Disjointed Thoughts

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography.

Used with permission.

Two very random thoughts whose only connection is "they pertain to prepping" as I try to get my brain to cooperate. 

The Simplest and Best Prepping Tip Ever

Yes, that's a bold claim, but I'm prepared to defend my position. I say this because this idea is so simple that I just assumed everyone did things this way, but apparently some folks don't and when I mention it I'm looked like I just invented something brilliant.  Ready? 

Always have a second, unopened container of whatever non-perishable items you frequently use, so that when you empty the old container you have a new one ready to go.

It's wordy, yes. I couldn't think of a pithier way to say it, although I imagine there's such a way of saying it. And it would likely work on perishable items, too, if you're going through them quickly enough and you have the storage room for them. 

Let's use coffee as an example, since it stores well and people who drink coffee (like me) are going to be grouchy if they wake up one morning and their supply is gone because they forgot to put "coffee" on the grocery list. What you do is you buy TWO packages of coffee the next time you go grocery shopping, and the second package goes into your pantry. When you deplete the first package, you have a second package right there ready to be used without interruption. Then, before you throw that first package away, add "coffee" to your grocery list that week. This ensures that you will always have a secondary coffee supply because you are replacing the backup, not the primary. 

This tip will obviously not work in every case. Sometimes an item is used so rarely that it doesn't need an immediate backup. Sometimes (like with some food items) the backup will expire before you finish consuming the primary. Perhaps the item is bulky enough (such as a gallon jug of milk) that there's no room to store a backup. 

Despite all this, I've found this practice to be exceptionally helpful to me, especially in the case of hygiene and over the counter medicine: antihistamine tablets (this may require a family member to buy the second package if they contain decongestant ingredients), distilled water for my CPAP, and shampoo are just a few supplies that I have stashed to prevent interruption. If I menstruated, I'd treat tampons and sanitary pads exactly the same way. 

This is quite naturally the basis for the Prepper's Deep Pantry where you stock up well in advance and use those items on a first in, first out basis. However, some people lack the money or the storage space to lay in months' worth of supplies at a time, and this is an excellent interim step towards that goal. 

Doom Fixation

I was on a "Bug In or Bug Out?" panel last month, and after every single panelist declared "It's almost always better to bug in than out", the questions quickly turned to preparing for the big, "sexy" catastrophes like grid failure, total anarchy from loss of rule of law, growing all your food because the economy has collapsed, etc. and yet nothing about smaller and more likelier disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, electrical failure during the winter, etc.

This is very common in prepping circles but I'm convinced that it applies to more than prepping. The human mind seems obsessed with the spectacular-yet-unlikely over the probable-but-mundane. I call this doom fixation, and I haven't yet fully figured out the "why" of it all. It's at least partly the allure of novelty, and there's probably some "the mundane is boring" as well, but I think there's also just something in the human brain that is wired to be obsessed with the huge and powerful, no matter how unlikely. This fascination explains a lot about our love of religion, celebrities, and big government.

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a holdover from our paleolithic ancestors who hunted megafauna during the last ice age, but I have no real supporting evidence for it other than "lots of other human weirdness can be explained by prehistoric conditions, so this is probably the result of that as well. 

My point of this is that if you are aware of your brain's "caveman tendencies", you can take them into account and compensate for them. If you're reading this blog then you're already on that path, because Blue Collar Prepping is about preparing for the small, personal tragedies that affect individuals and families over doomsday prepping. 

As always, stay prepped or get wrecked. 

Struggling

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

Can this year please be over? I cannot recall another time in at least the past 20 years when I have been so thoroughly beaten down by life. I don't know if this is burnout, depression, something else, or all of the above, but regardless of what's causing it there are days when I struggle just to be a person instead of some feral swamp witch. This means that writing blog posts like this one often feel unsurmountable. 

No one wants to hear me whine, though, so here's a post that's a follow-up to a lot of previous posts, because this is the only stuff I can think of right now:

My house is still in shambles and the master suite is still unlivable (more details here). Very little has happened since May; we hired an insurance adjuster to go to bat for us and he's had to work like crazy to get USAA to give us any money at all. We've gotten some, but it's not enough to cover the cost of renovation. It looks like we might need to get a lawyer to sue them. 

