A place for everything and everything in its place. Words I was raised by, words I live by. My husband is a bit more laid back. It was a clash between us until I learned to relax a little about things being out of order and him realizing how much things lying around drove me crazy.
When he is deployed I slip back into my orderly life. But I notice now that I miss his things being out of place. To most with my orderly personality it could be a source of constant annoyance. To me the things are reminders he is here.
He just left this morning after a two week R&R. I wandered around for a couple hours lost, like I always do when he leaves. I started the laundry and picking up things. Each 'thing' I pick up now reminds me that he is gone and I won't see the things for a long time. It was tempting me to leave some things out. I might yet. As I'm cleaning I might just find something of his that needs to be left out. To remind me that he is a part of my life and will return soon.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Why don't they matter?
Since the Chinook crashed a couple days ago I have watched the news and kept an eye on status updates on Facebook. Over and over again I hear about the Navy Seal team 6. 20 of them. Always in the back of my mind was the question who were the other 10? Why aren't they talked about? Why don't they matter?
I'm sure the posts on facebook were well meaning. Until the rose post about 31 special forces yesterday everything I saw mentioned Seal team 6. It is awful they lost so many! But there were TEN other Americans too. They are loved by someone. They are someone's family. They belonged to a unit of men and women that are devastated over their loss.
My husband echoed my feelings today. I was thankful because I thought maybe it was just me.
I watched the news a little closer today. Sure enough, CBS evening news talked about the crash. They started with 30 American soldiers killed. Then went on to say 20 with the now famous Navy Seal team 6 and not one other mention of the other 10. I did send them a message.
My ramblings tonight don't seem to make much sense. Just please keep in mind, whether it's one soldier lost or 30, they were each special to someone. They each deserve respect and mourning. No one should ever be left out. Of course we don't hear much about the one or two soldiers that get killed here and there. The news doesn't make them important. But we CAN.
Don't jump on the 'reposting' bandwagon. Actually read the post. Think about the post. Can you make it more sincere? Can you make it personal?
*I was going to try to post news articles. They are all so varying and confusing. Each one is different. I guess I will never know, but they DID matter to me.
I'm sure the posts on facebook were well meaning. Until the rose post about 31 special forces yesterday everything I saw mentioned Seal team 6. It is awful they lost so many! But there were TEN other Americans too. They are loved by someone. They are someone's family. They belonged to a unit of men and women that are devastated over their loss.
My husband echoed my feelings today. I was thankful because I thought maybe it was just me.
I watched the news a little closer today. Sure enough, CBS evening news talked about the crash. They started with 30 American soldiers killed. Then went on to say 20 with the now famous Navy Seal team 6 and not one other mention of the other 10. I did send them a message.
My ramblings tonight don't seem to make much sense. Just please keep in mind, whether it's one soldier lost or 30, they were each special to someone. They each deserve respect and mourning. No one should ever be left out. Of course we don't hear much about the one or two soldiers that get killed here and there. The news doesn't make them important. But we CAN.
Don't jump on the 'reposting' bandwagon. Actually read the post. Think about the post. Can you make it more sincere? Can you make it personal?
*I was going to try to post news articles. They are all so varying and confusing. Each one is different. I guess I will never know, but they DID matter to me.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Walgreens says NO
The correspondence is in reverse. My last reply being on top of the emails I received. I did delete personal addresses etc because I am not running a campaign aimed at any one person. It is against a company that is money hungry and selfish and so unwilling to change.
Unsure what I'm talking about? See original post here:
To any representative of Walgreens that might read this. I might not have many followers through Blogger. I promise you the word IS getting around. It is not that I needed Register Rewards. I don't. It was great when I was able to save so much off my grocery bill, but I will survive. I pray for the families that are struggling more though, that relied on that to get a gallon of milk or loaf of bread to put dinner on the table. Shame on you Walgreens, shame.
**********************************************************************************************
Thank you for trying Vince.
I appreciate what you have done. I am now relaying this to the military community. I will say it is extremely disappointing as I loved shopping at Walgreen's but will not continue to go if they are so unwilling to work with the military or commissaries. I know I do not stand alone.
