My Modern Country Home

NEW BLOG IS FINALLY HERE!!!!

2010-08-05T15:52:00.003-05:00

My new blog is finally here....

I am changing formats from Blogger to Wordpress because WP allows me to do somethings that Blogger just wont.... Mostly add new dimensions to my postings. I have wanted to blog about other stuff for a while, but going from the cute frog I just snapped a pic of, to Zombies was just plain weird.

Now - if you want to discuss the farm - we can do that and if you want to forget I blog about Zombies (my mom) you can do that too :)

So head on over to www.IDriveMyTractorInPearls.com and get our RSS feed and dont miss a beat...

Making good on a Promise....

2010-07-22T11:28:00.003-05:00

Way back in 2008, our Country was facing a little crisis....

Thousands of Oklahomans called our Representatives and our Senators...

We told them absolutely NOT to the TARP bill.... and guess what?

Mary Fallin voted FOR it.... I got a nice little form email/letter from her stating that she thought it was best to keep the Country afloat... Thats right, you and Tom Coburn think you know whats best for us... (You will get your own blog post Dr. Coburn....)

And I was hacked.... Amazingly enough, Ms. Fallin started sending out feelers for a run at the Governor's job since our idiot cant be elected to a third consecutive term.... I bet she started to realize that she might not see another term in DC... Or she may be moving herself on up the Political Career Ladder....

And then came her sponsorship of this bill: Puerto Rico Statehood Now, dont email me and tell me that it doesnt give Puerto Rico statehood... I know that - but what it does is open the door for basically PR to decide what it wants to do and if it wants to become a state, there is little we can do about it as previous states (TN and AK) have done it the same way....

So, she signs on to sponsor this crap and then it hits the fan.... Glenn Beck.... Neil Boortz.... Talk Shows galore start talking about this bill and how crappy it is. And guess what - Ms. Fallin has an "dental emergency" and is unable to vote for the crap she sponsored....

And after I called and emailed both OK and DC offices and was hung up on when I maintained my composure and was respectful, I sent Ms. Fallin an email stating that I was going to do anything I could to ensure that she would never hold public office again in Oklahoma.

So this is me not being a liar....

The third straw came recently when Ms. Fallin has REFUSED to debate the other Republican Candidate, Randy Brogdon Yeah, he kind of looks like an elf, but hey - better than a snake or a weasel.... Besides, Will Ferrel did wonders for the public image of elves :)

Now, she doesnt have to debate, but for heaven's sake, Ms. Fallin, dont hold an open forum for Lobbyists. She did just that - Lobbyist Summit - 7/7/2010.... Or are you so arrogant that you think this thing is in the bag?

Mary Fallin is a woman who sees the political system as her JOB - CAREER POLITICIAN - I want someone in office where I ACTUALLY REMEMBER WHAT THEY USED TO DO BEFORE OFFICE....

And yes, this is snide, but I do wonder how smart she actually is.... What does she actually believe? I mean, if you read her website, she does state she doesnt like how TARP has been implemented and the such - but you do not read anywhere - "I made a mistake voting for this bill and wish I had it to do over." Its excuse and justification after another....

I am not telling you who to vote for - Vote for Jeri Askins (gag me) or Drew Edmondson if you want - how much damage can they do with a Republican held Senate/House? But for the love of everything good....

DO NOT VOTE FOR MARY FALLIN.....

My Comment to CENSUS - 2010

2010-07-21T10:36:00.005-05:00

I typed a response to the first comment on THIS POST.... Google said it was too large to process and to say that I almost had a heart attack is an understatement... But when I went back, amazingly enough it was still there, so here it is.... *** Turns out that it did post, but not according to the error message I got - I have deleted the 3 exact responses (I kept trying even though I got an error message, obviously) and what is below is exactly what was posted on the other post's comments....

1 - I absolutely know this - I also know that this Federal Law has NEVER been enforced because those that wrote this Federal Law know it wouldnt pass Constitutional mustard...its a bluff at best - and at worst a calculated gamble to do something illegal. I also am willing to deal with the consequences of my actions...

2 - How confidential was CW#2 as she went around my small town asking people about me by name and then telling them Federal Marshals were going to show up?

3 - I got nothing... I still own that city house - some of my things are still in it.

4 - On my end - I am done - unless CW#1 or CW#2 shows up while I am home or manages to get my cell phone number. Then its a play it by ear situation.

It wasnt a game - a game would have been to lie - put down 15 white people living in my house in order garner my city more money. Is that done? Heck yes it is - are those numbers double checked or is it taken on faith that the person answering is honest?

There is nothing that they ask that cant be gained with pretty much a quick Internet search or with the Governments already held information. Spending $40 to $60 is a waste - because the Government is stupid. Spending money to mail me a card saying the census is coming..... and then another one saying saying AGAIN the census is coming is stupid.... Making those stupid commercials, was wasteful...

CW#2 should not have had my name on her list - We built the house we moved to and did not have occupancy until way the end of May - there is no reason, except for incompetence on the other end for my name to be on her list. If there is a CW I answer to, it will be CW#1 - and if you read it, there were no derogatory words or anything for her.

What bothers me about this the most is this right here is a PERFECT example of a Government who no longer asks BEFORE they pass a law if its Constitutional, but does what it wants - KNOWING its ILLEGAL - and then because of who they are know many will comply. They do not enforce the law because the Government knows its out of bounds. The Government passes laws, knowing they are wrong and does as it pleases.

And yes, they have all the information already, so why not give it to them... Because they have all that information, I shouldnt have to give it to them.

This is a major fraud committed on the American people - there are large organizations who use the Census to boost numbers, lie, cheat and steal. This is but another way for the Government to redistribute wealth and if you dont think that is what was done in major urban areas around this country - then I have a Black Panther video you need to see....

Look - there are honest, hard working people working for the Census for a little extra cash. I get that - that I believe was what CW#1 was - what Brad K is - but then there are jerks with clip boards like my CW#2 who I believe skate on the edge of illegal, and then there is ACORN and those affiliated who are involved in outright criminal activities....

You want games? There are your games - it isnt a game to pick up your ball and refuse to play....

July 21, 2010 10:35 AM

Census 2010

2010-07-19T15:07:00.003-05:00

Here is my Census 2010 story....

We get the form in the mail.... It was the "short" form and not the one that was pages and pages....

It asked how many would be living here on April 1, 2010.... They got a big ole "5" and we mailed it back.... Thankyouverymuch.....

We then moved - to the farm - aka: Heaven.

And then the phone calls started.... They started at my Mother's house on the farm. "Who else lives out there?" "Do you know any of the people that live south of you?" (which are not related to us) "Are you sure you dont know the people that live behind the gate with you?" She called several times.... My mom is a rock - she told them she didnt know - wasnt giving this information out but would pass on this chick's phone number and then told her to quit calling.

At this same time we got a notice on our front door of our town house that a Census worker had been by and wanted to "complete" our census.... NOPE.... You got everything you are going to get....

According to the form left on our door, it was against the law to identify the people that live in the house.... So where did Census Worker #1 who called my mother get her name and phone number?

So, I have CW #1 and CW #2's phone numbers. I dont call....

I dont call CW #1 until I learn that she has been IN THE LOCAL BANK ASKING ABOUT ME... If anyone knows me and the Hubs and if anyone knows how to get a hold of us.... ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???? She then tells fabulous Bank Employee (whom I know) that I should speak to her ASAP or I will be talking to the Federal Marshals.... Seriously - she said that....

So - dont think that this is anything anonymous.... Dont think that its just about addresses and numbers....

And so I call.... I use my cell phone and *67 - a little immature, but I was not going to give these people my cell phone number via caller ID. Neither picked up - duh - I wouldnt have either if a call showed "BLOCKED".

Left this message for CW#1 - This is Pearls, I understand I am on your list. Well, according to the Census, it asked where I was on April 1, and I answered the form, mailed it in and have done my job. I did not live in this area at the time in question on the form. I lived in XXXX. I do not belong on your list. I will not be contacting you again and you can cease immediately asking around our town about me."

Left this message for CW#2 - This is the occupant from address XXXX. I filled out our census and mailed it in - I put a "5" on it for those that occupied the home on 4/1 and that is all I am going to answer. Thanks.

Also find out that CW#1 is wife of a guy that holds elected office in our small town. Great.... I have to find a picture of this woman, because I dont want to be at the farmer's market and get introduced without knowing. I dont like getting blindsided - but I dont mind doing the blindsiding ;)

And so far, that is my story from the Census 2010 - I would type "THE END" but something tells me there might be a PS about all this in a future post.

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Caught between a rock....and a car bumper....

2010-07-19T10:13:00.003-05:00

Im back - been posting for a bit, but havent launched anything as I am waiting to move everything over to the NEW blog.... There will be big unveiling - I know yall are excited ;)

Anyway - I had to post this....

This past weekend - 2 CONSECUTIVE DAYS - 2 men were killed riding their bikes in the "Community" (area of several small towns and one good sized one - read rural/suburban). The first was a good man, member of our church and was left where he was hit by a hit and run.... The next day - Sunday, another man was hit and killed, but the pickup driver stayed....

Riding bikes, not the leisure ones with baskets, but the serious people with the mirrors on their helmets, has become a big thing around here. Weekends in my rural area and ON THE HIGHWAY I drive, is almost packed with single riders or little groups of them, along with car clubs, motorcycles, and even a few horses every now and then....

There was a rally at the State Capital this morning to demand bike lanes.... Exercise your rights to assemble people!

Here is the problem - The suburban town that most of the bike riders hail from can flat out afford to pay for bike lanes - in fact, its a great community for bikers, walkers, joggers, park goers, dog walkers, families....

The place the bike riders ride - the gorgeous rural, countryside cannot. And also, they will not.... The areas that are most frequently ridden are hilly, beautiful, peaceful and way out here. I can see why they want to ride their bikes out here - its the reason we live out here. But these communities cannot afford to put in bike lanes. We live with gravel roads, with huge potholes - with gravel thrown in those holes - with a much higher poverty level than the suburban town and people who cannot even afford to feed themselves.

So that leaves the State.... I do not believe that people in Tulsa should pay for anything near me and conversely, I do not want to pay for anything for them.... I know some of my tax dollars do, but I dont have to like it and I can vote it down every chance I get.

But this is a safety issue.... It absolutely is!! Driving is dangerous too.... In fact, I make my daughter take the back roads and not drive Rt. 66. 2 lane highways are the most dangerous and I will absolutely not let my daughter drive them until we are sure of her skill and then only during the day. Sorry, this post isnt about teenage drivers.... Back to topic.... Riding a bicycle on a highway is dangerous - absolutely your right to do so, but dangerous none-the-less....

Bike riding on these back roads is dangerous. It is very hilly and topping a hill going 55 to find myself behind a biker going 20 (maybe) and oncoming traffic with no where to go is dangerous.... We top hills out here all the time and find something - deer, dogs, once a cow and last night a goat (seriously along with a HUGE group of people that had been swimming in a pond and were walking back home). But the difference is, I drive a monster vehicle with a cattle guard just for this purpose - to keep my family safe if I happen to hit something - or if something hits me - There is absolutely NO THOUGHT to not injuring what I hit.... If I hit a biker, I would most likely kill him/her. It isnt a pleasant thought. It makes me sick to my stomach.... And my vehicle isnt alone - we all drive big stuff out here - The Sunday accident was a truck and I bet the hit and run was a truck also..... And if the scumbag happens to read this - I dont care how scared you were - leaving a man where he fell is the most disgusting thing I have almost ever heard... You are sub-human with only the Grace of Jesus to save you which He can do, but do not expect any mercy from your fellow people. May you be left to rot in a hole....

So what to do.... I have no problem with bike lanes - they are great - they keep the flow of traffic moving (which is so much a part of the problem) - it keeps bikers out of the way.... But they dont want to ride in the community that can afford them and where they want to ride cant pay for them.... And for a large part of Hwy 66 coming out of the suburban area, it is 4 lanes which gives people some options.... But it isnt pretty like out here in the country....

Here is my solution.... If bike lanes are the way to go, then bikers need to tag their bikes with the money going for said bike lanes. The Oklahoma Tax Commission collects all state taxes and fees and they are the ones that appropriate where it goes.... It shouldnt be that hard....

And I dont relish another tax and the enforcement thereof.... But this is different - Its kind of like a marriage license - if you dont want to pay the fee (tax) than dont get married ;)

This is not a cheap sport - its expensive.... Bikers take extreme care in picking out their equipment - its nice (and its pretty).... Paying for a bike lane is just an extension of your bike helmet....

And just so you dont think I am totally heartless, I do watch what I do when I drive (especially on the weekends when everyone is out) and if there is a jar for donations, I will do that too..... For non-bikers, it should be a choice.... I license my truck to be on these roads - anyone expecting the same privilege should follow the same laws and put some skin in the game with their own license....

And - if there is a better solution - hit me with it.... Open to any ideas :)

Pray for 2 families that are crushed right now.....1 driver who is racked with guilt....1 driver whose soul is truly in trouble - Praise - Prepare

I thought I was ready....

2010-05-21T10:47:00.002-05:00

My munchkins ended their school year yesterday. I thought I was so excited to be free....

We have 1 that is staying, but the boys are here at home from now on....

I am so excited - they are too.... But that doesnt mean yesterday wasnt hard. It was hardest when my littlest whispered the night before "I hope Mrs. XXX will remember me...." My heart just lurched. Baby, she will always remember you. She loves our family, has loved all 3 of my children and we love her....

It was hard to watch my boys say "goodbye" and reassure them we will see their friends again. Some of them we will....and some we will not.... I didnt tell them this - figured if they figure it out, it will be a while down the road and distance will make it easier to accept. Hope the little one doesnt think about it unless he is looking through scrapbooks.

Goodbyes are hard. One thing I have learned moving around so much growing up is that you dont focus on what you left behind - you focus on the adventure ahead. My parents always made the next step something to look forward to.

This is an important skill to teach and it has served me well. It is something I want my kids to learn and how to move past these feelings and focus (a choice) to looking forward....

Scary, but its a skill that may determine who thrives in upcoming days and who doesnt....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

How to get around the Arizona Immigration Law....

2010-05-19T12:40:00.003-05:00

I agree with this law - I have read the entire thing.... Its easy to understand - easy to read and takes just about no time at all.... Writing this post will take longer than reading the law and this isnt going to be a long post....

In fact, I have done the search and link for you so HERE IT IS.... And its a link DIRECTLY to the Arizona Senate - its their PDF, so its accurate :) So go read it - I will be here when you get back....

Anyway - If you are illegal and you want to get around this law its a very easy thing to do....

Just 3 things:

1 - Dont get pulled over

2 - Dont commit a crime

3 - Dont pick up people that are loitering to take them someplace else for a job

There - you have it.... Because the AZ law does not allow - READ THAT DOES NOT ALLOW - for random asking of "papers". In fact - it asks for your DRIVERS LICENSE....or AZ ID Card....Or any form of identification where you have to show your birth certificate or immigration papers to obtain.

And on a side note, the United States' Immigration Policy is a joke. Every where else in the world, being in a country ILLEGALLY will get you arrested and imprisoned. Ask those 3 hikers who "accidentally" crossed Iran's border how its going. Are they incensed they were asked to provide proof of citizenship?

Also - when people travel abroad - you carry your passport with you and usually have in it a document that states you are there for business, employment or just for vacation and it states you can only be in that certain country for a specified period of time. THE NERVE!!!!

It astounds me that the USA falls so woefully behind the rest of the world in regards to this....

Cant believe I am going to say this, but lets be like the rest of the world - lets jail those that cross our borders illegally.... And then promptly toss them out!

And no - it has nothing to do with skin color - I dont care if you are white or if you are black or if you are brown.... I dont even care if you are Canadian.... If you are here without proper documentation - if we dont know you are here, you are trespassing - GET OFF OUR LAND....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

.....and please do it soon....time is running out - the stock market is trying to contain itself, but soon and very soon, it will be unable to maintain itself and we will see a drop unlike we have ever seen.... And when it drops, there will be panic.... Be prepared - it will calm you and allow you to be in a position to calm others....

Its Friday.... And theres a Quote....

2010-05-14T15:49:00.002-05:00

I hope yours is fabulous - ours is wet. Has been pretty much all week. And we are moving, so this post is just an obligatory post that says that you arent getting anything profound ;)

Here is one of my favorite quotes:

"It is tempting to deny the existence of evil since denying it removes the need to fight it." - Alexis Carrel

There is absolute evil.....there is absolute Truth....

Talk amongst yourselves :)

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Wishing I was Sally Hemmings....

2010-05-13T15:51:00.002-05:00

Seriously - if I could be anyone, I would be Sally Hemmings cause she cooked for a living and her man was Thomas Jefferson...

I love him - I. REALLY. LOVE. HIM.

This quote hit me in the face the other day:

"If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls who live under tyranny."

This man was so brilliant. He is almost prophetic in so many of his writings!

So - the Government now controls our medicine....they will now come after our food. They have already started....

First the USDA (Damn you, Upton Sinclair - the free market would have cleaned up slaughter houses....sorry - I digress)

Next the EPA....

Next the NAIS....

Next CODEX....

Now in conjunction with Obamacare, the Government will track what you eat - they will do so with your credit cards - they will do so through the school systems - they will do so through your primary care doctor.

There is shortly going to be a strangle hold on being able to get food. Food for years has been kept artificially low. Unless most of the food you purchase comes directly from the farm, coops, or farmers markets, you do not pay "real" food prices.

If you do buy at these mentioned spots - you know how much it costs for a tomato. You know what it costs for wheatberries and if you have it already ground, you know that you paid for that too.... You know that eggs arent $.99 a dozen and milk isnt cheap. You know that not everything is available all year long and that there are ways to save foods you want in "off" seasons.

This new "Energy Bill" - Power Bill, I believe its called - will also raise the prices of food. If gas currently is $3.00 a gallon and your bread is $1.25 a loaf, how much will your bread be when gas costs $10.00 a gallon. Are you prepared to pay more than 3x what you currently pay for food? Is that cheap boxed stuff that tastes a little better than cardboard really worth the price?

There is an "out". Start now paying what real food costs. Get used to paying more for your eggs, your bread, your meat, your greens. Learn how to off-set these costs by growing something. Grow tomatoes and beans. Start with 2 things that will give you copious amounts of food to freeze, can, dry and eat. These two things will make you feel like you can grow anything - throw in some kind of squash and you will think you were born with a green thumb. These plants are almost fool proof ;)

Start now buying locally. Rising gas prices hurt less when there is less ground to cover. If your fruit comes from California it will have to cost more just because of the transportation than the man who has a couple acres that he plants strawberries on down the road. Unless you are in California, then my OK strawberries are cost prohibitive ;)

Something will also happen when you start buying locally. You are now engaging in direct commerce with people who have opted out of the industrial food system. They dont sell their chickens to Pilgrims. They sell it to you. They arent beholding to some huge conglomerate that doesnt care about you, but only cares about profit. Local farms care about you. They exist to make you happy so that you will come back.

You get to know the face of the man that sells your food. China, Latin America, Mexican farmers dont care about you and if they can do something to make an extra buck and get away with it, even if it will harm your family, they will probably do it - its about the money - not the relationship. They may not even know where the food is headed....

Local Farmers are all about the food and all about the relationship. Its what their livelihood is about.

The cherry on top of buying locally is that it tastes better. You get an apple that was made for taste! TASTE! And not because it just doesnt bruise easy and therefore can be transported across country easy or it lasts longer and therefore is still "fresh" when it has gone from Washington to Florida.

Real food is better for you - tastes better - and honestly, is a way to kick the Government a little out of my life.

Find a local farmer or two - make friends - eat well.

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Just a little 'bidness....

2010-05-11T16:23:00.003-05:00

Just FYI - I have purchased the domain name: IDriveMyTractorInPearls and have a fab designer working on a new blog layout as I type.

It will be launched soon and all the current content will be moved over. You will have to bookmark the new site and so for that extra effort on your part, I am sorry ;)

The nice thing is that the new site will allow me to expand my topics and allow you to only pay attention to the ones you want. I sometimes feel stupid talking about something that doesnt quite mesh with the whole "world is ending, prepare for the Zombie" thing. And on this plus side, it will allow my mother to ignore those parts of my blog which mortify her, which, lets face it, is most of it....

Pray - Praise - Prepare because honestly, our own Greek situation is just around the corner....

Someone please put the CONSTITUTION in his teleprompter!!!

2010-05-10T15:58:00.004-05:00

President BO addressed a graduating class this past Sunday and told them that information is a distraction....

He also seemed to take a hard line on Apple products which makes me think there is something going on behind the scenes there, but it may just be my suspicious nature ;)

This video clip gave me chills... For a President who ran the most technologically advanced campaign in HISTORY - who is attached to his Blackberry like its an iron lung, to now state that information is a distraction would be hilarious if it wasnt so dangerous.

Information is power - Control the words and you control the argument. Words have meaning and they have power. They can break bones and they can hurt you.

Where is the First Amendment? Where is the press? Where is the ACLU?

Everything this administration says - listen very carefully. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that they mean what they say - do not fall into the trap of believing they dont mean exactly what they say. This Administration speaks out of both sides of their mouths....

And again - PLEASE - someone put the Constitution in this man's teleprompter - IMMEDIATELY!!

Pray - Praise - Prepare and currently praying for time and discernment!!

Thought for the day....

2010-05-07T15:30:00.003-05:00

In December 2007, there was approximately $800,000,000.00 actual dollars in circulation - paper money....

In December 2009, there were $1,999,897,000,000.00 in circulation.

So - thought for the day.... How much is that bill in your wallet actually worth?

And as a bonus thought - If you read your bill, it is signed by the Secretary of the Treasury - it has USA all over it - It looks like its all official from the United Stated Government. But then right there at the top (of a $1) it has this "FEDERAL RESERVE NOTE"..... Its not backed by the U.S. Government. The Federal Reserve is a PRIVATE ENTITY. You dont get to know who works there - who runs it - you dont get to see their books or their dealings....

Your piece of paper is worth only what the Federal Reserve tells you its worth - this company that answers to no one.... So - what is it worth?

Just takes One...

2010-05-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

I hate having to go to the BBC for any kind of "real" news....

Did you hear that Freddie Mac is asking for MORE of our money? Me either.....

The US media is almost another form of taxation....totally voluntary - but it takes money from us and uses it to do damage to our Country. It outright lies - omits important information - and if the story changes, the followup story is usually ignored.