Between all this drama and the hot humidity of Florida summer, it's been months since I was able to do my regular night walks. Because of this, and because I'm a stress eater, I've gained weight. Yuck. 

I tore down my BOB and GHB to build an instructional pack for LibertyCon, and I've been tinkering with it in order to lighten it and implement the knowledge I've acquired and the lessons I've learned since then. Neither are 100% as I want them, but they're getting close. I think that if I didn't have all this other stuff going on in my life, I would be finished by now. But there's nothing I can do about that, so I do as best I can.

I really like my portable water pump from Pacific Bay, because it fills my water bladders quickly and efficiently. I've been told by an engineer that I ought to put my filter between the pump and bladder (which is what I wanted to do to begin with) because in his experience, pumps are more powerful at output than input. I like this explanation because not only does it make sense, it also tells me that my gut feeling was correct. 

That's all I have for now. Hopefully things will get better (wouldn't that be nice) so that writing feels less like pushing a boulder uphill. 

Stay safe and practice self care, everyone. 

"May" Rhymes with "Buffet"

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

Cripes, it's been another month between blog posts. I'm really sorry about that; right now I'm in the unenviable position of "not a lot to talk about prepping-wise" and "my house is still in turmoil due to the mold problem." The bedroom - bathroom - walk-in closet suite is still down to bare foundation as we work things out between the plumber, the carpet/tile people, the drywall people, and the insurance company. At this point I have no idea if the renovation is even going to start this month or if it will be the summer (or later) before it begins. 

Because of this chaos I don't have any new topics to discuss, so if there's something you'd like me to address, please leave a comment or send me an email. I can, however, give you some updates on things -- a "Buffet Post", as David Blackard likes to call them -- so that this post isn't a total loss. 

My nightly walks are going well, and I can pretty easily do the 1.1 miles of the loop. Progress past that point is slow, however, because while walking (even without a backpack) my lower back -- where I think I have arthritis -- begins to ache and the muscles start to cramp and tighten, so how far I go after that depends upon my back. I do feel that the constant exercise is slowly helping my back, because over the past few months the tightness after a loop is slowly subsiding. Every so often I can make two loops, but most days I can only do 1.5 or 1.25. 

https://amzn.to/3perZ4c

Speaking of walking, last year I needed to replace my combat boots which I used for inclement weather. I ended up getting a pair of Wolverine DuraShock boots with a 6" ankle, and they're... okay, I guess? It's not that they're bad boots or anything. They are heavy and stiff, though, which means it's taking me a long time to break them in and so I don't have a strong opinion or a solid review on them yet. I will likely get more use out of them during hurricane season. 

https://amzn.to/3VyN45G

It's been a pretty rainy spring here, so I've ended up wearing my Poncho Villa by Hazard 4 a lot during these walks. It's the black version, which is pretty low visibility, especially in a semi-rural neighborhood at night in the rain. In order to keep from getting run over I bought a set of reflective patches and mounted them to the velcro fabric on the front, back, and sides of the Poncho Villa. I haven't been hit yet, so they seem to be working. 

https://amzn.to/42moHed

My waxed boonie hat is still plenty waterproof 2.5 years after waxing, although I haven't used it on a daily basis. I am still quite impressed with its durability and performance, though. 

 

This last part isn't really prepping-related, but I've found it enormously convenient in my daily life. Like most of us I use my smart phone as a GPS to help me get to locations and avoid traffic, and on longer trips that can drain the battery significantly. The obvious solution is to keep the phone plugged in to the car's AC outlet for charging, but if I am frequently getting out and back in (such as when running errands) then making sure the tiny USB charger fits into the tiny USB port can be an annoyance. 

https://amzn.to/41bg190

That annoyance can be wholly mitigated by using magnetic USB tips and cables. I use this version from Digital Ant, because each cable (there are three) comes with three different tips: Micro USB, USB-C and whatever Apple is calling its interface these days. This has given me enormous flexibility when it comes to recharging my various devices, such as the head lamps I reviewed last month. 

