Ten cultural items

I was allowed to bring ten cultural items, or books from the store. I had thought and thought what would be needed and light enough for the trip. This trip would not be easy. I already had a recorder in my bag and didn't bother with their cheap version. 

Here are my ten cultural items;

1. World history atlas

2. Farmers Almanac (current)

3. Cookbook for die cast pots/pans and stove (small, thin)

4. Anthology book fables, fairy tales,

5. 1 Ream of paper 

6. Pencil box with: pens, pencils, erasers, sharpener, 1 box crayons, tape, glue

7. 1st-5th grade textbook: McGuffey Reader and Math combo

8. 12 piece bowling game. Ball and pins 

9.  Dominoes 

10. Puzzles 2 for 1 unit 

-------------       ----------------         --------------

So why did I choose these items? I'll leave that for my next entry. 

My homemade, waterproof, reference journal

The homemade, water proof, reference journal I made had to be thin enough and small enough to fit in my backpack. A glossy folder was used to protect the journal. Sheet protectors were used to place the pages in. Smaller fonts were used to fit more information in. Information had to be weeded through as to what to accept and what to omit. 

• How to make a solar oven. One sided. 

• How to thresh wheat followed by how to turn wheat into flour. 

• A two sided reference guide for knitting was included. That's my primary skill and I need it. 

• A two sided reference for sewing was included. Likewise a primary skill. 

• Four sewing pattern were included. Very basic and generic. Short sleeve tunic and pants for adults, heavy set, and children (scrubs). Also included as the fourth was a pattern to sew feminine napkins. 

• When to plant/harvest produce. Table for produce planting buddies. How much is needed per person. 

• Directions on how to preserve the harvest were included. Dehydrating and canning. 

• First aide directions were included on a two sided sheet as well. It came from a Red Cross pamphlet that was already water proof. 

• Photocopies of all my pertinent identification and a family tree were included. Pictures of family and friends. I got a smaller copy for my wrist/ankle wallet. 

• Recipes on baking and cooking from scratch. Measurement equivalencies, substitution lists. Three pages long, both sides; small print (pica) 

• Directions on morse code and semaphore. That's one page two-sided.  I could give a class on that.   

• Important prayers and biblical verses and parables. 

• Maps of my previous local area cities. They have no meaning here. I did include an atlas map of the nation. Still worthless because I don't know where we are. Three pages- both sides. 

• Short stories to entertain and educate. A lot of fairy tale poems. They are two pages-- both sides; pica.  

I'm planning to put all if this to good use for myself and the community. 

Winter Wash

It's been a full season since we've all become refugees. The temperature is dropping. It's about time to wash the winter clothes. I aim to do it today!

I'm planning to wash the clothes I was wearing when I was transported here. My navy blue long sleeved polo shirt, my dark pants, my long johns, and the two famous socks I wore that day. One set mismatched!  I was wearing them as the first set hidden from the world. The left foot was yellow and pink polka dots, while the right foot was red plaid! Couldn't clash anymore than those two! And yet I would wear them when I wanted people to believe I was crazy and leave me alone. 

Of course those socks don't make me look crazy; but a whole getup does.  If I wear mismatched clothes and accessories and don't brush my thick, curly hair then people think I'm strange and want to avoid me. If I add strange singing at odd hours that usually helps clinch the illusion of my weirdness. 

But now, back to my laundry. A group of us have gotten together to launder and save soap. I've brought my winter clothes to wash while I wear my tankini. As a group we went to collect water to wash our clothes. Just going to get the water is a chore...pun intended. 

I secured my belongings and left my old roommate in charge of our belongings. I took my wash bucket and wash bag with me. It took half an hour to walk to our water source. Then it took half an hour for our turn to get the water. We four ladies dragged out buckets back to our site. They would not let us wash at the source!!! Assholes. I was able to transfer water from the bucket to the bag. When it comes time to wash I'll either transfer half to the bucket and wash in it; or I'll transfer half to the bucket and wash in the bag.  Either way the left over water is for rinsing. 

