We have a thread about comfort foods, but what about other small comforts.
I enjoy learning and music so I have loaded some flash drives for my MP3 player with music and learning tapes. I especially like Charlotte Church songs (when she was young before her voice and personality changed). I have also loaded a set of relaxing classical pieces (Debussy, Vivaldi, Pachelbel..), Feynman Lectures on Physics, and some of the Great Course lessons. I can keep the batteries charged by a solar charger. I figure I may not get much TV and radio if things really get bad, but I can relax and “escape” into my music. I have a lap harp and a harmonica that I want to get practice on
I have an array of good books (mostly theoretical physics) to keep me occupied. Perhaps I will finally get to write that book on GRG.
I have made arrangements to have enough backup power to watch a DVD every other night or so (depends on how much solar energy is collected) on our living room TV. We have a good collection of family movies and I purchased several seasons of our favorite TV series on DVD. A little escape time and a bowl of popcorn will help our family get through a stressful SIP.
DennisC – at 15:05 Perhaps I will finally get to write that book on GRG.
Well, even if panflu is TEOTWAWKI, GR&G should remain constants. Good luck with your writing.
Hillbilly Bill – at 15:12 do great minds think alike? That is what I will be doing, have all in place and ready to use. Have a couple of Baygen freeplayt radios, plus a portable DVD player, so at least will get the news on the radio,,,and watch a movie every night. Oh did I mention that I have 100 pounds of popcorn?
Note to self: Buy more popcorn, GNDV has 100 pounds stored.
Hillbilly Bill and Gary Near Death Valley DVD’s- will you be watching Omega Man and The Andromeda Strain ?
GNDV How are you storing the popcorn. Jars, oil? You know they can’t dry out or they don’t pop. And how do you cook it on limited power?
Gary Near Death Valley - You should never have mentioned that you have 100 pounds of popcorn. I happen to be a recovering popcorn addict. If I should run out of my stores, I will most certainly hunt you down and take yours. Okay, maybe not. But I would think about it.
DennisC - Do you like books about Native Americans? If you do, I could recommend a couple of good books to read during the SIP. Is your e-mail updated so I can send you a list?
History Lover – at 17:55 yes, my address should be updated now. dennis at netmdc dot com.
I am Chickasaw (only 1/4 by blood), so I am some what interested in the books. (the term Native American is used by some tribes and Indian by others- “native” really means you were born here, so neither term really fits, it just depends on your tribe. But I answer to anything, as long as you are calling me to food or books) :)
I am Seminole by education (FSU)
OH, yes, if you really like history books you need to check out Coas used books in Las Cruces http://www.coasbooks.com/ they have a BIG Southwestern collection.
DennisC - I have one book in my collection about the Chickasaws. It’s by Ronald Satz, “Tennessee’s Indian Peoples: From White Contact to Removal, 1540–1840.” It’s very readable and describes Indian-White relations for the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Shawnee.
My Shoshoni friends in Wyoming prefer the term “First Nations” which I find very elegant. And as I am sure you know, most tribes have a name for themselves which translates into “The People.” Very appropriate.
Hope you enjoy the book list.
Battery operated TV, books, comfortable pillow!!!
Knitting sewing painting all the things I barely have time for now will be my comforts. Ive gotten lots of supplies on sale so Im set. I read a lot now at work on my downtime which is excessive since I only have one patient.So reading wont be as much of a comfort to me. I veiw comforts like little luxuries.
Bubble bath, big comfort for me. a bubble bath would give me some semblence of normalcy. I have tons of bubbles stocked up.
DennisC – at 16:47
No, but we will be watching the first two seasons of “Dark Angel”. Rather appropriate since it deals with life in a post-apocalyptic (sort of) world. I noticed in one episode they made reference to the ‘07 influenza pandemic. That really gave me the willies.
I’m keeping my popcorn in the freezer and stocking extra propane to pop it on the camping stove.
I’ve made a pile of books I’ve been wanting to read but never have time, things to finally put photos into albums, scented candles, bubble bath (assuming we have hot water!), comfy clothes, things to help keep the kids busy. Today while running regular errands (as opposed to AF errands lol!) I bought a few x-mas items for the kids. I figured if things break down soon at least they’d definitely have a few gifts to open. Basically things to help try and make things feel a little bit like “normal” an anything-but-normal situation.
Dennis C..se if you can find Mendellsohnin E and Bruch in G(Scottish Fantasy). Mendellsohn in E is better…but I still like Max Bruch. He only has two pieces I think. Of course…Yehudi Menuhin does it the best…but these two are done by lot’s and lot’s of people. The best I’ve heard.
A nice soft warm blanket, quilt or afghan to wrap up in.
Comfy clothes and slipper socks.
Music, books, hobby supplies.
The secure feeling that one can have from knowing they have prepped well or at least as well as they possibly can.
I’ve stocked up on my quilting supplies. We’re readers anyway so we already have books. Lots of books. Five bookcases of books. Our movers have hated us in the past.<G>
I’ve been buying tons of books… covering various genres to break monotony. I love to garden, so I’ve made sure I have a lot of seeds & gardening stuff. My family love to play games, so I am stashing away some new games and making sure our games have all the pieces. Most of my family play the guitar and sing… so I am looking forward to that as a means of passing time. I know this may sound silly, but I’ve made sure there is stuff for manicure and pedicure. (Like it will matter if I have to do all that laundry by hand. sigh)
OH! I have to add that last year I spent the winter buying up afghans off ebay — beautiful, well made wools & acrylics, colorful and all sizes — even some for my cats’ beds for extra warmth & enjoyment — nothing like the weight of good quilts & blankets on a cold night!
