right now

right now

Oct 27, 2012

Stuff It, Sandy!

We're Ready... 


This marks the first year that I haven't needed to go to the store for anything before a storm!  I've always been pretty prepared, but have always felt the need for last minute stuff but no longer, this is a big accomplishment.  That didn't stop me however, from heading out to People Watch... I'm continually amazed at the mentality of some people, as well as the complete inability to "think outside the box".

Random observations:

Lines and parking lots that rivaled Black Friday at WalMart - I didn't even need to go in, the news showed me the photos of empty shelves and people that are desperate for water and "necessities".

On a whim (as I drove past a WalMart) I went into the Office Max across the street from WalMart.  Empty store and whaddaya know?  Shelves FULL of batteries and flats of water LOL

I went into a Kmart today, just to check it out... the camping aisles were completely empty, even sleeping bags LOL, where are people going, the KOA?  Shelves with tags that read Lanterns $49.99, 29.99 etc - empty.  Yeah, the kind that take canisters of fuel that people won't be able to find anywhere.  I headed into housewares where they still were full of hurricane lamps and "oh, look at that, 32 oz bottles of paraffin oil on sale for $1.99"!  LOL so even though I didn't need any more you better believe I bought them all, bahahahaha!  We won't talk about people freaking out because there is no bread anywhere yet we still probably have 24 hours left with power and the shelves were chock full of flour and yeast :)

I figured we could always use another grill lighter yet there were none at Kmart, so now I'm having fun with my challenge and stopped by a shady convenience store and there were about 6 people in there freaking out over the fact that there was no more cigarettes and malt liquor LOL but behind them glowing were grill lighters and loaves of BREAD!

Outside the box, people... stay the heck away from Walm@art!  

So, we are as ready as we'll ever be, generator to run the well pump for showers, lamps and oil, Kindle charged, knitting at the ready, lots of food storage, means to cook it outside, 6 gal containers of water that stay filled with drinking water, and plenty of containers to collect rainwater for flushing if we need it.  The most amazing thing that has definitely not gone unnoticed is that this late hurricane is happening when the temps outside are a fantastic 55-65 degrees - normal years the a/c goes off and we can look forward to 95 degrees, humidity and mosquitoes, so that's the bright side.  Between watching my parents deal with winter storms and pumps freezing over in Minnesota winters and all I've learned from my homesteader/prepper blogger friends I'd say we are more prepared than most, so thank you mom & dad and all of you!

With mommy getting over an illness and daddy dealing with broken ribs, (story for another day)  the boys have really learned how to pull their own weight a little more in moving and securing items and just helping in general... it's high time!


To Mom, I have had NO voice for 2 days (the family is enjoying that) so you will just have to believe me, we're safe!  I hope all my friends up in the northeast are having their preparations come together well and that you come through with little damage.  I look forward to hearing all your reports, see you on the other side!  Looks to be pretty crazy from the hurricanes we are used to, this thing is still 500 miles or more away from us and our surf is intense already and having high wind gusts, it just feels different - so get ready!

29 comments:

  1. Stay safe, last news report I saw shows storm hooking towards Virginia, hopefully it changes it's mind. Glad you are prepared, I need to stop my whining about dry heat, although tornadoes are getting more common in California at least so far they have been small. Take care.

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    1. Thanks Tombstone, and you are welcome to whine about heat or tornadoes LOL, I never said I enjoyed any of this hahaha! That would just make me an insane crazy person :)

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  2. Stay safe!!!

    Illness? Broken ribs? Just how sick did you have to be to break his ribs? He probably refused to bring you chicken soup ;-)

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    1. Gran, haha! I'll save the story for another day but I will say for now it involved family visiting from out of town... just kidding - we DID have family visit, but they weren't the throw-down dysfunctional circus types LOL

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  3. Isn't that amazing how storm after storm, year after year, people still refuse to do the most simple of preps for weather that will ALWAYS come, sooner or later. Oh, and then they become irate when Kmart runs out of batteries or camp stoves.

    Great feeling to have all your ducks in a row, isn't it? I have to admit to going people-watching several days after one of our ice storms. It was pathetic; I felt sorry for the folks that had to work at the store, the customers were being very, very rude.

    Keep safe & keep us updated :)

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  4. CR, you are so right - those poor employees! Yep, there's nothing that's going to help my house from floating away if that's what's in store, but there is so much people should have for general preparedness and comfort!

