I would not be worried about the bird flu AT ALL if I could get my husband to either do this or pay someone to do it - put a hand pump on one of our water wells!! We have a windmill on one but the pump is broken at the bottom of the well. He tells me we can get water from the creek if we need to. WHAT!? It’s a mile away!!! Not to mention one of us would have to go outside to fetch it!
I feel like I’m dealing with a loon here and that I’m no longer the fear mongering bird flu woman since even Oprah is talking about this, but he is not interested in preparing for not having power. If I could know that I would have access to water out the back door, everything else would seem simple. We have a coal burning stove in our garage, which is attached to our house, and that thing will heat the house without a problem, as long as we have a coal supply. We live where all the coal comes from anyway, so no worries there.
HELP!!!
Have you got a birthday coming up soon? Sounds like that would make a great birthday present!!! Good Luck!!!
Excellent idea. It’s not until spring, but maybe he’ll get the point if I say that’s what I want for my birthday. Better yet, that’s what I want for Valentines Day. Skip the roses and bring on the hand pump or fix that darn windmill!
Do like Mom11 does….she makes things happen, THEN tells her husband. No problem.
I’m thinking about doing just that. I may call up a pulling unit tomorrow to get an estimate on pulling our broken pump, fixing it, and putting it back down the well. I have an online business and still have some Christmas money left so maybe I will have to buy the darn thing myself. Sheesh.
That’s how I have been doing it for a year. He says we don’t need it. I know we do. I do the prep when he’s not around. He finds out when it’s too late to stop. It’s the only way. Call a repairman or do what you think is best. “It’s easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission”
Wyoming Cowgirl - I have studied about H5N1, and my husband has not. I have tried to teach him off and on about the situation. He listens, but he just had a hard time thinking a pandemic will really happen. I have massively stockpiled over the past six months without asking him, because I knew the answer I would get. I knew I had to do this for our family. At first, I would hide boxes all over the house in closets and under beds. After a while, I had to place things in open view. First I bought masks, hand wipes, lanterns, flashlights, and sprouting items. Then, slowly, numerous food items, piles of #10 cans, and sacks of flour, rice, and beans evolved. Thankfully he has not said too much. I guess he knew he couldn’t really stop me if I had my mind set. If I had asked, I would have been faced with multiple arguments. Therefore, I never asked. I have now managed to stockpile all of the items we will need for a family of three for 12 months (plus one cat and one dog). Finally, today he asked, “Are you almost done?” My answer was, “Almost!” Of course, I will need to add a little off and on, but I have succeeded!
I hope you get your well fixed the way it needs to be. Since you know what needs to be done, perhaps it is better to do it, and then face the discussion. I hope it works out for you.
w.c. Use your christmas money. Get it done. Sleep easier..IMHO.
Think ahead, Cowgirl,
Think of the make-up sex you’ll have when the balloon goes up and your husband finds the house is full of gas and groceries.
Don’t forget the birth control.
If he thinks he can get water from the creek, make sure you have drums to store it in. Also make sure you have a way to disinfect it. He may decide it’s easier to fix the well than to buy water drums and water purification system.
This thread sounds like survivalist stuff, look the water will work.
From the Health and Human Services; http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html
“Stock a supply of water and food. During a pandemic you may not be able to get to a store. Even if you can get to a store, it may be out of supplies. Public waterworks services may also be interrupted.”
My husband has good intentions but he’s always “too busy” to help, so I end up doing everything. He thinks he’s being helpful by imagining creative ways for us to build the things we need without having to buy anything, kind of like “MacGyver” but more like “Gilligan’s Island.” His other approach is to rant about how bad our government is and how all the ignorant people in the world will get their just desserts. He only has these 2 modes, so we can’t have an intelligent prepping discussion.
I feel like hurling a #10 can at him!
He thinks he’s being helpful by imagining creative ways for us to build the things we need without having to buy anything, kind of like “MacGyver” but more like “Gilligan’s Island.”
ROFLMAO!!!!!
Thanks for that! Sounds like my husband! He’s suppose to be in charge of water - and he has some ideas for trapping rainwater that only the Captain and Gilligan could appreciate.
Industrial engineers gone wild! :-)
Peej - We used to have a dear woman in our church who was of German descent. She was practical and frugal to a fault, always busy canning and storing away food for the lean times. One time she was canning two bushels of peaches someone had given her. It was a lot of work and she was well on in years and she was very tired from her labors. Her husband scolded her for working so hard and tiring herself out. Being a kind soul and always desiring peace, she gave him the following answer.
“Your opinion is just as valid as mine and I respect your right to voice it. However, I have just one request. Let’s put this argument aside and we can finish it this winter when we open the first jar of these peaches.”
I’ve actually thought about this problem, and posted comments about it
short story: depending on the depth of your well, the cost of a hand pump may be in the $800 range. It’s not cheap. But it is definitely cool.
At least you have them thinking about it. My husband went from blowing up at the mere mention of “another disaster” to quietly allowing me to buy extra things, saying it can’t hurt. I still can’t get any kind of 2-way conversation about plans or budget or anything pertaining to prepping. He sees it as my personal project. Well, I try not to rock the boat, but we need a lot more to be ready for anything.
Doreen: LOL!!! Sounds like a new reality tv show!!!
Hillbilly Bill: Bless that woman. Her husband doesn’t know how lucky he is, those canning jars might do more damage than a #10 can.
