The laundry is poisoned!

A few days after I "laundered" the bitch's laundry everyone hears screaming in camp! First it started far away. Then it got stronger and stronger. There was a high pitched screaming turned crying. One by one clothing was dropped to the ground. Cursing was heard from the screaming voice. Laughter was heard from a group of boys. They kept following her. The bitch's BFF's kept trying to put her clothes back on and get the boys away from her. Finally an adult came out and told her she had poison ivy or something.  I just sat back watching.  She earned her poisioned sumac. BITCH. 

The Music Woman

Today I wasn't feeling very well. I didn't want to do a lot of manual labor, so I took out my recorder and started playing music that is learned by heart. People came by to hear me play a small selection of music. When you go a long time without electronics you become thankful for whatever crappy music you hear. I am not a seasoned musician. I only know beginner level music. I can play chopsticks (on a recorder? Yes with a little adaptation). I can play a few nursery songs as well. Mary Had A Little Lamb, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  Normally no one would care. BUT SINCE NO ONE HAS ELECTRICITY my level of music playing was acceptable.  Someone asked if they could play my recorder. That's when I packed up and left. NO WAY is that person or any other person getting their grubby hands on my recorder. 

From YouTube account chopsticks on recorder. 

The Story Teller

With the stories from my water proof binder I am able to entertain the local families. I have memorized many of the stories so that I may leave my binder hidden. Many times I read a variety of stories from various sources. Sometimes certain groups will ask for certain stories, only.  One group will want to hear Aesop's fables only. Those are the parents who want to make sure their children know the realities of our new situation.  They view that as the most important education right now.

Others want to hear only the parables or passages from the Bible. This group prays constantly for salvation to GOD. I also am prayin for salvation to GOD.  

Yet, another group comes to me to learn silent/stealth communication. They pay me to teach them morse code and semaphore (... --- ...) (🎌🚩). I teach them to read it like learning to read a new language; single syllable words with family letters. This way it reinforces learning the letters then the words. 

Fairy tales. I recite fairy tales to the small children. It's the current version of child care. The parents will come with their children to watch me sing nursery songs with hand movements. These parents come with their own snacks for their children and a change of diaper as well. During this time we talk about what can be done to improve our situation. Most of the parents are women at this time. There are a few men who come. For one reason or another they have no mother figure to care for the small child. 

When the parents and small children come together the adults feel a relief. They know they aren't alone. This time gives them a sort of down time. Many have older siblings who come along as well. While the nursery songs may be too immature they appreciate not having to do HARD MANUAL LABOR. They often come and fall asleep during the sessions.  

The parents, after story time, get together   and share a little potluck.  Everyone brings what they have. Sometimes a parent who had something before will suddenly have nothing to share.  Every once in a while someone will try and mooch off the group. When that happens there are arguments between the parents. The mooching parent will argue a starving child.  The other parents will counterpoint their children are starving, as well. So it has been agreed upon that a parent without food will have to support and work the group in one form or another.  We have a lot of parents working now than contributing to a potluck. Very soon the potluck won't work anymore. 

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 

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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!