Monday ...  another typical Monday ... the beginning of another week ... how profound.

Well, what do you expect on a Monday?

The Olympics are on their way and I have been enjoying the events broadcasted by NBC (whatever they choose to broadcast).

I do not have satellite or cable TV, so I am limited to the free air broadcast channel. Not that I really miss cable or satellite as I do not have much "disposable" time to watch TV and I hate having to suffer through commercials every 10 minutes. It is my choice and I have been happy with it. I get my news from the Internet from different sources and I try to stay away from opinions and stick to facts. That is pretty hard with today's news industry.

If I want to watch a show or a movie, I buy the DVD when it comes out. Movie theaters? I would like to go to the big screen more often, but there are still too many rude people keeping their cell phones on and checking them during a projection; getting up in the middle of the best scenes ... very annoying and distracting. At home I am in a "controlled" environment and I can pause the movie if I feel like to take a break, without loosing any part of the movie. I am quite happy with a big screen TV and surround sound system.

Finally, it is Friday again. Some weeks just drag and drag and drag ... This is one of those weeks.

I am out of good books so I am now reading Edgar R Burroughs Barsoom Series, the one used for the movie John Carter.

I love the movie, but the books are a little cheesy. I guess they are the sci-fi equivalent of cheap romance novels. Oh well, it is something to keep my mind distracted.

I am also reading some survival and emergency preparedness guides. I may learn something else and / or getting some other ideas on items I may want to keep handy, especially for an long-term emergency. I guess if it is too long, is not an emergency anymore, but it becomes the new normal state of things.

Without being a total survivalist and have years of supplies set aside, at least I want to be able to have the things necessary to start over and keep my family fed, sheltered and safe. More than stockpiling food, I consider hunting, fishing and growing a garden more important, together with other skills already covered in previous post.

I am back with my random thoughts.

I guess I am stuck on emergency preparedness and survivability for the time being. I have posted a list of items I maintain for emergency in a couple of "bug-out-bags" (BOB) and inside a tornado shelter (reinforced concrete little room inside my house). I have a military backpack and a shooting range back always ready with everything I need for hunting or shooting, plus knives and a machete. I have weapons and corresponding ammo boxes ready to be picked up, a good hunting bow, axe and hatchet...All ready to be thrown into the car if we need to really "bug-out".
There are plenty of web sites, books and other resources dedicated on weaponry and what you would need in any situation, so i am not dwelling into this subject for now. If I do something related to weapons it will be on something specific and more limited.

Ok ... we have all that we think we need to survive an emergency. Then what is next?

How about knowing how to use all that equipment you accumulated!!! Have you tried your range portable stove and are you comfortable using it? Even more basic, can you start a campfire. "Sure I can!, you will say. But have you actually cooked on a campfire. And what about all those weapons? Can you use them accurately or are you better off just with some firecrackers to make some noise?

My point is that the most important "item" in a survival situation is YOU.

There are a lot of things that you can learn to be able not only to survive but possibly prosper a little in a bad situation.

How do you get ready? 

First of all, physical conditioning. You do not have to be all buffed and muscular, but can you jog for a couple of miles to put some distance between you and a mob of zombies? Be able to run was one of the main rules described in the movie Zombieland. The first to get eaten were the overweight people that could not run away.It is a pretty funny movie. I need to watch it again.

Now, I have been lacking a little regarding my physical preparedness, but this is one thing I am working on.

Second, skills. What skills? Anything that can help you in whatever emergency you could be. 

Hunting, fishing and growing a garden will get you a good start. 

Be able to recognize edible plants, roots and bugs will help you in a more drastic situation.

Raise some animals like rabbits, chickens or even cows, sheep and goats will put you in a very good "starting point", unless cows can turn into zombie-cows like described in the "Newsflesh Trilogy" by Mira Grant I mentioned in a previous post.

What about other skills like sawing and mending, leather craft; electrical, plumbing, small engines repair; welding and black smithing. 

Is all this needed in an emergency situation? Probably no, but what if the emergency prolongs for several months? All these skills will give you another very important advantage: BARTER POWER. You can exchange some of your services for things you cannot build or procure yourself.

Obviously all this is still related to YOU and your personal skills. So, get cracking and start learning one or more of these hobbies / skills. And do not just read a book, even it would be better than nothing, but also practice practice practice.

Let me share some information you may found useful. I have been reading both online and on hardbound books about emergency situations and what to have ready in case the SHTF. Even officials from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have stated that if you are ready for a zombie apocalypse you should be ready for anything else that hit the fan.

Maybe later I can talk about different weapons and ammo (if applicable) for an emergency situation (you can never have enough firepower), but for right now I like to share a list I have compiled regarding emergency items.

By no means I consider this complete and I welcome any constructive comment, like additional needed items.

At this time I am keeping two bags full of emergency items. These have been called "Bug Out Bags" (BOB). Just for easy distinctions they are of different color. These are just some relatively cheap duffel bags found at Wal-Mart.

