Security Tip Saturday

It's hard to believe that "Prep-tember" is almot over.  This is week 5 of our "20 Weeks To Preparedness" - putting together an emergency kit for you and your family.  Just buy or gather the items on the list each week, and at the end of the 20 weeks you'll have compiled your kit. If you're just joining us, you can go back to the previous four Saturdays and get your lists.  And remember - when water or met, fruit or vegetables are listed, they mean one for each member of your household.

Week 5

1 gallon water
1 can meat
1 can fruit
1 can vegetables
2 rolls of toilet paper
Extra toothbrush/toothpaste

Happy National Coffee Day

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy National Coffee Day.   As I type this, I am celebrating with - what else? A cup of coffee.  

You have plenty of time to celebrate, and there are some places that want to help you celebrate by giving you a free cup of coffee today:

Krispy Kreme 
Cinnabon
Dunkin Donuts

Thank You, Rite Aid

TWIT and I would like to thank Rite Aid for having some very expensive supplements on sale today for BOGO free.  

I needed to get the Old Man's Osteo Bio Flex supplements, and they were buy one get one free.  And I also needed to get my Sweet Mother's fish oil supplements, and they were also buy one get one free.  If they'd only had a fifth of tequila or bourbon buy one get one free, I would have been all set.

We All Need A Good Laugh

With everything bad going on here in Louisville, Kentucky, the U.S., and the world, I think we can all use a good laugh today.  

Here's a link to an oldie but goodie joke, told by talking monkeys wearing clothes.  Personally, they didn't even have to tell the joke and I would have been laughing my ass off simply because the monkeys are wearing clothes.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ETlTZoF1E

Farewell, John and Betty Jean

It is with a heavy, sad heart that I post this tonight.  I am saying farewell to the sweetest woman that ever lived, Betty Jean.  

Betty Jean died on Friday at the age of 94.  Her husband of 71 years, John, died about six months ago.  

If you ask anyone that knew John and Betty Jean, they would not hesitate to say they were the sweetest people that they ever knew.  And it would be the truth.  

The 'Rents and I had the privilege of knowing them at church - we were in the same Sunday School class.  John was a preacher, and we knew his younger brother Verlon, who was as equally sweet as he was, and as was Verlon's wife.  Verlon was an interim pastor at our old church, and we loved him and his wife.  We were pleasantly surprised to find out that our Sunday School class mate was his brother. 

Every time I saw them, they both had big smiles on their faces and had hugs for me.

They have left behind a great legacy.  It's up to us now to carry on and try to be as sweet and kind as they were.

Monday, Monday

I was off Friday, and I swear to you today had more problems for me to deal with than if I'd been off from work for a month.  And I'm not playing.  

It was a bad re-entry day just after one day off.  That's about all I can say right now. 

Security Tip Saturday

Security Tip Saturday

It's time once again for our shopping list for your emergency kit.  As part of Preparedness month, TWIT is giving you a list of supplies to buy each week for 20 weeks, and at the end, you will have compiled enough supplies for you and your family in the event of an emergency.  If you've forgotten a couple of weeks, please take a minute and look back to the previous three Saturdays and get your list. This week's list is short but the items are very important. And if you are adventurous and want to stock up, you can always get a gallon of water while you're shopping, even though it's not on this week's list.  You can never have too much water in an emergency.

Week 4

Patch kit for tires
Signal flares
Compass

Happy Birthday, Mama

TWIT and I would like to wish a very, very happy birthday to my sweet mother.

We've been celebrating for over a week now, and I don't forsee the celebrations to end any time soon.

We've taken her out to breakfast and dinner a few times in the past two weeks, and took her to Millionaire's Row at Churchill Downs yesterday, and will take her out to dinner tonight and again tomorrow.  And probably a couple more times next week.  

She's been showered with gifts, as she should.  And she's been reminiscing over old friends and family today.  

Happy birthday, my sweet Mother.  You mean the world to me. 

Let The Celebrations Begin, I Guess

My Sweet Mother's birthday is tomorrow, and we've been partying since last Friday.  And we have plans to party on for at least two and a half more weeks.  Nuff said.  

So I am remiss in saying let the partying officially begin. 

She's eaten out most of the week and didn't have to cook.  She got a very cool Native American print shawl that she absolutely loves, and wore today even though it was 90 degrees.  But she was inside in the a/c where it was cool, so I'll give her that. 

Tomorrow we will officially celebrate her birthday with dinner at her fave restaurant, and then in two weeks, my cousin and his wife will be up from Alabama to visit with us and we will celebrate again!

I Totally Missed It

I am sorry all over the place - I totally missed yesterday's Talk Like A Pirate Day.  

I know that this is one of the coolest days that me and my department at work look forward to, but things have been crazy at work and at home, and I totally missed it.  

All I can do is make sure we don't forget it next year.  Arghhhh. 

Wonderful Wednesday

I took some time off from work Monday morning to take both of the 'Rents to doctors' appointments.  I'm very, very happy to report that both of them got great reports.  