Sincerely,
Robin H
From: "Vince
Hello,
Ms Howard,
I apologize for this taking so long. However, I want to let you know our company is firm in it's stance to put "redeemable only at Walgreens" on our register rewards.
The response is below. My boss and I pushed this all the way up to our legal department and lobbied for the military families to have an exemption.
But the following is the stand by our company.
I'm sorry for this issue. If I can be of any assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to call or email.
Sincerely,
Vince
********************************************************************************
Hi Vince
I am sorry it took awhile to get a response for you, but we had to forward this to our legal department. What we heard back from legal was that they were not going to change the language on the register rewards. The change was not directed at military base shops but at all other retailers, whether military or civilian.
Thank You,
The OpsAdminSupport Team
Walgreens Family of Companies.
**************************************************************************
It is doubtful, but perhaps if enough people sign they will reconsider. I think it will take more than a petition. It will take people simply saying NO to Walgreens. I will miss the sales, but absolutely will not support big business that tosses military families to the side for their own selfish gain.
Sign Petition Here.
UPDATE: 8-4-11 6:00pm
I just received this note back, there is still hope but don't give up sharing and passing the word. They need to know we are serious.
"I'm sorry...I just got another email just now that this may be under review again by our executive team..I'll update you if anything changes.
My apologies
Vince"
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Don't create panic
As some of you may already know a soldier was arrested in Killeen, TX this morning. There have been so many rumors flying! Here is an article about Pvt. Nasser Jason Abdo. Google it, you'll find quite a few more articles. Just make sure it's news and not opinion.
My understanding of the situation is he was arrested originally for being AWOL and child pornography. He was found with items that were suspicious and later today might face charges for possession of bomb making paraphernalia.The main and most important thing is this: There was NO incident ON Fort Hood. There was never an attack. It was someones plan. But they GOT him. This from Ft Hood.
First let me say, this is NOT to defend him. I think he needs to be at the very least prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I will keep deeper personal feelings to myself. Well I have to say this: When you enlist in the army don't you enlist KNOWING you are probably going to deploy to a war zone?
The main point of why I am writing is that I was ashamed of what I was seeing posted on Facebook. One person, an army wife with more years experience than I have, was posting panic on her wall. She ended her update with "please pray for me."
I wanted to lash out at her personally. I can be rather harsh so I chose not to. I was so upset with this call to panic that I did unfriend her. I believe that if there is news, REAL news, it is okay to repost. Not news from some off the wall place but impartial mainstream news. Never should anyone make something it is not. I expect that from all people. More from an Army wife.
I question everything I read or hear. I search it out. I think inciting panic because you jump to conclusions is shameful. If you don't know what's going on, ask first. I've done that. IE: the fires on Ft Hood recently. That was another rumor mill. I went back and commented to my question that the fires weren't bad and were under control. Not 'OMG, they're coming this way!'
OPSEC/PERSEC is drilled into us by many directions. FRG discusses not spreading rumors but to find a reliable source to get the correct information. I believe that needs to be drilled just as hard as OPSEC/PERSEC.
Yes, sometimes things happen that are scary or make our stomachs wrench. But that is no excuse for spreading rumors and inciting panic. Think before you post about these things.
I am not talking about personal feelings on things. We all have those with a great deal of variances. That's what makes us unique. But those should only be about ourselves and never to start a rumor about someone or someplace else.
The life of a military spouse is stressful enough. It does not need to be made more stressful from unnecessary rumors.
My understanding of the situation is he was arrested originally for being AWOL and child pornography. He was found with items that were suspicious and later today might face charges for possession of bomb making paraphernalia.The main and most important thing is this: There was NO incident ON Fort Hood. There was never an attack. It was someones plan. But they GOT him. This from Ft Hood.
First let me say, this is NOT to defend him. I think he needs to be at the very least prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I will keep deeper personal feelings to myself. Well I have to say this: When you enlist in the army don't you enlist KNOWING you are probably going to deploy to a war zone?
The main point of why I am writing is that I was ashamed of what I was seeing posted on Facebook. One person, an army wife with more years experience than I have, was posting panic on her wall. She ended her update with "please pray for me."