Oh, boy does this sound familiar. I have stocked for years (post y2k, please don’tlaugh)and the Hubby always said I was nuts. Until we got hit with a major hurricane. We had food, gas, water, a generator and toilet paper! What I did before he agreed I was not nuts is just go about my business. If I needed to buy an item I did. When I had to pick up the generator that I saved part of my grocery money for I invited him to drive my new car for a day and used his truck to get it. I had our neighbor help me get it off the truck and in the garage before he got home. He didn’t even know it was there for over a week. (like he would clean the gargage, hah!) I put together the gas grill and the smoker and learned to use them without starting a forest fire. I bought some shootin’ irons with my ebay money and got a CC permit while my son was at school instead of going to yoga classes.What would happen if the hubby was unable to get home or was sick or worse, deceased? I had to do everything myself and still do but sleep better knowing it is the right thing. He still gives me grief sometimes and can’t figure out why I have to have so much stock in the house. And He still can’t find anything in the cabinets even though a list is posted on the fridge. The point is you can’t worry about what others think and sometimes you can’t depend on others to support you. The whole purpose of preparing is to learn to be self sufficient and do what you think you need to do to survive.
Lorelle, If he isn’t going to lend a hand, I’d take your husband’s quiet over the “blah blah blah . . .” anyday.
greenleaf: SO TRUE! and thanks for the laugh!!! Seriously, I really admire all you’ve done, taking classes and teaching yourself how to do all those things. I need to adopt your attitude: the work needs to be done whether he helps or not. Plus, think of all the “I-told-you-so’s” we’ll be able to say. That’s enough motivation right there!
I think this is best encouraging statement I have found on this site!
greenleaf => “The whole purpose of preparing is to learn to be self sufficient and do what you think you need to do to survive.”
Cowgirl, next time he talks about getting water from that creek, suggest he grab a couple of 5-gallon containers and try out the walk to and from the creek! You might want to follow him in the truck and have a phone ready to call emergency services if/when he passes out.
Peej; The “I told You so’s “are the pay off. LOL I don’t even have to say it, I just give him the “Look”.
Unique: thank you for the compliment! Too many regular folks think I have an OCD. :)
You all are too funny, but it reminds me of my hubby. He’s a teacher and dangerous with tools. If it can’t be fixed with a rubber band and paper clips, or duct tape, forget it. Last year the toilet was running constantly. He “fixed” it with a rubber band, which quickly deteriorated. I went to the hardware store, explained the problem and got the parts for a little more than $1, and my 4yo and I fixed it in less than 5 min - it’s still working!
In my house it’s just the opposite. My wife more or less tolerates my prepping, but still doesn’t understand. I get a lot of “why do we need all of that?”
My ex is even worse, if she started getting concerned about H5N1 she would just get the doc to increase her prescription for her latest “feel good” pill (or a newer prescription). Unfortunately, my 14 yo daughter lives with her.
If I may - I’d like to ask a question from the husband side of the street. My wife has been helpful and involved in the stocking up side of things, but leaves all of the hardware and equipment stuff to me. I am aware of the favt that what we visualize as our isolation could turn out to be far less happy in outcome than the mental movies of most of the folks I see on this Wikie. Do you ladies think it would be valuable for me to take the time to put together a detailed “Users Manual” for the house and everything in it?
This would include where all of the water valves are and what they do, when to use them and what the outcome would be. How to hook up the generator to the house, how to stat it, how to fuel it.
You know, stuff like that. And how much is too much detail. How to change a fouled plug? How to use the tractor as a generator?
Where does it become impractical for “The Professor” to leave detailed instructions for Gilligan and Maryanne?
Living Water Drilled Well Bucket Made in USA The Living Water Well Bucket offers a simple, effective and economical way to get water out of your drilled well. Well buckets are one of the least expensive backups for your water system, providing you a ready source of water during power outages or pump failures. These well buckets are made of sturdy PVC with all stainless steel hardwear, so you never have to worry about any part rusting or corroding. Simply attach a rope to the eye hook at the top of the well bucket, and lower it into your well. The valve at the bottom of the bucket automatically opens, and the bucket is filled with water. Raise the bucket to the surface, place it in a 5 gal. bucket or other water container, and the valve will open and release the water. Fits any 4 inch or larger drilled well. Holds about 1 1/4 gals. $40.00
http://www.wisementrading.com/water/well_bucket.htm
(posted by frankielee @ curevents)
clv
This is great, thanks for the link. We have a well and a generator hooked up to a large propane tank, but I love this solution if things go the worst case scenario route.
Eccles: ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! this thread is making me laugh too much!!! I’m sorry to say this, but i think it would be a really good idea to make up that set of instructions. I don’t think you can have too much detail, diagrams would be great, maybe copied from a repair guide to save yourself some time.
Eccles: Yes ,yes, yes! If you should be unable to help your wife will need that information. I had my husband mark with a sharpy all the switches in the breaker box for the generator (which ones to turn off which ones to turn on) I had him write instructions inside the breaker box door. i.e.”The outside main must be off” and an arrow pointing to the breaker for the Hurricane main and it’s location.( clothes dryer plug). He has put notes on the outside of the house by the water main, in the garage, in the Lockbox where the firearms are for ammo requirements. Anyplace he could think of to help me if he is gone or sick. The messages also serve to help my daughter(23 and in charge of her brother if we can’t do it).
Actually I think he really thought writing did on the House with a sharpy was fun.(like crayoning the walls)
Instead of writing a manual maybe put all the manuals that come with the car (or a chiltons) and other things in a central labled location. I have a huge binder filled with printed info about canning, first aid, survival techniques, etc., in the china cabinet and everyone knows where it is.
Eccles - Absolutely! I would love it if my husband did that for me. I think that you can’t give too much detail. I would suggest you go in-depth with each point you make. What a great idea!
tjclaw1: “Dangerous-With-Tools” is not far removed from “McGyver”
Ditto! Thanks Eccles for the offer. I know that I would use it.
But then again, I AM the one who will read the instructions BEFORE attempting to assemble anything. My job is to stand back and TRY not to say anything when the object does not function and he starts to curse because he has extra mystery pieces…
:-)
Eccles, if your wife doesn’t want it, I’ll take it!