Hoping to learn to play the piano and the accordeon - need to find some more money to buy the instruments - for the moment, it’s all tied in preps :-(
I’m not figuring on a lot of free time if the power goes down. With a family of 7 I’ll be fairly stretched to keep up with being teacher, wife, cook, nurse/doctor, water collector and sterilizer, gardener, etc. LOL!
If I have any “free time” I’ll probably grab a little extra shut eye … or will spend in sewing to keep the clothes in good repair.
Y’all gotta let me know what kind of schedule you all plan on keeping. Have you actually set down and figured how much time it takes to do all the necessary stuff? I have. <grin> The only bonus I see is that I won’t be wasting my time driving too many places, if at all. LOL!
My two small comforts are in third and fifth grade. As long as they are well, all is good. :)
I play guitar and mandolin, plus I sing. I also read a lot and enjoy knitting and crocheting. I draw and paint, and like to work on scrapbooking. I garden, and cook, and sew. If there is ever a long-term power outage, I am sure I can keep myself occupied. Some of the posts in this thread have piqued my interest however, and I think I will look into the cost of a small DVD player with viewer. I have seen them before, meant for travel, but never really looked at the prices. One of those would be really nice, my hubby and I could watch movies together while snuggled under some comfy quilts. And I think I will be buying jars of popcorn, since they are least likely to get old. I have bought it in microwave bags because they are so easy to make, but kettle popcorn really is tasty *drool*. Perhaps it is time for a change!
Cheap eyeglasses when they are two for one at CVS. I doubt if a day has ever passed without listening to music, or reading. I need to keep my brain occupied. The neighbors dog was psyching me this morning as I was taking out the trash. Naturally (have permission) I gave her a couple of peices of cheese I had in the car. She gets my leftovers when I go away for a few days. I like my new neighbor and her dog. I think if the pandemic ever comes we will help each other out. I might have a long chat just once a month, but we have forged a pleasant relationship of neighbor helping neighbor. Saw an old movie with Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins last night. Old Aquaintances . Bette Davis the rational and mature, and Hopkins as the drama queen. Two women who can get along are always a comfort. I like my new neighbor just fine.
deborah – at 12:55
My wife plays the accordion and piano and has a wonderful singing voice. We both enjoy listening to and singing Gospel music and never seem to have enough time to do that as much as we would like. Plus we both have crafts and hobbies that we enjoy.
Regarding the DVD’s and popcorn, during the depression the movie theaters never closed because people needed a few hours of escape from the grim reality of life. I’m thinking a pandemic is going to be that and much more.
My husband would pick hot cocoa with Irish cream and Canadian Whiskey and his Cabella suede-out sheepskin-inside house boots. He just loves to slip into them when he comes inside in the winter because they feel so good and keep his feet and ankles warm.
I’d have to pick all the soft and comfy things on my bed. My Woolrich down throws, that are so soft and light. My microplush blankets, really nice pillowcases and pillows. I also love my velvety knit covered body pillow from costco that is great for propping up in bed to read, watch TV or use my laptop. (I should be able to charge the laptop with the solar panels on our RV.)
The biggest comfort item for the whole family is our beautiful little enameled glass-door wood stove. We love the heat, ambiance and security it gives. We only use our oil heater for a supplement now. It truly makes the whole house cozier in feel as well as warmth. I’m glad we have the oil stove just in case of sickness,though.
not knowing how things would be, my brother had just given all of us siblings each a down filled throw, and then he was killed. so this winter I will wrap up and snuggle in my throw and imagine him with me. lots of comfort there. I also read lots and have zillions of books. I do my quilting and crafting and love love to cook. and I brought myself two of the portable DVD players, one incase the other broke. LOLOL I do have a battery powered synthasizer, (spelling bad) and lots of books of music for it, several radio’s ,gotta have my music. My propane tank is full and will last the winter easily. I don’t need electricity to cook or heat, and I got lots of lamps.I’ve got popcorn and a years worth of fixings for oatmeal, chocolate chip, and sugar cookies , and fudge so I think I might be a survivor. LOLOL
I’ve got tons of books as well. I do sketching not very well but I have instruction books and lots of supplies. One thing I started doing this year was to buy “brain teaser” books (don’t care too much for crossword puzzles) that involve math, logic, reasoning and some word solving puzzles as well. I do these before bed & it makes me forget the problems of the day that I didn’t solve. I didn’t realize how many different kinds there are but I’ve got a stack. I have tons of videos but not a portable player; not sure I want to buy dvds and player so not sure what I’ll do about that. I have a TV/video player combined that runs on a car adapter but no batteries.
For everyone who wants to watch DVDs, is there some reason you all are buying portable DVD players and not using the DVD player in your laptops? I have a 17″ screen on my laptop, which is much larger than any portable DVD player I’ve seen. Plus, we can use the laptop while it’s charging (to watch DVDs, play video games, write, have kids use educational software, etc.) and then get another three or four hours out of the battery on standalone (i.e., not connected to power source). The audio is a little tinny, but, ah, we’ll deal.
Edna Mode – at 12:26 Well said!