Everywhere I look, bloggers are posting proud reviews of all they've accomplished in the past year. Normally I enjoy reading these, thinking about all we've accomplished, and looking forward to making significant progress in our future. This year, I can barely stomach them.
It's not that I'm not happy for those folks who have built great garden beds, got their chickens and made tractors for them, put in more insulation, stocked up on supplies or figured out ways to do without, gleaned ample supplies of free wood for their wood stoves, and so on. It's just that we've had such an incredibly unsuccessful year while getting our dreams completely crushed that I don't even know what to aim for anymore.
Since I started blogging, and that's been over three and a half years now, we worked towards building a more self-sufficient sustainable lifestyle. We spent countless hours poring over what we wanted in a homestead and how we would "develop" it. We spent countless more hours searching for the homestead.
We found our ideal place and plunked our money and lives down on it. Then the rug got yanked out from under us and we were told that despite it being privately owned (by us), the bureaucrats, in essence, actually own it and will not allow us the use of it. Oh, we can use a small portion of it, but only with their express permission in exactly the manner that they allow. And they won't allow what we wanted to do here to grow our own food, harvest the rainwater, or almost anything else we'd spent years planning.
Where does one go after that? Spend another two to three years searching for a place, only to be blind-sided again? Change the plan? Give up? Right now, we're pretty discouraged and still debating our options. Hence, the only goals I am setting for the coming year are to get this place spruced up to sell and try to get me spruced up to live a healthier life. Oh, and, of course, we are doing what we have to do to recover financially from the unexpected costs of this past year.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
False Alarm
I woke early and took the dogs out this morning around 5:45 am. It was barely sprinkling when we went out and a not-too-chilly 42 degrees thanks to overnight cloud cover. As is typical, the rain started coming down pretty hard while the dogs wandered around the yard. I called them in, dried everybody off, and went to make a hot drink for myself.
I checked the temperature again at 6:30 when I gathered their bowls for breakfast. It was still raining out - well, actually sleeting by now - and the temperature had dropped to 36 degrees. By the time I got the dog food in their bowls, the temperature read in the high twenties. I turned around for a few minutes and it plummeted to 16 degrees.
Holy Cow! Twenty degree drop in five minutes?!
Wait a minute. We never did figure out if the remote temperature sensor for outdoors was actually waterproof. I went to grab it from its home just outside the front door and noticed that it was still sleeting ... at a supposed 13 degrees.
Houston, we have a problem.
As soon as I walked inside with it, it registered 33 degrees. Yeah, right. I removed the batteries and dried everything off. Unfortunately, when I put them back in, I couldn't get a reading at all. There's probably something I have to do to link the sensor back up with the display inside but I have no idea what nor do I know where the directions are since they are not in the file where they belong.
This is why I don't like digital weather equipment. When we first got here, I looked all over town for a min/max thermometer like we used to have years ago. It was the old-fashioned "manual" kind not a digital thing. Nobody sells these in the stores anymore. Finding a rain gauge that wasn't plastic was also very difficult. I looked online and found a place to order the thermometer but, as has happened too many times lately, it slipped my mind and I never placed the order.
I guess I'm going to have to see if it's cold enough to snow the old-fashioned way ... when it actually starts snowing instead of sleeting. Sheesh. So low-tech!
I checked the temperature again at 6:30 when I gathered their bowls for breakfast. It was still raining out - well, actually sleeting by now - and the temperature had dropped to 36 degrees. By the time I got the dog food in their bowls, the temperature read in the high twenties. I turned around for a few minutes and it plummeted to 16 degrees.
Holy Cow! Twenty degree drop in five minutes?!
Wait a minute. We never did figure out if the remote temperature sensor for outdoors was actually waterproof. I went to grab it from its home just outside the front door and noticed that it was still sleeting ... at a supposed 13 degrees.
Houston, we have a problem.
As soon as I walked inside with it, it registered 33 degrees. Yeah, right. I removed the batteries and dried everything off. Unfortunately, when I put them back in, I couldn't get a reading at all. There's probably something I have to do to link the sensor back up with the display inside but I have no idea what nor do I know where the directions are since they are not in the file where they belong.
This is why I don't like digital weather equipment. When we first got here, I looked all over town for a min/max thermometer like we used to have years ago. It was the old-fashioned "manual" kind not a digital thing. Nobody sells these in the stores anymore. Finding a rain gauge that wasn't plastic was also very difficult. I looked online and found a place to order the thermometer but, as has happened too many times lately, it slipped my mind and I never placed the order.
I guess I'm going to have to see if it's cold enough to snow the old-fashioned way ... when it actually starts snowing instead of sleeting. Sheesh. So low-tech!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Storm Prep
We have a strong Pacific storm headed our way. Now granted, this is nothing compared to the Nor'easters many of you are dealing with, but still, a storm is a storm and it pays to be prepared. Our forecast calls for 100% chance of rain tonight, likely rain tomorrow morning, and probably snow Thursday afternoon and evening. On Friday night - New Year's Eve - we've got a hard freeze warning. The predicted low keeps changing by a few degrees. Since we run considerably colder than the forecast lows on our property, we're looking at the possibility waking up in the teens for the holiday.
It's unlikely we will lose power, or gas, or water, but it is not impossible. One car sliding on icy roads could knock down a power pole in the neighborhood and shut us off for a while. Without electricity, the well wouldn't pump water. If the gas went out for some reason, we'd need ways to cook and stay warm. We want to be prepared for all possibilities for the storm. Here are our contingency plans.
Food/Water
We have some water bottles so we would have enough to drink, prepare food, and clean up in the kitchen. Food in the refrigerator and freezer will stay cold for quite a while provided the doors are not opened often. If it looked like power would stay out for a long time, we'd probably move those items we want to access easily (such as drinks) into an ice chest to minimize opening the fridge. I've got frozen water bottles, cold packs, and ice in the freezer to help keep everything chilled.
We can make easy meals with the fresh perishable items in the fridge, canned goods, emergency food (Clif bars), and dehydrated food. Since the sun won't be out for the next three days at least, solar cooking is not an option. We'd have to use our little propane camp stove for cooking, which would mean preparing foods that cook really fast - like the dehydrated stuff. Not all that exciting, but nutritious and easy to swallow when you're already accustomed to a plant-based diet. (No, we don't have any beef jerky or Spam in our emergency pantry.)
Instead of heating water multiple times, I'd use the thermos to keep water hot for drinks and maybe the retained heat cooking basket to keep a pot of wash-up water warm.
The dogs would notice no changes in an emergency, except we might cuddle up to them a little more to keep warm.
Staying Warm
Speaking of staying warm, if we lost gas during this storm, we would get rather chilled. The high on Friday will not be that much above freezing all day. I suspect we'd be putting on multiple layers to keep warm pretty quickly, along with scarves, knit caps, and gloves. We've got quilts to huddle under, and will probably pile those up on the bed for nighttime. Somewhere I have a hot water bottle that I should dig out that we could also use to keep toes warm. I don't think it will be cold enough to necessitate this, but one way to sleep warm in a freezing house is to erect a tent inside the house and have everyone sleep inside the tent. The trapped body heat creates a nice little warm zone. Considering how much Angel farts, though, I'm not sure I'd be too eager to share a tent with her...
Keeping Entertained
There are some people that I would not want to be around if the power went out. They are so dependent on electronic devices - that need to be charged occasionally - that they might go batshit crazy if they had to go cold turkey on a tech-free life. Luckily, I am not one of those people nor is my sweetie. We'd be perfectly contented to read a book during daylight hours and play games by oil lamplight in the evening. We also picked up a few jigsaw puzzles today at the used bookstore. I could work on one while he plays his mandolin. We also have hand-crank flashlights that can be used for reading at night as well as a hand-crank radio for entertainment.
The Bathroom
Okay, we've covered eating, staying warm, and keeping entertained. At some point, someone is gonna have to pee. Got that covered, too. It's been a long time since we've gone camping, but we still have our camping portapottie. It uses very little water and can hold quite a lot. Now I know what you're thinking: "It's cold, Chile's gonna be drinking hot cocoa and tea to stay warm, so she's gonna be peeing a lot. Isn't her camping toilet gonna fill up really fast?"
There are ways to deal with this potential problem, my doubting friends. One is to pee in a bottle (males) or margarine tub (females), and then go dump the urine into the compost bin. It's perfectly safe and will actually heat up the pile during the cold weather. The other option is to set up a sawdust (or peat moss or coco coir) bucket that is used for urination only. To do so, you're supposed to start with a good base of sawdust and toss in a little more for cover material after each use. When full, dump in the compost bin. Again, perfectly safe for your compost and a good solution for an emergency. (For fun reading, check out Liquid Gold on using urine as a fertilizer.)
For the bulkier bathroom deposits, the camping toilet is a must as we do not have a humanure composting system set up. Conservative use of TP would help extend the capacity of the portapottie tank. (If also used for urination, cloth wipes would help tremendously to reduce the paper bulk in the tank.)
Showers and baths would obviously not be an option if the well pump shut off, so a very low water "spit bath" would be necessary. We're used to those so it would not be a hardship at all. Washing hands throughout the day will use some water but we've also got the alcohol hand sanitizer as a waterless option.