My husband is fabulous with cars, computers, anything mechanical or made out of metal. He knows all about finances, real estate, stocks, investments, banking. I could invite a three ring circus into our livingroom and as long as I feed him he wouldn’t even notice. He is tolerant of my relatives, even those I want to kill. He has such a rapport with our son we call the short one ‘daddy’s little clone’. He’s a quick study - he appraises situations almost instantly and I can’t recall any time his intial impression turned out to be wrong. I trust his judgement completely. He is large, powerful, a damn good shot, and smart. If there is danger, you can’t do better than to have him standing between you and it. He has traveled the world, yet spent a lot of time on the family farm. So while he is eating steak in a four star restaurant he can tell you the breed of cow and how it was raised. He’s cute and sexy too.
BUT
His eyes glaze over when I show off our full pantry. He does not know food. He does not want to know food - unless its on a plate in front of him. He likes children. He gets all fearsome looking and growls at our kids — and they laugh at him. But caring for them? Hah. He thinks the “24 lbs” on the package of diapers is the load average before needing to be changed. His perfect home would be a cardboard box with a big screen tv, a recliner, and a refrigerator. He has no need for a stove, or a even a sink. He never cooks and thinks disposable plates now come in porcelain. It is not at all unusual for all of our hampers to be empty, all of our laundry done, and yet hear him complain that he does not have socks, underwear or jeans. This is because he kicks those things under the bed. He’s strict. He says I am too lenient (with everyone but HIM, of course), I say he is too mean (with everyone but ME, of course).
In a pinch, he is capable of doing my job. On the few occasions when I have left him alone with house and kidlings for a week or more, I’ve come back to find happy well fed babies and a home that was cleaner than when I left it (though he admits to doing the mad rush thing the night before). I’m embarassed to admit, the same is not true when the shoe is on the other foot. I don’t know nothin’ about fuses, furnaces, air conditioners, sewer lines, weed whackers, or automobiles. He talks about money, so I will know about these things, but thats when MY eyes glaze over. He’s very close with my daughter, who is a… I dunno what she is. Investments, money, stocks, bonds… she gets paid to invest other people’s money. She knows. See! I don’t have a clue. Really! lol When he goes, I’ll just go live with her.
Well, I need to wait until my husband gets home tonight to find out (somehow) exactly what it is that he broke on the windmill. He dropped something down the well while fixing the thing and it’s broke down there I guess. Once I find out what is broke, I will find out how much it is to fix it and get it done (if I can afford it!).
Meanwhile, I have the septic tank getting pumped out today (good time to do it!) and last night I bought 2 solar powered battery chargers, some high yeild rechargeable batteries and a solar powered radio that also has a hand crank and picks up shortwave, am/fm, TV, etc. That could definitely come in handy both as something useful and informative and for entertainment if we’re held captive by our house.
I appreciate everyones sensativity that they didn’t jump on Doc watgone’s Pie in the Sky notion that “the water will work!” but went right on with the business of alternatives for getting water if things fail! Eccles, bless you for your offer, and I for one will use it. Though my husbandhas “reviewed” things like this with me, I need to have it in writing, and visual queues are a definate plus! (My brain is like a seive trying to contain water these days - I remember nothing). greenleaf - all I can say is, “you GO girl!” A woman after my own heart! When my husband didnt’ fill his elk tag this year, I took my 11 year old son to hunter safety, got my card, bought my license and now have 200 lbs. of elk to hold us through the winter. A girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do!
I’ll leave the hunting to my husband. We have an elk, an antelope and a deer in the freezer from this past fall.
NP Mom and greenleaf— You’ve given me the courage to finally sign up for a firearms class, no kidding. My husband is sort of anti-gun (and “too busy”)so he’s been ignoring the fact that ONE of us to learn how to shoot. I’m not anti-gun, just a little scared of being knocked on my rear. But no more waiting around . . .
Flourbug,
“His perfect home would be a cardboard box with a big screen tv, a recliner, and a refrigerator.”
LoL, if it wasn’t for women, men could live by the side of the road and collect aluminum cans for spending money.
Beat me to the suggestion: “next time he talks about getting water from that creek, suggest he grab a couple of 5-gallon containers and try out the walk to and from the creek! You might want to follow him in the truck and have a phone ready to call emergency services if/when he passes out.”
And in general, any partnership could have the sudden death or hospitalization of one of you, and in households with straight division of areas, having instructions in your field of expertise, and, having the other person have to learn how sometimes, is more helpful than having a widower who can’t eat or wash clothes or raise children, or a widow who can’t find the finances, or maintain the house, furnace, car, well, ect.
Knowing how to care for usual and unusual illnesses would be safer for all to know too; prevent dehydration and pneumonia when possible, know when to call and ask for medical advice, or call and ask what danger signs to watch for. If only one person knows where the medicines are and when to use what, and that person gets too sick, that might not be the best time to find out.
A household notebook, that keeps track of maintenance and other info, and maybe a medical notebook, with people’s blood types, Dr.’s numbers, any Rx meds you take, what OTC and other stuff that’s in the house and where it is, things you’d like the other person to do to help in various scenarios, even if it’s just that you’re down with a migraine and hadn’t gotten to your meds, ect.
Hope the pump gets sorted out and repaired soon.
Oh my gosh, I love this thread!!! It has made me laugh harder than I have for weeks! It made me think though, let’s see, if women can marry women, and men can marry men, and I’m Mormon, who used to have men marry women and women, and women, and women…well, if we are changing all the laws pertaining to this whole marriage thing, I think I’d like to marry Flourbug’s husband, and marry Eccles, and Maybe, Hillbilly Bil !!! I would stay married to my own hubby and just LET the Bird Flu come! I would have everything covered! and if I caught it—and died—I think I’d more than likely die with a huge SMILE on my face!!!
Mother of Five - Thanks, I consider that a wonderful comment! Pretty sure my better half won’t go for it though….