L to R: 1000 Lumen LED Headlamp, EverBrite 350 Lumen Red/Green Headlamp, Tozo Bluetooh Earbuds

Pair these cords with a smart technology three-port charger that determines how much current a device needs based on its draw and you have an easy, convenient way to charge most portable electronic devices. 

https://amzn.to/3LYQfjI

So, that's been my month. Hopefully I'll have another post for you before June. 

Odds and Sods

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

David Blackard calls these "Buffet Posts": articles which are just collections of topics that by themselves aren't enough to warrant a full post. Throw enough of them together and what you get is something that's at least filling and hopefully tasty.

National Preparedness Month

September is, you guessed it, National Preparedness Month according to Congress and FEMA. I don't normally think to mention it, because to me and to most of our readers Emergency Preparedness is something we think about all the time, not just once a year. However, not everyone does that, which is why prepper are seen as odd sorts... at least until disaster strikes. 

The resources on the site are pretty sparse as far you or I are concerned. But it's a good source of entry-level information for family and friends who are new to prepping, especially for those who think it's paranoid to prepare for emergencies. You can point at this website and say "Look, even the government says we should be prepared!"

Aches and Pains

I'm at that age now where I just wake up with spontaneous pains in various muscles and joints, and from what I can tell it seems like that's only going to get worse until I die. To that end I have added the following over-the-counter remedies to my preps, including my Get Home and Bug Out Bags, and I recommend you do the same if you're over 40 or prone to similar discomfort. 

Voltaren is a topical NSAID pain reliever that until a few years ago was prescription only, and now can be bought in generic form as Diclofenac. While it can be used for most aches, I find that it works best on joints -- which is no surprise, as it was originally prescribed for arthritis pain. 

For muscle soreness, I recommend Tiger Balm. It's your typical hot-then-cold pungent ointment that penetrates deeply and lasts for a long time, and it comes in a compact little jar because a little goes a long way. Just be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, because you definitely don't want this stuff in your eyes, nose, mouth, or crotch. It's greasy (which accounts for its stickiness and staying power) so scrub well. 

Know When to Get Out

This last entry is a bit fast and loose with our "no politics" policy. I instituted that policy because I don't want this blog to be taken over by partisan shouting matches that aren't relevant to our mission. However, I feel that this rule can be skipped when talking about other countries, especially when there is a very important point to be made involving evacuation from a country that turns hostile towards you. 

The following videos were made by an American who lived in China from 2008 to 2018, and they explain his concern over the growing hatred towards foreigners and increased police interest in him during that time, culminating with him fleeing the country and then his family joining him. Politically speaking, it is anti-Chinese government (but categorically NOT anti-Chinese people), but if I'm being perfectly honest I don't think I have many pro-CCP people reading this blog anyway, and even if I did, they aren't my target audience anyway. 

This first video sets the premise for the others. I was amused at the beginning where he described everything he loved about close, crowded urban life in China, and I thought "That sounds horrible" and then he talks about visiting his parents in a small town and I thought "That sounds lovely," so there's clearly a difference in values at the start. His opinion changes towards the end, however, and it reminds me very much of people who start off thinking preppers are paranoid and then being very happy for their preparations when disaster finally strikes. 

This second video explains why he felt he needed to leave, and why it had to be immediately. I will confess that this reminded me, far too much to be comfortable, of the stories my father told me of escaping the Nazis in 1942 by fleeing Austria for the safety of America. 

It's important to note that he posted this video two years after escaping China, probably to protect those who helped him get out. 

As you would expect, the next video is how his Chinese wife and child escaped and were reunited with him.

 

This final video shows that it's a good thing he got out when he did.

I know this is close to an hour of videos to watch, but I think there's important information here. Break them up and watch a video with your morning coffee over the next four days, if you can't watch them all at once, or do what I do and listen to them while doing household chores. The important thing is that you watch them and learn from them, especially if you live abroad. 

