Post #350, Plans, Previews and Pinterest....

Well, here she be...post #350 (which means I have between now and August 4th to really get cracking and hopefully flood you with posts in order to make it to #500 for the 6th Blogiversary).

Gonna share the love of food and exercise in this one...along with some links.

First up, awaiting me at the new place and preppin' to start on June 15th is this:

21 Day Fix

My friend and coach, Lindsay Baker (who is freakin' fantabulous btw), just finished her first round and posted a review.  I'm just dying having to wait to start.

Thankfully, there aren't many changes (from what I understand) that will need to be done with the diet, as we've already started those changes.  I've got links posted to favorite foodie haunts on the Foodie Links page AND here ya go...a look at my Pinterest board filled with Clean, Paleo and Primal food yumminess that is finding its way into our chow rotation.  I highly, highly suggest the Paleo Chicken Nuggets...always a win here.

The next week is going to be completely nutty around here as the Great Move approaches and since I'll be MIA (due to utility transfers and weekends not getting along) I'll be attempting to write up some posts for the "down" days.  In other words, be prepared for out of place randomness from May 30th to June 2nd.  You've been warned.

Pantry-style Linkage....

specifically for Red Hen...as promised!

These are a few of the places I've been looking and watching prices on rice/GF flours...there are mixes available (sort of like self-rising) but I'm just pricing the straight up flours.  There are several recipes on the net for mixing your own as well.

Fine Rice Flour - 50 Pound Bag (affiliate)
AllBulkFoods (list of all flours...GF showed up at the top of the list for me)
BulkFoods (their prices overall seem lower per pound than the others)

There are also co-ops that generally have good prices...the problem for me is that none are active in my area.  If you order, please let me know about your experience...I'll do the same when I order as well!

Can't Remember...

If I'd ever share these before or not...I'm sure most of you know about them, but just in case.

Self-Education via Coursera.org (I enjoyed the discussion in the Disaster Preparedness course)

And a little know thy enemy via FEMA (a whole list of courses designed to educate the average joe in how to work like them) that I'm actually finding a bit enlightening.

I only do the freebie stuff, of course, 'cause I'm cheap like that.

Enjoy!

(Psst....click an ad.  The little white boxes over there ----> or the big one under the post....thanks!)

Rather Than....

torture you lot with the whole healthy lifestyle journey posts here...I'm putting all of them HERE.

Everything prep related to all of ^that^ will go on this blog (cross posts will be labeled as such), along with all other preparedness related things.  That particular blog is there because I don't want gripey emails about "hey, don't care about how hard the new lifestyle is or blah, blah, blah."  Or "really, that's what you're doing/eating/drinking?  Gross/stupid/can't believe it."

Feel free to follow along...if ya want.  Feel free not to...if ya don't.

And now...I'm off to enjoy the gorgeous clear skies tonight before the rain and cold comes back.

Possible Interesting Development...

at work the other night...sort of got approached by a manager about taking up a management position.  I didn't say no, I also didn't say yes.  Management at a fast food chain has never really been in my plans...let's face it though, going back to work at McD's after leaving it 12+ years ago was never really in my plans.  They (aka management) know my classes and clinicals will take a lot of time away from work and that I plan on quitting once we're out on the place because the drive is not worth it...so I'm not real sure where this offer came from.  Don't know if it was said manager's frustration at the idiocy that was occurring at the time with the younger workers or if it was a legit offer.  Time will tell I suppose...will wait to see if the higher ups actually come to me with the question.  Though they have previously asked if I thought I might be interested...the whole thing has me wondering all in all.

As it is, there is plenty on the plate for the next couple of months anyway.  Moving, getting settled, getting to work on setting up the place as much as we can as fast as we can...all of which takes $$; which takes us back to the whole question of should I quit or should I stay.  Vicious flippin' circle, I tell ya.

