Saturday, December 1, 2012

Bug-In with Romance Blog Event

How to find a permanent settlement during the end times.

You have learned to navigate the woods after hauling ass out of the crumbling cities and towns of a civilization you still hold dear to your heart. Fatigue haunts you at every corner. Starvation is a constant threat. Lawlessness dances in wild abandon just beyond your periphery. You squat down, open your go bag supplies, and sigh in desperation. You're supplies are running low-dangerously low. The time has come to find a more permanent settlement.

Long before this societal collapse you should have already located a rendezvous point. You and a select few people you could trust to keep their mouths shut should have made arrangements to find an area of land that would meet the three must haves in a settlement-a water source, enough land to grow crops, and isolation for protection. Your water source could be a well, a river, or a spring. A well is your best option because it's whereabouts will only be known to your group; whereas, a river will be a natural and unwanted invitation for other groups of people to either settle to close to you, or to invade your settlement. In addition, a river is likely to be contaminated with pollutants flowing down from upstream. Your acreage should be calculated on how many people you have in your group and on what type of crops you will be growing. It takes about one acre to feed one person. You also need to have your location not easily seen from any nearby highway, or country road. If nomadic people are going to find your spot, they should only do so by accident. Choose an area that you can easily defend. A valley with hills, or mountains surrounding the region is your best option.  
http://www.farmlandlp.com/2012/01/one-acre-feeds-a-person/

Visit this website to learn how to set up camp while you are building your settlement.  http://www.essortment.com/camping-tips-set-up-semi-permanent-camp-31370.html

What if you didn't prepare for the end times and have no such rendezvous point?

Leo, my Korean War Veteran grandpa, gave me some very stern advice in regards to this very question. "Stay in the woods. Stay alone." 
I looked at him in shock and strongly wanting to believe he was just being a grouchy old man whined: "But, grandpa, I'm going to be tired, scared, and my supplies nearly gone. I'm gonna look over at my kids and want to seek out shelter that will protect and provide for them. I need to be apart of a group."
His hard stare never flinched. "What the hell for? You have survived weeks alone in the woods and you can survive longer. You don't need to be apart of a group."
Nearly frantic, my voice pitches a little to high. "I'm not a hunter! I kill your everyday houseplant! How in the hell will I keep going!"
Still lounging in his seat with the confidence only found in men long on experience, he looked at me. "You'll learn, or you and the kids will die."
Leo has never been one to sugar coat a damn thing. Brutal honesty is always his way, but sheer stubborn will power has always been my way. "Okay, what if I come across a group that has shelter and crops growing, surely I can go to them and offer my skills and hard work to the group."
"If you don't know someone in that group, you retreat to the forest. Never let them know you were there."
Finally, some anthropological sense kicked in. Being alone in the forest is safer than being in a group whose mores may have you strapped to a bed for the nightly raping. Yet, stubborn hope lingered. "What if there are women and children in the group? Wouldn't that be safe?"
"Why, would it? How do you know that the group dynamics don't have those women and children in some sort of slavery?" A slight pause then Leo continues. "Whoever said that women can't be just as brutal and viscous as men? And you and your kids would be the outsiders."
Stunned and silent, I sit pondering what he had just said. Leo continued. "This is why you must have a bug out spot with people who know before hell breaks loose."
Defeated, I respond. "So how do I choose a spot for the kids and I to grow a few crops and have water?"
"Find a spring. Always be listening for the sound of running water. Once you find water that seems to appear out of nowhere, follow it to the core. You'll know it by the greenery surrounding it and the water 'bubbling' out. You won't have enough to grow crops, but you will have plenty of water and the surrounding area will have food you can hunt and scavenge."
I sat and thought for awhile and came to the conclusion that I need to find a bug out sight now, because there is no way in hell I'm going to live like my hunting/gatherer ancestors. I like to enjoy my creature comforts in doors and safe damn it!

Parting words of advice from Leo and myself.
-If you're stuck in the woods cause Leo has scared you off from joining any group, then always be watching the birds especially crows. If a large predator, or a herd of humans go stomping through the forest close to you, the birds above will chirp loudly and fly from the tree tops. So, crouch low and keep out of sight.
-Never ever ever burn anything green. Green plants on fire makes white smoke. You might as well have a neon sign flashing in the dark that says "I'm here. Come and get me."
-When ever you do make a fire make sure it's in a pit. A fire pit prevents the flames from being seen and helps cut down on the scent of food cooking.
-Leaves and Pine trees are your best source of heat. Cut the lowest hanging limbs from a Pine and use as a blanket along with the leaves you gather from the forest floor. You will be warm and hidden.
-Be alert. Be flexible. Always be willing to up and run at a moments notice, so keep that go bag at the ready even when you build your settlement.



