Bits & Pieces

It will be a hot day in the River City. With the rain we've received the last three days, humid too. Our temps are expected to be well into the nineties. I miss Winter.

I've fallen in love my Para P-12. Yesterday I hit the internet and ordered two extra ten round magazines. After a good bath my little girl sparkles. She's fairly easy to field strip. Those folks in the frozen north of Canada are indeed some fine engineers. Every few months I like to switch out my carry piece. Boredom, I suppose.

Early next week we have an appointment with our new, yes new, attorney. I shall place a bundle of cash upon her desk and hope for the best. We are optimistic. The state gave our son's wife, Little Bit's step-mother, a drug test. The state is very tight with information and will only say they found evidence of drug abuse, pain medication. Further explained we should have our attorney contact them and the state will 'help' in our case.

I've tried, as is evident in my post, not to write of my pain over the fact I haven't seen my Heart in over four weeks. All communication with my son has been severed, on his end, which leaves me in the dark as to her condition and mindset. I'm completely unaware if she is being mistreated or the condition of her health. Sweet Wife was able to speak and see her for a few moments at Little Bit's school. She said Little Bit had lost weight and appeared scared and confused.

Trust me when I state it takes all my will power not to drive over to my son's home and not kick down the door. Surely God must have a plan....

I miss her.

(Little Bit, if you read these words in the near future, please understand I love and miss you and am doing all possible to return your life back to normal. Please forgive us.)

Our new attorney is an expert in the field of child visitation and custody. I'm told she is quite the Barracuda in court too. She'd better be, she's darn sure expensive.

Oh, before I forget. Our family attorney was the man that put the bug in my ear concerning Grandparents Visitation. Five seconds into my conversation with our new lawyer, she said, "Sir, I hate to break the news to you but the state of Florida ruled, in 1998, that Grandparent Visitation Rights were unconstitutional."

I fired our attorney and have asked him to return my retainer. Haven't heard a word back from him. Sigh....

Enough.

Ah, coffee. Last night we had another hard thunderstorm.  At midnight I witnessed it from my front porch. Beautiful light display.

Ernest Hemingway once wrote he'd seen every sunrise in his life. When I first read those words they gave me pause. It's taken me five decades to truly understand, and I don't drink....

At 0300 I flipped on my short wave and listened to the world. Here, in Florida, the airwaves are cluttered with Cuban and Mexican programming. If one is careful and fine tunes it is possible, with good skip and luck, to tune in European broadcast signals. It keeps a person's mind busy, and I find it peaceful, too.

Yesterday, when the afternoon business slowed, I came back to the office and hit Netflix and pulled up all the Jesse Stone made for television movies. I like Tom Selleck. He's a gunny. Are you aware he owns and lives on a working avocado farm....or at least that's what I'm told.  Anyway, I enjoy his handgun and rifle techniques on the show. What I really enjoy is Jeff Beal's music. It's haunting.

Great waste of a couple of hours. Give it a try.

Other than this series I find mainstream networks a waste of time.

I need to cook. Thoughts of seafood flutter about my thoughts. Maybe dirty rice, or perhaps a big mess of Cajun Pilaf. Not sure, but I bet it happens soon.

I've also promised Little Bit's mother I'd make her my world famous Sausage Garvey and Biscuits, next Sunday morning. (I need to give Little Bit's mother a name for blog purposes. Any thoughts?)

Even thought Little Bit's mother is one of those North Carolina Yankees and I'm sure my spicy concoction will render her helpless for hours she might just enjoy the flavors. We'll see.

Hey, I need to get to work.

Later.

Stephen

Sadness

Seems to surround me this morning.

It's nothing personal. Just a side affect of dealing with the public.

Later.

Stephen

Coffee Time

I feel this urge to make yet another pot of coffee.

There is something wrong with me.
h/t To this nice lady.

Stephen


I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.  ~T.S. Eliot

Guess What Walked In Today

He needed the cash and I wanted his Para .45. Simple, and a bargain to boot.

So, I made a personal purchase; I like paperless deals. She's a little Para P-12 .45, nothing special. She'll make a good little carry piece. Gives me an excuse to buy another holster - as if I need another.

I'm telling 'ya folks - people out there are hurting. I paid less than half book for this little girl. Felt sorry for the guy. But, business is business.

She will not become a safe queen. If you'll excuse me she needs a bath....

Stephen

Paracord

It is my strong belief and opinion everyone should have a roll or two of paracord in their preps.

This, is a good deal.

If you ask why I bet you, like many I know, eat bean sprouts, walk poodles for recreation and have been know to vote democrat and date metrosexuals.