I'm seriously just flat out undecided on the whole thing.  The dreamer/idealist in me says quit and focus on school and the homestead.  The realist in me says we need the money to get things rolling quickly and it's possible for me to do it all until there is a scheduling conflict with clinicals and work.  Add to all of the above the fact that I know how difficult it is to find a job period and there is no guarantee that I will find something in the field after I'm done with the EMT courses.  I suppose I can always just ask for a leave of absence until I'm done if it gets to be too much then pick up where I left off at McD's until something comes along for me as an EMT.

Le Sigh...being grown up is over-rated...decisions pertaining to the well being of family and home suck.

A bit stretched out...

right now! What with the summer time upon us, familial trips (out of state, in state, camping...the list goes on), school for me and now the garden popping up all over...I'm pulling myself a little thin all around.

I'll try to keep up regular posting, but you must forgive me if I go a few days (or a week) in between. There is so much for me to get done before the spousal unit takes off (sometime soon) to post unknown (as of yet) and the oldest screamer starts school of his own (now I'm thinkin' it wasn't such a bad idea!!) that I've gotta cut somewhere and unfortunately it's here.

I'll still be around, just not as much. I'll still post irrelevant information, just not as much. Heck, might even be a useful gem or two in here somewhere at some point.

Catch ya'll soon, I hope!!

Home Again, Home Again

Wow! That was by far the most interesting and fun week I've had in a long time. Quite informative as well.

I won't bore you with details, let's just say I had a lot of fun and plenty of time to think without interruption (which isn't necessarily always a good thing, lol). It gave me the chance to take a step back and have a good look at things (life, relationships, where we stand in general with home stuff, etc). I guess I am the kind of person that needs to physically step out of the situation to be able to assess it mentally.

In doing that, I've discovered that my life could be way worse (duh, knew that) and found ways to make myself feel useful. See that's what the problem was, I didn't feel useful. I don't 'work' so can't really bitch about money too much (but do). My 'job' isn't paid or very much appreciated for the most part, but it's mine. I've got at least another two years before I can/will even consider working outside the home again...it's only fair to the littlest screamer to be home with him like I was the biggest. So the online schooling stuff for me is a step in the right direction for feeling useful. It begins on Monday (25th)...I should probably be nervous but I'm not given that my first two classes are cherry easy.

So, in short, that lovely (and I do mean LOVELY) vacation gave me a slightly different perspective and I'm going to run with it...can't do much worse than I've done before and it's a learning opportunity (always good).

As for Portland, let's just say that someday...someday...I will be a Portlander permanent or at the very least an Oregon girl. Gorgeous city, stunning countryside, great people...heck, I didn't even mind the chilly winds and cold rains. If you've never been, go. Next year, jebus/allah/buddha providing, the whole lot of us are going...may the Dust help me!!

Last Post....

from the home computer at least...until the 18th!!

For the safety and sanctity of my darling computer, I will be shutting her down and locking her up while I'm gone...little fingers tend to add extra hard drives that don't really exist and can't be erased when left to their own devices.

I have however learned how to post a full on post via my loverly phone...so I may be sweet and fill you in on a day or two of vacation. Or you can check in every once in a while on the Twitter thingy to the left...sure to be lots of updates there!

I won't be able to respond to comments, but will be able to read them via email (also on my super freakin' cool phone), so comment away when I post...if I post...nah, I'll post at least once, promise.

In the meantime, bag is packed up and dang if I'm not counting down the hours.

2 days
55 hours
3302 minutes
198166 seconds

Take your pick...they all point to the exact same time, lol.

Breathe...

it's safe now, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. I know you were all waiting on tenderhooks to see if I could pull off finding lodging on the cheap...well, I did. (bwahahahahaha)

Finalizing details with arrival and such tomorrow, but as of right now I gots me a nice little pad in a finished basement. Complete with fridge, microwave, bed, shower AND it's close to all the transit I could want or need.

