Around Here

I have been busy. I thought I’d post some pictures

 

 

The picture of my little “frog” pond shows the work in progress. It  is actually 8’x16’, pictures don’t always tell the whole story. It rained a little last week and managed to hold the water fairly well. I have serious clay and it held water fairly well. I will compact the clay a little and it will likely hold water well enough. Plastic liners ain’t cheap, so if I can get by with just a clay pond, then that will make me very happy. My cats and dogs drink out of it. I am hoping we get enough rain this winter to fill it up.

 

As you can see I’ve been as busy as my worn out old body will allow. I only do a little each day around here. I find doing just a little each day gets the job done. When I was younger I could have done most of this work in a few days. Now it takes months. Not complaining, telling it like it is.

 

But it’s good to accomplish things. It’s like prepping. When you start out, the task seems impossible. But if you start and do a little each day, before you know it you have accomplished a lot. This applies to all things in life. You start, keep after it and then achieve.

 

I have used this principle all my life. Set a goal, implement it a day at a time. Too many people never even bother to start. Find a reason not to accomplish anything and therefore never achieve anything. Which sums up why this country is in the mess it in. Just saying…………..

 

I’ve decided not to bother with talking about what is coming. It is clear to some of us and the rest are oblivious. Ain’t my problem. As an old guy my vision is crystal clear even if I am blind in one eye. I see the world exactly as it is without rose colored glasses. I’ve spent my whole life surviving in this FUBAR world. The bottom line is survival. Too many have lost sight of this one all powerful principle of life. The veneer of civilization is just that, a veneer.

 

All I got to say at the moment………………..

 

Still alive and kicking

I have had  some request as to why I haven't posted for a long time. My answer is I am disgusted. I look at what is going on and frankly I am disgusted by what I see. America has become Babylon. So I have kept silent. Frankly, what will be will be and nothing I say will change it. So instead of talking about my extreme disgust with "humanity", I will only say that I am alive and well.

Still living my hillbilly dream. I have been working on my place and ignoring human stupidity as best I can, which is hard to do. I disassembled my garden fence and put a in a parking space. I have put in a "frog pond" for possible water for my 2013 garden. Which will be considerably downsized.

I bought a dehydrator and have been dehydrating some food. I dehydrated a bunch of hash browns and other stuff. Bought some TVP (textured vegetable protein). Got some "beef", "sausage crumbles", "ham" and "chicken". Have cooked up a few meals and found it to be pretty good. Great addition to beans and rice.

I may add some pictures the next time I post, if I post again. Frankly I don't know if or when I will post again. I can't post from my Android phone but can respond to emails. So feel free to email me at

jlinnaba@gmail.com

I don't have to go to town to respond to emails now. I still think something wicked this way comes. So I am doing my best to prepare for it. Which is all any of us can do........

Fresh Eggs

My chickens are starting to lay eggs. I built a nesting box, hopefully the stupid chickens will figure out that this is where they will lay their eggs. Chickens ain’t too bright. That’s why we call them food.

I have two roosters, only need one if I want chicks. Chickens lay eggs even without a rooster. I am saying this because not everybody understands this, so it’s FYI. Want just eggs, eat the roosters. Want more chickens, keep a rooster around.

I am going to build another cage and move one rooster into it and eat the other. The damned roosters make the hens lives hell as I see it. I may want more chicks, so one rooster gets a reprieve. Best to keep a rooster around in case TSHTF as I see it, if you get my drift.

I ain’t going to talk much about what I see coming. Just a few words, the fiscal cliff is getting closer, starting 1.1.13 the taxes are scheduled to skyrocket. Depending on the election, TSHTF could happen,

This is my assessment, take it as you will. A half a trillion TAX increase will push this country closer to the edge (Cloward and Piven). So that’s all I got to say. Don’t like any of the options I see…

Some technical talk.

I have been working on getting some kind of internet out here. My old phone had crappy internet access, was one step above useless. I bought a Net10 ZTE Merit Android Phone at Dollar General for $79 on sale. Walmart wanted $129.