I wanted to lash out at her personally. I can be rather harsh so I chose not to. I was so upset with this call to panic that I did unfriend her. I believe that if there is news, REAL news, it is okay to repost. Not news from some off the wall place but impartial mainstream news. Never should anyone make something it is not. I expect that from all people. More from an Army wife.
I question everything I read or hear. I search it out. I think inciting panic because you jump to conclusions is shameful. If you don't know what's going on, ask first. I've done that. IE: the fires on Ft Hood recently. That was another rumor mill. I went back and commented to my question that the fires weren't bad and were under control. Not 'OMG, they're coming this way!'
OPSEC/PERSEC is drilled into us by many directions. FRG discusses not spreading rumors but to find a reliable source to get the correct information. I believe that needs to be drilled just as hard as OPSEC/PERSEC.
Yes, sometimes things happen that are scary or make our stomachs wrench. But that is no excuse for spreading rumors and inciting panic. Think before you post about these things.
I am not talking about personal feelings on things. We all have those with a great deal of variances. That's what makes us unique. But those should only be about ourselves and never to start a rumor about someone or someplace else.
The life of a military spouse is stressful enough. It does not need to be made more stressful from unnecessary rumors.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Well meaning people.
We have a wide and far spread network of friends. I love my friends. I just wish sometimes they could 'get it.'
I consistently get emails from them. That's a good thing right? Well yes and no. They are pretty much standard short one line emails. They almost always go like this:
"Just wanted to say hi and check on your hubby. All is well here."
I always respond with "He is doing well, all is good."
What I wish they could get is, that once in a while, those people that send the email would stop and ask 'how are you doing?'
Of course my response would be 'great!' But it would just be the thought that they stopped to ask about me. I don't really blame them. They don't know any better. They don't know the sacrifices that we make right along with our spouses. The fears that we live with daily. The additional stressors we have in our lives. I always think too it would be better if they just asked HIM how he is doing. He loves getting mail. He would love to know people are thinking about him. I always relay the message, but it's not the same. He might not be able to respond right away, and he will probably even forget. But just let him know. Second hand caring just isn't the same.
Perhaps they are hoping for something I can't give. Information that is private that I probably don't even know. I don't know. My husband and I are secret keepers. We don't tell each other anything unless that person has told us to tell the other. That includes information he knows about himself and movements, missions, etc.
I would love to know every move he makes. It would make me feel more secure knowing where he was every moment. But then again, it could make my life a living hell. I probably don't want to know when he is outside the wire, in fact I'm sure I don't. I prefer my pretend world where is always safe and secure in his CHU.
I consistently get emails from them. That's a good thing right? Well yes and no. They are pretty much standard short one line emails. They almost always go like this:
"Just wanted to say hi and check on your hubby. All is well here."
I always respond with "He is doing well, all is good."
What I wish they could get is, that once in a while, those people that send the email would stop and ask 'how are you doing?'
Of course my response would be 'great!' But it would just be the thought that they stopped to ask about me. I don't really blame them. They don't know any better. They don't know the sacrifices that we make right along with our spouses. The fears that we live with daily. The additional stressors we have in our lives. I always think too it would be better if they just asked HIM how he is doing. He loves getting mail. He would love to know people are thinking about him. I always relay the message, but it's not the same. He might not be able to respond right away, and he will probably even forget. But just let him know. Second hand caring just isn't the same.
Perhaps they are hoping for something I can't give. Information that is private that I probably don't even know. I don't know. My husband and I are secret keepers. We don't tell each other anything unless that person has told us to tell the other. That includes information he knows about himself and movements, missions, etc.
I would love to know every move he makes. It would make me feel more secure knowing where he was every moment. But then again, it could make my life a living hell. I probably don't want to know when he is outside the wire, in fact I'm sure I don't. I prefer my pretend world where is always safe and secure in his CHU.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
How are you?
I hate that question. Really I do. Chances are I feel awful but my conditioned response is generally 'Great! And you?'
I sometimes wonder how far peoples mouths would drop if I actually told them the truth. That I am in constant pain. That I'm tired. That I just don't know how I can deal with all of it one more day. But I don't. I remind myself constantly it could be worse. It used to be worse. There are others worse than myself. It's so hard to remember those little things when I have a bad day though.