Yep, I'm one resourceful chick. Eat your hearts out, lol.

So in just a little over a week and a half I'll be dropping onto Texas soil for a brief (VERY brief) visit, then onward to Oregon (go west, young...er...well, go west). Any Portlanders dropping by feel free to point me in the direction of a good coffee house (nyuk, nyuk).

HJ, Cyg...I'll wave at ya from the airport...I promise!

Now back to our not-so-regular schedule (schedule said like the British with the whole funky ssshhced thing).

Are ya freakin' over the whole swine flu thing like the WHO? Just wondering...I don't really have an opinion on it yet, too early...but I tend to err on the side of "we ain't seen nothing yet" just cause I know that the numbers are probably higher than they even think/know/guess...not everyone goes running to the doctor when they start getting sick, some can't afford it (ME!!) and some have a massive fear of doctors. Should be interesting, non?, to see how this plays out...containment is a goner, too late...prevention, fat chance because this puppy is new and a mutant (not the hot kind like Wolverine or Cyclops either). Just gonna keep an eye on this one, 'bout all one can do at this point.

Well, that's it for the night folks...gotta pull the bread out of the oven and spend a little time sippin' some ginger tea (just about have this cold licked). Catch ya tomorrow...maybe!

It's all about Adaptability...

so I've been saying. Got a real test on that theory this weekend.

Because I don't have a 'real' credit card, the rental car company tacked on an extra $200 to my deposit for the vacation/getaway car. Um...no thank you. Canceled the car, canceled the hostel...gonna spend a week puttering around Portland instead.

Doesn't stink too bad, lots to see and do there (I'm particularly excited about that massive bookstore Powell's....yeah baby). The other upside is that with the canceling of the rental, I was able to get a cell that I can actually post to the blog from (oh the tech junkie in me is just ecstatic). Add to that the Portland is a leading city in 'green' living (yes, we know how I feel about the green wave) and I'm sure to pick up some ideas that I haven't already had to put into play here.

See, flexible plans. Now if I can just find something affordable to live in for a week, lol. The hostels there cost as much as a hotel room nearly...so I'm going all nuts looking for a sublet that I can actually afford...yeah, good luck!!

Busy, Busy, Busy....

Sorry I've not been on much lately, other than to Tweet updates and random thoughts (see Twitter in right column).

I'm one busy Momma these days (and not just because I've seen the sun for two days straight)!! Been busy filling out college applications, working on essays for said applications (good grief) and now I have two articles to add to the writing mess. Keep in mind there is still a house to run, screamers to chase after and blow bubbles with AND a trip to get ready for (working on last minute needs that I can find el cheapo via a neighbor that used to hike but can't anymore...can we say bartering him down to prices I can afford?). Toss in a little extra research on schools of choice (oh how I wish I could go to Lewis & Clark right off) and I've got just a little extra time on my hands...very little.

I've got a few posts in the works, but well...let's face it...I'm going to get the school stuff done first, lol.

Hope the weather is treating all well, the gardens/seedlings are doing brilliant and you all are taking even just a few minutes a day to do something for you!!

Sunday Ramblings

Afternoon all...yeah, afternoon. Morning for me apparently. My sleep mechanism is going through a messed up phase...again. Happens every once in a while to me, my days and nights reverse. No matter how tired I am, I can't sleep and I end up staying up until the sun rises. I'll do this for a few days, then no sleep for 48hrs before a crash that readjusts me to normal sleep times. Weird, eh? Done it for years...still haven't figured out how to remedy it. I figure my body is doing it for a reason, I've yet to figure that out too.

For what it's worth, the lack of night sleep offers me a measure of quiet. Perfect time to reflect, take stock and make plans without interruption from the screamers or spousal unit. 'Course, my plans are flexible (as always) which means taking in an obscene amount of information to cover possibilities. Locations, travel time via car/foot, pros/cons...my poor brain is packed with information that many would find useless. Heaven help the soul that tries to disentangle it all.

