Not a lot of prepping done this week as in putting back supplies. Had to work some night shifts and deal with typical “teenage boy being stupid” stuff.
One thing I worked on was the budget. I put together a budget for the next several months with both my income and my wife’s. Next up is to cover it with the wife and get her buyin. We make decent money and expenses have been reduced in the past year but more needs to be done. What we’re not great at is saving money. I tend to “save” in tangibles(beans, bullets, and band-aids) rather than cash. Emergency fund is in place.
I’ve thought more on doing a trial to see how long it would take to walk home from work. Approx 20 miles. The likelihood that I would need to walk is small but you never know. If some “event” happened and I needed to get home I could be in an accident or someone else could be and cause massive traffic backups. Traffic could be overwhelming. EMP? Maybe.
I am thinking I can make it in 12 hours but most people overestimate their abilities. How will my feet stand up? How often the need to stop to eat? Drink? Bathroom? Rest?
I want to try. I need to try.
Above sign is on the door at my local gun shop. Love it!!!!
Jeep developed a leak in the radiator last week and kept getting worse and worse. Saved myself a few hundred dollars by replacing it myself. A huge pain but stuff happens.
Lastly – I am going to be AFK(away from keyboard) most of the week. Responding to comments and emails will be delayed. Hopefully I’ll have some interesting things to pass on next week about what I will be doing. FYI.
So – what have you done this past week?
JR
Replaced all the quick-clot, glucose tubes, OTCs in the FFAK. Added new celox pads, rat-T, halo and russel wound seals(thank you JR. I ‘rolled’ them around the blood stoppers) and tissue staplers.
Passed the Mag-pul rack at Adco Arms and 6 of those things fell at my feet… so… I mean what can ya do.. its like cats… ya pick one up and its… yours. I have 6 new ‘cats’… 5 in 5.56 and 1 in 7.62.
It’s the 4th. week end sozz I added a 2fer deal at Johns fireworks on Secor and took home 20 1 1/2″ can mortars. This make really nice …. and very audible / visible warning devices not to mention a nifty JQP flashbang.
Worked on my knots and lashing skills. Re-slung my Shot Waffens with ‘Blueforce’ Vickers. Aug Farms #10s in veges, fruit, rolled oats.
Today I’m going to practice my ‘Webber Grill’ drills with some cowboy cuts and butter rolled corn along with several Dos XXs de-loading runs.
Waiting for another ‘Boot’ to drop someplace. Waiting to see who or ‘what’ TPTB try to pin it on other than the perp(s) responsible.
Next week… box drills with the M-4orgery cause I need something that gets me offen me arse…….
Sounds like an awesome week and great plans with the Webber. California gun control jeez and those idiots moving to Texas in droves. I need to get to the Redoubt or Alaska.
This week added red beans, rice, seasonings, sugar and water to the larder. Went to the range and shot the new PMR 30 – loved it. Still looking for more 22WMR. Also, shot the Glock 19 and the 45. Added 7.62X39 and 7.62X25 shells.
Cleaned guns, sharpened knives, increased walking distance daily and reworked the BOB’s. Happy Independence Day 2016 – Keep Looking UP
I share the same problem with cash vs beans/bullets.
One of the things I am doing is saving for a new jeep. My Cherokee is 16 years old, 200,000 miles. It is starting to enter the seemingly endless repair cycle. Suspension, A/C, radiator hoses, 2 fuel pumps, etc.
I am saving for a new one. I am planning on buying it outright. So, the ‘jeep’ fund is essentially my no-job/emergency fund. it is 100% separate from all other household budgeting, and is fueled by my overtime, overnights, and extra hours. The plan is, in 3 years or so I can buy a new vehicle, but if things take a turn for the worse I have the funds available for whatever.
So far, so good. I currently have more money in the bank than at anytime previously in my life.
Otherwise, nothing new on the prepping front. Our attention is pretty much all towards Goemon’s cancer care, at the moment.