Here it is. I am going to lay it out. It might explain why my posting is sometimes sporadic and why what I do runs in cycles. The whole honest truth. Well maybe not all of it. And this is the last you will hear of it. I am not a complainer. Not about my health anyway. I can find enough things to complain about without it.
I don't let it get to me. I do my work and errands to the best of my ability regardless of how I feel. I don't whine and complain, I just do it and get it over with. We all have problems. No one wants to hear them ALL the time.
10 years ago I had a minor operation that went bad. I developed peritonitis, pancreatitis and my colon was perforated in 4 places. The surgeons did not expect me to make it. They had called my family in and when I was to be transferred for emergency surgery my family was told I would die on the way to their chosen hospital an hour away (by ambulance, not by car.) I underwent five hours of surgery that night. I was told they took everything out and then put it all back in. That my abdomen was filled with infection. The next day they drained a liter of fluid off my left lung. It had only filled 75% and they felt it was less likely to collapse than my right which had completely filled. One more day and they reopened my abdomen and repeated the five hour surgery. I was in ICU for a long time. I don't remember much. I then moved to a private room and spent a month getting to know the staff very well. But I was strong and pulled through. I have undergone many surgeries since and have incidental problems but it's okay. I'm sitting here writing about it so it's all good.
In 2005 I had a pain in my lower back. Within days I couldn't move and my entire right side had gone numb. They put me in the hospital on really strong pain meds that were awful! Neurologists poked pins at my leg and feet. This test that test. Nothing. I went to see a newly graduated family doctor that suggested it was Psoriatic arthritis. Testing showed it indeed was. Not sure what that is? Most don't. The easiest way to explain it is to say I have rheumatoid arthritis. They are identical in symptoms and treatments. The only difference is the RA factor in the bloodwork. Now, if you don't know about RA either it is not just arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease. I get sick if someone 2 miles away sneezes. Mornings are awful and I have to curl up into a ball and roll to get out of bed. I am tired. The treatment is a chemotherapy drug called methotrexate that I inject once a week and a TNF drug called Simponi. (You might have heard of some of these in commercials. Enbrel and Humira are advertised often.) I choose the one I'm on because it is one shot a month and is relatively painless in comparison to Enbrel and Humira which both make me cuss like a sailor when they are injected. (It's so bad I cannot inject myself!) This medication further attacks the immune system and by doing that slows the progression of the disease. Notice I said slows. I wish I could have written stops the progression. I battle chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and any bug that floats by. I go through gallons of hand sanitizer. When I know there is a virus outbreak I panic and look for my masks. But I'm okay. Five years ago I was in a wheelchair. Then I used a can for months. Now I mostly walk on my own except for very long treks, but I try. On those occasions I have to take my wheelchair and push it as far as I can before I let someone push me. I detest it!! But I fight it. I try to keep as active as I can and wish I could do more. The fatigue I battle on a daily basis wins very often. The treatment causes more fatigue. **I talked my doctor into letting me try methotrexate pills until my hubby comes home and can do my shots again. Score!**
The last thing, which I believe is related to the first thing is metabolic disorder. This is the one that I wish I could beat the most. It is terrible. It includes:
There is more. They seem to me to be incidental and don't bother me often. I think it's all the little incidentals though that get to me the most.
I miss going to the gym. I miss going for walks. Hiking. Biking. I miss my energy the most. I hate having to force myself to do things I love. So if you don't hear from me for long periods of time it's only because I'm tired. I am so glad that my hubby is laid back and relaxed. I know there are times though that he wants to do things or go places and I just can't get myself to go anywhere. It's why I don't attend functions at night. It's why I don't do many things. One thing I hate though is if I say no today, please ask me next week because I might be up to it. No one does. Oh well.
And there you go. You now have a little insight into my life. Now you might see why I dread the question 'How are you?' It is also spurred from the constant whiners in my life that are always miserable and make it vocal and don't do anything because they don't feel well.
I sometimes wonder how far peoples mouths would drop if I actually told them the truth. That I am in constant pain. That I'm tired. That I just don't know how I can deal with all of it one more day. But I don't. I remind myself constantly it could be worse. It used to be worse. There are others worse than myself. It's so hard to remember those little things when I have a bad day though.
