Prepper's Blind Alley

Well, have you done your hurricane preps yet? OOps, don’t you think it is a
little late to just be getting started? This is not an issue if you don’t
live in the regions where this will happen, but then, other sections of the
country get tornadoes, and that isn’t fun. I didn’t prepare years ago for
hurricanes. And, I am sad to say, I paid for that. I recall one that came by
our coast in the mid eighties, and although I did the thing and had water in
the bath didn’t understand why. I just sat in front of the TV like some kind
of nut, and watched it until the wind came along and knocked our electricity
out. Hope you aren’t doing that by any means. It is time to not
procrastinate, and get to the store to get those preps going. I won’t go
through those necessaries here unless somebody asks, because I think I may
be preaching to the choir. Needless to say, I evaluate where all things are
that I will need for the season at the beginning of it in June. This year
bought another led lantern for the house which is more long-lasting than
ones I already have. And, sprung for a couple of small flashlights should I
need sighted help during some disaster. Other than this all other cooking
and communications gear is in place. Every year that goes by without a
hurricane here is a good one since the house isn’t in good shape in the
first place. Well, the cat is sitting on the windowsill of the old house
looking into the cloudy skies, while her wolf is at her feet on his bed.
Stay safe all this hurricane season..Alleycat signing off.

Good day to you all! This week has been a busy one here. Yesterday my lawyer
dropped in to help me look at land and we did see some that might work for
plans. But friends, this isn’t doing much good as the lady with my mother’s
checkbook wasn’t present so we didn’t really accomplish a thing. Then we did
play our guitars for a time, little until that lady showed up shortening
the session unfortunately. Well, I am glad it’s over anyway. Now it is on to
other things. Today the realtor says they’re sending somebody to look at our
old house, but honestly, there aren’t folks jumping up and down to see it
and it’s in such bad condition anyway. So really, I am not sure I’m getting
out of here and that will surely take a miracle for this to happen…there
are so many other houses on the market at this stage. Other than that, my
dog was a good boy with many tramping through the house he doesn’t
know…poor guy is rather protective of me and this place…and yes, I do
feel protected by him with loads of strangers I know little about coming
through. It isn’t very comforting for me, and I do wish I would find a small
camp to go to while all this is going on right now. I keep looking for one
on the net. Other than this how do you prepare for such upheaval anyway?
There isn’t much to do except pray the Lord will aid you and keep you safe
from harm while this is going on, and somebody I know says that today is one
big crap shoot. Agree. You just don’t know what is coming next. Each day I
go up and read the news, and sometimes I have to go back and read an item
again in disbelief because it is so outrageous!! I thought I’d heard it all,
but there always seems to be more. by the way, been hoping the preppers ham
network will be able to find a spot on the ham radio dial and get going as I
think this is a great idea, and thanks to Santa for letting me know of
their activities. Well this gray alleycat will crawl off into the dark alley
for now…hey I hear a mouse!! Good dinner!! Maybe I will find somebody to
adopt me so I get real cat food.

Well nothing is happening here, and I am still looking at the news about the
swine flu. A friend recently informed me that his grandchildren had it in
England, and they had to go under quarantine. A friend who was visiting the
family wasn’t allowed to go back to her home during this. Another person on
one of my lists has possibly contracted it and has had it for at least six
weeks. So far, I am clear but if I get into a crowd who knows… Hey, can a
cat get the flu? Guess if it’s bird flu they can…sneeze says the cat! Well
so far so good. Hope all reading this stay clear of it and take care of
yourselves. It is a strange time we live in right now isn’t it? This is just
a small update to say that all is the same here as before the sign went up
on this house for sale. I will say the economy here is slow enough. In the
meantime, I’ll just sneak back into the alley and hunt for supper…(gray
cat goes into the dark alley and a meow is heard in the distance as she
catches a mouse)

Well, things coming down the pike happen tonight. I wish I could find a
small plot of land to move to right now…the trustees for my mother’s
account giving me a hard time…now I must have strength and find a way to
go some place. See that things are going downhill here and around our
country. What a shame this is folks. But where oh where do I go? That is the
question. I have to find an answer before too long. Time to go is now…if
you haven’t found your place yet, this is the time to batten down the
hatches. Look, they want to get this flu going and there will be a food
shortage soon too I think and have heard this several times. What will you
do then? Time to find a place out of the way, and take the last thing in
your house, your bible and pray a lot. This is what I will do soon as I can.
Time to leave most things behind…they don’t matter any more..if you’re
attached to material things change your ways…things are changing fast.
Okay, this is a short post due to the fact I have been up since five this
morning, washed my dog, got meals, went shopping, made lunch, and been on
the web most of the day besides feeding all animals in this house. Bye for
now…Hey if you have a place to hide, please let me know if I can join
you…Alleycat signing off.

