Comments on: Survivalist Weekend: Practice for a Disaster http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/ Common Sense In A Ridiculous World Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:21:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Linda Brady Traynham Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:36:41 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-101 Dear Rainproof: I don't understand how your post just showed up, but you have a long private e-mail from me in return. Maybe they put e-mail on planes as they did TV shows forty years ago! You could never tell when any given show would start, since everything was canned, and the local stations delighted in having different start times, to try to keep you on their network. Anybody know a naval aviator? Linda Dear Rainproof: I don’t understand how your post just showed up, but you have a long private e-mail from me in return. Maybe they put e-mail on planes as they did TV shows forty years ago! You could never tell when any given show would start, since everything was canned, and the local stations delighted in having different start times, to try to keep you on their network. Anybody know a naval aviator? Linda

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Linda Brady Traynham Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:34:24 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-100 Dear Valerie: As I understand it from my resident engineer and expert on almost everything, stablizers will expand the usable life of gasoline for perhaps six months, but they won't have an effect on diesel in cold weather. I checked anyway and Charles says that there is a product that will keep it from jellying, but that you don't need it except in cold weather...which is what I just said, sort of! He says you can run a diesel on kerosene, although you won't get nearly as good mileage, and it costs a lot more. In an emergency it would be very nice to have a few gallons stored. It is probable that Gene Traynham is a connection, although I don't know him. What's 912? Everyone please remember that we're always looking for new ideas and new talent, please! Regards, Linda Dear Valerie: As I understand it from my resident engineer and expert on almost everything, stablizers will expand the usable life of gasoline for perhaps six months, but they won’t have an effect on diesel in cold weather. I checked anyway and Charles says that there is a product that will keep it from jellying, but that you don’t need it except in cold weather…which is what I just said, sort of! He says you can run a diesel on kerosene, although you won’t get nearly as good mileage, and it costs a lot more. In an emergency it would be very nice to have a few gallons stored. It is probable that Gene Traynham is a connection, although I don’t know him. What’s 912? Everyone please remember that we’re always looking for new ideas and new talent, please! Regards, Linda

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Linda Brady Traynham Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:22:38 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-93 Brian, I'm still waiting for the article I asked you to write! I think you have the potential to be a real favorite around here! Linda Brian, I’m still waiting for the article I asked you to write! I think you have the potential to be a real favorite around here! Linda

]]> By: Valerie http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Valerie Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:07:41 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-90 Your test is very eye-opening. It brings up so many things I never thought of. We are 912 members, and we are very interested in what is happening in Texas. Relative to storing diesel, so you know if a fuel stabilizer like Stabil will keep the diesel from turning to jelly? Or how long you can store it before it goes bad? BTW, are you any relation to a Gene Traynham? Thank you for your excellent posts. We will be much better prepared now! Valerie (valeriepuanani@earthllink.net) Your test is very eye-opening. It brings up so many things I never thought of. We are 912 members, and we are very interested in what is happening in Texas.

Relative to storing diesel, so you know if a fuel stabilizer like Stabil will keep the diesel from turning to jelly? Or how long you can store it before it goes bad? BTW, are you any relation to a Gene Traynham? Thank you for your excellent posts. We will be much better prepared now! Valerie (valeriepuanani@earthllink.net)