Another peek into my twisted storage system called my mind. I'm gathering topos/info on not only trails for my impending flight to sanity but also info on local trails and backwoods that would make for decent 'get outta here' spots. I honestly don't foresee our 'lovely' landlord being a good guy in a SHTF situation, therefore I have to plan accordingly. Could do the whole parental unit thing and go to them, but really we lived with them for 3 months while getting back on our feet in '07/08...love them, but realized that there was a reason I got the heck outta there as soon as I could.

Sigh...life. One funky bad choice after another. It sucks to always have to choose the lesser of two evils. Why not one good, one evil...life in black and white so to speak. Well, that would just be downright boring, I think. It's the gray area that makes for challenges, learning opportunities and even fun. And what are we if we stop learning and living?

We are living in a time that presents us with so many chances to learn from challenges and yes, even have fun with them. My personal challenge is to see if I can get us (ie the family) ready enough to be able to throw what we need on our backs and BO to the backwoods...live that way for a two week minimum. Will I meet it? Doubt it (the spouse is a creature of comfort) but it's a fun challenge none the less. 'Specially since the budget doesn't allow for big time purchases (like a decent 3 season tent for 4). So I did some digging and found THIS.

Downright useful site if I say so myself. Gonna try my hand at a few of the smaller projects before my trip in May. Care to join me?


P.S. The title did warn that this would be rambly!

LINK FIXED!!

If you didn't see it....

here's a bit o' linkage to the Stewart vs Cramer that gave me a good chuckle. Jon Stewart, a pillar of controlled rage, gave it to CNBC's Jim Cramer pretty damn good...loved it. Video embedded in linked page, be sure to watch 'cause Cramer just can't make a defense...seriously. A wake up for the sheeple as to how much they rely on 'news' channels...mayhap, mayhap not. Probably just another pissing point to them. I'm too tired to be properly outraged over the stupidity, I'll leave that to others.

I'm worn the f**k out...sore, beat down, exhausted...add in any number of adjectives here. Why, you ask (or maybe you don't...I don't care, my blog)? Well, 'cause part of the getting back into shape is naturally working out. Don't have a farm or land to work, don't have livestock to chase after (the screamers, I am told, do not count as livestock) or any other number of things that some get to do daily that help them stay in shape...I'm one of those poor, dumb saps that works out with 'exercise'. I know what you're thinking, Ozark Momma jumping around the townhouse with some perky bleach blonde preaching the miracles of aerobic exercise from the boob tube...while that perky blonde is planning her next plastic surgery...well, nope...not really. Ozark Momma don't roll that way.

Instead, I voluntarily get my ass kicked on a daily basis...hard. I sat down and had me a nice think about the time in my life when I was at the peak of physical fitness. Not high school (track and soccer)...nope, it was fresh from my knee injuring stint in Basic Training. Even with that career ending injury, I was in fantastic shape. Why? 'Cause I got my ass kicked on a daily basis...crutches or no. I had to find something that would keep me motivated to get that kickin' here in the civilian world.

I did...it hurts...I cry when it's time for the ab workout but I push through...I spend the day agonizing over the workout for that night, but I anticipate it with a mix of perverse curiosity and joy. I am apparently a masochist. I am an X'er...as in P90X...you've seen the infomercials, I'm sure...if not, google it. I love it, even if I have to roll (literally) out of bed in the morning...seem to remember that first couple of weeks in Basic being the same way too. Only thing I don't have is a Drill (Benovitz, Vinson, Davis, Kummer...all of the wonderful men and women I despised for weeks) to keep my ass moving all day long. That is why I know I'm sore and tired...no one keeping me on my toes and moving so I don't have time to think about it...sigh, those were the days folks. 'Course nostalgia does color things a different shade a bit, but I don't forget the physical stuff.

