PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

A number of things: 1. I feel the cold more this year than any previous year this early. I turn 65 in February so either my metabolism changed or it's colder earlier. I'm like a robin who did not go South for the winter. Had on the thermo top and bottom, had on the sub-zero full length coat with full fur hood, gymshoes (I know it's time to find the boots) furry socks, lotion, and thermo gloves. Hands got cold. Face got cold. Seven foot scarf was perfect. Tomorrow - THERMO BOOTS WITH THE INSULATION LAYER INSERT INSERTED! If your feet are warm, your whole body is warm. No it's not, but it's a nice idea.
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Predictions are for a not so snowy or icy winter, just cold in Michigan. If today was a foreshadow to what's coming, I'm buying a ski mask. For real. The police will pick me up for looking suspicious, but I have my ID that says I live here. "Black woman in sky mask, the kid could be a red herring." We are off Lake St. Clair, so when that sucker freezes and the winds pick up, it will be time for the grandson (I walk 2.8 miles up and back) to go to the after school program and wait for parent pickup. Sipping 12 year old Chivas Regal presently, which does not warm you, but it seems like it does. Just a little bit of fleece throw and I'm toasty. 65 degrees is the eco-recommendation but I think that's for people who live in Florida.
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I think of the homeless, the kids without proper coats for this time of year. We have coats for kids, but the coat gets sold for groceries or booze or drugs. I think of the street people who will not go into shelters because their things are stolen while they sleep. I think of when we were kids, there was always an oil stove or coal stove to warm our toes and hands by after coming home from the ice skating rink. We had mittens, scarves and hats and took them for granted. I take nothing for granted now.
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Of course, if it all falls apart (as things are wont to do betimes) we have a resident poet who is saavy regarding living outside "home free" and we can get pointers if the money goes sour and the banks collapse with the world economy. Talk about a new migration, Middle Class family, now home free, migrates to warmer climate. They did not anticipate running out of gas or fuel for the camper and none being available from the next gas station. One time millionaires seek shelter with other home free denizens and have their things stolen while they sleep. Oh talk about roosting chickens!
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My daughter has a book on "Survival". We are working on the generator - lost lots of food to blackouts and no current for days. It's a start. What to stock in the basement? Can goods, lots of sardines. Spinach and lots of beans and carrots in cans. Soup in packets, oatmeal. Any recommendations are welcome. Vitamins, canned fruit drinks, powdered milk. This is tornado country, so basically anything you would need for a week buried under the rubble of what used to be your house will serve. Water bottled could make the difference between the flower growing or the flower wilted before dying.
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If the world financially crumbles and the money turns into wallpaper, I'm breaking the laws of the land and I am building a bond fire to welcome anyone cold to join me. I can start it with now worthless checks and bills that are not going to be paid. Dollars with two cents worth of buying power will make a nice flame. I have drawers full of poetry as a last resort. Book burning will become a thing in Michigan in a winter of no money for heat, no heat because electric company is broke. We have lots of wood here, fortunately. I want a windmill. I want solar panels. Muckluks, dogs, and a sled with Northface coat systems for insulation against below zero environments. Time to cultivate friendship with Inuits. Know any? It will all come down in February to celebrate my birthday and to be the coldest possible time of year for the U.S. government to shut down and deploy all military services and the National Guard (aka Coup) to pass out hot coffee, hats, boots, coats and food vouchers. (Oh no not food stamps!) Anyway, be prepared, but if not, we will contact the home free poet for instructions and pass them along by carrier pigeon. Yep, that's right, no internet.

I'm Just Sayin' - Lady A

11-12-14
457p