Holy heck we have a LOT of junk...seriously. Way more stuff than we would really ever use, which is bad. I apparently inherited the much dreaded pack rat gene from my mother, though not to the extent she inherited it...I can still tell you where most of our stuff came from and how long we've had it. Mom, not so much.
Anyway, tomorrow starts the streamlining process. Since there ain't gonna be no more, no more...ain't gonna be no more babies popping out EVAH (yes, EVAH) all baby related things are being passed to my sis for Preston (the sweet little red haired imp the graced us just before Christmas). Farewell outgrown clothing and shoes, I will not miss your space taking mess! Adieu toys that have no age/educational relevance (and that are noisy...note sis bought most of these herself, it's only right she gets them back, right?)! Maternity clothing? Donating ALL of it to a local pregnancy resource center...hey I WILL NOT BE NEEDING IT!!
Then there is the dilemma of our LARGE collection of VHS tapes (I stopped counting at 256). Seriously? Why do we have them? We don't even watch them anymore, they are in boxes in the closet. I guess I need to go through and pull out the ones that are worth keeping. Dunno what to do with the rest...anyone even know?
Useless things abound in this house right now...not so much after this weekend. Sure, I could probably make a little cash off of most of the junk if I wait until the summer yard sale season, but let's face it...I'm lazy and would rather spend my summer NOT behind a table haggling prices on things that I don't really want anymore.
Now if I could just find someone to do something with these bazillion pictures and such that I have. I don't scrapbook (for those that love it, sorry but it's a total waste of time for me) so let's not go there. I doubt very seriously that they will be of any historical significance, but I suppose a lot of folks thought the same many moons ago. They'll probably stay boxed away for future generations to pilfer through and use for kindling...that's one sure way to contribute to the survival of my gene pool, hoard old pictures. Yeah, call it preppin'.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Few Funnies for my Zombie Killaz
I stumbled on these and LOVE them! Hope you enjoy them too.
Illinois Zombie Warning Link #1
Illinois Zombie Warning Link #2
And because I adore this one so much it's on my Facebook page:
Oh and not zombie related, this one is right there with the other on making me smile because it's sooooo true:
Illinois Zombie Warning Link #1
Illinois Zombie Warning Link #2
And because I adore this one so much it's on my Facebook page:
Oh and not zombie related, this one is right there with the other on making me smile because it's sooooo true:
Monday, February 2, 2009
Many thoughts in one Post (watch out!)
'acause (to quote the littlest screamer) I'm feelin' a mite bit lazy tonight, I'm going to flash you with a bunch of random thoughts and opines. Beware, it will be disjointed and rambly (no, I haven't been hittin' the wine either...yet).
First thoughts: The Refund and how we are spending it
Yep, spending it. That's our way of saving. We are spending it by paying off the van, paying rent a month ahead (to give us wiggle room), getting caught up on the utilities (not being able to pay all of it at once does add up), getting the spouse new glasses and getting the ever growing biggest screamer some new shoes. After all that is said and done, I'll be buying my tickets for my trip in May (absolutely refuse to NOT go...note that, it comes into play later), the rest of my gear and then stimulating the local economy by finally breaking down and getting inked. Yes, you read that right. I've been waiting 14yrs to get it and by golly, I'm doing it (it's all part of that new "live life" thing I'm doing btw). Not changing my mind on that either.
Things we AREN'T doing with said refund...giving money to my parents. Harsh eh? You just don't know folks, I'm telling ya. My mother is a spender...big time. Always has been. Point in case, my senior year of high school I was denied federal aide for college because my parents brought in a combined $99k the year before. You coulda knocked me over with a feather when I read that. Seriously? $99k? Hey Mom, can you tell me why I kept having to loan you money from my measley Mickey D's paychecks? See...you do see don't you dear readers?
Fast forward to present, Mom calls daily asking if the refund went in. Offers to buy my tickets LATER if I will loan them money when it hits the bank. My lifetime of experience with my mother has taught me one thing...there will be no LATER. There will always, always be something else that she needs the money for and I will not see a red cent back. Solution: Be the bad daughter again. I did it before (when I was 20 and it weren't pretty...I survived, but Mom learned what not to say to me) and I will do it again. It's way past time for Mom to stop depending on me and the siblings to bail her out of her messes. Oh, sidenote on this too...Bro gave Mom $500 over the holidays to pay her rent...she did not pay her rent but instead went shopping (see, see! I am not just being a snotty child!).
