Man In The Lounge...MY LOUNGE!

Does anyone park cars in their garage these days? I haven't parked a vehicle inside a garage in years. Not counting the riding red lawn mower with Ferrari and Momo stickers all over it.

The former car park is now formally, my space, a man lounge if you will. I do important man stuff out there. Like watching hockey, racing, rugby and football. Lifetime movies are banned in the lounge.

Manly pictures and hats adorn the walls.

 

 

I keep manly gear neatly stacked and ready for a manly deployment at a moments notice.

 

A work bench allows for manly fixing and repairing of stuff and tinkering.

Even got me a big ole rug in the "Mike Lima"

Every lounge must have quality reading material. Check-got it.

And sometimes, you just need to go old school with the music in the man lounge. Good to go there also.

Any man lounge MUST have a recliner- yep. Although it may be time for an upgraded version here soon.

 

Coffee table and a place to hold your Ginger Ale? How about a race used tire from a Dallara Judd from the 49th Running of the 12 Hours of Sebring? Yeah, got that also.

 



Screen to keep the bugs out and the dogs in.

There is even an unofficial pet in the lounge....a 6 foot Black Snake. He doesn't live in there, he just comes and goes during the cooler weather. We used to have a real problem with Pygmy Rattlesnakes a few years back. Not now, thanks to Mr. Bravo Sierra. Since there is an abandoned orange grove behind us, every cold snap sends the field mice scurrying for warmth. Guess where they would end up before my slithering buddy showed up? Yep, in my garage. He is kind of clumsy for a snake though. He once fell off the roof of the house and landed at my feet. That was a bit startling. He seems to enjoy sunning himself on the top rail of the fence in the back yard....wife is not very enthused about his choice of tanning location.. And just a few days ago as I put a bag of trash in the can, he stuck his head out of the bushes as if to say "what's uppppppp". Maybe one day I can get him to pose for a picture.

Prepare To Survive the Storm

Portions of article are taken from a piece I wrote several years ago. 

As a native of the Sunshine State, I have been exposed to natural disasters in the form of hurricanes all of my life. My first memory of a hurricane was 1961. I remember riding my red, hot rod tricycle through standing water which covered the street, sidewalks and went all the way up to the front steps our house located in South Miami.

My next memory was more frightening and occurred a few years later. At the height of Hurricane Cleo’s fury, I recall my parents putting my brother and me in the hallway of our house to wait out the worst of the storm. We listened to a transistor radio as the howling winds of the storm battered our neighborhood and toppled giant Ficus trees in our yard. The aftermath of the storm left an indelible impression upon me.

Events occur in our lives which dictate a measure of preparation is prudent. Each year at the beginning of hurricane season (June 1), the wife and I review our stores of bottled water, non-perishable foods, batteries, medicines etc. Although our survival strategy revolves around “bugging in”, we do have the ability to depart to a safe location if necessary. Preparation is the key to survival.

Take for example the recent flooding here in Central Florida or out in Texas earlier this year. Who would ever dream in their worst nightmare, their home and everything they had worked for would be gone because of rising water? (My worst nightmare may have gone there but that is a different story).

I rant because I care (somewhat) so here is rant #1- If you live in an area prone to flooding, know your evacuation route and if necessary, have sandbags already bagged during the rainy season- they won't go bad and they don't have an expiration date like a package of ground chuck.

Here is nifty sandbag alternative I ran across while researching for this article. They are re-useable and self deploy when contacted by water. Once dried, they resume their flattened state.

Non Sand Bag Water Barrier

 

See, that rant wasn’t so bad.

OK back on task here. Instead of providing a lengthy list of survival supplies, I would rather share some thoughts on developing a survival strategy and allow you to fill in the blanks on specific and necessary items. Here we go:

 

-Don’t let The Jones’ dictate your mindset. In other words, what works for others may not be what is best for you and your family. The first step in developing a survival strategy, is to determine the most probable threat. For my family, we have decided weather presents the most significant danger. This was reaffirmed in 2004 when three hurricanes (Charley, Frances and Jeanne) hit us within the span of seven weeks. We lost power in all three storms and wound up living out of our garage for a time. 2005 brought three more storms (Dennis, Katrina and Wilma) which tagged us.  We continue to update our plan and tactics as our needs and abilities change.