I hope you enjoyed this "buffet" of posts; hopefully I'll have more coherent content for you next week. 

This Is a Post

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

Dear readers, how are you these days?

I must confess that for about the past month I have struggled to stay on target. I wouldn't call it depression, exactly (although I suppose it could be and I just haven't noticed -- I call it "the creeping darkness" for a reason); I've just found myself caught by a one-two combo of not sleeping well and an increasing amount of family drama. This has resulted in me not having as much energy as I used to have and needing to spend a good chunk of that energy on my family, which means that when I finally have the opportunity to write I'm either upset or exhausted. While I am able to push through these feelings when necessary, it is increasingly difficult. Just writing these words has taken more time and more effort than I feel it should. 

There's probably a lesson relevant to prepping there, but I can't find it. Check in with your friends? Practice self care? Change your socks and hydrate? I don't know. Please tell me if you can find it, because right now it's all opaque to me. 

I have recently acquired some Work Sharp tools and it's been my intent for a while now to give you my thoughts on these products, but I just don't have the wherewithal to do that tonight. I apologize for that. 

I do seem to have worked out the kinks with my rucksack and now it's just a matter of making small adjustments until I have it dialed in just the way I want it. When that's done I'm probably going to give some more attention to my Get Home Bag; it feels like it sticks out more than it should. 

It's strange that even though writing seems difficult, I'm able to find the time to tinker with my packs. It probably uses a different part of my brain. 

I was going to write more, but my little dog Daisy came into my room and wanted attention. She's developed a nasty cough lately that the vet can't seem to fix, and it's getting worse. We don't know exactly how old she is (she's a rescue) but we're sure she's at least 10 years old. Given her age and how the cough is getting worse, mom and I are worried that she won't be with us much longer. (This is just part of the family drama I was talking about.)

So in conclusion, as I attempt to make this rambling post vaguely about prepping:

• Check on your friends to see if they're all right. Maybe you'll be able to see what's troubling them and give them advice. 
• If you can't be productive one way, be productive another way. At least you'll get something done. 
• Love your pets. They won't be with you forever, and you'll never regret the time you spent with them.

Sorry, I know this isn't a very good post. I tried my best. 

Head Lamps and Night Hikes

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

If you are Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, then I wish you happy holidays.

This past week has been very busy for me, so in the spirit of David Blackard I'm going to make a Buffet Post where I talk about some very loosely related topics.

 

EverBrite 350 Lumen Red/Green Headlamp 

I live in a semi-rural area, which means that streetlights are few and far between. This isn't much of a problem, but I do like to take walks through my neighborhood at night to avoid the heat, and that means I need some kind of light so that I can see where I'm going and avoid the nocturnal wildlife (usually deer, although I have seen alligators and black bears in my neighborhood, and now that it's warming up the snakes are coming out). 

My previous headlamp choices were "cheap but functional light made of thin plastic which takes 3 AAA batteries and produces less than 100 lumens" and "1000 lumen headset which is sometimes too bright and uses bulky 18650 lithium batteries." I wanted something in between these two settings, preferably with a red light or filter so that I could maintain peripheral night vision while still being able to see in front of me. 

The EverBrite 350 does all that and more for $18. It also has a green light (which I'm told is good for hunting because it doesn't startle animals like white light does) and four white light settings (high/medium/low/strobe). The battery is a 1500 mAH lithium-ion that recharges via micro USB port. 

https://amzn.to/3uRRokA

The light can't be focused or diffused, which is unfortunate, and for those who want to buy American please be advised that this product is made in China. Its most annoying feature are the blue charge lights which shine right into my eyes when I first turn it on, but that's easily solved by masking them with a strip of electrical tape. 

The EverBrite 350 also comes with a detachable red rear light powered by a button battery (I removed this and attached it to my camping pack) and a rather anemic rescue whistle built into the buckle. 

I like mine and plan to pick up a few more. 

