Gun Blog Variety Podcast #145 - Crossing State Lines

Despite the great time they had in Atlanta, neither Beth nor Erin violated the Mann Act in the creation of this podcast.

(Fun fact: there is a Mann Act, there is an Elkins Act, and there is a Mann-Elkins Act. They all have to do with interstate shipping, but only one deals with debauchery.)

• Beth and Erin attended the First Annual Meet and Mingle for Women in the Firearms Industry last weekend. What did they do, who did they meet, and what's it all about? They'll tell you in a joint Blue Collar Prepping/Pacifiers & Peacemakers segment. 
• He was in jail awaiting federal firearms charges and needed bail. So what did he do? He talked his wife and his mother into pimping out underage girls across state lines, that's what. Sean takes a closer look at this prince among men.
• Miguel digs into his pile of books to pull out the one he thinks is the most important for anyone who carries a gun for self defense.
• Barron takes a few minutes while on break at work to record a quick segment about the need for offline backups in an era of ransomware.
• In the Main Topic, we welcome Special Guest Tony Simon of The Second is For Everyone Diversity Shoot.
• Tiffany is still recovering from her surgery, so she records us a short segment to tell us why she can't record a segment.
• You saw the photos from the Moms Demand protest at the NRA Annual Meeting. You had to know that Weer'd would be doing an Audio Fisk of the participants, right?
• And our plug of the week is for Operation Blazing Sword's first public event, "One Aim: Safety for Everyone!"

Thank you for downloading, listening, and subscribing. You are subscribed, right? We are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and Google Play Music!

Listen to the podcast here.

Read the show notes here.

Thanks to LuckyGunner and Remington for their sponsorship, and a special thanks to Firearms Policy Coalition for their support.

Home-brewed Comfort: Menstrual Relief Tea

Tea is great. It's one of the simplest ways to get vitamin boosts and help induce higher comfort levels. It's also been around for thousands of years; the Egyptians and Ancient Chinese knew about tea and drank it.

This tea recipe is one I've been experimenting with and is sort of a work in progress. I say that because there could be another herb that is easy to find in loose quantities that would work better and be the icing to this tea cake.


Ingredients

• Chamomile
• Mint (any of the mints will work, I use just general mint)
• Ginger

Get the pure stuff. Pure Chamomile, pure mint and pure ginger. Do not get anything that isn't just that herb. Yes, it makes it a tad more expensive, but it's worth it.

You can sweeten this tea, but I would advise that you use honey, real honey, and only one spoonful.

Ratios of the blend

• 4 parts Chamomile
• 2 parts mint
• 1 part ginger

Chamomile should be the majority of the tea. If you're brewing a pot, you want about a tablespoon and a half (or two bags). Just one cup? Two teaspoons (or one bag).

Mint for a pot of tea is half of a tablespoon (one bag). For one cup use 1 teaspoon (if you have only bags, just go ahead use one bag).

Ginger is where it gets tricky. Ginger is very effective and you don't want a lot of it in your tea because it will overpower the other two herbs in terms of flavor, and then you're left choking it down. For a pot of tea, use a teaspoon and no more. For just a cup, use a pinch... literally, Use whatever minimal amount you can pick up with your thumb, index finger and middle finger. Again... do not use too much ginger.


Why chamomile, mint and ginger? 

I'm glad you asked. All three are great for upset stomachs, and nausea is common among menstruating women, even more so than the urge to rip off people's heads!

Chamomile:

• helps you relax 
• reduces insomnia (oh, how I love it for this property) 
• eases anxiety 
• boosts the immune system 
• helps your body not only end diarrhea, but also makes recovery more comfortable 
• lessens cramps (In my experience with this tea, it reduces the amount of pain reliever I need to take in order to deal with the cramps. As this is my personal experience, take it with a grain of salt as each woman's body will react slightly differently)

Mint:

• eases digestive problems 
• helps keep brain fog at bay 
• improves your mood 
• seems to be an aid in increasing blood flow, which can reduce the magnitude of headaches 
• reduces stress 
• is a mild pain reliever

Ginger:

• is used to treat all sorts of digestive track problems 
• is a pain reliever 
• has a compound that reduces bloating 
• counter-acts loss of appetite 
• improves blood circulation 
• reduces inflammation 
• is a mood booster

As you can see, there are some very common themes between these three herbs. 

Advice

Remember, do not use too much ginger. Too much ginger can actually make your stomach problems WORSE. It doesn't take a lot of ginger to be effective. 

Three mugs on the first day is usually all I need. Sometimes I need to drink it for 3-4 days straight, but in those cases I only have two mugs a day and spread out over the day.

Be sure to read over the links I've included. There's a lot more information on the herbs themselves and conditions that they might aggravate.

Happy sipping!

Links for more information

Please be sure to check out these articles for information on allergies and side effects,

Chamomile:

• The Tea Talk
• Web MD

Mint:

• Peppermint heath benefits
• Web MD

Ginger:

• Web MD
• Ginger Tea Benefits

Book Review: Prepping for Women

Hiya folks!

It's been a while, I know, but I'm back for a quick post. Erin directed this particular book my way not too long ago, and I have to admit I was a bit intrigued but had resigned myself to not expecting much. It's easy to regurgitate information that you can find on the internet via Google or Bing, so I did not have high hopes.

However, I was pleasantly surprised with this book. If you remember correctly, I wrote a post a while back about reusable options for menstruation needs. The author, Tracey Murphy, does an excellent job on this topic in that she is able to present way more information on each option than I ever could have.

She covers the cups, the pads, the tampons and the sponges. No, you read that right: sponges. This is not something I would ever personally consider, but she does a good job laying out information on all the options.

She also covers PMS and yeast infections, also in greater detail, as well as things like herbs that are great for taking the edge off the former and speeding up healing on the latter. She even talks about Yoga positions.

"Yoga?"