I had tried to get prepaid MIFI out here but it was a no go. MIFI is a wireless connection that creates a WIFI hotspot. I’d have loved that, but couldn’t get it to work. Signal out here sucks, so I bought a Wilson Sleek to boost the signal. It boosts the signal very well, but the prepaid carriers suck out here. No Sprint signal at all, ATT works, but has a weak signal, the Wilson Sleek boosts it enough, just slower 3G, but fast enough with the Wilson Booster and Android phone.

So back to the ZTE Merit, it gives me far better internet browsing. It has a “real” web browser not the WAP Mobile phone garbage. Not as good a standard home internet connection, but a big step up from the old phone. I can check email, browse REAL websites, download stuff, etc. I’ll likely still need to go buy a cup of coffee to post to the blog, but this will make things easier for yours truly. Electronic dreams and all that stuff.  I am an old techie after all.

 So for $79 it solves my internet access far better than before, not perfect, but a major step up.. Until I can get a real internet connection. The local power company will run fiber optics out here, but that will be 1.5 to 2 years off as I am out in the sticks.

I love this phone. The biggest complaint is not enough internal memory and the technically clueless burn it up quick and complain. The app manager allows downloaded apps to be moved to the SD chip, this leaves enough internal memory to work with. You can add up to 32 GB of SD (external memory).

I added 4GB, more than I need. In time I may use up the internal memory, but have been careful.

For the price I find it more than adequate for my needs and even more powerful than I had expected. A true handheld computer is what this is in reality. FYI Android is based on Linux.  A powerful Operating System. I am an old Unix/Linux guy. So I am right at home with Android. I can even write apps for Android if want to and may fiddle with it some.

So I may be able to respond to emails more than once every 6 months, something I tend to overlook when in town. I always forgot to check email in town. So being able to surf the internet, check email and other things is something I like…

You’d think living out here and being retired I’d get bored. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am too damned busy to get bored. I have been inside through most of the summer heat, but I got plenty to do inside.

I wrote the software I manage my affairs with, which are fairly complex, contrary to popular belief. I am always working on software, it’s for my own use. I have Dish (which I am pissed off at, dropped it before the Final Season of Breaking Bad one of my favorite shows), Nook with about 1500 EBooks, PS3 because I am an old gamer and now better internet access. Plus all the work I have to do around here, both inside and out. I am not complaining. I love staying busy. Slow down and die is how I see it.

While I hate both political parties, I feel this is the most important elections in American history. If Obama wins he will go full bore ahead (Cloward and Piven plan) and you know I am right. Expect gun control and all the other bad things he has planned. I don’t love the Romney/Ryan ticket, but it is MORE in line with my beliefs. So I got my eye the next 4 months. It could get interesting is all I got to say. But now is a time to stay alert, not doom and gloom, just a fact jack.

So till I buy another cup of coffee or figure out how to post from here….

Where to begin

No, I didn't die and get mumified (laughed at that one) in my TT because of the heat. I have been extremely busy, my old laptop was dying and I needed a new one.

Picked up a new one for $300 which was about a ¼ of what I paid for the old one. It's actually better than the old one. I picked up a Nook because I read a lot. It also shows how stupid this countrry is becoming. Had to have Wifi access to even use the damned thing. WTF !?!?! I needed wifi to activate their filthy product, screw you corporate Asshole America. Bite me.

Are these brain dead idiots too stupid to understand that not everyone has internet !?!?! Amazing. Amazingly stupid. Then I got a Barnes and Nobles (B&N) “gift” card, needed a foul smelling Credit Card (CC) to use the Retarded “Gift Card” !?!?!?! WTF !!! I don't need no stinking CC, don't want one either. So I bought one of those prepaid Debit Cards to use the stupid “Gift Card”. Are these morons brain dead or what. I use the Prepaid Debit card (PPDC) for security reasons.

I do order stuff online occasionally and as I've written already, indenty theft is out of control in this country. No way in hell would I use my bank debit card to order anything online. So PPDC's are cheap insurance against the darkness of stupidity infecting America these days.