I'd prefer to have more laundry clean than I do presently, but in an emergency, I'm not going to worry about whether my jeans are a little dirty. I have enough clean underwear and socks to make it for a few days at least, so I'm not going to panic over some dirty clothes.
Transportation
We don't plan on going out during the storm since we have the supplies we need at home. In case of an emergency, however, we do have a full tank of gas in the vehicle, our bikes, and our feet. I'd prefer to avoid the roads when they are wet, snowy, or icy, especially since people are still driving crazy for the holidays.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have I missed anything? The snow won't start until tomorrow so I still have time for a little more prep.
It's unlikely we will lose power, or gas, or water, but it is not impossible. One car sliding on icy roads could knock down a power pole in the neighborhood and shut us off for a while. Without electricity, the well wouldn't pump water. If the gas went out for some reason, we'd need ways to cook and stay warm. We want to be prepared for all possibilities for the storm. Here are our contingency plans.
Food/Water
We have some water bottles so we would have enough to drink, prepare food, and clean up in the kitchen. Food in the refrigerator and freezer will stay cold for quite a while provided the doors are not opened often. If it looked like power would stay out for a long time, we'd probably move those items we want to access easily (such as drinks) into an ice chest to minimize opening the fridge. I've got frozen water bottles, cold packs, and ice in the freezer to help keep everything chilled.
We can make easy meals with the fresh perishable items in the fridge, canned goods, emergency food (Clif bars), and dehydrated food. Since the sun won't be out for the next three days at least, solar cooking is not an option. We'd have to use our little propane camp stove for cooking, which would mean preparing foods that cook really fast - like the dehydrated stuff. Not all that exciting, but nutritious and easy to swallow when you're already accustomed to a plant-based diet. (No, we don't have any beef jerky or Spam in our emergency pantry.)
Instead of heating water multiple times, I'd use the thermos to keep water hot for drinks and maybe the retained heat cooking basket to keep a pot of wash-up water warm.
The dogs would notice no changes in an emergency, except we might cuddle up to them a little more to keep warm.
Staying Warm
Speaking of staying warm, if we lost gas during this storm, we would get rather chilled. The high on Friday will not be that much above freezing all day. I suspect we'd be putting on multiple layers to keep warm pretty quickly, along with scarves, knit caps, and gloves. We've got quilts to huddle under, and will probably pile those up on the bed for nighttime. Somewhere I have a hot water bottle that I should dig out that we could also use to keep toes warm. I don't think it will be cold enough to necessitate this, but one way to sleep warm in a freezing house is to erect a tent inside the house and have everyone sleep inside the tent. The trapped body heat creates a nice little warm zone. Considering how much Angel farts, though, I'm not sure I'd be too eager to share a tent with her...
Keeping Entertained
There are some people that I would not want to be around if the power went out. They are so dependent on electronic devices - that need to be charged occasionally - that they might go batshit crazy if they had to go cold turkey on a tech-free life. Luckily, I am not one of those people nor is my sweetie. We'd be perfectly contented to read a book during daylight hours and play games by oil lamplight in the evening. We also picked up a few jigsaw puzzles today at the used bookstore. I could work on one while he plays his mandolin. We also have hand-crank flashlights that can be used for reading at night as well as a hand-crank radio for entertainment.
The Bathroom
Okay, we've covered eating, staying warm, and keeping entertained. At some point, someone is gonna have to pee. Got that covered, too. It's been a long time since we've gone camping, but we still have our camping portapottie. It uses very little water and can hold quite a lot. Now I know what you're thinking: "It's cold, Chile's gonna be drinking hot cocoa and tea to stay warm, so she's gonna be peeing a lot. Isn't her camping toilet gonna fill up really fast?"
There are ways to deal with this potential problem, my doubting friends. One is to pee in a bottle (males) or margarine tub (females), and then go dump the urine into the compost bin. It's perfectly safe and will actually heat up the pile during the cold weather. The other option is to set up a sawdust (or peat moss or coco coir) bucket that is used for urination only. To do so, you're supposed to start with a good base of sawdust and toss in a little more for cover material after each use. When full, dump in the compost bin. Again, perfectly safe for your compost and a good solution for an emergency. (For fun reading, check out Liquid Gold on using urine as a fertilizer.)
For the bulkier bathroom deposits, the camping toilet is a must as we do not have a humanure composting system set up. Conservative use of TP would help extend the capacity of the portapottie tank. (If also used for urination, cloth wipes would help tremendously to reduce the paper bulk in the tank.)
Showers and baths would obviously not be an option if the well pump shut off, so a very low water "spit bath" would be necessary. We're used to those so it would not be a hardship at all. Washing hands throughout the day will use some water but we've also got the alcohol hand sanitizer as a waterless option.
I'd prefer to have more laundry clean than I do presently, but in an emergency, I'm not going to worry about whether my jeans are a little dirty. I have enough clean underwear and socks to make it for a few days at least, so I'm not going to panic over some dirty clothes.
Transportation
We don't plan on going out during the storm since we have the supplies we need at home. In case of an emergency, however, we do have a full tank of gas in the vehicle, our bikes, and our feet. I'd prefer to avoid the roads when they are wet, snowy, or icy, especially since people are still driving crazy for the holidays.
Have I missed anything? The snow won't start until tomorrow so I still have time for a little more prep.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Getting in Shape for TEOTWAWKI: Week Three
Introductory post to this series here.
The change for Week Two was hydrate and carry water. I was partially successful at this. I did begin carrying water almost any time I was away from home. However, both at home and away, I did not drink as much as I'd planned. This was for one simple reason: pain. I'm dealing with a couple of painful teeth, cause unknown, and sometimes even drinking water hurts. Until I can get back to the dentist, I'm mostly drinking water to wash down ibuprofen.
Thankfully, the change for this week can go forward without involving my teeth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My change for Week Three is: Walk Every Day.
Our schedule has not been conducive to walking together each day. Sadly, though I often intend to go for a walk by myself sometime during the day, it often doesn't happen as I get otherwise occupied with projects or chores. This is a vacation week for us so we are naturally getting out every day to walk the dogs. It feels good and I want to keep it up after our schedule returns to normal, even though it will mean walking on my own.
What does a daily walk have to do with TEOTWAWKI? Quite a lot, actually. Consider the three categories of potential (albeit very much intertwined) disaster-making on our horizon that I've been discussing: economic challenges, peak oil, and climate change.
As money becomes tight, walking - at least to closer locations - begins to make more sense than driving. A walk costs nothing. Gas, and other vehicle operational expenses, costs money. Driving down to the market a mile away can easily be replaced with walking there to reduce expenses. We did this frequently when we lived in the city and managed to carry even bulky and heavy loads home in a large backpack (purchased very cheaply at a thrift store). It saved considerable wear and tear on our vehicle as well as gas money, important since our vehicle is aging and replacement is not high on the budget's priority list. If the country plunged into another deep recession or depression, replacing an old or broken-down vehicle would not even be on the most distant of horizon for us or many others.
Peak oil, of course, fits right in with the previous paragraph as a potential source of rising driving costs. At a few dollars per gallon of gas, people seem to keep right on driving just as much as usual. When gas prices rose a couple of years ago, drivers did begin to curtail their driving somewhat and we noticed more people walking in our neighborhood. If gas prices rose significantly, say, to $10 per gallon, the choice of whether to walk or drive would go away for many people. If the distance wasn't too far, walking (or biking) would be the logical choice. While suddenly switching to walking, at least for short distances, is not likely to be unduly burdensome for most people, already being used to walking would make the transition easier. It would also open up the option to walk further distances than previously attempted.
Climate change would be less of a factor in this change than some of the others. Although the overall trend is towards warming, which may make some regions more walkable than they were previously (and make others less), the chaotic weather starting to be experienced already presents its own problems. While being able to walk away from a vehicle stuck in a deep snow drift is useful now, perhaps keeping cross country skis packed in the vehicle would be even better! And in some areas, a canoe on the roof rack might just save the day...
For my locale, having water and a flashlight on hand would be good supplies to survive engine trouble during the hot summer months - rest in the shade during the day, drinking water to stay hydrated, and walk in the cooler temperatures at night, using the flashlight to help avoid running into cactus or rattlesnakes. While these are just examples of emergencies, in all cases, being more physically fit could certainly help one escape a dangerous situation.
Even if you think I'm flat-out crazy to be talking about the remote possibility of TEOTWAWKI, few would argue that adopting a daily program of walking now was a bad idea. It is one of the cheapest and easiest means of getting some aerobic exercise, available to people of a range of income and fitness levels. Getting a walk in each day will improve life as we currently know it. (LAWCKI?)
The change for Week Two was hydrate and carry water. I was partially successful at this. I did begin carrying water almost any time I was away from home. However, both at home and away, I did not drink as much as I'd planned. This was for one simple reason: pain. I'm dealing with a couple of painful teeth, cause unknown, and sometimes even drinking water hurts. Until I can get back to the dentist, I'm mostly drinking water to wash down ibuprofen.
Thankfully, the change for this week can go forward without involving my teeth.
My change for Week Three is: Walk Every Day.