Yeah, yoga. Yoga is a good low-stress exercise for aging joints that gets the blood flowing and endorphins going. We like endorphins; they counter pain, low moods and depression.

The author also cites all of her references at the end, and includes all the necessary "talk to your doctor first before you get herb happy" lingo.


Overall, I give the book an A-.

1. Everything she says can be found on the Net, but she presents it all in a comfortable progression of information that feels very natural. 
2. This is a newly published title (December 26, 2014), so its information is up to date. 
3. There are no politics present. 
4. There are plenty of health warnings, and reminders to talk to other people who've been using things (like herbs) for a long time before you dive in. 
5. It's a bit of a short read for my tastes, which is why it's an A minus. 

It's a good buy and a good read. Recommended!

Product Review: Go Girl

Last week's article ended up in me getting a pink flashlight and zippo lighter. For those of you who missed it, a discussion on our Facebook page about what my OHED kit was missing turned into a rather good-nature tormenting of yours truly, spearheaded by my co-blogger and adopted sister, Erin.

Erin says: Guilty as charged.  I called it "Operation Pinkbomb" because the funniest way to shore up the holes in Evie's OHED was by getting her the girliest, pinkest items possible -- mainly because her cries of torment are so cute. She detests pink, y'see, but isn't in a position to turn down free gear.

Erin included something that I found myself incredibly intriguing and rather eagerly agreed to test it out and review it.

Erin says: Eagerly?  I believe you called me a bitch. :P

This is the first time I've reviewed something that I've been disappointed in.  So here we go.

A review of the Go Girl female urination device.

It's this little device that has the tag line "Don't take life sitting down."

My tag line addition: Don't bother buying.

I want to emphasize that the only thing that changes between using this device and just squatting/sitting is just that: you are standing.  THAT'S IT!

I quote from the instructions:

"While standing, hold the Go Girl against your body to form a seal.  Press with your thumb and middle finger stretching from front to back."

Let's get something straight here:  you can't do that through your zipper.

1. You do the same amount of work in pulling your pants down or your skirt up. 
2. Women's underwear doesn't have a fly, so that has to come down too. 
3. You still have to wipe yourself clean (women can't shake themselves dry like men can), and you can't do that through a zipper. 
4. If you are menstruating and don't use tampons, it's...grossly messy and you will just end getting fluids all over the insides of your legs and on your clothing.  
5. You are NOT saving yourself any work.
6. You are NOT giving yourself any more privacy.

Honestly, this thing feels like a high school girl's response to being teased by boys about having to sit down to pee.  

"Surely there are some good things about this, Evie?"

Well, I really had to sit and throw this idea around with DR (Yeah, he's a brave man).  There are two situations I can think of where using this thing might be a good idea:

1. You have to urinate into a bottle because you're in a tent, on a road trip and the driver won't stop, etc.
2. The toilet seat is highly questionable.

These are the only two things I can think of where the Go Girl would give you even a small advantage. That's an incredibly small niche.  It's a novel idea, but... well... it's not practical in my world.  

FCC Disclaimer:  This product was bought for Evelyn as a gift, and she didn't give it a positive review. Please go away and look for some real crimes. 

A glimpse into my world

Do you remember the article Lokidude wrote about the car maintenance and such?  Well, I'm here to admit... I was the one who inspired that article.  So here's what happened....

I had the pleasure of being able to travel alongside my partner on a work trip back in May.  Our car has a small oil leak somewhere (where, we've yet to determine, and even the mechanics are wondering "Where is that damn leak!?") but on this fateful trip, the timing chain decided that it was time to go... while we were over 100 miles from home and another 75 from our destination.  

Event #1

We had stopped for dinner, and after leaving the place made it a couple of miles before the car just suddenly died. We managed to have enough momentum for partner to guide the car into the parking lot of a Pep Boys that had a full service auto. (Thank the Gods for small pieces of silver.) The car would turn over (crank) but wouldn't start. We got things lined up to get it fixed after calling in a few favors with friends.

Applicable Lessons:

• Always be in good standing with your friends. 
• Never leave home without an emergency car repair fund.

Event #2

Later the next day, much to my horror and disgust, I found that my disposable pad did not react well with my body's sweat. It was starting to break down, I was developing a rash down my thighs, and I suspect I was developing a low grade fever. I suspect this because I normally do quite well in the heat; I've been known to carry a sweatshirt with me in the summer time because of how badly I freeze in some places that like cranking up the AC. The day's temperature hadn't even begun to rise and I wasn't feeling well - I was light headed and developing a rash, and even my partner could see I wasn't doing well. So while we waited for the car to get repaired, we found a well air-conditioned Starbucks and I hit the restroom.

I had started making re-usable cotton crochet pads just the day before all this hit, and it was a good thing that I did. I switched out the disposables for the crocheted ones and three hours later, I was already much improved: The rash was gone and my temperature tolerance was back where it should be. Consider me converted for most part. (And yikes! I know what's in disposable pads, but sheesh!)

Lesson:

• Pay attention to warning signals from your body. 

Wrap-Up

As I mentioned earlier, the car needed its timing chain replaced. While they were at it, the mechanics replaced the water pump as well -  it was just as old and worn-out and might have gone out at some future date, and getting to it takes the same amount of work to get to as the timing chain. Replacing it while the mechanics were already in there was a logical move, and by replacing them at the same time we managed to save ourselves over $500 in labor.

As for the pads, test show they work well even with heavy periods, though I still use the disposables at night. We won't go into that part into detail... just trust me when I say the re-usable pads need to be perfected before I use them at night.


And that is a glimpse into my world. Yes, hectic and nerve-wrecking "adventures" like this are common in my life. Go figure eh? =)

Contraceptives: Dangers and Types

Some of you are probably hoping I'll be singing the praises of chemical contraceptives, but that will not be the case.  Birth control, like any other chemical, comes with an inherent risk that may not be fully understood because of a variety of factors, including trusting what doctors and friends say about birth control... which is fine, but that leads to that whole "swallowing info without doing research" tendency.  We're preppers, for crying out loud! We spend hours watching the news and talking to friends, keeping an ear out for clues on what to add to our preps or for warnings of emergencies. Things like chemical contraceptives deserve that same attention to detail.