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    1. also, I would understand more if this was an area that doesn't get these types of disasters but ummm... Coastal Southeast...hurricane.... you would think these people would be on the program by now LOL!

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  5. Stay safe! I've asked Justine if there is any hurricane prepping going on in the dorm and she says no. ACK! What did I teach her!!! At least she knows to keep her phone charged and being on city water, hopefully they will have it. I do hope the cafeteria is prepared though, I can't imagine trying to feed an entire dorm of hungry kids with no power!!
    This looks like a weird storm. Be careful out there.
    Judy

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    1. Judy, I hope the school does have some prepping plans for the students - otherwise they will have to answer to a lot of parents LOL! Hope she is safe and isn't too inconvenienced up there.

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  6. Similar situation here in DE. People are fun to watch as the panic sets in. I worry about my animals in the barn more than unprepared crazies. Good Luck from DE.

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    1. Hi Lisa! I think you are in for it even more than us up in DE! I just checked out your blog and I definitely am headed back to read more, but it looks like you are prepped and ready as can be too - good luck with all the animals and the homestead, I'll keep you in my thoughts too as this thing winds its way up. - ha! you knit too :) Take care!

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  7. Love that you didn't need anything but went out and people watched. I'd so do that too. I'm glad to hear you are well prepared.
    I hope you stay safe and the storm is not as bad as they are predicting.

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    1. Sparkless, I'm easy to entertain, I love watching other people LOL!

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  8. What a great post! Enjoyed it and your observations are spot on.

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    1. 1st Man, haha you are in Texas right? So you have seen your fair share of Tropical Storm Tantrums LOL!

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  9. Update: it's 11 pm here and the winds are gusting about 45-50 and this thing is still a few hundred miles away so I think we will lose power long before it even gets here. If I don't answer your comment, that's why and I'll check in when I can. Until it goes out it's a zombie movie marathon on SyFy tonight... nothing like watching Zombie Apocalypse movies while waiting on a Frankenstorm! Stay safe, y'all!

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  10. Glad your safe and ready. People are the most fun to watch, the nutty things they purchase.

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    1. Nutty indeed! I think people have plenty of liquor from what I saw!

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  11. Folks are certainly not only HELPLESS but also seriously lacking in any common sense anymore. I bet that was a sad kind of funny watching the "doings" yesterday.
    Stay safe and hope you feel better soon.
    Good luck!

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    1. Sue, you be safe too, looks like you might be seeing this thing that far inland!

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  12. We're waiting for the snow. I'm pretty much all set - without having to go anywhere to get anything! Great post, Erin. Too bad the people who really need it will not see it. Hope you all are safe - and it sounds like you have a lot of news to give us! (hint, hint)

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    1. Susan, glad to hear you are all ready, I'm sure you had a lot to do with the animals, stay warm!

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  13. I'm always amazed when people decide at the last minute to run out and buy the "essentials". Every time they forecast a storm or snow people flock to the store and empty it of milk, bread and water. Don't people store anything anymore? I'll be thinking about you Erin and hope you guys will be safe!

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    1. Anke, I always laugh and think "is that the prescribed diet during hurricanes?" LOL milk & bread, how tasty!

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  14. So glad to have this post from you. Have been thinking about you a lot in regard to the storm but knew you'd be as prepared as anyone possibly could be. I think we'll all be sitting on the proverbial pins and needles until we hear from you "on the other side!"

    P.S. Did your hubby get any time off work with the broken ribs? Full story, please!

    P.P.S. When the heck are you gonna get out of that crazy territory you're living in and truck on back to safe, sane Minnie-soda??

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    1. Mama Pea, so strange that for the first time during a hurricane we are having to think about staying warm instead of cool! It's fine today but the next several days should be about 38-42 degrees. The other story to come LOL

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    2. So glad you posted and are all set up to weather the storm. I've been thinking of you and wondering how you were faring as this thing comes towards you! It is kinda wierd how people don't think ahead and have at least minimal preparations. You'd think at least they'd have water left over from the last panic.

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  15. Well put! I often wonder why people don't already have some of the stuff in their house that they feel the need to rush to WalMart for. Maybe it's the Girl Scout in me - Be Prepared. Not a hard thing to do.

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  16. I'm reading this to hubby and we are lol at 6:20 am ,waiting for our ride to the va-stay safe,I know you will

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