Tbc 

Bucket 

Soap 

REFRESHMENTS

     Early on into my refugee status I drank the water that I carried on me.  I purposely did not add my fruit punch powder mix because I knew that I would simply devour it in no time.  However, once I finally got to my first stopping point I could not hold out much longer.  I had to have a flavored drink.  I had to have my fruit punch.

     As I got to my encampment, along with EVERYONE ELSE, I dumped my baggage on the ground and kept my rolling bin near me. Then I fell to the ground from exercise fatigue.  I ended up closing my eyes for a few seconds and found that the sun had moved positions when I opened them again. I was very lucky to have laid back on my baggage!

     Upon waking I drank my water.  I wanted something more.  I'm a city girl used to flavored drinks.  I was good all day.  Now it was time to have a treat! I deserved it.  I had definitely earned it!  I got up off my pack and shook off the grass and dirt. Turning around I saw my pack.  Squatting, I unzipped it and separated the mouth of the bag.  I shifted around a few items without taking them out of the bag.  I certainly didn't want people to see my canned foods, water and change of clothes! 

I found my box of powdered fruit punch. I opened the box and took out one packet   Next I took out my water bottle and uncapped it. Having ripped opened the  powder mix I poured it into the water bottle and shook, shook, shook 'til done. The powder works best for up to 20 oz glasses of water. This bottle is bigger than that. I know it's watered down, I don't care. Either it's watered down and lasts longer or I put in another packet and, eventually, run out of fruit punch mix ahead of time.  

     That first sip of fruit punch I couldn't help myself. I chugged it down, all the while wishing it was not watered down. Then, I stopped chug-a-lugging my fast disappearing drink. The strong desire to suck it down had disappeared. I put the drink at the top of my barrel covered by another item. On second thought, maybe my backpack would be a better option. Too many people saw me place the drink in my barrel. Gotta be careful here! 

It's nerd day for me...nothing new... Move along people

Ugh!!! You think that being in a refugee camp is bad enough. It only gets worse as time passes on. Your supplies start to run out. People start stealing from other people. The old and the weak lose hope that help will come. They look for help and are turned away. 

People walking out of the area eventually return stating they were blocked at the border with guns. These are supposed to be our people. ONE NATION. Not a third world country! WHERE IS THE HELP?What's going on?  Here's what's happening in and mourned camp...

1. Running out of hygienic supplies. 

         •Toilet paper, paper towels, seat     

            covers are gone.  People have 

            urine and feces on their hands 

            now from cleaning up. 

         •Soap, detergent, shampoo,     

            toothpaste, deodorant are gone 

            too. There's just no way to wash 

            away the crap! 

         •Feminine napkins, tampons and 

            diapers are GONE. it's a mess 

            too. Everywhere you go women 

            are dripping red and babies go 

            bare bottom. 

2. Running out of food! 

         •Not everyone came prepared! 

           Some idiot came with an apple 

           pie and said that was all he 

           needed. Of like to know what 

           happened to him now. 

         •Not enough food was brought. 

         •The wrong types of foods were 

           brought: potato chips, pretzels, 

           beer. No canned foods. No H2O!

        •They forgot the can opener! Omg!

        

So basically we are 

Pooping without wiping or washing. 

Eating without washing.

Stinking without deodorant. 

Stinking without detergent. 

Starving without food. 

 

Dehydrating without water. 

 

We are losing our moral compass. 

WE ARE DYING

  

 

Lost a Cup

I should've paid more attention to the cups and plates I got for my GO BAG! I couldn't afford metal/aluminum settings do I had to settle for plastic settings from the dollar store. Everyone knows that whatever you buy at the dollar store is not meant to last a long time. I know that, but I didn't have the money to buy a long lasting camping gear. 