High Sierra 90L Camping Pack

Speaking of nighttime walks, I finished loading my rucksack (mentioned in this post) and put it on. I succeeded in my goal of not loading it up with too much extra stuff, because I was able to pick it up and put it on. The weight felt balanced and manageable, and since everything felt good I decided to make a quick jaunt through the neighborhood while wearing it. 

The pack I have is a High Sierra Long Trail 90L. I don't think it's made any more, which is a shame because I really like mine. Here are its specs, along with some pictures, because someone wanted to know more about it. 

Specs:

• 90-liter, expedition-sized backpack with extra cargo capacity.
• Top-load main compartment with gusseted drawstring closure and adjustable top lid.
• Drop-bottom sleeping bag compartment with divider.
• ERGO-FIT shoulder harness, constructed with HEX-VENT mesh and foam padding.
• Dual, contoured aluminum frame bars
• Molded foam back panel with AIRFLOW channels.
• Waist belt, with HEX-VENT mesh and high-density foam padding.
• Side and bottom compression straps.
• Internal hydration reservoir sleeve and dual exit ports for tube.
• Front access to the main compartment.
• Adjustable sternum strap.
• Webbing daisy chain for attaching other gear.
• Soft lashing hardware.
• Mesh pockets hold water bottles.
• Tuck-away rain cover also protects pack when checked for air travel.
• Capacity - 5500 cu. in.
• Weight: 6.91 lbs.

According to Google Maps, I walked about 0.8 miles (1.3 km), and I'm pleased to report that everything felt stable and comfortable, which means I loaded my rucksack properly. My plan is to take increasingly longer walks until I know I can comfortably carry this pack for 2 miles. And after that, who knows?

Wish me luck!

End Of The Year Giving

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

I have several projects at work, and more at home, taking up my free time between last week and the 24th. Fortunately, I still have time to do a small amount of cleaning and setup on the equipment close to me.

Cupboard Cleanup

Yes, rotating out stored food before the expiration date is something I firmly believe in. I also make a point donating to my local Food Bank, both with my surplus food and with my money. The area food banks are specifically asking for money this year, due to the shortage of staff to sort and stack food and the fact that, due to distribution problems, they can leverage each dollar into two meals by dealing directly with farmers and manufacturers. My local food bank recommends these items:

Food Drive Shopping List

• Natural Peanut Butter and Other Nut Butter
• Canned Tuna and Chicken in Water
• Beans and Lentils (dry or canned)
• Rice and Pasta
• Whole Grain Cereals
• Low-Sodium Canned Vegetables
• Canned Tomato Products
• Hearty Low-Sodium Soups
• Canned Fruit in Juice
• Nonperishable Ready- to-Eat Meals (chili, ravioli, etc.)
• Please, No Glass!

The idea is to donate the things you like and eat, as those things are most likely to be eaten buy those in need.

One other thing: yes, this list looks a little plain and boring, so donate the things that you grew up eating and continue to eat now. Don't forget spices! 

A favorite addition of mine is powdered sports drinks, in either ready-to-mix packets or larger tubs. These give the added benefit of hydration and, if giving the sugar-free versions, slowing tooth decay and other health problems. Another group of items I try to donate are vitamins, both in pills/capsules and chewable versions. I don't get fancy, just B, C and a multi. (Yes, I'm familiar with the studies on the utility of multi-vitamins, thanks, but they go in the bag anyway.)

 

Bag Tune-Ups 

There might be one or two people waiting to see what I'm doing with the "Less Than 20 lb Bag Challenge" besides the reader who asked the original question, but that exact, separate article is still a work in progress. What is happening is The Purple Pack is being used as a trial run, as 20 lbs is a significant portion of Purple Pack Lady's weight. If I can figure out a reasonable assortment of gear, food and emergency weather protection that she can easily hoist, I will have a respectable baseline for tailoring a bag for an adult living almost anywhere. Unfortunately, I do have the added complication of PPL having serious ideas on what needs to be in the bag and what colors things need to be. Who knew the Apocalypse needed to be color-coordinated? 