DISCLAIMER

Human beings are NOT widgets. We each are going to react slightly differently to various chemicals.  I need to make it clear right now that I made the choice a long time ago not to use birth control.  I have a large number of sensitivities to medicines, some at the lethal level.  I'm okay with no sex if there's no condoms. Yes, I'm aware of the rates of pregnancy with just condoms, but honestly, I feel it's the safest choice I could make for myself.

Also, before I go any further, if you are fortunate enough to have a doctor who listens to your concerns, then chances are you already have a birth control method that doesn't mess you up too badly and fulfills your needs as well as can be hoped.

Types of Contraceptives

Condoms are the most common methods among the birth control types.  There are male and female condoms.  One advantage to condoms is that they don't require a prescription and are available in latex and non-latex options.  The second advantage, at least in my opinion, is that they don't require weeks of something building up in your system.

Chemical contraceptives (pills, cremes, gels, etc.) are a beast unto themselves in terms of the number of kinds and ways they can be. There isn't really any way for me to break it into something really really simple, so bear with me.    

Side Effects

Condoms:
For guys, they can reduce sensitivity. In other words, you'll have to work harder. For ladies, it could be uncomfortably dry.  Good thing there are lubes with spermicide, eh? More information on condoms can be found here.

Chemical Contraceptives: 
Ones like Nuvaring are gaining in popularity.  However, there is a growing and alarming trend among users of this method.

And then you have pills like Yasmin that have side effects lists like this:

• sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, pain behind the eyes, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches;
• stomach pain, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• a breast lump; or
• symptoms of depression (sleep problems, weakness, mood changes).
• breast pain, tenderness, or swelling;
• freckles or darkening of facial skin, increased hair growth, or loss of scalp hair; 
• changes in weight or appetite, swelling of your hands or feet; 
• problems with contact lenses; 
• vaginal itching or discharge; or 
• changes in your menstrual periods. 

Source for side effects: RxList

Why am I telling you this stuff?  Because side effects like this affect just about everyone who takes the stuff; we women just have a tendency of blowing it off because "It's just my body getting used to it" or "It's just my imagination."  And there appears to be a correlation between birth control and depression.  Oh depression, that annoying ever-present thorn in the side that everyone can fall prey to.

My thoughts on birth control

Men:

1. If you're a male with no female partner, birth control is not like pads or cans of spams.  You could put back a bunch of morning after pills, but I'll be honest... you'll look like a douchebag when you pull those out.
2. Unlubricated condoms are also a good dual-use item - properly supported by something like a sock, they make good water-carriers.  
3. Don't, for the love of [Deity or Deities of choice], unless you really actually honestly sincerely don't want children ever, get a vasectomy.  Depending on how bad things get after SHTF calms down, chances are that women like me are going to want to try to build a family.  Give us that chance, if you can.  Plus, there's a good chance there won't be any doctors around to reverse to the vasectomies or the Inserted Birth Controls.
4. TALK TO YOUR PARTNER!  Ask her how she feels about birth control and kids.

Women: 

1. Ladies, involve men in the conversation. There is a serious need for communication about this. 
2. Make sure, if you use chemical birth control, that you are aware of the shelf life of it. The last thing you need is to be taking something that no longer works to keep you from getting pregnant but still screws you up in other ways. 
3. Birth control is not a guarantee that you won't get pregnant. I have several friends and associates who got pregnant while they were using both the pill and condoms. (For those of you of the Christian persuasion, I think you guys call that predetermined destiny? @_@ )
4. Taking contraceptives can potentially kill you.  You're going to be in a SHTF scenario with stress levels and situations you've not encountered before.  Your body's ability to mitigate the effects of chemical contraception will be severely compromised.
5. I'm not saying don't take birth control, I'm saying BE SMART ABOUT IT.  Do your research NOW on what you can put back that will be as safe as possible for you to take.   This is information you need to cover NOW, while you have time.  NOW, while you can still safely make choices with the help of your medical professionals in choosing the best one for you.

I have a few links here for you too, from other sites about the topic.  Please note: while I disagree with some to several of their statements, the information is still valid and a different viewpoint on this topic.  Consider all points and statements in order to make the best decision for yourself.

• Trace: My Preps 
• Homesteading Today
• Survival Cache

Do your research, and make yours choices now, while we're still in an ideal as possible world.  What it could cost you and your tribe isn't worth the delay.

Menstruation: Concerns and suggestions

One of the more annoying things I've noted among some segments of female preppers is that they are grossed out by their bodies and the cycles they go through. They get all heebie-geebie and green when you mention the monthly menses. Others cringe because they, like myself, can readily call that time "shark week" because everything looks like a chew toy for a couple days.

Guess what? You have a vagina, a uterus and ovaries.  Get over the fact that once a month your uterus sheds its lining in a manner of violence that would make Nero proud.   

How you can you use your menses to tell if something is wrong

Everyone with a uterus can tell you that irregularities regarding length and heaviness of flow are normal from time to time, but what happens when you have several that are back to back?  Is it stress, or is it your body trying to warn you that's there's something seriously wrong?  

Sources like Kotex bring up the point that poor nutrition can contribute to irregular periods.  (I know I haven't talked about nutrition nearly enough, but you can bet I'll be bringing it up several more times.) Eating right, even if you are having to ration food, is crucial for the health of your sexual plumbing.  Whether women like admitting it or not, those hormones can be our worst damn enemy if we're not careful.  Things like Magnesium, Iron and Vitamin D deficiencies are beginning to be finally be noticed by the medical communities as being a possible contributor to poor uterine health, severe PMS and Endometriosis.  

If you're an older woman, it could be a sign of menopause starting.  It could also be a sign of something worse.  