So, what happened? My cheap plastic cup with handle and lid broke. Unbelievable. First, the rubber lining for the lid gets warped. Because of that the lid won't close all the way. A portion sticks up. Well today I filled up my cup and tried to put the lid on while holding the cup handle. Well while twisting the lid side to side the handle broke off. It broke off. It F-N broke off! That cup is a total waste now. What do I do now? Trade? Beg? Buy? Steal? No one has a spare cup! It's a good thing the cup came as a pair. 

I'm just disgusted with myself. What other bad decisions did I make because I didn't have the money? How long will my utensils last? My bowls? My pot and pan? Not very long I'm afraid. 

Sewing... Ah crap!

I've been sewing a bit to stay calm and be busy. My sewing kit is from the discount store. I purposely put in a simple pattern and the cloth needed to complete the project. Along with the simple adornments. It's not much. I had already done a similar project before at home. I like to sew, but, I should have known better than to use discount store supplies! 

My needle threader broke on me! I have used the needle threader half a dozen times without any problems. It's a cheap thing! Definitely not worth it's weight in gold! Not even worth it's weight in tin or aluminum. 

The little plastic box that holds the buttons, needles, safety pins, etc... That's cheap as well. I can't tell you how many times it's popped open on me and everything has spilled out. Pins, needles, buttons all flying left of the tent, right of the fire, over a plate, under a bush; you name it. I had to search everywhere to find my complete sewing kit. My neighbors started laughing at me. "Just give it up. You'll never find those things. Here have a drink with us." One person helped me. She found A BUTTON, laughed at the embarrassment of it all and walked away. 

I looked in my tent, under my tent, near the fire, in the neighbors camps (left and right). I looked under bushes, on flowers, in shoes, in my neighbors shoes! I finally found my sewing kit items--for the most part. The next day I found a button while dumpin the dirty water. It glittered in the mud. 

I'm still missing a few pieces. I had to start a new needle and thread to continue my project. It wasn't easy trying to poke a thread in the very thin eye of the needle! I miss my threader!  As crappy as it was I didn't spend five minutes poking and missing the eye of he needle. Lick the thread, introduce it to the needle. The thread veers left. Lick the thread again, introduce it AGAIN to the needle, it veers right. One more time only to find myself cross-eyed! I look far away and things are blurry for a moment as my eye muscles adjust again. 

Sewing has taken the place of my hand held electronic device. It's a fine motor skill. It keeps my eyes very close to the medium. It gives me simple joy. However, I do miss getting information at the touch of my fingers.  That's a topic for another day. 

P. S. 

Two days later I finally found the needle with the biggest eye. 

I remember... The Escalator Scene

An incident in the refugee camp today reminded me of an incident at a two story, anchor, department store. People today were pushing and shoving; getting in to people's personal space.

I remember being at the two story department store. Instead of taking the elevator I decided to take the escalator (I was trying to avoid jail time not taking the same elevator as the family with the screaming toddler).

I was on the second floor and stepped onto the down escalator. For a bit no one got on behind me. Then half way down I notice a difference. Someone is in my personal space. I looked left, then right.

The person behind me yelled "What bitch?" As I get off the escalator I turn to the right, towards the register. The rude man behind me gets off the escalator yelling, "Finally, you fat bitch you took up the whole escalator!" I picked up a vroom left my am employee and applied some martial arts on his ass. I tripped him up as he crossed my path. Then I hit him with the broom on his back. Finally, I just kicked him in the gut and walked away, head tall, with a smile on my face.

I remember... Elevator 01

I was laying down, remembering an incident at the local department store. I was there with my roommate. We were there to buy her nephew a toy.

Already I was developing a headache from the constant whining of a two year old. I heard the chronic noise pollution coming from the next aisle. Curious to the cause of my headache I decided to take a sneak peak at the disturbed child.

I expected to find a girl with long hair, a dress, and a princess tiara on her head the way she was carrying on. Instead I found two rough and tumble boys fighting over the same toy. Both boys were wearing earth tone t-shirts and long pants. One had a typical 4-year old boy sounding cry. The second had a 2-year old high pitched feminine cry! Probably perfected from fighting with his brother over the toys.