That peak condition is what I'm striving for...unfortunately I'm not running everywhere, dropping and doing push ups when someone else screws up, kicking flutter kicks 'cause the platoon leader made a misstep...I'm restricted to playing mommy during the day and getting my ass kicked by Tony Horton at night. I'll deal with it, eventually the sore will fade and the exhaustion will dissipate...but more importantly, the fat will be going and the abs will be back (wow...real abs...I know they're there under the fat...I can f'ing feel them hurting right now!) and the stamina will be knocked up enough that I might just be able to run 5k easily...and being able to do that is the goal for July. Then I'll work on RUNNING that 5k with a fully loaded pack....baby steps...baby steps.

Someday...

I will share with you all the BEFORE pictures of this 'get in shape' adventure I'm on. Not until I'm happy with the AFTER pictures though...gimme until just before the May hike, k?

Let's just say...they ain't purty and I can't believe that my used to be a hot mama self got into this kinda shape. Ugh!

But I'm doing things the right way folks, I love food too much to starve myself with one of those crazy fad diet thingies. It's all about portion control and sayin' bye-bye (for the most part) to all those fried things I was living off of. Don't get me wrong...I still love me some fried chicken (really, who doesn't?) but now it's not every week.

Instead, I've been chowing down on Cajun chicken dippers and experimenting with less butter (except on the baked potato...drown it please) and fats. Let's just say that the stores will stretch even longer on this type of eating routine than they would if I hadn't had a mental/physical breakdown and decided it was 'time for a change'...bwahahahaha!

So what was once a six month store of goodies is now well over ten, if my figuring is right. Not to shabby, I didn't spend any more precious paper on expanding it...just changed the way I looked at food in general. The change does leave me at a bit of a loss in the fresh veggie department though. Having no real place of our own to grow them has set me to looking at container gardening on the upper deck.

Problem there is no sun except in the afternoon, then it's just a few hours. I'll have to put tomatoes on the lower porch, where the creatures can get to them...ugh. Then again, if Mom plants a gajillion of them again this year, I won't have to worry about tomatoes. She will, so I'll skip that. Guess I'll drive the landlord batty with cukes, eggplants and spinach in window boxes then! 'Course, this is all moot if the spouse re-enlists before June...now isn't it.

See, can't win for nothing. Guess I'll spend tonight rethinking the veggies and checking out my new Baker Creek catalog for something quick growing that doesn't ask for much.

Tonight's Thoughts

Nothing profound, nothing that will be entertaining (maybe, I really tend to not think these posts through to the end...call it a character flaw).

Tonight will be a long night. I got a good 5 hour sleep last night and a three hour nap with the screamers today...my body is running on a full night's sleep and is totally keyed up. Brain is always that way...nothing new there. So tonight I am entertaining myself with watching 'The Stand' while working on some writing and reading 'Twilight' for the third (or more...lost count) time. Yes, pretty much all at the same time.

Movie running in the background. Essay and book pulled up on the computer screen, research windows running right along with them. Book in my lap, glass of wine sitting on the table and the last of the smokes lined up.

The last of the smokes...that's a phrase I just didn't think I'd be saying or writing anytime soon. But that lovely new tax is scheduled to take effect on the first of April, so now seems to be as good a time as any to give quitting for good a go. It's possible...I've seen it done, heard rumors of it, even experienced a minor quitting session while in Basic. This time has got to be permanent though. Can't afford them especially when they will be jumping from $1.29 (plus tax) to over $3 (plus more tax). Seems to be the time, I say, so why not.

Besides, it'll help with that running thing I've been doing. I figure it can't hurt to be able to do a nice steady run for 3+ miles with a loaded pack on...don't ask...I'm nowhere near that yet. Knocking off the smokes should help with that, 'course temps that don't ride a roller coaster through the week would help too. I'm pert near tired of nice and warm mid-week with frigid weekends. It's getting entirely to predictable and I am not a predictable kinda girl. Gimme something better, surprise me with a warm streak that lasts more than a day...huh, can ya, please?