I am ranting for a reason here. The Nook crap is asymptomatic of Americas decline. Buy a Kindle and you will deal with the same crap, I bought one of those first and took the garbage back. Piss poor design and same stupid policies. These filthy coporations think they own us, think we exist solely to serve their sorry asses. Well they get damned little money from me. I only bought a Nook to read my public domain Ebooks, I may live in the sticks, but I don't live in the stone age.

I try and avoid dealing with Corporations whenever possible. Sometimes you have to compromise, but B&N will get damned little business from me because of their stupid BS !!! I have tons of Ebooks that are in the PUBLIC DOMAIN, it would take the rest of my life to read them all. So I will only buy a few things I absolutely need from B&N. They cut their own throats with this assinine BS.

As I got older, I found it impossible to get a filthy job because of my age. The last technical interview I had, I almost dragged this scumbag young punk across the table and snapped it's filthy neck. I didn't of course or I'd be in prison, but had to fight the impulse. I've worked with some of the smartest people on this planet and this retarded little asshole wasn't one of them. But that's whats going on in this country, decline.

Many of us see the BS for what it is and understand what's going on. Basically I am out here in the sticks flying my two middle fingers at the PTB. Screw corporate America and their FUBAR excuse for a system. Don't think I love the commiecrats either, I hate them far more than corporate stinking America.

I heard some so called financial pundit say only people who don't understand money use things like prepaid debit cards and prepaid phones. I say smart people use these. I have used prepaid phones for years, telecomms are bigger ripoffs than banks. The PPDC I have I control how much I put in it and don't pay interest. The fees exist, but I benefit by having better security. Starve the beast whenever possible is my belief, it needs to die and die a horrible death.

Onward. I did a land transfer, I traded one lot for another. Got some equity out of the first lot I bought. Then took over payments on the lot in front of mine. So I still have 7 acres, just different property. Worked out for me.

The new lot has a nice little impression that I may dam up for a pond, I'll see. Probabally illegal to build a pond, the stinking government owns the rain that falls from the sky these days. Can't fart these days without breaking some damned law. I will need a real water system to do any real gardening here. The 100 plus degree days and little rain didn't do this garden much good. It didn't all die, but took a beating.

I am rethinking the sustence gardening thing. Without a real watering system, not much I can do really. Going out and watering in 107 degree weather just isn't practical. I respect heat a lot more than cold, not that I disrespect cold. Some have died this summer because of this heat wave. Respect it or die is how I see it.

This winter when the trees go bare, I can check out the possible pond site. Sure I drive by it all the time it's close to the road, but never “looked” carefully at it. So I'll see how that shakes out.

A pond would be nice and I can setup a real watering system and maybe be able to do a real garden next year. It takes more water than I can haul in this damned heat, unless I get a trailer and water tank, blah, blah, blah...

Trying to grow all your own food is not easy. If you don't have experience at it, question rather that container of survival seed will do you any good if TSHTF. I know how to garden, but Missouri gardening is different from where I am from. We got a lot more summer rain there, not so much here. Or is it just a drought, who knows, not I. Not all of the stuff I've planted has died out, but some has. It's all a learning experience. But this is a genuine drought here, not just a pathetic excuse. A harsh reality. Higher food prices are coming because of the drought as if it's not high enough in cost already.

My chicks became chickens, I built an ark to house them. Should be producing some egss in a month or so.

It's become clear that this country is going straight to hell. I see and hear things I can't believe are happening. The insanity grows exponetially every single day. I am just trying to get better prepared. Now I am working on making this place as self reliant as I can given my own physical limitations and limited resources. I still think a collapse is possible, I see no precise indication of a collapse about to happen, but never rule it out. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst and all that rot.

As things become more and more complex, systems tend to become unstable, it's a reality of big systems. I see this as what's going on in this country right now. No one can keep track all of the crap that's going on, life has become completely way too complex. Everyday it gets more out of hand and I see this trend as the reason why I think a collapse is likely to happen. America is divided.

