FLASHBACK may 2005

*note: in honor of 'hurricane preparedness week (may 26-jun 1)' i am letting you re-visit a previous post about emergency prep...enjoy!*

"in your head, in your head...zombie, zombie, zombie..."
it seems impossible, but dustin is graduating. the parents come to town for the weekend to partake in the festivities. daddy comes out of the bathroom "why do you have a guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse in your bathroom?" me "because we want to prepare for the zombie apocalypse, duh doy!" d "you need some quality reading material in there" me "one day you'll be glad your daughter and grandsons know how to survive a zombie apocalypse".
FLASH FORWARD december 2010
the bk has to go to charlotte on business. the meetings will start early on monday, so he leaves on sunday. i lay down on the couch and start flipping channels. i find the walking dead on amc. it's the season finally later so it's a marathon. i watch for 6 straight hours. it's awesome. it helps me gain a little more understanding of what the zombie apocalypse will look like.
FLASH FORWARD today
say what you want about my "zombie apocalypse" knowledge, it's actually a smart thing to be prepared for an emergency. even the cdc jumped on the zombie apocalypse band wagon, using it to teach us how to prevent infectious diseases...click here to learn more...emergency prep doesn't have to be as serious as something you might see on doomsday preppers. i have survived countless hurricanes and ice storms...i am always prepared. you should be, too.

first, have an emergency evacuation plan (especially if you live in a hurricane prone area). you need to know, ahead of time, where you will go. and you should have the following with you:

• large backpack or container for all emergency items
• health profile for all family members
• updated medications
• copy of important documents (insurance, social security cards, driver's licenses, birth certificates, deeds, stocks/bonds, wills, pet’s vaccination records, etc)
• spare keys 
• cash
• first aid kit 
• wrench or pliers
• extra cell phone chargers
• batteries
• work gloves, rope, tarp, and utility knife
• emergency whistle
• filter masks for every family member
• crank or battery operated radio
• crank or battery operated flashlight
• light/glow sticks
• can opener
• plastic bags or trash bags
• hand sanitizer
• blankets and warm clothing for each family member
• baby items (extra diapers, wipes, formula)
• pet items (food, water)
• Extra clothes for each person

riding it out at home? you need the following packed in a large rubbermaid bin:

• water: at least a 3 day supply (1 gallon per day per person)...but go for 7 if you can...also, fill some rubber maid bins with water for bathing, washing dishes, etc.
• stock up on non-perishable foods (think spaghettios, chef boyardee, dinty moore beef stew). anything that comes in a can and requires little to no water. don't forget infant formula and pet food.
• first aid kit
• batteries. make sure to have a supply of every size.
• at least one change of clothes per person. don't forget jackets, shoes, rain gear, hats and gloves.
• blankets or sleeping bags.
• crank or battery operated radio and/or tv
• matches
• candles
• personal hygeine products...y'all don't wanna be stanky do ya?

some of the items are in both kits. if the zombies are busting thru your front window, and you have to make a run for it, you really don't want to have to stop and hunt thru the bin for batteries. do you? cuz i'm fairly certain unnecessary stops will lead to you being lunch. 

happy prepping and see you in the safe haven!!!

^the walking dead^

^zombie hunter extroardinaire^

     

SATURDAY STUDIES

"what's this? what's this? i can't believe my eyes!"
FLASHBACK may 16, 2013 (i know...i know...just a few short days ago)
i am crazy busy! i'm cleaning house...i'm paying bills...i'm getting all dolled up! why? because tonight is the inaugural concert at the horseshoe casino...AND it's the killers, one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE bands EVER!!...AND it's raining, so i have to be super cute whether i'm wet or dry...ugh! so, with all this going on i totally forget to sit down and write my blog. which means i totally don't look up any fun and exciting tidbits of information to share with you. which means i totally miss the best holiday we never knew about: national sea monkey day!!!

            

and so i have to:
FLASHBACK 1970 something
you see these ads in the back of comic books and teen magazines. "enter the wonderful world of amazing live sea monkeys", "own a bowl full of happiness", "instant pets". everybody tried them. few had success. i remember trying them. i just remember a bowl full of dust. or, maybe, my dad got them to live but i got bored before it happened. besides, we had a REAL aquarium with the most amazing lion fish that my dad had to save from a tragic goldfish choking...but that's a story for another time.
FLASH FORWARD 2007(ish)
i find sea monkeys at cracker barrel. nostalgia takes over and i totally forget that you only get a bowl full of dust, so i buy one. 7 days later...WE HAVE SEA MONKEYS!!!!
what are sea monkeys, you ask? just brine shrimp. some dude (harold von braunhut) decided to make his own version of an ant farm. BOOM! we have sea monkeys. the ad is a tad misleading. i was really disappointed that my monkeys didn't look like mer~people and build a community in their tank. but, still, it was fun to watch them grow.
so, now, you want your own sea monkeys but not a bowl of dust? here are some helpful tips:

• follow the instructions that come with your sea monkeys (amazing how that works, right?).
• keep the water around 70 degrees. i would not set my tank near an air conditioner vent or in a window that gets direct sun. 
• feed them 5 days after hatching...then, again a week later. feed weekly...if the water gets cloudy you're feeding too much and should wait until the water clears.
• set their tank in an area that will get plenty of indirect sunlight. direct sunlight will get the water too hot, but indirect sun will help algae grow. algae will provide food and oxygen for your monkeys.
• you need to aerate your tank. you can stir it, pour the water back and forth between the tank and a large bowl a few times, or purchase the available "million bubble air pump".
• watch for water evaporation. when the water level drops 2" fill it immediately. if you let it drop lower, you might affect the salt levels and shock your monkeys! no bueno!!

hears to your happy, healthy sea monkeys!!!

^living sea monkeys...nothing like the ad!^

^million bubble air pump^

TASTY TUESDAY

"in heaven there is no beer (no beer!)...that’s why we drink it here...and when we are gone from here...our friends will be drinking all the beer"
FLASHBACK sometime in 1977 (ish) 
kat and i are being rebels. we sneak two rolling rocks from the fridge and head into the woods behind the house. we immediately regret that decision.
FLASH FORWARD 1980 something
we're kids. we have very little money. we pool our funds together and buy the very best our money can buy: old milwaukee. bleck!
FLASH FORWARD today
i've grown up. so have my taste buds. i've said good~bye to old milwaukee and coors light and hello to guiness and yuengling. and, when opportunity strikes, i try new craft beers. did you know they make beer that tastes like chocolate? CHOCOLATE!!!
this week (may 13~19) is american craft beer week. the perfect week to go out and try new and different beers. afraid to order a a full pint of a beer you've never tried? ask your bartender to give you a sample. (s)he will be glad to. think you don't like beer? there are beers for every pallet...and a good bartender can help you find your taste. i love the bartenders at the moerlein lager house in cincinnati...i can give them a description of what i like and they bring me EXACTLY what i'm looking for! if you're in the area, it's a must try.
are you a HUGE fan of craft beer, like me and my bk? there is a great app available, from untapped llc, for iphone and android. with this app you can track the different beers you've tried, and locate craft beers you want to try. it will tell you the nearest bar that carries it and suggest other beers you might like, based on the ones you've already tracked. and it's a social site...you can see what beers your friends are trying and share a toast!
happy tasting!!

                                

                                 

^brews at the moerlein lager house^

^new fave only available in the south...boo^