I have a for sale sign on my house now, and realtors continue to come in to
take pictures. Meanwhile the summer battle for me with the heat has begun.
Hey who cares about calories give me that huge chocolate shake or smoothies.
I put in small air conditioners in the windows with some help yesterday as
they are too heavy for me to lift into place. Once this is done is not the
end of the battle. I don’t think they are large enough to cover space
required, but almost makes the place tolerable with sun beating down on the
roof. When I was living in California the heat in Sacramento is intense so
tried many things to combat heat. The city is in a desert region and has to
be my least favorite climate on earth. The temperatures were up to 120
degrees in the day time and people’s excuse is that it is dry heat. Let me
tell you it makes absolutely no difference for me whether that heat is dry
or humid. I still pass out. So the air conditioners were always on full
blast from June until about October when a bit of a rest from it took place.
Oh but then you get constant rain all winter so spent all the time drenched.
I just love that climate!! Well, here is the humidity so employ many tactics
to stay cool…just where are those ice packs? In my fridge in case I get
over heated. And that cold shower is handy. I do live by the beach but too
unshaded and too noisy with little kids for me. So here I will stay with the
air conditioners on through the summer thank you. Somebody said to drink not
just water but load up on Gator Aid so here that comes. Hope you all have a
good summer, and stay cool. Alleycat and animal family drinking gallons of
water.

The sign went up this week for the sale of my house is not a guarantee that
it will be sold, but this is a step in the right direction. I have lit a
fire under the trustee for my mother’s house, and so the papers signed with
realtor. Thank God for this. My goal is to find a farm to get gardens going
again, like my grandfathers did only organic and better methods. I hope to
find about an acre or two for this and build a small home on it with as many
energy saving devices as possible. This is because our economic future looks
bleak as far as I can see and especially mine. Harpo is on antibiotics and
also steroids poor guy, and will be evaluated for his skin problems about
twenty days from now. He had a bath, and that is traumatic for shepherds who
abhor water. He yells like a wolf. If there was ever any doubt whether
shepherds are descendants of wolves with a bath doubt leaves with a few
frantic howls. He looks nice now but this must be done every week
unfortunately. That is all for news except the struggle of moving guinea pig
cages each time realtors come in…try to make the place presentable.
Alleycat and the wolf.

Two men went to a pub in the afternoon, and they were followed by a gray
tiger cat. The cat went into the pub and settled on the heater vent to take
in the heat from it on a cold day.That cat was me, and I was also sitting in
the sun, about to become a witness of something I hoped I would never see.
The place was quiet at the moment and all patrons would come in later for a
glass of beer and some homemade food. It was this part I usually waited for
since the two men were kind to me, and they were the cooks. This day one of
them brought with him a very large box and it was placed on the kitchen
table. I thought this must be the fixings for a great meal and I hoped I
could have the leftovers as usual. So I could be a patient cat.
First cook. Well did you find that pond with all the frogs in it and bring
some back?
Second cook. You bet and I hit the jackpot..I had to find a large box as you
see.
First cook. Ah yes, seems like you were very successful hunting the frogs.
Was it hard to catch them?
Second cook. No not really. Seems they weren’t very mobile or bright.
First cook. Well, it is to be expected these days since we have done what
we have. It is getting easier to catch them as time goes by you know? Second
cook. Of course.
(I am still sitting on my heater vent observing this as the first cook takes
the lid off the box on the table)
First cook. You know you shouldn’t put these on high heat right away don’t
you?
Second cook. Of course. We wouldn’t want them to notice would we? (the first
cook takes out a large bullfrog and starts to put him into the black pot on
the stove in lukewarm water)
Second cook. Say, do you think these frogs are the ones that can speak?
First cook. I never met a frog who couldn’t have you?
Second cook. Well most of the time they prefer to remain silent.
First cook. Hmm, that’s too bad. Well, frog do you have anything to say for
yourself?
Frog. Not much. I spend my time working and making money for our grocery
trips and bills.
First cook. Indeed. Froggy do you watch the news, read the newspaper or
look at the internet?
Froggy. Oh not much. I would rather watch baseball or another sport on TV
with my favorite brand of beer.
Second cook. (makes an angry gesture and points to the stove knobs)
First cook. (reaches out and turns up the heat just a bit)
Second cook. So froggy, let me ask you another question. What do you think
of our country’s politics?
Froggy. I am not sure don’t follow that much. Too busy surviving I guess.
Second cook. What do you do when you get home in the evening after work?
Froggy. I like to watch American Idol the best. We watch that with the
kids.
First cook. (without prompting from his friend turns up the knob on the
stove another notch)
Second cook. Well Mr. frog, does your wife look at the news?
Frog. No, she is too busy with the kids. We try to keep busy especially with
the local sports with the kids.
First cook. (grimaces and turns up the heat. By now it’s almost at the
boiling point, but the frog doesn’t notice) First cook. I hope you have a
good life Mr. Frog.
Frog. Thanks for the interview.
The two men pick up their jackets, the first grabs his gun from the gun rack
as he exits the house, and the second takes down his bow and arrow. A gray
cat shoots out of the door and runs past them.
First cook. Hey there’s that nice gray cat. Wonder why she didn’t stay for
dinner tonight.
Second cook. Maybe she doesn’t like boiled frogs.