For example - the Hutaree Militia.... Did you know that a judge ordered 9 members released stating "that prosecutors did not demonstrate that the defendants would pose a danger if released."

This is not to say that they are innocent....but they havent been found to be guilty either....

Back to how the Media supports itself. We either pay for it, but mostly its money comes from Advertisers. I have been sorely disappointed with U.S. Business. It used to be that CEO's were cowboys. Men (and Women) who took chances, took on the odds, saw a dream and followed a vision....

Today, they are wussies who seem to rather run to the Government, be coddled, petted, abused, all for approval - a dysfunctional, disgusting relationship.

I want a Company who, when called before Congress, gives those high and mighty Senators the what for. Who would be willing to uncover secrets and tell the American Citizen the truth about those that govern.

I want a Company who goes on National TV and tells what they have done (good or bad) and who was involved in our Government. Who runs an ad that states exactly how much they have given to the current President's 2008 campaign and exactly what was "understood" by the exchange of funds.

I want a Company who takes on the Unions.... Who lets them strike and FIRES EACH AND EVERY ONE or moves to a Right To Work state to make a point! Who lists names, deeds, threats, payoffs.

This bucking the system is one reason we drive Fords. I have always admired Henry (yes, I know he had some Jerk tendencies). I have admired he was the last to offer payment terms for his cars. He didnt want to put his customers in debt. He felt that if they couldnt write a check for his car, they couldnt afford them. Long have I told my Hubs that if there is a company who stands up to the Unions, it will be Ford. Its a family company and as such, has the most to lose.

And from the way the sales figures are stacking up, America seems to agree with me!

Look - we are a forgiving Nation.... Get in front of something - confession - sincerely apologize - demonstrably walk a new path. Who wouldnt get behind a CEO - A company - that does this?

CEOs dont have the Constitution at the top of their lists - they should because would there be the company without it? Probably not.... How many of these Fortune 500 companies were started in the U.S.A.?

Sorry - sidetracked.... CEO's have their shareholders and profit at the top of their lists - that is totally fine - but they need to be wedded with Integrity. Some companies have it (Chick-Fil-A, Hobby Lobby) and some companies (Enron, Gold/Sach, AIG) dont. But their bottom line would SKYROCKET if one company took on this Government - it only takes one.

The first Company will win big (it also may get hammered hard by .Gov). But when other Companies catch on it will be a domino effect and therefore less get hammered.

I know the promises are huge to stay with the Government - threats of exposure - promises of contracts or policy - but this system is not sustainable. Do these companies really think that the Government is going to honor anything promised while Rome is burning? It wont - those people in Washington will look out for themselves (as always) and let everything else go....including you precious CEOs.

It only takes one.... One CEO - one Cowboy - one Family Company - One that wants to come clean.... Just One.

Pray - Praise - Prepare

We PASSED!!!!

2010-05-04T20:04:00.001-05:00

We passed. If we were in the city - we wouldnt have - deck railing not up (heck, the floor of most of the deck isnt up) and I need handrails on stairs....but he passed us and he isnt going to come back to see if we did what he said we should. He "just wants me to know the safety hazards in my house".... Ummm, if statistics serves, that would be the bathroom and not my deck railing, but I digress....

Something hit me the other day. I have been praying for time. Selfishly. Praying that this house would finish - praying that things would continue to rock along so we could get into this house....like when it was finished and we moved, then things could fall apart....

I am so very sorry. So many of us are in different stages of preparedness and it never ends... I will never be fully prepared. I will continue to do as I have in the past years and I will also continue to try to ring the bell of getting people's lives squared away - getting their food situation in a better position - getting people to take seriously their Second Amendment - getting people to see that Government is the problem and that they dont create anything that they havent first taken from someone else....

And most importantly, I will continue to pray for time.....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

FINAL!!

2010-05-04T07:02:00.002-05:00

Today we get our final inspection for OCCUPANCY!!! So this is the post - more like a Facebook Status Update....but yall understand - especially those that have been paying attention to this for 2 years!!

I have other posts - and I may launch one this afternoon - but right now, if yall pray, I want you to pray for a PASS :)

Yall rock - Pray - Praise - Prepare

Quote of the Day

2010-05-01T16:08:00.003-05:00

"What troubles me is when I hear people say that all of government is inherently bad," Obama said after receiving an honorary doctor of laws degree. "When our government is spoken of as some menacing, threatening foreign entity, it ignores the fact that in our democracy, government is us."

This was made during his speech to the graduates of University of Michigan.

Sir - you just dont get it... Or maybe you do - I cant believe that after all your education - after your JD from Harvard....you still dont know that we arent a DEMOCRACY. We are a REPUBLIC.

And for the umpteenth time, let me explain this.... A Democracy means that the majority of votes wins - all the time.... It means that the South would have been able to continue with Slavery, that Blacks would still be segregated, that we could have a National Religion (if the votes are there, they are there). It means that the least in our society would be the most vulnerable. If you want to check out a Democracy, I would direct you to Cuba, Venezuela, and the previous Communist Soviet Union (Lenin/Stalin).

Democracy doesnt work out because at some point, you get a self serving SOB in the office who does what he wants.... He smooth talks his way into office and before you know it, he has cobbled enough power together that the only way to get him out is war - it isnt pretty and it darn sure isnt easy.

Now, back to what this Country is supposed to have - A REPUBLIC. It means that we are governed by LAWS not VOTES..... It means that there is protection for the least in our society.... That if something isnt right a law can be passed that EVERYONE must respect.

But somehow along the way - we keep hearing about "DEMOCRACY".....we have become a Country that respects persons and not laws. If we were still a respecter of Laws, our own Senators and Reps would pay their taxes every year and not just when they are caught....an automatic "You dont get to work in the Government" card would be played when prospective hires havent paid their taxes - but let me make this clear - you had better be sure you pay yours or you get to go to jail.....

People realize that taxes need to be paid. I am not against paying taxes. However, it would be so much easier to pay taxes if taxes WERE APPLIED FAIRLY ACROSS THE BOARD and if those telling me to pay my taxes ACTUALLY PAID THEIRS.....

When I read the Declaration of Independence, I can relate to so much of what they were feeling....and all I think is - UH OH - Here we go again.....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Scumbag University

2010-04-30T07:05:00.003-05:00

I am totally convinced that no matter which party, all career politicians are scumbags. You may love yours.....You may love Ron Paul.....but if you cant remember what they did before they went to Washington, chances are, they are graduates of Scumbag University.

Ron Paul is great, but he was a co-sponsor of the Puerto Rico HR2499 voted on yesterday.... So was Mary Fallin (who happened to have to have emergency dental surgery here in OK on Wednesday when the story broke so she was unable to be able to vote yea or nay.)

I called Ms. Fallin's offices here in OK and in Washington too. I even sent her an email. Told her I didnt appreciate the sponsorship and that enough was enough (she voted for the 1st bailout and then voted "No" on everything else) and that not only would I not be voting for her for Governor, but I would be campaigning against her.... I have no idea who I am campaigning for, but it may end up being just a "Just Not Mary" campaign for me....

Actually, my new benchmark for a political office may be that someone has never held political office before. Which means no incumbents.....which does hurt my heart a little bit - because I do love Jim Inhofe.......sigh......

Sorry for it being so short - heading to a Homeschooling convention today and that is all I have been thinking about!! WooHoo!!

Pray - Praise - Prepare

San Francisco is outraged....

2010-04-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

They are boycotting all things Arizona (I am sure Arizona is soooo upset.....)

Well, San Fran, I doubt Arizona would be having the problems its having if self-righteous cities, like yourself, didnt declare themselves "Sanctuary" cities. You basically told everyone willing to break the immigration laws, to just come right in.... And how do they get to you, holier than thou, San Fran? They have to cross in TX, NM, AZ, or CA....

I am sure the border states thank you for being so selfless in giving law breakers a break.

Immigration reform isnt about racism. In fact, if you think about it, an undocumented person is in a unique position to be victimized. They are kept at low wages, they are forever afraid of being found out, they are linguistically disadvantaged.

To promote ILLEGAL immigration is racist - it lacks a caring about people as created beings, endowed by our Creator.....

To ask people to sign the guest book on the way in isnt saying we dont want you, it says, welcome - we do want you, but we want to know who is staying with us. To lack this basic courtesy is theft - outright theft.

Do not let anyone tell you, you are racist for opposing ILLEGAL immigration. Do not get caught in a semantics debate - ITS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION....these arent undocumented citizens - these arent citizens at all.... To ask that these laws be enforced are no more outrageous than asking for DWI laws to be enforced, identity theft laws or any other laws that people are held accountable to....unless you are in this administration, then you dont have to pay your taxes....but I digress....

And if you find yourself on the side of San Fran, for the love, people, you dont help your cause when you smash refried beans on things - that is just nasty....

Oklahoma vs. Constitution

2010-04-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Oklahoma passed a law the other day, 2 actually, that were vetoed by the Governor (you remember him - the goofball) anyway, our legislature overturned his veto and passed a law that mandates a woman have a sonogram before an abortion.

The Gov didnt like it: Democratic Gov. Brad Henry has called the legislation "an unconstitutional attempt by the Oklahoma legislature to insert government into the private lives and decisions of its citizens."

Amazingly enough, this post isnt about whether or not OK's law is constitutional or whether I think its right or wrong. What I want to discuss is the Gov's sentiments about the Government inserting itself into private lives and decisions of its citizens.

You cant have it both ways.... You cant tell me I can do what I want with my body and then tell me I have to buy insurance to protect it. You cant tell me I have to have a sonogram and then turn around and tell me I cant have a medical procedure if I want one....

You are talking out of both sides of your mouth and you are starting to make me dizzy - honestly, you are starting to hack me off....

How ironic if the argument the Left has used for years in order to grant unfettered ability to murder children is actually their undoing in this entire health care Government over-reach? How glorious would it be if this argument is actually the nail that drives a beginning death blow to an ever extending Government?

(And if you think the "murder babies" comment was a little hard, just look up late term abortion and read how fully formed babies are just left to die or killed after they are born.)

And lets not forget this little gem from the Governor's remarks:

Henry said he was disappointed by Tuesday's vote. "It signals the beginning of another costly and possibly futile legal battle for the state of Oklahoma. Both laws will be challenged and, in all likelihood, overturned by the courts as unconstitutional," he said. "I fear this entire exercise will ultimately be a waste of taxpayers' time and money."

Or this gem from the Senate's Spokes Person in 2008 (When it was controlled by the Dems...):

"Politicians have no business making medical decisions. When they do, it seriously undermines doctors' ability to give patients the best medical care and does absolutely nothing to improve the health of patients," she said.

Please spare me your derision, Mr. Obama Lap Dog - you do not care about my pocketbook or what the taxpayers pay or support.... Thank Heavens, we are done with this annoying period of OK history in November!

Mr. Brad Henry your opinions are laughable - Griping when Government steps in....is such a two-faced turn when your own words regarding the Healthcare (Obamacare) bill are remembered:

"I do think it is an important debate to have in Congress," Henry said. "Health care really is a federal issue. "

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Americans are lazy....

2010-04-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

This and that you are racist are the 2 main reasons the BO Administration is going to be taking up immigration.

I had a nice childhood. That might be an understatement. I had a great childhood. It was absolutely Leave it to Beaver if the Beav got to learn how to play tennis at the neighborhood club. It was wonderful. I have a great family....

All that to say, there was NEVER a time that I can remember when these words didnt come out of my dad's mouth - "I would dig ditches to feed you." This told me 2 things.

1 - That he loved me more than I could understand.

2 - That there was nothing beneath him and by default, beneath me.

When I met my husband, he was working several jobs and going to school full time. Totally supporting himself. He had some of the same qualities my dad had - mostly an excellent work ethic. These words were almost never spoken in my house "excellent work ethic" - but instead, my dad would say to find someone that "worked hard." He didnt advise me to find a doctor, or someone that would support me well or anything like that, but just someone that "worked hard."

He understood how just those 2 words could transform a young man into a man who could take care of his daughter. How those 2 words could play out for any boss or company. How those 2 words are promoted and given shots at success that most other 2 word pairs just dont see....

Several years ago, when my husband left the job he had always known and struck out on his own - I knew he could do it.... But that didnt mean I didnt plan things out in my head - if something went south, what would I do... My first job I was going to go for was at Target. I figured I could clothe my kids and feed them.... No job beneath me....

This was a long way to the point that I dont think there are jobs that Americans just wont do. If anyone heard the Beck radio show today, he went on a tirade that he couldnt find a kid to mow his lawn. I think living in CT and working in NYC has jaded his perspective. I have to turn away boys hustling lawns every summer. They go door to door - print up colorful fliers - print and cut out business cards. Each one trying hard to get the next yard to mow. I have even had boys push their lawn mowers all over the neighborhood - just knocking on doors and willing to knock it out right then and there....

We arent lazy. Well, some are, but I bet that goes away when they are hungry.... What Americans have forgotten or what has not been taught is the reason so many people came to this Country - the chance - THE CHANCE - of a better life.... They packed up everything they owned - some leaving family knowing they would never be able to go back to see them and they left.... They left not really knowing much except what they had heard - hearsay - and these people gave up everything. They came here with nothing and did anything they could to make a living. Taking job after job - working hard - and worked their way up. It may not have been them personally, but their sacrifices made it possible for their children to move up and even their grandchildren had it better.... Because they worked hard.

This is our heritage. We arent lazy. At the most, some are out of practice....

Mr. Beck - I think you need to get out of the North - out of states that are owned entirely by Unions - visit a Right to Work state - heck, Beck, visit the South. We are strong stock down here and we know how to work.

Chase this rabbit....

2010-04-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ok - we are going to go Biblical for a minute - I Corinthian 13 - the love chapter.... You have probably heard it even if you have never picked up the Bible - but if you have been to a wedding in a church, this part was probably read...

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸Love never fails.

Been reading this and having it preached the past few Sundays and let me tell you, its working on me. When I am impatient, I am not loving my kids, my spouse, the person in the car next to me, enough. When I am unkind, I am not loving enough.... This hits hard and it hits close to home.

So this past Sunday was about hope. Hope always - ALWAYS - goes with Love. When you love someone, you hope the best for them. Its why a mother of a death-row inmate thinks (hopes) her child is innocent. She loves them - she wants the best for them - she has hope for them.

And of course, I pondered this all day and into the next..... And then I started comparing it with the Hope message of the recent election - the hope message that so many wanted to believe. Which leaves me to trust.... Love always trusts...

But this past election had no hope and no trust. This administration doesnt give hope. It doesnt want the best for those it governs. It believes you cant do anything. You cant find a job without the government giving you one. You cant find a home without the government making the payments for you or having the bank reduce your payment. It doenst think you can take care of yourself and so it does everything short of just sending you a check each month....oh, wait...it does that too....

It does all these things by making you envy what it tells you "should" have. It does it by getting you to covet what someone else has or does or is.

Please people, understand that this Government does not love you - It does not give hope - It does not trust. It works against these ideas by doing everything that LOVE IS NOT.

Read 1 Corinthians 13 again.... Now, do you really see this Government as being able to give you hope or does seeing this lie from the Government make your skin crawl a little bit?

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Just a little business....

2010-04-23T16:25:00.002-05:00

First - GOOD JOB ARIZONA.... In case you dont know, Arizona passed and the Governor signed, the most aggressive anti-illegal immigration law in the country. And that is just fine for them.... In fact, Massachusetts has universal health-care and that is just fine for them.... This is a Country made up of individual States. And they seem to be realizing the power they have let ebb away from them since a bloody and tragic war. Problem is, once a right is not used, it atrophies until it a big ole pain getting it back.... But states are starting to take it back - to try to enact laws that have the PURPOSE of being challenged in an effort to have the Supreme Court decide in their favor.

More power to them.

And not all states have to take up the same battle. Some states have taken the 2nd Amendment head on. Some have taken the right to bear arms and ignore Federal law when those guns dont cross state lines. Some are planning on taking Federal mandates head on. Some have an interest in stopping illegal immigration.

Each states' needs are different and therefore, there seem to be many challenges, of all different types, starting to get talked about and hopefully starting to wind their way to the Ultimate Deciders in this Country.... God bless them and may God guide those on that Court....

Sorry - the post just got away from me.... I intended to just give some KUDOS out and then to also say that I am not going to post on the weekends. Family time - and even though that may not mean that I dont write - I will be able to make sure I have 2 extra days to ensure that there are posts for the entire week. And if posts start to back up, then I *may* on occasion post on Saturday just as a bonus. But dont go expecting it - you are not entitled to a blog post ;) You dont have a right to a blog post.... Sorry, got carried away with myself - sometimes I just crack myself up.

So, Happy Friday. We are packing, cleaning and praying for our house to pass final inspection on Tuesday.... Guess yall will know Wednesday, heck, I will post on Tuesday if it passed....since yall have been following along for years now ;)

And just FYI - packing food is a big ole pain - that stuff if heavy - HEAVY - and I didnt realize I had so much..... So move to where you want to live for the rest of your life and then start your food storage. That is my advice and I am sticking to it....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

This post inspired by The Hubs....

2010-04-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

We were chatting the other day - actually, it is really comforting and comfortable to be on the same page as the one you walk though life with (yeah, I know its a preposition). Even if that page is one that you dont really show other people because it would generally horrify them......You know the page - the Apocalyptic page - the one at the back of the book that most people pretend isnt there.... Anyway, enough with the metaphors....

We were talking and I just asked, "Where do you see things really ending up...." And although his answer wasnt Patriots bleak, it wasnt sunshine and roses either. It isnt going to pretty, but he was proud of where I had positioned the family in regards to my "jobs" and I was proud where he has fulfilled his roles....

The topic came around to how funny it was that the same people who argue Darwin and Evolution also are the EXACT ones that argue that it is my job to give everything I own to someone else to "save" them.... Social Justice (and not in a good, Biblical way)..... And thats when The Hubs said, you need to blog that....

Oh the irony.....

Oh the two-faced-ness....

Oh how stupid you look when you argue points you havent thought completely through....

Evolution would leave man, animals, plants to fend for themselves.... It means that things are in a continued state of change and funny how those that say we must "SAVE THE PLANET" want to maintain the status quo of said Earth....

There wouldnt be little bridges to get 6 frogs across..... Or a complete stand still because of 1 salamander.... There wouldnt be "Social Justice" for those that make the wrong choices, squander chances or just refuse a better life.

Seriously Left - it is becoming increasingly clear why you WONT have this debate - why you just yell louder and louder that we are racists - why you seem to NEED to create drama, urgency to pass anything - you NEED people to NOT THINK....

Because when people think....they realize that You, the Left, obviously arent..... thinking, that is....

Still thinking about food storage....

2010-04-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

There was a good comment under the 3 Pronged Attack post soooo long ago, but its not there now...

I have no idea where it went, but I accidentally deleted Mr. Mayberry because I couldnt tell which trashcan went with the sex spam and mistakenly deleted his - Sorry Mayberry ;)

Anyway, the comment referenced the fact that they ate food storage one summer for 2 months and they ate the pre-packaged stuff first and it surprised him.... Been thinking about that alot.....

I think I would be the exact same way. In times of stress, I would do what was easy - EASY - so yes, I would exhaust the ready-mades, the heat and eats, the just add milk/butter before I cracked open a bucket of wheatberries.

No, the easy isnt the best for you and no, its not the lowest form of calorie intake. But it can be quite cheap when used with coupons and it can last quite a good while due to the artificial stuff :)

And yes, this is just another shameless plug to clip those coupons. There isnt a faster, cheaper way to build a food supply than with coupons. Again, its not the most nutritious food, but if the world ends tomorrow, are you going to argue with me about a few calories here and there? No, you will be sorry you didnt finish off that jar of Nutella. And if you have no idea what Nutella is, then you have missed out on one of the greatest things ever made in Europe and exported to these United States.... Google it.... Or look at one of my old posts ;)

Do you think Obama refunds campain funds?

2010-04-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

So, if Goldman Sachs was so EVIL that now the SEC needs to punish them with a civil suit, then they are surely EVIL enough to be gone after criminally.....

But that might cause a problem - why? Because so many in the Obama administration have Goldman Sachs on their resumes....

So here is the question - If GS is so AWFUL - how is it its former employees are now so QUALIFIED to run this Country?

And if GS is deserving of a civil suit, then by God, Fannie and Freddie need to be included in the SEC suit and certainly in CRIMINAL CHARGES.....

My bet is that Goldman is being thrown on the alter so that the BO Administration can take a tighter control on yet, another industry.

Hey, here is an idea. If you want to clean up an industry, then send the guilty to JAIL.... Make no special allowances for ANYONE - hear that BO Admin? Do something WRONG/ILLEGAL/UNETHICAL, you pay the price.... Let companies that fail to do their duty fail, shutter their doors, face the angry mobs....

But what you DONT DO is give the angry mob's money to the company to keep them open.... Or as we are seeing, those angry folks will most definitely VOTE you out at the next opportunity!

All I know, is that after giving THE MOST MONEY FROM WALL STREET, I would expect more from my bought and paid for politician.... I wonder if Goldman Sachs can get its money back from Obama?

And NO - this isnt about a failure of capitalism. We havent had TRUE capitalism for a long while - The FED isnt capitalism.... Bailouts are not capitalism.... Taxing banks in order to create a slush fund to avoid failure is not capitalism and honestly, this FIAT money system we have going on world wide is not capitalism.

How about before we give up on capitalism, we actually give it a try? How about if you make it, you keep it and you get to decide who it goes to - and how about if you dont make it, you fail, you pick yourself up, set an example for your kids and keep trying.

How about we just give it a try for maybe 1 year - 18 months tops and I bet we dont even recognize this Country at the end of it.... And I bet that is a good thing....

Oklahoma Militia.....

2010-04-19T16:18:00.003-05:00

I dont know if you have heard, but there is talk in Oklahoma about a STATE militia.... Not just a bunch of peeps who call themselves a militia and run around in the back 40 in camo with guns (not that there is anything wrong with that....im just sayin')..... A STATE LEGISLATED Oklahoma Militia.

Now - I have friends, acquaintances, peeps on the street, who think this idea is insane. And honestly, I had an initial adverse reaction. And like I like to do, I tested WHY I thought it was a bad idea... And mostly, it came down to the connotation of a militia. Kind of like the Branch Davidians ruined the word "Compound", some "interesting" people have ruined the word "militia" for me.

