I've decided that there are some things, and some people, in my life that I just HATE. You may say hate is a strong word, but so is LOVE yet we throw that one around like its nothing. So yes, there are things and people out there I hate. End of story.

Some things....

Some things you can blog about, and others you can't. I'm at the "I can't" point. I have so much on my brain, so much emotion, yet I can't say a word about it. Why? This is a public blog. I know too many people who 'drop in' from time to time who would not understand my thoughts, or my emotions. Some would even tell others, and chaos would ensue. This I cannot have. If things are going to happen, it will be because Fate and Karma will it to be so.

So, forgive me fellow bloggers if I do not post for awhile, or if my posts seem lackluster and boring. I've just got so much swirling around, I need to be the bear that I am and hybernate.

El Paso, TX

So here I am in El Paso, TX. I've been here 1 day. I hope it gets better! I guess the crazy thing is seeing the border fence as I drive along I-10. Seeing Juarez, Mexico just on the other side is interesting. As I drive along and look at the houses across the fence and wonder how many are just shelter for those attempting to cross. I know many have permanent residents, but some are so run down that it seems almost impossible for them to be anything but a stop over.

I'm hoping to explore this city a bit more. There seems to be a lot of culture, several museums and art galleries. I'd like to see the prettier part, if one exists. We are currently staying in a hotel downtown, but I swear it seems like the seedier part. Lots of congestion, buildings crammed on top of one another, and people everywhere.

Of course a topic I shouldn't discuss is the language issue. I don't care if Mexico is 100 yards away across the fence, you are now in America, learn English. 'Nuff said.

So as I find out more fun facts here in El Paso, I'll be sure to post them here.

Tombstone, AZ

This past weekend we visited Tombstone, AZ. I had always wanted to visit this historic town, and it was a bitter sweet trip. Let me explain:

This town has tons of history, and even more potential. And it also has its fair share of issues. Lets start with the good. There are plenty of shops, and fun locals walking around in period (1880's) attire. There are stagecoach rides, gunfights, horseback riders, outlaws, and other neat tours. If you are just passing through for the day, its a fun stop. However, if you are really looking for authenticity, or a real entertaining time, you'll be disappointed.

Most of the shops are the same....jewelry, postcards, and leather goods. There are about 2 or 3 shops that offer period clothing.....bring plenty of cash as a jacket can run upwards of $300, and a dress about the same. This isn't counting the shirts for the guys, pants, boots (cheapest was about $150 for the pair), and a hat. Plus the vest, spurs, and any other accessories. For the women, its not just the dress. Its the stockings, corsett, pettycoats, boots, hat, jewelry, gloves, fan, purse, etc. As I said, its cashy. Then you have the typical tourist shops with 'junk'....crappy souveniers, postcards, magnets, and what they claim to be 'authentic' Native American jewelry. However while chatting with a merchant, she swore to me that the wolf was NOT a symbol of the American Indian. Um, whatever. It just happens to be one of the major symbols, but who am I?

This town is corrupt. It has a ver horrible Mayor, who doesn't want the town to survive. What it needs is someone to come in and inspire the people to not only work together but to clean up the town. The houses and yards are trashy. Nobody seems to care, and its as if they don't realize their own potential. My thought is, if you don't want tourists wandering by your house, then don't live in a historic town. Don't get me wrong.....there is a load of historic value to be gleened from Tombstone. You just need to ignore the repetitiveness and the filth.

2012....Part 2

Ok, so I'm not in a panic by any means. Heck, anyone that knows me knows that I like to be prepared.

I've been running various scenarios through my head, "what if's", to make sure I've got what I need. I'm not hoarding things, nor am I really "stocking up"....not yet at least.

I look at it this way......I've been given the opportunity to travel the country for a living. This gives me access to many things I wouldn't normally have were I staying at home. Thus, I am taking full advantage. I've been going to military swap meets (the last one landing me the 'motherload' of stuff), surplus stores, flea markets, etc. I'm gathering all of this stuff in order not only to be prepared shout Shit Hit The Fan (SHTF), but if it doesn't, I'm fully prepared by Jan 2012 to be self sufficient. My dream of living off of what I produce and not the government will finally be a reality. So there it is......whether it does or doesn't, I'm prepared.

