Be Prepared

Okay, so here is my new "kick," as Amber would call it. Actually let me tell you a little about how I came across this "kick" of mine. There is a girl I once knew named Vanessa Lorke. No not an old girlfriend, in fact, you probably couldn't even call us friends. I served an LDS mission in Samara, Russia. Vanessa was a sister missionary assigned to the same mission. In fact, we did serve in the same district a few times (if memory serves me correctly). Anyway, I occasionally receive emails from her, updating me on the times and places of the mission reunions. It's not a personal email, it's a blanket email to everyone.....she probably doesn't even realize that I am on her list.

Anyway, I was cleaning out my inbox the other day and I came across one of the "reunion updates," and I noticed that she had included a link to her BLOG. I thought I would check it out and I came upon a post titled "72-hour Kits Checklist." As I read her post, I felt a need to take it upon myself to get my family prepared. It was the weirdest feeling. So, yeah, that became my new "kick." So, recently, I have been putting together a 72-hour kit using the checklist that she used for her kit (adding a few of my own personal comfort items). She has a lot of really great pics on how things should be packed and a lot of good links that take you to various emergency preparedness websites. I encourage all of you to check it out.

Now, there are a couple of reasons that I felt it important enough to mention this in my BLOG. Being in the Army and enduring the various training environments that I have, I have come to appreciate the need to be prepared and ready for any situation. Granted, you can't plan for EVERYTHING. But with the right preparation you can endure just about anything with what you have. Plus, it really sucks when you really need something and don't have it, or don't have the means to get it.

Second, it's a commandment from God. Alright, so its a commandment from God to have food storage. But let me ask you this, if a flood came and you had to leave your house at a moments notice.......what good would having 50 lb. sacks of rice or pasta be?? So, hence the need of an emergency 72-hour kit that you can grab-n-go!! Or better yet, you could keep a kit in your car, that way you could just go. Me, personally.......once we get our kits completed we are going to stick them in the coat closet by the front door so they are right there, everything we need to survive for a few days or more without having to waste time searching for it.

Also the 72-hour kits play right into the food storage issue. Once you get the kits out of the way then you can start to focus more on the food storage. You've started.....now you know you can survive at least 3 days, set that aside......then gather more so that you can survive a week.....then a month.......then 3 months........then a year........gradually building and rotating your supply (so nothing spoils). Just remember to keep your 72-kit separate, just in case you have to leave your supply.

Well, I think I've stood on my soapbox long enough. Again, I encourage ya'll to take a look at Vanessa's BLOG. And I think we should all give her a round of applause (clap, clap, clap) for her hard work, attention to detail, and willingness to share. Also, there is one other site that I came across that I thought might be of interest to anyone that is planning to go a little more in depth with their kits. This LIST was prepared for a possible earthquake disaster in mind.

I hope ya'll enjoyed.......and happy preparing!!

Clash for the TITAN

Yep, so I finally got it. The truck that I have been wanting for the longest time. Okay, maybe it isn't exactly what I wanted, but I am happy with the compromise.

About 4 years ago, I worked at a Toyota dealership and, ever since, have wanted a Toyota Tundra. BEAUTIFUL TRUCK........at least it was until Toyota decided to change the body style a few years back. So the other truck that I have had my eyes on was the Nissan Titan. And looky there, it's a Titan. And to be perfectly honest, this truck was a steal!! But it by no means was a simple purchase......too many obstacles to overcome. But I did overcome, and now that BEAUTIFUL Titan is sitting in my driveway (not in my garage, because its too big!!).

The title of my blog is a little misleading. There was a clash......two actually. But I won't bore you with the gruesome details of the purchase. But I will tell you, I put an offer down on the truck, and when they didn't take it, my wife made me walk away......even though it was still a stellar deal. And she put up with me getting mad when she wouldn't let me go back to get it......but 1 1/2 weeks later the dealership called me back and told me to come get the truck at my offer and so I did.

No, its not a NEW truck (2004 with 38,000 miles).....but new enough for me. And I think I will be content with it for awhile.....at least until the gas prices go up another dollar or so.

Anyway, I know I haven't written on this for a while and those that did read probably have given up on me.....but I wanted to brag and this seemed as good a place as any to do so.

p.s.
If ya'll do want the details about the truck, post a comment and then maybe I'll include it in my next posting......and I promise it will be sooner than this one came!!