But when I start to really think about it, I say its a good thing. Here are my reasons:

1 - I know we have the "National Guard" - and a Militia might be kind of the same thing, but this would be entirely OURS - OUR STATE GUARD - OUR PEOPLE - OUR DEFENSE - OUR PROTECTION. If the US Government doesnt like it, isnt supportive, I have to wonder why? Would their motives towards our State be more in their interest and not ours? If so, then all the more reason for an Oklahoma Militia.

2 - I cant think of anything better than having TRAINED citizens knowing how to use the weapons they already own. Seriously - wouldnt you feel better knowing your neighbor knows how to use that AR-15 instead of just showing it off at the neighborhood bar-b-que?

3 - Oklahomans would have some skin in the game. Oklahomans would have to decide if they are going to actively participate in what goes on in their state. It is a line in the sand. Its a wake up call. Its a splash of cold water to wake up so much of those that are still asleep.

4 - Finally, this is the core - THE CORE - of our 2nd Amendment right. If I waver on this one, then I waver on all of them.

It boils down for me that FREEDOM IS DANGEROUS. It is dangerous for those that want to take it - Its dangerous for those that want to keep it - Its dangerous to live in it.

Thomas Jefferson said as much: "I prefer Dangerous Freedom Over Peaceful Slavery"

Freedom means that I may be injured by an idiot next door. Freedom means that I may crash and burn and have no back up. Freedom means that I may be asked to take care of a neighbor out of charity because they are old. Freedom means that I may have to give more than I am comfortable giving - food, money, blood, time - because I want my kids to have the same shot at life that I enjoy or would like to enjoy.

Freedom ultimately is trust.

So, yeah, I support an Oklahoma Militia. Not because I think we may need it for defense, but because we need it to remind us exactly what we are SUPPOSED to be.

So, if it still sounds like a bad idea to you, if you feel the Government should take care of you - Then, Mr. Samuel Adams said it best...

"If ye love wealth better than liberty,
the tranquility of servitude
better than the animating contest of freedom,
go home from us in peace.
We ask not your counsels or your arms.
Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
May your chains set lightly upon you,
and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

Yeah, I am SOOOOO Sorry....

2010-04-19T16:02:00.002-05:00

Its been forever - FOREVER and although it may sound empty, I have thought about you every single day.... Seriously.... EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Mostly filled with guilt, but also writing in my head.

My absence has not been apathy - far from it. My heart has been heavy with concern who are not farther down a path of protection. My heart has been filled with thoughts of dear people I have "met" through this endeavor. My life has been packed - PACKED - with house and home and family.

The house is almost finished. We have final plumbing and HVAC inspection tomorrow morning and hope to get our Certificate of Occupancy this week or early next week after The Hubs has had a weekend to work straight. And on a side note - this house is truly HIS house. Granted I got to pick out all the fun stuff for the most part, but it was put together by him. He over saw the construction - he built what he could (and it was plenty) and I have no doubts that if time permitted he could have built this entire house with his own two hands. He built the well house and plumbed the well and our house has water because of him.... But I will fully test that theory on outbuildings on the property and maybe even a guest house someday ;)

When not occupied with house stuff, family has occupied our time. Trying to make sure we spend time together - making sure everyone is where they need to be at the right time with the right items....and we have been busy planning for next school year. We are bringing 2 out of 3 of the munchkins home next year. Yup - we will be homeschoolers...... Our oldest will stay at the school that has been school since kindergarten. This kid is one of those kids that is golden where every they are.... Public - Private - Home.... We have been pleased with the private, Christian education our children have received. We would not hesitate to send them back if we thought that best or led to do so.... However, honestly, we can do better. Yup.....

How could we not - our attention is on 2 little people and not 60 - we dont have to keep stragglers engaged, just 2..... We can follow tangents, chase rabbits - do what we want with things that interest our kids. And, no matter what wonderful things teachers say about why they chose their profession, no one loves these kids or has as much of a vested interest in their education as their father and I. NO ONE. And we are excited! EXCITED!!!!

So, all that to say, I have missed you - I have been writing and have things scheduled and I hope that you can forgive another extended leave ;) And just FYI - just because I havent been typing, doesnt mean that I havent been lurking on yalls sites..... I have and sometime I even commented.

Miss you and lets get back to it!

3 Pronged Attack.....

2010-02-15T14:47:00.002-06:00

As I was packing up food that I had just purchased because I didnt have room in this house, I decided it was time for another FOOD STORAGE post :)

In thinking about it - about saying something that hasnt been said before, I realized I wanted to give you a new view of Food Storage.

Food Storage IS nitrogen packed whole wheat berries......

Food Storage IS Kraft Mac and Cheese.....

Food Storage IS seed stored AND growing in your backyard kitchen garden......

You see - Food Storage is more than just any one of these all by itself. Any of these all by themselves is GREAT, but it lacks depth, variety, and longevity....

For example - having TONS of beans, rice, wheat berries, salt, powdered milk and some honey is great. It will keep you alive for as long as it lasts. And if properly stored, can last darn near FOREVER......

But honestly, how long would you like to eat it? I think after about month 6, I might be praying for a permanent ending ;)

But if you add to those wheat berries, some prepackaged, store bought goodies, I could limp along indefinitely..... This is where my couponing comes into play. I have posted on this before, but to keep you having to go the archives and search, or having me do it for that matter, I will quickly retell my method. I clip all the coupons in the Sunday paper. I dont read the drivel, but I do love those coupons. I then found the local store that doubles the coupons. Love that store for this.... Anyway, they put out a weekly circular and I match my coupons with what is on sale - and ONLY WHAT IS ON SALE..... Because, honestly, if I were just going to use the coupons, there would be cheaper stores to visit, even if they dont double the coupon.

Now - there are things that I buy that if I were to just choose on merit, I probably wouldnt choose. Certain hair care products that arent my favorite, certain deodorants that I just dont think do the job on a 105 degree summer day, certain artificially flavored/colored, corn syruped crap that I wouldnt just buy and put in my kids..... But I do buy it.... I buy because it ends up free sometimes and if not free, dirt cheap.... I buy because there are times that the artificial crap just is a comfort and a fun little treat.... I buy because the expiration date is years away because of said artificial crap.....

This past week's couponing I spent more than usual. I spent about $120 on 3 trips in and out the store (they only double the first coupon and I want all my savings). I had not been couponing in several weeks and had a bunch of things to use and could be used. This amount spent is WAY above average - usually about $40 or less is a weekly expenditure. Anyway, I got about $400+ worth of food. Mostly boxed items - Hamburger Helper, pasta boxes, fruit snacks. I also got a bunch of ham chunks, yogurt, plastic cups, and hair products.

Most goes into storage to be rotated as needed or as liked when dinner needs to be quick. Some is used pretty quickly since it is a perishable. How is this not a WIN/WIN for my family and my food storage pantry?

But, prepackaged, easy food like this wont help you make it in a crisis....especially if the electrical grid is down. Why? Because most of this stuff needs milk....needs butter..... Needs something added to it.

So you do need that long term storage stuff. You need nitrogen packed wheat berries - powdered milk - powdered eggs - powdered/canned butter. You need canned meats. A side note on canned meats - I find most of them gross.... There is a slime on the top - you know what I am talking about. And yes, if my kids were starving, I would suck it up, probably fry it and thank my God for Spam.....

But living now with all the conveniences, I am taking a different approach. I buy the Chicken Helper and cans of chicken..... I like crab and buy cans of crab and a few cans of Tuna and use those in the Tuna Helper. I dont want to end up with items that require things that might be difficult to fix because of lack of available ingredients. Think about long term possibilities, even in your coupon choices - in your ease today.

So - you have your long term items - you have your easy items....but they wont last forever. There may be a possibility that at sometime in the future going to the store and purchasing Madagascar Vanilla......Brazilian Bananas.....Argentinian Beef.....might not be possible - there may not be the choice or it may not be fiscally viable.

You need to be able to grow your own. You dont have to plow up your backyard this afternoon. But what about a small kitchen garden? What about learning how to coax seeds into sprouting and following through the growth process.....What about learning how to harvest the seeds that amazingly keep the process going? What if you had the satisfaction of clipping some greens for your dinner's salad? What about a fresh tomato?

Adding seeds to a long term storage is a cheap, easy option. Seeds arent that expensive and can be kept long term. Practicing now improves your skills set, improves your health and really is a fabulous hobby. Of course, this hobby will naturally lead to canning, drying, and a sharing of fabulous recipes :) But making the title "6 Pronged Attack....." just sounded a little ridiculous :)

So, this is my 3 pronged approach to food storage.....

What do you think - is there an area where you need to spend more energy or expand your expertise? Mine is absolutely the 3rd prong....gardening..... But flipping through a seeds catalog and its all I can do not to dig under the backyard this afternoon.....

Pray for time - time for our Country

Praise for the time we have had and the Country we have

Prepare for the future - to put this Country back together if need be.....

Does $4.00 a gallon gas help with our Creditors?

2010-02-07T15:54:00.003-06:00

Just finished reading a VERY interesting article RIGHT HERE..... You can read for yourself (I know you can read) but for you lazy twerps, this is the quick synopsis....

There is the Greenspan-Guidotti Rule which "predicts" when a Government will go "bankrupt." In order to keep afloat (and creditors happy), the USA must keep 100% of our short term (12 months) debt in gold/oil/foreign currencies. READ THE ARTICLE for the full explanation, but suffice it to say, we are short....duh....

Nicely, the USA is the largest holder of gold: 8,133.5 metric tonnes of gold (it is the world's largest holder). That's 16,267,000 pounds. At current dollar values, it's worth around $300 billion. The U.S. strategic petroleum reserve shows a current total position of 725 million barrels. At current dollar prices, that's roughly $58 billion worth of oil. And according to the IMF, the U.S. has $136 billion in foreign currency reserves. So altogether... that's around $500 billion of reserves. Our short-term foreign debts are far bigger.

It became obvious that the speculation of Gold rising to $2000+ and the price of gas rising in the current summer months is good for our short term debt future. The problem is that we do not have in control of the finances, an administration that is looking to solve the problem.

Our short term debt crisis will be exacerbated by an Administration that has an even shorter-term vision....Election in 2010.....

Add to this a looming crisis between Iran and Israel during which the price of a barrel of oil will natural rise and this could help in easing our credit crisis, but destabilizing our National economy.

I dont have any answers - I can see a potential way out - a way to avoid a Wiemar Republic-like scenario which is interesting as monetizing the debt has NEVER NOT resulted in exorbitantly high interest rates.... But that would depend, again, on an Administration that would be proactive in solving this problem and not propagating is evil agenda.

May November, 2010 come quickly - May Citizens/Patriots wake fully up - May God bless America

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Quote of the Day

2010-01-31T13:23:00.003-06:00

I dont usually do Quote of the Day, but I love me some Hermit and he is FUNNY....

If this ice is going to melt today, it had better get started. Right now I'm living in a demented Christmas Card.

LAUGHED OUT LOUD!!!!

2010-01-29T15:41:00.002-06:00

It seems Bin Laden has released a new tape and again, he is hacked off at the USA. This time its because of Global Warming.....

I found this a hoot! First, I cant imagine that blowing people up and setting off all of the explosives is really that great for the environment either....

But mostly I laughed because I really thought Bin Laden was smarter than to believe this nonsense.... Shame on me....

How do you let your light shine?

2010-01-28T12:38:00.004-06:00

Seriously - Ice is here....and therefore, electricity is on the mind. More accurately, lack of electricity is on the mind.

What is your plan for light? (I know - there are some things that might come before light in regards to a power outage - heat, food, etc. but right now we are talking light).

You have so many options - you have batteries (rechargeable) for lanterns and flashlights. You have double mantle lanterns that use gasoline or white gas. There are candles. And then there is the old school kerosene lamp.

We have candles but our main source of light is the kerosene lamp.

They are easy - its old school technology, so you pretty much make sure you have a wick, kerosene and the lamp is in good condition. If you have ever watched any of the old westerns you have seen kerosene lamps and may have even learned how to use one :)

*****They are dangerous - as all fire plus flammable liquid are - and therefore should never be left alone or burning after you go to sleep.... They should also be kept on a sturdy foundation (table - counter)...

Here is why I like kerosene..... Its relatively cheap. The lamps can be picked up at Walmart or any camping supply for less than $10 (I got mine for $5) in addition to the 2 that my grandfather handed down to me. Those 2 are my favorite - love those lamps..... The kerosene can be picked up at Home Depot or Lowes for less than $40 but if you take your own container and google "kerosene" and your location you can find a dealer selling it for less than $4.00 a gallon which would make it 1/2 the cost at Lowes.

Kerosene keeps really well. If you did buy a 5 gallon drum of it at Lowes, it would keep for years - YEARS..... *** Do your own research but be wary - those that say it only keeps for 6 months probably have a reason to resell you some quickly :)

Another GO KEROSENE reason is that you can burn your lamp 5 hours a day EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR and only use 12 gallons of Kerosene. $100 will get you light for a year. Personally, I dont see me burning 5 hours in the middle of the summer since its daylight savings and also Kerosene puts off HEAT!!

This leads me to another reason I love Kerosene - the heat.... Several lamps going can heat quite a large space.

So my reason:

1 - Fairly cheap start up cost
2 - Comparatively cheap long term cost
3 - Comparable to a 50watt bulb
4 - Light PLUS heat
5 - Long term storage friendly

Now - WHAT YOU MUST KNOW.....

* You must trim your wicks to keep the carbon down

* You must use in a well ventilated area (Kerosene lamps burn "good air" and expel "bad air"

* You could burn your house down - seriously....

*** Disclaimer - there is more info out there to ensure you use your lamp to its maximum benefit while keeping the risks to the absolute minimum. Do your homework - we are talking about YOUR family, YOUR life and YOUR home.... :)

This is also the beginning of our "lighting" plan.... It would make a "dim" world view if this is the plan entirely :)

As always - Pray - Praise - Prepare

Ice and Snow....Snow and Ice....

2010-01-27T20:31:00.004-06:00

Here it comes again. Unlike Christmas, 2009, this stuff will have ice with it - and wind (lets not forget the wind - its always windy here). When you get to around 1/2" of ice and wind, power lines start coming down. When power lines come down, they go back up in a very precise way. The more people in a down grid get priority (after essentials - hospitals, fire departments, nursing homes, etc) and the farther out you are (the less people) the longer it takes for crews to get your power back on.

Our last REAL ice storm was in 2007. It was nasty. We lost power for 24 hours (actually a little less). We camped next to the fire and the kids had a blast. People way out didnt have power for over 2 weeks.... Not so much fun....

I wont bore you with another entire post about my preparations for an ice storm, but I will take this time to pat myself on the back {reaching and patting} since on this list "Winter Storm" is listed as my #2 prep reason.... And I am pretty much ready.

We can handle this.....

We will look upon it as an adventure.....

We will make good memories.....

In addition to physical preps, a shift in thinking is just as valuable - especially if you have kids....

If you are in OK - be safe - be warm - be prepared....

If you are out of OK - same to you :)

As always - Pray - Praise - Prepare

2, 3, 4.....or more?

2010-01-26T16:26:00.004-06:00

My hubs and I have a disagreement. He believes that there needs to be only 2 political parties for maximum effectiveness in our Federal Government. He believes that any additional parties would just water everything down and therefore there would never be a consensus.

I think hes wrong. And, bless his heart, I get to explain why..... (If he wants to explain in further detail his opinion, he is more than welcome to comment, get his own blog or nicely ask me to allow him to guest post).... Although I did a very accurate job ofsuccinctly portraying his viewpoint, ifIdosaysomyself.

I so see his point - I really do and I have struggled with my own personal viewpoint - but here it is. If we are going to be a free society - a free market comprised of free men, then competition is good - scratch that - competition is necessary - absolutely a bedrock principle.

I think the less one party has a majority, the more those scumbags answer to those at home - the less they are able to game the system with their pork, their deals, their corruption. The less they have a party's backing, the more their true compass are those people at home and the Constitution they swore to defend.

The less they have a party, the more they have to actually work together and KNOW what is in the crap they sign.....

But its not that easy - Here where I live, we have a closed primary which means that I HAVE to be a member of one or the other party to vote. I get to vote anyway I want in the general election, but D's vote for D's in the primary and R's vote for R's. And Heaven help the off brand Political Party.....good luck even getting on the ballot. I couldnt vote for the Libertarian Party this last time around.....

Some states allow Independents to vote for either but it is up to the individual parties in the individual states. For example - D's let anyone vote in the primary in CA this past presidential election.....

The parties have rigged the system as much as possible - DUH.....

So what do we do? You pull your registration - You register as an Independent - more Independents exists now than D's.....How cool is that? You let each party know they are boats filling with water and that people are jumping ship. Actually, You register any way you see fit....again, the more the merrier in regards to parties.

And you learn the rules in your own state. This is my plan.... I am going to register I. However- I have marked on my calendar the dates by which I have to register as a D or an R to be able to vote in the primary (or I am praying a viable 3rd party). Neither party will be able to count on me in deciding Who to run - they wont be able to count me on their rolls as they make their plans for the upcoming election. Its not a perfect plan and it does put the pressure on me - the pain of switching, going to the Tag Agency - all of it on me.

But you know what? I am cool with that because for far too long, people have depended on someone other than themselves. They depended on the D and the R and look where it got us?

So I say bring on the Constitutionalists, the Libertarians, the Greens, the Secessionists, the Independents, the Socialists, even the Communists. Its time we know where everyone stands. Because I am fine knowing you love Stalin, its the hiding it and lying about it that I have had enough of.....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Seriously....

2010-01-26T07:37:00.002-06:00

What is a prepper without an apron?

I have friends that blog - and no, not like yall, my prepper friends....

Friends I know, that I love, (not that I dont know and love yall), but friends I have coffee with on a regular basis (see, that does leave yall out....)

They blog about their lives, their kids, their marriages, their God. They rock.

Well, one of my girls is having a giveaway all week - she is calling it - Week of Awesomeness. Love me that Cindy Beall. She is funny. Anyway - todays giveaway is by another girl that I LOVE - LOVE - LOVE.

Kim makes aprons - not just any ole piece of fabric tied around your waist - but they are fun and beautiful and quirky (love me quirky) and some she makes even have a towel BUTTONED TO THE FRONT - how perfect is that because one of those pockets would have been used for my dish towel, but that perfectly placed button frees up another pocket....(**The giveaway does not have the towel - you can buy one of those yourself ;)

Long way (and hopefully amusing) around to tell you to go here and try to win yourself an apron.

On a serious note, Cindy blogs to marriages in trouble. REAL trouble - not the "he left the seat up and I am annoyed" trouble - but "they walked out because they have himself (or herself) a little something on the side" trouble. If you know a couple like that - if you are a couple like that - God can put your marriage back together. He can make your marriage so great that you praise the hell you walked through because of the miracle He has given you on the other side. Seriously. I serve a God that can do that and so much more. Pass Cindy's blog on if you know someone in this situation. And even in you arent, read Cindy's story (Our Story on the right hand side of the blog) - it is not all that short, it is pretty heart wrenching. The story of the betrayal, the forgiveness, the reconciliation.....AMAZING. God rocks.

Chili's is my fave....

2010-01-26T06:58:00.003-06:00

I love me some Thin Mints. I love me some Southwestern Egg rolls from Chilis. My husband loves him some Buffalo Wings.

I have no intention sitting around a table and reminiscing about what we would eat if things went back to normal. Like that scene in Jericho - Dad wants a big steak....

There are websites who dedicate themselves to copying restaurant recipes. Yes. They. Do.

Google: "copycat recipes" and then your favorite restaurant or dish item and POOF you get a list.

There are also cookbooks you can purchase (of course there are) but I prefer the old school method of either writing the recipe down on my recipe card (they just are so much easier to read than trying to keep a book open while cooking) or printing it directly off the computer.

We are expecting awful weather in a couple of days - YIPPEE!!!! I bet I get my kids home on Friday, but today I am off to get some fun foods in case my hopes come true. Most will be out tomorrow and if I didnt happen to make it out, we would be fine, but some fun stuff is always nice.....

Stay warm.

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Fourth branch of the Government, my rear end....

2010-01-24T15:53:00.003-06:00

The press is supposedly the fourth branch of the Government, meaning, it takes on each and every other branch (Legislative - Congress; Executive - President BO; Judicial - Supreme Court). It used to be that the press looked for every way to expose corruption or a newsworthy story, no matter which administration was in office. It seems now, that if a Republican holds office, this holds true, but if the Democrats control a branch, then it might as well be labeled the unofficial press secretary.

All this to say, I dont trust the news - I believe they either omit, skew or outright lie. I believe they are fed stories and therefore rank no higher than the National Enquire. Although the National Enquire did break that story about Edwards and shouted it for over a year before anyone paid attention, so maybe the press is lower than they are....

Anyway - a long way around to get to the point of this post - If you want to know what is going to happen in regards to the financial system, read the UK press before you read any of the "green shoots", sunshine up your skirt stories over here.

Want to know if the recession is over? Want to know if inflation is on the rise? Want to know what the banks are doing behind closed doors?

Read the Guardian....Read the Telegraph.....Read the BBC.....

The British Press are the 4th Branch of Government over there....and our economies, while having some very distinct differences, travel parallel (kind of) roads.... Watch their economy - watch what their press says about it....

Its also almost alarming to read the UK's press regarding the United States. Stories you wont find on your Yahoo page. Those Brits dont sugar coat much.....and they certainly dont put on a happy face for the Americans.

Who would have thought that the Fourth Branch of Government might turn out to be a red coat?

Pray - Praise - Prepare

A little link I LOVE....

2010-01-21T06:57:00.000-06:00

I like watching Glenn Beck. The problem is that at 4:00 (if I am home) is when I go to the kitchen to start fixing dinner.... I dont have a TV in the kitchen, so either I turn it up really loud in another room or I am running back and forth to check things out. This does not work well for me....

My computer, however, is always attached at my hip (or in this case, on the counter).

I have found this WEBSITE that I love.... It plays Fox News all the time.... So, at 4:00 pm you will find me watching Glenn on my computer in my kitchen....

I love modern technology.....

Now, if only iPhone and the peeps that make the Flash Player would kiss and make up and I could watch Hulu on my phone, my life might almost be complete ;)

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Change I can believe in.....

2010-01-20T06:53:00.002-06:00

The people that voted for CHANGE last November, voted for it again last night.

They voted for it because the hopes and promises made to them on the campaign trail in 2009, have not come to fruition. They were lied to, ignored, patronized. They still want CHANGE. They want the same things they wanted then..... Only now they realize that the one that promised CHANGE cant give it to them - doesnt care about them and actually, used them. They are starting to realize that CHANGE comes from each individual and yesterday, each individual made their own CHANGE. Some voting for an "R" for the first time in their lives - I call that CHANGE.....