]]> By: Brian http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Brian Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:36:37 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-89 Wasn't trying to cheer you up, but I'm glad I did! Not complaining at all about my growing years.....I look back at it in awe when I compare life today to when I was a child in the '60's. Grew up in Northern Michigan, don't think you want to go there, it is the heartbeat of Socialism. I laughed when I saw your note about Battleship! My dad came up with a box of three-part carbonless paper forms some office was throwing away and we drew squares and played battleship for years afterward on our homemade grids! Ahhh, such sweet memories.... I don't think our philosophies are far removed, I promised myself long ago that my children would know where their food came from (and not the grocery store!), how to read real literature....Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, Thoreau, even those radical writers like Hobbes, Smith and gasp....Jefferson and oh no!! Payne!!!! I have worked at building a bilbliography (any suggestions always appreciated) to be read over the years. I'm sure my dear son (who is 5, no Daddy I'll be SIX next month) will hate it now, but be thankful later. Eating out was rare for us also. In fact it was usually those wonderful dish-to-pass potlucks after church, or fried chicken lunches in the orchards or hayfields at harvest time. I preferred picking fruit myself.....ughhh, the dust and grime from cutting hay, I'm itching as I type! BL Wasn’t trying to cheer you up, but I’m glad I did! Not complaining at all about my growing years…..I look back at it in awe when I compare life today to when I was a child in the ’60’s. Grew up in Northern Michigan, don’t think you want to go there, it is the heartbeat of Socialism.
I laughed when I saw your note about Battleship! My dad came up with a box of three-part carbonless paper forms some office was throwing away and we drew squares and played battleship for years afterward on our homemade grids! Ahhh, such sweet memories….
I don’t think our philosophies are far removed, I promised myself long ago that my children would know where their food came from (and not the grocery store!), how to read real literature….Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, Thoreau, even those radical writers like Hobbes, Smith and gasp….Jefferson and oh no!! Payne!!!! I have worked at building a bilbliography (any suggestions always appreciated) to be read over the years. I’m sure my dear son (who is 5, no Daddy I’ll be SIX next month) will hate it now, but be thankful later.
Eating out was rare for us also. In fact it was usually those wonderful dish-to-pass potlucks after church, or fried chicken lunches in the orchards or hayfields at harvest time. I preferred picking fruit myself…..ughhh, the dust and grime from cutting hay, I’m itching as I type!
BL

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Linda Brady Traynham Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:14:14 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-88 Happy birthday, Brian, and thanks for a great post. I hope your family still has what may well be luxuries in time to come, primarily the hand pump. What a terrific lift to spirits that needed it, as you will know if you go read what I just wrote to Tony and Ernie, who have a fascinating dialogue going. I got tobacco seeds of several varieties from Canada on e-Bay and instructions, although I haven't solved the menthol problem yet. Ah, Brian, Brian, THANK you. I was in danger of feeling sorry for myself, and tales of your life cheered me enormously. You'll have to tell me where to go to share your splendid lifestyle--and I am NOT joking--if central Texas gets too hot to handle from locusts swarming out of Bryan-College Station. Reciprocal visiting priveleges, of course. I love to think of your children raising livestock. Our cattle and goats are the joys of our life, the horses range betweeen crazy and funny, the wild hogs we trapped smell, and chickens are just chickens. Our deer and the hawgs that moved into the county a couple of years ago are healthy, fortunately. WE had a private telephone line that was down far more frequently than it was in service! We need to check on the old artesian well--so many things that need doing, and who knows when "it" may occur? Old Indian trick I have read of: keep your last leaf of tobacco and put about a nickel-sized piece between your cheek and gum to wean yourself until the next crop is cured. Might work. Tell me some more stories, please! We played board games on Friday nights when my only sibling and I were young, and gathered around the piano and sang when kinfolks came...we were never short of cash money but Daddy was very serious about "building for the future." We didn't take vacations, and eating out was a rare treat in the Fifties. My kids really don't believe MacDonald's, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster, Outback, Tony Roma's, On the Border, and Olive Garden weren't even an idea, yet. They don't believe we played Battle Ship on paper and solitaire with a deck of cards. They really don't believe that taxes plaayed a very small part in our lives. My first job (other than summers working at Texas A&M) paid $225/month and I took home something like $219! We're the ones who are right: comfort and security are being able to take care of ourselves. As I say, "the new luxury will be sustainable supplies of food and energy that we can protect." MDC (My Darling Charles, if you don't know that) and I have fun learning to make cheese, refurbishing old buildings, and buying crazy vehicles, such as a bucket truck, a school bus, and a back hoe! Ah, thank you again, Brian. You made me remember why life is so very good when I had been in an extraordinarily rare fit of the dismals. Hugs to you and yours, Linda Happy birthday, Brian, and thanks for a great post. I hope your family still has what may well be luxuries in time to come, primarily the hand pump. What a terrific lift to spirits that needed it, as you will know if you go read what I just wrote to Tony and Ernie, who have a fascinating dialogue going.