In fairness to Ecccles, Hillbilly Bil, and the other men on the wiki, not all men are as helpless as our husbands. When my hubby and I got married he slipped and told me one of his colleagues told him to “act stupid - she’ll get frustrated that she has to explain everything to you, and she’ll just do it.” I keep reminding him of that and when he acts like he doesn’t know how to cook a frozen pizza I remind him that he has a Master’s degree in English and surely he can read the package instructions as well as I can!
I appreciate Eccles suggestion to write down instructions on how to operate things. For one, I need to make sure I know how to turn off the water, gas, etc., in case of an emergency, as hubby surely doesn’t know. Hate to be fumbling around in an emergency.
TJCLAW, I thought that what your husband’s friend told your husband was taught in “Husband 101.” I am pretty sure my husband got that class! I think the longer we have been married that we kind of ironed out the things that we each decided were the things we would cover. It’s nice if we have different strengths because then we hopefully compliment each other. Doesn’t always work that way though and I finally found a “humorous” way to point out him stepping on my toes by telling him to “quit peeing on the furniture.” He has to travel quite a bit and whenever he comes back he tries to step in and “manage” everything. When it comes to preparedness, I think I’ve mentioned before that when it happens, he’ll turn to me and ask me “We’re prepared, Right?” and expect that I will be prepared, for whatever…. I figure I BETTER be! :)
Doc watgone wrote:
>This thread sounds like survivalist stuff, look the water will work.
You’re willing to bet your life on that, I assume…
Eccles: an excellent point to raise. I must insist that you do it! Same for you girls with stuff that is your area of expertise.. but the instrucions must be aimed at the reader. KISS: Keep It Simple St. In my experience we blokes have an eye glazing propensity for too much detail. An approach that I have found to work is to have instructions that are tiered, for example ‘to start the generator: Do this, this and this. THEN, if it doesnt start do this. THEN, if it still doesn’t start do this. Having layers of detail makes it possible for my wife to understand. I have tried practical demonstrations (which while helpful) are never quite retained in memory…so written instructions are a must. We have these at the site, say a sheet under contact in the fuse box or laminated at the genset PLUS a folder in the house for perusal and more detail incl the manuals for things. This works well for us. Its also important, using the genset example to keep it maintained, so it does start first time and the unfamiliar operator doesn’t have to go to the next paragraph to trouble shoot. hope this is useful. Cheers.
Mom of five, you’re on! I always wanted a wife!
… well, except for the sex part. No offense but I don’t lean that way. :P~
Aussie, Great suggestion! I think Eccles could sell these instruction manuals and make enough money to store 20 years of emergency supplies for his family. They’d be the perfect gift for a husband to give his wife (in addition to any preexisting gift obligations, that is).
flourbug and Mom of five: simple solution: have you considered paying for domestic help (like a maid)?
Doc Watgone, I lose water every time the power goes out. This happens often, thunderstorm, snow storm etc. Are you saying that I am imagining this? That it really is on, and I am just not turning the faucet correctly? Or are you guaranteeing that even though it currently goes off every time the wind blows, that come bf, the entire system will suddenly become foolproof, and everything will work just fine?
You guys are cracking me up tonight, especially greenleaf, dubina and psyberdoc. My family thinks I am crazy sitting here busting out laughing.
There was an episode on Everyone Loves Raymond about Raymond telling his brother before he married to act incompetant so his wife would do everything. Its one of the few situation comedies I watch when I do my occassional T.V. viewing.
Next time your husband mentions getting water from the nearby stream you might want to have him read about Giardia. Then ask if he still thinks drinking from ANY stream is a good idea. This link to the CDC website on Giardiasis ought to be enough to convince anyone that fixing the well pump and leaving the water in the stream is a much better idea. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/giardiasis/factsht_giardia.htm
Lilli, I USED to be married to one of those worthless so-and-so’s who liked to pretend to be incompetent (emphasis on “used to be”). The guy I have now has a few areas (such as cooking) that he’s not good at, but is willing to make a good attempt at anything. There are areas that I’m not good at either (and don’t even WANT to do unless forced into it, such as working on the car), but we each make an attempt to at least learn the basics. That way if we HAVE to do something which we don’t like and/or are not good at, we can at least fumble through it. I even taught him how to use the sewing machine (which I make a living at). He was pretty unhappy about it, mumbling about using a sewing machine as if it affected his manhood… until I pointed out that it was just like using any other machine, power saw, drill etc… so at least if I break a hand or something we could still make some money. And I pointed out that even MARINES know how to sew on a button!
All - Somewhere along the line, things became confused. I was talking about creating a user manual for my own home only. The specific things that need to be covered, like where the main water cutoff valve are, how to set the transfer panel for a generator, etc. are all so specific to each house out there that no generalized manual is possible.
However, in keeping with the “Systematic Planning” thread that I ran a few months ago that seemed to help people organize their thoughts, I could possibly do a thread on how to make your own manual so that every one knows what to do in case one or more members of your own personal “Donner Party” are incapacitated.
Is that what folks are asking for?
Mather of Five - I’m not sure you would actually want to marry me. My wife says I snore like a chain saw, and I’m sure she would just rent me out for night time duty at your place so she could get some sleep. I guess I could rig lights and fix things till dawn. :-)
Just had an idea. Why don’t some of you go on Dr. Phil? He likes to talk to couples who don’t see things eye to eye. One (or more) of you could e-mail him and explain that you are really into getting ready for the pandemic, BUT your husband and/or wife thinks you are crazy. He has as much credibility as Oprah. I can see it now. The video of your home (with your names changed, or course) shows the stockpiled toilet paper and canned goods. The wife/husband carting in bag after bag of groceries while the other one lolls on the sofa. THAT ought to get people’s attention. Then he could use some footage from his friend Oprah’s show with Osterholm for good measure. I’d do it, but my husband is pretty much on board. What say you?