I keep them in a storm closet (solid reinforced concrete) that was poured with the foundation of my house. I am adding this little bit of information because there are some emergency items I am keeping in the closet not in one of the BOBs.

Enough fluff. Here are the lists:

BLACK BAG

Item
Quantity
Toilet paper 
4 rolls
Soap bar
5
Mouthwash
4 small
Aspirine
100 tablets
AA battery
12
AAA battery
8
C battery
2
D battery
4
9V battery
2
100 hour candle
1
Stove-in-a-can
1
Fishing set + line
w
Ziplock bags (quarter)
1 box
Ziplock bags (gallon)
1 box
Zip ties (different sizes)

Emergency Water filter
1
Magnesium fire starter
1
Strike-a-Fire Sticks

Stormproof matches
50
Waterproof matches

Waterproof small box
1
Chainmate survival saw
1
Blunt scissors (small)
1
Blunt scissors (large)
1
Plastic canteen (small)
1
Space (weather) blanket
2
Green bendages
2
Combat dressing first aid
9
Surgical tape

Buterfly wound closures
100
High calories food bars
4x3600 cal
Salt and Peeper set
1
Salt (sea + iodine)
2 lbs
Red Pepper (crushed)
2
Oregano
2
Basil 
2
Parsley
1
Sawing needles
1 pack
Homecraft needles
1 pack
Thread
2 spools
Journals (notepad)
2
Pocket notepads
3
Black pens and refills
2
Mechanical pencils and refills
2
Pencil erasers
1
Playing cards deck
2
Pry Bar
1
Thermometer
1
N95 face mask 
2
Neck straps (cold when wet)
2
Goggles (sun, wind, dust)
1
Earplugs

Solar charger for AA and AAA
1

RED BAG

Item
Quantity
100 hour candle
1
9 hour candle
3
Earplugs

Fire tabs
Pack of 10
Notepads
2
Small pocket notepad
1
3x5 cards

Black pens and refills
2
Sharpies
3
Snap light
28
Scissor
1
Solar emergency radio w/ crank
1
Plastic gloves
Box of 40
Instant cold pack
4 small
Surgical masks
1 pack
Trash bags (large)
1 roll
Alcohol
2
Peroxide
1
Cotton Squares
1 pack
Work gloves
4
Duct tape
1
Paper towel
2
Face towel (small)
3
Paperclips
1 box
High calories food bars
4x3600 cal
Water purification tablets
1 little bottle
Emergency water filter
1
Military straps
2
Space Blanket
1
Hand warmers
2 packs

STORM CLOSET

Item
Quantity
First aid kit
2
Wipes
1 box
Crank flashlight
1
Fire extinguisher
1
Water Bob
1
Water (4.2 oz pouches)
64
Water (4.2 oz pouches)
64
Water (4.2 oz pouches)
63
MRE
24
72-Hour Emergency meal kit
1 person
72-Hour Emergency meal kit
1 person

STILL NEED
[ ] 2-way walkie talkie (good ones)
[ ] First aid
[ ] Freeze dried food
[ ] Foodinsurance.com
[ ]More Water (long conservation)

[ ] Survival Seeds Vault

I already have some 2-way walkies-talkie, but I would prefer a new better pair, this is why I left this item in the list of "Still Need"ed items.

Freeze dried food can last for 20-25 years. Survival seeds could be a lifesaver if you need to grow some food and start establishing a rotation for steady production.

As far as the "Water Bob", just follow this link for their web page (no, I am not affiliated in anyway other than I bought one of their water storage bags through Amazon) as it is easier for me than explaining: http://www.waterbob.com

Again, I welcome any constructive suggestions for additional items.

First of all, welcome and thank you for your interest in this blog.

At this time, this blog represents a personal experiment and I do not know where it will lead me. Hence the "Random Thoughts" title.

I have been thinking about posting in a blog from some time, as a form or a tool to organize my thoughts, maybe vent a little bit to release some frustrations, organize and direct ideas ...  As I said, this is an experiment for me and i do not know where it will take me.

The decision to start a blog came mainly after reading (twice) the Newsflesh Trilogy by Mira Grant, a post-apocalyptic thriller in which people infected by two genetically engineered combined viruses turn into ravaging “zombies”, spreading the virus and feeding on the living (well, not for long ... the living part).

This trilogy is one of the best stories I read where zombies are involved, even if they are just in the background as part of the new world order.

The protagonists of this story are bloggers, the new “News outlet” for a world where it can be pretty dangerous to go out for a walk in the woods (animals are also affected by the virus, if over a certain weight). Internet has become even more important for people relatively bound by fear in their movement. These bloggers are the ones going out to get and report the truth, create fictional stories, or going into infected areas just to have a show to put on the Internet for the pleasure of their viewers. Anyway, to better understand you will have to read the trilogy.

The blogging community is already quite numerous. More and more blogs appears every day as political commentaries, reports of world events, people commentaries, just like journalists in a way.

Ok, enough of this premise on why I decided to start a blog. But I did warn you I am going to post random thoughts.

And this is how this “space” will be used. I do not want to get tied to a specific subject and I do not want this to become a personal journal.