Those that saw CHANGE for what it was voted too....

This time - all were on the same side.

I do not hold that Brown as the end all be all - although he is handsome, charming and can give a great speech. And now that he is a 1st term Senator has enough experience to run this Country. What I do hold to is that people are paying attention. What used to be a handful of people holding onto a truck that had slid of a cliff is now a crowd that has come to help. With enough people we can pull this thing back up. It will be the hardest thing we have ever done.

But so was telling The British Empire to take a flying leap.... Turns out we come from some very fine stock....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

How I got rid of my Gold Guilt.....

2010-01-19T07:14:00.001-06:00

First, you might ask me what is "Gold Guilt".... Its that feeling after listening to ALL the commercials, pundits, other preppers that say that EVERYONE needs to be owning gold.

I admit it - I sent away for the Goldline packet - December of 2008, and THEY ARE STILL CALLING ME.... I have half a mind to send them the info back, but I am afraid it wont stop them and then I would be out my time, postage and their DVD ;)

I had that feeling that I should have some gold - I did the math if I had bought 12/2008, how much it would be worth now.... And yes, I would have made some bucks. It kind of made me sick to my stomach and thats when I knew I needed to take these thoughts captive. I was falling for COMMERCIALS.... Doing the math gave me a panicky feeling.... I knew I had to take a step back and decide for myself what was the best avenue for my family, act accordingly and throw off all the other crap.

So, this is where I went....

I thought through my objective - WHY I am doing what I am doing for my family....

I thought about what would be the BEST way to reach those desired goals....

I decided that Gold wouldnt get me where I needed to be by the desired deadline....

Here were my thoughts. I prep - I store food - I store supplies - I store resources - and I do it to best take care of my family regardless of what is going on whether it be circumstances brought on by weather, Washington or whatever. Life happens -- I want to be able to keep on rocking.... Gold will not do that - Its like having bucks in a bank - it does me no good when ice has taken down the power lines.

We are in the middle of building - yes, if I had put our house fund into Gold, I would have a lot more money now - that would do alot in regards to what we could do with the house - but we would still be in the drawing stages. It would have put us 2 years behind schedule and not about to move in. Gold would have cost me time and no matter how much gold you have, you cant buy time with it....

Look, I am not saying that if you are squared away, got a good refund, saved your pennies and you want to, that Gold is not a good buy. It is - but it isnt what will keep the world from burning down around you. What if we are heading towards high inflation? Wiemar Republic inflation.... What will Gold do for you? You would still have to cash it in and then run to buy what you need before those dollars are useless. OR You will have to wait until everything stabilizes and then cash in your coins. So, during the crisis, you are in the same boat as the person who doesnt have gold. (I understand that your gold will likely go up and therefore you would have more dollars to buy items, but if there is massive inflation, even if you have more dollars, the buying power of said dollar goes down, you may come out ahead, but I am not sure you would be that much ahead. "Prepper" type items will undoubtedly go WAY UP, maybe to the point saving and purchasing with gold wasnt the best option....)

Honestly, I would rather use my funds to buy the utmost BEFORE any event and not wait until DURING or AFTER. But thats just me. I also maintain that if I have extra funds, I would purchase silver and not gold. But that was an entirely different post....

And it bears mentioning again - this was the conclusion I came to for MY FAMILY....everyones' situations are different as well as their motives, their state of preparedness and their bank account. Make your own financial decisions or at least discuss them with someone who does this for a living or at least plays one on TV.

What a difference a year makes.....

2010-01-18T08:52:00.004-06:00

I wrote this last January 19th..... The day before President BO became my President (and by "my" I mean the one of this Country I love and not the one I personally chose)

As I just reread my words it just made me sad. Sad that MLK would not find this President one of CHARACTER, but one of untrustworthiness (I think I just coined that word, but you understand what it means), totally lacking in integrity, honesty, or any of those basic CHARACTER traits you try to teach your child.... Working hard....empathy.....honesty.....

It was just one year ago - doesnt it seem longer? Doesnt it seem that the changes should have taken so much longer?

Enjoy your day off if you have it.....if not, take an extra long coffee break to stick it to the man ;) And today, we take a flash back to one year ago.... God still help us!

You can pass a law, but you have to prove I broke it....

2010-01-16T13:35:00.004-06:00

I had seen this article and it held my passing attention but when TOR sent me another link for my reference, I decided to post.... Here is the article that he sent.

Here is my opinion - the law states that it is illegal for me to fortify my home against possible entry by LAW ENFORCEMENT. Fine - I am thinking that this law is meant to tell crack heads that their meth houses can only have a deadbolt.

But what about the average prepper.....anyone who has read The Patriots....anyone who fears the end of civilization (I am kidding on this last one....sort of).....?? Does that mean that they have to leave themselves defenseless? I dont think so....

I believe that for someone to be prosecuted under this law, The Law would have to prove that you fortified your home against said Law Enforcement. I dont think a prepper applies.... We fear roving gangs, golden hoards, opportunistic thieves.

This law also specifically references the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. Meaning just what I said above - if you make Meth - sell anything that falls under this Act, and you fortify your home, you are breaking the law....

As a fellow Prepper.....I dont fear this law and will do what I see fit according to my dwelling.....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

And....More Snow.....

2009-12-29T12:17:00.002-06:00

Funny - but when I told our youngest we were supposed to get more snow today, he was less than enthused :) Probably because he is already home and these snow really do nothing for him - wasted snow days....

Anyway - went and filled my car up, got coffee and am home all day today - have a cobbler in the oven, bout to make some of that hot chocolate mix and then kick back...

But in the making of the cobbler, realzied something - I NEED MORE SUGAR. Not that I am out or even close to be running out, but I dont keep enough on stock. Nope - not at all. I mean, I can go lay my hands on 50# and that doesnt count the stuff that I have packed or other varieties (only the white stuff) but we go through it fast.

I dont buy carbonated drinks. So, around here, you can drink water, juice or milk. Unless you make the Kool-aid. And the hubs likes Kool-aid so there is a lot that gets made around here. Those little packets really take a tole on my sugar stash.

All this to say - if you stock Kool-aid or any other little mix - make sure you have an extra stash of sugar to satisfy. Because I would not be a happy camper in the least if I went to make a cobbler and all the sugar was gone....humph.....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

What I learned from Blizzard 2009....

2009-12-27T15:16:00.003-06:00

Here in OK we got a heck of a wallop. All the computer models showed we should get 14" of snow, but forecasters just couldnt believe it and so they prophesied that we would get 4"-7" which means people expected 2"-4". We got 14.1" And thats a lot. A lot for people thinking they could do what they needed to do on Christmas Eve and get home.

And you all know how busy Christmas Eve is anyway - so add to it all this snow and things were ugly and got ugly FAST.

My Hubs took my truck that day which was good but he also took my oldest child which made me a nervous wreck when the entire state of OK was put under a State of Emergency. There were highways where the only thing moving was the National Guard. I will tell you this, I didnt eat anything until my family walked through the door, which wasnt a good thing - snack in an emergency even though you wont feel like it. Also - I now know the best websites that update traffic situations and I am good on Google Earth (which has an unbelievable creepy factor since it shows real photos....)

My husband spent 4 hours a mile away from our house because of one old lady in a truck. He finally walked up to the front to see what was going on and the guy behind him went too and they got her out of the way - Hubs was home just 10 minutes later.

It was ugly and it was insightful.

Here is what we learned:

1 - Dress like you are going to have to walk home - not just in and out of a store. If you dont dress for it, at least throw your boots in the back of the truck. My hubs would have been fine on the walk, but my daughter wasnt - remember your kids.... They may roll their eyes, but make throw their winter gear in the truck.

2 - Just because you have a truck doesnt mean you know how to use it or are qualified to be driving. That iPhone or whatever isnt worth your life or someone elses'. Write an IOU and give at Christmas - I got one for a pair of boots :)

3 - Having a winch on your truck is fabulous! We pulled 3 out on Christmas Day on our way to my parents and 1 out today. The Hubs and I are fast at it now and get a car out of a ditch in about 5 minutes. And that counts turning around and asking if they need help. This is also a great feeling. It makes you smile - it makes them smile - and you use and become familiar with your gear.

4 - In a true apocalyptic situation it would be hard....emotionally.... John saw one family that ditched their car Christmas Eve and had to carry a grandmother/mother that couldnt walk. He couldnt help as he was stuck unable to move (see above) and they were just looking to walk to the nearest hotel - about a mile from where he was. Knowing you would pass those that you just couldnt help - knowing that things were going to be impossible for them would be very difficult, at least for me, and knowing my kids would probably witness it means I may spend some time in thought about how I would answer questions and give comfort. Questions like "Dad, can we help them?" will be hard to answer.

5 - Always - ALWAYS have a folding shovel in your car - PERIOD....

6 - People wait for someone else to rescue them - those people make it hard for those that can take care of themselves. This old lady had my husband sitting 4 hours - 4 HOURS. She just sat there - waiting - waiting for someone to step up and make it right for her. My hubs and a few other men did that - but they werent doing it for her. They did it for themselves - my Hubs did it for the child he had in the car. If you think you will be able to bug out and leave everything behind, that isnt likely. You will have those waiting for help that you need to do something about in order to be on your way. This could be a dicey situation. No one could drive on and just leave this lady behind. She was sitting in the only passable lane....

7 - Always have a map - dont rely on your cell phone or your memory - those tiny streets that go through you just dont think about would be easy to spot on a map.

8 - Always - ALWAYS - go to the bathroom before you leave any place.....enough said about that.....

All the above is in addition to having your truck or car stocked with food - water - matches - medical kit - blankets and a full tank of gas, yada yada yada..... You know the list ;)

I hope this snow found you home, warm and safe. If you were out in this, you know what I am talking about. This was a good trial run and I am proud of how my husband handled himself and how my daughter helped him. She didnt freak and did what was asked when asked. (She had to stick her head out of the window at one point to navigate for Hubs because of the white out situation.)

As always -

Pray - Praise - Prepare and go check those winter car preps now.....I hear we may get more snow this Wednesday....Have mercy.... :)

Reason #4867 of Why I love my Pantry

2009-12-23T11:20:00.004-06:00

One of the reasons I have listed for deepening my pantry is for charity. Its listed in just about everyone's reasons (to take care of those you love) but it is a practical reason when the world hasnt gone to hell in a hand basket. Someone's personal life may have....

People fall on difficult times and different times. It may be a baby is born and things are tight. It may be a husband is out of work. It may be that they are home bound. It may be due to a death in the family or even divorce.

I have gone to my pantry recently for a couple of these reasons for someone else. It is an amazing feeling to take a box - pick out a weeks worth of food - attach recipe cards - throw in some fun/comfort foods and drop it off on a front porch.

I love the sneaking away feeling knowing that there will be a blessing when they open their front door.

With the recipe cards and fun stuff, it feels more like a gift than charity - but what is charity? Charity is love, so yes, I guess its love that you dropped off on their porch.

I dont want a "thank you" and I dont really care if they know it was me. I cant fix what is wrong with their lives, but I can make it better for a brief moment - give them one less thing to worry about. It also gives my kids something to think about. Something for them to recall as they are older as "thats just how my family did things."

Merry Christmas Bloggerville. God bless you during this season and in the seasons to come.

Praises for the birth of The Baby.

Praises for the life of The Man.

Praises for the victory of The Savior.

(Happy Holidays for those of you that do not share my beliefs....Blessings to you in this Season and upcoming year)

Sniped and expanded....

2009-12-21T22:05:00.007-06:00

I sniped this link off of Survival Blog - 2010 Food Crisis I find it very interesting as I am living in an Ag state and shortly intend to become "Ag" myself (Ag = agriculture).

The author is accurate in regards to the damage done to those that grow our food this past year. Its not just our food, but as carnivores, a lot of what is grown is fed to things we eventually eat.

This past summer/fall I passed mile after mile of feed corn that couldnt be harvested. Ground too soft.... I watched it bake in the sun - turn brown and eventually some of it fell and some looked like a skeleton of its former self. It finally was "harvested" and I use that term loosely - I am not sure any of it was any good as it was many months past harvest time. I would be afraid of mold.... And dont get me started on hay.... Wet hay kills, rots, nasty stuff.... It also bursts into flames... Oh, the irony...

He is also accurate in the estimates given by the USDA and you yourself probably noticed that your food prices havent gone up - certainly not 30% reduction of food production worth.

With so much of our food production depended on by people not just in this country, but by other Countries (author quotes 40% of our soybean and corn is destined for outside our borders) there is at least a HUGE price increase coming.

Hungry people are unstable people. Hungry people are dangerous people. There is nothing a mother wont do to feed her child....

Hungry people also follow those that promise them a meal. "Chicken in every pot" elected a U.S. President.

Even our previous Progressive (Socialist) president FDR realized this fact:

"People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made."

And so I ask.....To what end?

The Government has raised the debt ceiling.

Government now owns 2 out of 3 American car companies.

Government has a tight hold of the financial sector.

Government is on the verge of controlling the Health Care Sector (1/6 of the U.S. Economy)

Government wants Cap and Trade.

And I ask - to what end?

With President BO's approval rating at an all time low (-21) according to Rasmussen, he cant think that his actions are winning him votes. A man of his ego would not be happy being a one term President. So, to what end? Why throw his Name, his Presidency behind policy that will not get him elected?

I see a twisted logic in seeing him get everything passed his Socialistic heart desires - but in doing so alienating the masses. But the masses are going to get hungry..... The masses are going to be without a job.... Does he then think that he can exchange their votes for food? Does he believe that his popularity will rise when he feeds the hungry? Would the hungry remember it was this President that starved them from the beginning?

I have absolutely no answers - It would be a fools errand to try and predict what this President has planned - a man of such ego, evil and ambition - nothing is out of the realm of possibility. I do know this....

You need to Pray. Pray that those around you see the prudence of storing in for a long winter - both physically and politically. Pray that good men rise to serve. Pray grace and generosity on those that are in a position to help the most people.

You need to Praise. Praise that despite in this winter we find ourselves, there isnt a Country in this World that is more blessed. Blessed by people of integrity. Blessed by people with an honest work ethic. Blessed by people who have given more to those without than any Government or peoples before.

And You need to Prepare. Prepare your pantry to meet your physical needs. Prepare your larder to provide for those around you and those you love. Prepare your heart to know truth, to recognize truth and to hold to truth.

"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it. "

"Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way round, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise. "

The above quotes brought to you by Adolf Hitler - the master of using hunger to gain control and a lie to maintain it.... And look what it cost us.....

Pray we dont dare tread near that kind of evil again.....

Was it really a surprise? Really??

2009-11-29T18:02:00.004-06:00

THIS NEWS STORY

The story above states that the NO MINARETS VOTE which actually added this law to the Swiss Constitution was a surprise vote. Really???

When people were asked if they would vote Yes/No, people overwhelming said they would not support the law. Its like asking people if they fart! I bet overwhelmingly the vote would be NO....but in the privacy of our own voting booths, in our own home, we all know a totally different reality ;)

Political correctness isnt just an American pain - its worldwide - In fact, I contend it started in Socialist Europe and emigrated here....

I love this vote - it goes to prove that you just cant legislate what people think....what they know in their guts.

Now, before every screams FREEDOM OF RELIGION - there is nothing that prohibits Muslims from worshipping. These Minarets arent a "salvation" issue for them. Its like saying you cant put a steeple on a church and actually, there are town ordinances that prevent steeples in this Country, but what it is a statement against is the feeling that Islam is steamrolling Europe - the world.

The Swiss took a stand - read that again... The SWISS took a STAND - how ironic.... God bless 'em...

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Thank you....Thank you very much....

2009-11-26T00:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving you fabulous peeps!

Here is my Thankful list:

1 - My hubs - he rocks!

2 - My kids - they are a hoot and I just love being with them anytime!

3 - My parents - they are so cool....

4 - My Bro-SIL - what can I say, we are a tight bunch....

5 - This Country - IT RULES!!

6 - Yall - I know we have all thought at one time or another that we were the only ones - the only ones who felt something coming....that we got it, but no one else did....well - here in Bloggerville, we all know we arent alone - we are the modern day Pamphleteers. We know that we are a big, GROWING group....watch out Scumbags - we own your jobs and SOON we will demand them back!!

7 - GRACE - not much else matters....

I hope that each and everyone of you has a HAPPY THANKSGIVING - that you are with those that you love and those that love you and if you are unable to do so, that you will find a peace and a respite and GOOD FOOD :)

God bless yall - you have made this past year interesting, fun, thoughtful....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

I am all over the map on this post....

2009-11-23T15:25:00.004-06:00

I prep. Yall know it. My friends know it. And people who know me know it. I have kept some things close to the vest, but in regards to food and the like, I have tried to get those around me to be a little more prepared.

I outlined my "why" in a previous post (and I am too lazy to hunt it down) but suffice it to say, that the more prepared everyone I know is, the safer it is for me and better for them.

As we get ready to move in the near future, I am turning my thoughts back to my prepping. I have twirling around in my head "care package" ideas. I know a 1/2 cup of beans and 1/2 cup of rice will keep someone alive for a day. But if things arent exactly DIRE, I would like to be able to offer charity with a little more flavor and sustenance than a baggie of the above mentioned beans/rice.

I want something to be able to drop off at a home, or send with someone that will get their family by for a few days - a week. I want a list so I dont have to think when the realization hits that someone needs help. I wont have it done today - my list - but its coming - twirling around in my head - like I said....

Anyone out there have a list? Have a suggestion of something for the list?

On a totally schizophrenic note.... These are the floors in my "keeping room" (we define keeping room as the room that will keep our life together - pantry, laundry, work room, bill paying, dog living, entry/exit where kids and hubs drop off coats, backpacks and everything so it doesnt get distributed all over my house room.

I have to describe them - they are 3/4" pine - tongue and groove - with a width of almost 7". They werent the best boards. Every now and then, there is a hole that goes to the sub floor. They are exactly what we wanted. If we were recreating a warehouse, then the floors need to be able to be beat up and not look perfect. We love the knots and the character of these floors. We also loved that they were $1.10 a square foot. YES THEY WERE. This wasnt some local cheap deal, we ordered off the Internet and so yall can get them too. They are also so thick they can be refinished over and over and over.....

Anyway, back to these beautiful babies - now how to finish.... I honestly just wanted to paint them a dark color - like black. My husband really didnt care. But then I was afraid that would be too dark with our cabinets so then I opted for a maybe a white. But then Hubs worried about dirt (its red here and it sucks - doesnt come out of anything....sorry for the language Mom, but it does). Then I thought about white with a brown rub over it, but UGH, that meant so many steps to getting these things done and honestly, I am tired and ready for this building thing to be over. At this point I seriously thought about just leaving them..... And then I came across this....

EBONIZING and THIS

How cool are those? And since a gallon of stain is $30 and vinegar and steel wool is $4.00 total, it was a no brainer. So Hubs and I mixed us up a batch. And it worked. Sort of - painting it on left a rust film after the solution oxidized on top. Then it just didnt soak in that well when we wiped. But, when we damp mopped the wood to raise the grain and rubbed in the solution, this is what we got:

I did these (Hubs varnished them - oil based / semi-gloss) and they are beautiful and feel so good to the feet. Hubs has since done the main floor and its waiting on a second coat of varnish and then I will post pics. His floor is a little darker and just scrumptious. The ebonizing solution mixes with the tannins in the wood and darkens them up. Different woods do different things. Ours look like they have been scorched in places - JUST BEAUTIFUL.

I pass this on, not to get kudos on how pretty they are, but to tell you to do your research and you can find a CHEAP alternative to just about anything. Pergo floors would have been twice as much - go figure - and not near as beautiful!

Pray - Praise - Prepare

You wont catch me in the attic....

2009-11-20T14:28:00.002-06:00

Its been driving me nuts....How our President can bow to other kings/emperors/rulers/presidents/whatevers.

How he can, in the face of OVERWHELMING DISAPPROVAL, do what he wants and act like he doesnt have a care in the world.

How he can slam a white cop as stupid and then leave his "good friend", an elderly black man, to be helped down the stairs by the same stupid white cop, while he just about skips down the same stairs...

How he can lie out of both sides of his mouth.... "I dont support it...." "I do support it....." "What I wont tolerate...." (That last one is my favorite - tolerate? Excuse me? Who made you lord and master over me that you get to lecture me like a child.....) Sorry, I digress.....

I mean, at first I thought it was just arrogance.... His superior attitude.....

Maybe a character flaw?

Maybe corruption - that he could buy whatever he wanted with SEIU and ACORN's "influence"...

Then I thought it was narcissism..... A mental / moral deficiency.....

But thats not it.... Now I am totally convinced that there is a portrait of Pres. BO in the attic that is marred, disfigured, totally disgusting with all his past evil deeds.... You know, like a Portrait of Dorian Gray.

Now....we just need someone really, Really, REALLY brave to sneak up there and check....

NOT IT.....

What happened to "When in Rome....?"

2009-11-17T07:33:00.002-06:00

This Country has gotten touchy.... REAL Touchy.... And its annoying. You want Freedom of Speech? Well, then get ready to get your feelings hurt, because that is what happens.

We dont have Freedom of Speech anymore - Political Correctness has driven it underground. Which is a shame. It has made everyone put on a plastic face, with a plastic smile and nod in agreement with all the bland, blah blah borningness that is said.

The exchange of ideas - some you agree with and some you dont - enrich the conversation, stretch you as an individual and with the ability to just agree to disagree, actually bring us closer together. When expected to convey your idea and reason an answer, it can do more for your mental ability than Sudoku.

There used to be a saying "My rights end where someone else's nose begins." Y'all know it - quote it with me.... Anyway, it seems that my rights now end when someone else doesnt like what I say, what I do or even the color of my outfit. They dont like it when I put up my Christmas Tree - Wish them a Merry Christmas or even correct my child in public.

Well, guess what? This Country wasnt founded on Happy Kwanzaa day. I have no problem with you celebrating it - have at it - buy all the purple tissue paper you want - but you know what? When you walk by me in Target and we make eye contact, I AM going to wish you a Merry Christmas and I just dont care if you like it or not. And if you have any manners at all, you will smile and say "Thank you" just like if the roles were reversed and you wished me "Happy Kwanzaa". Because you know what? I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and ASSUME that you were saying it to be nice and not just to annoy me....and I am going to ASSUME that you will give me the benefit of the doubt when I wish you MERRY CHRISTMAS that it was done with kindness and not a goal to annoy....

