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Mrs. Peel

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Posts posted by Mrs. Peel

  1. Posted

    Another year, another Can-Can sale! This is the 2nd week - it runs through Saturday, Jan 15.

    Their usual suspects are on sale - Progresso soups, Bumblebee solid white tuna, Tutturoso tomatoes, store & name brands of various canned veggies, other convenient shelf-stable food like pasta/name brand mac & cheese mixes, etc. - along with sales on many other items including Lysol products, paper goods, fresh foods, etc. It's a pretty extensive list. Not everything is a HUGE discount, so check your prices. That said, there are a number of items that are a dollar or more off per item as compared to regular pricing. So, that's definitely worth checking out, especially as inflation skyrockets. I don't know what their supply/inventory is like... that might differ store to store.

    They say you eventually turn into your parents, right? Well, I use to laugh (not mean, but teasing) at my dear old dad because he was right on top of each grocery chain's sales, he kept a fully stocked pantry which spilled over into additional cabinets that he added in the laundry room, he kept a filled-to-the-brim chest freezer, he kept common spare parts on hand to fix the toilets, or the furnace, etc. We use to tease him and say he was "getting ready for a nuclear winter". Now that I'm older and wiser, I realize he was just smart, well-prepared, and ahead of his time! :good: 

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  2. Posted

    3 hours ago, Bomber said:

    It's their loss. I maintain that it's our loss. I feel strongly about that. Anyone turned off... anyone left with a bad taste in their mouth... is bad for the 2A at-large. New members get treated very well here compared to the pummeling I've seen other sites. Well, my tolerance is low for personal attacks... and it approaches "zero" for attacks on new members for the reasons I already cited. So, I must say, that statement doesn't make me feel any better... that we're not as horrible as other places is not a ringing endorsement, lol. In fact, I'm sorry to hear that new members are being "pummeled" on any sites (most particularly if those are gun sites you're referring to? ... again, for the reasons I mentioned). There are a lot of new gun owners right now, with others perhaps in the "thinking about it" stage. We should all we can to make people feel welcome - both new folks and experienced. This is the time for this community to pull together. 

    Questions are answered quickly by knowledgeable people.  

    I wish a site like this existed when I first applied for my FID.

    Totally agree with the statements above!! This is very knowledgeable community that chimes in quickly with helpful information. I'm always impressed by that! I think it's generally a great resource... :) but one that on occasion goes awry. :( And that's when moderators step in... and some of you get very angry at us! C'est la vie. ;)

     

  3. Posted

    3 minutes ago, Sniper said:

    Honest question, how many members have been chased away because of said admonishment or lecturing, when middle age men get chastised or lectured for having everyday, "normal" guy banter?

    I personally know of at least a dozen former posters who admitted they simply got turned off by the tone and thus stopped participating here for the reasons I stated. They were very knowledgeable, too - they really brought something to the table!  That's a loss!

    I've also had a few members - brand-new gun owners - who left for similar reasons. That's a loss, also. 

    How do I know this for a fact? Because I see the complaints that come in, and because on occasion, I randomly follow-up and ask. For context, as a former recruiter, I use to think that "exit interviews" were heavily under-utilized. I knew that if companies spent more time keeping their current employees engaged and satisfied, they'd have less expense recruiting replacements when they walked out the door. Same principle applies here. 

    More to the point, the 2A community is quite literally locked into a battle for its survival! We can't afford to drive ANYONE away. We should be pulling them into the fold. You even have "looky-loos" who read through these forums before they buy a gun (I know, because I was one of them). We don't want to turn people off. It's a strategic error.

    • Like 3
    • Agree 3

  4. Posted

    47 minutes ago, siderman said:

    Forum probly got too off topic. Let's be honest, it's heavy on politics,  culture wars,  pandemic,  pepper stuff.....some folk may not want to see all that on their gun forum.

    No, with all due respect... I don't think it's the mix of topics! It's largely because there's too much vitriol and just plain silliness even on the threads about serious gun topics, and I know this for a fact, because I see the complaints that roll into my mailbox - and that's a common theme. And though I can't speak to Bob's situation directly, I've personally questioned a handful of members who once actively participated and no longer do so, so I think I have a sense for what generates drop-offs.