I decided to walk away from the area. I was expecting the noise level of the high pitched crying to level off. It did not. In the moment I decided to leave my roommate the parents came to both boys, picked them up and decided to spontaneously parallel walk with me away from the toy department. "Oh my g-d! Am I being followed? Seriously?! Really?! F-CK!!" At this point I'm at my wits end, just like the father of the two boys. I was heading for the elevators, when lo-and-behold!, guess who called the elevator! I WANTED TO SCREAM! I WAS SO FRUSTRATED. I step away from the elevator. "I got the toy", said my roommate as she passed me by. She walked over to the elevator and got in the same car as the family. Apparently she missed the dad attempting to lead the screaming child into said elevator. Failing that he picked up the brat and shoved him in the car. Mother and older brother followed. "Come on", said my roommate as she stepped into the elevator. The door closed behind her. I refused to take a step closer to her.

The elevator doors closed. I could still hear the child screaming. Suddenly a blaring alarm sounds out from the cavity of the elevator car. The elevator was stuck between floors!

I slowly and joyfully walked away from the nightmare of elevator 01. I was very happy to have some alone time from my roommate and that family.

My friend was finally released from her noisy jail 40 minutes later. She found me at the cafeteria eating a hot dog and drinking an Icee. So much for peace and quiet.

The Old Haunting Ground

Ok the bitch had it coming!   See, first back in civilization she asked me if I could cook cuz her highness was hungry for a steak. Kiss my mo fo ass. Now since our TRANSPLANT she saw me washing my clothes and thought I would just do it for her automatically. She actually came to me and gave me specific directions. "Not too much starch, and I want them in an hour!" Oh really? Then she dropped her clothes at my feet. She walked away and I walked over them.  

I thought about it. This is a different place. I'm not responsible for that bitch. 

So I looked around and found a few ivies and oaks that looked REAL FAMILIAR. Guess what I did. I didn't bother using my soap.  I rinsed her clothes and  poision sumac to the bag. The bitch came back for her clothes. I told her they were still in the bag along with the flowers she wanted to scent them. I told her she could keep the bag. Then I told her I don't do anyone's laundry and not to come back. 

WAB!

My Clothes

I have only told you of the clothes I was wearing when I was evacuated. I never told you of the change of clothes in my backpack, or the change clothes at the store. Well, let me tell you now...

In my backpack I always tried to keep a change of clothes in case of an incident away from home; an evacuation, a pull out, a shelter in place at work, etc... So I tried to put in clothes that would work for me in everyday life; top, bottom, bra and panties, bathing suit, socks.

Originally I was thinking of shorts for bottoms, but then I thought, what if its cold? What if I have to go to work? What then? That made me think of the BIG PICTURE. I may still have to work in an emergency. It may be cold during the emergency. I want the clothes to be practical and modern. No out of date clothes. Oh, good luck with that. The first change of clothes had me putting in clothes I was ready to donate to Goodwill Industries or the Red Cross. When I took a good look, I realized I didn't want to be caught dead in outdated clothes anymore. Also, seeing as my work has a solid colored shirt and navy pants for a uniform, I decided to forgo the polka dotted shirt and red pants (thank goodness). Instead I went with a solid color polo shirt to match my work, and navy blue pants legging.

Underwear is easier. I put in a sports bra and two-dark, cotton brief panties. Socks, a pair is nice; two is better. I added a two piece bathing suit, just in case for bathing. You never know where you'll be bathing. That's what I had in my backpack, tightly folded up and placed in a plastic bag.

At the store, I ended up picking up another set of clothes; 2 tops, 1 bottom, 1 underwear, and 2 socks. When I picked my clothes from my closet I was able to mix and match. At this store I wasn't able to do that. I asked for a clothing item of a certain size and color, they gave me the size, not the color. So that combination does not match in itself. They do mix and match well with my other clothes though.