There are also those of us who've never had regular periods.  Does that mean something is wrong if they start being regular?  Only the individual woman can answer that.  This is one of those things that you should really be keeping a journal of.  Your menses can tell you a lot of information about your overall health, and you should really be learning how to read those signs now.

What is PMS?

(Author's note - IT'S HELL.)  

Here's a tidbit for the men:  no, doctors are STILL unable to figure out all of the exact things that combine into this misery-inducing problem.  Trust me, those of us who are female very much wish that they were farther along in that.

Symptoms of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (from the Mayo Clinic website):

Emotional and behavioral symptoms

• Tension or anxiety 
• Depressed mood 
• Crying spells 
• Mood swings and irritability or anger 
• Appetite changes and food cravings 
• Trouble falling asleep (insomnia) 
• Social withdrawal 
• Poor concentration

Physical signs and symptoms

• Joint or muscle pain 
• Headache 
• Fatigue 
• Weight gain related to fluid retention 
• Abdominal bloating 
• Breast tenderness 
• Acne flare-ups 
• Constipation or diarrhea 

"Although the list of potential signs and symptoms is long, most women with premenstrual syndrome experience only a few of these problems.

For some women, the physical pain and emotional stress are severe enough to affect their daily routines and activities. Regardless of their severity, though, the signs and symptoms disappear, for most women, as the menstrual period begins.

But a few women with premenstrual syndrome have disabling symptoms every month. This form of PMS has its own designation - premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome with signs and symptoms including severe depression, feelings of hopelessness, anger, anxiety, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, irritability and tension. A number of women with severe PMS may have an underlying psychiatric disorder."

Yes, I know I did a copy and paste cheat on that one, but they wrote it up a lot better than I could. 

Ways to deal with it

Everyone has their favorite methods, many times passed on from mom and other female friends, all the while forgetting that human beings are not widgets.  We aren't made with a cookie cutter.  Each female should give themselves the time to figure out what works best in managing and getting through their time of the month.  Everything from heating pads, to midol, to working out, to binge eating.

Personally, I prefer Aleve and Icy Hot patches.  The patches work like a heating pad, only I maintain my mobility.  Unfortunately, I've noticed among some women (myself included) that after a period of anywhere from six months to a year, Midol and Pamprin stop working to ease symptoms.  Find what works for you NOW, not later. 

Non-traditional ways of dealing with it 

There are a lot of home remedies out there, and a popular method is mint and raspberry tea.  Mint is actually a mild pain reliever; back when I had a bit more disposable income, I would get mint essential oil and rub a bit on my temples whenever the headaches would come knocking.  Drinking warm tea could very easily just be a placebo, but it's also comforting and the warmth loosens up muscles that might be cramping from the pain. (Hint to the guys: a good way to score brownie points is presenting a cup of tea, with a bit of honey.)

A lot of women have to avoid caffeine, sugar and salt when it's coming up on that time of the month. Thankfully, I'm not one of these poor wretched souls.  You give me chocolate (preferably a mocha, that takes care of two things are once) and you get to live ...er... I mean uh, things will smooth out quickly.  

Exercise helps a lot.  I know, I know, I hear your groans.  However, something as simple as beating the bounds of the your tribal area (going on a long walk) can be incredibly beneficial as it forces muscles in your pelvic region to loosen up and releases those feel-good endorphins.  Just take it easy on the gear, you don't need the SAW or nine tanto blades while you're walking, okay?  As for your buddy... best have them walk a few paces behind, not in front.  Give them a sporting chance of ducking after the make some smart-ass comment. 

Foods and spices can help with a lot of the problems.  Common foods that help me are cherries, chicken and turkey, and they will be available (or should be, if you've prepped with things like this in mind) post-SHTF.  Spices that help are the ones that add an extra small kick like black pepper and cinnamon.  

Ideally you want to combine all of these things, because seriously, who enjoys being curled up into a ball for almost a full day or two or three and feeling useless?  I sure as hell don't.

Re-usable menstruation materials

Now this part might make a few of you squelch.  After SHTF, especially in a long-term situation where things are being re-built, some... okay, a LOT of people seem to think items like pads and tampons are going to be running out.  Bad news: making re-usable tampons is a no-go, sister!  Good news: making pads seems to be a breeze.  Now there are other alternatives like this... cup thing you can use like a tampon.  I'm not linking to that as I think they are a very bad idea, but you need to do your own research into that.  

When it comes to reusable pads,  I'll admit that I'm still working up the courage to switch over myself.  But I know that once I do, I won't regret it.  The amount of money I'll save us is worth  it (have you seen how much those things are starting to cost??!) and I have heard from a lot of women who have switched over that discomfort from PMS and Endometriosis symptoms have been reduced - in some cases, by one hundred percent!  (They suspect it's from removing from their bodies the artificial chemicals that are used in the commercial products. Again, do some research and decide for yourself.)

Now I have a few sites here that have information and patterns for re-usable pads and even a couple Etsy stores that make re-usables.  For those of you who are adverse to sites with opposing political views, calm your hackles.  A SMART prepper appreciates information that's relevant to what she needs, even if she has to ignore the rest of the site.

Websites:

• Tree Hugger: Re-Usable pads
• Hill Billy Housewife
• TipNut
• And for those you who have mastered Pinterest: Re-usable pads

Etsy stores with already made pads:

• April M. Designs
• Mimi's Dreams
• Charis Baby Designs
• Little Pumpkin Creations
• Sew Be It LLC

Feminine pads  

For those of you guys who are putting back these, despite no females and with full knowledge that they will be good trading items... God(s) bless you!  There are a variety of types of pads and makers.  You have overnight, light days, etc.  Kotex, Stayfree and a few others.  Yes, you're going to get weird looks from people when you're doing your research, but it's worth it,  especially if you end up with teenagers around. 