I got tobacco seeds of several varieties from Canada on e-Bay and instructions, although I haven’t solved the menthol problem yet. Ah, Brian, Brian, THANK you. I was in danger of feeling sorry for myself, and tales of your life cheered me enormously. You’ll have to tell me where to go to share your splendid lifestyle–and I am NOT joking–if central Texas gets too hot to handle from locusts swarming out of Bryan-College Station. Reciprocal visiting priveleges, of course. I love to think of your children raising livestock. Our cattle and goats are the joys of our life, the horses range betweeen crazy and funny, the wild hogs we trapped smell, and chickens are just chickens. Our deer and the hawgs that moved into the county a couple of years ago are healthy, fortunately. WE had a private telephone line that was down far more frequently than it was in service! We need to check on the old artesian well–so many things that need doing, and who knows when “it” may occur? Old Indian trick I have read of: keep your last leaf of tobacco and put about a nickel-sized piece between your cheek and gum to wean yourself until the next crop is cured. Might work.

Tell me some more stories, please! We played board games on Friday nights when my only sibling and I were young, and gathered around the piano and sang when kinfolks came…we were never short of cash money but Daddy was very serious about “building for the future.” We didn’t take vacations, and eating out was a rare treat in the Fifties. My kids really don’t believe MacDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Red Lobster, Outback, Tony Roma’s, On the Border, and Olive Garden weren’t even an idea, yet. They don’t believe we played Battle Ship on paper and solitaire with a deck of cards. They really don’t believe that taxes plaayed a very small part in our lives. My first job (other than summers working at Texas A&M) paid $225/month and I took home something like $219! We’re the ones who are right: comfort and security are being able to take care of ourselves. As I say, “the new luxury will be sustainable supplies of food and energy that we can protect.” MDC (My Darling Charles, if you don’t know that) and I have fun learning to make cheese, refurbishing old buildings, and buying crazy vehicles, such as a bucket truck, a school bus, and a back hoe! Ah, thank you again, Brian. You made me remember why life is so very good when I had been in an extraordinarily rare fit of the dismals. Hugs to you and yours, Linda

]]> By: Brian http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Brian Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:50:20 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-86 Sounds like my family when I was a child! No kidding, we had an outhouse. No running water in the house. Hand pump in the kitchen sink and a roll around wash tub for laundry. I remember when I was 12 years old, my Dad had a well put in and ran running water to the laundry and kitchen, yes, only one sink. (Lest you think I'm an ol' codger, I'm on the South side of 50 years old today). We did have electricity, but there were always kerosene lanterns available, we lived at the end of the power line! No TV, lots of books, lots of hard work, lots of siblings, and more pets (chickens, lambs, and calves) than I could have ever begged for! You ask, were your parents Luddites? No, just sensible enough to pay for everything as we went along. We never wanted for anything, especially work, but were healthy, wealthy in each others company and slept good at night. While things are not so rustic now, I still have an artesian well in the spring house, plenty of canned goods (homemade) in the cellar, a garden big enough for y'all to come to help with, and every year my son gets a new pet calf to raise, adore and cater to. And yes, he helps me butcher the same blessed creature every year and carefully package him into the freezer and canning jars. I don't hunt wild game in our area, too much TB and other disease, with the all the "protected areas", keeping the weak from dying out. I agree with Ernie, there is a huge benefit in just knowing you can make it on your own if you need to. Might not be comfy, and swilling beer watching the big game, but you'll definetly be appreciative for everything you've got. Thanks for another good read LBT. Smoke 'em if you got 'em! (and if you don't smoke, soak them in water, makes a hell of an insecticide for the garden!!!!) Sounds like my family when I was a child! No kidding, we had an outhouse. No running water in the house. Hand pump in the kitchen sink and a roll around wash tub for laundry. I remember when I was 12 years old, my Dad had a well put in and ran running water to the laundry and kitchen, yes, only one sink. (Lest you think I’m an ol’ codger, I’m on the South side of 50 years old today). We did have electricity, but there were always kerosene lanterns available, we lived at the end of the power line! No TV, lots of books, lots of hard work, lots of siblings, and more pets (chickens, lambs, and calves) than I could have ever begged for! You ask, were your parents Luddites? No, just sensible enough to pay for everything as we went along. We never wanted for anything, especially work, but were healthy, wealthy in each others company and slept good at night. While things are not so rustic now, I still have an artesian well in the spring house, plenty of canned goods (homemade) in the cellar, a garden big enough for y’all to come to help with, and every year my son gets a new pet calf to raise, adore and cater to. And yes, he helps me butcher the same blessed creature every year and carefully package him into the freezer and canning jars.
I don’t hunt wild game in our area, too much TB and other disease, with the all the “protected areas”, keeping the weak from dying out.
I agree with Ernie, there is a huge benefit in just knowing you can make it on your own if you need to. Might not be comfy, and swilling beer watching the big game, but you’ll definetly be appreciative for everything you’ve got.