Our schedule has not been conducive to walking together each day. Sadly, though I often intend to go for a walk by myself sometime during the day, it often doesn't happen as I get otherwise occupied with projects or chores. This is a vacation week for us so we are naturally getting out every day to walk the dogs. It feels good and I want to keep it up after our schedule returns to normal, even though it will mean walking on my own.
What does a daily walk have to do with TEOTWAWKI? Quite a lot, actually. Consider the three categories of potential (albeit very much intertwined) disaster-making on our horizon that I've been discussing: economic challenges, peak oil, and climate change.
As money becomes tight, walking - at least to closer locations - begins to make more sense than driving. A walk costs nothing. Gas, and other vehicle operational expenses, costs money. Driving down to the market a mile away can easily be replaced with walking there to reduce expenses. We did this frequently when we lived in the city and managed to carry even bulky and heavy loads home in a large backpack (purchased very cheaply at a thrift store). It saved considerable wear and tear on our vehicle as well as gas money, important since our vehicle is aging and replacement is not high on the budget's priority list. If the country plunged into another deep recession or depression, replacing an old or broken-down vehicle would not even be on the most distant of horizon for us or many others.
Peak oil, of course, fits right in with the previous paragraph as a potential source of rising driving costs. At a few dollars per gallon of gas, people seem to keep right on driving just as much as usual. When gas prices rose a couple of years ago, drivers did begin to curtail their driving somewhat and we noticed more people walking in our neighborhood. If gas prices rose significantly, say, to $10 per gallon, the choice of whether to walk or drive would go away for many people. If the distance wasn't too far, walking (or biking) would be the logical choice. While suddenly switching to walking, at least for short distances, is not likely to be unduly burdensome for most people, already being used to walking would make the transition easier. It would also open up the option to walk further distances than previously attempted.
Climate change would be less of a factor in this change than some of the others. Although the overall trend is towards warming, which may make some regions more walkable than they were previously (and make others less), the chaotic weather starting to be experienced already presents its own problems. While being able to walk away from a vehicle stuck in a deep snow drift is useful now, perhaps keeping cross country skis packed in the vehicle would be even better! And in some areas, a canoe on the roof rack might just save the day...
For my locale, having water and a flashlight on hand would be good supplies to survive engine trouble during the hot summer months - rest in the shade during the day, drinking water to stay hydrated, and walk in the cooler temperatures at night, using the flashlight to help avoid running into cactus or rattlesnakes. While these are just examples of emergencies, in all cases, being more physically fit could certainly help one escape a dangerous situation.
Even if you think I'm flat-out crazy to be talking about the remote possibility of TEOTWAWKI, few would argue that adopting a daily program of walking now was a bad idea. It is one of the cheapest and easiest means of getting some aerobic exercise, available to people of a range of income and fitness levels. Getting a walk in each day will improve life as we currently know it. (LAWCKI?)
Saturday, December 25, 2010
This Brings Me Joy
I could watch Bailey romp in the snow all day long. Almost makes me wish for a nice deep snowfall here to see if my dogs would have this much fun.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Give the Gift that Squirms
Not the typical holiday treat you take over to the neighbors...Nevertheless, they were happy to get a bag full of grubs dug out of my compost as a special treat for their chickens. I wish I could have seen the chickens when they got them, but we aren't that chummy with the neighbors. Hopefully the young children there for the holidays enjoyed watching the chickens go nuts over the grubs.
If you want to give a tasty treat to your human neighbors, you might try Crunchy Chicken's cookie recipe for Salted Chipotle Chocolate Chunk Cookies. I made a small batch this morning with double the hot spices and they were yummy! Shared with the mailman and my favorite gals at the coffee stand. Oh, and I even left a few for my sweetie pie to eat. Cookies, that is...not grubs.
Bah Humbug
This is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration - the why will depend on your beliefs -but all around me I see stress and friction. Traffic is downright dangerous right now as shoppers rush to fulfill their self-imposed buying obligations (thanks to the efforts of a ton of advertising and years of cultural conditioning). Even a trip to the library yesterday was nerve-wracking as I almost got T-boned by someone in a great hurry to get there and then his passenger darn near slammed his door into me as he rushed to beat me out of the vehicle despite my having pulled in first. Nary a glance my way, apologetic or otherwise.
Families gather in far-ranging members, in the hopes of having a few days of loving togetherness, but instead, they seem to crack under the strain of the preparations, travel, and perhaps most significantly, the expectations. Listening to a father berate his teenage sons for whatever they did not do to his satisfaction while in line at the grocery store was uncomfortable for all involved. A friend's frustration in trying to get family members to understand their invitations to the Christmas party do not automatically extend also to all of their neighbors and friends had us wistful for times when bringing uninvited guests was unthinkable, especially without checking with the hostess beforehand.
I'm so grateful we don't have a television so I don't have to watch this season's advertising. I still get exposure through the weighty ads in the newspaper and the annoying ads on the radio (in the areas where the PBS stations do not come in clearly). In every market, my ears are assaulted by canned versions of Christmas songs designed to get shoppers in the holiday spirit (and make one feel happy and relaxed...resulting in greater spending). Sorry, all they do is urge me to get my shopping for necessities done as quickly as possible. I might pause to stop and get a coffee at the stand in the store, more to visit with the nice folks working there than because I need the caffeine.
One young gal that left her job there a couple of months ago to continue her schooling told me how much she'd miss me because I was her favorite customer. I gave her a disbelieving look and she reiterated. As I left, I mused aloud about this to my sweetie who had come with me to wish her well. His theory was that she, and the others working there, enjoyed my visits because I actually treat them like human beings rather than impersonal coffee dispensers.
With so many people in a hurry this time of year, I see more brusque treatment of people in the service industry than usual. Sure, it's their job to take care of you - helping you find things, ringing up your purchases, bringing your food, etc. - but they deserve respect and kind treatment. Believe me, during this season, they greatly appreciate when someone makes an effort to be nice and understanding instead of snippy and impatient.
I am boycotting "Christmas" this year. The commercialism surrounding it holds no appeal, nor does making a bunch of gifts by hand just to fulfill the expectations of seasonal gift-giving. For me personally, when I find or make something I think someone would really enjoy, I prefer to give it to them at that time rather than waiting for Christmas day. Giving on Christmas is traditional, I understand, and that's fine for all who enjoy it. I'm just the oddball, going against the tide, and I do not expect others to agree with me.
I also don't think that the Christmas spirit of charity, kindness, and love should be restricted to just a few weeks each year. That kind of spirit is needed year-round. Enjoy the time with your loved ones over this last week of the year, share your wealth with those in need, and be kind to those in the service industry. And then keep on doing this when the new year starts. Oh, and please drive nice.
Families gather in far-ranging members, in the hopes of having a few days of loving togetherness, but instead, they seem to crack under the strain of the preparations, travel, and perhaps most significantly, the expectations. Listening to a father berate his teenage sons for whatever they did not do to his satisfaction while in line at the grocery store was uncomfortable for all involved. A friend's frustration in trying to get family members to understand their invitations to the Christmas party do not automatically extend also to all of their neighbors and friends had us wistful for times when bringing uninvited guests was unthinkable, especially without checking with the hostess beforehand.
I'm so grateful we don't have a television so I don't have to watch this season's advertising. I still get exposure through the weighty ads in the newspaper and the annoying ads on the radio (in the areas where the PBS stations do not come in clearly). In every market, my ears are assaulted by canned versions of Christmas songs designed to get shoppers in the holiday spirit (and make one feel happy and relaxed...resulting in greater spending). Sorry, all they do is urge me to get my shopping for necessities done as quickly as possible. I might pause to stop and get a coffee at the stand in the store, more to visit with the nice folks working there than because I need the caffeine.
One young gal that left her job there a couple of months ago to continue her schooling told me how much she'd miss me because I was her favorite customer. I gave her a disbelieving look and she reiterated. As I left, I mused aloud about this to my sweetie who had come with me to wish her well. His theory was that she, and the others working there, enjoyed my visits because I actually treat them like human beings rather than impersonal coffee dispensers.
With so many people in a hurry this time of year, I see more brusque treatment of people in the service industry than usual. Sure, it's their job to take care of you - helping you find things, ringing up your purchases, bringing your food, etc. - but they deserve respect and kind treatment. Believe me, during this season, they greatly appreciate when someone makes an effort to be nice and understanding instead of snippy and impatient.
I am boycotting "Christmas" this year. The commercialism surrounding it holds no appeal, nor does making a bunch of gifts by hand just to fulfill the expectations of seasonal gift-giving. For me personally, when I find or make something I think someone would really enjoy, I prefer to give it to them at that time rather than waiting for Christmas day. Giving on Christmas is traditional, I understand, and that's fine for all who enjoy it. I'm just the oddball, going against the tide, and I do not expect others to agree with me.
I also don't think that the Christmas spirit of charity, kindness, and love should be restricted to just a few weeks each year. That kind of spirit is needed year-round. Enjoy the time with your loved ones over this last week of the year, share your wealth with those in need, and be kind to those in the service industry. And then keep on doing this when the new year starts. Oh, and please drive nice.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Getting in Shape for TEOTWAWKI: Week Two
Introductory post to this series here.
The first week's change was "No Seconds."
