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Fri. Jan. 3, 2025 – beginning of the year weirdness, but that’s normal

By on January 3rd, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, march to war

Chilly to start, warming later, then back to chilly here in the home of Florida Man. It was nice yesterday, only a bit cool at dusk. Sunny and mostly clear. I’m expecting the same today.

We mostly hung out with family and played games yesterday, then went to see some holiday lights… and finished with our Christmas gift exchange. I got mostly snack items.

We’ve been eating tons of cookies and holiday treats. My sibling has lots of guests here, who often are world travelers, and they sent lots of foreign treats. Pine flavored hard candy from Belgium is the weirdest so far… and yep, it tastes like pine.

Today we’ll hang out some more, and eat some more, and play some more games. Good times for sure.

I hope everyone else here is easing into the new year. It’s certainly not been easy for far too many people and I’m pretty sure it will continue to get weirder and more violent. Consider what that might mean for your year and your activities. Take some steps to mitigate bad things happening around you. And be aware of your surroundings and risks.

Stacks can limit your exposure to other people and potentially bad places. And they feel good. So … stack. It’s easy.

Much easier than predicting the future.

nick

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Thur. Jan. 2, 2025 – Sunny in Florida, still cold though

By on January 2nd, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, emergency kits, march to war, personal

Unseasonably cool here in the Sunshine State. Dunno how that will play out over the next few days, but for now it’s long pants weather.

Yesterday was a mostly slow and lazy day for me. Took my time getting packed and ready. Had to replace most of the spare batteries in my bags and replace the “get home” money that I “borrowed” when a fun toy became available at an irresistible price… My back pack has 1 oz of gold coins and about $1K in USD tucked into it. That is supposed to be untouchable and just for emergency use. I’m good at lying to myself though, and I raided it for some cash.

I’ve talked about the other stuff I carry before, but the high points are a tourniquet, blow out kit (first aid focused on bleeding control), change of clothes, windbreaker, towel, food, water, and some really thick zip ties…

I’ve got some other stuff in there too including my toughbook and kindle, batteries, a bag of cables and chargers, my back up id and cards, blister first aid, some crayons and a little coloring book (for fussy kids), and general snivel gear.

99% of the time I don’t need anything in the bag but something to read and a charging cable. It’s there if I do need it though.

That’s pretty much the story of my life as a prepper and a husband and father too. It’s there if needed.

The vast stacks of stuff are there too. Which comforts me and gives me choices. They turn mountains into molehills, and let life continue without interruption.

Get some of your own, and feel the satisfaction… stack!

nick

And carry your TQ at least when you are out in crowds. If not a TQ, then an Israeli bandage and a pack of quick clot. It’s not big, and it might save a life.

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Wed. Jan. 1, 2025 – A whole new year ahead of us, every day…

By on January 1st, 2025 in culture, decline and fall, personal

Cool and kinda damp in Houston. But supposed to still be clear. Florida meanwhile is getting some cold air, and who knows what the temps there will be? I’ll find out though…

Did my mileage for taxes. Did a bunch of personal care and grooming. I don’t usually do it all at once, but I did yesterday. Did laundry too. Even folded my clean clothes. In other words, lots of domestic bliss, not a lot of other stuff.

Today will be a bit of packing, a bit of cleaning, and a bit of getting ready to go out of town. I’m headed to Florida to see mom and sibling… Wasn’t my idea, but maybe it’s for the best. I really don’t like holiday travel. And I don’t like all the rushing and activity we’ve had this break. But my likes don’t really matter much at the moment. I’ll suck it up and soldier on.

I’m thinking ahead though, and trying to decide what I can do a few more “long form” posts on. If and when I start poking at the solar, that should be good for a few posts. Maybe I should refine my milk crate food storage system, or look at redundancy in cooking/water/heating/cooling/energy etc. Or maybe I should turn some focus on my physical condition, and look at improving that…

Not sure what will come, but I’ve been slacking in the actual content department. I’m going to consciously try to change that this year.

It’s hard to keep repeating the basics, even if new people come to prepping all the time; and some of the more advanced stuff will either seem too narrowly applicable or too far out…and I’m not an expert by any means.

The default will be more of the same. Hopefully that is enough.

And there will be stacking, of course.

Welcome to New Year, like every day, and yet somehow different. Let us hope and pray, work hard, and work smart, to make it a good year.

Thank you all for joining me here.

nick

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Tues. Dec. 31, 2024 – getting close to nut cuttin’ time…

By on December 31st, 2024 in culture, decline and fall, lakehouse, solar power

Cool and wet in Houston today, maybe with some breeze? Who knows, I’m just guessing anyway. It did end up nice at the BOL, with clearing later and moderate temps. Sunset was nice and the sky was black when I left.

I didn’t get a full day of work in, but I did button up a couple of things and poison the fire ant mounds. That’s a constant task, and usually the last one I do before leaving. I don’t want the dog or kids getting in the poison.