 

Recap and Takeaway

• Things are tight for many people, but look around: there's not just the chronic homeless, but also those hit by serious storms that could use a little help. Thank you for doing what you are able.
• Seriously, I'm having to find supplies in color now. Wish me luck!

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

August Roundup

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

This is another in a collection of posts where I have topics that by themselves don't make a stand-alone article.

Safety of Persons

Recently a resident of a board and care home accidentally went outside without anyone noticing (this was early in the morning, before the residents were normally awake). As best can be figured out, a staff member was carrying out some garbage, left a door open, and the resident went out that door. 

Later that day, someone called the police to report that an unfamiliar  elderly person was walking down. The police found the resident, and asked them for their name and where they lived. They gave their name and pointed in a direction regarding where they lived.  The local police were familiar with the location of a care home in the area (police are called every time someone dies there) and brought them back to the home.  Fortunately for everyone involved, there were no injuries and the weather was mild, creating a reasonably happy ending to what could have been a disaster. There is now discussion on how to have some sort of ID for this resident in case something like this happens again. 

Gear Storage

My parents' house has an official offer at a price that's acceptable to all parties, which means the last bit of my stuff there needs to be moved out by the end of the month. To further complicate things, my sister and brother in law are getting close to putting their place on the market by the end of next month. I had most of my duplicate "Need It Now" gear in their garage and now I have to find a new storage spot for it, as where I live lacks the room for it; we don't have a garage, and my roommate has dibs on our storage area .

I do have some emergency supplies at the care home the Purple Pack Lady runs, but there is no way to disguise several (okay, seven) plastic totes in a corner, which means finding another place to put my stuff and the potential necessity of weeding out the things that I would like to have from the things that are absolutely necessary if a place to keep them can't be found. I really don't want to do that, as everything I have cost not only money but time to decide on what to buy in the first place. 

I have also upgraded things from when I started to write here, but some things are still not in my budget to replace right now. I will post whatever solution I find, good or bad.

My "OH S**T!" Moment

When I wrote about my card problem in this post, I was aware that the ability to recover the money was very doubtful. Well, it turned into impossible, for the reasons listed. I seriously recommend going through my post and then doing the same with Chaplain Tim's follow-up post. There are bad people out there who will take from you everything you have.

Recap And Takeaway

• Being able to identify people outside of a disaster is important, and even more so when things go bad.
• Figuring out how to keep my gear safe, organized and accessible is vital. I'm still looking for those answers.
• Look at how you pay for things, and be as safe and discerning as possible.  

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: Purple Pack 1st Aid and More

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

The First Aid kit mentioned here was well accepted by my friend and put into her primary vehicle alongside additional items that were moved in temporarily from my camping gear. Full replacement of things will come later, when it gets closer to camping season. 

What are these items, you ask?

Celox Rapid Z-Folded Gauze

I have several of these which I purchased separately and salvaged out of trauma packs. From the Amazon ad:

https://amzn.to/3koGLiC

Celox Rapid is suitable for:

• Severe high pressure bleeding
• Arterial and venous bleeding
• Bullet, blast, knife and shrapnel wounds
• Wound packing. Applying through strong blood flows. Application to all bleeding wounds

This has been recommended by many different sources, both here on BCP and around the web on First Aid sites. More than one will be added very soon. If the Celox is not readily available, I've also purchased the Adventure Medical Quikclot Advanced Clotting Sponge.

North American Rescue CAT Tourniquet Gen 7

https://amzn.to/2Mm95FA

I've purchased several of these as well, and moving one from camping supplies isn't running me short. 

I originally purchased a two-pack and when it comes time to fill the camping First Aid kit, I will more than likely buy another two pack.

So far, the additions to the kit are being accepted better than I really expected. I am however  a little surprised at the push back on using the steering wheel lock I mentioned in this post two weeks ago.

https://amzn.to/3tJOg7T

With her car having been stolen and only taken for a joy ride (as far as anyone can tell), the lock is currently not being used. It is marginally heavy, which may be why she isn't using it; putting it on and off can be a pain, but compared to losing a car it shouldn't be a struggle.