Week One review: I did great with avoiding seconds with just two exceptions. We had some vegetable lasagna and it called out to me to refill my plate. I made a conscious choice for two meals to listen to that call and pig out just a little. This is a still an improvement over the past few months and I hope to yield to temptation less frequently over time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The change I'd like to tackle this week is: Carry Water & Hydrate.
There are two things to consider when it comes to drinking water: its function in your health and its availability.
Keeping the body hydrated is important for it to function at its best. Mild dehydration can result in confusion and sluggishness while severe dehydration can ultimately result in death. Any level of dehydration reduces one's ability to enjoy life now and be prepared for the needs of a more physical lifestyle.
I've noticed with the cooler fall and winter weather that I have not been as conscientious about drinking water as I am during the hot summer months. In Arizona, one learns to always have water available in the summer to avoid dehydration. Lately, I've turned to coffee drinks when thirsty instead of just having a glass of water. As a diuretic, coffee actually exacerbates the problem and also makes the body work harder as it deals with digestion with inadequate water in the system.
Clean water can be a scarce resource. Should we ever face TEOTWAWKI, it is likely to become an even more precious resource. The cost of bottled or treated water, if required in your area, is high and would be difficult to pay in more challenging economic times. Even the cost of tap water is increasing in many areas. While at a large hardware store over the weekend, I noticed a locking mechanism for outdoor hose bibs. That might be necessary in serious emergencies with many people displaced from their homes. (I'm not saying that one should not share their resources; however, one should have the choice of what and how much to share rather than face outright theft.)
Climate change will have a definite impact on water availability. In the US, the SW is projected to become dryer and hotter over time which will mean keeping hydrated will be more important and perhaps more difficult depending on personal access to clean water sources. Peak oil will put a crimp in the bottled water industry, as transportation costs will rise. Considering how heavy water is - approximately 8 pounds per gallon - large quantities will be expensive to move from one place to another if oil prices rise considerably.
Keeping hydrated at all times is a healthy step for today's world. It is a critical step if the world changes, although it may become more difficult to keep water on hand. Making sure to have some water with you always may help you avoid running out in an emergency. At the very least, you will have a container handy to refill when you run across a water source. Avoiding the negative repercussions of dehydration will be important for any who want to make it through more challenging times, especially since TEOTWAWKI could mean relying on our own power, rather than enjoying the benefits of machines (such as cars, trains, washing machines, chainsaws, etc.)
To keep hydrated throughout the day, I plan to get back in the habit of keeping a full bottle of water handy at all times. This is easy at home but means I need to think ahead if going away from home. It's easy enough to carry a bottle of water when walking or biking, and to have one in the vehicle, but I do tend to forget to refill my bottles after each trip. Hence, I end up away from home with nothing to drink (and then end up buying a coffee drink). Which reminds me, all the bottles in the vehicle are currently empty and need filling!
The first week's change was "No Seconds."
Week One review: I did great with avoiding seconds with just two exceptions. We had some vegetable lasagna and it called out to me to refill my plate. I made a conscious choice for two meals to listen to that call and pig out just a little. This is a still an improvement over the past few months and I hope to yield to temptation less frequently over time.
The change I'd like to tackle this week is: Carry Water & Hydrate.
There are two things to consider when it comes to drinking water: its function in your health and its availability.
Keeping the body hydrated is important for it to function at its best. Mild dehydration can result in confusion and sluggishness while severe dehydration can ultimately result in death. Any level of dehydration reduces one's ability to enjoy life now and be prepared for the needs of a more physical lifestyle.
I've noticed with the cooler fall and winter weather that I have not been as conscientious about drinking water as I am during the hot summer months. In Arizona, one learns to always have water available in the summer to avoid dehydration. Lately, I've turned to coffee drinks when thirsty instead of just having a glass of water. As a diuretic, coffee actually exacerbates the problem and also makes the body work harder as it deals with digestion with inadequate water in the system.
Clean water can be a scarce resource. Should we ever face TEOTWAWKI, it is likely to become an even more precious resource. The cost of bottled or treated water, if required in your area, is high and would be difficult to pay in more challenging economic times. Even the cost of tap water is increasing in many areas. While at a large hardware store over the weekend, I noticed a locking mechanism for outdoor hose bibs. That might be necessary in serious emergencies with many people displaced from their homes. (I'm not saying that one should not share their resources; however, one should have the choice of what and how much to share rather than face outright theft.)
Climate change will have a definite impact on water availability. In the US, the SW is projected to become dryer and hotter over time which will mean keeping hydrated will be more important and perhaps more difficult depending on personal access to clean water sources. Peak oil will put a crimp in the bottled water industry, as transportation costs will rise. Considering how heavy water is - approximately 8 pounds per gallon - large quantities will be expensive to move from one place to another if oil prices rise considerably.
Keeping hydrated at all times is a healthy step for today's world. It is a critical step if the world changes, although it may become more difficult to keep water on hand. Making sure to have some water with you always may help you avoid running out in an emergency. At the very least, you will have a container handy to refill when you run across a water source. Avoiding the negative repercussions of dehydration will be important for any who want to make it through more challenging times, especially since TEOTWAWKI could mean relying on our own power, rather than enjoying the benefits of machines (such as cars, trains, washing machines, chainsaws, etc.)
To keep hydrated throughout the day, I plan to get back in the habit of keeping a full bottle of water handy at all times. This is easy at home but means I need to think ahead if going away from home. It's easy enough to carry a bottle of water when walking or biking, and to have one in the vehicle, but I do tend to forget to refill my bottles after each trip. Hence, I end up away from home with nothing to drink (and then end up buying a coffee drink). Which reminds me, all the bottles in the vehicle are currently empty and need filling!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Loves to Read
With a little bit of extra time (finally) to kick around and spend as I like, the reading lamp has seen more use lately. Although I find fiction more relaxing - and goodness knows I've been in dire need of relaxation - a few nonfiction materials have slipped in lately as well. I thought I'd share a few selections of my reading materials with you.
Books Read Very Recently
1. After posting about my plans to be as grumpy as I want to be, a reader recommended a book in the comments. I picked it up from the library, eager to see what the author - Barbara Ehrenreich - had to say as her previous book - Nickle and Dimed - had helped me gain insights into the struggles faced by those working minimum wage jobs and living below the poverty line in this country. And, considering my less than optimistic mood of late, how could I resist a book with the title, Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America?
If you've ever felt others are unfairly recommending that you stifle legitimate feelings of anger and outrage to "put on a happy face," this book is for you. If you've ever been unceremoniously dumped by friends who've decided to eliminate all negativity from their lives, leaving you wallowing in despair and feeling very isolated, this book is for you. If you've ever wondered just how this insistence on positive thinking permeated American culture so thoroughly, this book is for you.
It is enlightening, surprising at times, and enraging at others, but it will leave you with a more clear understanding of why everyone tries to insist you have a good day even when you're on the verge of tears. And it may help empower you to feel comfortable experiencing your true emotions even if they are not purely positive.
2. Not surprisingly, perhaps, the fiction book I read concurrently with the previous one had a bit of a dark edge to it. Written by Jim Knipfel, These Children Who Come At You With Knives, and Other Fairy Tales is full of humorous yet dark versions of familiar fairy tales. The introduction to the book had me laughing out loud as it described how Satan created the world for his amusement, having to make man out of the only material left after making everything else: shit. I've really been enjoying collections of short stories this past year, especially during times that I've been so busy that reading a whole book was simply not feasible. Pick up this book and treat yourself to some freaky and horror-filled tales when you've got a few minutes available here and there.
3. Rural Living in Arizona, a quarterly magazine put out by Arizona Cooperative Extension for the "small acreage landowner." A friend gave me a number of back issues which I've really enjoyed reading. They are well-written small publications packed with useful information such as good forage for livestock, proper management of septic systems and personal wells, venomous local critters (we've got lots: scorpions, spiders, assorted other insects, and rattlesnakes), and so on.
Book I'm Currently Reading
Years ago, I found some interesting scifi/fantasy books in a small thrift store in a little bitty town. Over the course of about a month, I was able to pick up everything in the Garrett, P.I. series written by that particular author - Glen Cook. Sadly, I did not hang onto these books and have regretted it since. Over the past five years or so, when I think about it, I check the shelves at the local used bookstore (Bookman's - a large local chain in Arizona) but have never seen it. This week, I was amazed to find two of the books in different branches in town.
I love Cook's writing and the world he creates. This series blends hard-boiled detective stories with a scifi/fantasy world inhabited by an assortment of beings as well as a whole boatload of gods, ranging from those fading and ineffectual to those that are strong and powerful. Partnered with a dead member of another species whose mind is disinclined to depart just because his body is dead, hounded by strong-minded and jealous wannabe girlfriends, and constantly getting in over his head, Garrett solves all manner of crime whether he wants to or not.
Books Waiting to be Read
1. My sweetie recently watched what he told me was a very interesting albeit somewhat disturbing documentary about social engineering: "Human Resources." To follow up on the subject, he checked a book out of the library. When he finishes it, I'll probably read through it as well. The book is Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Education by John Taylor Gatto.
2. Meanwhile at the library, I checked out Jonathan Bloom's new book American Wasteland: How American Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food. I don't read his blog consistently (due to time constraints) but always enjoy it when I do. Looking forward to reading the book.