-Each family member should have an assigned list of tasks. This would include preparing their individual bug out bag and assist with gathering supplies for the family. For instance a child could be placed in charge of looking through the newspaper for ads of bottled water while other family members insure batteries, food, medicines and transportation needs are looked after.

 

-Rant #2..sort of - Don’t get so hung up on the use of a pack vs a bag or suit case. Packs don’t work for everybody. Evacuation or bugging out is not a military exercise and should not be treated as such. It is about survival in the short term. Living away from your surroundings, trying to survive, will beat the living crap out of you, if you do not train to live this way for extended periods. Mother Nature is a powerful foe and must be respected. The method of how supplies are carried is not near as important as the method of prevailing against the catastrophe which displaced you. Tote your stuff in a re-useable shopping bag if necessary, but insure you and your family survive.


Communication may be hindered during an emergency. Having an alternative too smart phones and the internet will be necessary to insure communication. A suggestion is to purchase CB, Ham or FRS radios for each member of your group. Being able to communicate is vital to survival during a evacuation. Family members could become lost or injured and having the ability to verbally communicate may be a life saver. It is prudent have a back-up power source such as replacement batteries or a solar powered charging station.  Pin flares and whistles should also be part of the communication package.

 

-Water will keep you alive and must be a priority regardless if you are surviving in place or evacuating to a different location. Plan on 1 gallon per day per person depending on body weight, climate and physical exertion. Keep in mind water weighs 8.35 lbs. per gallon. Here is a hydration calculator to use in your planning.  HydrationCalculator. Have the knowledge and ability to purify water gathered from streams or lakes. Every member in your group should have the ability to carry water with them.

 

-Temporary Shelter should be planned to accommodate each member in your group if your plan involves leaving your home. This may include tents, evacuation shelters, or other safe structures. Part of your sheltering plans must include a method of going to the bathroom. Below is an idea I have used in the past. It involves cutting the bottom out of a 5 gallon bucket. Turn the bucket upside down and this becomes your temporary toilet. Dig a hole under the bucket for the waste to be dropped into and this hole is then covered up when you leave or becomes full. Shovel and toilet paper round out your shelter supplies.

-Food will also be necessary. I suggest careful planning as it would be better to have more than you need than not having enough since replenishment may not be immediate. Recommended calorie intake is 2000-2500 per day. MRE’s (Meal Ready to Eat) provide about 1200 per meal, so 2 per day times 4 people times 3 days equal 24 pouches or a minimum of 2 cases. Other forms of compact calorie intake could be dehydrated soups and noodles. Even consider carrying foil packed tuna or chicken which is a very good source of portable protein.

-Fire starting is a skill everyone needs to survive. In addition to cooking, fire allows you to boil water in order to make it potable or safe to drink. It also provides a source of staying warm or even making smoke for signaling. Being able to make fire is an incredible morale booster as well. Part of your fire kit should include a utility knife capable of splitting wood. Mine is a well-used 7” K-Bar Utility knife with serrations on half the blade. This full tang knife keeps a good edge and has chopped and split lots of wood. In addition to the K-Bar, I carry a variety of fire starters, waterproof matches, lighters and magnesium rods in my fire kit.

 

-Pack enough comfortable clothing for 72 hours and have one complete change of clothing kept in an in waterproof bag. If for whatever reason you get soaked to the skin, being able to change into dry clothing is necessary to ward off hypothermia, even in the summer. Having a quality poncho has the ability to keep you dry but also will keep you incredibly warm. On a personal note, I HATE WET FEET so I always have extra dry, thick socks in my kit. But that is just me.