At the store they gave me a yellow tunic and grey shorts. After all is said and done, I still get shorts. Oh---kay. Black socks. They gave me men's black socks. Not a problem really. I feel sorry for the man with pink women's socks. I might be tempted to trade with him... For a price...

Chicken Fricasee

Today I made the campsite version of Chicken Fricasee.
I took two ounces of noodles, 1/2 can of chicken, 1/2 can tomato soup, 1/2 water, and 1/2 can of mixed vegetables. 

I used the thermos cooling method to cook. I heated up water on my fire. When it came to a rolling boil I poured it into my thermos and sealed it. The food was already on my thermos. I turned it side to side and rolled it to make sure all sides of the food got cooked by the boiling water.  

One hour later I opened up my thermos to check on my chicken Fricasee. Hmmm. It was almost done. I sealed it up and waited another half hour. It was finally done.   

Mmm mmmm good. 

Laundry

It's laundry time. I need to wash my clothes. I don't even want to tell you what I'm wearing. The day I was evacuated I was wearing heavy winter clothes, in layers. My final destination was a complete change in climate and land. Off came the long sleeve polo, tunic and long johns. Off came the winter coat. My undies I'd change on a regular basis. Some days I'd even forgo the bra. 

As I said before, it's wash day. Today I'm wearing my two piece bathing suit because I know I WILL get wet. I put my dirty clothes in a large trash bag and added water to it, then closed it up. I shook up the bag to make sure my clothes were fully wet. I reopened the bag and added only a half capful of hand washing detergent. I closed the bag, again, and shook it, hoping the water and clothes would suds up. A few minutes later I, once again, opened the bag and looked inside. Hmmm. Interesting. "Do I need to add another half a capful of detergent?" There were suds, but not too many. I really didn't want too many suds, because then I would need a lot of water to rinse them out. 

Phase two in washing my clothes had me transferring clothes from the bag to my bucket. One item at a time, I put the clothes under water and finished washing them out by hand. When I was done I rung them out completely before placing them in a bucket of clean water. Once again I rung out the clothes. Because water is such a commodity I still had some soap suds in my clothes. Still, the majority of my clothes were now clean. What did I clean? Five pairs of socks, all my briefs and bras, short sleeve polo shirt, tunics, navy blue leggings and shorts. I considered a second "load" for the polo shirt and leggings. But I decided, "Why do a second load for two pieces of clothing?" A full load is what's needed. 

My winter clothes will be washed later. I need to save water for now. 

I

The Trade

Before the big exodus many survivalists/preppers/Mormons talked frequently about the economy after a SHTF (Shit Hits The Fan) situation. Many promoted billets and band aids. "you can hunt for your food". Others simply said they would "find the nearest idiot and steal their food". 

On the other side were people who think gold and silver  are the one and only things to "hoard" as people can't live trade with bullets and band aids, easily. These people believe its better for them economically to have gold and silver. Never mind the food. You can always buy food with an ounce of gold. And yet Wendy Dewitt states that would be the most expensive meal ever to have been bought. An ounce of gold for a can of soup! A subgroup thinks silver is better than gold because it is cheaper. It's still the same issue. If you don't have food you won't survive. 

Another group thinks that food and only food should be "hoarded". In this manner they will live a lot longer and can trade for goods needed in the future.  

One group proposes stockpiling needed goods for future use to trade after the collapse of civilization.  I've seen men state they plan to stock alcohol, marijuana and/or tobacco to trade/sell. Those men have been warned that addicts will NOT offer to trade, simply steal or worse kill and take what they think is rightfully theirs. I see other people, both men and women, state they will stockpile less conspicuous items such as hygienic supplies, clothes, shoes, sandals, etc... for trade. These items fall under the legal radar. Everyone has shoes. Everyone has clothes. Everyone has household items such as; dental kit, combs, brushes, can openers, utensils, etc...