I'm trying to make headway with her for using it only at night, since where she parks is visible to many people during the day and the car was taken at night. It has been used at least once at night, so baby steps have to be made before running a marathon.

Recap And Takeaway

• Getting all users familiar with their equipment is important, especially in a potential life saving situation.
• Nothing was purchased this week, just moved around from one pack to another.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Random Tips & Tricks

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

In the spirit of David Blackard's "Buffet Posts", I give you an assortment of disorganized-but-hopefully-useful things that I either thought of or made use of during last week's trip out of state. 

Knuckle, Not Fingertip

If you need to press buttons on something that a lot of people have touched -- such as an ATM, or a pay at the pump gas station, or a credit/debit console, or even the floor buttons of an escalator -- use the middle knuckle of your middle finger to do it. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_(attack)#/media/File:Nakadaka_ken.png

Your knuckles are quite strong, which is why many martial art forms teach you to punch with them, and they are also quite dexterous. This makes them ideal for pressing small things like buttons with proper force and accuracy. I suggest you use your middle finger because not only is it longer and therefore the first to make contact, but also because you are highly unlikely to use your middle knuckle to touch your face, your smartphone, food, or anything else which could lead to contamination. It's also a very small surface area and therefore easily cleaned with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, etc.

Clip Your Curtains

In almost every hotel and motel I've stayed, two things have been true: there are bright lights outside the window and the blackout curtains don't completely overlap. If you are bothered by that slit of bright light peeking through your window, bring along one or two "chip clips" to clip the curtains together, overlapping them if possible. 

https://amzn.to/2Zb18po

This also works with clothespins, but I prefer the chip clips as they have a larger gripping surface and, being brightly colored, are less likely to be forgotten and left behind. 

Pack a Shower Puff

I can practically hear the men saying "Hey now, I don't need this" but bear with me for a moment, because shower puffs belong in everyone's luggage for the following reasons:

• The washcloths that hotels give you to use are awful. They're often scratchy and almost always thin. Why would you want something like that on your face and other delicate bits?
• Shower puffs are amazing at making lather, which means those tiny hotel soaps go much further. 
• They dry a lot faster than loofah body scrubbers, which like to hang onto moisture and, if put away wet, can result in a moldy surprise the next time you open your toiletry bag. 

https://amzn.to/2Zj8RSl

Not only do I have one in my overnight bag, I have one in my bug-out bag as well. I even attached a mini carabiner clip to the loop so that I can clip it to the outside of my pack for faster trying. 

Those are three tricks which made my life easier last weekend. Do you have anything similar?

Prudent Prepping: Idle Musings, pt. 2

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

Still more of some things I couldn't make into a full blog post right now.

New Flashlights: Part The Latest

The new NiteCore flashlights that are going into Purple Pack Lady's cars were charged and I was ready to mount them as I have done in my car, secured with velcro in the driver's door pocket. I had velcro glued to the flashlight holder, and just needed to clean the plastic on the door pocket when we had a minor setback: her car was stolen. 

Luckily for everyone, it appears to have been taken for a joy ride only, since the car was later found only 6 blocks away. Plans have been delayed on the install as we work on security instead. 

Car Protection

Due to the loss several months ago of the key fob/starter dongle that more than likely was used to take the car, I ordered steering wheel immobilizer units for her two cars When I started looking on Amazon, the listings were very large, and prices and types all all over the map! There were wheel-to-pedal, regular Club-like devices, wheel-to-dash and even one that covers the entire wheel. (That model was very nice and would prevent cutting the steering wheel to remove the lock, but it wasn't BCP budget compatible. Not even close.) What did work for my budget was a modified version of The Club with two sets of two hooks to hold the wheel. 

The Club 3000 Twin Hooks Steering Wheel Lock 

https://amzn.to/3tJOg7T

From the Amazon ad: 

• The twin hook design is tougher for thieves to defeat
• Universal fit that works on cars, vans, and SUVs. Max opening (inside of hooks) 365mm/ 14.4 inches
• New and improved lock housing for added strength
• The Club's patented self-locking feature locks with one pull
• Cro-moly steel construction resists sawing, prying, hammering, and freon attacks

I really like how the double hooks allow the Club to be mounted around the spokes of the steering wheel, since merely cutting one piece of the rim on each side will not allow the Club to be removed! 