 

-Footwear should be comfortable above everything. Don’t purchase footwear just for your bug out bag and then never wear it. Hot spots will develop on your feet and that will lead to blisters both of which will slow you down. Keep some foot powder handy and use thick quality socks. The picture below represents the most comfortable foot ware I own. The shoes up front are made by Rockport, they are lightweight and rugged. I use them as my competition shooting shoes. The 6” tan boots (back left) are 5-11 Advance with slip resistant soles, the 8” tan boots (back center) are made by Belleville with Vibram soles and are made in the USA and the black 6” boots (back right) are made by Bates and perform well in rugged terrain.

 

Miscellaneous Gear which should be considered are gloves, watch cap, good multi-tool, para cord, flash light for each member in the group and first aid supplies.  A good wide brim hat such as a boonie hat is also recommended, and cash.

 

 

 



 

Don’t forget to include your pets in your plans. You have an obligation to take care of them. Know what shelters in your area allow pets and what the regulations are. Insure you fur babies have up to date vaccinations. Make sure you pack their food, medicines and restraints.
 

Once you have assembled your gear, plan on conducting several mock disaster drills. These drills should allow deployment of all of your gear by all members in your group, including children. This could be done in the privacy of your backyard or at a primitive campground which does not offer any amenities. The goal is to practice survival skills before you actually need them. Be sure to take notes of equipment failures or deemed unnecessary, equipment which should be added and field skills which to be improved.
 

Life is uncertain and fragile. None of us can predict the future and this often times leads to supposition and unfounded beliefs. Be prepared for weather events and take immediate action to safeguard yourself. Pay attention to social unrest and remove you and your loved ones from harms way when appropriate. Government does not have the capacity to make preparations for you. That is your responsibility.
 

A note about firearms: If you intend to make firearms part of your kit, do so with safety in mind. Review the rules of firearm safety with everyone in your group and insure everyone has an understanding how to safely use them. Give considerable thought how much ammunition you will carry. Ammo is very heavy and you should plan for this in your load out.

Be Safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Cigar Smoking Weather

The Central Florida area has had its fair amount of rain over the last few weeks. Parts of Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco Counties have been declared disaster areas because of severe flooding.

Out here in Eastern Polk County codenamed "Cowville", not so much. I don't worry about flooding where we are even though there is a lake across the street from us. In 2004, three hurricanes, Charly, Francis and Jeanne crossed over the house and we had no damage or standing water.

Tonight we received a fair amount of needed rain. I love to stand in the garage and watch the rain while smoking a fine cigar. Heck, I enjoy smoking cheap cigars also.The wind direction seemed to change a couple times at the height of the storm this evening. Mainly out of the southwest  and not moving very fast. This may sit here for a while. Just hope I have enough cigars.

 

 

 

 

However, it has dawned on me to share a few extemporaneous thoughts here. None of us ever expects or thinks a disaster could happen to them. This is stuff we see on television but never experience. An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure so goes the old wives tale.

When catastrophe strikes, no one is going to be there right away to lend assistance. Roads may be blocked, you may be in an isolated area, or the devastation may be so great, as in Country Walk Community of South Miami after hurricane Andrew, rescuers may be overwhelmed.

In the next few days, I will share some thoughts for you to consider when it comes to surviving the aftermath of a destructive event. The key to survival is PREPARATION.

Be safe.

Born Beagle-less

A spectacular day for mankind occurred when mom shoved me into the world eons ago. Overlooking beautiful Biscayne Bay in my dreams, my sojourn into life began just scant miles from the campus of the University of Miami (GO CANES!, sorry that just slipped out).

While growing up we had cats and dogs for pets. Although we never had an official Beagle, I suspect "Tippy" was part Beagle, thus his name referencing the white tip on his tail synonymous with the tip of the merry little hounds tail known as Beagles.

One dog that was definitely not a Beagle, was "Shadow" the German Shepard. She was named for the street we lived on, Shadow Way and because she was all black except for a tan strip on her chest. Shadow was the last of a litter because her ears would not stand up. Dad paid the $15 and we brought her home.