One last group says, "once you trade everything you have stockpiled what are you going to do next? How will you trade?  You need a skill that everyone needs but few know. Sewing, knitting, bullet making, shoemaking, gardening, smithing, candle making, soap making, etc...  Entrepreneurship. 

In my opinion. The best one is all around. However, I don't think people saw complete evacuation from everything we know and love as plausible---except Mr. Bullets-Bandaids  he knew. 

•But he wasn't allowed to bring his weapons with him. 

•Mr. and Mrs. Mercantile may have had stashes here and there but I doubt they were able to bring it over to the site. If they're lucky; maybe they bought a lot of combs from the store. 20 combs for one unit of payment. 

•Ms. Crocker never had a chance to bring her dry goods on this trip. Only what they gave us. Maybe she can teach everyone recipes. 

• Mr. and Mrs. Engineer-Entrepreneur  seem to be handling the situation the best. They have their life skills knowledge. They can use it or teach it. All they need are a few tools. They can trade it for food, merchandise or skill. They still need food to survive. 

So....

• Where do I fall? What's my preference? How prepared was I? Well, I had been storing canned food for a while at my place. I had a GO BAG made which I wore wherever I went. The day they picked me up I was wearing it. I learned how to knit and sew. I learned to bake and cook from scratch, not frozen. I learned to play a few songs on a recorder. 

I did stockpile a few things to barter with. Most of it was at the house when I was picked up. Fortunately my backpack had a few things in it for trade as well. I kept my items VERY LIGHT knowing the bag would be carried on my back. 

• A 75 ct. bag of floss paks 

• 20 ct. bag of family combs 

• 18 ct. bag hair elastics. 

• A recorder to entertain people for trade 

• Stories to read and tell people for entertainment. (See journal) 

• Lots of seeds to garden with and then trade the produce for items. I had them wrapped tightly in zip locked bags. 

• A thin homemade, water proof, reference journal to fall back on. I'll talk about this more in another entry. 

• My tools. Sewing kit and knitting needles. Small kit. I got another kit at the store the day of evacuation. 

• Self defense. Martial arts, knitting needles, and now defunct house keys. I have a multitool kit I keep in my pocket. 

My skills? 

• Knitting hats and scarves 

• Sewing scrubs and feminine towels

• Playing simple music on my recorder

• Storytelling 

Only time will tell if its enough. At this point EVERYONE is subsisting. 

Cooling Down

How do you cool down when there is no electricity? No electricity; no air conditioning... Way back when our ancestors used fans, individual hand fans were seen on the hands of Doñas, and southern ladies alike. Servants and slaves were made to fan their masters, mistresses, and bosses, during the day. They would be the ones to fetch the water. When it was time they drew a bath for them as well.

Well, I don't have servants, and I definitely don't have slaves. I have to draw my own water or pay/trade someone to do it for me. I have made a personal fan to cool myself with. If only there were electricity or even a pool. There is no pool here at our campsite. There is no lake, nor a creek or brook. Instead a bucket of water is what I have.

A bucket of water, a wash cloth and a spray bottle. I fill the spray bottle with water and mist my arms, legs, face, and chest. Ah a bit of relief. Then, I dunk my cloth in the bucket and quickly splash water over me.

First I squeeze water on my head to help cool down my brain. Then I dunk the cloth again and put the wash cloth on my chest for a while. My chest requested cooling when I started overheating. It's at this point that I take a drink from my filtered water bottle. In a few minutes I dip my towel again and place it directly on my back.

Ah, already I feel my body cooling down. Once again, I leave the towel there for a few minutes. During this whole process the spray bottle has not been forgotten. Mists of water is constantly being sprayed on me while I fan myself with a hand fan.

Oh, when will this heat end?

Rotten Fruit

Fruit won't last forever. If its refrigerated it'll last longer. If its at room temperature it'll expire as nature intended. If it is preserved either in jars or dehydrated it will last the longest.