    So, the next time that you see a moderator admonish someone on a thread to "stop with the personal attacks" - or - if you suspect/know we put someone in a time-out (because they refused to meet those requests to lay off the attacks), please understand, THAT'S why we do those things! For the most part, people want their time on here to be enjoyable. And for most personality types, "enjoyable" means sharing information about their past-time, using that info to help people new to the shooting sports, learning a new thing or two themselves, arranging the occasional get-together, enjoying a sense of community, etc. If they don't like politics, they can avoid the 1A Lounge, but they should still be able to enjoy ALL of the other forums!!! What they don't want is to be chided, needled, or attacked. And if they post a thread about a serious topic, they also don't want it hijacked with a bunch of dumb, off-topic responses rolling in. I have heard this repeatedly over the years. And not from "snowflakes" either!... from normal, rational adults. There's a lesson in there for all of us... if we're mature enough to accept it. 

    Again, I'm in no position to speak for him directly... but I will say that someone like Pizza Bob is a wealth of information, and a great guy in terms of reaching out to new gun owners. It irks me to no end when posters like him drift away. 

    New Year's Resolution - let's all do better! :)

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  5. Posted

    12 hours ago, ESB said:

    I keep seeing you need to keep cash on hand, but no mention of ballpark amounts.  I'm thinking at least enough to buy a marked-up generator and some fuel (~$2000). 

    Goodness, another great post/question! 

    3 hours ago, siderman said:

    We always have lots of cash on hand. That includes stashed in our vehicles well hidden.

     

    2 hours ago, Bomber said:

    I usually carry about a $1000 just for walking around money, aside from other emergency cash on hand.

    And here I was proud of myself for keeping a small amount of cash in my wallet at all times and about $300-400 in small bills (1's - 10's) at home (a relatively new habit, formed in the last year). Now you folks have me feeling like that's an inadequate amount! I might need to plump that up. And I never would have thought of stashing money in the car either, but I guess that's not a bad idea --- at least enough to fill a tank and get you home if your wallet was stolen. Got me re-thinking my plans again....:fool:  

  7. Posted

     

    3 hours ago, ESB said:

    What is everyone doing for at water collection and purification?  Either sheltering in place or bugging out.    Looking for ideas for both (separate systems for each).  

    Good topic! My plan is:

    - City water until it stops (filling tub/containers if adequate notice)

    - Bottled water (I do keep a supply in my house) 

    - Tarp collection system from my deck - or - collection from local river - then running either though LifeStraw Family 2.0 water filter 

    1 hour ago, ESB said:

    Anyone use a large barrel for collecting rainwater from your gutters?  

    I know you need to be aware of possible contaminants if you want to drink it - from the roofing materials themselves, or from pollution/animal droppings on the roof. FYI, I don't have any rain barrels myself - but my next door neighbors have several! They use the water specifically for non-drinking purposes - like watering their gardens, washing cars and claim it has cut down on their water bill -  they could probably tweak their existing system easily enough to make it potable though. 

    Here's an interesting website:  https://www.nationalpolyindustries.com.au/2018/06/14/collecting-safe-and-drinkable-rainwater-from-your-rooftop/

    I'm not endorsing that company btw - I know nothing about them - it just happens to have a pretty good, descriptive website along with related gadgetry like leaf strainers, diverters, etc.  

     

  8. Posted

    6 hours ago, ESB said:

    Since you are alone do you have an alarm system that doesn't need constant power?

    Well, I believe I did mention my elderly, 7-pound, half-blind, half-deaf dog... she's still got a few teeth left! ;)

    Seriously though, something to consider. Thx for your suggestion!

  9. Posted

    I'm not sure exactly what to make of this, nor does the article specifically speak to the aspect of hunting... but it caught my eye. Two different studies showed that 35% & 40% (respectively) of wild deer populations had COVID. And one experiment revealed it was passed quite easily through air between deer, so I would guess those percentages will only grow.

    Now, there was no indication of it passing from deer back to humans, although apparently there's a possibility that could happen at some point either in an original or a mutated form. I also don't think these findings were particularly surprising, since it's also been found in pets and zoo animals. (Hell, it's probably endemic in commercial livestock as well by this point). The only reason I posted it is... I'm guessing there are identified best practices for handling fresh kills in terms of infection precautions/sanitation, etc.?  It's just something to consider. So, passing the article along since it's always best to err on the side of being well-informed.     https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/covid-rampant-deer-research-shows-rcna10181

     

  10. Posted

    You could probably contact Daisy - they should have older manuals.

    eBay also has several sellers. This particular guy has great ratings and seems open to questions.  https://www.ebay.com/usr/cobalt327?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2559  All he does is sell the seals and other parts for people repairing their older Daisy airguns: 

    Here's another place with a schematic drawing + common replacement parts: https://www.jgairguns.biz/860-c-78_186_234/