She was the perfect pet and guard dog. We could mess with her all day long and she seemed to love the attention. However, if she did not know you and you happened to invade her space, you were in trouble.

I recall an incident with the meter reader who came into the back yard to read the electric meter. Shadow was sleeping in the utility room, as the gate opened she quickly sprang into man eater mode. Once she made eye contact with the unfamiliar figure entering into her yard, she quickly covered the distance necessary to keep him from doing so. However, he was caught with no place to go by now......ummmm except for the pool. He instantly hopped in and started screaming "help" all the while Shadow was foaming at the mouth as she announced her displeasure.

Dad had to read the meter from that point on and leave a note with the readings for the guy.

Fast forward to 2002 when I arrived at the house one afternoon and I am greeted by a cute little Beagle named "Bama" by his owner, also known as Little Ja. We joyfully got to experience the destructive powers that such a small but determined hound can wreak on a household.

Lets just say young Bama WOULD NOT be restrained in a fenced yard, closed off  kitchen or cage without escaping or giving you the business when you had the timidity to return home.

The boy dug out of the yard and sat waiting on the front porch as if to say, "what took ya'll so long". While at dinner one night, he somehow moved his cage from the living room to the kitchen while destroying the plastic liner in the bottom of the cage and pulling a rug into the cage and shredding that also. He dug up a bathroom floor covering until his paws were cut and bleeding. Strong willed is an understatement when describing him.

Bama also has a very loving side. Mrs. Ja was recovering from having a kidney removed because of a cancerous tumor. Bama rarely left her side, offering super Beagle healing vibes 24 hours a day.

Bear in mind Beagles are scent hounds meaning they hunt prey with their very powerful nose. The whole hunting thing is pretty strong with Bama. One morning I got in the shower and by the time I had showered dressed and checked on him he had killed the love seat (in fact the one he standing next to in the above pic). He was after a dead as fred lizard under the aforementioned love seat.

Bama now roams his 17 acre Beagle Dreamland in Alabama with Little Ja and his family.

Shortly thereafter, Beagle #2 came to live with us as a 12 week old scared little fella. Because of a V shaped pattern on his coat around the neck we named him Vincent Bradley, named for Tampa Bay Lightning players Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards.

This little critter was nothing like Bama though. He was so insecure and still is to a point. He lives to play, eat and sleep in equal proportions. He is a true joy.

He also has epilepsy. The first time he had a seizure, he was six months old and we were in the back yard just hanging out. All of a sudden he fell down and began to shake. We scooped him up and went to the Vet's office just minutes away. By the time we arrived to see Dr. Matthews, he had recovered and he was his normal happy go lucky self. We were a wreck, but he was fine. He takes Phenabarbarbatol every day to help control the epilepsy. Although he still has sezures about every 30-35 days, he is safe and loved and well cared for. I would not trade him for anything.

Except for the early morning wake up calls to let me know me know he is alive and would like to eat now. He jumps up on the bed and flops down on my feet to wake me up as if I can't hear the 5 minutes of scratching and yawning he goes through before pouncing.

Vince and his brother from a different mother, Miles, are constant companions and cook up lots of mischief to keep themselves and us entertained.

And yes, even Mr. Fun Lover himself dishes out the compassion when necessary. While recovering from an extensive leg surgery not long ago, he and Miles were my rehab overseers as I worked 6 hours a day on the C.P.M. (Continuous Passive Motion) machine necessary to get my leg back into shape.

Before you rush out and decide to bring a Beagle into your family, there are a few things you must understand about them. Everything they do revolves around that nose. They are a bit stubborn and don't always respond when you call them. They are escape artists and will run like the wind if they escape. Being hit by cars is a common malady among the breed as a result. Beagles are the ultimate food whore and will use those sad brown eyes to sucker you into giving them a treat or ten.