3. Risa Bear has published the first volume in her Starvation Ridge trilogy. I will read fiction online but much prefer a hard (printed) copy so I'm thrilled to have this first book and can't wait to dive into the story. I love Risa's personal blog and really enjoyed her writing when she started Starvation Ridge on a new blog. Since I didn't keep up with the story (those damn time constraints again...), it will be mostly new to me.
4 & 5. Two reference books from National Geographic given to me this week. Illustrated Green Guide: The Complete Reference for Consuming Wisely and Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine. I don't know anything about these but will look through them to see if I want to keep them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you read any of the books listed above? Did you like them?
What are you reading these days (you know, in between all the crazy holiday preparations)? Any recommendations?
Books Read Very Recently
1. After posting about my plans to be as grumpy as I want to be, a reader recommended a book in the comments. I picked it up from the library, eager to see what the author - Barbara Ehrenreich - had to say as her previous book - Nickle and Dimed - had helped me gain insights into the struggles faced by those working minimum wage jobs and living below the poverty line in this country. And, considering my less than optimistic mood of late, how could I resist a book with the title, Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America?
If you've ever felt others are unfairly recommending that you stifle legitimate feelings of anger and outrage to "put on a happy face," this book is for you. If you've ever been unceremoniously dumped by friends who've decided to eliminate all negativity from their lives, leaving you wallowing in despair and feeling very isolated, this book is for you. If you've ever wondered just how this insistence on positive thinking permeated American culture so thoroughly, this book is for you.
It is enlightening, surprising at times, and enraging at others, but it will leave you with a more clear understanding of why everyone tries to insist you have a good day even when you're on the verge of tears. And it may help empower you to feel comfortable experiencing your true emotions even if they are not purely positive.
2. Not surprisingly, perhaps, the fiction book I read concurrently with the previous one had a bit of a dark edge to it. Written by Jim Knipfel, These Children Who Come At You With Knives, and Other Fairy Tales is full of humorous yet dark versions of familiar fairy tales. The introduction to the book had me laughing out loud as it described how Satan created the world for his amusement, having to make man out of the only material left after making everything else: shit. I've really been enjoying collections of short stories this past year, especially during times that I've been so busy that reading a whole book was simply not feasible. Pick up this book and treat yourself to some freaky and horror-filled tales when you've got a few minutes available here and there.
3. Rural Living in Arizona, a quarterly magazine put out by Arizona Cooperative Extension for the "small acreage landowner." A friend gave me a number of back issues which I've really enjoyed reading. They are well-written small publications packed with useful information such as good forage for livestock, proper management of septic systems and personal wells, venomous local critters (we've got lots: scorpions, spiders, assorted other insects, and rattlesnakes), and so on.
Book I'm Currently Reading
Years ago, I found some interesting scifi/fantasy books in a small thrift store in a little bitty town. Over the course of about a month, I was able to pick up everything in the Garrett, P.I. series written by that particular author - Glen Cook. Sadly, I did not hang onto these books and have regretted it since. Over the past five years or so, when I think about it, I check the shelves at the local used bookstore (Bookman's - a large local chain in Arizona) but have never seen it. This week, I was amazed to find two of the books in different branches in town.
I love Cook's writing and the world he creates. This series blends hard-boiled detective stories with a scifi/fantasy world inhabited by an assortment of beings as well as a whole boatload of gods, ranging from those fading and ineffectual to those that are strong and powerful. Partnered with a dead member of another species whose mind is disinclined to depart just because his body is dead, hounded by strong-minded and jealous wannabe girlfriends, and constantly getting in over his head, Garrett solves all manner of crime whether he wants to or not.
Books Waiting to be Read
1. My sweetie recently watched what he told me was a very interesting albeit somewhat disturbing documentary about social engineering: "Human Resources." To follow up on the subject, he checked a book out of the library. When he finishes it, I'll probably read through it as well. The book is Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Education by John Taylor Gatto.
2. Meanwhile at the library, I checked out Jonathan Bloom's new book American Wasteland: How American Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food. I don't read his blog consistently (due to time constraints) but always enjoy it when I do. Looking forward to reading the book.
3. Risa Bear has published the first volume in her Starvation Ridge trilogy. I will read fiction online but much prefer a hard (printed) copy so I'm thrilled to have this first book and can't wait to dive into the story. I love Risa's personal blog and really enjoyed her writing when she started Starvation Ridge on a new blog. Since I didn't keep up with the story (those damn time constraints again...), it will be mostly new to me.
4 & 5. Two reference books from National Geographic given to me this week. Illustrated Green Guide: The Complete Reference for Consuming Wisely and Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine. I don't know anything about these but will look through them to see if I want to keep them.
Have you read any of the books listed above? Did you like them?
What are you reading these days (you know, in between all the crazy holiday preparations)? Any recommendations?
Friday, December 17, 2010
Foggy Morning
One could almost believe there wasn't a house just beyond these trees. I love how fog softens and blurs the view. I don't, however, love driving in it, which is why I had time to post this while waiting for the sun to come up and burn off some of this fog.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Drought - it's not just for breakfast anymore
Oh, goodie! Lovely additional study confirming that we are screwed in the SW. How long will it be until the neighbors knock on the door and ask, "Um, we were wondering if we could borrow a cup of water? We're all out." Sorry, can't help you. In anticipation of moving quickly (which is now postponed), we sold our two big water tanks for emergency storage. Hey, maybe the rest of ya'll can ship me some of that nifty boxed water Ruchi posted about.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Getting in Shape for TEOTWAWKI: Week One
Do you have no idea what the heck this post title is about? Then you probably need to go read the Intro to this series here.
The first change I want to tackle is: No Seconds.
I've made no secret of the fact that I turn to food when I am stressed and/or depressed. The challenges of the past year have undermined a lot of the progress I made towards healthier eating in the past. Not only have I made worse choices in what I eat, I've realized that I have been chronically overeating, too, perhaps as a way to temporarily distract myself from all that has been going on.
Whatever the reason, overeating is not good. It is hard on the budget and the individual, leading to skinny monetary resources but a fat body. Even without the threat of TEOTWAWKI, this situation cannot continue. And at this time, it wouldn't take much to change the availability of food.
Food prices can rise easily. A drought in one part of the world can affect prices for that crop and ripple out to affect more than just that area. The worldwide production of wheat can be impacted by something as small as a fungus. Climate change is already allowing pests to survive year-round in areas where they used to be killed off, or at least dormant, during the winter. Commercial agriculture is heavily dependent on petroleum, from the fertilizer and pesticides to the harvesting and transportation of the crop. If oil prices rise, so do food prices. During economic recessions, every newspaper and magazine soon begins running articles on how to save money at the grocery store.
If food prices rise or there is a long-term disruption in food supplies or distribution, chronic overeating could make a difference not only in quality of life, but for survival. The food on hand and local sources, including one's garden, may be all that is available. Eating too much could mean not having enough food to make it through the winter before the garden can be planted again. Eating too much also leads to excess weight which can contribute to less energy and increased risk of disease, neither of which will make it easy to thrive in times of scarcity.
What if TEOTWAWKI never happens yet you've curtailed your overeating and learned to eat just what you need to live a healthy and active life? Well, I don't know about you, but I certainly would enjoy being healthier and more active! And easing up the demands on the budget and gardening needs would be a nice benefit as well. It's a win-win situation in my view.
Which is why I will be filling my plate with the food I need at each meal and enjoying every bite, but no more than I need. I will fight the urge to fill up again and save more leftovers for the next meal. And, I will be careful not to overfill my plate the first time to sneak the seconds in on the first round. That would, of course, be cheating and entirely beside the point.
Lest you think I am recommending a food austerity program, please note that I am not saying one should not eat enough to meet one's caloric needs or change, at this point, the type of food eaten.
Are you up for making this change with me starting this week?
The first change I want to tackle is: No Seconds.
I've made no secret of the fact that I turn to food when I am stressed and/or depressed. The challenges of the past year have undermined a lot of the progress I made towards healthier eating in the past. Not only have I made worse choices in what I eat, I've realized that I have been chronically overeating, too, perhaps as a way to temporarily distract myself from all that has been going on.
Whatever the reason, overeating is not good. It is hard on the budget and the individual, leading to skinny monetary resources but a fat body. Even without the threat of TEOTWAWKI, this situation cannot continue. And at this time, it wouldn't take much to change the availability of food.
Food prices can rise easily. A drought in one part of the world can affect prices for that crop and ripple out to affect more than just that area. The worldwide production of wheat can be impacted by something as small as a fungus. Climate change is already allowing pests to survive year-round in areas where they used to be killed off, or at least dormant, during the winter. Commercial agriculture is heavily dependent on petroleum, from the fertilizer and pesticides to the harvesting and transportation of the crop. If oil prices rise, so do food prices. During economic recessions, every newspaper and magazine soon begins running articles on how to save money at the grocery store.
If food prices rise or there is a long-term disruption in food supplies or distribution, chronic overeating could make a difference not only in quality of life, but for survival. The food on hand and local sources, including one's garden, may be all that is available. Eating too much could mean not having enough food to make it through the winter before the garden can be planted again. Eating too much also leads to excess weight which can contribute to less energy and increased risk of disease, neither of which will make it easy to thrive in times of scarcity.