Dont get me wrong - I am going to make a call the second I get to my truck and call my Momma and tell her exactly what happened.... Because we are in the South and a "Happy Kwanzaa" is big enough to call Momma about..... But because I am in the South, I will smile and tell you "Thank you"..... Because that is how my Momma raised me.

I am so thankful my kids arent in public school. The thought of no red/green tissue paper, and celebrating "Winter Break" would be enough to make me barf on some poor unsuspecting teacher.

Get serious people. You arent fooling anyone. Everyone knows you arent just getting a break because its Winter. EVERYONE knows school is out because of CHRISTMAS. To pretend otherwise is just stupid. They look stupid doing it.

The great thing about this Country is you can celebrate anything you want (just make sure its legal). But please quit trying to change it into something that its not.

Tune out what you dont like to hear - say what you really feel and mean what you say.... And for goodness sake....

MERRY CHRISTMAS, y'all.......

**** This post was inspired by the first of the "Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, Happy Holiday" stories I heard yesterday.... And when I say "You" in my post, I dont mean "You".... I hope that YOU know that ;) Sometimes I just channel Julia Sugarbaker and my posts get away from me :)

Love yall -

Pray - Praise - PREPARE

Up close and personal with the H1N1....

2009-11-12T09:05:00.004-06:00

Yup - but not me.... My middle child. Saturday, after playing outside all day on the land while his father and I slaved away, our middle child looked a little "off".... I didnt worry much about it since flushed cheeks and feeling "beatup" is a natural byproduct from being outside in Oklahoma wind all day.

In case you dont know, Oklahoma wind isnt a breeze. Its a hard gusting wind which can make trees grow crooked, chap cheeks, and plum wear you out. You dont realize you are fighting it, but at the end of the day, trust me, you are tuckered.

So, thats what I thought it was.... Until Saturday evening when the "chapped" cheeks were hot - HOT....Thus began our dance with the Pig.

Sunday - 103 and change....Monday - 102 and change....Tuesday 100....Wednesday....Blessed Wednesday, I thought we were home free - but alas - that afternoon, it crept back 99 and change.

Our kids' school has a rule that I pray parents abide by, I know I do - that a child can return to school after being fever free for 24 hours WITHOUT any Advil or Tylenol. So far today, we are fever free and drug free....

He has felt pretty ok - except for seeing his food again on Sunday....something that both of us have mutually agreed to never speak of....

The hardest part has been sending the youngest to school without their beloved playmate and not letting said playmate go outside when the youngest gets home.

Our oldest had something like this a few weeks ago, but no so feverish but if I am going to be honest - its been nice being home all week with the one in the middle - we never seem to have "our" time since #3 came along....

Pray - Praise - Prepare and have a bunch of Advil ;)

Blog info....

2009-11-10T11:02:00.004-06:00

In my time off and in posting in my head, I have come to the realization that I need a new blog format - she needs a new outfit ;)

I have been searching sites, looking at templates, looking at portfolios....man this is tough.

Its been made tougher because in checking out my own blog with a critical eye, I have decided its a little schizophrenic (or is that because I have been blogging in my head).... I cover a bunch of different topics and therefore want my new blog to have different "tabs" in order for those topics to be covered and stay together. I also want readers to be able to subscribe to the various tabs that interest them and exclude those that dont.

This isnt going to be happening tomorrow - I need to decide on a designer and a layout and wait in their queue to have my blog worked on....

All this to say - yall bloggers out there - is there a designer you like to work with - one that will not make me sell a kidney or a child to afford - and a heads up that around the first of the year you may have to update your RSS feeds or bookmark a new address.....

This concludes blogging bidness today..... Back to your prepping..... Back to your ranting..... Back to the packing, building, cleaning..... Or is this just me?

LOVE YALL!!

What now??

2009-11-09T09:44:00.004-06:00

We all have heard about the shooting at Fort Hood - excuse me, the ATTACK at Ft. Hood. An Islamic EXTREMIST in our own military killed 13 and wounded 30 before being brought down by a CHICK named KIMBERLY with 4 shots after she herself had been wounded. I am not going to lie - I love the last part.... In a hero movie, its always a guy, but this time, IN REAL LIFE, it was a girl and I love that part.

But what do we do now? This war is different. Its not like going after Germany or Japan or anyone else. Its not against a "people", but a "religion". This puts it in the category of HOLY WAR whether you like it or not. "They" see it that way and we had better start to see it that way too.

Its been said a million times, but this enemy doesnt follow the Geneva Convention, wear uniforms (unless its ours apparently), fight fair. None of them.... I am not abdicating our fighting fair, but we need to start fighting smart and honestly, some need to be put down like dogs in the street. I dont care about their prayer mats, their prayer time, their special diet. Do you think they were considerate before they mutilate our military by cutting off their heads? I am also not abdicating we do the same to them, but can we agree to quit playing nice? I mean, seriously....do we have to coddle them?

Lastly, what do we do with Muslims in our own military? In WW2, those US CITIZENS of Japanese descent were not sent to fight Japanese - DUH you say.... It is against the Constitution to exclude Muslims and I dont think we should. The vast majority do not believe in the extremism as some - kind of like most Mormons do not believe in plural marriage or Jews believe in sacrificing a bull.... But should we send them to Afghanistan? Should we send them to Iraq?

When this man joined the military, he couldnt have envisioned where we would be fighting some day. Not in a million years - neither could we - Could you have guessed 9/11? Me either. Is it such a stretch to not send those of Muslim faith to fight against those with the same faith?

I dont have the answers - but its a conversation that needs to be had and had fast because like this terrorist (oh yes he is) at Ft. Hood and the luckily incompetent who couldnt get his bomb to go off in Dallas, the war has been brought home....

** So I just proof read what I wrote and I dont want it in any way to be seen as an excuse for the dirtbag at Ft. Hood. His attack was not a mental break, a freaking out - it was a planned attack from visiting websites, chatting up militants, giving his personal belongings away to his bringing his weapons onto base. TERRORIST ATTACK.... Speaking of dogs in the street.... The one thing I like about the military, is that they dont waste the time the civilian court does before it carries out a sentence....may their justice be swift.....

I'm back....a little :)

2009-11-08T08:55:00.004-06:00

Yall are the best - BEST - B.E.S.T.

Your encouragement - checking on me - and downright telling me to get my butt back in gear have been great.

We are getting closer and closer with move in on the horizon, just still a little fuzzy... I have continued to blog in my head and yesterday did today's post.

Its nothing awe inspiring, honestly, I just dont have the emotional energy to get all righteously indignant over Pres. BO and his disgusting minions....well, looks like I could get a little worked up. Honestly, he gave give this socialism thing all he wants but we wont go the way of Venezuela or of Cuba because we werent raised like that.... You know it - These United States would tell the Fed to take a flying leap before we are there....He is moving too far and too fast to slip one by us. It will go down. One way or the other. The easy way or the hard way, but one way or the other, our Country will be ours - that I do KNOW.

Anyway - back to my blog post in my head....

As we were getting the tractor out of the mud (no we didnt do it, but we needed it, so we got it - who did it will remain nameless ;) ), I blogged this in my head.

It was a beautiful day - crisp, but not cold and by the afternoon, just GLORIOUS!! And it hadnt rained in a week. There hasnt been a week like that in MONTHS which is why we arent moved in yet....but I digress.....

I have learned a lot - A LOT I TELL YOU - driving back and forth, working, playing, watching on the land in the almost 5 years we have had this land. I know it. I know which trees are plums, which are red bud, which are oaks, the occasional poplar that just pops up (those are cool - one day they are just there!!) and those evil red cedars.

Here are a few of the gems....and they are in no particular order....

* Chicks, build a house with the man you love. I have heard horror stories (we all have) but I tell you - the respect I have for him has increased 10 fold. He can do anything and he has proven it... I knew he was smart and capable, but there is no old dog in him at all. He has thrown himself into everything and come out with job accomplished. Very impressed indeed.

* Change your drivers license as quick as possible - get a PO if you have too....Local police like locals and give them a pass (or two or three) but if you have a city address, you will pay and pay dearly :)

* Change your car... If you are moving in from the city and you drive a sedan - change it. Dont go buy a brand new bells and whistles truck - but one a few years old - drive it through the mud on the way home and dont wash it. Look like you want to belong - dont look like you are better than.

* You arent kidding anyone - they know you are green and they know where you are from. Ask questions - acknowledge they know what they are doing and how to do it - it doesnt mean you cant tweak it, but take what they know - they earned it and probably the hard way - save yourself some trouble. Also, if you look like you want to know, you are on your way to being "one of them" :)

* Be flexible - the learning curve is expensive - in dollars - in time - in energy - in sweat - and yes, in blood and tears.

* A couple lady bugs are cute - a swarm is nasty - goes the same for little frogs....do these look cute?

Survival Blog???

2009-10-13T17:30:00.002-05:00

Can anyone else get it???

Even my Google cant update.... Wondering if anyone else is having this problem?

Thanks - pearls

There just arent words....

2009-10-11T14:11:00.002-05:00

There just arent words to tell you how sorry I am that I havent been blogging.... I have missed yall - missed the banter - missed the way you challenged and made me think. This is such a 2 way forum... Pamphleteers for the current age.

As I told Meadowlark, I have been blogging in my head, but time to type it out has been nonexistent. She says that counts and just FYI - I have been pretty good lately ;)

We are a few weeks away from moving in to our house and with all the other activities, time is so short, I feel I am stealing it from someplace and it is obviously the time I have previously had to blog.

Give me until November....

Also, dont think that I havent been thinking about the blog - I have some changes coming and some new interesting twists.

Thanks for understanding and thanks for checking on me - Michael - this post is for you :)

And even though I havent been posting, I have been reading....mostly on the fly on my phone - Thanks for all you out there who have kept at it in this AMAZING time in our Country's history....

And also - Nobel Peace Prizes are now available for sale in my eBay store ;) Had to get something in....

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Pearls

Oklahoma is MORE than OK :)

2009-09-17T21:54:00.002-05:00

So, I am checking out Survival Blog in the evening so I can see whats being published for the next day. I like that....I like seeing "Friday" when its Thursday night....anywho....it has a link of a Map of US Household incomes by State.

It is all pretty with red and blue....I do find it interesting that in an election, Red States are "Republican" states and Blue States are "Democrat" states and in this map, its the Red States that have lost household income, but the Blue States have gained....sorry, I digress....I hate the media....

Again, anywho....It seems that Oklahoma has had the highest gain. BOOYEAH!!!!

Thats it - thats all I wanted to say....

Happy Friday peeps - Pray - Praise and Prepare

And now I have my brain around it....

2009-09-17T17:00:00.003-05:00

I have been thinking about this FOR MONTHS....and when I say months, I mean at least 90 days...not every day, but more days than not....

Its been driving me nuts - and here was my problem. I couldnt understand why people would want the Government to provide health care. Wait for a minute....

I mean this Government who does nothing well - I mean, these are the same people in charge of the DMV, Postal lines and routinely oversee projects that cost twice, or even three times more than it would cost private industry.

So why would people TRUST them to provide health care?

Here is where I am. Everyone wants people to get the medical treatment they need - EVERYONE. You have to be a rotten SOB to deny medical care - seriously. Thats why in this country you can walk into any hospital and get treatment. Yeah, we roll like that here in the USA.

MOST would agree that private industry can do most things better than Government. Private business is cheaper, faster and more efficient. Kind of along the lines of UPS vs. USPS - hands down, the private industry wins.

The PRIVATE CITIZENS of this country give more to charity than any other COUNTRY'S GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD..... Yeah, its pretty great - its how we roll over here.

If the Government totally got out of the way and out of our business, this Country's health care would be forever altered and ALTERED FOR THE BETTER.

People know this deep in their gut - but there is something else down there. Doubt. That tiny little speck that you would have to TRUST. Not trust the Government. No one trusts them, but we go back to them time and time again because its better to have the devil you know than the one you dont. Its the same reason a woman goes back to the man that beats the crap out of her - and yes, I am equating the US Government to an abusive spouse - THIS GOVERNMENT IS ABUSIVE but people go back time and time again for their handout.

Sorry - got off on a rant for a minute where was I? Oh yes - you are going to have to TRUST - you will have to trust the American Private Citizen. If you are in need, you would have to trust that services will be provided, medicines will be available, transportation, care, you name it....

But the more I pay attention to what is going on, the more I am willing to take that gamble. I think we can do it. I know that we could do it better than what we have now.... Because if the Government takes control, it will get MUCH MUCH worse!!

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Sneeze into your elbow....

2009-09-03T17:06:00.004-05:00

I told yall I would see you on Friday, but I had no idea (and neither did you) it would be 2 weeks. I hope you didnt mind and I hope you prepped a little or thought about your lists a little each day. Life took over a little and I am just now finishing my post that began over 10 days ago....

Ahem....where was I? Oh yeah......Since my #1 is being home due to the Flu, this post deals with this particular situation.

I am prepared in staying home but I need to make sure that the Flu doesnt find me, follow the Hubs home or in some other way decide to take up residence with me. The truth is I may not entirely be able to bubble myself in, but I can give the Flu a run for its money and try to stop it at every opportunity.

To that end, I have a bunch of stuff to kill it ;)

- Antibacterial soap

- Hand sanitizer (gallons - seriously)

- Lysol

- Sanitizing wipes (Clorox type)

- Sanitizing wipes that do not use alcohol

- Rubbing alcohol

- Clorox bleach

I have N95 masks - and you have to have MANY because the more they are worn the less affective they become - Think about having a couple for each day if you have to be out and about or if someone comes down with the flu in your family.

Speaking of someone getting sick - you need to be prepared if someone brings it home or shows up at your door. Mentally designate a place where a person can be separated from others, comfortable, access to a bathroom (that they only use, if possible) and allowed to spend the week to recoup. In this end, there should be only 1 person who goes in and out taking care of the Sicky and trying to stay "clean" as much as possible.

Now - this is where I leave you to do some of your own research - I am not a doctor, but I could play a really cute one on TV....

There are 2 schools of thought regarding the potential probs with this Flu.

1 - It could be like the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed so many world wide - HEALTHY people who usually get over the flu. The prob with the 1918 was that it caused what is called a cytokine storm. Click the link to read about it - this chick explains it way better and it saves me some typing :)

2 - It could just be a really nasty strain that can bring down an ox....meaning, if you are old or really young you should be very afraid and if you are one of the healthy ones in the middle, it could make you sicker than a dog and even bring you down too.

I mention these because you need to decide for yourself if you are going to "soup-up" your immune system or keep it pretty much "status quo" and look to treat if you get sick. You also need to decide about the H1N1 flu shot. My fam will not be getting one.... In order for your body to accept the vaccine, it is made attached to a protein for your body to accept. The protein they stuck this strain to is the same protein they stuck the Anthrax vaccine to back in the 1st Gulf War that caused all of the problems - NosirreeBob - thankyouverymuch - I will do just fine without it. And for all the medical types, if you are slumming and reading this blog, I hope I didnt butcher that explanation too much and if I did, you can correct....maybe....if you are nice.....

You could look into Elderberry extract that will boost your immune as well as Vitamin D and E that look promising. But you need to decide for yourself if a souped up immune would make you more susceptible to the STORM and the risk that implies.

Anyway - back to my preps. I have all the meds needed to treat the symptoms of the flu:

fever reducers
anti-diarrhea
decongestants
cough expectorants (because you are going to want to get the gunk out)
nose squirters (and yes, that is their official name - at least in our house)
tummy soothers
Benadryl (because you might just need to knock out a sick person for a while - im just sayin)

You will also need some of these things:

extra Kleenex
a whole lot of extra Toilet paper
electrolyte solution - home made (google for a recipe)
Pedialyte
Gatorade

When on the mend -

You will need items that go easy on a sick person's stomach.

Broths
Soups
Crackers
Those Popsicles that are in the tubes and can be stored wherever and then thrown in the freezer when needed.....

Ok - you have so much to take care of killing it, fighting it, recouping from it. Think about how you will keep it from finding you in the first place.

Here are some ideas:

*Have hand sanitizer with you everywhere

*Wipe down all grocery cart handles and around the edges where us moms sometimes pull from

*Wipe down your steering wheel, all phones, door knobs, cell phones, TV remotes, light switches

*Keep the shoes by the door - have an inside pair and an "out in the world" pair

*Dont drink from a water fountain - EVER - and teach your kids the same thing

*Have hand sanitizer with all your dirty little peeps that call you Mom - and teach them to use it ALL THE TIME - if the teacher pulls you aside and says they are spending too much time doing this or you have to fill up their bottle frequently, its a good sign ;)

*Cough into your elbow

*Dont touch your face

One final note - You need to decide for yourself and your family, the GO POINT. At what time will you chuck it and bring everyone home and pretty much ride it out as best as possible. We already have cases in my youngest's grade. They are mild cases and I honestly wouldnt mind him catching it now as a little inoculation. If it gets ugly in the fall, its another story..... What is the notification procedure for your kids' schools? What about your church? Find out.....

This is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will induce you to think about your own situation.

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Dont want to drown you......

2009-08-31T19:52:00.002-05:00

I have thrown a bunch of info at you and dont want to overwhelm you.

Mull all this over - make your lists and we will chat again on Friday :)

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Now go brush your teeth.....

2009-08-31T00:00:00.001-05:00

So - you have a TON of food and I am so proud of you!!! Some of it will need to have its shelf life extended, but if you are using the oldest food first and eating what you are storing, you are fine for a good long while. Meaning, I intend to show you how to store it for a long shelf life, but I am about to move and am not going to do it right now.... I will show you after I move as I do it myself ;)

Also, now that you have all this food, you need to USE it.... Reconstitute some milk and bake or cook with it. Keep a list of recipes that use things that come only from your pantry and not your fridge or freezer. Have your kids and spouse try one of these meals once a week. Sneak it in, I bet they dont even notice!

So - you have your food and now lets move on to toiletries. Storing months of food will not mean much if you have to run out in the middle of the crisis for toothpaste or deodorant. These things are easily stored and cheaply purchased. WHA??? You pay more than $.99 for these things? Pashaw....you are getting ripped off.

I havent paid more than this for either of these items in MONTHS. My items are also name brands and not purchased at a dollar store. I do this with coupons. I have a store nearby that doubles coupons up to a $1.00. They have a little store card which gives me an additional discount on certain items each week. I clip all coupons every Sunday and when my store circular shows up, match my coupons to the circular with the store's card discounts. Its like double dipping - triple if you count that the store doubles the coupon. It means I get stuff dirt cheap.

Another thing it means is that I cant be picky about what deodorant I use or the toothpaste....or the shampoo. Buts its ok - all the stuff is good and if I really dont like something, it goes into a give away box for our church's free pantry. Or I have the kids' use it - one of the perks of being a parent.

Honestly, it doesnt really matter if I brush my teeth with Crest or Colgate - my breath is minty and my teeth are sparkley!

On a side note - the coupons are also used for a lot of the fun items in my pantry. Coupons can give you a much deeper pantry pretty quick and on the cheap(er).

When you sit down and brainstorm your toiletry items, it also wouldnt hurt to just take a quick peek into your cabinets.

Shampoo

Conditioner

Toothpaste

Deo

Hairspray

Chick products

Lotion

Chapstick

Sunscreen

Aloe

Contact Solution

Floss

Toothbrushes

Soap

Razors

Shaving Cream

You can also take this time to list those other things that arent food or personal items, but are ABSOLUTELY necessary.

Toilet paper being my #1 item in this category ;)

Kleenex

Hand soap

Hand sanitizer

Paper towels

Paper plates (in crisis, make life easy for yourself)

Napkins

Cleaning supplies (dishwasher fluid - washing soap - windex)

Ziploc bags

Paper bags

Wax paper

Foil

You get my drift.... On some of the above items, its hard to figure out how often you buy it or how much you need to meet your goals. An easy fix is to use a permanent marker to put the date on it that you first open and use the product. When you finish it off, just note the date and do the math and then you can easily know how many you need for a year.

Please realize that the above lists are not exhaustive but just a kick start for you to make your own list :) Ready......Set......Go!!

As ALWAYS - Pray - Praise - Prepare

F.O.O.D.

2009-08-29T14:44:00.003-05:00

The beginning of any preparations is FOOD.

If it was just me, I am pretty sure I could get away with only storing Nutella and microwave popcorn (heavily buttered)....it would give me the something salty, something sweet that I look for in my food groups - but alas, as with so many things, I have a family that does not appreciate these delicacies - Fun Suckers.....

To survive you need these things:

water
beans
rice
honey
salt
wheat
multi-vitamin

But would you want to? I mean - just off the top of your head, how many things could you make? Better yet, how many things could you make that your kids would eat day in and day out? If you want brutal honesty, I could only eat this for a day or 2 before the nether region of my digestive track put on a full on revolt - seriously.....

But you can get everything you need by diversifying what each of the above items bring to the palate and the nutritional table, so to speak.

Example:

Protein - beans, peanut butter, canned meats, frozen meats, canned nuts
Whole Grains - wheat, rice, cereals, potatoes, bread - fixed a million different ways
Dairy - powdered milk, milk, cheeses,
Sweetener - honey, sugar, syrup
Salt - You need it.... period.
Water - You need it....period.
Vitamins - canned items, fresh/frozen veggies and fruit, dried fruit, jellies, juice

So, now we have expanded what you will eat to just about everything ;) But you dont buy everything and you shouldnt. You wouldnt eat everything. Does anyone reading this have that can of beets in your pantry that has been there forever? I did and I have yet to figure out how they got there..... They would be worthless in a crisis because I am not going to eat them and neither is anyone else in my family.

So - whats a girl to do? You store what your family eats. You store items that can fill in and substitute into what your family already eats. Your family would have no idea that you used powdered milk or shelf stable milk in their mac and cheese. Or that you baked using honey and dried eggs. Or you threw in whole wheat in their pancakes, muffins, cookies.

Back to the spreadsheet (it always comes back to a spreadsheet or a list) :)

Did you go check out this link?

Go take inventory of everything you have in your house and enter it into this spreadsheet. This program also has a place for you to enter how many and ages of your peeps. After you have everything in the program you get an accurate picture of where you are.