My Sweet Mother's diabetes is well in check, and even though she eats more sweets and carbs than she should, her blood sugar levels were still OK.  And the Old Man's heart is going strong, and his cholesterol level was awesome.

I don't know of any other mid-80's people that get out and work in the yard and garden like they can. Major props to them.  

I thank the Lord for His continued blessings on my parents.  I thank Him every day for them, and I pray that He will keep them around for a while longer. 

Anothe Eggciting Day

On Saturday, I was thrilled when we got not one but two eggs from the Girls.  One was in its usual nesting box, but the new egg was under the coop.  I didn't mind crawling under there to retrieve it.  

Sunday, we had one egg in the nesting box and I was bummed.

Monday and today, we had two eggs, both in the nesting box and both in different boxes.  I was thrilled! 

Like I said before, I'm amazed every day that we get an egg from one of our Girls.  It's all part of the way that God made them.  I mean - how do my Girls know that the eggs that they lay are for us to eat, and not for them to sit on and hatch chicks?  It's only by the way that God made them. 

Thanks, God, for making our Girls the way they are. 

Trivia Update

The Divas took the summer off from our weekly trivia games, mainly because we couldn't find one that we liked.  But we found one about 15 minutes from both our homes, and the trivia master is the guy that ran the show at the previous place before it closed.  We like this guy because he plays songs that we request in between questions.  And he remembers who our favorites are.  But I digress.  

After our summer hiatus, we were back in action tonight.  We started out pretty shakey, but we picked up steam heading into the final question.  We bet the maximum 15 points and lost, but all four teams lost this question.  The winning team only bet one point; we could identify with that because most of the times we've won was because we didn't be any points.  But we had a lot of fun, and we will be back in action next Monday night.  Go Team Divas.

So Much For That

It's official. I went to the UofL game yesterday. I actually was excited about going. I won tickets from work, and the seats were awesome.  We got a great parking spot across from Gate 2, and we didn't mind paying $$ for it because it was close. But the game experience was a major let down. Not because UofL got their asses handed to them by Clemson, but because I guess I'm old and can't deal with the crowds. My seat was 15 rows up from the 30 yard line. Everyone - and I mean everyone - stood up the entire time I was there. They stood up when UofL had the ball; they stood up when Clemson had the ball;and they even stood up during the bazillion time-outs. And as they say on Shark Tank, for that reason, I'm out. I won't be putting my name on the sign up sheet for tickets again. I know this makes me sound like a mean old lady, but I'm sorry. I'll be content to watch future games from my TV.

Security Tip Saturday

This is the third of twenty shopping lists of items to buy to make your own emergency supply kit. In case you missed the first two weeks, please go back and look at the previous two Saturday posts fin TWIW and buy the items. At the end of the twenty weeks you will have compiled the necessary items recommended by the Department of Homeland Security for you and your family in an emergency.

Before I give the third list, I need to clarify something I didn't mention in the first week. When the list calls for 1 gallon of water or 1 can of meat, fruit, fruit juice, or vegetable, they mean 1 for each person in your household. So for us here at The Compound, on the first week, I bought 3 gallons of water, 3 cans of fruit juice, and 3 cans of meat. You get the picture.


Week Three
1 gallon water
1 can meat
1 can fruit
Feminine hygiene supplies (if needed)
Paper and pencil
Map of your area
Aspirin
Laxatives

Things to do:
Find out about what kinds of disasters that can happen in your area
Encourage your neighbors and family members to develop their own plans

New Product Review

When my boss offered me a Caramel Apple Pop, I admit I was a bit hesitant at first.  But I was wanting a little something sweet, so I accepted.  

After taking about five minutes to get it out of the wrapper, I was eager to taste it.  After the first few licks, I thought it tasted just like a Sugar Daddy.  But after a few more licks, I started to taste the apple flavor, and I was hooked. 

The more I licked it, the softer the sucker became and it tasted more like caramel. 

Like I said, I was hooked, and I plan to stop on the way home today and buy a bag.   I owe a big thank you to the Tootsie Roll people for making these.

Caramel Apple Pops most definitely gets two thumbs up from TWIT. 

Thoughtful Thursday

I am declaring this to be Thoughtful Thursday.  And on this Thursday, I am thinking of a dear friend that I've known since I was a baby, Jerri Mae.  

Jerri Mae is one of the coolest people that you would ever meet.  She has the best sense of humor.  She also has many health issues, but to hear her talk, she would never mention them.  That's part of what makes her so awesome.  

She had shoulder replacement surgery two days ago, and is anxiously waiting to get home from the dreaded hospital.  

The 'Rents and I will continue our prayers for Jerri Mae to have a quick, painless recovery and pray that she will be back in bidness before too long. 

Go Away, Irma

Irma, you can go back out into the ocean anytime you'd like.  We're tired of dealing with you here in the U.S.   You've caused more than enough problems, and it's time for you to leave.

This Day In Numbers

Numbers of trips I made to a grocery store today:  3

And it's only 6:20 p.m.   There could easily be a fourth trip to the store before the night is over.