     

     

    • Like 1

  11. Posted

    12 hours ago, FXDX said:

    I'm not sure why you’d want a Tri-fuel kit for something specifically designed for Propane?  I'm sure  you’re correct any mod to the unit would likely ruin the warranty for sure. My guess is the manufacturer *might* have a kit to convert it to Natural Gas since Propane and NG are close but not sure about converting gasoline. I *think* it gasoline to tri-fuel but not a straight Propane unit to Tri-fuel.

    scratch that I’m wrong, just looked at the specs and see it  Dual Fuel Technology. still check to see if NG capable

    To be clear, I was initially considering that same brand of tri-fuel kit for a gas-powered generator, but then developed concerns about voiding the warranty. That's why I opted instead for a model that at least was dual fuel straight from the factory. Yes, in doing so I lost the option for natural gas. But, my attitude is... if 2 fuels are not enough, then frankly, things are REALLY going to hell in  a handbasket... and I'm probably going "old school" with the wood stove, etc. anyway. At which point, I guess I'd be pretty much "camping" in my house. I figure that's still better than being outside though!

  12. Posted

    @siderman & @FXDX - the whole topic is Greek to me, but I will share with the electrician and have him explain it and make recommendations. I certainly won't alter the generator in anyway - at one point, I had looked into a carburator kit that would change a gas generator to a tri-fuel generator, but chose not to do it for that exact reason - it would void any warranty. Not worth it! (even though I realize warranties don't cover all issues, why essentially toss it out the window?) Anyway, thanks for raising the issue and making me ask the questions.

  13. Posted

    Thanks to all who participated in this thread and to some who PM'd me with suggestions, too. As expected, your comments were thought-provoking, insightful... and really quite helpful! I learned a lot and have revised my Prepping List... already placed an order for a few smaller items... am pricing others... and identified some I can wait to purchase down the road.      

    Here's wishing for a healthy, happy 2022 with NO major emergencies! Frankly, it would be nice not to actually need any of this stuff... but I've learned that it does bring a certain peace of mind to: "noodle" on some of the likeliest scenarios, put basic plans in place, have the right tools, have a maintenance plan to be followed, and to know exactly where all those tools are located in the house... so there's no fumbling around in the cold and the dark, as I used to do, just to try to find a flashlight. What an idiot! :facepalm:.  Honestly, I would NEVER have made this journey if not for these forums in general. It totally changed my mindset - shifting me from snarking about about "those weird preppers" to viewing "preparedness" as what it actually is: a sensible, pragmatic, and forward-thinking mindset. I'm making progress! :good:

    • Like 2

  14. Posted

    4 hours ago, Sniper said:

    Keep in mind, your generator might not keep you connected to the Internet. Depending on who your provider is Comcast, Cablevision, FIOS), in a area wide outage cable TV and Internet goes down, as many of the local switches and amplifiers lose power.

    Hmmm, when would that happen? I figure, chances are, when the back-ups at utility companies are starting to fail, you've just shifted into "survival mode" anyway. Literally, my clients would probably be in a similar boat. So, my attitude would be "screw work - I have some savings" - and my focus would turn 100% to keeping the stove cranking & pipes flowing (if it was cold), keeping a close eye on the property, collaborating with neighbors, etc.).  Anything else - including work - just sort of fades in importance if things are getting that catastrophic, right? 

  16. Posted

    Just now, Scorpio64 said:

    About that.  Many stoves can be fitted with a side saddle hot water tank.

    Huh! Interesting. Is that something that is permanent (and fugly year-round)? Or, an item that can be added as needed? Just curious. Because it's also easy enough to just sit a large pot on the stove if I need hot water. 

  17. Posted

    2 minutes ago, Sniper said:

    So, you're optimistic that during an extended power outage, fuel trucks will be available to just run up to your house a "couple times a week"?  :scratchhead:

    I'm optimistic that they'll run... until they stop! In which case, the old-fashioned woodstove and draining the pipes becomes the final fallback position. At least I'll be warm and fed. And I can use Mr. Sun to power my radio and my lanterns. And as I said, if it gets to that point... well, we're all pretty much screwed, aren't we? ;)

  18. Posted

    1 minute ago, Mr.Stu said:

    You could easily get a handcart for a 20lb tank

    Well, I do have a small collapsible dolly and bungee cords. Best thing I ever bought! I use it all the time to lug shooting equipment, and anything large or heavy. It's useful as hell. However, it is rendered completely useless if there's several inches of snow!  So, I realize I could use my dolly during non-snow times, just wheeling any tanks to and fro (though getting it in and out of the trunk is still something I'd like to avoid - I could try to harness the neighbor kid for that, lol).  I might have to consider some other options when there's snow - maybe even one of those plastic disks kids use for sleighs today. Even sliding that across snow might be easier than anything else - and that would be super-cheap. You've all doing a great job of identifying gaps in my plan and getting me  thinking  more deeply -  which is fabulous! This is exactly what I was hoping for. :D

  19. Posted

    3 minutes ago, Scorpio64 said:

    But still, a few extras wouldn't hurt.

