Quick & Dirty

Today a friend started to look into the "end of the world" phenomenon and, as many people do, she started to freak out a little bit.  So little time and so much to do.  Even if the world doesn't start to self destruct there are floods, power outages, storms and other accidents.  So tonight I will give you a quick and dirty survival tip. 

You know the old saying a human can live 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food?  For some reason food is the first thing people think of when it comes to survival planning.   If you're in the wilderness you need to secure shelter first and foremost so lets assume you are staying in your home.  Senario:  There is a flood and the water coming from your tap is contaminated.  What do you do?  Ideally you should boil the water.  This is a very reliable method for killing microbes and parasites.  (If the water is contaminated during a flood it's likely contaminated with sewage)  So you get your water to the stove top and bring it to a boil for ten minutes.  If you are at a high elevation you need to add a minute of boiling for every 1000 feet above sea level.  Easy enough right?  Well what do you do if the flood has taken out the power too?  Sure you Aussies head for the BBQ but if fuel is at a premium let's save it to cook all that food that's thawing in the freezer.


This is when you reach for the bottle of bleach you squirrelled away after reading this blog.  Bleach is cheap.  On your next shopping trip get a generic bottle for around $1.20.  Then print these instructions and tape them to the bottle.  Don't store it in the laundry or it will get used.  In the US during a big emergency they hand out bottles of bleach with these instructions.  

Liquid Bleach First let water stand until particles settle. Pour the clear water into an uncontaminated container and add liquid  Bleach per the chart.* Mix well. Wait 30 min. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat dose.  Wait 15 min. Sniff again. Keep an eyedropper taped to your emergency bottle of Bleach, since purifying small amounts of water requires only a few drops. See chart* suggestions for storage bottle replacement. Don't pour purified water into contaminated containers.  Without water and electricity, even everyday tasks are tough. In lieu of steaming hot water, sanitize dishes with a little Bleach. Just follow the directions below to keep dishes clean. Whether you use bleach in an emergency or for everyday chores, it's always an environmentally sound choice. After its work is done,  Bleach breaks down to little more than salt and water, which is good news anytime.  *Ratio of Bleach to Water for Purification 2 drops of liquid Bleach per quart of water 8 drops of liquid Bleach per gallon of water 1/2 teaspoon liquid Bleach per five gallons of water If water is cloudy, double the recommended dosages of liquid Bleach. Only use Regular Bleach (not Scented). To insure that Bleach is at its full strength, replace your storage bottle every three months.)  **(Bleach Sanitizing Solution)  Mix 1 tablespoon liquid Bleach with 2 litres of water. Always wash and rinse items first, then let each item soak in Bleach Sanitising Solution for 2 minutes. Drain and air dry. I hope this helps you when you need it most.  Be prepared!

Identity Crisis

If I die in 304 days how will I be remembered?

I have been struggling with an identity crisis.  The last year saw monumental changes in my life.  For 11 years I've worked in the motorcycle industry and consider myself "the Harley chick".  If you want to know anything about a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle I am your girl.  But last year we sold our dealership and I haven't seen the backside of a parts counter in 10 months.  One month after I left the shop I broke my leg playing roller derby.  Roller derby girl, my other identity.  For 3 months I sat on my couch and took on a new temporary identity, broken derby girl.  I joined the forums, read about my injury and planned my return to the sport.

My return came 9 months after injury but, despite my plan for derby domination, it was harder than I thought.  You couldn't have prepared me for how easy it was to skate again, physically.  But, likewise, the mental barrier to engage in the sport is harder than I was prepared for.  For the last month I have been some times going to training, skating on my own and telling myself that it was a process.  Not surprisingly I didn't enjoy it.

Skating around in circles, by yourself, scared, is not roller derby.  It's lonely and boring.  I was ready to quit.  I told myself lies. It's was ok, I put in my time.  It's harder to come back from an injury at 35 than 25.  If you don't have the fighting spirit now you never will.

Pre-practice yesterday I went to my husband for a pep talk.  "I don't want to go to practice. I think I'm done."  He said that didn't sound like "the girl he knows" and while he would support my decision, he didn't want me to walk away because I was afraid.  If I didn't want to, it was one thing, but to cower and run with my tail between my legs wasn't my style.  We had a long talk and I finally cried, "Without the shop and without derby, who am I?"  I think that is what Oprah calls the ah ha moment.  For three years I've been involved in the sport.  My friends, clothes, community and life is wrapped up in derby.  It's who I am. Or is it?

