New Year's Resolution

I never make these. Because I know in my heart and my head and everywhere in between that I'll never keep them. And yet, here I go- making one in front of ya'll and everybody.

This last year I completely sucked at blogging. I'ma changing that here and now. Twice a week, people. Ya'll will see a new blog twice a week. And at least for the most part, I'ma changing up the format from 'just shit that pops into my head and out my fingers' to 'just shit that pops into my head and out my fingers that relate to this linked article'.

There will also be a post script with something warm and squishy at the end.

We'll see how long this lasts...

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BURNED-OUT WASTELAND

One thing I've noticed in most of the shit-hits-the-fan books I've come across is that when the world ends, the big cities pretty much eat themselves almost instantly...like within hours of (fill in the blank with your favorite zombies, terrorists or nuclear attack). And I have several problems with that scenario.

Oh, sure you can point to New Orleans during Katrina or Ferguson after Michael Brown's death, and I'm not saying that right at the git-go, there won't be people losing their damn minds. But that will be happening whether you're in a metroplex or out in the country. You can't tell me the good ol' boys won't be all gun-happy and the fundamentals won't be all shut into their churches and both groups will fend off anyone else, enemy or not. You just can't. Between small-town mentality and survivalist hermits, in a lot of ways, being in the boonies would be more dangerous than a big city 'when the lights go out'.

Because here's the thing.

People in a big city are used to adapting to a lot of other people and situations- most out of their own personal control. There are many micro-communities in a city in the form of either individual neighborhoods or individual buildings, city people literally brush elbows with each other every single day.

Most things are walking distance- and that is a huge benefit when the world is 'blown back into the dark ages' by zombie terrorist nuclear weapons.

Even lacking zombie terrorist nuclear weapons, some cities are already in practice-mode for the end of the world. Detroit is one. Flint Michigan is another one, and the source of today's hopeful message.

Here ya go- literal food for thought.

http://civileats.com/2015/01/02/an-urban-farmer-breaks-new-ground-in-flint/?mc_cid=0f47f3273c&mc_eid=d461ac6f14

See? Even WITH gangs around and even WITH obstacles, this chick is getting shit done and growing food in a place that for all intents and purposes has given up on itself (by outside observers' standards). I submit that when the going gets tough, and after the initial zombie terrorist nuclear warfare smoke clears, that the big cities will not, in fact, be molten piles of the remnants of the dregs of society and places that even rats will be loathe to habitate.

I submit that residents will pull together, regroup, and get shit done.

As proof, please see these badass grannies-

http://thebabushkasofchernobyl.com/

2015. A brand new year. Lets not screw it up.

PS- The other day was weather-challenged to the max. It was cold. It was windy. It was the kind of gray that pushes on my sinuses and gives me a headache straight down to my knees. I headed out the door and across the foot bridge to let the horse out for her afternoon of eating weeds and looking majestic. I'd crossed about halfway when I was stopped dead in my tracks by the upward rising of a Great Blue Heron lifting silently from directly beneath me. He seemed to use his wings as mere suggestions of flight; they were completely silent and barely moved at all- he was suspended a few feet above the creek and was carried downstream with the current.

As I walked to the barn, the horse was feeling the biting of the wind. She snorted and tossed her mane, pounding back and forth in her pen and into the stall, going from full-speed to zero an inch before the gate. I opened the gate and she floated out, prancing on air and dancing on invisible pillows. Turning her huge liquid doe eyes to me, she came close, closer, closest. I could see every eyelash and feel her breath. She paused for effect for just a moment, then snorted horse snot all over me, wheeled around and thundered up the hill, tail high and mocking.

...Till the End of Time

Which is tomorrow, if our Mayan friends are to be believed.

Of course, not really. The actual translation is "end of the age" meaning a NEW age is coming.

But lets just consider the alternative for a sec.

Because a lot of folks are actually preparing for the End of the World, be it financial collapse, terrorist attack, EMP, meteor, zombies...whatever.

All very serious stuff (except the zombies- that's just stoopid) and so the SERIOUS preppers tend to be really...serious.

Seriously.

They hoard the food and dig the shelters and plan for a really lackluster grueling existence after _________________________ happens. I guess their theory is at least they'll still be alive.

Here's what I think, and what I was thinking about over a glorious weekend in October.

We were at a 'homesteaders' reunion- some 15 or so of us from all over the country. A small group, to be sure. Cozy, if you will.

The surroundings were idyllic, the weather perfection.

Ah, but the company.

Every one of us knows how to grow stuff, how to cook stuff over a fire. Most of us know how to kill and prepare meat. We're all frugal as all get-out and generous to a fault. No knowledge is secret and the more who know how to do shit the better it is for everyone.

We're all more than passable campers not as a test of how tough we are, but because it's a way to be closer to Mother Nature.

Not a one of us is too good to pee in an outhouse.

Some do not own weapons, some own and use guns and some are adept at all sorts of scary shit...yet I trust the life of my family with each and every one of them.

