Cool again, hopefully not wet.\u00a0\u00a0 National forecast has Houston outside any big storms for the next couple of days.\u00a0 That would be best for me and my Halloween plans…<\/p>\n
Since my decorations are mainly made from cardboard and baling wire.\u00a0 Although I’m a bit short on baling wire this year.\u00a0 Couldn’t find my stash.\u00a0 I’m reduced to using string.\u00a0\u00a0 Ok, it is EXPENSIVE special black theatrical string, but still…\u00a0 the cardboard tubes are a bit… squishy.<\/p>\n
Didn’t get much done yesterday but auction stuff.\u00a0 Went grocery shopping at the local HEB.\u00a0 No lard at all on the shelf.\u00a0\u00a0 Some other gaps, but there was finally peanut butter.\u00a0 No pumpkin pie either.\u00a0\u00a0 The closeout shelf had a bunch of LED lightbulbs, and I needed some for one of my ceiling fans.\u00a0 Very fortuitous.\u00a0\u00a0 Saved $44 on my bill between a couple of coupons and the clearance markdowns.<\/p>\n
One observation… as I drove up to the store a guy crossed the lot in front of me.\u00a0 Older guy.\u00a0 Tactical pants.\u00a0 Outdoors shirt.\u00a0\u00a0 Fanny pack that couldn’t be anything other than a pistol holster.\u00a0\u00a0 Dude was like a neon sign.\u00a0 Don’t be that guy.\u00a0 If you are rocking a full size 1911 on one hip, wearing\u00a0 a ‘shoot me first’ photographer’s vest, with a mag or two weighting down the left side pocket*, you are not the grey man.\u00a0 You are a mobile resupply pod for the bad guys.<\/p>\n
Grey man means fitting in.\u00a0\u00a0 If that means dirty carhart jacket and jeans, or bright safety yellow t shirt and work boots, or a three piece suit and silk tie, or just a logo’d polo shirt and khaki slacks and a computer bag, look around and figure out what fits with your environment now, and wherever you need to go.\u00a0 Practice flipping that on its head too, and keep your eyes open for the thing or person that doesn’t fit.\u00a0\u00a0 That person could be a threat or an ally, or a distraction, or a victim.\u00a0 You may want a variety of clothes and jackets, or hats, to better fit in if you have to go someplace where you might otherwise stand out.\u00a0\u00a0 You should be able to dress up or down as needed too.\u00a0\u00a0 You don’t want to be looking like ‘money’ when everyone around you is broke and hungry.<\/p>\n
A long time ago, and a lifetime away, a friend and I had to appear in court.\u00a0\u00a0 Young white kids from the suburbs, we dressed up.\u00a0 Jackets, maybe even a suit.\u00a0\u00a0 We were the best dressed people in the courthouse.\u00a0\u00a0 Sketchy felons kept asking us for legal advice.\u00a0\u00a0 We did NOT fit in.\u00a0\u00a0 In retrospect we must have looked like very junior lawyers.\u00a0\u00a0 We were able to order drinks in a restaurant later that day without getting carded, so there was that \ud83d\ude42 but otherwise it was\u00a0 a fail.<\/p>\n
Your clothes are a costume.\u00a0\u00a0 Make sure they are appropriate for your role.<\/p>\n
Stack some clothes in different styles, and for different needs.\u00a0 Different sizes too.\u00a0 Make sure your more vulnerable family members have stuff they can wear to minimize their vulnerability.\u00a0 No little black dress for foraging amongst the rubble of civilization…<\/p>\n
Today should be my big push to get most of my decorations up and the rest ready for Halloween itself.\u00a0 Some stuff is more delicate or desirable, so it stays safe until the actual night.\u00a0\u00a0 I need to get all the lighting sorted out too, and decide if I’m doing any special effects like fog or projection.\u00a0 Last night to test, before the show!<\/p>\n
Hope the weather stays nice.<\/p>\n
Stack what you can.\u00a0 Learn what you can.\u00a0 Practice your skills.<\/p>\n
nick<\/p>\n
* this description is of a guy I saw a couple of years ago at Costco.\u00a0 Not a grey man.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cool again, hopefully not wet.\u00a0\u00a0 National forecast has Houston outside any big storms for the next couple of days.\u00a0 That would be best for me and my Halloween plans…<\/p>\n
Since my decorations are mainly made from cardboard and baling wire.\u00a0 Although I’m a bit short on baling wire this year.\u00a0 Couldn’t find my stash.\u00a0 I’m reduced to using string.\u00a0\u00a0 Ok, it is EXPENSIVE special black theatrical string, but still…\u00a0 the cardboard tubes are a bit…<\/p>\n