Second Line of Thoughts: Health related stuff
The spouses glasses will be out of pocket, we don't have any kind of insurance (other than vehicle) on ourselves. Which translates to a lot of learning how to keep ourselves well. On this path, we have both been training like we are re-enlisting. Spouse is naturally doing way better with the weight (men suck...there I said it). I do better with stamina though (bwahahaha, yes these short legs can outrun his long ones if we go for distance). Now, I won't be re-enlisting...Army don't want this broke chick.
We've also started paying more attention to what we eat and how are bodies react. This weekend was an off weekend with lots of meals out and not being measured. We both felt like crap come Sunday morning. Lesson learned: portion control is truly your bestest friend in the wide world. Oh, that translates to preppin' too folks. Pay attention to HOW MUCH you eat, the what you eat matters too but seriously gorge on food and you pay. Pretty simple a concept, but not one that we (as a people) really ever think about for the most part. It's so easy to go back for seconds, thirds and even fourths of some things. That's been the second hardest habit to break, the first being the smokes...really, really have to stop those puppies.
Last bit o' random thoughts for the night: Food
Ah, my friend and my enemy. But for the sake of trail research, I've been spending a lot of time with food. I really don't want to be hauling 25lbs of food around with me in May...not for a 3-4 day hike. So I've been playing with some things. The pouch tuna and chicken, the ready to eat rices (hey! I did a post on those over at the hiking blog) and more than just dried apples. I have to tell you folks, if you don't have the RTE rices in your preps...get some. Literally RTE in two minutes, straight from the pouch. Oh and be darn sure you have some of the pouches of tuna and chicken in those preps too. The cans are great, but the pouches will save you some serious ounces in a BOB. Even a few random ounces here and there will weigh you down, slowing you down...not a fun thought in a SHTF situation.
Okay, now I'll run off and hit the wine...local and fantastic!
First thoughts: The Refund and how we are spending it
Yep, spending it. That's our way of saving. We are spending it by paying off the van, paying rent a month ahead (to give us wiggle room), getting caught up on the utilities (not being able to pay all of it at once does add up), getting the spouse new glasses and getting the ever growing biggest screamer some new shoes. After all that is said and done, I'll be buying my tickets for my trip in May (absolutely refuse to NOT go...note that, it comes into play later), the rest of my gear and then stimulating the local economy by finally breaking down and getting inked. Yes, you read that right. I've been waiting 14yrs to get it and by golly, I'm doing it (it's all part of that new "live life" thing I'm doing btw). Not changing my mind on that either.
Things we AREN'T doing with said refund...giving money to my parents. Harsh eh? You just don't know folks, I'm telling ya. My mother is a spender...big time. Always has been. Point in case, my senior year of high school I was denied federal aide for college because my parents brought in a combined $99k the year before. You coulda knocked me over with a feather when I read that. Seriously? $99k? Hey Mom, can you tell me why I kept having to loan you money from my measley Mickey D's paychecks? See...you do see don't you dear readers?
Fast forward to present, Mom calls daily asking if the refund went in. Offers to buy my tickets LATER if I will loan them money when it hits the bank. My lifetime of experience with my mother has taught me one thing...there will be no LATER. There will always, always be something else that she needs the money for and I will not see a red cent back. Solution: Be the bad daughter again. I did it before (when I was 20 and it weren't pretty...I survived, but Mom learned what not to say to me) and I will do it again. It's way past time for Mom to stop depending on me and the siblings to bail her out of her messes. Oh, sidenote on this too...Bro gave Mom $500 over the holidays to pay her rent...she did not pay her rent but instead went shopping (see, see! I am not just being a snotty child!).
Second Line of Thoughts: Health related stuff
The spouses glasses will be out of pocket, we don't have any kind of insurance (other than vehicle) on ourselves. Which translates to a lot of learning how to keep ourselves well. On this path, we have both been training like we are re-enlisting. Spouse is naturally doing way better with the weight (men suck...there I said it). I do better with stamina though (bwahahaha, yes these short legs can outrun his long ones if we go for distance). Now, I won't be re-enlisting...Army don't want this broke chick.