I want to stop right here and tell you that once you have all your items in this program, dont run to the program to deduct anything you use - that would be a total pain! When you use something, add it to your grocery list and replenish at a convenient time. Keep your grocery list just until you get home so if you bought more than what was needed to replenish, you can deduct what you had to buy from the entire purchase so you know what to add to the inventory. Did that make sense to yall?

Work on the 3 month stash :) If after you enter what you have in your pantry, you are at 3 months, then move on to 6 months!

So - after you have gotten everything into your pantry that will keep you alive (yawn....) - we get to move onto the fun stuff!

I was raised in Texas and down there we dont eat to survive - we survive so that we can eat! We use food to celebrate - to comfort - to nest - to meet/greet - to say Im Sorry - to say I Love You - to grieve - to welcome a new baby..... You.Name.It - we take food to it!

All that said - I have given thought to my pantry in regards to things that make my family feel good. FEEL GOOD. I have the fixin's for my husband's favorite cobbler.....to my daughter's brownies......to the boys' favorite cookies. I have jello - pudding - snack stuffs.

So....if you got your binders or just some random piece of paper - brainstorm some of your family's favorite recipes......do you have the ingredients in your pantry? They need to go on your list....

What are some of your family's favorite snacks? Desserts? Yummies? Get those items as well - trust me - foods that bring comfort and make you family feel good will be worth their weight in gold during a time of high stress.

*** One more thing - if you are like me, you want a list to just go do - check off and be done.....it doesnt work that way (actually, you can find those lists, but it doesnt work well). Each family is unique - has their own likes and dislikes. Spend the time in thought and paying attention to what you already cook to give your family the best food storage pantry to meet its needs. Make your own list.... Doing so will go the farthest in preserving family funds - not wasting food or money - and give you the most return which is happy people!

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Get yourself a binder, paper and a pen...GO....

2009-08-29T00:00:00.002-05:00

Before you ever buy your first bag of rice or your first bag of beans, you need to decide what you are preparing for... And you may have more than one reason. Personally, I am preparing for Zombies. Not really - I stole that answer from TOR.... Its one of the best answers I have ever heard and the looks - if they were on the fence of whether or not they thought you were nuts, this answer kicks them right over....

I will give you my list in pretty much order of importance:

1 - Flu Self-Quarantine
2 - Winter Storm
3 - Tornado/Spring Storm
4 - Civil Unrest
5 - EMP

Granted, the last 2 may be long shots - but they are on my list anyway. #2 and #3 may switch places depending on if its October or April. Realize this list is fluid and may change depending on seasons, circumstances or personal situations. If all of a sudden you find yourself without a job, sick, injured, divorce, unforseen bill - you can rest in some comfort knowing that you have purchased food, its paid for, and you can eat and feed your kids. Its not all about some "out there" crisis - its for stuff that happens to everyone sometime or another.

Another great thing is that ALOT of the preps will work for all the above scenarios. There is not one thing up there that you will not have to eat during..... You will still need a way to cook - a way of light - drinking water.

Some of the clothing for the above differ as does if you need a way to keep warm or stay cool. Thats why depending on the time of year you pick wisely. I will not give time and resources to figuring out a way to stay cool when we are heading into fall just as I wouldnt stock up on gas, firewood and winter coats in April. Its common sense, but sometimes in a panic, these things just escape us, so I said it to get us on the same page.

Also - my #1 and #2 can be combined for this Winter although the #1 will also add some medical supplies.

So, lets start with my first one. I believe this is the most pressing. I may have to stay home before any ice hits our area......

Brainstorm with a sheet of paper - If you are to stay home for an extended period of time what will you need?

* Food
* Toiletries
* Paper products
* Cleaning products
* Fun items
* Winter clothes
* Medical / Flu supplies

The nice thing about this "crisis" is that power, utilities, conveniences will just about certainly not be disrupted. You will not have to figure out how to cook over a camp fire or keep your family warm. Your water will be clean and you will be able to flush and shower.

So - make your list - what would you like to be prepared for? Broadly list the categories you would like taken care of under your #1..... Or you can copy me - I am not one of those women who gets all in a snit if you happen to show up in the same dress.... I get in a snit if you look better in it than I do ;)

Pray - Praise - Prepare

Prepping 101 (it is back to school time, after all)

2009-08-27T08:00:00.004-05:00

I had a great convo recently with 3 PRECIOUS women. They have been in my life for about 8 months, but I swear, it so feels like much longer.

They are kindred spirits even though it seems to be in different ways. One is a prepper like me. It was such a gift to find her - when you think "prepper" I can honestly say, no one thinks of someone so beautiful - really, she is a hot prepper! She is also NORMAL which is also so nice because sometimes it feels like I am out of that circle.

One is a prepper to be. I know this because she is Southern - SOUTHERN - she out accents me, meaning her accent is pronounced and beautiful as she was raised in the deep South and her family lives on a big ole farm. And after our chat, her wheels were clicking - I could see them moving all over her beautiful face.

One is married to a good man with a survival bent - she is supportive and has a huge interest in what goes into her munchkins (which is how I really started in earnest)....so she too will be talking grain mills and water storage soon with vigor!

Anyway - there was some talk about the H1N1 being projected to hit this winter. It then went to "WHY DO YOU DO THIS?"

I am hearing this even more than before. People are wondering if there is something they can do to more insulate themselves against what seems to be going on in the Country, with the Economy, even with this Flu stuff....

People whisper it to me...."I like your blog"....."I read your blog"....."I so agree with you".....

People whisper to me wanting to know what to do....

So - it is with GREAT EXCITEMENT I announce that these next posts - I cant predict exactly how many - will be about PREPARING - squaring away food stuffs - medical supplies - toiletries - extras - just plain ole stuff you need :)

These will start tomorrow (I hope)....In the mean time - if you are starved for beginning information, here are a few websites to get yourself all fired up:

1 - This is my "why" and notice it was written almost a year ago....I still dont feel wrong or far off -

2 - This is THE BEST food storage spreadsheet that I have ever found - and trust me - its like my 2nd most Googled item ;) I love spreadsheets - I love lists - I love preparing - so this is PERFECT for me!

3 - HUGE LIST - dont need to add much more to the title, but BE WARNED - for a beginner, it could be overwhelming - It could make you feel like if you dont have all these things, you arent prepared. Its not true - and the truth? You dont need everything on their lists. It could make you feel like you need to run out and buy EVERYTHING....dont.....just wait.....we will go over everything :) Also - I used it for the list and ignored the Mormon History at the beginning....just saying'......

4 - This is a link to all my blog posts that have "Food Storage" in the label to describe it. Some are actual information - some are encouragement - some speak to the "why" - some tell my family to quit eating my stash and of course, I cover the all important Nutella in a full rounded food storage program.

For those of you farther down the path use this as a way to give yourself a checkup - I am. Its been a few months since I have been fired up in regards to my preparations. Its something that seems to ebb and flow which I think is fine. Sometimes you need to take a step back to recoup if you have been overspending your energies in this endeavor.

As always - PRAY (for our Country, families, future), PRAISE (for God is good - always) and PREPARE

Love you all!

Bathrooms....or.....

2009-08-24T07:37:00.005-05:00

as the boys call it - the pooper....although none of the tile is in what is technically called the pooper....oops, yes there is, sorry girlie.... If she read my blog, she would be mortified - what she does not know, wont kill her and you people who know her, keep your big fat mouths shut ;)

Here goes....I am going to start with the above said Girlie's bath: Cheap flooring - standard subway tile - GORGEOUS 12x12 mosaic tile that has 18 rows, so its smaller than an inch made up of glass and marble. It was cut into 3 sections of 6 and used as a border.

We grouted with gray grout which annoyed my husband and our tile man to no end. I would have usually let the Hubs have his way - he is so good and usually doesnt have an opinion - but I knew I was right - RIGHT I TELL YOU. You see, for all you non-Okies - the dirt here is orange. O.R.A.N.G.E.

And therefore, the white grout that the fellas wanted would be orange in a matter of days in the boys bath and in my bath too, if you want to be perfectly honest. It would have taken a bit longer for it to go orange in the girlies, but it would have happened. Maybe bleach would have gotten it out, but I didnt want to take the chance and it not happen and then be in an "I told you so" frame of mind, so I stood my ground. Yes I did! Because I am right, in case you missed that at the beginning.....

This is the boys' locker room style bath - same cheap flooring but with black centers - even cheaper 12x12 - 1" mosaic tile in glass cut to border, same subway tile. This shower is so beautiful in real life. It has a shower head on each end so the boys can both get clean at the same time. We will use hospital track in order to hang curtains for both boys. It is a cheap solution right now as I really do not want to pick out anything else and have it "installed".

After we move in, and I unpack, I plan on going room by room and tweaking things, but I just dont have it in me currently..... Brain over load and honestly, some of this stuff I couldnt care less about.... not true - I care, but just barely.....

This is our bathroom. I love the Carrera marble tile. I want it all over the floor, all over the walls, all over the countertops - but it is cost prohibitive at this time. So, I got just a little taste with the flooring that mirrors the kids' but NICE and the border. I used the same subway tiles.

And yes - that is a window in our shower that has turned out to be boob height. That is what happens when you realize you can make the ceiling on the main floor higher with a high ceiling in the loft and the walls have already been poured in CONCRETE.... I also have another low window in the bath. Oh well - its a quirk and honestly, it doesnt bother me a bit. I know how much it costs to cut concrete and its not as bad as you think.....

Here is my ode to subway tiles: They are timeless. They are beautiful. They are traditional. They are modern. They are darn near perfect.

One more post to go regarding the ceiling....stay tuned ;)

This post is dedicated to Jennifer :)

2009-08-23T19:02:00.003-05:00

This is a house post - My friend Jennifer was so sweet today about the pics and stuff that this is dedicated to her.....

These 2 orange lights were originally just Ikea lights that were silver and clear....these will totally spice up our #1 child's room :) She loves them.....and so do we because in case you dont know, IKEA = cheap :)

This large red light isnt even put together. It will be 1 1/2" shy of being 4' when all said and done. This thing was an accidental find at Lowes this weekend. It was a $210 light clearanced down to $39.90 but when I checked out, it rang up $19.90. CAN YOU SAY DEAL???? I spray painted it a glossy red and this will hang in our breakfast room.

I got an identical light which will be spray painted glossy white and it will go in our dining room. The almost $200 light will be going back tomorrow which makes the Hubs so happy :)

These are my feet - I thought I was getting tan while working kind of in the sun....turns out it was the orange paint.

Snap out of it!!! slap slap

2009-08-11T12:33:00.003-05:00

When Bernard Madoff gets caught with his ponzi scheme - he goes to prison - FOR.THE.REST.OF.HIS.LIFE.....and justifiably.....

When the Government runs their own ponzi scheme, people feel entitled to it....its an entitlement - Social Security - Medicare - Medicaid. Its a ponzi scheme - it cannot sustain itself. If you got in at the beginning, well....lucky you but like Madoff's last "investors" these younger workers will get screwed also.

The largest healthcare dollar is spent in the final days of life and not at the beginning or during child bearing or anything in between. Its at the end.... Therefore, GOVERNMENT PROVIDED healthcare is a PONZI scheme. There are more people getting older with fewer coming up behind to support this GAME. Its a racket.....a game....illegal if it were in any other part of society except for the government.

Did you scream for Madoff's blood? Do you think what he did was so awful? Are you supporting the Government provided healthcare? Why?

I want to go back a little bit....to the beginning of time....the world rocked along. Man figured out fire....they figured out bronze, iron, gold.....they figured out salt and how it would preserve food....they made alphabet, paper and books....they made the printing press and sailed to new worlds. How long did all this take? Thousands of years.... Then, in 1776, those in this new world (about 10%) threw off the oppressive rule of a king. So, we are a little less than 250 years out since the creation of this experiment called These United States. 233 years.

How have these 233 years gone? Well - we have electricity, radio, tv, Internet, we have cars, trains, and have been to the moon. We fly.

Why are the "discoveries" and "inventions" so long to 1776 and then so fast after? Because of the free market. Here we have the heritage of being to do whatever we want. There is no having to stay in your station. Meaning - if your dad was a farmer, you dont have to be a farmer. You can be President. You can be born in poverty and become a Rockerfeller, Vanderbilt or a Kennedy.

Now - lets look at our Government. Does it run smoothly? Is it efficient? Has it done anything better than the private sector? Not really. We have roads, mail and some other things but thats because private business has been kept out and not allowed to compete. Is there really someone out there who believes that their mail is better in the hands of the USPS than UPS or FedEx? If the USPS was really better, it wouldnt fear the competition from these other two. The USPS is billions dollar in debt....UPS and FedEx have to be able to turn a profit or fold - and they manage to do so....why cant the USPS?

So - lets move this argument to the current debate. Healthcare. No one is claiming that the system is perfect (no system is). The debate is how to make it better.

I have posted some of my ideas in regards to the private sector solutions - I am not going to rehash them here. What I do want people to examine is WHY they think the Government would do a better job....

The knee jerk reaction is that the Government should do it - when did this happen in our country? It wasnt founded that way - in fact, it was founded with the admonition - ANYONE BUT THE GOVERNMENT. How have we been seduced, coddled, manipulated to now think anti-founding fathers? Its disgusting....

Thats where the title of this post came from....we need to snap out of it. The Government is the enemy and we need to act like it -- channel Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin and lets get on with fixing this - within our states, within our communities and lets kick the Government to the curb....literally.....

I want a REAL discussion....

2009-08-10T12:06:00.003-05:00

I want a real discussion in regards to the Health Care convo.

If you want a single payer system tell me these things:

1 - How it will work

2 - How it will be paid for

3 - Who is covered

4 - How I get to keep my private insurance

What I do not want to hear is about how other countries have it so good - they dont, thats why those that can afford it, come here. Dont tough Massachusetts great system - its not, they are broke and kicking people off it as we speak. Dont tell me that it works perfectly everywhere else - if so , go live there - we are talking about how it would work here, in THE USA.

Also, do not just harp about the evil Pharma companies, evil insurance companies or evil right wing people or what have you.... No name calling - I want to hear how it would work.

I also want to know why you have such faith in our Government to do THIS right when it doesnt do Medicare/Medicaid or the health care for the VA well AT ALL....why would this be different.

Dont tell me something needs to be done and this is the only choice - tell me how it will work. I have written 2 articles listing ideas on HOW TO SOLVE THIS and those that dissent just tell me that something needs to be done, but NOT HOW....

I wrote on this issue twice - put my ideas out there to be shot down....if this single payer system is so great, put the REAL HOW TO's out there to be discussed....

TELL ME HOW IT WILL WORK....Now - GO!!

Ta Da....the Basement and deco stuff....

2009-08-09T17:36:00.006-05:00

Here are pics of the kids' rooms and those doors that were an absolute nightmare to get in and now how beautiful they look when a fab construction company trimmed them out!

The blue room is the Girlie's. Both boys' rooms are the same color because Boy2 has to have what Boy1 has - of course.

The Green is the playroom/media room. And there is also a pic of our doors (not yet put in, but painted).

Boys bath tile - Subway all over - mosaic as decorative trim and the floor is black and white. Thought it looked classy for whatever age and its pretty timeless. It will go modern or traditional which ever we decide if we want to change at a later date. It was also cheap. So WIN/WIN.

Girlie's tile. She has white floor - subway everywhere and a TINY mosaic of marble and glass tile. Its some really pretty stuff and a little more than the boys' bath, but as she reminds us OVER and OVER and OVER, she isnt going to be here for much longer, so we decided to make it pretty for her and our future guests that will be in this room after she is gone ;)

The marble mosaic is our shower floor along with subway tile. The other tile was supposed to be our deco, but I hate it together. So....that sample will be going back and I will be buying the black/white marble checkered pattern to use as a decorative trim.

In regards to decorative trim - the 12" x 12" sheets will be cut down into 3 sections so 1' becomes 3'. There is a builders supply place in a questionable part of town that sells just about all of this which is where I got Girlie and Boy's deco tile. The rest came from Lowes and Home Depot.

This is our 7" wide, white pine flooring that The Hubs and I will install along with some friends. She wants new floor and wants her Hubs to learn how in order to put theirs in. I love her and think its a hoot she wants him to practice on ours so as to not mess up her floor. Not really, but its fun to tease her that way. We will be starting the boys in the pantry as well as our upstairs closet. When they master their technique, we will let them into the main areas. If my husband's previous work is any indication as to his proficiency, I have no doubt that after a weekend, we will have a beautiful floor. The man really does amaze me with how well he has done all the other work!

In regards to the floor - it was dirt cheap - much cheaper than laminate and was purchased online at Lumber Liquidators. It ended up being $1.13 a square foot. And its 7" wide. And its 3/4" thick. We will have this floor for years and if we decide to change colors, it is so thick, we can refinish away!

This post is dedicated to Matt who harps....er....gently reminds me that I need to update the House part of the blog :)

Funky SMELL and how it brought personal enlightenment....

2009-08-09T16:50:00.003-05:00

My Hubs is putting in the insulation in our ceiling on the main floor. This means that he is about 20' in the air where the hottest air lives and since its insulation, he wears a hat, eye protection, respirator, long sleeves, long pants and his boots. And we live in Oklahoma. And it hovers around 100 outside in the breeze. So its like 300 degrees where he is working. And to so to say he perspires some is and understatement. LOOK: The shirt he is wearing is light gray (you might be able to see a small part not yet saturated). His pants are light tan (again, look for the light spot).

Last week he foamed/insulated around the edge of the ceiling and on one of his MANY breaks to drink an entire Gatorade, totally disgusted the boys by taking off his shirt and wringing it out. If you can gross out a 10 yo and a 6 yo, you know you are totally foul! So foul that my SIL (sister in law) ran home and brought him a new shirt and a towel which were also wringable by the end of the day. He came home and put his wet pile on my washer. I got to them on Monday, so they sat there for 2 days. When I picked them up - I was actually amazed at the outer dry, crusted shell that was HARD - and no, it wasnt from the foam he had sprayed. It was a protective salt shell.

And what was it protecting? It was protecting the WET, INNER layer that decided to marinate in its funkiness - thats not entirely correct - ferment in its funkiness is more accurate. So when I pick up the clothes, they literally go CRUNCH and then SQUISH. And with the SQUISH, the rudest assault on my nose took place. I have smelled some pretty disgusting stuff in my life - stuff that took everything not to kick in the gag reflex ( a dead mouse caught in the heater fan in the bathroom comes immediately to mind), but this.....this.....this was the olfactory equivalent to being violently kicked in the nards. There - now maybe you understand.

And I washed them....TWICE.....on HOT water..... And they lived.

So, you are probably wondering where my personal enlightenment came in....It was when I was sitting there this afternoon doing not much but watching and composing in my head. You see, I was sweating - yup! I hate to sweat. I dont work out because I dont want to sweat.

Sweating for a chick means that we have to take a shower and then there is the whole hair thing that is honestly, a huge pain in the butt. Too much shampooing drys hair out which makes it even harder to "fix" and with the sweating thrown in, it becomes a vicious cycle that I would just as well avoid.

So, back to me not working out and my loathing of anything that would make me sweat. But a realization came that I do it all the time now. I work, lift, sweat - stand in the open doorway and have a fabulous breeze cool me off (which is almost better than air conditioning).....God bless OKLAHOMA where the wind does come sweeping 'ore the plain....or in our case, the hill. Its not a loathing. Its an honor almost.

It must be because of the outcome. There is something tangible at the end of the day. There is insulation. There is tile. There is flooring. There will be chickens and a pig. There are muddy boys and vegetables. There are nieces and some dogs. The sweat is a trophy for work done and not a residue that must be washed off after a self-indulgent trip to the gym. (My hubs works out at the gym and it isnt an indictment, but he will be the first to tell you that he works out for himself - it makes him feel better).

I have become a night showerer and not a morning one. It was a subtle change and I didnt realize it until recently. How many more life long habits will be changed out of necessity and I wont even miss or realize..... May those days of change come SOON!!

Color me surprised....

2009-08-08T16:35:00.003-05:00

So, I got an email about the National Guard recruiting for "Internment/Resettlement Specialist" which sounds pretty ugly and ominous - especially when it comes up on World Net Daily or in an email.

So, I did what any responsible blogger would do - I googled "National Guard recruiting civilian resettlement" :)

And this is what I got:

OH MY WORD

It takes it a minute to load from the National Guard site because it launches into a video also describing your duties if you choose this career path.....

****EDIT**** I am entering an already previous post to edit because sometimes people dont read the comments and one of my FAVES, Meadowlark, made an excellent point:

I'd just like to send out one voice of reason...this is NOT a new career path. It's existed for many years, including during the Bush Administration.

Of course, we've been heading towards fascism/socialism LONG before either Obama or Bush got into office.

That was all... just some perspective

And she is right - this is nothing new and therefore may not need the weight that the posting seemed to give it.... You decide. And dont even get me started on the Bush Administration....

And another note - I posted this like just a bit ago and Ms. Meadowlark is FAST on the reading/blogging!

Oh the irony....

2009-08-08T15:29:00.003-05:00

The screams of racism....people who oppose BO are racist....people who go to the Tea Parties or to these Town Hall meetings are all racists.... Yup, yeah, that is exactly right....whatever.......

We arent racists. We have had enough. We called our Congressmen when the first bailout went through and they ignored us....they ignored us the second time.....and they ignored us about the car bailout.....and they ignored us about Cap and Trade.....and they ignored us about this clunker crap.....well people are tired of being ignored and now these Congress scumbags get to go home on break and deal with the people that they have been ignoring and people are angry.

Whether Congress likes it or not, WE THE PEOPLE view Washington as OUR EMPLOYEES.... thats OUR WHITE HOUSE and those are OUR PLANES and those are OUR WORKERS and they are spending OUR MONEY and we are tired of being ignored. There wasnt this uproar when Hillary tried to do this so many years ago, but it got quashed - we werent overspent, over stressed, over scared of what our Country was becoming....

Yeah, people are angry and they are telling Congress about it. They are booing those in elected office, they are picketing, they are protesting, they are demonstrating....doing all those things the left loves to hold up as FREE SPEECH and ALL AMERICAN....but we arent blowing anyone up (Weather Underground) and we arent shouting HATE SPEECH (Mr. Preacher) and we arent breaking any laws (ACORN) and we arent beating anyone up (SEIU).

I find it SO IRONIC the week that Nanci Pelosi calls those that arent happy with this Healthcare crap NAZI'S a WHITE SEIU (union thug) BEAT UP A BLACK MAN for handing out / selling GADSDEN Flags (Dont Tread On Me).

