The last post here asked for suggestions... and recieved 0 comments! I guess that's my answer!

I will stick with xanga... I am a certified first responder and have my CPR card... maybe I can bring it back to life!

I have some Blogger friends and like to leave comments so, I will leave my blogger account open. But as for day-to-day blogging excitement; check me out at www.xanga.com/simplespirit

Blessed Be

I haven't blooge on Blogger forever... but I fear Xanga has died. I need a place in which I can connect with someone... artists and writers and treehuggers...

is anyone out there?

Cheap oil at what cost?

Drill Here, Drill Now... my ass!

Yes, I said it. Let the shit hit the fan and the chunks land where they may. Then compost it.

I just don't believe, for one moment, that we should rape what little land we have left for a very short term solution.
This is my blog, my soapbox, and I am standing on it. We need to seek ways to need oil less, not get oil cheaper. People just don't want to put the effort into changing. "How can I have my bananas, grapes and drive all by myself where ever I want to go?"

This sounds cynical. In fact, it sounds so cynical, it's a turn off and for that, I am sorry. I will try to make my point here without coming off as a bitch.

I hate paying this much at the pump, too. I drive to work and my husband drives to work. We have an old V8 truck that is not good on gas. But this is bigger than us and not all about me.
Instead of scrambling around, trying to find more cheap oil, don't we need to commit to find alternatives? Not just alternative fuels but alternative lifestyles?

My friend Kristi and I just had this conversation last week... the general collective will only change when they are forced to change. Very few take it upon themselves to shift before necessity demands change.
Being angry, blaming others and hoping for a fresh batch of oil at the end of the rainbow isn't a solution. It's procrastination.

Tomorrow, I will drive 17 miles to work, then 17 miles home. At $4.29 a gallon (in my area) and at approx. 23 miles to a gallon in my 1996 minivan, I estimate that I will spend nearly $8.00 for one round trip to my job. Yes, that sucks. But not enough for me to condone more drilling.
It's comparative to my inner dialog concerning buying a new, fuel efficient vehicle. Will I save money at the pump only to turn around and spend it on a new car payment, interest, and increased insurance rates? No... my solution is to drive as little as possible, grow more food, turn off more lights and spend less where ever possible. My sense of entitlement is something I try to pay close attention to, keep in check, and under control.

I have clean, running water in my house. That's a luxury for most of the world's population. Each day, I try to find something I do have instead of what I don't have... it makes it a bit easier. The future is scary but having hope (instead of anger) makes me brave.

Courage and information is empowering. Pass it on.

Below is a response I posted on my local 'natural family' group. The question posted was "are any of you preparing for the upcoming food shortage?" Seeing as I haven't posted a real blog here in quite awhile, I will self-plagerize and paste my response here:

I have a few book recommendations:

Emergency Food Storage and Survival Handbook by Peggy Dianne Layton

Encyclopedia for Country Living by the late (and great) Carla Emery

The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dycyzen. (check the spelling on that last name ;^)

These are three books that will really spell it out for you in very easy terms. (No math!)

I find in times like these, I am actually grateful to have been 'financially challenged' my entire life. I know what real hunger is; I grew up really hungry. I have spent winters without a coat and summers in a heat-riddled trailer. Comfort is relative. Now with fuel heading towards unavailabilty, I am grateful (so very very grateful) that the 2 vehicles my husband and I own are paid for... they may break down often and they are u-g-l-y but I don't know how anyone manages a car payment, full coverage insurance, maintenance and fuel. We could not do it.

Our basement has a utility area which we long ago converted into an overflow pantry. My canning supplies are kept there as well. Bob and I are expanding this area over the next few months and converting one small area to a root cellar as well as a vermicomposting bin. Food production has been elevated from my hobby to a family activity. Oh, btw, this is not (NOT) an organized, neat and tidy area. It is a piled up mess! But it serves the purpose of storing excess food and canning supplies, not being featured in Martha Stewart's magazine. If I find some shelves for free on the side of the road, I will pick 'em up. Until then... it's all in stacks up against the wall!

I don't suggest storing large amount of meat in a freezer due to power issues. Generators will be pretty useless when fuel becomes unavailable. I have a freezer but at this time I use it mostly for bread (bought in bulk at the bread store) and excess veggies. The safest means of food storage is (think of before electricity) drying, root cellaring and canning. Chicken and beef can be cooked down and then pressure canned. Beans, beans, beans. Even if you don't like them, if you are really hungry, you will eat them. Store in glass jars, not plastic bags. My newest prize posession is my Squeezo for making applesauce, tomato sauce and juice, etc. Watch freecycle, craigslist and garage sales for canning jars, canning books, supplies.

I understand it may be really frustrating to someone who lives in a small area (or rented area) to hear a "home owner" talk about gardening and root cellaring. Really, I don't own my home, either. I 'rent' my house from the bank. With that said... challenge yourself to look beyond the garden you can't have or the space you don't have available.

Find somewhere you can garden. I love Katie's secret herb garden. I am all about civil disobiendance when my family's well being is involved. Ask a friend who does have a garden to let you help, contribute and glean. Offer to work for food :)

Storage is one of those things... I have never understood it when people say "I just don't have room to store extra ___" because if you have a place to sleep, sit, poop... well... you have some type of shelter, right? Unless a person is actually homeless... they do have room. Now, is it conventional storage area? Maybe not. But, well, it's not all about 'the pretty'. Stack cases of food up along your livingroom wall if need be! Move your couch in ten inches and stack teepee, water, etc. behind the couch. Batteries can be put in your sock drawer. See what I'm saying? I grew up with blankets up against the walls and plastic on the windows just to keep warm. People can get by and make do with far less beauty, style and convienance.

Now, I'm off to drive my Hummer to Starbuck's for a cappy... just kidding!

An ache that seems to linger...

When will I live the life I want to live?