Here it is. I am going to lay it out. It might explain why my posting is sometimes sporadic and why what I do runs in cycles. The whole honest truth. Well maybe not all of it. And this is the last you will hear of it. I am not a complainer. Not about my health anyway. I can find enough things to complain about without it.
I don't let it get to me. I do my work and errands to the best of my ability regardless of how I feel. I don't whine and complain, I just do it and get it over with. We all have problems. No one wants to hear them ALL the time.
10 years ago I had a minor operation that went bad. I developed peritonitis, pancreatitis and my colon was perforated in 4 places. The surgeons did not expect me to make it. They had called my family in and when I was to be transferred for emergency surgery my family was told I would die on the way to their chosen hospital an hour away (by ambulance, not by car.) I underwent five hours of surgery that night. I was told they took everything out and then put it all back in. That my abdomen was filled with infection. The next day they drained a liter of fluid off my left lung. It had only filled 75% and they felt it was less likely to collapse than my right which had completely filled. One more day and they reopened my abdomen and repeated the five hour surgery. I was in ICU for a long time. I don't remember much. I then moved to a private room and spent a month getting to know the staff very well. But I was strong and pulled through. I have undergone many surgeries since and have incidental problems but it's okay. I'm sitting here writing about it so it's all good.
In 2005 I had a pain in my lower back. Within days I couldn't move and my entire right side had gone numb. They put me in the hospital on really strong pain meds that were awful! Neurologists poked pins at my leg and feet. This test that test. Nothing. I went to see a newly graduated family doctor that suggested it was Psoriatic arthritis. Testing showed it indeed was. Not sure what that is? Most don't. The easiest way to explain it is to say I have rheumatoid arthritis. They are identical in symptoms and treatments. The only difference is the RA factor in the bloodwork. Now, if you don't know about RA either it is not just arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease. I get sick if someone 2 miles away sneezes. Mornings are awful and I have to curl up into a ball and roll to get out of bed. I am tired. The treatment is a chemotherapy drug called methotrexate that I inject once a week and a TNF drug called Simponi. (You might have heard of some of these in commercials. Enbrel and Humira are advertised often.) I choose the one I'm on because it is one shot a month and is relatively painless in comparison to Enbrel and Humira which both make me cuss like a sailor when they are injected. (It's so bad I cannot inject myself!) This medication further attacks the immune system and by doing that slows the progression of the disease. Notice I said slows. I wish I could have written stops the progression. I battle chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and any bug that floats by. I go through gallons of hand sanitizer. When I know there is a virus outbreak I panic and look for my masks. But I'm okay. Five years ago I was in a wheelchair. Then I used a can for months. Now I mostly walk on my own except for very long treks, but I try. On those occasions I have to take my wheelchair and push it as far as I can before I let someone push me. I detest it!! But I fight it. I try to keep as active as I can and wish I could do more. The fatigue I battle on a daily basis wins very often. The treatment causes more fatigue. **I talked my doctor into letting me try methotrexate pills until my hubby comes home and can do my shots again. Score!**
The last thing, which I believe is related to the first thing is metabolic disorder. This is the one that I wish I could beat the most. It is terrible. It includes:
- Obesity, particularly around your waist (having an "apple shape")
- A systolic (top number) blood pressure measurement higher than 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or a diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure measurement higher than 80 mm Hg
- An elevated level of the blood fat called triglycerides and a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the "good" cholesterol
- Resistance to insulin, a hormone that helps to regulate the amount of sugar in your body (I lost part of my pancreas during all my surgeries.)
- Hypothyroidism (actually linked to the syndrome as a cause)
There is more. They seem to me to be incidental and don't bother me often. I think it's all the little incidentals though that get to me the most.
I miss going to the gym. I miss going for walks. Hiking. Biking. I miss my energy the most. I hate having to force myself to do things I love. So if you don't hear from me for long periods of time it's only because I'm tired. I am so glad that my hubby is laid back and relaxed. I know there are times though that he wants to do things or go places and I just can't get myself to go anywhere. It's why I don't attend functions at night. It's why I don't do many things. One thing I hate though is if I say no today, please ask me next week because I might be up to it. No one does. Oh well.