Stephen

For lotta joy

My new friend lotta joy left a comment with questions and concerns about our current experience with this tropical storm, and yes, we still have rains and wind today. The storm has made a very slow turn to the north, which gives us the bands of rain. So far we've had six plus inches.

lotta joy and her husband are new to the state of Florida. She and her husband are old hands when it comes to snow and ice, but hurricanes and tropical storms are a different breed of beast and require different preparations.

Let's make this simple - read this book.

Crisis Preparedness Handbook by Jack A. Spigarelli, and try and find the updated second edition. Amazon has ample stocks. The book is concise and simple to read and will prepare you for any emergency, either natural or man-made.

I do not believe in prepping for only one kind of emergency. It's a waste of time and energy. Prep for all that this old world will throw your way; if you need examples just ask the survivors of the Warsaw ghetto and victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Everyone wants a list. Fine, here are but a few items I have and keep in stock at my home. This list isn't from a book. I was born and raised in the state of Florida and have dealt with many hurricanes and storms. This list is from experience and I strongly urge you to pay heed.

You need:

Books - of course. An education is priceless, and hey, when you're bored you'll have reading material.

Radios - the power will leave you in the dark. Notice I didn't write, might. The power will say bye-bye. Get a couple or three. I believe and preach a 'back-up to a back-up to a back-up.' We refer to this as the rule of three. I have shortwave and crack (dynamo) radios. I own several of each.

Raingear - duh. You will make trips outside into the rain. Find good quality raingear. I purchased mine at Lowe's. I'm sure Home Depot has good raingear in stock.

Hurricane lamps (kerosene) - again, back to power outages. You'll want several of different sizes. Remember, the lamps burn fuel. I keep five gallons, in a blue container, stored in my garage.

Matches - or lighters. I prefer the 'strike anywhere' matches and have at least two cases stored. Again, this is one of those, duh items. It's hard to light a lamp wick or stove without fire.

Flashlights and fresh batteries - Again, several. Fresh batteries work better than dead batteries. I also have a nice supply of rechargeable with a charging station. A good headlight is worth its weight in gold when you're out in the dark rain with a tarp or chainsaw in hand.

Tarps - You will need a large tarp and a few small ones. Buy a tarp big enough to cover any hole in the roof of your home. Think, huge. Then, purchase some rope and cut six foot sections and attach these sections to the grommets on the tarps with knots tied in the loose end of the rope. This will help you either attach sash weighs or other heavy objects to the tarp. If you have a nearby handy tree, like the one that just made the hole in your roof, tie off to its limbs. Rain in your living room isn't good for libraries.

Generator - if you have the funds I highly recommend you have the generator hard wired to your house. Our generator has saved our bacon more times than I can count. It will give you (depending on its wattage) power to at least seven circuits. You will have power to keep your refrigerator and/or freezer cold, lights, ceiling and portable fans and a small window air conditioner. We've used ours for periods of two weeks or more....life will still be a challenge but at least, if you have satellite service for your television, you'll be able to catch the news reports and stayed informed as to the movement of the hurricane and its offspring, tornadoes.

Food - another duh. Keep a years supply of stored food. If I need to explain this...never mind.

Stored Water - not those silly little bottles, which are nice, but many gallons. Treat the water with bleach. The aforementioned book has this information. I have three blue barrels (blue is food grade) filled and treated. You will need a pump for the barrels. This gives me one hundred and sixty-five gallons of fresh water if needed. Remember, city and town water pumps need power. When the power fails gravity takes over so you should have water for a couple of days unless the water supply becomes contaminated. Store water, period.

Portable stoves - see Food above. I have a gas range so I just strike a match when the power goes, poof. If you have a gas grill try and keep at least two extra propane tanks. A good old fashioned Coleman stove will serve in a pinch. Hit Ebay and try and find a good quality alcohol stove too. Military grade if possible. Rule of three, remember. 

Firearms - Critters, moon fleas, democritters, and other scum of the earth always take advantage of the weak during power outages. I've had neighbors leave their generators, powered and attached to their panels, out and unprotected during the night. Guess what happened to those generators and other equipment in their garages. Home invasions take place on a nightly basis. Just a word to the wise.

Chainsaw - or two if possible. Think high wind. When winds reach hurricane levels (seventy-four) trees not only bend, they fall. Been there, done that. Take my word, a working chainsaw will save your bacon. Mine, at present is broken. It will be repaired or I will replace it.

Enough, I've covered the basics. Please, read the book. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

Good luck.

Stephen
 

Thanks & Welcome

To my new friend and follower, Mohave Rat. My new friend I promise to always answer your comments.

To my other followers and friends, please take a moment and scurry your fuzzy rearends over and visit our new friend's blog, mohaveratstwocentsworth, I believe you'll find it very interesting.

Again, thank you and welcome to my humble blog. You are now among friends.

Stephen