Digging Personal History instead of the Garden

01.10.2012

I am not going to promise to do this every day, but I am sick and that makes my brain sort of melted. I needed some inspiration so I went back on this date in my personal history to see what happened. Things have changed, which is good, but some things have become more relevant. These are not all of the posts, but it is a fun start and an interesting spectrum.

01/10/2006

A full day today! I walked Jonathan to school. I got several pages of work done with respect to pulling penny books. I cleaned more of the closet out. I caught up on my e-mail and journal. I practiced for a half hour. Less than what I aimed for, but I got once through all of the songs. The house looks a bit lived in but clean. There are only a few dishes in the sink. Now, I am writing and I will put my mind to rest with a book. Add to all the accomplishment a nice visit with Bethany and Jonathan wanting to read at bedtime. Life is good today. Hell's Belles are pricking at my brain.

Jonathan prefers to go by JD today. He walks himself to and from school every morning. Most mornings I am not even awake, and if I am I am likely not at home. He reads to himself at night or we watch a movie together on Netflix. Maybe I will suggest reading time. We could read news articles or non-fiction, or our own work instead.

Bethany and most of the other girls are busy with their own lives now. I am proud of all of them. Bethany is an accomplished horse rider/ trainer with aspirations to become an equine doctor. I know she will make it too!

I no longer work for The Kat’s Meow, but the business still exists. If you are ever looking for used books please check them out on Amazon.com.

I am still working on Hell’s Belles, it will eventually come to fruition. One of the biggest hang-ups is the search for an artist.

01-10-2007

Question 429 asks: What would happen if there were no cars, buses, trains, boats, or planes? How would this change your life?

I would likely be in far better shape physically. Getting to work would take a lot longer. Hell, I may not have a job. Kathy's (The Kat’s Meow) business relies on transportation in a big way. Cost of living would shift. No one paying thirty dollars or more to fuel their vehicles. Also, no way to transport goods rapidly.

How would my life change? Forget that. How would the world change? We would become a tribal society again. Growing food locally would be a must. Small farms, local medical assistance, fire and policing would have to be erected. Living close to a grocery store is meaningless when there is no food in it. The city would die, or go mad, in days. This is what we have to look forward to if we do run out of oil. I do not know that I want to stay here, in a city, with those thoughts in mind.

What can be done here? There must be some small things. I could not eat my cats, but could I defend them from those that would? Could they be taught to hunt? We are, the lot of us, far too domesticated. We are spoilt. Could I grow enough food on the balcony to support us? In a desert climate, how reasonable is that to ask? Maybe I should try? Small things. Survival things. I need to do small things that Shaun will not notice. He thinks I am crazy. I may well be crazy. I may well always have been, or I was pushed by recent events. Does it matter? Who could I count on in a crisis? Very few here. Power is first to go. Do we have batteries, and back-up batteries enough for those that cannot be charged? I have candles. Do we have water? Do we have a way to cook? So many small things. Things not considered day to day. Food, water, shelter. The basics. We do have those things, but we have so many other things as well. I must pare down more non-essentials and stock up on more essentials. What good will knowledge of cars and computers do when we need food? I need to be able to take care of myself, of Shaun, Jonathan and the cats. They are most important. I know this. Can we hole up here though? In some ways, yes, and more so, in other ways, not so well. Time to clean house again. I feel another shift on the way. I need to commit more of my old writing to my pen drive. If all goes haywire I will still have it all. Pictures, writings, drawings. Our family history. Even Jonathan's school work. Nonsense. Excess, but not worthless. Priceless. I will know it is there. I need to gather my most important jewelry and mementos too. Scan our identification too. I should begin to trade my cash in for fine jewelry, not meant for everyday wear now, that is less obvious now. It will be easier to carry too. Precious stones and metals will always have some value. Yes. It is not normal to think this way. It is good though. I will to survive, and to assist others to do the same. That has to be more noble than begging to be cared for. It must be. It is. I have to live by my own wits or die. I must start now. With the money from this paycheck. Budget. Squirrel away. Plan. Save. Think. Why do I feel it is too late? As if there is so little time left? There is time. I must use it to its fullest however. This question put my mind on so many tracks. All to the same end thought. The feeling that the end, and new beginnings are about to meet. I find I am thinking of those lost to me, cut off for good reason. People I never really got along with, but that taught me the traits that needed to be set aside. Should I thank them for that much? Sure, why not. Is there anyone out here that is really useful in a pinch? I have to be honest.