Two basic sides at each others throats, at some point it's going to come flying apart. Surviavlist understand this, when TSHTF, it will get ugly. That's why people prep. They see it coming and try and prepare for the worst. I am in that group.

What will trigger it I have no idea. But I see many possible triggers. Better to know shit might be coming than to be oblivious.

It may work it's self out, but I don't see it. Things are way too unstable now to think it will work it's self out. I could go into details, but I learned a long time ago that anything you say can draw fire and I have better things to do with my time than argue my thoughts. I'll play the spector and sit back and watch.

I don't think this country can take another 4 years of scumbagbamma and it's cabal of asshats. It's clear what it's agenda is and I hope there are enough real Americans left to stop this simple minded assclown. Well educated my ass. Why is it's transcripts sealed ? 2.0 GPA if that. It's nose is stuck so high in the air I am surprised it hasn't knocked Jupiter out of orbit.

Personally I am hoping for a landslide in November and the commiecrats to get theirs, I've been wrong before but unless this asshat is stopped from taking this country into a filthy commie paradise....

Not that I love the republiscum one damned bit, I simply dispise them far less...

I tend to hate the party in power pretty much sums up by view of things, all politicains are scumbags, defective genes.

I posted some pictures for your viewing pleasure. I can't say when I'll post again, I do it when the spirit moves moves me, when I feel like butchering some sacred cows mainly ;-)

OK, got the ranting and raving out of my system for now.

Till I buy another cup of coffee

No I ain't dead

I haven't posted for sometime. Overall things are well with me personally. I've been VERY busy and haven't had much to say other than to rant about what's going on in this country. And I got nothing good to say on that front.

I may do a real post soon, when I get the opportunity.....

Expect some serious ranting if and when I do.

On Living cheaply

                                                   

I want to start out by saying that the identity theft epidemic in this country is getting out of hand. As noted in my last post, my Suburban broke down and left me stranded. In an of itself, not that big of a deal. But in conjunction with that, some low life scumbag identity thief was stealing money out of my bank account. The two issues put me in a world of hurt. Because my now X bank locked down my account, preventing access to my own money, bills went unpaid. No, I don't want no cheese with that whine, just telling like it is.

So I went through a month of hell. So take this as a heads up. I can happen to you and likely will. I normally keep plenty of COH (cash on hand), but the confluence of the Suburban breaking down cleaned me out and the identity theft put me in a world of hurt. Just saying.

Personally I think identity theft should carry the death penaltiy. Bring back public hangings, I'd be more then happy to come out of retirement and pull the lever.

Now I can live pretty cheap here and do. The guberment says inflation is low, but people who live in the real world know better. The price at the pump and the fleecing at the grocery store IS hurting most Americans. While those Aholes in DC fiddle about. How do you like that change now ? But I ain't here to talk on that, when prices skyrocket, you got to make do. I saw the inflation coming and my response was to grow me a garden and raise me come chickens. Anything to save money. I see Austerity on the horizon and it seems to be getting closer.

I finally got me my garden fence built and got me some tomatoes and peppers growing on my window sill. Started some eggplant seed inside too. My peas, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower is planted. Even planted some Yukon Gold spuds. This is my solution to the outrageous price of grocery store food. Can't grow it all, still need coffee, sugar (in my case Splenda), cooking oils and the like. But the garden will give me some relief. I pop a baby aspirin before I hit the checkout counter...

I will be mailing my bills now, saving gas money. That might not sound like it saves much, but every dollar adds up (dimes are just about worthless these days unless they are the old silver ones). The less gasoline that goes in the gas tank the better, a stamp is still cheaper than gasoline. I haven't eaten at a fast food place in a long long time. Haven't gone to a movie in an even longer time. Don't miss either to be honest about it. It's both economic as well as political, certain actors have made my SL (shit list). Some I used to like and respect, but that's another post I will never write. If you get my drift.