I can't refrigerate my fruit because there is no electricity. I don't bother preserving because there isn't enough to make it worthy of the task. What do I do? I eat the fruit as long as it lasts. Occasionally a fruit will expire before I have the chance to eat it. Before, back home I simply would have thrown out the offending fruit and grabbed another one. I don't have that option here. Every resource has to be used. It cannot be thrown away. What do I do? I cut away the rotting flesh of the fruit and use it for composting. The good, the fresh part of the fruit I eat.

Every part of the fruit is used up. I save the seeds and plant them. The skin of the citrus I use to add zing to foods I cook. When I can no longer use the skin I add it to the compost.

NOTHING IS WASTED. Nothing.

When the fresh milk went sour I made a dessert out of it. I didn't throw it away. When I made it it smelled nasty. But, when I ate it it tasted delicious. My mother used to make it when I was a little girl. A house full of two adults and four children. Occasionally the milk did expire. Not always, but sometimes. My mom would be making the spoiled milk dessert Saturday mornings. I would wake up to that foul odor. However, once I knew what she was making, despite the foul smell, I couldn't wait to eat it.

Finger Knitting A Scarf

During my downtime I took out my yarn. I don't have any knitting needles, but that's alright; finger knitting is fine. When knitting needles were no longer allowed in Federal buildings, finger knitting worked wonderfully.

MY CRAPPY NOVEL : THE BATH

MY CRAPPY NOVEL : THE WASH:      Try as I might there is no privacy in this camp.  I enter my tenet and close the flap.  While in this perceived privacy I take off my j...


here's another descriptive essay about camp life. my own personal experience was sponge bathing because there was no running water. I always try to conserve water.  Try taking a bath the way the brits did back during WW2.  The water couldn't be any higher than your ankle in the tub!  Try taking an African bath! Do you know we waste 100's of gallons of water taking a long shower? We have to change the way we treat water and the earth.

THE BATH

     Try as I might there is no privacy in this camp.  I enter my tent and close the flap.  While in this perceived privacy I take off my jeans, t-shirt, socks, and underwear.  I put on my tankini.

     Already I have heated water cooling in my bucket.  I've asked a few friends to watch the door for me.  There were some people noticing I was getting ready for a bath.  I don't want or need Peeping Toms focused on me!  Hopefully they have forgotten since I put the bucket of hot water in my tent 15-20 minutes ago.  It was BOILING HOT!

     The heat of the water was finally tolerable.  I grabbed my wash cloth in my left hand and the soap bar in my right hand.  I wrapped the towel around the soap and dunked them both in the water.  I lathered the towel both in and out of the water.  I then put the towel down on a nearby folding chair.  I picked up the clean spray bottle and filled it with water.  I twisted the cap closed and started to spray out.  Nothing came out.  I looked at the nozzle and noticed it was closed.  I turned the nozzle three times, testing to see if it was finally on.  On the third twist it finally turned on.

     I sprayed the water on my arms and chest.  Putting down the spray bottle I picked up my lathered wash cloth.  I lathered first my left arm, then my chest with my right hand.  I transferred the cloth to my left hand and lathered my right arm.  I make sure to lather my armpits aggressively.  I pick up my spray bottle, again and sprayed my back. 

     Quickly I lathered my back.  I could hear the voices of men talking boisterously outside in the next camps.  The ladies outside continued to talk amongst themselves.  Their voices a comfort to me.  I take the spray bottle and quickly sprayed both legs and thighs as well as groin.  Hurriedly I wash the left thigh, then the right thigh.  I can hear the voices getting closer now.
 
     I quickly wash my groin front to back.  I rinse out my wash cloth and use it and the spray bottle to rinse off the lather.  It takes many applications of dunking the wash cloth in the bucket and passing it over my body.  It works fine on the legs.  For the groin I simply decide to pour water over the groin area.