In our area they have men who rent their expertise out. “Husband for Hire.” I think they call themselves. Never called them.I saw the add years ago and thought what a good idea. Haven’t seen any Wife for Hire ads.
I think my hubby has finally got on board with me after the “gaurdian”article yesterday.He helped me inventory at least our meds and homecanning left overs.we need more and havent even got a single mask yet.Pray for the poor,this will be worst on them if it happens.(or you could send them some masks).hehehhe
I lucked out. My honey is a prepper. (Actually, that is much of what brought us together.) Within a week of getting together (he moved in with me), a tree crashes down taking the neighborhood wires with it. It was early winter and mighty cold that night. Most of the neighbors bailed for warmer abodes.
The problem was this, though. I was still at work when the news of the power failure came. I had PLENTY of emergency supplies tucked away. However, since I wasn’t home to promote them he insisted on using his. It was SO frustrating! I wanted to show them off because power outages in my neighborhood are extremely rare.
On the bright side, we were later able to lord it over the neighbors with stories of our comfy wood stove fire, wind up radio, oil lamps. I came home to a hot gourmet meal mostly cooked on the grill. It was all very romantic. And warm. And civilized.
We do have somewhat different ideas about what needs to be done and why, but we are both comfortable enough with the prepping attitude that it is ok we don’t entirely agree.
At first my husband was okay (in theory) with the idea of prepping for BF, but he really balked when I laid out the expense involved with getting even minimally ready (say, 2 months for 5 people). He finally came around after I totalled up all the different insurance policies we currently pay for (house, medical, 3 cars, boat, catastrophic, etc.); all of which, I might add, amount to not much (if anything) tangible to show for their costs over the years. He thought about this analogy for a few days, then signed-on for the effort wholeheartedly (though he accuses me of wanting to fly “first class” rather than “coach” when it comes to certain items).
Judy - If TS does HTF, your hubby will be glad he is in “first class” rather than riding in “coach” !
Riding Coach is fine in the short term, but luxury every now and then lifts up the spirit.
“Judy - If TS does HTF, your hubby will be glad he is in “first class” rather than riding in “coach” !”
LOL, so true…especially when it comes to food (the biggest BF prep expense so far). My husband goes into a depression if I serve hotdogs for dinner - I can only guess at what a couple of months of nothing but rice and beans would do to his sanity!
Judy- alot to be said about being above ground and taking nourishment…………
not to mention his disgestive tract….
Okay them husbands won`t listen,go get a package of food coloring ,red,blood red! when he walks in the house start crying and letting the red run out of your mouth,start coughing and tell him your really sick,you should really put on a real good act,just when he is about to piss himself say this is what is happening in Turkey and Asia,if that does`nt work,leave a few photo`s of corpses laying around,he`ll wake up
No, no.
Keep on doing what you can quietly to prepare; he may come around before local officials do (and start running around, waving their arms…)
Watched a show on the History Channel. a group of men and one woman reliving what it was like to go to the Yukon for the Gold rush 100 years ago. In the end what struck me was that the people did not lose weight, they were more muscular. What the men said was that they didn’t miss sex as much as meals. The old, sex don’t last, cooking does. They dreamnt and thought of food when they were down to bacon, bannocks, oatmeal beef jerkey. They hunted for grouse, and a red letter day was soup made with a gopher. They got to Dawson, and the gold fields, but didn’t find any gold. But the obsession with food is what stuck in my mind.
“My husband goes into a depression if I serve hotdogs for dinner - I can only guess at what a couple of months of nothing but rice and beans would do to his sanity!”
Here, here! I have the same problem in my house - and its not just my husband. If its not a really tasty, complete, restaurant quality meal, I get plates full of perfectly good food back. Then they roam around the kitchen looking for something to eat. If they don’t find anything appealing, they call the italian or chinese place for delivery. Or, they just lay there moaning about how HUNGRY they are.
I have nightmares about marauding gangs breaking into my home looking for food, and my husband greets them with, “Pardon me, but do you have any Gray Poupon?”
We are as spoiled as the Romans. I know I am the same. I can have the fridge filled with perfectly good food, but it just doesn’t suit me at that moment and its off the Quick Check for fire roasted vegetable soup, or Wegmans for something special to tempt me. I can recall as a child eating what you got on your plate. We are so decadent. I”m not food oriented as some but even Gray Poupon won’t cut it sometimes.
Flourbug - I had a similar problem with my husband - no matter what I served, he said “It’s alright” - Steak, chicken and dressing, beans and rice, cold cuts, roast, whatever it made no difference - the only comment I ever got was a monotone “It’s alright”. Finally, at a party, in front of a fairly large crowd who were discussing the same thing, I announced that I could serve a 6 course meal, dance on the table naked and light myself on fire as the dessert and the only comment I would get out of my husband was “it’s alright”. We have now progressed to “wow this is really good, thanks honey”.
Try belly dancing.
Watching - you can be assured I would notice and appreciate the dancing part….
If it’s on the menu( made out in advance)then that’s what we eat. If you don’t like it you can drive 14 miles(7 on dirt road) into town. Yes, you gotta eat what is served. Only the sick get treated special. My wife and I are in agreement and the kids don’t get a choice. Unless maybe they want to help fix it. I don’t always feel like eating what is on the menu, and I get to prepare 50% of the meals. If you want to save money you need a certain amount of disipline.
I lived in simpler times. Less choice made it easier. I remember when English muffins first came to the U.S. That’s when you were lucky to get the Chicken and Soup for Sunday, and fish for Friday and set menus in between. Now its the skies the limit (within each persons budget). I like Wegmans because they have samples galore, and by the time you see what you really want, you will have allmost filled up.Cheap dining out.
I really like Wegmans. Fantastic bakery and cheese shops. I shopped there all the time when we lived in NY, unfortunately nothing even close where I live now.