Contest:
For a chance to win a free copy of Carnage, in which the characters had to grapple with the issue of settlements, tell me in a comment what you would do if you came across a group that was settled. Would you risk all and join them? Would you sit and watch them to determine if they were "safe" to try to join? Whoever has the best comment wins. You have till 12 a.m. central time on Monday December 3.


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Contest Winner is Susan W. I love a woman who loves guns. 
Contest Winner is Susan W. cause I love a woman who loves guns.


Thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by and check out my blog. Meet you at the end of the world.

Saturday, November 24, 2012



EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT!
Learn how to survive and thrive at the end of the world. 


It's almost the end of the world. Winter Solstice is right around the corner. Are you ready to survive and thrive? 

Welcome to the BUG-IN WITH ROMANCE BLOG EVENT!

We're a group of mostly romance authors that are worried about general fox-hole morale when the shit hits the fan. So you've got your bug-out bags packed, your medicine stocked up, your 2 weeks of food stuff hidden in the air-space behind the dry wall in your home (just in case the government shows up to confiscate your horde of food), you've stored away some candles and extra batteries, and you're ready to go. Well, what about Mom's sanity? What about those almost twenty year old daughters hooked on romance novels? What about...How are you planning to while away the boredom in your little safe place? We've got you covered. Win some romance novels and tick off your preparedness checklist with us as we countdown to THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT. 

Each author will be giving away a paperback copy of her book, a book about her Bug-In subject, or one of her favorite reads. So, stick around to enter to win each day. The blog event is a true blog hop in the sense that it begins with one blog post and moves on each day to another participating author's blog. Each day the hostess will post the link to the next day's blog post and contest. All you do is start today, here, and pop over to the next blog tomorrow.

Be sure to visit the creator of this event Skhye Moncrief at http://blog.skhyemoncrief.comAnd don't forget to pop back here on Monday to discover the contents of a bug-out-bag and to read the in your face qoutes from a Korean War Vet. Stay connected to this end of the world event to learn some awesome survival info and enter to win a prize! Check out Genella DeGrey's post on Nov. 27 for more important and interesting information about T-paper at http://genelladegrey.com



"Survivors know where all the exits are."

Your mind could be lost in the hunt for that next great novel at your favorite bookstore when red flags softly wave. You might be standing in line at the grocery store at the moment those tiny hairs on the back of your neck tickle your intuition. You may be at home purchasing your favorite author's next book when you get the call that tightens your stomach. If you don't want to be drenched you better be able to grab your bug-out-bag and get the hell out of town when the shit hits the fan.
The bug-out-bag, aka the go bag, is equipped with every necessity you need to survive and navigate your way out of the city, through the woods, and hopefully to your rendezvous point. Understand that a rendezvous point is necessary because your go bag cannot grow crops, or provide permanent shelter. A go bag is a TEMPORARY remedy to survive the initial cultural collapse of your society. Hence, each item in your bag should be vital to your physical safety and sustaining you with food and water for at least two weeks. My grandfather Leo, a Korean War vet forced to rely solely on his pack to survive, told me "You'll have to buck up and carry certain things, or die."

So what are those vital things you must carry?

Absolutes
-A first aid kit that includes iodine, medical tape gauze, surgical thread and needles.
-Water Purification Pills
-Socks-a pair of high quality cotton and a pair of wool socks. The cotton absorbs sweat. The wool traps in heat. (Beat up feet equalls death. You have to be able to walk and you cannot afford an infection.)
-Flints, or waxed tip matches
-Fold up saw to help cut firewood and to make shelter
-Pads and Tampons for obvious reasons, but pads can line your bag, thereby soundproofing it. You don't want a rattling bag to give away your location. Tampons can help stop the bleeding of a serious injury.
-Antibiotics
-Duct tape
-Compass and a map of your immediate area and your rendezvous point.
-Two changes of clothes. What type of clothing depends on your location's climate.
-A sleeping bag and tarp that you can roll up easily and tie to the top of your bag.
-Food-
If you're like me and you don't know an edible plant from one that could drop you dead, then you had better have two weeks worth of food in your pack. Steak and potatoes are not in your future. Trail mixes, protein bars, granola bars, and beef jerky is your new menu. However, you could learn to dehydrate food now and have ready made meals tucked away between the pads and tampons. Visit this you tube channel for the best tips on learning this skill.  http://www.youtube.com/user/dehydrate2store?feature=results_main
-Protection-
 News flash the cops aren't coming to the rescue. Rules of law are no longer in tact. Don't like guns? Get over it. In an apocalyptic setting women's rights no longer exist. Men who are hungry, scared and who could have been criminals no longer have the law to answer to. It's kill, or starve. It's kill, or be raped. It's kill, or be killed. Leo recomends two guns and two knives. The .22 mag is light and effective at close range. The .45 is a powerful hunting and protection tool. Both guns should be worn on the hip. If having two guns scares the hell out of you like it does me, then stick with the .22 mag. And be sure you have plenty of ammo in your bag. You should also carry your utility knife on your hip. This knife is great for making tools and cutting rope, or surgical thread. And, as Leo calls it, you must have a "Cut your guts out knife" strapped to the leg on your writing hand side for easy access. This little baby is your source of protection when the sound of a gun could further endanger you and helps you skin and gut the animal you just hunted. (Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing as you. I'll stick with my trail mix thank you very much).
-Shoes with a rugged sole that fit you perfectly while wearing two socks and are slightly broken in.