     The men are now in front of the tent.  They are boisterous and rude.  Expeditiously I grab my selected clean clothes already set aside and put them on over damp skin.  The clean t-shirt only bunched up at the neck and shoulders when I put them on.  The pants bunched up at the legs and thighs.  PHEW! Not easy when you're rushed!.

     I walk out fully dressed leaving the men slack jawed.  They backed away realizing there was no longer a peep show readily available.

     Of course maybe the gun in my holster and the pepper spray from the ladies might have discouraged them as well.

DAY ONE WTF PT 2

You can only take 20 food items or 20 credits of food items.  Remember you will need hand tools,

bedding, clothing, hygiene.  Good Luck!"

     It became a madhouse, then.     As soon as people got their trashbin barrels they ran to the food

sections.  People started fighting over food.  Others started crying.  A few gave up all together.  Those people were picked up and put on the bus.  That bus was already filled with crying people.  It left right after
loading up the "cry babies" as one man stated. I was lucky I almost ended upon that bus, as well. When I realized it wasn't a robbery but an evacuation my courage returned. I was able to breathe normal again. I started to uncurl myself and look around. I was still guarded. I was still hidden under the counter until one of the military men lead me out from under there.
He was about to take me to the bus when I snapped out of it and grabbed a trash-bin barrel and started "shopping". I still had the three bottles of medicines so I put those in my pockets. I didn't dare take off my backpack to put them in. I'd lose it in the process.

The food section was being fought over. The military cordoned it off and demanded a list from people. I took a sheet off their emergency preparedness list they posted all over. I turned it over and wrote my 20 items/credits list. I handed it to them. They told me to return or wait for five minutes. I waited. In seven minutes I had my groceries. Good or bad, that was it. By now the military was at EVERY AISLE. Each aisle now demanded a list. I quickly wrote my lists--thanks to the emergency preparedness sheet I handed them each to the guards. Each one told me 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, seven minutes(?!), et cetera...

People were pushing and shoving. I got any shoving match with a couple that wants my food. They rated to the bus with what they had so far. I was given the evil eye and a warning that the next fight would see me on the bus.

I kept to myself and waited. I went to automotive/gardening to pick up my tools and garden supplies. I was happy to get my soil and seeds. I chose my fast-growing veggies. I tried to make sure to pick vegetables that can be partnered for optimal growth; good luck.

DAY ONE WTF!!!

     I was in town, minding my own business when the big thumb of the government was pressed down on

 me! :( :) :( .  It was the coldest day EVER!  Don't tell me climate change doesn't exist.  It was so cold I was

wearing my typical underwear (top/bottom), LONG JOHNS!, a tunic and shirt.  I had on pants, two pairs

of socks!, a scarf, mittens and finally a winter coat.  On my feet; hiking boots.  It helped keep the wind and

rain out.  On my head I had a hat on.  Why I was out on a day like today I don't know.  I should've been

home.  Oh, yes...my roommate was sick.  We didn't have any medicine at home so it fell to me to get it. 

Since we were short on cash---we only had $3.30 between us, I went to a discount store to buy the

medicine.  I was about to pay for the aspirin, cough medicine and peptic medicines when the store was

closed off to the outside public. 

     People started freaking out.  Our cashier started balling, "Please don't shoot!  We'll give you the money.

Please... don't... kill... us."  Parents held their babies close to them.  One or two parents actually abandoned

their children to run to safety!!  One came back for the children.  The other cried hysterically, "LET ME

OUT! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"   I was third in line at the register.  I ducked down behind the person in

front of me.  "Please don't see me. Please don't see me," I whispered.  I started saying one OUR FATHER

and 10 HAIL MARYS.  And then repeated.

Soon the spokesperson of the group spoke up.  "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.  May I have your

attention?!  You are being evacuated to a different habitat You will be given a trashbin and credit for 100

items or 100 credits.  You have 45 minutes.  Think about what you need for you and your family. 

Once you leave this area there will be no more resources to help you.