I grew up with Campbell’s mushroom soup and toast for lunch, or a pb&j sandwich, or Beefaroni. My bunch would turn up their nose at that. They are spoiled, and mea culpa. But, getting the thread back on track, this is why the right kind of preps are so important to me. If the people in my house are climbing the walls because they are hungry - not just hungry but not getting the foods that satisfy them - then they are far more likely to leave the house before the risk is entirely gone. We can’t trust the media to report things accurately, and we can’t trust a government that might be panicking over the economic and human cost of prolonged quarantine. One hint that things might be cooling down and I’m going to have people rushing the door to get their fix of General Tso’s Chicken.
Because I’m a people pleaser, you always have 2 choices for dinner at my house; “take it,” or “leave it!” You might like what’s offered at the next meal better :)
My second smile for the day. Thank you NP Mom. My answer to any child visitor who felt bored because their parents entertained them endlessly, Kid. I’m bored. Me. “Too bad.” But they did like my cooking.
This weekend I contemplated what I had stored and determined how long it would last under ideal conditions. Then I though about how much of a culture change it would be for the grandchildren and my stepchildren when I institute the rules that would bring about those ideal conditions (i.e. no wasted food or drink, etc.). I certainly won’t be popular that’s for sure.
It’s amazing what a “Too bad.” It stops whining instantly. Kids look at you in horror and astonishment. A nice, but tough adult who actually means what they say.
Can you believe mine is the opposite? If he had his way, we’d be eating nothing but granola bars during the pandemic. He actually feels superior for what he believes is his ability to eat the same foods everyday, his proof is a camping trip from decades ago when he hiked in the woods for a long weekend with only granola bars and apples.
Flour bug : Thank you for making me squirt my tea out my nose. LOL. Oh ,the visual. hysterical. thanks for the laugh..
Had a big arguement with hubby last night …He says we are ready and “Its not going to happen anyway..Says our first priority is bills when taxes come back.This scares me alot as we are far from ready.Thinking about just doing my shopping without his knowledge of it if I can get away with that…
My hubby has been somewhat supportive (do it so I don’t see it vein) but he surprised me last weekend by buying 2 HUGE bags of garlic cloves. He said he heard garlic was effective against the bird flu. I didn’t have the heart to mention that the chances of daily administration of a raw clove of garlic down a 15 month and 3y old throat are almost nil.
My boyfriends solution is to run to the hills with all of our supplies, where I’d much rather be holed up in our house with everything familiar to us & prepared.
malachi - you have my sympathies. My spouse has been accepting if not enthusiastic about prepping. I understand your anxiety level and I am experiencing the same thing. At the least, pad your grocery shopping with low cost items like bags of rice and pasta. Anything is better than nothing.
Kristy - I’m like you, I want to stay in my cozy nest. My hubby inherited an old house (old as in should be condemned) in a rural area in a different state and wants to go there. I did lots of research hoping to prove to him that we’d be better off here or at least no worse off. that’s how I found this site. I went so far as to compare the 2 towns’ death rates from regular flu. I ended up convincing myself that its better to be away from so many people, and access to social services and hospitals is irrelevant because they won’t be able to help anyone.
oscktcj - you’re lucky, at least he’s helping. If I were you, I’d just thank him for the garlic and move on or else talk to him from the standpoint of how to store it long-term. Its like positive reinfocement.
I’m having an impossible time convincing my brother to prep for his family. I was thinking that he might be convinced by reading the “warnings” to prep by the UN, WHO, Pres. Bush et. al. I don’t have links for those press releases. Does anyone here?
I wish there were a safe place for Survivalist Singles. Haha. I honestly envy all of you. I’d rather have someone with whom to prep, even if he’s not supportive, then be on my own trying very hard to stay sane in the face of potential solitude for eighteen months. My ex-sort-of-boyfriend was kind enough to take me seriously when I wanted to talk pandemic. He even went so far as to contact his aunt and uncle, who have a huge expanse of property on the west coast, to see if they were preparing for the flu and if they’d mind two extra guests. I ended things with him a week and a half ago, and of course he e-mailed me a few days ago saying he knows somebody who would gladly have taken us in during the pandemic. I don’t know if it’s true or if he just wants me back.
I hate being twenty-two and single.
neon: you must’ve missed the infamous “chicken choker” post. he posted a singles ad on our forum but it did not go over very well. i wasn’t totally convinced it was phony.
There are worse things, neon. Set high standards; you’re young yet.
Hey, maryrose, “UN Urges Countries to Prepare for Flu Pandemic” http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=8e0f268d-b7b4-43ea-9f68-50494e25bef3&k=76819 …”I say to them please act as though it’s going to start tomorrow. Don’t keep putting off the difficult issues,” Nabarro said on the sidelines of the World Health Organization’s annual weeklong executive board meeting.
“It may not be months, it could mean we are going to get human-to-human transmission tomorrow,” he said.”…
US government: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html “Social Disruption May Be Widespread, Being Able to Work May Be Difficult or Impossible, Schools May Be Closed for an Extended Period of Time, Transportation Services May Be Disrupted, People Will Need Advice and Help at Work and Home, Be Prepared, Stay Healthy, Get Informed”…
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic/keyfacts.htm …”Many scientists believe it is only a matter of time until the next influenza pandemic occurs. The severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted, but modeling studies suggest that the impact of a pandemic on the United States could be substantial.
In the absence of any control measures (vaccination or drugs), it has been estimated that in the United States a “medium–level” pandemic could cause 89,000 to 207,000 deaths, 314,000 and 734,000 hospitalizations, 18 to 42 million outpatient visits, and another 20 to 47 million people being sick. Between 15% and 35% of the U.S. population could be affected by an influenza pandemic, and the economic impact could range between $71.3 and $166.5 billion.