Tampons 

I personally advise against tampons.  They are a decent idea, but there's something called TSS that is frequently over-looked and unknown to a lot of people.  Toxic Shock Syndrome is no joke -  I'm prone to it. Ladies and Gents, this can kill you, even in our world today.  

Again from the Mayo Clinic website: 

Possible signs and symptoms of toxic shock syndrome include:

• A sudden high fever
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• A rash resembling a sunburn, particularly on your palms and soles
• Confusion
• Muscle aches
• Redness of your eyes, mouth and throat
• Seizures
• Headaches

Most sites will tell you TSS a rare condition.  No, what's rare is when it's been properly diagnosed because a woman went "Hold up, something is wrong, I'm going to the doctor. " If you have had an abnormal fever after starting to use tampons in association with your period, guess what?  You've probably developed TSS. 

I very strongly hope that you will do more research into this.  It's worth the time to make smart choices about your body, and you can't do that without doing some reading and some talking to other women.  Just keep in mind that if you thought the looks the men got from saying they're preppers were weird, brace yourself.

Suggested supplies to have 

1. Pads (Disposable - when buying your pads, keep an eye out for sales.  Buy two, and put back one. If you've gone the re-usable route, check out the scrap fabric pins at your local crafts stores.  You can pick up enough yardage at times for three and four pads.  Make a batch, put one or up to half of them back.)
2. Icy Hot, or a variation thereof.
3. A pain reliever that you know works - two types.  (For me it's Aleve and Excedrin Migraine for the bad days.)
4. Hot Water bottle.
5. Favorite type of tea or other comfort item.

Menstruation is natural.  It's normal.  It's not something be ashamed of or afraid of.  Yes it's gross, but no grosser than kissing or sex.  Again, this is one of those things you need to make decisions about now and implement now, not later when SHTF.  It's also one of those things that you need to accept responsibility for as it doesn't affect just you, it affects everyone else around you as well. Be considerate to others in your tribe!

Harsh Realities: Rape

This is one of only a few posts where I will post a trigger warning.

You will encounter rape survivors.

Men and women.

Many survivors end up with PTSD, which will be addressed in a later post.

There are five factors that determine how badly it's going to affect the person:



1) Your Mindset.  If you're the type of person who, despite odds, is always fighting back (or trying to); who keeps as much of a can-do attitude as possible; and who has not just a thick skin but a hard interior as well, it won't affect you as much. That's not to say it won't be traumatic, because it will - just not as much.. If you're the kind who cries because her boss yells at her, you're going to be even more miserable.  My advice is that  you prepare yourself before something happens. Harden The Fuck Up now, and you'll be better able to deal with something like rape later if it comes to it.

2) The level of violence with which the act was committed. Some folks are so violently raped that even years afterwards it haunts them in everything.  In other cases it wasn't that violent because fear made the victim docile and.... No. Wait. Keep in mind that it isn't up to you how violent your attacker is. You could be completely compliant and get badly beaten anyway. A man who'll use violence to rape will use violence just because he wants to. At any rate, the level of violence makes a big difference to the amount of trauma.

3) How aware you were of the act. From wide awake to passed-out drunk, your level of consciousness helps define the damage. If you don't actually experience the act, just the aftereffects, obviously it will traumatize you less than someone who was completely conscious the entire time.

4) How well the person knew their attackers. If the attacker is someone you trusted, that betrayal of trust adds a whole new level of emotional trauma completely apart from that of the rape.

5) The number of attackers. If there are more than one subhuman creatures willing to commit such a despicable act, you have to look at it as not one violation made worse by their numbers, but multiple violations, the damage of each one heaped atop the damage of the others.


These five factors end up creating a high amount of variables.  Yes, each rape will have similarities, but inevitably each woman or man's case will be unique to them.

Several things will come into play: Trust will have to rebuilt, depression will occur, and self-worth may have been reduced.  But some of the things you can do for the victim are really quite simple.

Respect them.

Respect their personal space.  Don't touch them, without asking permission.  Let them initiate contact.  Don't push them if they don't want to be touched. Don't force them to hug you, to be standing close to you, etc. They will only recoil from you in fear.  Once they take the step first, don't crush them into yourself.  Just hold them and LET GO when they want you to.

As they heal and re-find their confidence, they'll let you know when you can hug or touch without constant permission.  There will still be times you need to ask, but it won't be every time.  When will that be? Every person is different.  Some people may only need a few weeks, other may need years.  YOU must not let them see you lose patience with them. YOU must never recoil from them.

Reassure them. They may be feeling like damaged goods.  Broken, worthless individuals.  You will need to verbally re-assure that they aren't.  That they mean something to you, and that they are going to be okay.

Respect their need for not wanting lectures.  They don't need your stupid lectures on what they should have done or what they can do deal with it. When they've healed, advice may be helpful. But it can wait.

Which leads back to just reassuring them.  Tell them while it's probably going to be a hard road, they WILL be okay and that they CAN do it.


I can tell you a lot about what it's like being a survivor.  Here is a link to a post on my personal blog. I can tell you, most (80%) people, regardless of "side", are full of it regarding this topic.

And men, don't listen when someone says you can't help her heal.  They're so full of crap it's ridiculous. This guy here can attest to that.

Every person's experience is going to be different.  The PTSD that will occur in many cases is rough to handle, but again we'll cover that in a later post.

I can tell you this, though: if you, either as a survivor or as the person who is helping the survivor heal, let yourself go through the emotions - the anger, the grief, all of it - and don't repress, you come out of the experience a stronger and wiser person.  It's completely possible.  It's hard work, but don't let that stop you.


(Editor's Note:  Due to the sensitive nature of this blog post, comments will be monitored . Disagreement is fine, but if it dissolves into personal attacks or BS political correctness, I will unleash the wrath of God upon you.  You Have Been Warned.)

Harsh Realities: Miscarriages

Look, they're going to happen.

Men and women alike should pay attention.  This is one of those things that you won't see a lot of folks talking about because it makes them uncomfortable.  It's not an easy subject.