We have several honeybee whisperers.

More than a few are really gifted vintners.

There was music being played on guitars, banjos and dulcimers, a belt-busting array of homemade from scratch food (not an MRE in sight), and absolutely never-ending laughter.

Not because of the wine, or because we're all blooming idiots who have no idea how horrifyingly dangerous the world is or how genuinely fucked up society is.

But because we know. We're not God's golden children. I'd wager that every single one of us has been kicked in the teeth by life more than a few times- some pretty severely.

We know that just the act of being alive isn't enough.

That it's not bravery to sequester yourself away from everyone and everything in some desperate attempt at security.

The truly brave don't push away because they might get hurt or worse.

The truly brave face the world and welcome it in.

They don't hide behind God, or fear, or prejudice.

This is OUR world, and we will not be afraid in it.

In my mind I hear the music, and the birds, feel the soft autumn breeze, smell the coffee and the breakfast being made, can see each truly beloved face on the long wooden porch, mentally add the rest of my family and every single homesteader we've met from Canada to Mexico and LA to DC (it's a REALLY big porch- for real) and I know-

These are the people I want to spend the end of the world with.

We Ate Dessert First...Just In Case

Yesterday was the end of the world.

Seriously.

Many thousands of people all over the world, by accident or disease, age or despondency all inhaled one last time the sweet mix that is uniquely Earth atmosphere, held it for a brief instant in their lungs, and exhaled their spirit along with whatever stuff our lungs are made to breathe back out.

And here's the freaky part-

The same thing happened the day before yesterday, and every day BEFORE the day before yesterday, and today, and will happen again tomorrow, and every day thereafter.

It's something alot of the "prepping crowd", the "survivalist enthusiasts", the "SHTF Club" don't think about while they're watching the sky for falling zombies clutching a WMD in one hand and a Qur'an in the other-

That every second of every minute of every day it's the end of the world for someone.

In a forum I used to frequent there was a woman who was beside herself with grief- her husband had lost his job, they were out of money, and she had had to break into her stockpile of food to feed her family. The other women's responses ran the gamut from "You should NEVER have touched your stockpile" to "It's OK- just replenish it as soon as you can". I read comment after comment till I couldn't stand any more and posted "Honey- you're stockpiling for an emergency- THIS IS IT! This is the end of YOUR world for right now- do NOT feel guilty- feel PROUD that you had the foresight to work to keep your family safe".

I admit we had a "Party Like There's No Tomorrow" cookout yesterday, but mostly as an excuse to have a cookout with people we love.

I'm not saying we don't need to be prudent and think ahead and hold things aside for rainy days and whatnot, but I think we get distracted by the Big Noisy Crap and can't see the Little Important Details.

I think that while collecting up food/paper goods/personal hygiene sundries to last a few months to a year is prudent, being loathe to use it even though you have no money for food is totally missing the point of the exercise.

I think spending time at a range learning to be a decent shot with your home and personal defense firearm is prudent, being afraid of your own shadow because there are "bad people out there" is disturbing, considering you're now armed. (Give yourself extra asshat points if you make your children so afraid of Danger Stranger they pee themselves if someone says "hi" to them in the grocery store).

I think being so wrapped up in preparing for the apocalyptic end of the world that you can't enjoy your home, your family, your LIFE is horrifyingly sad.

Prepare to keep yourself safe and sheltered and fed come economical or natural disaster- for truly no one on Earth cares for your family like you do.

But never opt to clean toilets when there are cookies to be baked.

Never go to bed angry.

Never let a day go by without saying "I love you".

Read about the End of the World, but plan a cookout and hand the children pointy sticks, smore makin's and the means to start fire.

Hug the stuffin' out of everyone in your family and every true friend- because sooner or later but always and without doubt

Everyone leaves. By death or circumstance, everyone leaves.

Every second of every minute of every day it's the end of the world for someone.

Mama Dixon's End of the World Good Luck With That BBQ Blackeyed Peas

3 cups dried blackeyed peas
5 slices bacon, cooked crispy and diced (hold back 3 tbsp. bacon grease)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tbsp worchestershire sauce
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp Magic Dust*

Place peas in a saucepan- cover with water and soak overnight.
Rinse, drain and cover with water- bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer and cook till tender but not bursting.
While the peas are cooking, mix together everything on the list from "ketchup" down and saute the onion and garlic in the saved bacon grease.
Drain the peas, keeping back 2 cups of the cooking water.
Place peas, saved water, onion, garlic, bacon and sauce mix in a baking dish and bake at 350 for an hour or till bubbly.
Serve immediately or keep warm in a crock pot.

*Magic dust (like Seasoned Salt, but about a gabazillion times better)

1/2 cup paprika
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp mustard powder
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 cup cumin
2 tbsp pepper
1/4 cup granulated garlic
2 tbsp cayenne

(courtesy of PeaceLove&Barbecue)