At least the minor peeks at spring have bolstered me a bit. All the more resolved to drop the extra pounds and spend hours in the tent this year...with or without the spouse. Which seems to be a sticky point with my lady friends. They seem to think that me, goin' on a walkabout all by my lonesome is not a good idea. Now, I'm not afraid/worried/scared of it...I look forward to it. I hold the philosophy (and I'm sure that it'll be called 'stupid') that I'm going to die someday...it can't be stopped or prevented...I've done a lot of dumb things in my life (car surfing, playing with baby copperheads, getting married...no, not all at once though that would have been a rocking wedding), just chalk this one up as one more. I highly doubt that my hiking a well traveled trail in the middle of tourist season and sleeping out ONE freakin' night is going to be the death of me. However, if it is...then so be it. I'm more concerned about the plane crashing or being hit head on by another driver while I'm cruising to Canada.

Alas, I am the freak of nature around here for many reasons. My insistence at a vacation by myself just amplifies it. Oh well...the freak of nature thinks it's time to get busy doing nothing...ya'll have a good night...ya hear?

The Ink and The Story

For those that want to see the completed project, you can click here...don't worry there's nothing there that will make ya blush, I promise.

Now the story behind the ink. As of this very moment, the picture holds only a ball of tiger lilies and a sweet potato vine. Interesting choices for the most part, both have a deep meaning for me which is the reasoning behind the choices. Tiger lilies are pretty common in the ink world (most flowers are). Here they stand for something along the lines of "dare you to love me". Sure, okay...not for me though.

You see, the tiger lily (or ditch lily) is my flower. As in the one that makes me melt...no roses for this chick...it's all about the tiger lily. Strength, wealth and prosperity (there are more things to wealth than just money). Fierce and dedicated friendship. Tiger lilies are prolific, they SURVIVE just about anywhere in just about any condition. Promising, isn't it?

There is an old Asian legend about the tiger lily...here ya go: A Korean hermit helped a wounded tiger by removing an arrow from its body. The tiger asked the hermit to use his powers to perpetuate their friendship after his death. The hermit agreed and when the tiger died, his body became a tiger lily. Eventually the hermit drowned and his body was washed away. The Tiger Lily spread everywhere searching for its friend.

A dedicated survivor regardless of the hardships...plus they're just too darn pretty for words.

Now the sweet potato vine...that's a whole 'nother ball of wax. Beautiful despite its roots (face it, sweet potatoes are not the prettiest things in the word). Takes root easily but still survives transplants. They aren't fussy and don't demand a lot of time. Easy on the eyes and easy to nurture.

There is a second bit of symbolism to it for me though...the spouse. He's stood by me through all my nuttiness these long years, held me when I've cried and turned me loose when I needed my space. I may not always like the man, but I do love him. I don't do the whole name in permanent ink thing, so I chose to get the vine. You see, the spouse was called by the nickname of Sweet Potato when he was a little fella. Fitting, don't ya think?

Friday Night Confessions

I confess to the following:

*The plans for the tax refund are complete. Tickets bought, bills paid in full and some even ahead a month, extra socked away for the trip, gear bought (got a Sa-Weet pack btw...oh, still gotta decide on a tent, maybe) and new shoes/boots all around.

*Still no plans to give the parental figures any cash. Especially after learning of the mother's latest useless purchase made instead of paying on their van. See, told ya!

*Got my brand. Yep, spouse got branded too. I 'might' show ya when it's all said and done (still need color added to mine, which will happen in roughly a week) 'cause after all my fellow nut-jobs need to know if it really and truly is me hollerin' "hey, it's Ozark Mama" when they got a gun pointed at my skull. Then they can just holler back "show me the ink woman"...done.

*I totally dozed off while getting inked. Seriously. Really, I did. I am also planning additions (yes, plural) to the current piece. Now that is most truly an addiction.

