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(plus
repair parts), a blood pressure machine, sealed goggles, scalpels
and a variety of sutures to my kit. I even split an order of cast
compound with Rick from the Michigan prepper group. I don’t have
everything that might be needed in an emergency, however, it’s way
more than most people have. I set much of this up in a grab-n-go
bag. A doctor with nothing would be impressed with my medical
kit.
    Some preppers stock up only on food, some
only on guns and ammo— not a prepper to me. I prefer to be
the kind of prepper that covers all the basics: food, medical
supplies and yes, ammo. No one ever really knows what we may be
faced with, yet I’m trying to cover all the bases I can.
     
    * * *
     
    JOURNAL ENTRY: November 2
     
    I doubt that it’s even worth mentioning here,
but I do like to keep records. Late yesterday evening, Yellowstone
National Park had a serious tremor of a 4.5 on the Richter scale.
Then the New Madrid Fault had a couple too, a 4.0 and a 4.4.
There’s no damage in Yellowstone, nor was there any in the New
Madrid, since they were pretty deep. Still, it’s something to pay
attention to. With the hurricane damage on the East Coast, and now
this, it feels like some higher force is shaking us up good.
     
    * * *
     
    It snowed this morning! It started out as
sleet, switched over to snow and there is a light dusting on the
ground. Sure glad I got everything done in time. Tufts doesn’t like
the snow pelting him in the face, and I can’t blame him. I don’t
like it either, though I still need to face it to bring in wood.
The temperature started out at thirty-three degrees and only got up
to thirty-five.
    There is looting and mayhem going on in the
big city and all the other large cities that are still without
power from the Frankenstorm. Society seems to have broken down
completely. There were pictures on the news last night of the long
lines just to get gas, and they had to start limiting it to ten
gallons per person. Fights were breaking out, it’s crazy in the
cities. And to think that it will all be fixed in another week.
    One news article said, “If people will
behave like this during a temporary emergency that lasts only a few
days, what would they do during a total economic collapse? That is
a frightening thing to think about.”
    Very frightening indeed.
    I’ve been a bit dizzy the past few days. I
think it’s my eyes. I have to remember to stop and pick up my new
glasses. Maybe I should run into town tomorrow and do that.
     
    * * *
     
    I picked up my new glasses and feel silly
that I had forgotten about them. While in town, I picked up four
more cases of quart canning jars. Funny though, it’s the end of
canning season, the jars were not even on sale, much-less on
clearance.
    Jason said his dad was coming up to hunt. He
promised me that we would get venison for the freezer. Since I keep
little of the freezer meat, and only some of the sausage, I usually
make my share into soup and stew meat, all canned. After they get
the deer, then I’ll get a couple of pork roasts to grind and add to
the sausage. I don’t have the freezer room. I have to remember to
check the spices out in the small barn to see if the supply might
be getting low, and I’m pretty sure I have enough casings for
making the sausage.
     
    * * *
     
    JOURNAL ENTRY: November 4
     
    Amanda is back from her visit to see her mom
and stopped over last night with Jacob. She wanted to discuss
Thanksgiving plans. This year it’s at their house, so they get to
do the turkey and most of the trimmings. My brother lives right
across the road from me and his wife, Nancy, is making a couple of
pies and I’m bringing my seven-layer salad, fresh bread and the
wine. Amanda asked if I would make the gravy since she doesn’t know
how, plus the thought of handling/cooking the neck and gizzards
makes her queasy. How did she ever make it into her thirties
without learning to make gravy?
    It is cold here, only thirty-three degrees
this