Nuff said. 

Thank You, LR

I'd like to give a big thank you to a dear friend LR for sharing something this afternoon that was spot on.  It wasn't anything planned - it was meant to be that she posted something on Facebook that the timing could not have been any more perfect. I know that my grammar is bad on that last sentence but it is what it is.   Thanks again LR for giving me the inspiration that I've been needing for a couple of years.  

Stay tuned. 

Horse Racing Update

I've had an awesome few days playing the ponies, and I am very, very excited to say that I've won enough in the last three days to buy two concert tickets for Shania Twain.  I owe it all to the awesome breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey for breeding such fast race horses.  

Security Tip Saturday

This is the second of twenty lists of items to buy/gather to make your own emergency supply kit. In case you missed the first week, please go back and buy the items. At the end of the twenty weeks you will have compiled the necessary items recommended by the Department of Homeland Security for you and your family in an emergency.


Week Two
Heavy cotton rope
Duct tape
2 flashlights w/batteries
Matches (waterproof container)
Permanent marker

Things to do:
Sign up for First Aid/CPR class at your local Red Cross
Using the permanent marker, write the date purchased on any canned goods

Another Eggciting Day

I couldn't wait to get home from work today to go out to the coop and see if we had another egg today, and thanks to one of my Girls, we did.  We got our first egg two weeks ago today, and each afternoon when I lift up the lid to the nesting boxes and see an egg, I am excited and amazed.  The Girls were one day old and little bundles of fuzz when we got them, and now they're almost full-grown and giving us eggs. 

I never imagined that I would become a chicken farmer at the age of 54.  But it's pretty darned cool, if I do say so. It will never get old.

Egg Update

I was bummed that we didn't get an egg Monday, and didn't get an egg yesterday, but my faith was restored when I went out to the chicken coop when I got home this evening and gathered an egg.  

My Sweet Mother reminds me that every day that we get an egg from a hen is an equivalent to a woman giving birth to a baby.  

Nuff said.

Something You Don't Hear Every Day

Overheard at a fast food restaurant, and I quote:

"I got my gold tooth in '74."

I don't make this shit up. 

Thank You, Girls

The 'Rents (and a couple of coworkers) and I would like to thank at least one of The Girls for giving us 9 eggs so far.  They're not full-size yet but we aren't complaining.  I took the fruits of their efforts yesterday afternoon and made a batch of deviled eggs.  We had a few leftover and I brought them to share with two coworkers at lunch.  

We're pretty sure the almost-daily eggs are coming from the same Girl, but you never know. 

Keep up the good work, Girls. 

Happy Labor Day

TWIT and I would like to wish you, faithful readers, a very happy Labor Day.  I hope everyone will enjoy not laboring today and have a great time eating, drinking, and being with your family and friends.  

No More Chicken and Dumplins Tuesday

We pass by my office on the way to church every Sunday, so the sights along the way are more than familiar to me.  But this morning, something was different.  About a half mile from my office was a truck stop called Carolyn's.  Me and my faithful reader/coworker/longtime friend SFH used to go there every Tuesday back in the day because Tuesday's special was chicken and dumplins.  We also get awesome ho-cakes aka fried corn bread.  Carolyn's has long since closed, and this morning when we passed by there, it was nothing but a pile of rubble.  It was still standing there Friday evening when I went home from work, so they tore it down yesterday.  I'm kinda sad about it.  SFH and I always kept the hope that someone would buy it, clean it up and reopen it.  Those hopes are gone.  Maybe someone will build another truck stop there.  I doubt it, though.  It will probably be just another nail shop or used tire place. 

Security Tip Saturday

What would your family do if there was an emergency? Do you have drinking water, extra non-perishable food, batteries, etc.? And if you have these things, do you know where they are? I'm sure this week when Harvey hit Texas and Louisiana, the majority of those affected did not have a kit. Yesterday was the first day of what I like to call "Preptember", since September is Emergency Preparedness Month..

For the next 20 weeks, Good Shepherd Security Consulting and TWIT will be bringing you 20 Weeks To Preparedness. Every Saturday, I will give you a list based on the recommendations of the Department of Homeland Security so you can put together an emergency supply kit. If you buy the items listed each week, at the end of the 20 weeks you'll have a fully-stocked emergency supply kit for your family. Depending on the size of your family, you can tweak the quantities. And you can always get more water than listed if you have a place to store it. The items should be kept in a plastic garbage can or similar container, and the container should be kept in a place where everyone in the family knows where it is.

Week 1

1 gallon water per person
1 jar peanut butter
1 large can juice
1 can meat
Hand operated can opener
A rubber or plastic garbage can

To do:
Develop a family communications plan

Harvey, You Can Leave Now

First of all, let me say that my complaining is no, no, no way near what our peeps in Texas and Louisiana are dealing with.  But I will just go on record and say Harvey, please leave.  Go back out into the ocean and wreak havoc on areas where there are no people.