I decided to teach myself a new and relatively inexpensive skill that could prove handy after TSHTF – lock picking. I purchased a beginners set of picks and a see-thru (so you can see the pins) padlock (~$15 on Amazon). After learning the basics and becoming familiar with the tools (lots of youtube vids/online info), and a few successful picks of the see-thru lock, I’m now able to pick the lock with my eyes closed. I find that I quite enjoy the challenge, so I decided to order a better and more expanded set of picks. I look forward to trying my hand on other household locks, as well as car doors (also picked up a set of bump-like keys for car doors). *WARNING* – be sure to check your state’s laws before purchasing lock picking tools, as some states consider it an offense for just having the picks on your person (unless you are a certified locksmith), regardless of their intended use.
Excellent idea and yes a valuable skill for SHTF. I’ll look into that myself! Happy Independence Day
This week, not much. I ordered some firearm parts and training ammo to replace what I’ve shot this year to keep it at that magical number, worked in the gardens – our community garden plot is doing terrible with the lack of rain & not using the city water due to no longer having a key to it (weird mention of lock picking above, I need to work on that skill again!), took the tents out to inspect them. Had to restring one pole, retreated a rain fly & set about putting all the stakes/guy lines and ground clothes into their individual bags so I can just grab and go. Our large tent is a wreck, the cheap chinese fabric has stretched so the metal support poles don’t pitch right & sags everywhere. Looks like we may need to replace that one – have often thought about getting a portable garage or USGI 10 man arctic tent to use as a vehicle based bugout tent/shelter esp since we have all 4 seasons in Ohio. Picked up some more smoke devices from firework store, totally forgot about alternative uses for the mortar shells (SMH), played with a chinese knock-off emberlit stove that worked pretty good with a couple of modifications then ordered some 12v computer fans & solar panels to make attic and tent ventilation fans. TTT – thanks for post on medical kits, I need to do my yearly check of ours.
Ind Joe-sure hope your dog is faring ok !!If the cancer hasnt metastasized that he has a better prognosis.(our daughter is a vet tech.)
Prepping this week. – planted more in the veg. garden, researching pygmy goats for the grand daughters to show at 4-H and have as pets and a good back up for milk when bred.
Mini goats can be kept as pets in small yards and eat the weeds and lawn.Filling in the inventory as I see that coffee and canned fruit is low.Decided to stock up on bread for the freezer.Peanut butter and jelly and canned tuna and canned chicken can go a LONG way .
I think the most prepared guy on this site is PR.
JR have you considered putting a bicycle on or in your vehicle ?
Enjoyed having a campfire last night . Happy and Safe fourth of JUly
Lightning and family
Reorganized my garage to make room for preps.
Organized my camping, fishing and shooting stuff into separate storage containers.
Helped a group member buy his first AR-15.
finally finished my Quail enclosure and added two breading groups.. I have 13 eggs so far and an incubator on the way. By the time all is her and assembled I’ll have 60 or so eggs to incubate.. maybe 40-45 new birds that lay in 8 weeks.. off balls and small ones go in the freezer. Added some more ballistics.. Lots of farm work.. and now have vegetables up to my ears and about to do pickling. When the tomatoes come in, I’ll have to eat my way out to visit you guys.
And of course the reading and research never stop…
What breed quail? I incubated two batches and had them about a year until the raccoons devastated them. I had to make mods to the feeders so they wouldn’t waste tons of food. If you ever scramble their eggs, get a quail egg cutter from Japan.
I got coturnix. right now getting 1 or more eggs a day from the hens.. My pen is off the ground, and fully enclosed. I appreciate the lead on the egg cutter.. I plan to use the quail for meet and then breed up.. etc.. I may add a Jumbo Texas A&M ,, I might do an write up with picts if JR thinks it’d be useful. At any rate I am new to it .. I plan to incubate chickens as well .. In both cases I need to go sit with someone that routinely butchers them and offer free labor to get the drill down. Onesy twosey just isn’t enough to learn to be efficient with my time. Time and money right ? With a full time job anyway.
I’m learnin ..hopefully I won’t kill off too many doing it.
Thanks
GG58