest and more to do with paying to participate. Tournaments, parties, festivals, gourmet dinnenrs and fundraisers are the focus. Not that they're all bad it's just that the other basic, helpful activities have all but disappeared. People insulate themselves in front of the boob tube or the computer and complain there's nothing to do while their children whine about being bored.

It's a sad commentary on the whole of this nation and in this region it's very apparent. One has only to drive through the little communities to see signs of "the old ways." Houghton and Hancock have fewer indicators but they are there; trouble is the people are distracted by all the development, the activity and the talk of progressive consumption!

I Just Shake My Head

Anymore it seems trying to discuss preparedness with people is like talking to a wall. Not sure why but I seem to run into these morons in clusters.

Example #1:

Youngest sis called looking for my Dad. She asked what I was doing and I said I was fine tuning my shopping list. "Don't you have enough?," she asked. "Never," I said. Then she tells my about her latest shopping trip. "I bought a few groceries, some wall border and more paint." When I asked why a "few groceries" she claimed she "needed" the wall border. I asked how her new job was going and she said she's now scheduled "on call." So, in the flush of two 36-hour a week paychecks she's painted and papered her rented home, bought more subliminal CDs and a "few" groceries. Before month's end she'll be at the food pantry.

Example #2:

The neighbor's girlfriend has found a part time job. She had one last fall but left after the boss "kept screwing with" her schedule. Working weekend nights interfered with their barroom antics. Now she's working as a babysitter. "The hours are great and by June 1st I'll have enough saved that we won't have to worry about being broke on the weekends." In other words, they'll have money to party all summer long.

Example #3:

Someone heard from my children that I'm "a prepping nut." She stopped me at the gas station and said, "So what if you have all that food? If the lights are out you won't be able to cook or see anything anyway." Sorry, but I couldn't resist. "You might not be able to cook or see but we will," I boasted. "How's that?" she asked. "A woodstove, propane camp stove and grill; kerosene and Coleman lamps with plenty of fuel; candles, flashlights and spare batteries, oh, and a solar oven," I boasted again. She looked lost a moment, then said, "Okay, suppose all those things don't work. How you gonna eat then?" I smiled and said, "Open a can or jar and insert a spoon." The thought of eating unheated food straight from the container mortified her. "Yuk, Yuk Yuk!" she screamed, as though she'd swallowed sour milk.

Example #4: The neighbor and I met while our for our walks - me heading north, she going south. "You gonna pick a lot of blueberries this summer?" she inquired. "Of course," I said. "And this year we'll can most of them to save on freezer space." She stopped in her tracks. "Why would you want to go through all that trouble?" she said. "Besides, they're small berries and hey'll be floating around in juice." Had to agree with her regarding their size and the juice. "The whole point of picking and preserving them is to have enough to last until the next crop." She laughed and said, "It's too much work. Go buy them already frozen if you're not going to freeze them yourself." As I retired State Police trooper I'm sure she can afford this. I can't and wouldn't consider it anyway.

March Musings

Another month begins and so does my prepping list. Tomorrow I'll grab a newspaper somewhere - preferably free - and check out the sales. If there's anything I absolutely can't live without for a few more days, I'll buy it. Otherwise, my monthly shopping trip is planned for sometime between the 5th and the 10th. Lots of leeway there because we're jammed packed with appointments from now through the 9th. Most are for Dad - who came home from his weekend getaway kind of cranky - so we're treading lightly for a few days here.

The new toilet we bought last fall was installed yesterday. What a treat to not feel like we're using the kiddie bathroom. As usual, Sweetie discovered some more of the previous owner's engineering when he removed the old toilet. We were prepared to do the complete job but Murphy's Law strikes again so I packed everything up and thanked myself for NOT mixing up any mud.

Dad had come home earlier than expected and stood in the bathroom shaking his head.
According to him, with every new discovery we make, he's more convinced we paid for the land and the pole barn. "The home," he said, "is an afterthought that someone didn't bother to tear down." Oh well.

My Dad was skunked by every cribbage player he encountered this weekend. Then he was not impressed with my ex's attempts to "advise" him on what would be best for his health. He went to bed early last night and took two naps today. When he walked in the door Sunday he said, "Nice to be home. Really nice." Of course we appreciated his comment but I wondered if it was for our benefit because he's aware of the family dynamics. Last night, my SIL emailed concerning the other camp's "discussion" with Dad. Of course, they had nothing flattering to say about us. Oh well again.

We communicate with a fellow prepper in Lower Michigan who's coming to the area in April. He works here for about 6-8 months and stays in his motor home at a park nearby. So it will be interesting to meet.

Well, supper's nearly done and I'm starved. Have a great day, Treesong