And there you go. You now have a little insight into my life. Now you might see why I dread the question 'How are you?' It is also spurred from the constant whiners in my life that are always miserable and make it vocal and don't do anything because they don't feel well.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
My Passion
Perhaps it started with 9-11. Perhaps hubby reenlisting in the Army and being exposed to certain things increased my passion. The November 5th shootings. Yeah, that helped it along too.
All around the world the fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, they all contributed.
So what IS my passion? Emergency preparedness. Strange passion huh? Not really. It is merely a passion that has put me and my family in a more stable position. There are many facets to emergency preparedness.
There is no right or wrong way to prepare for an emergency. Let me take that back. There is a wrong way. It's called doing nothing and hoping that your neighbor (or FEMA) will be there to help. Think back to hurricane Katrina. Look at what happened in New Orleans. In a matter of 3 days the society broke drown and anarchy abounded. The videos scare me, but they are very real. It DID indeed happen. No water, no food, no medical supplies. No people to help. The only one anyone could depend on for a long while was themselves.
That's where being prepared comes into play. It is different for each person. If you live in a hurricane zone you need to plan accordingly. Same for tornadoes, floods or whatever natural disaster would likely occur where you live.
My biggest 'disaster' concern is our countries financial situation. Yes, that is a big one. If a budget deal isn't work and people don't get the checks from the government whether it's Social Security or military or any other reason there are going to be many people hurting. It will be a trickle effect. Or more like a flood of financial instability. The cost of everyday things will sky rocket overnight. I would hope that this type of thing could be worked out quickly, but I still want to be ready. I don't want to be in debt and have money to survive on if needed.
There are also extremists. The ones that prepare for everything. I guess that would be nice but it would be very costly and very time consuming to be ready for every possible contingency. You really have to think about where you are and go from there.
For the sake of covering the most ground I will write about a natural disaster. It seems this has been the year for tornadoes so I will focus on that. The picture is a before and after of Joplin Missouri from a tornado that hit May 23, 2011.
A tornado rips through your town during the day. Almost everyone is at work or school.
Power is out.
Phone lines are down.
Cell towers are knocked down or the lines are too busy and you can't get through.
Roads are blocked with debris.
It could take days before your power is restored. Your water supply might be contaminated or not working at all.
Does your family know where to meet up? What if your house was destroyed?
The food in your refrigerator will start to spoil after 24 hours.
If there is flooding that came with the tornado it could make the situation even worse.
If people don't have water or food they will go looking for it. The store shelves will empty fast. It doesn't take long for looting to start. Desperate people do desperate things. It is sad but it is true. I want to be someone who is not desperate.
The CDC recommends to store at least a 3-day supply of water for each person and each pet (try to store a 2-week supply if possible). Please, do not forget your pet. They get hungry and thirsty too.
You need to have at least 3 days food that is shelf stable or made for long term storage. I will go into more detail later about long term food storage. (It is there that lies the heart of my passion.) Think of foods in a can that be eaten uncooked. There are always MRE's but they are my least favorite food. I've tried most of them out of curiosity and suppose if I had to live on them I would. But there are much cheaper alternatives.
Have a well stocked first aid kit. One of those little kits will work great if someone gets a sliver but your first aid kit should be stocked enough that at a minimum it fills a tackle box. Pain relievers, gauze, tape, antibiotic, alcohol, peroxide and many other things I could write a separate blog about. Toss in a deck of cards or small activity books along with pad of paper and pencils too. Those can go a long way toward mental health when there is no television or your books are ripped to shreds laying in your neighbors lawn.
Keep a bag packed for each member of the family with quick foods, water, change of clothes and first aid too. If your home is destroyed or facing destruction you might not have time to grab what you need to get out. Having bags ready and checking them every three months (as the seasons change) you can ensure they are supplied with the right clothes and replace food so it doesn't get stale or spoil.
I realize as I'm writing there is no way to cover everything I want in one single post. I also won't overwhelm you with going on and on. Which I've already done. If you want to learn more or follow me along on this passion journey of mine then check out my other blog (just getting starting but I will be covering all sorts of topics from preparedness to self reliance and financial independence)
If your interest is piqued about long term food storage being my deepest passion check out Shelf Reliance. I will also be at the Fort Hood Army Wives Expo on September 10 at the Killeen Civic Center if you are in the area and want to see first hand.