Influenza pandemics are different from many of the threats for which public health and health-care systems are currently planning:
A pandemic will last much longer than most public health emergencies and may include “waves” of influenza activity separated by months (in 20th century pandemics, a second wave of influenza activity occurred 3 to 12 months after the first wave)
The numbers of health-care workers and first responders available to work can be expected to be reduced. They will be at high risk of illness through exposure in the community and in health-care settings, and some may have to miss work to care for ill family members.
Resources in many locations could be limited, depending on the severity and spread of an influenza pandemic.”…
http://pandemicflu.gov/planguide/checklist.html …”You can prepare for an influenza pandemic now.
You should know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you and your family. This checklist will help you gather the information and resources you may need in case of a flu pandemic.
To plan for a pandemic: Store a supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters. Ask your doctor and insurance company if you can get an extra supply of your regular prescription drugs. Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins. Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home. Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist with emergency response. Get involved in your community as it works to prepare for an influenza pandemic”…
Reuters Jan. 31, 2006 http://tinyurl.com/78tc3 …”By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. government is trying to triple its order for a key influenza drug in case of a bird flu pandemic but will not have all the needed vaccines and drugs for several more years, experts said on Tuesday.”…
…”Experts fear it could make the changes needed to spread easily from human to human and spark a pandemic that would kill millions. No country is considered prepared.
Congress has appropriated $3.8 billion to prepare the United States for an influenza pandemic — half of what President George W. Bush asked for. There have also been battles over provisions aimed at shielding flu vaccine makers from liability.
“We are not going to have a rapidly available supply for several years,” Gerberding told a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.
“I would estimate four to five years at the best.”…
…”Of four influenza vaccine makers, only one, Sanofi-Aventis (AVEP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), currently has a flu vaccine plant in the United States. Experts all agree that in case of a pandemic, countries will act to keep vaccine supplies within their borders.
The U.S. government has been trying to find ways to get vaccine makers to build plants on U.S. soil, and drug companies have said they would need a guaranteed market, protection from lawsuits and other incentives. “We need to have an understanding that there is going to be an interest in buying the product,” Viehbacher told reporters.
“You can’t go and spend these hundreds of millions of dollars unless you believe someone will buy it in the end.”
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/01/le.01.html Aired January 1, 2006 …”LEAVITT: The virus is constantly mutating. We know that. All viruses do. The one certainty is the uncertainty.
In 1918 a virus that had very similar genetic characteristics to the one that we’re looking at now and one that acted clinically in the same way made this leap. That’s what worries us the most. I wish I could tell you at some level of specificity when or why or if it would occur. I can’t. What that means is we just have to be ready.”…
…”One of the things that’s unique about a pandemic is that it happens many places at the same time. It also is not confined to a limited period. It can happen over a year.
So we have to prepare for a situation where you could literally have hundreds of different communities, maybe thousands of communities, battling this in their own unique way, in waves over the time period that could go nine to 18 months.”…
…”In the next 100 days, the first 100 days of this year, I’ll be in every state in America with teams working with governors to say, you need to be prepared.
Don’t count on Washington, D.C. to manage your pandemic
because it will be about your schools, it will be about your parades, it will be about your businesses. And you need to have the ability to be knowledgeable and to respond when — if your hospital were to surge and need to have three to four or five times the capacity that it currently has. You need a plan.
BLITZER: Secretary Leavitt, good luck to you, good luck to everyone involved in this issue. Good luck to all of us. “…
crfullmoon, bless you for the synopsis of some of the most important information available to us to date. It occured to me yesterday, though my husband hasn’t opposed me making preparations, (I am the primary wage earner) he has chosen to keep his excrutiatingly liberal head in the sand. He told our son, (11 years old) that he believes I am “using this an an excuse to buy stuff.” He has not read one thing that I have summarized or info. I have provide him with. I may be renting the remote cabin in the mountains and treking my children, food, water and supplies there if he doesn’t pull it together soon, as his ignorance would put us all at risk.
I don’t want more people to die than may have to if pandemic occurs.
It is as if we are sitting in New Orleans a year ago, saying, this is a severe year for hurricanes, and the scientists said a couple years ago that the levees aren’t good enough, and I think there needs to be a lot more work done on this evacuation plan…”Don’t worry they’re having a Hurricane Pam drill plan this summer, go about your business as usual, lighten up… If Katrina had missed, the next storm as bad would have done it.
We don’t know when pandemic will hit, but we’re not prepared for a bad one, and the scientists are feeling we should prepare. Every place on the planet may get its own tsunami/earthquake/hurricane-size disaster and we can’t help each other out in a global event like pandemic.
Neon: As far as being single—
Maybe you should contact E Harmony (the singles place online that matches by personality and other important factors) and request that they add: prepping for the pandemic is: 1)very important 2)somewhat important 3)a cause for concern 4)what the hell is a pandemic?
Then tell them to send all the number 1 answers your way, especially if they are cute, know how to shoot straight and own their own place in the sticks!!!
HAHAHA! NEMO - You crack me up! You are so hilarious.
Neonanswer - You hate being 22?? As for me. I’d take 22 in any status again. Youth. it’s wasted on the young!
NEMO! Hahaha. Great idea. Have you ever used E Harmony or others like it? Is it…secure?
I haven’t used any online websites for dating, though I did once enjoy a serious, long-term relationship with a guy I met through LiveJournal, of all places.
It’s funny…in my singleness these days, and as part of my plan to spread awareness among my friends and fellow students/activists, I do bring up the pandemic when conversing with a cute “prospect.” It’s unfortunate that the few friends of mine who have taken me seriously at one point or another are either my ex-boyfriends or are just completely un-datable (un-dateable?).
I wish there were some sort of symbol or gesture that two strangers could recognize on each other in public. Like the Jesus fish drawn in the sand. A universal symbol that would mean “FLU PREPPER” so I could walk into class and pick out my fellow preppers. That would make it easier to meet guys and make friends without all the risk that comes with online hunting-for-a-mate.