There are many ways to save money and live cheaply. A lot of my money went to what I call the setup phase, getting things I needed to live more self reliant here. It's just the way it is. You need all kinds of things to grow food and raise livestock (as meager as mine are). It takes money. But in the long run it will pay me back considerably. Both in terms of cost and health. At some point you get what you need to become less dependent on the crumbling system. Yes I said the system is crumbling, if you haven't noticed, you ain't paying attention. Look behind the pretty facade and see the ugly truth. Just saying.

As I see it the illusion that things are peachy keen can't last forever. Reality comes a calling at some point in time. I got such a visit myself last month myself. I do appreciate irony by the way. So I am working on being less dependent on a system that might not last much longer. It's all I can do and I'd rather not wait till the store shelves go empty of that over priced food. Even if that never occurs, I will be eating cheaper food and living a healthier lifestyle. I call it WIN WIN. Either way I benefit, as in puts and calls...

Besides home grown veggies taste better than that genetically modified crap they sell in the grocery stores.

Till I buy another cup of coffee...

Was Stranded again

My Suburban broke down again and left me stranded. I normally keep plenty of water on hand, but had let my water on hand get low. I know better than to do that, but damned if I didn't do it anyway. When it (my Suburban) broke down, I had one gallon of water.

Now, I want to clarify something here. I can be as tough as nails. But just because I am, doesn't mean I am a masochist either. If I don't have to suffer, I sure won't or don't. So I am not whining here, just telling it like it is. If TSHTF, I will do what needs doing. But being stranded ain't TSHTF. The world didn't end. It wasn't survival of the fittest. Sure being out of water was a big inconvenience, but not life threatening.

I got off my ass and limped down to the place I get water at. It's 2000' there and another 2000' back. Now when I was younger, no problem at all. But I have a cane attached to my right hand, so walking and carrying water is not a fun thing. Ain't whining, but it was an effort. I just did it.

Since it rained a lot, I collected water. I also have a creek on the far end of my land. Never been down there as it's down a steep hill. A source of water. I can always purify it. I normally keep enough water on hand and screwed up.

It's the screw ups that show you your short comings in your plan. Too many people have a vision of surviving TSHTF that I feel is very unrealistic (reading blogs and watching Doomsday Preppers). Unless you are tested and have experience, you will likely overlook many things. I have a lot of survival experience and I still screw up, never claimed to be perfect.

Actually the sky fell on me last week and seriously kicked my ass. I was shocked at how fast things fell apart. Last week was sheer misery for yours truly. My world is normally very orderly. It got turned upside down last week.

Bam, bam, bam. I had some asshole steal money from my bank account (identity theft), I was short on the repair price on my ride and had to wheel and deal. Etc, etc, etc. I won't go into all the details, but I got hit hard last week. I am now back on track, but the events put a serious hurting on yours truly. Again, I am not whining, I am telling you that no matter how hard you work to keep it together, life can come out of nowhere and kick your ass. Eventually it wins and you lose.

Because I have had some serious shit fall on me over the years, I got serious and dealt with it. I learn from such things. No matter how hard you prep, you can get kicked down in a heart beat. Never underestimate that SOB Murphy, he likes to kick you and kick you hard, especially when you ain't expecting it. I wish putting garlic by my door would keep the SOB away, but it doesn't ;-)

Now, water could be a problem here, but I got many options. I need to add more water storage. A well is too expensive right now, but the creek on my property seems to run most of the year. Need to recon it and make sure. I may build a small pond, etc, etc. Got options. But I see I need to work on this issue. Even if TSHTF, I'd make out all right, but you got to know what the problems are to fix them. These screwup show you the way.

The key is that when things go wrong, I am able to adapt and survive ( a life time of experience at it ). I consider experience and flexibility as my most valuable assets. I know how to survive in these hills. I know how and what I need to do to survive. I am like anyone else, I like living the good life with the least amount of grief. But when I got to go hardcore, I can shift into that state in a heart beat.