Who am I?  Am I the Harley girl?  Am I Squeaks bye the derby girl?  These characters are so well developed they even have their own costumes.
Black t-shirt, jeans and boots = Harley girl.
Spandex with underpants on the outside, skates = derby girl.
Do these characters represent the diversity of my spirit or am I just playing dress up?  The short answer is, I don't know.  I'm not sure what the criteria is for identifying your true self.  A sort of litmus test of the soul.

I went to practice.  He's right, I don't quit because I'm scared.  I got involved with the group practice.  We lined up, our trainer shouted, "three point transitions!" My heart sank.  That was the simple manoeuvre I was doing when I broke my leg. Three point transitions are my kryptonite.  Telling myself that I could do it I went to the line, I was wrong.  I couldn't do it.  I thought I might burst into tears but I just lined up again. Then we were on to track carving, I can do that, it's awkward and I certainly carve right better than left but I made it through.  Before I knew it I was in a pace line weaving between other skaters.  It was great but as soon as I got to the front of the line I had to stop.  The adrenaline was so intense that my knees were shaking and I could hardly hold myself up.  I sat out the rest of that drill.  When they went into blocking drills I stayed on the side lines and practiced 3 point transitions.  Oh yes I did!  My derby wife, Dislo-Kate, said watching me do it made her stomach turn and she wanted to throw up.  Katie was a great support during my injury. She was the one who rode with me in the ambulance, talked to me everyday and came over often to keep me in the loop.   Knowing that it scared her too made me feel that much more proud for doing it.

So perhaps this is my epiphany.  My identity, at the core, is what allows me to play these characters.  I am brave and autonomous.  I possess the skills to overcome fear and to know when to ask for help.  That is who I am. Who I am allows me to face men who doubt the ability of a girl with a wrench.  I can face a wall of scary bitches on skates and when I fall down I get back up.  I get back up.

I GET BACK UP.

Zombie Apocalypse

I could have been a boyscout.  I am always prepared.  On our recent trip around Australia we were headed through outback NSW and nearly ran out of fuel. (Just quietly, this is totally my husbands fault.)  In my whole life I have never run out of petrol and this was as close as you could get without actually having to walk.   We rolled into Cobar on fumes and puckered butt holes. Running out of fuel is not something that happens to me because I AM THE WOMAN WITH A PLAN.  As we rode through the outback all I could think was, "I'm not prepared for this! No combination of the items that I have carefully packed will allow us to get out of this."  Plans are how I make sense of the chaos that is my life. They give me a feeling of control and I like how that feels.

My Australian friends laugh at me because I have an emergency bag packed and sitting by the front door.  It's called a BOB (Bug Out Bag) or GOOD (Get Out Of Dodge) bag.  They are the single item that you grab if the sh*it hits the fan and you have to go NOW!  A concept that makes perfect sense to me but has many of my Aussies laughing at me and calling it my Zombie Apocalypse Bag.  I have put a lot of thought, time and research into my bag.  One of my favourite games is "name the items that you'd put in this bag" and then I see if I have them all. (It's true I'm a geek but indulge me)

There is a movement of people called "preppers".  Basically they are prepared for a crash in society or an emergency.  They decide to prepare for different reasons.  Some believe that the economy is going to crash and society with it, some believe a world war is coming, others have religious reasons.   I think, why wouldn't you prepare?  There are 10,000 things that can go wrong at any time.  This week we've had flash floods in our area. As friends wrote on facebook about being stranded in their cars I re-checked the compact BOB in my Jeep.

If you are ever in an emergency you better hope you're with me.  My brain works best during an emergency.  My thoughts are clear, crisp and rapid.  I think that part of this is because I've already gone through so many emergencys in my head, worked out a plan, a back up plan and a contingency to that.   Even in non-apocalyptic life I am prepared.  I don't run out of things.  Soap, toothpaste, toiletpaper, dog food or coffee I buy it before I run out.  Why wouldn't you?  You know you'll use it up eventually right?

I make survival bracelets.  They are 550 paracord that is weaved into an attractive bracelet with a robust buckle.  They quickly unravel to give you access to 6-9 feet of paracord.  I won't go into the 100's of possible uses but I wear mine all the time.  I have weaved keychains too, just in case.  I've made many and given them to friends.  They are kind and accept them as a novelty but I know that one day it could save their life OR it could replace a broken shoe lace which would be really inconvenient.

So this week as the weather freaks out, roads are washed away and towns like Lightening Ridge were preparing to be water locked for weeks just do me a favor and check the batteries in your flashlight/torch.   Next time you do the shopping buy a few extra cans of baked beans and put them in the back of the cupboard.  Please.  It makes me feel better.  

Leave me a comment below and let me know you something OR you could ask me if the item that you're thinking of is in my bag.