CDC is a great resource. Check them out too.
All around the world the fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, they all contributed.
So what IS my passion? Emergency preparedness. Strange passion huh? Not really. It is merely a passion that has put me and my family in a more stable position. There are many facets to emergency preparedness.
There is no right or wrong way to prepare for an emergency. Let me take that back. There is a wrong way. It's called doing nothing and hoping that your neighbor (or FEMA) will be there to help. Think back to hurricane Katrina. Look at what happened in New Orleans. In a matter of 3 days the society broke drown and anarchy abounded. The videos scare me, but they are very real. It DID indeed happen. No water, no food, no medical supplies. No people to help. The only one anyone could depend on for a long while was themselves.
That's where being prepared comes into play. It is different for each person. If you live in a hurricane zone you need to plan accordingly. Same for tornadoes, floods or whatever natural disaster would likely occur where you live.
My biggest 'disaster' concern is our countries financial situation. Yes, that is a big one. If a budget deal isn't work and people don't get the checks from the government whether it's Social Security or military or any other reason there are going to be many people hurting. It will be a trickle effect. Or more like a flood of financial instability. The cost of everyday things will sky rocket overnight. I would hope that this type of thing could be worked out quickly, but I still want to be ready. I don't want to be in debt and have money to survive on if needed.
There are also extremists. The ones that prepare for everything. I guess that would be nice but it would be very costly and very time consuming to be ready for every possible contingency. You really have to think about where you are and go from there.
For the sake of covering the most ground I will write about a natural disaster. It seems this has been the year for tornadoes so I will focus on that. The picture is a before and after of Joplin Missouri from a tornado that hit May 23, 2011.
A tornado rips through your town during the day. Almost everyone is at work or school.
Power is out.
Phone lines are down.
Cell towers are knocked down or the lines are too busy and you can't get through.
Roads are blocked with debris.
It could take days before your power is restored. Your water supply might be contaminated or not working at all.
Does your family know where to meet up? What if your house was destroyed?
The food in your refrigerator will start to spoil after 24 hours.
If there is flooding that came with the tornado it could make the situation even worse.
If people don't have water or food they will go looking for it. The store shelves will empty fast. It doesn't take long for looting to start. Desperate people do desperate things. It is sad but it is true. I want to be someone who is not desperate.
The CDC recommends to store at least a 3-day supply of water for each person and each pet (try to store a 2-week supply if possible). Please, do not forget your pet. They get hungry and thirsty too.
You need to have at least 3 days food that is shelf stable or made for long term storage. I will go into more detail later about long term food storage. (It is there that lies the heart of my passion.) Think of foods in a can that be eaten uncooked. There are always MRE's but they are my least favorite food. I've tried most of them out of curiosity and suppose if I had to live on them I would. But there are much cheaper alternatives.
Have a well stocked first aid kit. One of those little kits will work great if someone gets a sliver but your first aid kit should be stocked enough that at a minimum it fills a tackle box. Pain relievers, gauze, tape, antibiotic, alcohol, peroxide and many other things I could write a separate blog about. Toss in a deck of cards or small activity books along with pad of paper and pencils too. Those can go a long way toward mental health when there is no television or your books are ripped to shreds laying in your neighbors lawn.
Keep a bag packed for each member of the family with quick foods, water, change of clothes and first aid too. If your home is destroyed or facing destruction you might not have time to grab what you need to get out. Having bags ready and checking them every three months (as the seasons change) you can ensure they are supplied with the right clothes and replace food so it doesn't get stale or spoil.
I realize as I'm writing there is no way to cover everything I want in one single post. I also won't overwhelm you with going on and on. Which I've already done. If you want to learn more or follow me along on this passion journey of mine then check out my other blog (just getting starting but I will be covering all sorts of topics from preparedness to self reliance and financial independence)
If your interest is piqued about long term food storage being my deepest passion check out Shelf Reliance. I will also be at the Fort Hood Army Wives Expo on September 10 at the Killeen Civic Center if you are in the area and want to see first hand.
CDC is a great resource. Check them out too.
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