I can't stress that enough. The saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I had needed to do things and just did them (with plenty of cussing I might add ). Normally I don't like to suffer as I am not a masochist, I said that already didn't I. But if I got to get serious, I do. It's a matter of just turning off the minds BS and just doing it. So that's my take on bucking up. While I was suffering last week, I knew it would pass. The old saying “This too will pass” held me over.

I have been busy, built a garden fence, got me some baby chicks in my living room growing bigger everyday (in a clear plactic tote with light hung over it). Got to build a coop real soon. I had wanted chickens for awhile but had other priorities. Found some cheap at the local farm store. So I am adding chickens now and will get me some rabbits later on. I ain't building a farm, just a mini homestead.

I have often said I don't have a crystal ball, I don't know if TSHTF will happen or not. Or what form a collapse will take if it does happen. But I do know this, inflation is here and will get worse. I see a slow slide as highly likely (been saying that for a long time) because of the numb skulls in DC. Been saying this for years, so no need to repeat it.

So I have been hell bent on getting my garden ready, raising some chickens, etc. The more food I can produce, the less the grocery store gets. Now, because I was so hell bent, I have to admit that I wasn't paying attention to other things and got a wake up call about it. I've heeded the message and came out of my tunnel vision. Sometimes tunnel vision allows you to get things done, but often has a price attached, Just saying.

I have already planted peas, three kinds of lettuce, carrots, beets, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Kohlrabi. I planted earlier than normal because it was a mild winter. I have tomatoes and peppers started on my TT window sill and doing well. Too early to plant outside yet. So my garden is well under way now. All this stuff (planted outside) is frost tolerant if if turns cold again, but I don't think it will. Fingers crossed.

My strawberries have blossomed already. Now, I learned from last years garden. I now have a garden fence to keep most of the freeloading wildlife at bay. The dog will keep the thieves away this year. What did in last years garden was a lack of rain. I am putting together a watering system. I got a 45 gallon tote to haul water in (will likely get another), I sourced a submersible water pump ($69.95). I can hook a garden hose to it (has the fitting built in) and water my garden directly from my Suburban. Should work OK. Don't see why it won't.

On Inflation - Printing money out of thin air has so devalued the dollar, many won't be able to afford food. Me, I'll be eating cheap healthy food soon enough. That's the plan any how. Insanity in DC is the root of our growing problems. Just saying.

I could talk at length about what I see coming, but have said my peace since I've been blogging. I have been watching Doomsday Preppers and Doomsday Bunkers. Some people got it together in my opinion and other are at least trying. The so called “experts” I find to be knuckle heads and I am glad some people featured aren't taking their advice. Having a community is fine, but if you hunker down in an Urban area or burbs, expect to be over run. I got out for that reason. The burbs simply aren't defensible if TSHTF unless you got an Army behind you. You can argue that with me, but I know better.

The one thing that is apparent to me is that more and more people are aware that what is going on is rotten to the core and at some point will give. How may be anyone's guess, but prudent people cover themselves the best they can.

I'll be eating lettuce and other things out of my garden in about 4-6 weeks if not sooner. So I'll get some relief from the ridiculous grocery prices soon. Criminal in my opinion. Along with all the other nonsense I see going on. This ain't the America I grew up in.

I had many an argument about outsiders on the Down in the Hills blog. Now, I am an “outsider” here. But I get along fine with the locals. Why ? Because I am one of them. I respect them and don't bother them. Back in these hills you come in here and tell people how to live you will be an “outsider”. Word gets round. Now, I am nice to people generally (friendly even – Don't snicker), but have come out with 1911 in hand and told people to get lost. I don't take shit from people and don't give it generally, unless deserved. One fool I confronted 1911 in hand ain't liked in these parts anyway. Word gets round.

People who are “outsiders” are that because locals can spot a phoney. People who “know it all” irritate those of us who do. I mind my own business and expect others to do the same, that is the modus operandi back in these hills. Fools ain't tolerated lightly...

So in closing, while I have suffered a setback, in the great scope of things, I am still plodding along. The breakdown is behind me now, but the lesson ain't. I see I still got work to do...

Until I buy another cup of Joe or have something to say.