As we all know I've been wanting to live off grid, be SS, and basically tell society to fuck off. I'm using this job to do that. Getting all my ducks in a row is a lot easier when you have a steady income, and the opportunities to find what you need. I've made project lists, inventory lists, and am currently amassing as many books as I can on being not only self sufficient (SS) but also living off grid, or, in a worst case scenario, should SHTF in a major catastrophe sort of way, I can survive. I'll know how to live off of the wilds of the land until I get my feet back under me. Hunting, trapping, gathering, shelter building, etc. Again, not saying it will happen, but if there is one thing I've learned.....the more skills you have, the better you are.

2012?

There has been so much hype about 2012....

"end of the World!"

"enviromental catastrophy!"

"Apocolypse!"

So what will happen? No idea. The ancient astronomers say it will be a solar flare of sorts. What will that do? No idea, I haven't researched it enough. What do I think? I think I need to be prepared for anything.

I've had many thoughts and discussions about being more self sufficient. I've also had discussions with The Handler as to our plans should any major catastrophy occur. We've had those plans in place for many, many years. So what about the NOW? What if its not something like you see in the movies? What if its just a financial/economical collapse? How will I be prepared?

My first and foremost want is to be completely self reliant. If the electricity goes out, I won't be affected. If the water gets shut off, I won't be affected. If the grocery stores get looted bare, I won't be affected. I want to be growing my own food, producing my own power, and not relying on Big Brother. So what does this mean?

It means every chance I get, when I'm home, I'll be working on preparations. Digging the well, building the windmill or solar panels, getting animal pens ready, etc. Am I in a panic? Nope. I just believe in being well prepared. Plus, this just expedites my plans for being SS and quiting this job. Its not that I don't like it, I just want to do things for myself. I want to be home digging in the dirt, and cleaning up after my animals.

One day shit will hit the fan, and this country, or even the world, will collapse. I'll be ready.

Wild Wild West

Ok, so once again I've been a slacker in blogging....but give me a break on this one, I've been busy in the new territory.

Our first week started us in Lubbock, TX for 2 days. I will say that it started out great. No crappy accents, so fake bullshit, nice weather, and nice people. We left there and headed to Albuquerque, NM for one day. It truely wasn't bad, except for one idiot. Of course, there is always one, but I didn't expect him to surface so soon. Yep, the first stupid comment of the year goes as follows (keep in mind we give hearing tests):

"You should give this test in sign language so people can get a better score"

WHAT THE HELL???? I don't think he thought about what he was saying when it came out of his mouth....but then again, maybe that is his mentality. Who knows, but that is by far, the dumbest thing I've heard since starting this job. Hell, I think its the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life.

After New Mexico, we landed here in Arizona. Kingman, to be exact. We'll be here through Wednesday morning, then we'll head to the Phoenix area. We'll stay here in AZ through the 2nd week in Feb. It will be great missing the hellish winter we were going to be subject to had we not been sent to this territory. I am a happy camper!

We still aren't sure how long we'll have this territory. The man side of the team that was here had a 7lb cancerous tumor removed from his abdomen. Its such a rare form of cancer, that he has to be treated at a completely different hospital than the one he is in. The problem is he can't be moved until this huge incision heals, and that is projected to be at least a month. As for treatment.....nobody seems to know if they can cure him or not. He is 62, and his mother died of cancer at the age of 65. We don't know if they can cure him, or how long it will take. This means we don't know when or if they will be back to work or not. So until then, we work around all of their things that were left in the truck.

As I said, we are in Kingman. Located in the north-west corner of AZ, its close to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and California. Its also home of the heart of Route 66, the Mother Road of the USA. The original cross-country highway, starting in Chicago, IL and going all the way to California. And until the interstate was built in 1952, it was the only way to get between the 2 places. Talk about a road trip! Hubs and I have always wanted to travel this historical highway, and we really want to do it on a Harley. But for now, we'll see what we can at the cost of our company...hee hee. Today, we decided to take a portion of this highway from Kingman to Oatman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oatman,_Arizona If you are inclined to read the article from this link, you'll see that the town was named after a daughter of a man from La Harpe, IL. My house is in La Harpe, IL. My husband and his family have been residents of LaHarpe, IL for 3 generations, at least. So I found it both awe inspiring and a certain connection to this little mining town. How crazy is it that we visited????

Tomorrow we are going to an indoor archery range for about an hour, then after that I'm not sure. Is Martin Luther King, Jr Day, so many places will be closed.

Beyond that, I have nothing else to report, so I'll leave you to read about Oatman, AZ