Spent some time talking with one of my neighbors up there. He’s just getting into prepping. He told me about suddenly realizing he needed some longer term food stored, and that he bought some. Canned meat, mostly spam and vienna sausages… We talked about it, and I gave him some stuff to think about, describing my “one month of cans in each milk crate and buckets of rice” system. He’s started getting some solar together, some water purification and storage, and he’s thinking about it. One more person prepping is one less victim or marauder…

I didn’t “out” myself, but he is getting the idea I am already a prepper…

Unfortunately, while showing him the charge controller for wind systems that I took up there this week, we noticed the distinctive smell of burnt electronics. Someone probably burnt up the controller, then returned it. Amazon returns fraud bites my @ss. I will open it up and take a look, but the burnt pixie smell is pungent. I’m no closer to getting a wind system set up than I was.

I did get the LaCrosse weather station set up. I even got it online. I haven’t tried looking at it from home, or tying it to Weather Underground yet, but I will. It’s supposed to do it, so we’ll see. That will give us another thing to monitor the BOL. Next is cameras…

There is a list, and it gets longer every visit.

But I am working on improving our situation. And I’m stacking.

As this year closes, take a bit of time to evaluate where you are, where you would like to be, and how you might get there.

And then stack!

nick

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Mon. Dec. 30, 2024 – sneakin’ up on it…

By on December 30th, 2024 in culture, decline and fall, lakehouse

Well, what do the weather gods have in store for us today? Probably cool, definitely damp bordering on wet. Like yesterday. Some days we have all the weather.

Did get some stuff done during the day. Finished up the trim in the dockhouse, with the exception of one baseboard. Did some other small things. Since I got a very late start, there wasn’t much time to do much more. I did get my teak patio table back together and swapped it for the decaying picnic table we’ve been using on the dock. It needs a power washing… but then most of the house, dock, patio, and brick need one too.

Today will be packing up, cleaning up, and heading home. Where I’ll have a day to do the same there before leaving again. Busy busy bee, that’s me.

Not much stacking going on this week but I am making progress on improvements. Oh, I did get 2 more 55 gallon drums up here for water storage, and more woodstove chimney parts, I guess that counts…

Stack something for yourselves. And always be working.

nick

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Sun. Dec. 29, 2024 – dang inconvenient to have the holidays mid week…

By on December 29th, 2024 in culture, decline and fall, lakehouse, march to war, personal

Cool and wet. That was how yesterday played out, and how today will likely go too. The rain dropped the temps, and the wet made every joint hurt. And it will probably be the same today.

I did get stuff done. The rain was patchy, and there were long enough periods between the squalls. I got almost all the trim installed in the dockhouse. I forgot my hammer drill at home, and I need it to install the baseboard on one wall. That will have to wait until next time. I got the chair rail in, and all the window stools.

Got the truck mostly unloaded. Did some small things in the garage. W cooked a prime rib roast with the new sou vide thing, and I finished it by searing on cast iron. The combo worked great, except I need to move a kitchen exhaust fan up the list… Saute’d mushrooms and onion, and fresh green beans rounded out the menu with store bought pumpkin pie for dessert.

Played pool with my wife, had a fire and s’mores with the kid and her friend. Talked about music. The rain had mostly cleared out by dusk and we had a nice sunset. Later it was still drippy wet, but I managed to get the fire going WITHOUT accelerants. I had some lamp oil standing by though.

I’ll keep working the list today. The cold and damp isn’t fun with the cumulative damage to my body, but I can still move and work, so I can’t b!tch too much.

Haven’t seen my buddy yet, which probably means he’s wiped out from the radiation and chemo, and the stress of the holidays. That’s got me worried and also thinking about my absent friends. Without the dark, we wouldn’t know the light. But it still sucks sometimes.

Stack time with friends and family. Tis the season.

nick

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Sat. Dec. 28, 2024 – counting down, kinda running out the clock…

By on December 28th, 2024 in culture, decline and fall, lakehouse, march to war

Probably be clear and cool to start the day, warming to mid 70s F. Yesterday in Houston ended with overcast and 57F. A bit cooler but even wetter at the BOL.

Did my Dr visit. Prescription was wait and see, should be ok, recheck in 6 weeks. Clear on the glaucoma, cataracts, and detached retina, so that was good news. I’ve had a huge list of eye issues over the years, but I tested 20/20 yesterday despite some lingering issues.

Did my pickups on the way to the BOL. Took a different route for the first half of the trip. Much more rural, two lane county roads, and a lot of changing from one road to another. Not doing that in the dark again. I’m sticking to the straightest path. If it weren’t for turn by turn directions, I’d never have made it.

Today I’ll probably try to finish up the walls in the dockhouse. Then I will work the list.

Later, I’ll have a fake beer and some good eats.

These are the good old days, and I’m stacking as much as I can. You should too.

nick

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Fri. Dec. 27, 2024 – not many days left in 2024…

By on December 27th, 2024 in culture, decline and fall, lakehouse, march to war

Cool and wet, or warm and wet, but certainly wet. Even without new wet, the old wet will suffice. We got some rain yesterday. Crashing huge rains, and little rains, and even periods with no rains, but mainly we had rain. Fog in the evening too. Roads were slicker than snot, even at 8pm.

