Daily writing prompt

What do you love about where you live?

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It was not my plan to stay here. The plans were temporary. At the time I knew little or nothing about Mississippi. I settled in here for two reasons. It was affordable and it was near the job I had in Memphis. I had hopes of getting my feet back on the ground after my discharge from the Marines. It took close to 6 months to get a good paying job and my wife had to work for a while to help me out. In addition, we did have a small loan we needed to pay off.

It seemed every time it looked like we might get something larger, we had a reversal. So, here I am, in the home that we purchased on a temporary basis.

Nonetheless, it has been a good home in a good neighborhood. We have had good neighbors who have been helpful from time to time. I certainly can’t say I have much to complain of other than the explosion of population. The traffic is growing faster than the highways and every time I turn around, they are building new houses or apartments.

Until the China virus, there was a wide selection of places to eat. There are still many places, but not as much. Moreover, the quality has taken a big hit. Then again, I am sure that can be said of most places.

IF we do need something from the big city, for instance an airport, we are not far away. I guess about 30 minutes away and much of that is getting to the interstate. We have baseball, basketball, college football and some really nice Little League fields nearby.

There are many churches and each one is nicer than the other. Many of them teach the Bible right, though I must admit some are errant in their doctrine.

The crime rate here south of the state line is still relatively low. I have no fear of going out after dark but I am a little more alert these days. I like to walk in the evenings in the summer. It’s not quite as hot.

Perhaps one aspect of the area is the schools. They are, I would guess some of the best in the country. I’m not just talking academics. They have been safe and much better about what the teach. We did have a few issues but they were quickly resolved. However, my sons are now 49 and 53. It has been a long time since I had a child in school. I can only go by what I see going on around me, which seems good. Apparently, the parents in Memphis like Desoto County Schools too. Though illegal, they keep bringing their children down here to get the better education.

Would I move away if I could. I don’t know. The people are nice here. The big problem is that attic. I’d have to employee a small team to bring all that stuff down and find something to do with it. Nonetheless, mostly all the goals and hopes are gone. Now, it’s simply a matter of hanging on a few more years.

Daily writing prompt

Create an emergency preparedness plan.

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Old Carly Simon Song. I kind of liked it. Now that I remember it, I just might download a copy. Sort of beside the point. I am supposed to be writing about preparing for an emergency. It really is an important subject. However, those of us that are old, we have limitations. I mean, at best I can get a 3 month’s supply of medicines. Moreover, I do have many of them. There is the one for blood pressure, for cholesterol, and, well, enough info. Maybe too much. However, without the meds I would be in bad shape. It’s not just that I’d die. Things would start malfunctioning. I would be subject to strokes heart attacks, liver or kidney problems. Do you have any idea how bad things can be when their sugar gets out of balance. Strokes can cause permanent paralysis. The fact is, it’s just not a pretty picture.

At best, there are times I am down to 1 week of meds. It would be a very bad time to have an emergency. It’s a shame, as far as I know, no one will permit diabetics to be preppers. I mean, it is a good idea to make sure we have food and water, but what about a few weeks of insulin, which requires refrigeration.

For these reasons, I was prepared to pass on this subject. I almost did. Then I thought about writing about preparations I took note of that others have done. I don’t know if anyone will like it but as for me, I just keep a dozen cans of spam, veggies and fruits around. I have plenty of packages of rice and noodles around too. Even regular packaging will last a couple of years as long as you use the old and store the fresh. I guess my weak point is water but I do keep a few gallons of water around. I mean, you never know. A city not far from me had to go a week without running water. Can you imagine having to go to the local motel 6 to get a shower and brush your teeth. By the way, that’s not funny.

I suppose the ones that really have the advantage are those that can take off in their RV. Sometimes a small family can live in an RV for a week. In a bad emergency, maybe a month. The nice thing there is that it does not take long to make your escape. That is of course assuming the trailer or motor-home is kept in a ready state.

I have often considered, if I had to money, to just get an RV and move down to the gulf coast. The weather’s nice and the land is inexpensive. If I lived in the motor home, every time I heard them say “hurricane,” I’d hook up the car to the back of the motor home and dash away up north. The weather is nicer in California, but the earthquakes don’t come with warnings.

Those of us that can’t afford RV’s might have to settle for a small trailer. Just put all the things you need for, oh about a month. Then if you get the warning in time, hook up the trailer and take off. In the old days, that was simpler. Almost all cars were big enough to tow a trailer. Not so much these days. You might want to think about getting a bigger car.

If worse comes to worst, you just might have to do as the rest of us. Keep the supplies in cases that can be quickly loaded in the trunk. If you get the warning in time, then load up and head for the hills. If you don’t have enough warning, you might just have to head for hills

To be sure, in the old days, they kind of had the right idea. They built the houses on high foundations and made sure the old shelter was ready. My wife’s grandmother had a storm shelter built. It didn’t take much. About half of it was below ground and the top was covered by steel re-enforced concrete. They took shelter in it many times as the tornadoes passed by. Fortunately, her house never got hit, but those tornadoes don’t give much warning.

My aunt had a big professional shelter put in. It was large enough for 4 for two weeks. The two of them took shelter in it a few times back in he seventies. It had batteries and plenty of storage for water and supplies. It also had an air pump and high quality filters. It was designed for storms and bombs. I guess that is okay for some, but I don’t don’t know if I could stand to stay down there for two days, let alone two weeks.