What if TEOTWAWKI never happens yet you've curtailed your overeating and learned to eat just what you need to live a healthy and active life? Well, I don't know about you, but I certainly would enjoy being healthier and more active! And easing up the demands on the budget and gardening needs would be a nice benefit as well. It's a win-win situation in my view.
Which is why I will be filling my plate with the food I need at each meal and enjoying every bite, but no more than I need. I will fight the urge to fill up again and save more leftovers for the next meal. And, I will be careful not to overfill my plate the first time to sneak the seconds in on the first round. That would, of course, be cheating and entirely beside the point.
Lest you think I am recommending a food austerity program, please note that I am not saying one should not eat enough to meet one's caloric needs or change, at this point, the type of food eaten.
Are you up for making this change with me starting this week?
New "Getting in Shape for TEOTWAWKI" series
I am going to start posting on Sundays Mondays about my efforts to lose weight, get in shape, and be more prepared physically just in case TEOTWAWKI actually happens in my lifetime.
What could cause TEOTWAWKI, or "the end of the world as we know it"? Well, the recession we went through recently sure changed the world for a lot of people in this country and around the world. People lost jobs, houses, security, and more. Future economic challenges could change your, or my, world pretty easily. Climate change is another factor. This is affecting food production around the world, increasing chaotic weather, and changing sea coasts already, and it really hasn't ramped up yet to the significant levels of disruption predicted for this century. Peak oil, with its associated increasing costs of the fuel used in every aspect of our industrial society, certainly has the capacity to change the world as we currently know it. All of these can also impact, and be impacted, by governments and other players globally.
For those of you who thinking I'm being paranoid and/or spouting nonsense, that's fine. I'm not here to convert you. Getting in shape and losing weight, if you need to, will enhance your life even if the world continues on just as it is right now. I'm just putting my own efforts into the context of how it will enhance my ability to survive and thrive if the poop hits the proverbial fan.
From personal experience with this journey of trying to lose weight and get fit, I can tell you what does not work for me. A sudden enormous change in diet and exercise does not work. I will quickly "cheat" on my new eating plan and I will overdo the exercise resulting in injury or overtraining. On the other extreme, making changes too slowly will result in such minor improvements that I lose the incentive to keep up my efforts. I am going to try a moderate approach and see where it takes me. I am not setting a deadline for when I must hit a particular goal weight or level of fitness. I do want to see steady, even if slow, progress though.
What I intend to do, subject to modification if it's not working for me, is institute one change per week. Each week's change will add on to the previous one so that I will gradually be incorporating more and more changes. Supposedly it takes three weeks to establish a new habit so as time progresses, more of these changes should become habits. You are welcome to follow along with my changes, make your own, or just read the blog and be amused at yet another attempt on my part to improve my life.
I'll write each week about the new change, results from the previous change(s), and perhaps a bit about why I think it's important to make the change especially in context of TEOTWAWKI. I'm starting now and will post this week's change in a separate post.
What could cause TEOTWAWKI, or "the end of the world as we know it"? Well, the recession we went through recently sure changed the world for a lot of people in this country and around the world. People lost jobs, houses, security, and more. Future economic challenges could change your, or my, world pretty easily. Climate change is another factor. This is affecting food production around the world, increasing chaotic weather, and changing sea coasts already, and it really hasn't ramped up yet to the significant levels of disruption predicted for this century. Peak oil, with its associated increasing costs of the fuel used in every aspect of our industrial society, certainly has the capacity to change the world as we currently know it. All of these can also impact, and be impacted, by governments and other players globally.
For those of you who thinking I'm being paranoid and/or spouting nonsense, that's fine. I'm not here to convert you. Getting in shape and losing weight, if you need to, will enhance your life even if the world continues on just as it is right now. I'm just putting my own efforts into the context of how it will enhance my ability to survive and thrive if the poop hits the proverbial fan.
From personal experience with this journey of trying to lose weight and get fit, I can tell you what does not work for me. A sudden enormous change in diet and exercise does not work. I will quickly "cheat" on my new eating plan and I will overdo the exercise resulting in injury or overtraining. On the other extreme, making changes too slowly will result in such minor improvements that I lose the incentive to keep up my efforts. I am going to try a moderate approach and see where it takes me. I am not setting a deadline for when I must hit a particular goal weight or level of fitness. I do want to see steady, even if slow, progress though.
What I intend to do, subject to modification if it's not working for me, is institute one change per week. Each week's change will add on to the previous one so that I will gradually be incorporating more and more changes. Supposedly it takes three weeks to establish a new habit so as time progresses, more of these changes should become habits. You are welcome to follow along with my changes, make your own, or just read the blog and be amused at yet another attempt on my part to improve my life.
I'll write each week about the new change, results from the previous change(s), and perhaps a bit about why I think it's important to make the change especially in context of TEOTWAWKI. I'm starting now and will post this week's change in a separate post.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Pimpin' Out My Blog (to bring you a Sun Oven discount)
OK, ya'll know my policy on ads here. I don't host ads on the site. I don't accept free products in return for reviews. I don't post comments that link to commercial websites. I don't make you pay to read what I write or even ask for donations.
At times, however, I have linked to commercial websites if I've tried something on my own initiative and have found I liked the product and the company.
I've told you about Harmony House and their really good quality dehydrated food.
When, as part of our preparedness, I bought a rocket stove, I posted pictures and a review...and told you where I bought it.
I've raved about my Xtracycle and electric assist kit.
I've recommended books for you to read, including one that I edited. (By the way, I also edited two more of Nova's books which are now available. We didn't talk about whether I'd get a bonus if they sell lots of copies, but check them out anyway if you like post-apocalyptic neo Western survivalist fiction: Gardener Summer (Kindle only) & American Apocalypse III.)
I ordered a Tulsi solar oven last year and shared with you how impressed I was with the good price and good service I received from Earth Easy. They offered to give you, my readers, a discount and I passed that information along.
Well, last week, the boss man at Sun Ovens left me a comment offering to give you, my readers, a discount for Christmas. I'm sorry to say it took me a week to get around to deciding that yes, letting you know about this was within the acceptable scope of my blog policies since I have owned a Sun Oven myself for well over a decade and have posted frequently about using it. (See my two-year log of cooking with it!) To the best of my knowledge, I am receiving nothing personally from Sun Ovens in exchange for posting this information, except the hope that a few more people might be inspired to dive into their own solar cooking adventures.
FINALLY.... THE DISCOUNT OFFER
So, here's the deal. He's already offering a pretty nice Christmas package for a Global Sun Oven with a bunch of accessories and shipping thrown in for free. If you order this by December 30, 2010, and use the discount code: Chile Chews, you'll save an additional $25. How's that for a Christmas present? Just by reading my blog, you can save yourself twenty-five smackeroos on that solar oven you've been lusting after. Just remember to use the discount code.
And one last thing. Do me a favor. If you order an oven, leave me a comment to let me know. I'm trying to do good in the world but I don't always get the follow-up feedback to know if I've actually made a difference. For instance, after all the work I put into making food, planning, and putting on two solar cooking demos at the CSA, I didn't get any feedback later to know if anyone (out of 500 members) actually decided to buy a solar oven as a result. If you do get a solar oven, I also want to hear if you actually use it, too!
At times, however, I have linked to commercial websites if I've tried something on my own initiative and have found I liked the product and the company.
I've told you about Harmony House and their really good quality dehydrated food.
When, as part of our preparedness, I bought a rocket stove, I posted pictures and a review...and told you where I bought it.
I've raved about my Xtracycle and electric assist kit.
I've recommended books for you to read, including one that I edited. (By the way, I also edited two more of Nova's books which are now available. We didn't talk about whether I'd get a bonus if they sell lots of copies, but check them out anyway if you like post-apocalyptic neo Western survivalist fiction: Gardener Summer (Kindle only) & American Apocalypse III.)
I ordered a Tulsi solar oven last year and shared with you how impressed I was with the good price and good service I received from Earth Easy. They offered to give you, my readers, a discount and I passed that information along.
Well, last week, the boss man at Sun Ovens left me a comment offering to give you, my readers, a discount for Christmas. I'm sorry to say it took me a week to get around to deciding that yes, letting you know about this was within the acceptable scope of my blog policies since I have owned a Sun Oven myself for well over a decade and have posted frequently about using it. (See my two-year log of cooking with it!) To the best of my knowledge, I am receiving nothing personally from Sun Ovens in exchange for posting this information, except the hope that a few more people might be inspired to dive into their own solar cooking adventures.
FINALLY.... THE DISCOUNT OFFER
So, here's the deal. He's already offering a pretty nice Christmas package for a Global Sun Oven with a bunch of accessories and shipping thrown in for free. If you order this by December 30, 2010, and use the discount code: Chile Chews, you'll save an additional $25. How's that for a Christmas present? Just by reading my blog, you can save yourself twenty-five smackeroos on that solar oven you've been lusting after. Just remember to use the discount code.
And one last thing. Do me a favor. If you order an oven, leave me a comment to let me know. I'm trying to do good in the world but I don't always get the follow-up feedback to know if I've actually made a difference. For instance, after all the work I put into making food, planning, and putting on two solar cooking demos at the CSA, I didn't get any feedback later to know if anyone (out of 500 members) actually decided to buy a solar oven as a result. If you do get a solar oven, I also want to hear if you actually use it, too!