    Mmm... I'm starting to think that myself. I suppose if I get a small propane grill - the1-2 tanks could do double-duty. If the truck was delayed, for instance, on a refill of my bigger tank, at least I'd have the option of filling up a 20-pound tank and using that to tide me over until delivery. I'll have to give that some thought, but that's looking like a good idea.

    Ha! I knew you guys would find a way to spend mo' of my money! :mad:

  20. Posted

    35 minutes ago, Sniper said:

    Looking at the specs for that generator, learning how to cycle run times and save fuel is going to be a important strategy. You said you have a 50 gal. propane tank. The specs recommends a 40 lb tank which will last 9 hours. Or 7 gallons of gas will last 11 hours. If you have an extended power outage, you're going to need a bunch of fuel.

    I agree! A 50-gallon propane tank is equivalent to 210 pounds of propane. So, my goal would be to stretch that amount out as much as humanly possible. That's also the reason that I want the ability to have a fuel truck come to fill up the tank - even if it was frequent - like a couple times a week. Though there is (conveniently) a large propane tank available for re-filling at a gas station right at the end of my street... once I really thought it all through, I realized how utterly exhausting it would be if I had to (on a daily basis) grab some smaller portable tanks, hoist them up and carry them to my front yard (possibly trudging through snow), put them into my trunk, drive down to the station, lift them out of the trunk, fill them up, put them (now heavier still) back in the trunk, drive home to deadlift them out of the trunk yet again, and then drag them around to the back yard, etc. etc. I think it was important to really be honest with myself and admit what my physical limitations are. That just sounds like much too much!! Honestly, it's exhausting just thinking about it! I just don't have the upper body strength for all of that. So, utilizing the woodstove to create a cozy smaller space within my house and really using the generator MINIMALLY is my plan - just cranking it up to charge my electronics/lanterns/weather radio, heat some water/take a shower, flow warm water through all of the copper pipes - whatever is the least amount of time to achieve all of that, that's what I'll be aiming for.  Again, really cold weather would present the greatest challenge.

  21. Posted

    41 minutes ago, Scorpio64 said:

    Absolutely, and the better the neighborhood "posse" you can put together, the greater your ABILITY to shelter in place.  If your neighbors suck, you better have a robust plan B.  Which may be to move to a new location to shelter in place with a friend.  Bring guns, water, food and a board game.

    Well, you've got me thinking now... most of my close friends live east of me - all are much closer to the city - where, frankly, it's more likely to get wild, don't you think? I seriously don't see myself heading towards them for that reason! And (surprisingly enough) I'm now the one with more of a "plan". So, my best bet actually might be to carefully select one or two of my (smarter) friends and appeal to them to head west to ME (and making sure they know to bring plenty of supplies with them, etc.).

    Seriously, I should be saying: when the SHTF, load up your cars, Ladies - bring every spare roll of TP and every canned good you can muster - the Survival Party is at my place. :D 

    • Like 1

  22. Posted

    49 minutes ago, gleninjersey said:

    @Mrs. Peel  Link to the generator or one like you that your purchased please.

    This was BY FAR the most expensive part of my prepping, this puppy right here: https://www.duromaxpower.com/collections/digital-inverters/products/xp9000ih  - it retails around 2600.

    This was a splurge for the following reasons:

    • I opted for an inverter generator to protect my electronics (remember, I do work from home!) -  I have a TV, a laptop, several other electronic items - and all in different parts of the house - so if I got a regular (non-inverter) genny, I would have had to buy several other gadgets to set up in multiple rooms to protect the electronics from surges - when I added that all up, it seemed to make sense just to buy the inverter generator and be done with it. 
    • I was really keen on the "dual fuel" aspect - it just seems so sensible - but that does seem to amp up the price of generators also.
    • Due mainly to the heavy septic pump and a couple of other things, my electrician said to get at least 5000 running watts.
    • To find a dual fuel inverter that also had decent reviews - well, this Beautiful Blue Behemoth (LOL) was the best option I found.
    • It has 4 wheels, and can certainly be rolled around. But, because of it's size, I made a decision to buy a cover and store it outside (under my deck) rather than moving it in and out of my walkout basement (as there could be heavy snow, etc.).  Again, just catering to my own unique situations.
    • Edit: also, an electronic start was a "MUST HAVE" for me. I can't be out there yanking a pull cord, no way! For some of you, that might not matter.

