Sept 9
Day 42
B: bean soup with rice
L: potatoes, salsa, black beans
D: bean soup w rice; salad?
Yesterday, a storm surge blew in, literally. We had an unofficial wind speed at the UofU of 120 mph (The official weather said 90 mph which, thank GOD it wasn't REALLY 120, right? Thank God it was really only 90 mph winds ripping through) And at 7:30 the power went out. Which meant I couldn't work, darn it. And also meant no distracting stuff like TV, internet, phone games...well I had one I could play. But we ended up sitting at the kitchen table and played Rack-O for at least two hours. And visited. Did Zentangle for a little bit. Took the dog for a walk to observe the damage. Trees down, limbs down, trees uprooted...evergreens it turns out have shallow root systems...trees split in half. It was like a war zone. And the power stayed off until 8:20 PM. We were just starting to get ready for bed. Thankfully we have lots of battery operated light sources, including these really cool fridge magnets that are actually on/off switches that shed a good bright light. Also, we have a hand cranked radio, and a hand cranked lantern. And flashlights of course.
So the power stayed off all day, and I didn't have to work, but it brought home how dependent we are on electricity for everything. I couldn't cook or heat things in the microwave, and so many of my leisure choices were out, too. I mean, if I don't have to work, I want to Netflix and chill, right? Playing Rack-O was okay. I kicked butt, for the first time ever in my life
and by the end of the day I was all peopled out. Slept like a log. Turned over when Wylie got up to go to work, and heard the 5 o'clock chime, then noticed...the power was out again!
Mind you, another day not having to work is okay, but I didn't want to do another day of visiting, you know? I am serious when I say I sat down in my little corner of the couch with my blankey over my legs and literally just sat there staring. The lights hadn't yet come on, so I had my hand-cranked lantern on, Wylie was getting his stuff together for work tomorrow, and I was just sitting there wiped out. Just...staring. All peopled out. Didn't want another day like that, you know?
But the power came back on after about a half hour and I was able to fire up my computer and sit down to a pretty good paying job that I actually do not like. Can't say that I hate it, because ironically, I get to talk to people on the phone and help them with things. I also get enough mindless copy/paste tasks that there is a "downtime" of sorts every now and then.
But overall, I don't like this job. Don't like this kind of job. Desk sitting, screen staring, mouse clicking. Sit, sit, sit. The job sort of fell into my lap. Best hourly wage I've ever earned. IN fact, I never dreamed I'd make more than a few dollars over minimum wage as a home health aide, or captioning telephone calls (which I liked that job, because the management there were awesome. It was easy to be friendly and say hey, then go to your cubicle and get going, you know? Friendly without being social
And almost completely stress free) (and pays $6-$7 less per hour...that's a real thing, it really is)
Anyway...I landed the current job and suddenly "qualified" for a small VISA which I used to build up my credit, and then got a credit score that made me eligible for a few debts, which now I have to pay on those and any less pay, I would start being unable to pay my debt payments...etc.
So I'm kind of stuck in a job I don't like. Welcome to the adult world, Heidi. Right? I could list some of the reasons, but let's just say office drama is a real thing, and stomping out fires can be stressful. Not office drama fires, but finding out why someone had a denial for a procedure, or getting a provider the information needed for a billing claim. Etc.
Also this thought occurs: It has been a LOOOOONG time since I had any kind of alone time. Yesterday's end of day exhaustion from all the one-on-one, visiting, game playing. And Wylie's shift is over by 9:30 a.m. every day, which means he's here most of my work day. And he's a cranky SOB lately. Control freak extraordinaire. I'm kinda tired of him you know
like any wife/husband pair, eh?
Okay enough about that stuff. Job, togetherness, and other exhausting things.
After yesterday's mini-emergency, and thinking back to March 18, when a 5.2 earthquake hit on my first day of work from home...sitting here wondering how to get my connection to actually WORK from home when suddenly things are shaking? yeah, that was trippy ... Anyway. That, plus this power outage, plus just feeling anxious like there's going to be something big...bigger...I want to get a 72 hour kit together FOR SURE. We should all probably have bug out packs as well. But seriously, all the stuff we might need for a more prolonged period without infrastructure, all together in one place where we know it's there and can find what we need for whatever contingency.
For instance yesterday's food. Breakfast was cold cereal. Lunch was a big salad. And dinner was going to be room temp nuked potato and a can of beans, you know? And then Wylie said "Let's get Panda" and I did...and ended up eating a high fat dinner because it was cooked and hot and sounded so good. Won't
WILL. NOT.
repeat that. But see? Panda Express was up and running, because their power was on. What if everyone's power was out? I guess we'd use the grill out back...if the wind hadn't been howling, we might be able to do that, right? So. In the event of a more major emergency/catastrophe I just want to be able to
1) stay calm because we have what we need2) stay hydrated for at least three days in case utilities are out
3) cook food. I have somewhat of a stock of canned beans, but what if I need to cook rice? cook a potato?
4) provide basic care for injuries5)repair broken things if need be. Seriously, if a tree had crashed through our roof, would we know right where to find a tarp for makeshift patch jobs?
We have a tarp or two. Wylie knows where they are. We have a long utility extension cord out in the shed. We have a first aid kit in the bottom cupboard of the bathroom. We have flashlights; one in the linen closet, one on the shelf in the back room. Some press on lights in a basket on a shelf in the back room. A hand crank radio in a box on the same shelf. Extra batteries in a basket on the coat closet shelf. Gloves in the coat closet. And we even have 55 gallons of water stored. But not very portable if we need to bug out, eh?
Well anyway. Going to start gathering the stuff we will need in case of disaster. It just feels like disaster is going to strike. But seriously, if the Yellowstone Caldera went off, wouldn't hurt my feelings. I'd be dead on the spot and so would all of my loved ones. Except we might not, since we'd more likely be in a thick ash zone, not the "kill zone." *sigh* However, if it's a solar flare that takes out the entire electric grid, or a really major earthquake that REALLY tore things up? I just want to be ready, you know?
MENTAL HEALTH
1. Visualize myself thin 20 minutes
2. Spend time outside
3. Avoid TV news
Program outlined in the MWL book, page 60
1. Eliminate All Animal Foods
2. Eliminate All Oils
3. Eliminate All High Fat Plant Foods: Nuts, Nut Butters, Seeds, Seed Butters, Avocados, Coconut, & Olives.
4. Eliminate All Flour Products
5. Eat Whole Grains and Potatoes
6. Eat Legumes
7. Make Green & Yellow Vegetables One-Half to One-Third of your meal
8. Eat Uncooked Foods
9. Restrict Fresh Fruit to No More Than Two Servings a Day, and Avoid Dried Fruit, Fruit Puree, and Fruit Juice
10. Use Simple Sugar Sparingly
Healthy Eating Habits
Chew foods thoroughly
Restrict variety
Addendum from the newer version:
1) use no salt in cooking. Sprinkle a little bit on the top of your food if desired.
2) eliminate calorie dense foods including air popped popcorn and others
that rice cake. It's salty and crispy and I have one or two a day and that's just how it is.
3) eat until satiated. Do not stuff your stomach. Stop when you feel full
4) be more active. Aim for 30 minutes per day of brisk activity