It's Time to Downsize
What?! Downsizing in the time of rampant Christmas consumerism? Has Chile gone crazy?!
Nope, Chile has not gone any crazier than normal. Granted, I have to agree that's not saying much in her case, but there is some logic behind this need to downsize now. She's had a week of rest and relaxation - if you consider going to the dentist and physical therapist and dealing with chronic aches and pains from teeth to feet relaxing - and realized that her dreams of a mobile life aren't going to happen if she keeps living in a home filled with stuff.
A few weeks ago, we went by an RV show and wandered through the fifth wheel trailers (ones hauled behind a big truck). They were amazingly spacious inside with all of the bump-outs (sections that move out to expand the walls when the trailer is parked). However, when we started looking at the actual amount of storage space in one of these, we got a bit of a reality check.
The fridge, for instance, is quite small. The freezer is about the size of a bread box. If I got rid of two-thirds of my kitchenware (dishes, cookware, utensils, gadgets, etc.), I might be able to fit the rest in the available cabinets but then there would be no room left for any food. Obviously, I have to get rid of more. This means making choices, deciding what is really important in my life.
It seems like it should be relatively easy, when one sits down and thinks about it, to decide what is really important in one's life. Surprisingly, it's not. Along with one's own opinions, there are many other voices clamoring for a say: advertisers that one's heard all their life, the cooking shows, the favorite cookbook authors, years of personal experience in the kitchen, and so on.
How can I possibly live without all my carefully-selected pots and pans? Utensils? Cookbooks? Spices?
Yeah, I'm freaking out a little. Can you tell?
And then there's my office, where I sit typing right now surrounded by a four-drawer filing cabinet, student-sized desk with drawers filled to the brim, and a bookcase five feet high and three feet wide packed full of office and craft supplies. How do I cull all that down to, at most, what would fit in the student desk? I don't know yet, but I'm going to tackle the file cabinet today.
In the filing cabinet are my school records going all the way back to 4th grade. Why, I ask you, do I have these? Sure, it's interesting to look through them but do I really need the reminders that I wasn't as smart as I thought I was? Do I need to remember that I sucked at geography and history in grade school, or that one teacher was mean enough to give me Cs in penmanship when I broke my wrist and had a cast on it?
Do I need to get worked up again about the teacher with poor math skills who averaged my grades for the two semesters - an A and a B plus extra credit - and came up with a B, the only one I received in high school? And that this one grade made the difference when a new student transferred into the school in his senior year with all As so that I would no longer be the valedictorian of the graduating class?
No. I don't need to keep reminders of these things. They are meaningless in my life now. The only time I even think about this stuff is when I sort through the files wondering what to keep and what to ditch. Well, I'm ditching these records now! The documents (diplomas) showing that I gots me sum edjimication, that I is a learn-ed purson, and I knows stuf is good enuf fer me.
Where was I? Oh yes, cleaning out the unnecessary clutter from my life. Anybody want to buy a Mickey Mouse desk telephone? I'm not six and I really don't need to make calls with Disney...
Nope, Chile has not gone any crazier than normal. Granted, I have to agree that's not saying much in her case, but there is some logic behind this need to downsize now. She's had a week of rest and relaxation - if you consider going to the dentist and physical therapist and dealing with chronic aches and pains from teeth to feet relaxing - and realized that her dreams of a mobile life aren't going to happen if she keeps living in a home filled with stuff.
A few weeks ago, we went by an RV show and wandered through the fifth wheel trailers (ones hauled behind a big truck). They were amazingly spacious inside with all of the bump-outs (sections that move out to expand the walls when the trailer is parked). However, when we started looking at the actual amount of storage space in one of these, we got a bit of a reality check.
The fridge, for instance, is quite small. The freezer is about the size of a bread box. If I got rid of two-thirds of my kitchenware (dishes, cookware, utensils, gadgets, etc.), I might be able to fit the rest in the available cabinets but then there would be no room left for any food. Obviously, I have to get rid of more. This means making choices, deciding what is really important in my life.
It seems like it should be relatively easy, when one sits down and thinks about it, to decide what is really important in one's life. Surprisingly, it's not. Along with one's own opinions, there are many other voices clamoring for a say: advertisers that one's heard all their life, the cooking shows, the favorite cookbook authors, years of personal experience in the kitchen, and so on.
How can I possibly live without all my carefully-selected pots and pans? Utensils? Cookbooks? Spices?
Yeah, I'm freaking out a little. Can you tell?
And then there's my office, where I sit typing right now surrounded by a four-drawer filing cabinet, student-sized desk with drawers filled to the brim, and a bookcase five feet high and three feet wide packed full of office and craft supplies. How do I cull all that down to, at most, what would fit in the student desk? I don't know yet, but I'm going to tackle the file cabinet today.
In the filing cabinet are my school records going all the way back to 4th grade. Why, I ask you, do I have these? Sure, it's interesting to look through them but do I really need the reminders that I wasn't as smart as I thought I was? Do I need to remember that I sucked at geography and history in grade school, or that one teacher was mean enough to give me Cs in penmanship when I broke my wrist and had a cast on it?
Do I need to get worked up again about the teacher with poor math skills who averaged my grades for the two semesters - an A and a B plus extra credit - and came up with a B, the only one I received in high school? And that this one grade made the difference when a new student transferred into the school in his senior year with all As so that I would no longer be the valedictorian of the graduating class?
No. I don't need to keep reminders of these things. They are meaningless in my life now. The only time I even think about this stuff is when I sort through the files wondering what to keep and what to ditch. Well, I'm ditching these records now! The documents (diplomas) showing that I gots me sum edjimication, that I is a learn-ed purson, and I knows stuf is good enuf fer me.
Where was I? Oh yes, cleaning out the unnecessary clutter from my life. Anybody want to buy a Mickey Mouse desk telephone? I'm not six and I really don't need to make calls with Disney...
Saturday, December 4, 2010
This is Why I Don't Make Sugar Cookies
Because I'm really bad at it. And it's so much work to...
- make the dough (even with Trader Joe's handy sugar cookie "kit")
- chill it
- roll it out without it crumbling
- lift the cut-out dough without it sticking and tearing
- re-roll out the bits of leftover dough (over and over again)
- bake them
- ice them
- and decorate them.
I much prefer making the peanut blossoms you can see in the edge of the picture. No chilling, no rolling - okay, they do have to be rolled into individual balls and coated in sugar but that's a lot easier than rolling out a sheet of dough, and the only "decorating" is just a Kiss pressed into the top of the hot cookie just out of the oven. And they have chocolate.
The other problem with sugar cookies is I suck at decorating them. The icing hardened before it could be spread over the cookies evenly. The colored sugars were moist and didn't shake out of the bag easily. I don't know how anyone can possibly make fancy designs with these supplies!
Since I broke these snowmen when lifting the raw dough off the counter, I hoped to make them look like they had big gashes in them with the red sugar. Yeah, I know it's the Christmas season, not Halloween, but we've been watching vampire movies lately...
Sadly, you can see how unsuccessful my gory decorating efforts were. By the way, the blue one in the middle has hypothermia - that's why he's blue.
If you don't like my pathetic attempts at humor, why are you still here reading?
My sweetie did better with the decorating than I did. Perhaps because he used a little more restraint with the sugars. Not much restraint in the eating department, though.
I am not doing sugar cookies next year. I'm happy with one batch of peanut blossoms a year. I'll leave the fancy cookie making to the over-achieving holiday crowd from now on.
Editor's note: Some people have taken offense at the claim that only over-achievers can produce nicely iced holiday cookies. I did not intend to irritate readers. Readers should keep in mind that I am often fascetious, I've frequently written about how I don't care that much how things look as opposed to how they function (or taste), and I don't have kids so I've never bothered to spend the time or effort to learn how to do some things family commonly find joy in doing together ... such as making beautiful sugar cookies.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Practice Saying No
Do you always agree to do things others ask of you - even if you don't want to? Do you always answer questions people ask - even if you don't really think it is any of their business? Do you always give businesses the personal information they ask for - even if you aren't comfortable with what they might do with it?
Yeah, I used to do that, too. Thankfully, though, I had a conversation with a friend years ago who introduced me to the concept of saying no. We are conditioned - socially engineered, in fact - to feel we have to give complete and honest answers to anyone that asks, regardless of who the person is.
In reality, it is your choice whether to give out information whether it is just more personal information than you wish to divulge to a coworker or casual acquaintance or whether to give out your personal identification and financial details, but those asking expect you to answer and this expectation can carry a strong sense of social obligation to provide the information they requested.
Learning to say no can protect your identity, maintain your privacy, and, in some cases, retain your dignity. It will definitely make you a more active participant in your life rather than one just blindly taking the path others have mapped out.
Online Security
Protecting your information online has been the topic of many articles and websites. Yet, people regularly give out personal details anywhere and everywhere they have a presence online. When I've asked some of them about it, they've told me that everyone's information is "out there" already so why should they worry about it. My response usually is that I'd rather not make it that much easier for the criminals.