I suppose, if some kind of emergency were to come along, I will be like most, wishing I prepared more. Then again, if you lived through as much as I have, you have a tendency to get just a little complacent. The worst I went through was what the called “Hurricane Elvis.” It was a straight wind of about 100 mph, or at least that was what I was told. We were without electricity for over a week. Some were with power for a month or more. I mean that storm was mean. And unlike a real hurricane, it came without any warning at all.

With this in mind, I’m guessing one of the best investments a person can make for emergencies is a generator. Going without electricity for extended time is a real bummer. Just make sure you do it right. If you use it, don’t let the carbon monoxide in the house. That can be more deadly than the storm. Also, make sure you don’t start a fire with an extension cord. The biggest air conditioner in the world won’t do any good if the house burns down.

Daily writing prompt

Create an emergency preparedness plan.

View all responses

Old Carly Simon Song. I kind of liked it. Now that I remember it, I just might download a copy. Sort of beside the point. I am supposed to be writing about preparing for an emergency. It really is an important subject. However, those of us that are old, we have limitations. I mean, at best I can get a 3 month’s supply of medicines. Moreover, I do have many of them. There is the one for blood pressure, for cholesterol, and, well, enough info. Maybe too much. However, without the meds I would be in bad shape. It’s not just that I’d die. Things would start malfunctioning. I would be subject to strokes heart attacks, liver or kidney problems. Do you have any idea how bad things can be when their sugar gets out of balance. Strokes can cause permanent paralysis. The fact is, it’s just not a pretty picture.

At best, there are times I am down to 1 week of meds. It would be a very bad time to have an emergency. It’s a shame, as far as I know, no one will permit diabetics to be preppers. I mean, it is a good idea to make sure we have food and water, but what about a few weeks of insulin, which requires refrigeration.

For these reasons, I was prepared to pass on this subject. I almost did. Then I thought about writing about preparations I took note of that others have done. I don’t know if anyone will like it but as for me, I just keep a dozen cans of spam, veggies and fruits around. I have plenty of packages of rice and noodles around too. Even regular packaging will last a couple of years as long as you use the old and store the fresh. I guess my weak point is water but I do keep a few gallons of water around. I mean, you never know. A city not far from me had to go a week without running water. Can you imagine having to go to the local motel 6 to get a shower and brush your teeth. By the way, that’s not funny.

I suppose the ones that really have the advantage are those that can take off in their RV. Sometimes a small family can live in an RV for a week. In a bad emergency, maybe a month. The nice thing there is that it does not take long to make your escape. That is of course assuming the trailer or motor-home is kept in a ready state.

I have often considered, if I had money, if people would just start buying my books, I just might get an RV and move down to the gulf coast. The weather’s nice and the land is inexpensive. If I lived in the motor home, every time I heard them say “hurricane,” I’d hook up the car to the back of the motor home and dash away up north. The weather is nicer in California, but the earthquakes don’t come with warnings.

Those of us that can’t afford RV’s might have to settle for a small trailer. Just put all the things you need for about a month. Then if you get the warning in time, hook up the trailer and take off. In the old days, that was simpler. Almost all cars were big enough to tow a trailer. Not so much these days. You might want to think about getting a bigger car.

If worse comes to worst, you just might have to do as the rest of us. Keep the supplies in cases that can be quickly loaded in the trunk. If you get the warning in time, then load up and head for the hills. If you don’t have enough warning, you just head for hills

To be sure, in the old days, they kind of had the right idea. They built the houses on high foundations and made sure the old shelter was ready. My wife’s grandmother had a storm shelter built. It didn’t take much. About half of it was below ground and the top was covered by steel re-enforced concrete. They took shelter in it many times as the tornadoes passed by. Fortunately, her house never got hit, but those tornadoes don’t give much warning.

My aunt had a big professional shelter put in. It was large enough for 4 for two weeks. My aunt and uncle took shelter in it a few times back in he seventies. It had batteries and plenty of storage for water and supplies. It also had an air pump and high quality filters. It was designed for storms and bombs. I guess that is okay for some, but I don’t don’t know if I could to stay down there for two days, let alone two weeks.

I suppose, if some kind of emergency were to come along, I will be like most, wishing I prepared more. Then again, if you lived through as much as I have, you have a tendency to get just a little complacent. The worst I went through was what the called “Hurricane Elvis.” It was a straight wind of about 100 mph, or at least that was what I was told. We were without electricity for over a week. Some were with power for a month or more. I mean that storm was mean. And unlike a real hurricane, it came without warning.

With this in mind, I’m guessing one of the best investments a person can make for emergencies is a generator. Going without electricity for extended time is a real bummer. Just make sure you do it right. If you use it, don’t let the carbon monoxide in the house. That can be more deadly than the storm. Also, make sure you don’t start a fire with an extension cord. The biggest air conditioner in the world won’t do any good if the house burns down.

Daily writing prompt

What is a word you feel that too many people use?

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So, I already wrote a post on this one. I guess folks have slacked off a little, but it got to the point that people were using it to start every other sentence. So.. it was driving me nuts. I can’t remember how far back it was I wrote it. So, if you want to read the original post you’ll need to just look for it.

I can’t complain to much. I am sure people have noticed words I use too frequently. Still, it did get to the point that I wondered if someone made a new rule to the English language. I guess I wrote enough about that little word. So, I won’t write on it anymore.