Unfortunately, this topic falls under personal experiences for me. I won't go into how many I've lost; just be aware I am a woman who has experienced the loss of her babies at a month and a half, and at four months.  I've been on the receiving end of a wide range of reactions from the would-have-been fathers.


The Basics

Miscarriages are in that category called Personal SHTF.  If not handled with care, compassion, and respect, this situation can easily escalate into being a long-term emotional wound which will affect other areas of your life. They are horrible occurrences now, but will only get worse when medical options dwindle as some miscarriages may, in a worst case scenario, even claim the life of the woman.

Most women who miscarry do so when their menstruation cycle starts - the baby wasn't set fully into the lining of the uterus, perhaps, or a wide variety of other reasons.  Sometimes they don't even know they've miscarried.

And then there are times when a woman will not have the luxury of never knowing.  You miss a period, then two, and you start in with a whole range of emotions: excitement, fear, etc.   Then the questions start.  How will the father react? What are my options if he doesn't want to accept the child? Do I even tell him??

Men experience the same range of emotions though different questions, though I can only speculate as to what those are. I have been met with anger from some, and fear and denial over the others.  When I lost the babies, their reactions were, respectively, disgusted relief and painful remorse.


Mental Effects

When a woman miscarries, a lot of how it affects her is dependent on her mindset.  There is no denying the impact of a miscarriage, or the spiral into depression that follows. Honestly, women... let yourselves grieve.  DO NOT BOTTLE IT UP INSIDE.  Men, ask her what she needs.  Comfort her!  Don't be afraid to hold a weeping woman and get  your clothes soaked.  One of the most damaging things that can be done is not acknowledging the event.  Rub her back and let her cry.

Don't initiate conversation about the baby.  Let her do that, and don't be hurt when she doesn't want to talk about it.  Depending on how late in the pregnancy the miscarriage happened, what kind of mindset she kept, and her diet, she'll be almost back to normal (physically) after about 18-45 days,.  Long walks in the sunshine will help ease the depression remnants as well.


Physical Effects

Miscarriage bleeding times vary between women, but the need to replace the nutrients in the body is going to be critical.  Bleeding events, even normal ones like periods, cause feelings of brain fog and lethargy.  She's likely going to seem a bit accident-prone for a few days after as well.  Depending on how many months along it happened, you will want to cut the work she's doing.  Let her do only little things at first.  She's going to need to feel useful, to be needed.

Things that will help her body recover will be foods high in iron (like spinach and meats) and protein (whole proteins from chicken, duck, fish or combined proteins from rice and mushrooms; rice and beans).  Stay away from carbohydrates and starches, as they mess with her blood sugar horribly and will contribute to a worsening in her depression.

Medical complications (physical trauma) resulting from miscarriage are beyond the scope of this article as I am not a trained medic. If you have experience in this area then please comment.


In Conclusion

Life is a harsh reality in a post-SHTF world. There likely won't be hospitals or doctors available, and if you're very lucky, someone in your group went and learned midwifery.

Miscarriage will be something you deal with in a group of mixed sexes.  Women are going to be getting pregnant, and the stress of SHTF will be a factor in the survival of mother and child.  It's not something you can prepare for in the physical sense; you can only study for it, and be mentally and emotionally prepared of what might happen.

Security: It's Everyone's (!) Job, Part 3

Zone 3: Area of Operations

Wrapping up my take on security, we're ending this series by talking about security within your tribe's environment (look for a future post from Chaplain Tim going over what we mean by Tribe) and the surrounding areas. There's two parts to this one: the first part is how you interact in the area with your tribe, and the second is the actual tribal area itself.

One of the immediate things that I need to point out is that as a woman, being cautious in your interactions is crucial, even among your own tribe. If there are only a few women in your group and a lot of single men, you will end being coveted - which usually causes some serious drama.

If one of the folks in your group is causing you trouble and your instincts are screaming you're in danger, LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS. Put distance between you and the offending party. If they won't leave you alone, loudly announce in front of as many people as possible that they are to leave you alone or you will treat them as a hostile threat and will respond in any means needed to end that threat.

Buddy System

Always have a partner with you - be it your significant other or another person whom you know you can trust - with you at all times when you are going to be gone more than a few minutes (if even that) from your home area. The buddy system means that you've got immediate backup, and you're backup for your buddy. If you can't find your buddy, ask yourself:  is it really something that you have to get done at that moment in time?

Personal defense

Do you have it ironed out as to what weapons you will be carrying? If they are knives and pistols, do you know where and how are they being carried? If you are leaving your home, even if you're still in the tribal area, you really should be armed. If things collapse to the point of lawlessness and you've seen no signs of anything resembling a recovering governing body, you can expect for there to be a lot of warlords and rival groups that will be actively seeking to attack and take over areas of resources.

Know your Area of Operations (AO). Sometimes it's easy to forget, and some people never realize, that "preparing" means more than buying stuff: it also means learning stuff and doing stuff. If you end up "bugging in" (the only realistic option for a lot of people, even if not the preferred option) during disaster (or in minor, less-than-SHTF situations), you'll probably still need to exit your home from time to time to find food or barter for one thing or another. And even if not, it would behoove you to understand the broader security environment.

What do I mean by this? Two things 

One: If you're bottled up at home, you have no concept of how things are going outside, and if the situation deteriorates to the point that you need to get out of dodge, you won't know it. When you know your AO, you'll know what amount of traffic is normal, how often you normally hear sirens, which neighbors cause trouble, which ones are noisy, which ones are gossips. Knowing all that gives you a feel for the rhythm of normal life (or the “new normal” after SHTF) and when things change you'll be forewarned.

Two: If you do need to get out of dodge, you'll know where to go and where to avoid on your way out. Think it's as simple as picking a route out of town on the map? Think again. By knowing your AO, you'll know not only the best routes under normal conditions, but alternate routes to get you around roadblocks, riots, disaster areas, and so on.