    All in all, when everything is said and done - the equipment (genny, cover, chain/lock, cable, associated electrical work, used propane tank, installation of tank, and now probably a small grill, too!) will be about 4-4.5K (but with 80% of that investment portable to my next house, so I'm cool with that).

    I spent another 1-1.5K for non-perishable food, water, water filter, cleaning supplies, medications, paper products, etc. - but again, I was a bare cupboards kind of gal, so I was building from "zero". I also spread this out over the last 1-2 years - doing it through really good sales. I have about 4-6 months of meals in my house. And the ability, as stated, to produce potable water once the bottled stuff runs out.

    And, I spent quite a bit on ammo in the last few years (but nearly all of it was when prices were CHEAP). I followed good "buy it cheap, stack it deep" advice!

    Now, I know, that all probably sounds like a shit ton of money to some people, lol. But, honestly? That second category (the food/supplies) and the 3rd category (the ammo) are items I would buy/use over time anyway! I simply bought these items in advance - and at sale/bulk prices - so that I would have some in my own storage to draw from. So, I'm not sure I even count those 2 categories as an "extra" expense. I just completely changed my buying patterns, buying in advance and at sale prices rather than when I run out and at full price. It's really the 4+K of equipment that's "extra" - but I feel like I'm squeezing a lot of functionality out of that investment. I dare say, I think it's the best money I've ever spent - it's giving me peace of mind! And you know how when you water your grass, it finally rains?!... Well, now that I've made this investment, I'll bet I don't have a power outage for the rest of the time I'm here! :rofl:

    • Informative 1

  23. Posted

    2 minutes ago, gleninjersey said:

    You would be surprised how many people have guns.  But just because people have guns doesn't mean they are prepared or have your best interests at heart.

    Oh, no... I don't think they'd have MY best interests at heart. But, common sense and a sense of self-preservation might prevail... and they might realize that pooling resources in terms of shared duty at strategic checkpoints would be best for THEMSELVES, too. 

    • Like 1

  24. Posted

    2 minutes ago, Scorpio64 said:

    That's plan A.  What is plan B?

    That is admittedly where the wheels start to come off of my plans to some extent. Though I did put together a "go bag" with some cash in small bills among other necessities... however, first, everything depends on the situation. Where's the emergency? What direction can you head in that is away from danger?  Also, my nagging concern is that as a single woman, I might be placing myself at greater risk by getting out on the road travelling alone. I think that's a rational concern. Sheltering in place, if possible, still seems to carry less risk. 

  25. Posted

    5 minutes ago, gleninjersey said:

    During an "extraordinary" challenge , such as the grid going down or extended (weeks) power outages, what makes you think that people are going to be at the gas station or at any local stores?  If something catastrophic were to happen YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.  There's no going down to the gas station. 

    Well, aren't you a warm Cup o' Christmas Cheer! :p

    Seriously though, I don't disagree with a word that you wrote. And I would basically try to stay at home and "batten down the hatches". Where the hell else would I go? FYI, I've got no place else to go! And yeah, as a single female, I am well aware that I'd be at a disadvantage if not an actual target, for sure. I'm close to 78 (also not a good situation IMO being off an interstate... just too easy to pop into my town, do a home invasion, and hop back on the highway - in mere minutes). And I have no delusions about human nature or how quickly civilization crumbles when people feel desperate. 

    That said, I live where I live, and I do live alone - as far as dogs, my canine protector is fierce, trembling fury but 7 pounds of it and 15 years old. None of these facts are going to change immediately. In the meantime, my only option is to maintain good relationships with my immediate neighbors (and I do always try to do that) and to prepare as best I can, right? I mean, there's no point throwing up my arms in despair! That's not the right attitude.

    Interestingly, my town (according to my FFL) is absolutely LOADED with gun owners. (You'd never know, no one admits it). So, I would hope if things were ever dicey they would have the smarts to band together and set up some checkpoints on the few roads that do lead into town. But, pretty much, if things ever got really wild, it's just me, my wits, my half-blind/half-deaf dog...and any prep I've done. So, ummm... here's hoping things never get "wild" in our lifetimes! :facepalm:

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