PEEJ, I actually DID see Chicken Choker’s post and found it more than a little creepy. I’m glad you all knocked that one down. I got worried that he would go back in the archives and find the post I wrote asking any Minnesotans if they needed a nanny.
Peej. Chicken Choker was looking for a bit of live action and maybe a bit of not so innocent fun at the wikis expense. I doubt that he had plenty of money and a cabin in the woods. Heck all he needs to do is list in the papers, magazines, intenet and he’ll get hundreds of takers, who aren’t too sqeemish about his name.As far as men, they are out there, god knows I get them coming and going and I don’t want them. Best thing to do is not want anything and you get it. Nothing is worse than to have a man think your after him. Let him chase you, they love it.The more you run the better they like it.
Eccles — no, I LOVE being 22. I DO. But, in the face of a pandemic (and especially a virus that kills young “healthy” people), I would much prefer to be financially secure, married, and a lot older so that I wouldn’t have to prep on my own like this. If I weren’t in college, with no assets, no spouse, no house, not even a mouse, nothing at all but the head on my shoulders and the crazy hair surrounding it, then I could be doing exactly what you all are doing. Stocking up without any worries about where to go and whom with (or at least, without AS MANY worries).
Neon answer. Chicken choker was more than a little creepy. Your onto a good idea about flu preppers signals for singles. Maybe when they come out with the shirts and caps for the wiki, if they do, you could add some signal of your devising to it, and start the ball rolling so others can recognize it. I think some segments of the world have all kinds of signal, an earring in one ear, keys worn a certain way. I don’t know what they are, my only gay neighbors moved so I can’t ask. Indently while Will and Grace aren’t something I watch, last night I saw an episode and the woman who plays Karen, cracks me up, what a great character. She and John Cleese make a great comedic pairing. Lots of chemistry there. Someday, they’ll be someone, just not chicken choker.
neon_answer - I do understand the discomfort you are feeling. It’s always better to face a fearsome foe with a good team mate at your side. I just had to pull your chain a little, considering that I am at least old enough to be your Dad, and perhaps even your Grand Dad (depends on how young folks get married around your parts).
Anyhow, you sound like you’ll do well with or without the help, its just a matter of mental comfort.
neon_answer - I talk about my husband a lot, but the truth is, he isn’t really my husband. I just say that because I don’t know what else to call him. He’s an ex-boyfriend from a long time ago (10 years). . . we were friends before we dated but romance never really sparked. But we’re great friends and have remained close over the years. We made a pact to become a team and prepare together, since neither of us are married (we’re both over 40 by the way).
Don’t be afraid of being alone, even in a pandemic. I know I’ve seen threads here on that subject and how to cope, maybe they even formed a network. You might even find a friend you could team up with, if one of you gets a boyfriend in the future, all three of you can team up. That’s what my ex and I decided to do.
You’re better off alone than with an unsupportive guy, he’ll only make you doubt yourself and you can’t afford that, there’s too much work that needs to get done!
P.S. sorry about my C.C. comment before, it was insensitive.
I have heard very good things about E Harmony. I did take the personality profile, but didn’t get the results because it wanted to start matching me up and since I’m happily married, I decided it was time to quit (I just wanted my personality profile- I needed proof positive from an outside source that I am as truly crazy as I believe I am!!). My 19 year old tried it, but they came back and said they didn’t have any matches (wah, wah, wah!!!) Poor kid! I think he was too young for their database. Most of the people I see on their commercials are in their 20′s or 30′s. If I were single, I would try it however. Much better chance of meeting someone who could be more easily transformed into a prepper than your average joe off the street.
Remember those toys back in the 60′s where you put in a flat sheet of plastic, heated the thing up to like 5000 degrees and then closed the lid and it shaped the plastic into a little toy model car? (Whose brilliant child safe idea was that????) Anyway, can’t you just picture a similar item for preppers? Grab the good looking guy (or gal) with plenty of funds and a good sense of humor, slap him in the mold gizmo, turn up the heat, close the lid and WHAMO! Instant prepper boyfriend, just needs a little flashing torn off at the sides. Yep, that would be cool.
NEMO - ROTFLMAO!!!!! I’m sure your son didn’t get any responses because of his age. Women in his age group and younger are probably looking for a slightly older guy unless it was for a one night stand. Tell him to be patient . . . or lie about his age.
I had one of those red-hot-toxic-chemical-cookers, only it made bugs. The metal plate was literally red-hot, and you dunked it in water with wire tongs to cool it, its a miracle we didn’t get electrocuted and 3rd degree burns. I liked the chemical smell.
They still make ‘em, only now its some kind of non-toxic gel and there’s an oven that doesn’t even get hot. Wimps!
Anyway, we’ve got a whole new definition for preppy boyfriend . . .
Neon and all…. Hey, maybe we could start a thread(s) for individual states where people could talk about local sales or good places to get certain preps or whatever. I got the idea when I saw Neons responses because I am in MN too. (I am an old married lady :-) There may be quite a few Minnesotans here. There are a lot over on Timebomb too (prepping Nirvana)and CurEvents too. Neon, unfortunately I do not know any young male preppers. In fact, I don’t know any outside of cyberspace. Er, well one. A freinds husband, and she thinks he is weird but she talks to me. She is probably trying to figure us out. Heh heh.
Better to be by yourself than hooked up with the wrong person.Things happen when your not looking.
Don’t mean those already committed, but those just keeping their eyes open and hoping. For ex. Chicken C. was a player and bad news. If you met him he probably would seem normal.
Thordawggy - I just saw 2 on on our forum, one asking if anyone was from MI and another asking about NJ, now’s your chance!
Ok, thanks Peej. I will start a thread.
Old threads being closed.