In 2007, I was still very much recovering from a mental breakdown. Over thinking is probably a fair cause and effect of that breakdown. Do I still feel I need to do some of the things listed in this post? Yes.

I think it is always important to prepare for disaster. Disaster does not have to be a full tilt Zombie Apocalypse, but any sort of power outage, flood, draught, strike of any sort. Did I step away from people who I knew would drag down society if we had to all share limited goods? Yes. The reason was more personal though. People who I could honestly say served little purpose in an emergency situation also were the people who were dragging emotionally and in day to day life. I have grown so much since letting them go.

So, was I crazy in 2007 or was I just clearing the dross in my own special way?

01.10.2008

Saturday, 6PM - 9PM
Over Coffee, 303 Greenway
Free as always! See you there!

The Over Coffee no longer exists, it closed due to the poor economy, and poor location. The free Way Out West Bellydance Shows continue, at a new location. Next Coffee Company (59^th Ave. & Utopia, Peoria) hosts dancers of all levels every third Saturday, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Pork Chops and Horn Pipes

This one is a pretty basic meal. It smells amazing though! With so many people feeling under the weather, myself included – yay for the common cold – everything in this meal is super helpful.

Pork Chops with Broccoli in Cream Sauce

Approximate Cost: $15.50

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 4 – 6 hours

2 lbs. thin sliced pork chops

3 large heads of broccoli

1 large (Family size) can cream of chicken soup

1 large red onion

5 cloves garlic

Salt & pepper to taste

Combine chopped onion, crushed garlic, salt & pepper to cream of chicken soup (do not add water) in the crockpot. Stir in cut broccoli and add pork chops. Cook on low.

Funny story of the week: Yesterday, during practice we finally taught Max how to dance the Hornpipe step. He was so proud of himself today that I caught him dancing around several times; including more than once in the grocery store aisles. Yes, even the too cool, most interesting man in the world acts like a goof now and again. Personally, I think that makes him more awesome.

The Flu, and Other Nasty Delays

I just spent the last three days in bed. Relaxing, lazy vacation? No. The flu.

On Tuesday afternoon I drove home with a mild stomach ache, dizziness, and a headache. This I thought was just due to hunger. I had not much of an appetite all morning (This should have been the first clue. I am always hungry!). By the time I made it home the only thing on my mind was getting to bed. I had at least a couple hours before opening the studio, plenty of time to shake off this feeling.

3:30: A half hour until class time and now I am in full downward spiral; fever, chills, nausea, head pounding, vertigo, fatigue, the works. I cancel my classes and return to bed. Maybe a couple more hours in bed?

Around six o'clock, I decide soup is a must. I decide this while I am still horizontal and under several blankets and one warm cat. As soon as I remove the covers I realize soup is an expedition!

I spent the evening on the couch watching Fruits Basket with the kid, playing Dead Rising, and watching documentaries about the Conquistadors. Consuming homemade chicken/ pork/ carrot/ leftovers soup and any hot liquid I could conjure. This did not help at all.

When I finally gave up and took to the refuge of the bed again - now six blankets deep - I decided medicine might be required. Medication and I do not have a friendly history. I am below average as an adult, which I am pretty sure according to the medication standards is more in the 140 - 200 pounds range. My loving husband assures me that two Ibuprofen will cure all and not kill me though. So, down the hatch. Yes. Hallucinations about sinking boats and god knows what else, plus body temperature pitches that leave me alternately frozen and soaked in sweat tell otherwise.

The next two days were more of the same so I will not delve into the continued nightmarish details. I will say though that I heard a ton of interesting home remedies. I tried them all.

Baking Soda and water - three times per day
The idea behind this is that the acidity of the body is the cause of illness. So, consuming a base should help.

Result: Feeling pretty good. No tummy ache, head clearing a little. Not much else.

Mint or Green Tea - just keep it coming
These particular teas are supposed to flush the system of whatever is dragging you down.

Result: Like a million trips to the bathroom! Coughing up lung gunk, which was a good thing.

Alka-seltzer - as directed
With the added power of the baking soda base and the instant fizzing medicine release, this should cure anything faster than anything.

Result: Dry sinuses like OMG!

The clear pattern here is water. Good old H2O and time. See while the body will heal in its own way in its own time hydration is important no matter what. While your body is working the tea, baking soda, soup, Emergen-C packets are all keeping the hydration part interesting. The best remedy, time, rest, and water, in any fancy form that will get you through the day.

But, that is my remedy, what is yours?