Hello, Yesterday I got a call from a state agency for the blind and they
said they would be stopping by my residence to offer an emergency bag that
the Lions’ Club and another not so with it organization for the blind, very
local put together. I said they could come was curious to see what they
thought constituted an “emergency” bag. Well she arrived in the afternoon
toting this little orange bag, rather cute, but all it had was a list of
items just glasses meds, a cane and don’t forget the dogfood plus possibly
the most flimsy whistle ever witnessed. Somebody tried, but how sad. I could
think of a better way to spend cash for the elders or visually impaired here
for emergencies. Yes I did stick my big nose in and say I was available to
give speeches about preps. Not sure if they will do a thing about it. Nice
try, but very lame folks. I knew this would be the case, a token “Thing they
would do” Listen, without my own preps this would be an absolute joke. I
have grills, fuel, extra food stored, containers for water, filters and
purifying equipment etc. extra tents, mattresses, flashlights and lanterns,
batteries, etc. etc. wind-up radios. What was this all about? Yes somebody
wanted to say “We did this for the blind” a joke for sure…I knew this was
the way it would look, as most organizations like this are a huge joke, do
nothing and waste the tax payers hard won cash. I surely could have filled
that bag with something more useful. Oh I have a medical pack I keep close
for those little emergencies around the house too, my pocket knife, and so
forth…sharpeners for that. Well, off my soap box for now. Alleycat..sure
somebody loves to toot about giving to the blind again…a joke.

Well I was not prepared for what happened today with my dog. He had licked
fur off his haunches and rushed to the vet this morning. The vet thinks this
is one of four possible difficulties, allergies skin infection possible
thyroid problem autoimmune problems…and she says all may be treated. I
don’t know how this will go since blood tests and others were taken today
and won’t know results until Wednesday of this week. So friends wish us luck
hope this time it is something that can be treated and fixed.the problems
with an older dog may this way be coming soon I don’t know. In the meantime,
keep prepping and will be back for an update when I know myself. Alleycat
who doesn’t like the vet but Harpo is fine with it with bribes of biscuits.

What? I am talking about ice and snow during the summer? Yes. I recall a few
years ago when an unexpected storm came up in our area and it was a real
beauty. It dumped four feet all at once with ninety mph winds. It was a
white hurricane more or less. The result was that nothing moved for days and
it took a week for a plow to get to us to do our property. Fortunately, the
day before it hit us, I had dragged my mother out at the grocer for a huge
supply of food. Otherwise, we would have had a problem. I listened to others
after the storm and one of the worst problems was that some houses didn’t
have doors that opened towards the inside of the house. One fellow opened
the window and pushed his son-in-law out of the window and threw a shovel
after him. What a landing he must have had!! Fortunately for my mother and
I, whoever built this house saw the need, and had the front door open
inward, thank you. But we didn’t venture anywhere with no way out for a
while. Those of you living in snowy regions please think about having your
doors replaced so they open inward for storms like this. What if there was a
fire, and you couldn’t get out with snow piled against the door? So think
about it. One quick hint even your large dog can’t go out in that, so get
yourself a large kids’ hard plastic pool where he can do his
business…Harpo took one look and said he wasn’t going anywhere and wasn’t
pleased going in our garage but with my permission the pool will be fine. It
will be easier to clean up than your concrete or other floors. Otherwise
prep on and get your supplies together when a large snow storm or hurricane
comes your way. Alleycat.