Thanks for another good read LBT. Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em! (and if you don’t smoke, soak them in water, makes a hell of an insecticide for the garden!!!!)

]]> By: linda brady traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-83 linda brady traynham Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:38:56 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-83 Ya betcha, Ernie! Good advice, all. I learned long ago ALWAYS to keep the woodpile stacked high and the larder stocked. Diesel can be stored far longer than gasoline, but you might have trouble with it turning to jelly. Any advice on long bows, compound bows, and/or cross bows for beginners? Linda Ya betcha, Ernie! Good advice, all. I learned long ago ALWAYS to keep the woodpile stacked high and the larder stocked. Diesel can be stored far longer than gasoline, but you might have trouble with it turning to jelly. Any advice on long bows, compound bows, and/or cross bows for beginners? Linda

]]> By: Ernie http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Ernie Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:44:55 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-80 We live in a rural area slightly south of Canada at the far end of a power line- and have this exam several times per winter. Keep wood and woodstoves around even if you don't want to use that labor intensive, dirty and dangerous fuel. At the first hint of trouble, fill all the bathtubs FULL with clean water- this will get you through many days including luxuries like flushing. Keep some propane on hand- gas grills work even when it's -20F, though the spaghetti is a bit less than gourmet... Oil lamps are nicer than candles and mice don't usually chew 'em up in the cold storage. Oh, and if it gets really rough- guns are great but a good used compound bow and a supply of arrows with broadheads is a great cheap way to keep the larder full. Also, no noise to alert busybodies. Need I mention a pre 1990 diesel car or truck without a bunch of electronics which can burn almost anything oily? The biggest benefit is the self reliant mindset of knowing you have options. Best- EP We live in a rural area slightly south of Canada at the far end of a power line- and have this exam several times per winter. Keep wood and woodstoves around even if you don’t want to use that labor intensive, dirty and dangerous fuel. At the first hint of trouble, fill all the bathtubs FULL with clean water- this will get you through many days including luxuries like flushing. Keep some propane on hand- gas grills work even when it’s -20F, though the spaghetti is a bit less than gourmet… Oil lamps are nicer than candles and mice don’t usually chew ‘em up in the cold storage. Oh, and if it gets really rough- guns are great but a good used compound bow and a supply of arrows with broadheads is a great cheap way to keep the larder full. Also, no noise to alert busybodies. Need I mention a pre 1990 diesel car or truck without a bunch of electronics which can burn almost anything oily? The biggest benefit is the self reliant mindset of knowing you have options.
Best-
EP

]]> By: Rainproof03 http://thetexasring.com/2009/11/22/survivalist-weekend-practice-for-a-disaster/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Rainproof03 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:39:47 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=138#comment-78 I seem to identify with everything you write! Would you send me your email address? I want to ask about a Naval Aviator. Rainproof03 Honolulu, Hawaii. malama pono I seem to identify with everything you write! Would you send me your email address? I want to ask about a Naval Aviator. Rainproof03 Honolulu, Hawaii. malama pono

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