Purple Pack Additions

As I mentioned last week, I want to double up on gear so that everyone has supplies if something happens to one pack. I was able to make some headway and get a stove added to the Purple Pack! I'm adding an Esbit stove and fuel like this one to the bottom of the PP, since I was able to show exactly small and compact everything is. I believe this is going to be about all I can add until there is an opportunity to really use stoves for actual cooking. After that, there's the chance to upgrade to something easier to use and obviously cheaper to operate, like a Solo Stove!  

Stay tuned for more reports on What's In The Pack!

Recap And Takeaway

• Some things just can't be planned for, like a stolen vehicle. They can, however, be prevented from happening again.
• Show and Tell, politely done and explained, worked for adding a needed stove to the pack. I hope adding other things in the future will go as smoothly.
• Purchased this week: two The Club 3000 Twin Hook Steering Wheel Lock from Amazon for $24.84 each with Prime shipping.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: Idle Musings

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

This post is going to be several topics that I've mentioned before, or are things that haven't really made it on my "Seriously, Make This Happen" list. At least yet. 

Range Tripping

Even with the cold, rain and wind over the last three weeks, every time I try to sneak out to the closest range and sight in the Swamp Fox Kingslayer mentioned here, here and here, either the benches have been full with a line to get in or it's been too rainy to even open up. With little rain in the forecast through the weekend, I don't expect to be reporting anything but more disappointment. However, I will make several attempts at it, just in case I get lucky. If I get in, right after finishing I'm going to buy some lottery tickets.

Purple Pack Additions

In the continuing story of The Purple Pack, the last addition was a Sawyer Mini mentioned in this post from November 2020. As was mentioned, our schedules don't match very often and getting together to discuss serious additions is hard. As the year progresses, we seem to have more and more time to talk and plan about what might happen when/if the weather calms down and the state doesn't catch on fire again. I won't push for major changes, but rather for small things that are obviously practical right now and not 'Prepping Related', like upgraded flashlights for her cars. 

Speaking of which, I ordered two Nitecore P12GT 1000 Lumen Flashlights. 

https://amzn.to/36B1ERF

From the Amazon page: 

• Premium CREE XP-L HI V3 LED
• Maximum output 1000 lumens
• Boasts a peak beam intensity of 25,700cd and
  high efficiency circuit board provides up to 520 hours runtime on low level
• Side switch interface provides one handed operation and easy access to all functions
• Intelligent memory function stores preferred brightness setting
• High-efficiency regulation circuit provides unwavering output
• Toughened ultra-clear mineral glass with anti-reflective coating
• Constructed from aero grade aluminum alloy with HAIII military grade hard-anodized finish
• Waterproof in accordance with IPX-8

I have two of these right now, and I recently ordered an extra charger to have one at home and one ready to go. This way, every small flashlight uses the same batteries and charger, making it very easy to swap batteries around so everyone can have a operating light. 

The very next addition that I want to make is a stove of some kind. I've been told, "Why do I need a stove? You are with me and you have one, so why do I need one too?" I'm seriously thinking of putting an Esbit Stove and fire cubes in a ziplok, putting it in the bottom and saying nothing about it! Unfortunately, that's not how I operate and no matter how much I'd like to do that, I can't.

https://amzn.to/3aw7Ziz

Once I figure out how to clear that hurdle, I think it will be easier to upgrade to the SOLO Stove I have sitting on top of my storage totes, just waiting to go to a good home! 

Recap And Takeaway

• Continuing to take things easy, since "Slow and Steady Wins the Race" to prepping success!
• Purchased this week: Two NITECORE P12GT 1000 Lumen flashlights from Amazon for $73.95 each and one Nitecore D2 DigiCharger from Amazon for $20.99, both with Prime shipping. 
• Everyone now has interchangeable lights for all vehicles and a spare charger! 

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.