Did some errands and some shopping yesterday. Got the stuff I need to finish the walls in the dockhouse at the BOL. Hit up Costco for TP and some other stuff. Either we are using more, or the sales are farther apart, because we’re a little shorter than I’d like by the time the next sale comes around.

On the plus side, Australian lamb is still a great value at Costco. The price has come down dramatically in real dollars over the years that the sell price remained pretty much the same. I think that lamb is underappreciated in the US. Modern lamb is not the lamb you grew up with, it’s so much better with very little of a mutton taste. If you haven’t had it in years, I recommend giving it a try.

Today I’ve got some errands in the morning, maybe a pickup or two later, a Dr appointment in the afternoon, and then I’m headed to the BOL. I might do one pickup on the way, it’ll depend on my mood and how long the Dr visit takes. And if the weather is bad, I’m less inclined to go out of my way to pick up one item.

The year is almost in the record books. It’s been a wild ride, and it isn’t over yet. Lots of change coming, both good and bad, and no way to predict which will be dominant and for who. Build up a reserve, so you have choices. Stack!

nick

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Thur. Dec. 26, 2024 – Boxing Day. Get out your gloves and mouthguard… What? No? Whoops!

By on December 26th, 2024 in culture, decline and fall

Warm and damp. Possibly partly cloudy, possibly raining. We’ll see when it gets here. It was sorta nice for Christmas, but I mostly stayed in anyway. Today I have to leave the house, so weather will matter at least a little bit.

Didn’t do much except Christmas stuff yesterday. For us, that means “stocking” and “santa” gifts are opened, and then the rest of the presents. Then it’s food, food, and more food throughout the day.

Cooking dinner took up most of my afternoon and evening, and I spent the rest of the day puttering around the house and watching youtube videos. My back was killing me so that was about all I felt up to. By bedtime, I was feeling much better. We’ll see how today goes.

Today, despite the prospect of crowds, I would like to get some shopping done. The sale items at Costco change, and it’s stuff I need this month, so I’d like to at least hit those. And I’d like to hit the Lowes for the stuff I need to finish my project in the dockhouse at the BOL. I need some panel adhesive and some trim for the chair rail. We’re headed to the BOL for a couple of days, then visiting family for a few, then we’re headlong into the new year… without a lot of time in between to shop. Hence the need for today’s trip to the stores.

Given the dire state of retail, maybe there won’t be crowds. I can hope. Or I can push it off to Friday morning. I’ve got a appointment Friday afternoon that I can’t miss, so I won’t be headed to the BOL until after that anyway. Realistically though, I’ll use Friday morning to load the truck.

Three 55 gallon drums for rainwater collection. Three 3ft sections of stove pipe. A couple of new string trimmers. Some other stuff for the solar system, and the woodstoves… It’ll be a pretty full truck. Oh, almost forgot the kayak…

Stacks. I got ’em.

Get ready for the new year by deciding what you need to stack. Then get started.

nick

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Wed. Dec. 25th, 2024 – Christmas Day

By on December 25th, 2024 in culture, personal

I went to bed during a rainstorm, with falling temps and have no idea what today will be like. It could continue to storm, or it could blow through. I’m hoping for “blow through”. Yesterday was fairly nice until late, so if the storm doesn’t sit on us, and it blew in on strong winds, it should blow through.

We had a nice Christmas Eve. I braved the mall for something on my wife’s list. Took D1 with me, then went and dropped off cookies for my buddy and his wife at his store. Got our greasy mitts all over the goods, and had a nice chat. D1 thought a chrome revolver with an 8″ barrel, chambered in .454 Casull might make a good carry piece. Only if there are more bears than humans around… thing must have weighed 7 pounds. The other thing her eye caught on was an IWI Tavor – kid’s got expensive tastes. And maybe there is a place for a small wheelgun or two in my safe.

I spent the afternoon doing a little cleanup, and then wrapping presents. We had dinner (pork ribs frozen in 2021) with fresh veg sides, then opened some of the pile o stuff. We’ll open the rest today. Facetimed with the grandparents back east for their presents. We do live in an age of wonders.

We had a nice day, and should have another today. I’ve got a lamb roast in the fridge, and plans for that later in the day. There is eggnog and french meat pie, and a pantry full of food. We are warm and dry. Our physical safety is pretty good, and our fiscal safety is ok. Change and disruption are coming but for the moment, we’re good. And that is the sort of everyday miracle we don’t think about often enough.

I hope you all are in similar situations, but if not, you can get there. I know some of you are alone right now for the first time in decades, and it sucks. Hang in there. You have friends who care about you. It’s a cliche’ but “this too shall pass”. I know I preach that bad times are coming, but I also think we can get through them, and get to the good times that will follow. Good times always follow bad. I don’t know what the timeline will look like, but I don’t think history will end.

I stack to help make the transition. And to survive all the cr@p between now and then. I hope you will too.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

nick

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