Refusing to be so forthcoming can lead to social censuring. In a small group of folks on a "private" forum years ago, I was considered ultra-paranoid because I refused to list the month and day of my birthday so the others could wish me a happy birthday at the appropriate time. Of course, everyone else always posted how old they were each year, making it simple to figure out their birth date - one of those useful pieces of information for an identity thief.
Ordering products online is incredibly convenient these days and can be a useful tool in reducing one's driving. However, using some common sense when doing so is important. The first rule in protecting your information online when buying something is to never enter your personal data - address, phone, account information - unless the site uses encryption to protect that information between your computer and theirs. Providing a secure page to enter personal information is not difficult to do. Businesses that take their customers' privacy concerns seriously provide encryption.
I will not do business with companies that do not provide an https or encrypted page for ordering their products. Happily, in the one instance where I contacted a decent-sized company about this by phone several years ago, the founder took all my information by hand, bypassing his pages that were not protected at the time. He took my concerns seriously and followed up by instituting a change on their entire system, providing https pages for all orders.
Sometimes being the squeaky wheel that says no works. Sometimes, though, you just have to take your business elsewhere. It may be inconvenient but I prefer to do that than feel uncomfortable about giving out my information.
At a Retail Store
Refusing to give information can be more challenging in person. How many times have you gone to pay for an item in a store and had the clerk ask, "May I get your address?" or "What is your phone number?" It always sounds as if they crucially need the information in order to complete the transaction.
No, they don't. All they need is to give you the price of the item you are buying and get your money. It is your choice whether to give them more information that will go into their database, a database that may or may not be shared with other businesses, and whose content may or may not be protected. I used to ask why they needed whatever they were asking for. Now I just say, "No." I'm not rude or nasty about it; I'm just firm. "No, you cannot have my phone number, address, or date of birth. I'd be glad to give you my money in exchange for the item."
Thanks to social conditioning, though, people usually feel compelled to give out their information. It takes practice to break this habit. Think about the likelihood that information will be requested before you get to the register. Pause when asked for it, rather than answering automatically, and make a conscious choice whether to provide it or not.
If you have trouble saying no, practice it at home or in less stressful or public situations. (You know, like when your significant other asks if you'd be nice and get them a glass of water. Practice on them. Not too often, though, or you might have to practice saying no to the demands conveyed by the divorce attorney. Just kidding....I hope.)
Personal Relationships
Refusing to answer a personal question in a conversation can be the very hardest one to master. This is the circumstance that initially led to the conversation with my friend years ago. When someone, whether it is a good friend, coworker, or even someone you've just met, asks a direct personal question, it can be very difficult in that moment to decide that you don't really want to give them that information and then to figure out a way to avoid it without appearing rude. We are conditioned to be polite and accommodating, and this is probably even more true for women than for men. Again, thinking about how you are going to handle such situations ahead of time can really help.
Say your boss frequently asks what your plans for the weekend are but you know that he doesn't really care. He's just fishing to find out if he can call you in for overtime. You feel like you have to answer because he is, well, your boss. He may be your boss, but your personal life is just that. You are not obligated to share it. You can simply say you have plans without going into any detail, and if pressed, just smile, and tell him they are private, you hope he enjoys his weekend, and you'll see him on Monday.
I've had casual acquaintances and friends ask me appallingly nosy questions; I used to answer them because I felt obliged to. I know better now. Sometimes when someone asks such a question, their real desire is to tell you their own answer so turning the question back to them may deflect the need to provide your own answer. Asking them why they want to know is another tactic, but if you are concerned about whether they will perceive this as rude, you have to handle it tactfully.
With some pushy people, a blunt refusal to answer their questions may be your only option. "I'd really rather not say" is a little easier for them to hear than "None of your business!" The first option is gentler as it reflects your choice rather than a judgement about them being nosy.
Wake Up
Life is not like an IRS audit, but learning to simply answer a question yes or no when you must, and then not provide additional information is a valuable skill. It is human nature to want to provide an explanation but it can work against your best interests.
Wake up and start paying attention to your interactions with the world around you. Be an active participant in your life, rather than simply reacting to what others say and ask. Practice saying no to what you don't want (like giving out too much information) and yes to what you do (retaining your privacy and maybe a bit of your dignity, too).
Yeah, I used to do that, too. Thankfully, though, I had a conversation with a friend years ago who introduced me to the concept of saying no. We are conditioned - socially engineered, in fact - to feel we have to give complete and honest answers to anyone that asks, regardless of who the person is.
In reality, it is your choice whether to give out information whether it is just more personal information than you wish to divulge to a coworker or casual acquaintance or whether to give out your personal identification and financial details, but those asking expect you to answer and this expectation can carry a strong sense of social obligation to provide the information they requested.
Learning to say no can protect your identity, maintain your privacy, and, in some cases, retain your dignity. It will definitely make you a more active participant in your life rather than one just blindly taking the path others have mapped out.
Online Security
Protecting your information online has been the topic of many articles and websites. Yet, people regularly give out personal details anywhere and everywhere they have a presence online. When I've asked some of them about it, they've told me that everyone's information is "out there" already so why should they worry about it. My response usually is that I'd rather not make it that much easier for the criminals.
Refusing to be so forthcoming can lead to social censuring. In a small group of folks on a "private" forum years ago, I was considered ultra-paranoid because I refused to list the month and day of my birthday so the others could wish me a happy birthday at the appropriate time. Of course, everyone else always posted how old they were each year, making it simple to figure out their birth date - one of those useful pieces of information for an identity thief.
Ordering products online is incredibly convenient these days and can be a useful tool in reducing one's driving. However, using some common sense when doing so is important. The first rule in protecting your information online when buying something is to never enter your personal data - address, phone, account information - unless the site uses encryption to protect that information between your computer and theirs. Providing a secure page to enter personal information is not difficult to do. Businesses that take their customers' privacy concerns seriously provide encryption.
I will not do business with companies that do not provide an https or encrypted page for ordering their products. Happily, in the one instance where I contacted a decent-sized company about this by phone several years ago, the founder took all my information by hand, bypassing his pages that were not protected at the time. He took my concerns seriously and followed up by instituting a change on their entire system, providing https pages for all orders.
Sometimes being the squeaky wheel that says no works. Sometimes, though, you just have to take your business elsewhere. It may be inconvenient but I prefer to do that than feel uncomfortable about giving out my information.
At a Retail Store
Refusing to give information can be more challenging in person. How many times have you gone to pay for an item in a store and had the clerk ask, "May I get your address?" or "What is your phone number?" It always sounds as if they crucially need the information in order to complete the transaction.
No, they don't. All they need is to give you the price of the item you are buying and get your money. It is your choice whether to give them more information that will go into their database, a database that may or may not be shared with other businesses, and whose content may or may not be protected. I used to ask why they needed whatever they were asking for. Now I just say, "No." I'm not rude or nasty about it; I'm just firm. "No, you cannot have my phone number, address, or date of birth. I'd be glad to give you my money in exchange for the item."
Thanks to social conditioning, though, people usually feel compelled to give out their information. It takes practice to break this habit. Think about the likelihood that information will be requested before you get to the register. Pause when asked for it, rather than answering automatically, and make a conscious choice whether to provide it or not.
If you have trouble saying no, practice it at home or in less stressful or public situations. (You know, like when your significant other asks if you'd be nice and get them a glass of water. Practice on them. Not too often, though, or you might have to practice saying no to the demands conveyed by the divorce attorney. Just kidding....I hope.)
Personal Relationships
Refusing to answer a personal question in a conversation can be the very hardest one to master. This is the circumstance that initially led to the conversation with my friend years ago. When someone, whether it is a good friend, coworker, or even someone you've just met, asks a direct personal question, it can be very difficult in that moment to decide that you don't really want to give them that information and then to figure out a way to avoid it without appearing rude. We are conditioned to be polite and accommodating, and this is probably even more true for women than for men. Again, thinking about how you are going to handle such situations ahead of time can really help.
Say your boss frequently asks what your plans for the weekend are but you know that he doesn't really care. He's just fishing to find out if he can call you in for overtime. You feel like you have to answer because he is, well, your boss. He may be your boss, but your personal life is just that. You are not obligated to share it. You can simply say you have plans without going into any detail, and if pressed, just smile, and tell him they are private, you hope he enjoys his weekend, and you'll see him on Monday.
I've had casual acquaintances and friends ask me appallingly nosy questions; I used to answer them because I felt obliged to. I know better now. Sometimes when someone asks such a question, their real desire is to tell you their own answer so turning the question back to them may deflect the need to provide your own answer. Asking them why they want to know is another tactic, but if you are concerned about whether they will perceive this as rude, you have to handle it tactfully.
With some pushy people, a blunt refusal to answer their questions may be your only option. "I'd really rather not say" is a little easier for them to hear than "None of your business!" The first option is gentler as it reflects your choice rather than a judgement about them being nosy.
Wake Up
Life is not like an IRS audit, but learning to simply answer a question yes or no when you must, and then not provide additional information is a valuable skill. It is human nature to want to provide an explanation but it can work against your best interests.
Wake up and start paying attention to your interactions with the world around you. Be an active participant in your life, rather than simply reacting to what others say and ask. Practice saying no to what you don't want (like giving out too much information) and yes to what you do (retaining your privacy and maybe a bit of your dignity, too).
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