If you want racism, look to those who have a vested interest in keeping blacks or minorities "in their place". Look to the Democrat party who patronizes minorities by making them think they cant pull themselves out, but must take a Government handout. Look to the SEIU who calls a FREEDOM LOVING BLACK CONSERVATIVE words that would have anyone on the "conservative" side strung up for.... Ask Michael Richards or Andy Dick how it goes over when a white person uses the "N" word.... Where is the media in this instance? It should be everywhere and the SEIU should be castrated - PERIOD. This contempt for anyone is abhorrent.

But before I get myself all worked up on the INEQUALITY, I will sit back and enjoy the irony....the SWEET irony of this good man who will hopefully make the talk circuit this upcoming week and give the SEIU, the union, BO and this Healthcare crap a well deserved BLACK eye (even that is ironic) :)

As always - PRAY, PRAISE, PREPARE because we are on borrowed time, not to mention borrowed money....

This is how it started with the Zombies...

2009-08-04T14:05:00.002-05:00

China is trying to CONTAIN deadliest form of Bubonic Plague...

It started with China in World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks. Its a fabulous Zombie book that really gave me the creeps. It gives a War of the Worlds feel to it in that if you just jumped in the story, it feels like it really happened. Each page is footnoted which lends towards the REALISTIC feel.

Its a good read and I recommend it entirely! Its not a practical preparedness/survivalist tome, but you get a sense of acting quickly and with determination (Israel in this book was a great example). That and you have to destroy the Zombie brain ;)

How to read between the lines....

2009-08-03T07:52:00.004-05:00

The following article appeared on my Yahoo page this morning under the title: Obama Officials: Taxes may rise to pay health care. Here is the article in its entirety with my comments in bold....

WASHINGTON – Two of President Barack Obama's economic heavyweights said middle-class taxes might have to go up to pare budget deficits or to pay for the proposed overhaul of the nation's health care system. Well duh, you can only bleed the "rich" until there is nothing left and they cant pay for everything that the Bush/Obama Admins have spent even if you tax them at 100%.

The tough talk from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers on Sunday capped a week that brought rare good news for the economy: The worst recession in the United States since World War II could be on the verge of ending. Even so, officials appeared willing to extend unemployment benefits.

Geithner and Summers both sidestepped questions on Obama's intentions about taxes. Geithner said the White House was not ready to rule out a tax hike to reduce the federal deficit; Summers said Obama's proposed health care overhaul needs funding from somewhere.

"There is a lot that can happen over time," Summers said, adding that the administration believes "it is never a good idea to absolutely rule things out, no matter what." Meaning, this Administration will do whatever it wants, whenever it wants even if the possibility seems out of the question. Detain without cause. Send in the military against its own citizens. Ban weapons. Declare martial law.

During his presidential campaign, Obama repeatedly pledged "you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime." But the simple reality remains that his ambitious overhaul of how Americans receive health care — promised without increasing the federal deficit — must be paid for.

"If we want an economy that's going to grow in the future, people have to understand we have to bring those deficits down. And it's going to be difficult, hard for us to do. And the path to that is through health care reform," Geithner said. "We're not at the point yet where we're going to make a judgment about what it's going to take." Means we know we are going to have to tax everyone but we arent at a point where we are going to admit that publicly.

On Friday, a report detailed the economy dipped only slightly in the second quarter of this year — falling at a 1 percent annual pace, better than expected. The government report permitted optimism that the economic downturn is approaching its end. Dont be fooled by the 1% "dip" - "dip" means it went down and back up....its not....and the low number is only because of all the Government spending and Government spending doesnt mean squat....it should be stated that the economy plateaued at 1% due to spending your tax dollars, but once we are done with that, expect to go lower - but you wont ever hear that....

The president cautioned against instant turnaround, though. We know its going to continue to go down, but dont want to tell you that either....

"Well as I've said, I think we maybe are beginning to see the end of the recession but it's still going to be some time before we are seeing companies hiring again, that's usually the last thing that happens," Obama said in an interview with Univision that aired on Sunday. "At least thats what I think because I dont know for sure because I have no experience in private business....I am a community organizer" is what the rest of the quote should read....

"So I think we are still going to have a tough remainder of the year — probably until next year — but, you know, at least what we are seeing — we've pulled back from the possibility of a depression. That's not the danger."

And many analysts think the economy is starting to grow again in the current quarter, setting up a long-awaited recovery.

"Most private forecasters — and let's use their judgment — suggest you're going to see unemployment start to come down maybe beginning in the second half of next year," Geithner said, adding those same economists predict positive growth during the second half of this year. You can always find someone to say what you want them to say and so we are going to use those forecasters. In fact, we are going to set up a new Czar and call it the Fortune Telling Czar and use them for all our financial outlook predictions.

At the same time, Geithner and other administration officials are contemplating how to ask Congress to extend — again — unemployment benefits for the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in recent months. The proposal drew measured support from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., as long as the benefits are drawn from the already approved economic stimulus package.

"We need to take care of those who are unemployed, but we also need to make sure they get jobs," he said.

Those jobs, though, are still elusive. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the economy is slowly coming back and that he is "pretty sure we've already seen the bottom."

"Collapse, I think, is now off the table. We were teetering for a while," he said. I bet Alan is saying this as this current crisis can be linked directly to his tenure at the Fed. I bet the last thing he wants is an audit of the Fed and so if he goes out there and says everything is Hunky Dory, maybe he can get people feeling good again and feeling good people dont want an audit - but pissed people do.... Alan, get ready, an audit is coming....

Geithner and Greenspan appeared on ABC's "This Week." Summers appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" and CBS' "Face the Nation." DeMint was interviewed on "Fox News Sunday." We sent everyone out there we could, even Alan, on all the shows in order to try and get people out there to spend money (which we did with the Clunker nonsense) and feel all warm and fuzzy about an economy which we know is going to crash when China untangles themselves from our dollar....it all depends on how long that takes and not what we do over here.... We are just trying to pass all our massive, oppressive legislation before that happens because when it does, we know we are all going to be thrown out on our collective posteriors.....

And Again.....Healthcare.....

2009-07-29T21:17:00.003-05:00

I got 2 responses in the comments from Abraham and Wildflower. I love these 2 - we are probably as different as different can be but we agree that America is on the wrong course and its the Government's fault....Wildflower would probably throw in Large Corporations and I probably wouldnt disagree on some of her points....anywhooo - they made 2 comments that I want to address.

Abraham asked if I liked the Government taking monies from private citizens to give to private citizens to buy healthcare. When you state it like that - of course not.... I am tired of the Government taking and taking and either flushing the funds or giving them to corrupt individuals and organizations.

HOWEVER.....I believe that if you put the insurance industry back into private hands, many things will happen. First - people are enterprising and places will start to pop up where you could get yourself checked out dirt cheap. I dont doubt that Walmart would jump on this in their mega stores along with their cheap prescriptions. Cant you just see it being staffed by mostly PA's along with an overseeing MD/DO with just a flat fee of $15 to $20 and thats it. They will see you for all that common crap that clogs the system - it clogs doctors' offices - it clogs ERs.

I can take a butter knife and a flashlight and tell you whether or not one of my kids has strep throat. HOWEVER - I have to call and make an appointment, drive across town WHENEVER THEY CAN SEE ME, sit there while they try to work me in in order to get a prescription and then drive to a pharmacy and wait in order to finally get this sick kid home. How efficient is that? How much easier to have it all in 1 place close to where EVERYONE lives because you know those mega stores are within throwing distance of every single American.....

This type of situation will do several things - it brings down costs. It also makes it not necessary to have an all encompassing health insurance - but just a catastrophic plan. That also means that since I pay out of pocket - I negotiate - I shop around - I am catered to and not at the insurance companies' whim. It also puts more people able to afford reasonable care.

This type of situation will also unclog some of the Insurance Company hassle. Less policies, but more people actually are covered - love that paradox. More people being seen in appropriate places for the piddly stuff - ERs for emergencies and Insurance Companies lower the cost of Administration which brings down their costs and in a competitive climate, they will HAVE to bring down prices.

Something else I TOTALLY AGREE WITH ABRAHAM on is that there should be a standard form....it would make life easier and think about how many trees you would save - thats for you tree huggers ;)

Now - honestly, I dont like the giving the Government a dime - who does? But I mind it LESS when the person who gets the dime has to put in their dime too. It royally hacks me off when I give my dime and the person getting the dime doesnt even have to say "Thanks" much less contribute, work, go to school or even pee in a cup. With the above scenario, there would be less people that couldnt afford insurance and therefore those getting help would go down. Its a small consolation, but it makes me feel better.....

This kind of system could also be easier to divorce from business, which was another of Abraham's concerns. It is a misnomer that businesses just want to screw over their workers. Most of business in this Nation is small business. We are small business owners. There is nothing that gives us more pride than to have those that work for us happy. To know they like to come to work and are appreciative is a great feeling. It also keeps turn over low and that saves us money. To kick in a little is doable in most situations. Even in difficult times, most businesses do not like to hurt their employees. What they DO NOT LIKE is being threatened, hated because they make money or bent over like a Union wants to do.

So that leads me to Ms. Wildflower's comment. I dont know when profits became evil. Profit and Money are amoral. It can be used for good and it can be used for evil and just because someone has money doesnt make them one way or the other. An evil rich person would be an evil poor person. My husband works hard and I dont apologize for what he makes. Because someone has made a ton of money - it gives me the incentive, the opportunity, the proof that there is the possibility I could make it too. Wealth Envy is insidious - it quickly turns into someone thinking they are "owed" something which isnt the case.

If People really had choice in regards to their healthcare, the cost of it would necessarily go down due to competition and therefore you can assume (possibly) these "evil profits" will come down also....

However - I couldnt give a rat's behind about profits or what someone makes....why? Because there isnt a person on this planet that I want to tell ME how much I can make. Do you think the Government would do a good with that? People want to better themselves - at least most do....Most will work hard - take extra jobs - get creative and efficient with their work..... Some, when the opportunity isnt there - like in Medicaid and Medicare, they will cheat.... Take it personal - do you think you are worth what you make? What if someone decides you arent..... If that doesnt just smack of being unAmerican - antiFreedom and just plain WRONG, I dont know what does....

I will end with Abraham....Lincoln, that is ;)

“Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.”

And then it all made sense....and I laughed....

2009-07-28T08:03:00.003-05:00

I spent yesterday in that feeling of getting my ducks in order and the wave like feeling of annoyance at my "Representatives" in Washington. I say "wave" because it is not an ever oppressive feeling of "do something" and "upset" - but every now and then my mind goes back and with it those feelings....

I have come to believe that our President, BO, did not study our Constitution as the great document it is with reverence and awe at its making, but with a contempt and scorn. He studied it in order to dismantle, work around or ultimately abolish this great document.

His has used this knowledge to create Czars (which FDR did although they were called "Dictators" in the 1930's - how appropriate). He has used this information to consolidate power with the Executive Branch - moving the Census to the White House - Firing/Moving Inspector Generals - and dont even forget the old fashioned Chicago style politics of arm twisting and intimidation portrayed by Acorn and the Unions he loves so much....

He has taken liberties that are not given to the Executive Branch and we have watched in Horror. H.O.R.R.O.R. But those that should be watching in horror is the Congress. Little by little he is making them irrelevant and when they are, we will be in all practical purposes a Dictatorship. Our elections held with the same honesty and integrity as Iran's.

But then last night - I happened to be in the car carting the Girlie to one of her many public appearances when I was listening to someone on the radio. I have no idea who since that isnt my usual radio time, but he had a guest on and they were talking about what to do about the economy. The guest had some good points and it is stuff REAL PEOPLE have been saying for a while about letting the markets fix themselves and getting Government out of it and then he said a few other things. He said that the Government does not care if they fix the economy but that this is a power grab. They are in this for what it will bring Government. That they believe the Federal Government should be the end all, be all. He then said "Thou shall have no other gods before me. That is how the Government thinks - Nothing should be more important than the Government." And that is when I laughed.

It all made sense. That is the EXACT attitude the Government has..... That is why I laughed. As you know, I have been reading the minor Prophets and the one thing that is painfully clear - God will not be Mocked and He will not be #2. I laughed because with this 10 Commandments reference, I know that those in Washington will not stand - there is no way. I laughed because now I see their ruin. I see humiliation in their future. I see a walk out of bondage for us.

You see, this Government can try all they want to box us in - to use laws, a gun, taxes - to control this populace. Its worked for centuries in Europe. But this elitist Government has forgotten one thing. We are Americans. We dont get hemmed or boxed in. The teachers unions have tried in vain to get this NOT taught - but it seeps through - We are Americans. We are the Marlboro man - we are Lewis and Clark - We are the heros of World War 2 - We are Ford, Apple Pie, Baseball - We are Olympic Victors.

BO can try and box us in, but whenever pushed (and do not doubt we are being pushed, nay, squeezed) we will prevail. You can ask just about anyone on the street and they feel - they may not be able to articulate what is wrong with this country or what the BO Admin is doing, but they FEEL it.... What is going on is contrary to what America is - what people die for trying to get here.

But ultimately, BO's downfall will be for the same reason as Assyria....as Babylon....for any Country and King who believed there should be no other gods before him..... Because ultimately there will be no other gods before Him - HIM as in CAPITAL "H"..... The Big Guy..... That is why I laughed....

Alas, Babylon

2009-07-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Knocked out this classic recently. If anything, summer is for reading fiction - mindless, pure enjoyment. Winter is for how-to and getting ready for projects in the Spring - but summer is for fun - FUN I TELL YOU.

It was a quick, easy read. I had an initial feeling that due to the fact that the book was written in 1959, it might be dated. But when nuclear war happens and life goes back to 1800's, it is pretty much timeless.

I loved the characters and I loved the story. But that is where my praise pretty much ends.

This is not a fiction book that spurs you to prepare. It does not teach you how to survive - how to manage - what to do.

There arent many of us who in an all out nuclear war would have an early warning from an insider or find ourselves in the perfect spot that meets all needs and so enables you to ride out the crisis in relative style.

Besides the enjoyment of the story, I did take away 1 thing and in a sense, its a big thing.... Find out where locally or as close as possible, the nearest SALT mine is located. Depending on how huge an interruption in trade, SALT is one of the things you cannot grow yourself and that you need or you will die. Make sure you have enough for your family and animals for more than just a year in your storage pantry.

*** So I just reread my post before I publish and I want to make it totally clear - LOVED THIS BOOK, but it is not a "HOW TO" manual wrapped in fiction....

Single payer system stinks or How I singlehandedly solved Universal Healthcare ;)

2009-07-26T12:52:00.003-05:00

I am keeping the theme of stinking in the titles....

If you take out the people that could afford insurance and CHOOSE not to purchase and you take away illegal immigrants as well as those that are eligible for medicare/medicaid but have not signed up....you are left with between 8 and 12 million people who are classified as chronically uninsured, meaning that sometimes they have insurance and sometimes they dont....

You are telling me that spending TRILLIONS to insure those 12 million people is the way to go? Really? How about just buying them private insurance - it would be SOOO much cheaper!

But how about what Oklahoma does.... Oklahoma has a program where depending on your family's income, they subsidize private insurance. Its called Insure Oklahoma or OEPIC. And I dont mean that you need to have like 6 kids and make $25,000 a year or less.... It is designed for those that make too much for State or Federal programs, but dont really make enough to take on the entire burden themselves. Its for those that are squeezed in the middle - for a Single parent that make enough, but not that much.... Its made for the small business owner who is doing a good job, but needs just a bit to cover his or her family with medical coverage.

Here are a few little tidbits:

** If you are a family of 4 and you both work and make $50,000 or less, you can get the insurance...

** Say you are a single mom with 2 kids - If you make $40,000 or less you qualify....

** It has qualifiers for those that work for a company or those that are self-employed.

** If you are college student, you qualify....

Heres how it works - The state of Oklahoma will pick up 60% of your insurance premiums. The worker is expected to pay 15% and the business pays 25%. If you have a spouse, you pay 15% for them and the State pays 85% - the business pays nothing for a spouse.

Kids are counted in regards to family size, but are not eligible for the Insure Oklahoma program - they are covered under a program called Sooner Care.

Monthly premiums will not exceed 4% of monthly gross income.

$10 doctor co-pay
$5 pharmacy drugs
$30 emergency room visit (waived if admitted)
$50 copay for hospital stay

I think this is a good deal.

One of the reasons I love it so much is that it requires the person getting the insurance to put a little something in - they have some skin in the game. They will go see their doctor as opposed to go sit in the emergency room. They will pay attention to their health as it now affects their wallet.

When you hand people housing - food - medical care - it is an entitlement and it is eventually scorned. They feel they deserve it instead of being thankful for it.

But, ultimately, if you dont want coverage, you shouldnt have to get it. Of course, you will suffer the consequences of your actions, as it should be. You should not be penalized if you choose to pay your own way and you shouldnt get a free ride either.

My doctor should be allowed to take no insurance at all and be on a cash only system.

I dont have all the answers and I am sure there are people for whatever reason wouldnt make it on this plan either, but honestly - you arent going to catch every single person with one plan. And that is just fine -because despite what BO wants you to think, people in this country get the medical care they need. People NOT FROM THIS COUNTRY get the medical care that they need because when push comes to shove, we are Americans and we take the tired, the weak and the poor and we will fix them up, feed them, but we will also send their butts back home, sometimes on a private jet.....

This is Oklahoma's plan. It works here. It may not work elsewhere and thats just fine too....work your own state plan - but what we do not need is the Federal Government telling me in Oklahoma that I have to subsidize all the crap that they dictate in California or New York or Massachusetts. Let them work their own plan as we work ours.

In the same way the firearm legislation is a 10th Amendment issue, so is health care.

One final point....if you want to know where cheating, waste, fraud is greatest? Its in Medicare and Medicaid where the Government has taken away profit. There is no motivation to work harder, work smarter, take care of more people in order to increase your take home - there is only incentive to cheat and so many do. That doesnt mean that the private sector does things perfectly, but do you really want a single program that takes away a person's pursuit of happiness?

One last point - The Fed Gov touts tort reform as a major reason for a single payer system vs. private insurance. The major problem with rising insurance premiums is the doctors having to pay higher and higher malpractice insurance premiums. Capping jury amounts is not the answer because if someone really screws up, they should pay - but what would stop all the crap is just a simple system of loser pays. It would make the blood sucking ambulance chasers (different than an attorney) think twice before they sign up scumbags with soft tissue damage. It would make patients take a more active role in their care - which ya know, they should....this is your body and this doctor is working for you - make sure they do their job and do their job right.

As always and ESPECIALLY if Universal Health Care is passed - PRAY - PRAISE - PREPARE and today - PATIENT/PRESCRIPTION/PREMIUMS :)

Why it would STINK to be married to Obama....

2009-07-25T17:42:00.003-05:00

So - I am sure you have heard about the Harvard professor mistakenly thought to be breaking into his own home but was arrested by the white police officer for being a jerk.

I am also sure you have heard the remarks by BO and the blowback that I am sure he never expected....

Have you heard BO's after remarks? How his choice of words was unfortunate? How he walked all around an apology or even saying he was wrong?

It would stink to be married to this man. A man who certainly does not ever feel he is wrong and if you do, well, it is unfortunate that you choose to view it that way....

It is unfortunate that this man has never learned the redemptive quality of being sorry - of asking for forgiveness from someone. It is unfortunate that this man has never learned from a mistake and taken a different direction.

Mr. BO - you want a teachable moment from all this? How about these things:

1 - Say your sorry when you are - It is good for you and good for the one you hurt.

2 - That goes for Mr. Harvard and Mr. Police - Say your sorry even if you really didnt do anything - shake and go on. We make our kids do it - someone should reteach this to adults.

3 - News Media - I am seeing a ton how Mr. Police could have done things different, but what about Mr. Harvard? How about both sides of the black and white issue? - In regards to race relations, black IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT and white IS NOT ALWAYS WRONG.

This whole situation could have gone differently with a Black man laughing this off by telling the white officer that he cant get into his home and to look at his drivers' license. With a white officer telling him that he can get someone out here to help him out and to have a nice evening.

4 - Finally, in just about EVERY interaction, you can guide how things go by your tone and your words - angry and entitled? Ask the Harvard professor how that works.....

Finally, I fear for our country when a man is never wrong and wont admit it when its obvious is our President during perilous times....

My Favorite book and the little books I have been into lately....

2009-07-16T13:40:00.004-05:00

When I graduated high school, my family attended this little church in a rural community. The elders of the church, all 4 of them, gave me a Bible that they had all signed. 2 of the signers are now gone and still when I look at their handwriting, my heart hurts. This book went with me to college, pages turning at the edges from so many years of use. I have had to have it recovered after its original hardback started to crack and fall apart. I picked a great RED LEATHER, just FYI.

I dont talk a lot about Faith on this site. I have previously said that I will leave the link between being prepared and Faith to the Mormons. There have been a few posts, but mostly they are summed up in THIS ONE....

All this to say - I have been in The Word lately - more than "normal" and I am not reading my fave passages.... I find myself reading the last 3 chapters of Job where God gets His turn to have His say and may I humbly say, He ROCKS. The way He turns a phrase is nothing short of amazing, but what would you expect from the Inventor of words?

I also have been reading those tiny books in the Old Testament written by those minor prophets. And bless their hearts - I cant think of nothing I would enjoy LESS than going to God's people and telling them they are going to burn, be carried off into captivity and that they are going to be destroyed. There really is no way to soften that message to His people. You can imagine these prophets were not the most popular....

But what I have been amazed at is the feeling that all these 1000's of years, His Word still speaks to today. YES TODAY. The great I AM's promise of destruction for disobedience, for evil behavior, is relevant today, to our Government, to our Country as it was originally being delivered to Israel.

Why would I think that These United States would be safe when God did not even preserve His People, the Jews, from destruction - how vain am I?

The current circumstances of our Country - the precarious position we currently occupy on the edge of the cliff - is enough to make anyone fear....we may all fear something different. We fear the Government - We fear for our families - We fear the unknown. But even reading the warnings of destruction, there is always the Comfort. The Ultimate Comforter tells His prophets and His people that safety is found in Him. He holds you - He will continue to hold you - Your future is secure.

In these times that we have never before seen - hold to the confidence that is available only through Him.

This isnt my usual post, but when something crosses my heart this way, I am compelled to share....

Pray - Praise the Creator for His blessings - Prepare

How much farther could we have been...

2009-07-14T21:47:00.003-05:00

With the Supreme Court nominee hearings underway and Sotomayer's comment about how much better she is than a white guy (I am paraphrasing, of course) has gotten me thinking.