Now, I (and others) can give you advice on security all day long, but we can only give you ideas and information to help you build a foundation to work from.  There's a saying that "no plan survives first contact with the enemy."  Knowing all of your options for security will help keep a good chunk of the panic at bay.  Sadly, you won't know how well your security measures are going to work until SHTF, but you should know, thoroughly, all your options on courses of action.  There is no quick reference handbook for this.

Next week's article will be an easy one, with links back to other prepper sites who have solid info on how to turn security principles into practice. 

Security: It's Everyone's (!) Job, Part 2

Zone 2: The Home

In my first article on security, I talked about keeping yourself from being visibly female in a SHTF situation, and therefore becoming a target. In this second article, I'll be talking about security for the second area of direct responsibility: the home.

This area can be broken down into three sub-areas: the exterior, the structure, and a highly secure area of last resort like a master bedroom or tornado shelter. For this article and the next, I need to make it clear that my source is my fiancé , who is a former Marine rifleman and who has served on embassy duty in Iraq and Brazil

1) Exterior

The first zone to consider, especially for those of you in rural or suburban areas, is the exterior. Now, this doesn't mean the walls, windows, and doors; it means the outside. Think of how close an intruder could get to your abode before you see him. How close before you hear him? If he does get close, how will you know?

• If you have the luxury, clear out enough space on your land to give you good visibility, especially on likely avenues of approach. 
• Those avenues which you can't see should be blocked or alarmed (with motion-activated lights, trip flares, or even tripwires with empty cans). 
• Your landscaping can channel intruders toward where they can be seen or heard. Bougainvillea is an excellent example of a plant that grows thick and fast and can make an impenetrable wall, or a guide that pushes intruders where you want them; find a plant that grows well in your climate that does the same. 
• Motion-activated lights or alarms around the outside of your house are a no-brainer.

Now, if you live in an apartment in the city, things are a little different. There's little you can do to modify the surrounding area. But you can still pay attention to the area and where threats are most likely to come from, or your escape routes. And if the S truly HTF, you'll have a little more latitude to modify your environment. 

2) Structure

Now, let's assume the bad guy does get to your house.  How hard is it for him to get in?

• Do you routinely check doors and windows to make sure they're locked? 
• Are they alarmed? 
• Are the locks good ones? (Lock-picking isn't some ancient secret known only to the monks of the Letmein Temple in Tibet.) 
• Are the doors and windows good ones? 

If you have money, of course, you can buy only the best of everything - all your windows are bulletproof, the walls have 1/2-inch AR500 steel plates embedded in them, and you're as safe as it gets in a house. The rest of us have to use a little ingenuity and common sense and do the parts that matter most and hope it's good enough:

• Get good locks. 
• Reinforce the door at weak points, like hinges and latches. (This is a good and affordable kit). 
• Make sure the interior doors are good ones too, not hollow-core worthless things. 
• Remember that if the door stops them, they might try the wall. 
• Do what you can with what you have.

[A note on dogs. They count as both exterior and structure security, since they can let you know when someone's coming and also help stop them. Get a dog that's good for at least one of those.]


3) Secure Area

So, despite your best efforts, the bad guy(s) got in. And the dog is outside barking his head off, or shot, or cowering under the bed. Now you may want to clear your house, find the bad guy, and stop him yourself, but for most people in most situations I heartily recommend against it. Highly-trained and highly-skilled people who go bump in the night for a living know enough to know that clearing a structure against an armed opponent is one of the most dangerous things they do, and they work in teams; you'll be by yourself.

At this point you, your spouse, and your children should retreat to the most secure area you have. This might be your master bedroom, or it might be a tornado shelter.

• It needs to have a phone in it to call the cops (if the phone system and the police force are still functional) or a radio to call your neighbor (you did go over contingency plans and mutual support arrangements with your neighbors, didn't you?).
• It needs to have weapons and ammunition in it to stop that bad guy if you have to. 
• It needs to have a place for your spouse and children to hide if, in that last moment, there's shooting. 
• If it's someplace hidden, it needs to have at least a little food and water in case you're in there a while.

One final thing: the bad guys may decide to just barricade you into your own house or room. Once you've confirmed the coast is clear, take the axe or large crowbar you've placed into your safe room and start making yourself an escape route. A tool like this is a crucial prep for debris clearing in many situations: earthquake, tornado, or someone deciding to block you in - and it makes a great melee weapon should the need arise.


This series will conclude in Part 3 with Security for the Near Environment. 

Security: It's Everyone's(!) Job, Part 1

Security is crucial. You need to know the different concepts of security and what they all entail. Between mindsets and procedures, it's actually a very simple idea to grasp. It's execution is where it can get difficult.

Look, I don't care if you're male or female, perfectly healthy or lame, it's everyone's responsibility to be aware of security. Barring a worst case scenario where you end up alone, it's a whole tribe effort. There are three zones of security: Personal; your dwelling or home; and the area where your tribe has taken up residence. We'll be going over home and tribe areas in two more parts.

One of the biggest problems that females (and weak-looking males) will face is sexual predation by individuals and/or groups no longer constrained by the threat of punishment or retribution. These include being raped and murdered; savagely beaten to a pulp after being raped and left for dead for the rest of your tribe to find; or worst or all: enslavement, which leaves you either hoping they'll be kind to you or, likelier, being killed later on or commiting suicide.

This is a very grim picture that I just laid out for you, I know, but it was necessary. If you're a female prepper and haven't had such things laid out to you already, you've been getting it sugar coated. It's a reality and a fact of life during SHTF, be it of a global collapse nature or a severe localized disaster. Emergency service personal are going to be overwhelmed or dead. You're on your own. Security preps are to ensure everyone's well being is a team effort, even if you have to take baby steps now to get into the right mindset.

So to begin: Men, quit babying your females over what to expect. I'm serious. If you can teach them basic firearms and self-defense right now, DO IT.