We've also started paying more attention to what we eat and how are bodies react. This weekend was an off weekend with lots of meals out and not being measured. We both felt like crap come Sunday morning. Lesson learned: portion control is truly your bestest friend in the wide world. Oh, that translates to preppin' too folks. Pay attention to HOW MUCH you eat, the what you eat matters too but seriously gorge on food and you pay. Pretty simple a concept, but not one that we (as a people) really ever think about for the most part. It's so easy to go back for seconds, thirds and even fourths of some things. That's been the second hardest habit to break, the first being the smokes...really, really have to stop those puppies.
Last bit o' random thoughts for the night: Food
Ah, my friend and my enemy. But for the sake of trail research, I've been spending a lot of time with food. I really don't want to be hauling 25lbs of food around with me in May...not for a 3-4 day hike. So I've been playing with some things. The pouch tuna and chicken, the ready to eat rices (hey! I did a post on those over at the hiking blog) and more than just dried apples. I have to tell you folks, if you don't have the RTE rices in your preps...get some. Literally RTE in two minutes, straight from the pouch. Oh and be darn sure you have some of the pouches of tuna and chicken in those preps too. The cans are great, but the pouches will save you some serious ounces in a BOB. Even a few random ounces here and there will weigh you down, slowing you down...not a fun thought in a SHTF situation.
Okay, now I'll run off and hit the wine...local and fantastic!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Wiring
Ever wonder why some people are the way they are? For instance, the spouse and myself are so completely different it's almost scary.
He's wired to be productive under supervision and thrives in a very structured environment. That's why the Army is his best career choice, he's finally seen that (note: this is something that I've known for years, but hey you can only say "I told you so" so many times). Me on the other hand, well...I thrive on chaos, I chafe at the bit in highly structured situations...I am the consummate Aquarius.
How in the world have we managed not to murder each other in the past 14 years? I dunno. The relationship seems to work alright. We do have our moments of tension (see scary stuff) and I used to express my opinion by hurling the nearest heavy object at his head. Don't worry, I never hit him. My aim is too good. Like just about every married woman I even entertained the thought of smothering him with a pillow, then realized it would do me little good to go to jail. I'm volatile, he's not so much. Then there are ways that I'm way more relaxed than him. The spouse stresses easily and his stomach feels the brunt of the stress. Me, if I can't fix it I let it go. I tend to let the screamers do their worst...if they ain't bleeding it's all cool. He goes nutty at the noise. I suppose opposites do attract.
So where does that lead in terms of survival/prep/goo? We balance each other out for the most part. His wiring, so different from my own, grounds me. He is my ground wire, I'm his hot one (lol...I'm hot). It's the balance that preppers/survivalists need in their company of friends and family. Be honest...you don't really want a permanent antagonist in your group? A downer that has no happy place? The point is to choose carefully. Time is short for most to do this, but done it must be. No man is an island...no woman either.
Prep all you like, but darn it...get thee a support system!
He's wired to be productive under supervision and thrives in a very structured environment. That's why the Army is his best career choice, he's finally seen that (note: this is something that I've known for years, but hey you can only say "I told you so" so many times). Me on the other hand, well...I thrive on chaos, I chafe at the bit in highly structured situations...I am the consummate Aquarius.
How in the world have we managed not to murder each other in the past 14 years? I dunno. The relationship seems to work alright. We do have our moments of tension (see scary stuff) and I used to express my opinion by hurling the nearest heavy object at his head. Don't worry, I never hit him. My aim is too good. Like just about every married woman I even entertained the thought of smothering him with a pillow, then realized it would do me little good to go to jail. I'm volatile, he's not so much. Then there are ways that I'm way more relaxed than him. The spouse stresses easily and his stomach feels the brunt of the stress. Me, if I can't fix it I let it go. I tend to let the screamers do their worst...if they ain't bleeding it's all cool. He goes nutty at the noise. I suppose opposites do attract.
So where does that lead in terms of survival/prep/goo? We balance each other out for the most part. His wiring, so different from my own, grounds me. He is my ground wire, I'm his hot one (lol...I'm hot). It's the balance that preppers/survivalists need in their company of friends and family. Be honest...you don't really want a permanent antagonist in your group? A downer that has no happy place? The point is to choose carefully. Time is short for most to do this, but done it must be. No man is an island...no woman either.
Prep all you like, but darn it...get thee a support system!
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