If you have read me for any amount of time, you would know that I love Booker T.Washington. His advice / philosophy transcends black - white - purple.

So....how much farther would this Country be without quotas? Honestly. It would have been rough there in the beginning - having to prove you (not "you" but "you" - you know what I mean) are "just as good" by being twice as good, but after 40 years, I think we would be a little farther down the line than we are now. Could it be that we would be color-blind now?

I want a big guy carrying me out of burning building and not a chick who happened to do good on the written part of the test and passed the watered down physical part to get her job....

I also wonder how it is for non-white, non-male med students and ultimately, doctors. Do people question their competence? Do people wonder if they got their jobs because they were the best or because they met some arbitrary quota for color?

Would Non-White doctors be sought after today as being the TOPS in their field BECAUSE of the hurdles they had jumped through.... Would it mean that the position a person holds would get the respect it deserves?

I question whether Ms. Sotomayor is really as smart as the other white guys on the court....And I hate that I do.....

But of course, that would not keep those in power, in power - if you had to earn votes by the content of your character and not by the color of your skin....well, lets just say that Chicago politics would never be the same.

Its not a politically correct topic - but as my momma said as I was growing up..."Im not out to win a popularity contest with you...." I am also totally relying on the good will of my readers that wont skew what I write and give me the benefit of the doubt if something strikes you as wonky. (I love that word "wonky" - It rivals "hinky" which I also love.)

Keep it up - Pray - Praise - Prepare

Angry little white woman....Naw....not me :)

2009-07-09T16:29:00.003-05:00

Wow - I sound cranky in my posts and after my longest break between posts, you might think I am just another angry blogger....

But thats not the case - I am actually fully engrossed with playing with kids and enjoying the summer. And also packing up this house (sigh....) Do not take any lapses in posting as apathy. Fully engaged over here - prepping, reading, and preaching to the unchurched (so to speak - those that need to get themselves squared away....)

There will be more to come SOON - just get the RSS feeds and you will get my witty banter when its posted ;)

Happy Summer guys - and as ALWAYS - Pray, Praise and Prepare and POST soon :)

Right CLICK / Copy at its finest....

2009-07-09T14:53:00.002-05:00

I get the Glenn Beck daily email....yeah, yeah....I like him....he makes me laugh about certain things when the alternative is to scream or panic. Also, how can you NOT LIKE a Rodeo Clown - anyway - Today's email was a letter written by Ron Paul. I hate the Fed - in fact, I hate that I even capitalize the "f" in Fed....

* I bolded as I saw fit - my blog, my bold :)

Heres to Mr. Paul:

July 9, 2009

The Fed Must Be Stopped
Written by: Ron Paul

Our country currently finds itself in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the 1930s and, as during all economic crises, people search for the answer as to why this has happened. Not only have large financial firms been affected, but also mainstays of American industry such as GM and Chrysler, all the way down to the Mom & Pop stores on Main Street. The easy way out is to blame the traditional scapegoats: foreign governments, fraudulent businessmen, and greedy speculators. But the real villain is far more sinister; the organization entrusted with maintaining a stable dollar and touted as the guarantor of economic stability – the Federal Reserve.

In the United States, monetary policy has been the domain of the Federal Reserve since its inception in 1913. Since that time we have had a number of cyclical recessions, each one following a boom caused by the Federal Reserve's loose monetary policy. The problem with the Federal Reserve is that it interferes with market pricing functions. Interest rates are a price just like any other and arise because of the fact that people prefer to consume in the present rather than in the future. The extent to which people defer present consumption is reflected in interest rates, which in a free market are determined by the spontaneous interactions and decisions of millions of people.

Fed intervention to set prices throws markets and interest rates out of equilibrium. When the Federal Reserve pushes interest rates below what the market rate would be, everyone wants to borrow money for long-term projects. Shortages of loanable funds would occur, except that the Federal Reserve has the ability to create bank balances out of thin air. The Fed can create a bank ledger on paper, or on a computer, establish a balance of millions or billions of dollars, and then spend these dollars out into the economy.

Loans become cheap, and the result of these lower interest rates is an economic boom which eventually manifests itself as a bubble. Beginning in 2001, the Federal Reserve pushed interest rates to as low as one percent, which after adjusting for inflation meant that the real interest rate was negative, so businesses were actually making money by taking out loans. This was the fuel for the housing bubble and the reason there are 19 million empty houses today.

Because of this awesome power to create money out of thin air, the Fed has jumped in to stabilize ailing financial firms by pledging over $7 trillion through various guarantee programs and credit facilities. This is equivalent to over half of the entire nation's GDP. Over $1 trillion of this is already in play, propping up banks and other institutions that should be allowed to fail. All of this has taken place with no oversight by Congress. The Fed was created by Congress, and it is unconscionable that we have allowed it to act in such a way without our oversight. Currently the Federal Reserve's credit facilities, open market operations, and agreements with foreign governments and central banks are all exempt from any sort of audit or oversight. Earlier this year I introduced the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, HR 1207, that would remove all restrictions on Federal Reserve audits and call for a f ull audit of the Federal Reserve System to be completed by the end of 2010. At this writing, 245 of my fellow Congressmen have cosponsored this bill and we hope to have hearings in the near future. In the Senate, Republicans Jim DeMint, Mike Crapo and David Vitter have cosponsored S. 604, companion legislation introduced by Bernie Sanders. I am very encouraged by the tremendous growing momentum on Capitol Hill.

Our Founding Fathers never intended for a single entity such as the Federal Reserve to have this much power. In fact, there is no authority in the Constitution for the federal government to create a central bank, to enact legal tender laws, or to print paper money. The Tenth Amendment is quite clear that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The states themselves are prohibited from emitting bills of credit, i.e. paper money, arising from the Founders' negative experiences with paper money during the Revolutionary War. Cheap, un-backed, easily counterfeited paper money nearly lost the Revolution, until the government returned to minting gold and silver coins. Unfortunately, like too many other lessons learned by the Founders, the painful experiences of paper money have been forgotten by those living in the pres ent. We even ignore the experiences of Germans in the 1920s, Argentines in the 1980s, and Zimbabweans over the past decade. The Fed doubled the monetary base last fall in a matter of months, and God help us if any of this high-powered money begins to make its way through the economy.

An audit of the Fed is only the first step towards returning to where our Founders intended this country to be. The Founders knew that paper money could ruin a country, and drafted the Constitution in such a way that they thought would ensure sound, commodity-backed currency. Unfortunately, the Constitution was dispensed with long ago, and we find ourselves now suffering under an unconstitutional regime of un-backed paper money. Until we abolish the Federal Reserve and return to a stable currency that is not able to be manipulated to create boom and bust cycles, we will continue down the path of economic ruin.

Congress Ron Paul serves the fourteenth district of Texas and is honorary chairman of Campaign for Liberty. His new book, End the Fed (Grand Central Publishing) will release on September 16th and is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Just FYI - Al Gore's oldest daughter married the grandson of the largest share holder in a member bank of the Fed in 1997.... Thats right - not only is Al Gore a carbon credit whore, he is a pimp too.... AND the Fed which controls the United States economy has share holders....just consider your tax-paying self a serf to the powerful landowner, the Fed.... The United States has ceased to be Sovereign, but is wholly owned by a secretive group of men.....

Mr. Buffett - Put your money where your mouth is or....

2009-07-09T13:27:00.003-05:00

SHUT UP....

So, Mr. Buffett thinks there needs to be another stimulus. With what, Mr. Buffett? In case you havent been paying attention - we are broke - WE as in These United States....

We are printing money like we are the banker in Monopoly and California is pretending they are borrowing money from their little sister by handing out IOU's.

We dont need more Stimulus - what we need is for the Government to get out the markets - companies need to fail or succeed on their own merit, not on who pays the lobbyist the most money and can buy Congressmen - YES, BUY CONGRESSMEN, thats what a lobbyist does....

But if you feel we need another stimulus package, by all means, Mr. Buffett, feel free to fork one over, but under no circumstance, is a BILLIONAIRE going to ask ME for a handout - WHATEV!!

House stuff....

2009-07-08T19:21:00.001-05:00

Again, back dating some pics....

There arent that many - mostly because there has been some drama over the summer. The company we hired had a rotten apple - not the entire company - but one that was more than just a worker. Seems he went through $27,000 of the company's money in 2 months and is currently being sought for embezzlement. It wasnt our money - but it brought things to a stand-still for a bit and therefore there is a bit of wasted time - actually, a LOT of wasted time.

Before the drama, there was some painting and some trim work (the basement work had to be redone) but those are the pics that I have. Some of the work will need to be redone as the bad apple was trying to cover his tracks by bringing in more money and was shorting employees and even had the guys not scrape our loft before they painted. Needless to say, upstairs is a mess that we will redo ourselves.

We have a new company and we are extremely pleased. They fixed the crap in the basement - finished out the doors down there and painted. They start tile this week as well as our HVAC get finished.

My Hubs also put in the holding tank for the well - plumbed it with 2 faucets - installed all the electrical and stuff involved in that and built the house that goes over it. Color me absolutely impressed! He has yet to find something that he cannot do! The well house is in the same shape as our real house and he used left over rafters, t1-11 and metal. He loves his window which is really cute :) Will snap some more pics of the "finished" well house next time I am out there as well as pics of the basement.

Here are the pics:

They got the REVOLUTION part right....

2009-06-27T16:55:00.004-05:00

So, after I finish the Iran post and after I read the Wiki entry that talks about what typically spurs a Revolution (war, financial crisis, peasant rebellion or disgruntled military) I read THIS ARTICLE about the new Energy Revolution that the passage of the Cap and Trade Bill will spur....

They got the Revolution part right. If this dog clears the Senate, this country's troubles have just begun. There will absolutely no way for any company to grow - heck, maintain - in the HOSTILE environment that this bill would create.

The passage of this bill could seriously be the final nail in the coffin on this United States and by that I dont mean that we will get the Socialist crap of a Country that those in power wish us to have.... I mean that this Country could cease to exist or if it does, it would be after a genuine revolution.

This kind of bill creates an environment where people cant find work because companies cant afford to pay this crap tax and hire workers..... People who cant work get angry....they get hungry.....and too many hungry/angry people are whats called a PEASANT REBELLION and FINANCIAL CRISIS - we are hurdling towards 2 of the 4 reasons countries go through a Revolution.

Good Job Nancy - you just passed a bill that should lead to your own firing. Actually, something of this magnitude should constitute Treason. Thanks.....

40 days....

2009-06-27T16:14:00.002-05:00

Keep watching Iran. Those in power know they are in trouble. They are trying hard to stop the unrest know because they know that in 40 days things are going to get ugly.

You see, thats how they grieve. They grieve in intervals with the climax coming 40 days after the death.

Those in power know something else....It was deaths in 1978 (January) that lead to the over throw of the Shaw in January 1979 and the return of Khomeini to rule. They were on the benefiting end 30 years ago.....you better believe they fear they wont be on the winning end this time....

40 days......and then another 40 days..... and then another 40 days..... Eventually, Iran will be free....

Per Wikipedia:

Start of demonstrations in late 1977:
The first militant anti-Shah demonstrations were in October 1977, after the death of Khomeini's son Mostafa.[79] Khomeini's activists numbered "perhaps a few hundred in total", but over the coming months they grew to a mass of several thousand demonstrators in most cities of Iran.[80]

The first casualties suffered in major demonstrations against the Shah came in January 1978. Hundreds of Islamist students and religious leaders in the city of Qom were furious over a story in the government-controlled press they felt was libelous. The army was sent in, dispersing the demonstrations and killing several students (two to nine according to the government, 70 or more according to the opposition).[81][82]
According to the Shi'ite customs, memorial services (called Arba'een) are held forty days after a person's death. In mosques across the nation, calls were made to honour the dead students. Thus on February 18 groups in a number of cities marched to honour the fallen and protest against the rule of the Shah. This time, violence erupted in Tabriz, where five hundred demonstrators were killed according to the opposition, ten according to the government. The cycle repeated itself, and on March 29, a new round of protests began across the nation. Luxury hotels, cinemas, banks, government offices, and other symbols of the Shah regime were destroyed; again security forces intervened, killing many. On May 10 the same occurred.

In May, government commandos burst into the home of Ayatollah Kazem Shariatmadari, a leading cleric and political moderate, and shot dead one of his followers right in front of him. Shariatmadari abandoned his quietist stance and joined the opposition to the Shah.[83]

Just when most people put H1N1 (Swine Flu) in the "fluff" section....

2009-06-27T10:39:00.003-05:00

It comes back to slap you in the face....

CDC has closed a camp here for a couple of sessions due to 14 counselors being exposed to the H1N1 flu.

This doesnt affect my kids but does several friends of ours. I just bring this to your attention in order for you to continue to prepare for this coming fall.

I believe this upcoming season will be trying. If this flu does resurge with mutated strength, things could get ugly.

Make your plan now..... Buy your supplies while there is a lull in people's focus and fear.... Mentally prepare yourself for what you might be called to do - stay home - confine - supply charity - refuse charity.....

As always - Pray - Praise - Prepare

Seriously Tennessee????

2009-06-26T22:01:00.002-05:00

First THIS.....next, arrested for a pillow fight....

There just arent words.... except I love the part where it says "No one was hurt" - well duh....

Is he a blogger or an 800 lb. Gorilla?

2009-06-24T17:30:00.002-05:00

There is a great discussion regarding ethics - land crossing - shooting someone carrying bolt cutters - all on the Libertarian Rantfest Site.... Go throw your brilliant 2 cents in.....

And you can THANK Samuel Adams - surprise, surprise

2009-06-24T15:13:00.000-05:00

If you dont read Samuel's Blog, you are missing out.... First, he has the FUNNIEST pics I think I have ever seen - lets just say, if they were bumper stickers, my car would be a moving violation because ever surface would be covered.....

Second because he posts articles like this regarding the Second Amendment..... I will give you a minute to pop over there and read it.... {checking my watch}.......{having a spoonful of Nutella}......{taking a bathroom break}.......Ok - youre back :)

The interesting part about this article is the UK decision that a blogger cannot remain anonymous. It isnt here yet, but it may be on its way. You see, the UK doesnt see blogging like we in the USA do - they were on the receiving end of the Pamphleteers and I have a feeling that King George wasnt too pleased.

Us in the States like to view ourselves with FREE SPEECH and an independent streak - be careful....Things that start overseas usually try to pop up here.

Be Vigilant - Back up someone else's RIGHT to say SOMETHING, even if you dont agree.

For example - I read Wildflower. She isnt fond of a lot of things that I am - White - Conservative - Religious - Libertarian.... she probably wouldnt even like my toenail polish (yes, I paint my toenails - I may be a survivalist, but I am NOT an animal). But I read her every time she posts and I comment (sometimes). It is important to read things that you may not agree with for several reasons.

First - I may be wrong - {{{GASP}}} - I know! I could be wrong - it happens, not with any regularity and so infrequently that the kids keep track :)

Second - She makes me smarter - If I dont agree I have to figure out why - I have to work through all the ins and out and be able to articulate those reasons.

Third - She makes me think. It is NEVER a bad thing to view something from someone else's point of view.

Fight for some one's right to say something stupid, even a liberal, because in doing so, it preserves your right to spread the light :)

Pray - Praise - Prepare

* This post was originally written (for the most part) last week - I have been BI-ZEE and am now only getting to post

Sorry....again....

2009-06-24T14:35:00.003-05:00

Its been a week - actually over a week since I have posted.

The Poll is finished and it did surprise me some.

The majority of us know exactly what we are saying and post anyway - GOOD FOR US!!

The next group basically goes all out, balls to the wall (I love this phrase and I NEVER get to use it) and blogs WHATEV they want - GOOD FOR THEM!!

3 Have quit....I hate that....I still miss Survival News....

2 Edit what they want to say....

Free Speech isnt dead of you look at bloggers....may we continue to be the Pamphleteers of yester-year :)

Pray - Praise - Prepare

How to save Social Security....

2009-06-17T22:18:00.002-05:00

I think President BO may have figured out how to save Social Security....

This Universal Health Care denying benefits to Senior Citizens because its not in the financial best interest of the program....

He can just tell them that its their Patriotic Duty to die....

Yeah, we are #2!!!

2009-06-17T16:43:00.002-05:00

According to the Brookings Institute, OKC area ranks 2nd in Recession Proof Cities - Tulsa, OK is 9th....

I have long listed the advantages that OK has.... But this was a nice confirmation :)

I linked the story through the Chicago Tribune because personally, it makes me feel good to post something so fabulous from a city that is so corrupt that it produced our current President - President BO....

Pimping out the blog....

2009-06-17T16:32:00.002-05:00

Shelf Reliance is giving away one of the MOTHER OF ALL STORAGE items!!!

In order to give it the ole college try of winning, you can enter 5 times by doing a little obstacle course - post - link - sign up for newsletter - become a fan on FB....you get the drift.

So this post is about getting myself entered again.

And if you think I am just doing this because I want something free - this thing they are giving away IS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST to get when we move to our new house - so there.... :)

As always - Pray - Praise - Prepare

It all comes down to this....

2009-06-13T19:27:00.002-05:00

How much are you willing to risk?

Those that want liberty in Iran are rioting in the street....they have done this before. As the article says, they eventually retreat to enjoy their personal affluence that the Clerics let them keep as a way of pacifying them while the Clerics continue their insanity.

Will they do the same this time? There was a time a couple hundred years ago when men of affluence put it all on the line. They didnt riot in the streets, masked. They signed their names to what was basically a big F-U to the King.... They put it all on the line and bought us an amazing Country with their sacrifice. Many lost homes and wealth, some were jailed...some of their families were jailed. They could have lost even more - for signing what they did, they could have been killed for treason.

I dont often write posts of a Biblical nature - but in Esther - Mordecai tells Esther:

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

I believe those that Founded our Country were born for that time.... Thomas Jefferson felt he should have been born at a different time - a time without slavery - but he was born for the perfect time.

I wonder about our current situation. I wonder who was born for such a time as this. I wonder if I was..... I wonder if you were..... I wonder how far we are supposed to go.... I wonder how far things will go..... I wonder if Iran is going to go through something spectacular like we did 200 years ago.....

Relief and deliverance will come and YOU WERE born for such a time as this.... Hold fast. Keep the faith. Trust this.

As always - Pray - Praise and Prepare

Hey - FIRST POLL

2009-06-13T19:02:00.003-05:00

All you bloggers - in light of the current Administration and their "definitions" of extremists - has it influenced how you have continued to blog?

Answer - i'm curious :) The poll is to the right....you can find it - yall are a smart bunch ;)

Thanks - Pearls

Too important not to Link....

2009-06-12T16:38:00.002-05:00

This is from Total Survivalist Libertarian Rantfest....

I am linking and posting because I have a lot of chick readers and us gurls got to stick together.....as well as protect ourselves and what we got going on "south of our border" if you know what I mean....

Some Very Interesting Statistics on Rape Resistance

Read the comments too....they are EXCELLENT.....

Why am I not protected under a Hate Crime?

2009-06-11T13:03:00.002-05:00

"Hate Crimes" really annoy me. I guess the title implies that if someone is not gay, black, Jewish, or whatever is attacked, its out of love and therefore not a Hate Crime.

I wonder if a gay man is killed he is more dead than a dead straight, white guy......

I wonder if LIFE is somehow not as worse a sentence for an average person than LIFE for someone who kills a member of a "special" group.

I wonder where are all the celebrities with tape across their mouths for the inequality for a single, white female being attacked as there are for wanting "rights" for a gay male....

And dont even get me started on how much more these "Special" crimes cost....it brings in the Feds - it goes to a more expensive Federal Court and not local State....but I am sure these defenseless, special people are worth it {sarcasm}....

All this to say, if you are just the average white person - if you dont have anything special about you, you are on your own - actually, you are beneath these special groups..... Good luck to you - better be able to take care of yourself because if something happens to you.....well, it just doesnt matter as much....

My Modern Country Home

NEW BLOG IS FINALLY HERE!!!!

Making good on a Promise....

My Comment to CENSUS - 2010

Census 2010

Caught between a rock....and a car bumper....

I thought I was ready....

How to get around the Arizona Immigration Law....

Its Friday.... And theres a Quote....

Wishing I was Sally Hemmings....

Just a little 'bidness....

Someone please put the CONSTITUTION in his teleprompter!!!

Thought for the day....

Just takes One...

We PASSED!!!!

FINAL!!

Quote of the Day

Scumbag University

San Francisco is outraged....

Oklahoma vs. Constitution

Americans are lazy....

Chase this rabbit....

Just a little business....

This post inspired by The Hubs....

Still thinking about food storage....

Do you think Obama refunds campain funds?

Oklahoma Militia.....

Yeah, I am SOOOOO Sorry....

3 Pronged Attack.....

Does $4.00 a gallon gas help with our Creditors?

Quote of the Day

LAUGHED OUT LOUD!!!!

How do you let your light shine?

Ice and Snow....Snow and Ice....

2, 3, 4.....or more?

Seriously....

Chili's is my fave....

Fourth branch of the Government, my rear end....

A little link I LOVE....

Change I can believe in.....

How I got rid of my Gold Guilt.....

What a difference a year makes.....

You can pass a law, but you have to prove I broke it....

And....More Snow.....

What I learned from Blizzard 2009....

Reason #4867 of Why I love my Pantry

Sniped and expanded....

Was it really a surprise? Really??

Thank you....Thank you very much....

I am all over the map on this post....

You wont catch me in the attic....

What happened to "When in Rome....?"

Up close and personal with the H1N1....

Blog info....

What now??

I'm back....a little :)

Survival Blog???

There just arent words....

Oklahoma is MORE than OK :)

And now I have my brain around it....

Sneeze into your elbow....

Dont want to drown you......

Now go brush your teeth.....

F.O.O.D.

Get yourself a binder, paper and a pen...GO....

Prepping 101 (it is back to school time, after all)

Bathrooms....or.....

This post is dedicated to Jennifer :)

Snap out of it!!! *slap* *slap*

I want a REAL discussion....

Ta Da....the Basement and deco stuff....

Funky SMELL and how it brought personal enlightenment....

Color me surprised....

Oh the irony....

This is how it started with the Zombies...

How to read between the lines....

And Again.....Healthcare.....

And then it all made sense....and I laughed....

Alas, Babylon

Single payer system stinks or How I singlehandedly solved Universal Healthcare ;)

Snap out of it!!! slap slap