Women: get yourselves out of the mindset that you're going to be taken care of and that your partner is always going to be there. He's not. I don't care if it's a skill you're not comfortable with, you need to learn everything that he knows. Your life, his life and the lives of everyone else in your group hinge on you accepting responsibility for yourself and taking all parts of prepping seriously. Otherwise, you will find yourself watching as your partner is killed in front of you by marauders. It takes everyone to avoid such a fate, but that means accepting you have to take an incredibly active role in security.

As a woman, I have a responsibility to my domestic partner to watch his back. It's in my best interest in terms of survival to do this, and the fact that I love him dearly and losing him would shatter my world doesn't hurt my motivation either. There are a few things that you and I, as females, can do to reduce the chances of calling unnecessary attention to ourselves. You're going to have to make a concerted effort to hide the fact that you are female. No, I don't mean burqas and no, I don't mean stopping acting like a regular woman in your everyday life. However be aware that when the crap hits the fan, you need to be ready to step into your new role.

What I mean is working with your partner, and others in your group, to establish protocol for two things. First is a means of identification for members of your group as they are returning to your camp from patrols, hunting and foraging. Second is working out procedures to deal with strangers. This post is all about personal security; the next two posts will be going over what you will need to be doing, and getting used to doing, in order to help with home and group area security.


1) Your Clothing

Okay first of all, DO NOT PUT BACK OR WEAR FORM FITTING CLOTHING. I don't care how hard the guys are begging you to look like a girl, you need to blend in among them. I'm not telling you to go full on butch, I'm telling you to think about your outfits that you will be wearing. I have a few pairs of men's jeans that I have put back. They are comfortable and about a half size bigger than what I would normally wear. If you were to only see my legs, you'd think I was a skinny boy who sits at the wrong end of the dinner table.

Waist up is a loose fitting T-shirt/long sleeved shirt and sports bra. Now, if you are a lady who has been blessed with a larger set of upstairs software, you'll want to invest in button up long sleeves... yep, those dreaded plaids. The main goal you want for waist-up clothing is that it doesn't emphasize the breasts. With the aid of the sports bras, you'll be able to reduce their profile and cut down the chances of someone tagging you. The over-shirt, which can be left untucked, provides you with the advantage of hiding your hips as you walk.

Put back comfortable NO HEELS shoes. You want boots and sneakers that are close to everyone else's. The point again is to blend in. Girly looking shoes will be a dead give away, and now you're a target when the entire point is not to be one.

Also, look into making or purchasing shemaghs. This, when folded corner to corner, makes for a great shawl for smaller framed women and children. When worn with the bulk of the material to the front, it can disguise your chest region (C cup or smaller) quite nicely. Now, if you have happen to be bigger, just make the shemagh bigger. (Side note: If you've a gearhead/techy/milspec nerd for an SO and they don't have one of these, they make great gifts and it'll be a great way for you to practice some basic sewing.)

Shemaghs are great. I have one, but plan on expanding the collection to at least three. Here are some links that should prove helpful. Future articles will be more in-depth on items like this, but these links should give you something to mull over.

• A youtube video to get you started:
  
  
• A tutorial on how to make your own.
• More shemagh info. 

2) Your Hair

Now I'm not such a hard core,  rough-and-tumble Tomboy that I don't use salons. There are few treats to myself that I enjoy more than letting someone else deal with my hair. However, being able to afford such a luxury is not an option for me right now, so I have to maintain this rat's nest on my own. This means questions like How long do I keep it? and What do I wash it with? (I'm looking forward to writing that post because I have been finding dozens of stories from women where they stopped using chemicals for their hair and the hair is gorgeous, along with recipes for home made shampoos.) I don't recommend most woman take my route and shave it off, doing regular maintenance with a straight razor. It takes a serious lack of vanity to be able to pull that off.

I suggest that you make a girls' day of it, and YouTube the hairstyles that incorporate weaving and braiding your hair into up-dos that leave locks of hair close to your head. This not only gets them out of the way for work, but also makes them easier to cover quickly with baseball caps and boonie hats. Your hair will be one of the things that unsavory characters will looking for. Keeping it out sight will be crucial.


3) Makeup

Honestly, I hope you're not being vain enough to put any back. The money that goes into makeup could be better spent elsewhere. If you want to put back some makeup, put back only one or two of a couple different things, like lipstick or eye shadow. Save those things for events like a birthdays or to celebrate a good harvest. Wearing it every day is uncalled for in a survival situation and makes you stick out.


4) Your Voice

If it's confirmed there are strangers, or even just a suspicion of strangers, keep your voice low. If you've been fortunate enough to learn sign language, use that. Not only will help you communicate quietly, but it'll prevent anyone from being able to use the sound of your own voice to conceal an attemt to get closer to you.


5) Self-Defense

Part of staying safe is situational awareness, and everyone here at BCP will have a thing or two to say about that particular topic. Another part of staying safe is knowing you've developed enough of a skill set to really make someone hurt if they attack you.

There are hundreds (literally) of martial arts instructors who host self-defense seminars across the United States for women, for free. Find them. Attend them. Come home and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Men, this is where you get to take a hands-on part of the personal zone of security. (No pun intended.) Let the women show you the basics that they learned. Now practice with them. Ladies, this is crucial, as most attackers you will encounter during the coming times will be men. DO NOT COUNT ON THEM NOT BEING WILLING TO HURT YOU. Be willing and able to hurt someone in order to defend yourself.

Now there are advantages to practicing with your partners, ladies and gents. Helping her practice will help her confidence in herself and her abilities (and her ability to keep learning new things) grow exponentially. The added benefits of increasing the trust between the two of you, and the level of coordination between the two of you, will increase and flow more naturally, carrying over into other areas.

Honestly, it's perfectly okay if you end up knowing only the basics of hand-to-hand and firearms if you have practiced them to the point of instinct.

“I fear not the man who has practiced ten thousand kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick ten thousand times.” ~ Bruce Lee


In Part 2, I will talk about security for the home.