Beagles are wonderful companions and dish out affection in shovel loads.I may have come into the world Beagle-less, but I won't leave it that way.

Oh Crap, Am I One Dimensional?

As a Firearms Instructor, I tend to associate myself with gun related material as well as lateral interests. I have written 30-40 articles over the last couple of years and I have come to realize that I have other interests I would like to write about.

What are they? Ummmmmmm, 45 acp...sorry. Focus here, come on. Ok, when not shooting defenseless paper targets or teaching others to do so, I have been known to get crazy...I mean enjoy myself at a hockey game. 

I had the pleasure of watching the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup in 2004. That was maybe the highlight of my sports fan experience.

I'll add some other pictures later (actually scans of pictures). Back in 2004, cameras were bulky and got in the way at a hockey game, especially for "professional fans like us".

One thing I remember distinctly about the 2004 season was when we defeated, whopped, smashed the stinkin Philadelphia Flyers in Game 7 in our building.  We Lightning fans have taken a lot of crap from Philly fan over the years and this was a night of paybacks.

A perfect example was right before the start of game 7 we were sitting in front of the suites in Section 128 waiting for the pregame skate to start (this was and still is a tradition). And from the other side of the arena here come two little punk ass Philly "fans". I leaned over and said, what you bet they come over here. Sure enough, thing 1 and his gutter crawling buddy, thing 2 made their way to us and stood right in front of us and start giving us the business. This night however, a former US Marine bad ass grunt (that means an Infantry Marine with a 0300 MOS) who happened to be my son was with me. We chuckled as we stood up slowly and gave a fake lunge at the pair, who proceeded to stumble backwards almost falling over the seats behind them. "Little Ja" was letting em have it by now. I think I just stood there, arms crossed laughing at them. They crawled back to the puke hole they came out of earlier.

Being a third level fan (yes I am one of them and proud of it I might add) it gets a bit rowdy up there. At the conclusion of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final VS the Flyers, instinctively it seemed, everyone I could see looked for the closest Philly Fan. It was coming, I could feel it building. Out on the concourse, every orange and black clad person was being deluged in insults. Going down the escalators was even better because they couldn't escape the barrage of verbal bashing which their kind had earned.

I would say there was more satisfaction in beating the Flyers for the Eastern Conference Final than defeating Calgary for the Cup. But that's just me.

My Hockey Girlfriend met her husband at opening night of the Ice Palace, now called Amalie Arena.

A good friend of ours allowed me to take her oldest son to his first game. My wife gave him the phone number of a bail bondsman, just in case I became overly enthused.

Sitting behind the opposing teams penalty box is awesome fun. And I know from experience, the players in the box can here you.

I was heart broken when Chris Gratton (the original #77) was traded to guess where? Anyone..Anyone. Yep, the dang Flyers.

I was once under the impression that hulking center Jason Bonsignore  would be a good player. I apologize for that one.

Jasen Cullimore's hip check of the Panthers Peter Worrell still resonates in the building and I am sure was the inspiration to the song "Click-Click Boom by Saliva.

Thankfully, I have never been on the Jumbotron "Kiss Cam" And I still never had a Dippin Dot.

Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Dimitri Afanasenkov were drafted 1,2,3 in 1998. All three won a Cup together six years later in front of my eyes. Sweet.

I sat next to Coach John Tortarella's wife at training camp. When he came up and kissed her before the start of practice, I am certain we were giddy like kids starting school. Then security escorted us away.

The aforementioned male off-spring, Little Ja once spent the night in front of the Ice Palace waiting in line for playoff tickets for a friend. We ate pizza on the plaza into the eveing. Next morning we brought Fresh Krispy Kreme Donuts. We were very popular all of a sudden.

I never missed a home a home playoff game from 1996 through 2004.

Hockey is in my blood and I love it so. Make no mistake, I will be a Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Fan until the day they put me in the ground.

O.D.T.T.B.L.W.W.T.S.C.A.

Ha, maybe I am two dimensional. You'll just have to wait and see.

Later.