*I am dreading tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day we go through all the crap/junk/stuff the spouse pulled from storage. More baby stuff, more useless stuff. Jebus/Allah/Buddha have mercy on my poor packrattin' soul.

*We've spent entirely too much money eating out this week. We've been out more this week than we have in two months. Scary! But we are back to semi-normal with no more goin' out plans. All major purchases/bills are fini, therefor there is no more need to be out roaming the tri-county area.

There you have it! Prepared with the camping/hiking gear, enough so that we really could just up and live on the trail if needed (well, besides food but that's what hunting and gathering is for if it got that darn bad). Still wading through 14 years of junk gathering but it's not as bad as we originally thought. Still the bad daughter and damn proud of it. And finally, an addiction to ink that could prove useful in a future of being a nomad.

How's your week been?

A Change of Pace

You'll notice one of those (change of pace) here in the future. I've discovered in the past month that surviving and prepping entails more than just food, clothing and bullets. It's been a welcome discovery btw...interesting too.

Seems as if the spouse is actually going to pull through with his end of the bargain (aka lose weight and re-enlist). Don't start, it's what works for us. The past proves it and if anything I learn from the past where most don't. While I'm still prepped for several months of chaos in the food and clothing department, I've taken a turn toward not stressing about adding more. After all there is the distinct possibility that in five months we won't be in the same place (financial, home, country). It's been liberating in a way.

The screamers are excited about the idea too. Yes, I am a bad mother using my children's excitement and desire to be someplace new to my advantage. It prods the spouse to continue on with his pursuit of the end goal. Evil, I admit it. Add that to the Bad Mother's Handbook, I'll sign the page for you.

The change of pace will come in the form of how to prep and survive while being pretty much nomadic. We all know how often our military men and women move about. It's a challenge I look forward too, figuring out how to prep but still be mobile enough to change locations at the drop of an order. It does happen ya know. That means streamlining the household to bare minimum. Should be fun, right? Just agree with me and let me be delusional for a little while longer, okay. I don't HAVE to start the mental process just yet.

So there you have it...I'll add some of my experience over the past month a bit later on. I didn't know how close to crazy I really was/am. It's been one heck of a ride (no, not the political and world crap either).

Oh and wish me a Happy Birthday...I turned 32 today...woot...hey, this might just be a mid-life or something like that crisis. I'm enjoying it at least!

Since it's about survival...

here, I've decided to set up a different blog for my backpacking adventures and nonsense HERE.

Now, admittedly there will be lessons from one blog that translate to the other, so be prepared for a bit of cross-posting or redirecting via linkage should that happen. After all, even a packer needs to survive!

Prepping of a different kind (for me at least)...

yet another part of the "get myself back" plan...I'm taking up backpacking again! I've not been on a serious trek since before the oldest screamer was born but darn it...I'm gonna do it this spring!

So, I prep. All new equipment being researched (since I have nothing of my old stuff anymore) and added to the list. New boots, new pack, new 1 person tent (to discourage the spouse from assuming he can go with me on my retreats...sorry, this is mine)....new everything!

"Well, where are you going in such an all fired hurry?" you ask. Olympic National Forest. Hoh River to Third Beach trail, with a few others being eyed as day hikes. I have until May to get myself back into prime packing physique. That means dropping roughly 30lbs (was 40 but I dropped 10 from stress this week, lol) and regaining the ability to carry a 30+lb pack on my back. A fair trade off for a week plus alone in the wild.

Oh the blissful peace and solitude, hours and hours of walking with the waves crashing on the beach and the sounds of the forest all around...sigh...is there any better piece of heaven on Earth?

I've never done a real solo trek before, so it should be highly interesting to say the least. Plus I've picked a place leagues away from home...even more interesting, eh?

At any rate, if there are any serious packers around (or even the not so serious), give me links to some of your favorite gear...I am swamped here!