Needed items, but you can live without:
-Pain pills
-Fold up shovel
-Chappstick to prevent lips and face from chapping in cold weather
-Fold up mess kit
-Hair brush
-Corn starch put in a sandwich bag. It cleans your hair without water. Put in and brush out. It's also a great way to protect your thighs from chaffing and keeping a baby's bottom dry.
-Small binoculars
-Pencil with small notebook to leave messages for those loved ones and allies that will be hiking to your PREDETERMINED rendezvous point.
-Cotton balls
-First aid and/or a Boy Scout handbook for information on knot making, tracking and, foraging skills.
-Toothpaste

My favorite checklist links:   gundata.org/blog/post/bug-out-bag-checklist/
                 survivalcache.com/bug-out-bag/
If you're a visual learner this site is great.  youtube.com/watch?v=4BKKvlOscCg
Facebook is also a great source of information. Search bug-out-bag and pick the group for you.

Great. You have scared the shit out of me, now what?

Remember, this bag is your life line. Keep it close to you always. If you can afford to have two of them then keep one in your car and one at home. If money doesn't rain down on you and pinching pennies is your hobby like it is mine, then keep your bag in a location of your house that you will remember to take it with you in the car anytime you go out. You can purchase these items at a good Army surplus store, Bass Pro Shop, Academy, and Amazon. If you have money to spare you can buy your go bag online fully furnished, but that will cost you at least $200 and more. I suggest that you purchase your bag at Bass Pro Shop because you can be fitted for your bag. If you don't have it fitted to your body, then you will have serious problems after a few miles of hiking. Back pain, neck pain, and foot pain can cripple you.

And here are a few gems of wisdom from Leo to use at your own discretion.
-"If worse comes to worse you can wash yourself with urine."
-"If you have athletes foot piss on it."
"Cover yourself with wild animal shit if you need to hide your scent." (Your menstrual cycle can alert animals and men that you are nearby.)
-And my personal favorite. "If you forget something in your bag shoot the guy with it."

And be sure to check out http://genelladegrey.com tomorrow for more survival tips.

The Contest Information
The bug-out-bag is your most important life line. In my zombie book Carnage, neither the heroine, or the hero had a go bag and suffered the consequences. I will give away my book Carnage to the one person who can best tell me how far they would go to survive. Would you cover yourself in animal poop? Could you shoot someone who is threatening you? Would you align yourself with people who violate your principles just to stay alive? 
Place your comment on this blog post by 1a.m. central time. The winner will be announced on Tuesday and will receive an e-copy of Carnage.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Conflict; Evolution

Seething hatred lurks just below thin layers of shedding skin.
The mouths of demons knaw inside the webs of this fragmented mind.
Stained and dingy fingernails claw at the doorways of a schizophrenic soul.
Vindication terrorizes my existence under the pounding of his tyrannical fists.

Moral abandonment flutters amongst the quiet pools of vengeful temptation.
Wicked desires yurn to clasp the words of tormenting truths upon those deceitful lips.
An unbearable redundency oozes forth from uninspired and hypocritical speculations.
To forever fasten your deeds upon hell's bosom would liberate sophisticated and cognizant minds.

Decaying corpses construct the bloodied pedastals you perch upon from up high.
Forked tongues lick the longing lobes of your languorous and oblivious ears.
Smiles and riotous laughter paint charming silohettes on the collective memory.
Fleshless knees dance at your alters of taboos while righteous smirks adorn your crackling face.

Wings of demons flitter in and out of the shadows of your piteous reality.
Clenched hands clash against these shackels you fasten around my soul, my liberty.
Pious word permeate the stinking air surrounding your pretensous depraved reflections.
Vigorous proclamations and endurence will carry forth an evolution from enslavement.