Living in Iowa

Living in Iowa gives you all sorts of weather.Like this week, we had days of 50*F temps and now a massive snow storm is hit us late last night and today. Each weather season you need different things to be prepared. I'm going to share my preparations for winter and tornado season.
With the storm rolling in I went to the store yesterday to stock up. We received 11.5 inches of very wet snow.
My shopping list was short because I had many items here already so I'll list everything I always stock up on for ugly snow/ice storms/

• Water- bottled or gallons I do bottles (1 case for each person)
• Milk
• Eggs
• Bread (three loaves)
• Peanut butter
• Canned chicken & tuna
• Fresh vegetables & fruits (non-perishable)
• Blankets
• Backup electric supply (I have portable solar chargers AND yes they work when it's cloudy)
• Crackers
• Candles
• Camp stove (use outside or in well ventilated place)
• Refill all medications a day before the storm
• Bleach (in case water main breaks and a boil order is issues and no electricity)
• Soda or you favorite caffeine (instant coffee)
• Bottles of juice (for my kiddos)
• Batteries
• Flashlight
• First-aid kit- bandages, rubbing alcohol, peroxide, ace bandages

Other things you need to know is where water shutoffs are at and how to shut them off in case of a pipe breaking. If lights start to flicker, shut down your computers. Power surges can kill it. 

Remember these are just things I have in preparation for a snow/ice storm. You may need to add more if you have an infant or elderly person living with you.

Time for Tornado Preparation

I do not have a shelter where I live so I must go across the street to a friend's. This is what I pack:

• Laptop & charger
• Solar chargers
• Birth certificates, car titles, Social Security cards (all tossed into computer bag.
• Backup all computer files to Dropbox
• Save important things on computer to flashdrive

In Back packs:

• Two bottles of water
• Tablet & charger
• Phone charger
• Ace bandages
• Regular bandages
• Gauze
• Medical tape
• Peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Razors
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Tylenol
• Ibuprophen
• Aspirin
• Ice packs (instant kind)
• All medications
• Travel toothpaste & toothbrushes
• 2 cans of Soda
• Crackers
• A change of clothes, flip flops (we wear tennis shoes so we don't slip on wet ground )

That is all placed in 2 backpacks. My kiddo grabs her computer and chargers and clothes.  

It may seem a lot but an EF-5 tornado came through here 10 years ago. I have also been a first responder so I know what is needed right away. A simple thing like aspirin can save someone who is having a heart attack, or at least help keep them alive while waiting for help. I am also certified in CPR and First Aid. My friend across the street as a back-up generator for my elderly man that needs his oxygen machine charged and all other items like our phones.  Many here in town are scared of tornado season, I however; love it and I'm prepared for almost anything.

If you have a shelter or basement keep a case or two of water and canned foods.

Please be safe in all weather no matter where you are.

It's That Time Again

I finally finished Dalara a few weeks ago. My beta readers have it. I also completed the novella that come after it. Yes, I've been busy. The novella needs a few changes but will be off to the beta readers soon. You would not believe the feeling I got when I finished. I was excited and jumping up and down for a few minutes. Then I dove into the novella, Tasmina. The the anxiety hit, I really sent Dalara off to others. Someone is reading it and OMG! What if they hate it and I suck? So, I decided to get ready for CampNaNoWriMo, takes place in April. With CampNaNo, I can work on current projects or new ones, unlike NaNoWriMo in November. I have completed transferring over the information from Tasmina over to Naleena. I do this so I can keep track of character changes and places added. It's so simple with Scrivener. All I have to do is drag and drop from one project to another. Then I set up a new parent group on Aeon Timeline. For this all I had to do was a few clicks and some words. With Aeon I have all the projects of the series  there, as you can see here.

You can see that each story of assumed story is lined up in order of when I think they should happen. I will probably change them around or change who is involved with those after Naleena. Each event that I write about will get placed in as below shows for Dalara.

I have a few notes written out and ready to go but this is what my desktop looks like.

 

Now I just need words on the page. Remember to sign up for CampNaNo during March. I usually do it around the 7th.

I support all third party software and apps I share but am not compensated for sharing or reviewing them.

It's February!

As we enter into the second month of 2018, I'm looking at what is to be done. Being bipolar with anxiety and arthritis this month sucks. January I completed only a few tasks out of 25. I managed to read A book, cook meals, kept up with dishes and folded laundry when it was brought home. Things I didn't get done that NEEDED to be done: read 5 books, write every day, lose 2 pounds, cut back on soda, drink more water, cut down on smoking and staying calm when kiddo-2 acts out.

I know what you are thinking, I wanted to do more than I should have. Though I think all were reasonable. I'm not too upset I didn't complete January's to do list. This month will be better I hope.

Mental Issues
1. I went to therapy and just bitched about kiddo-2's behavior. Mainly the fact that when I try to remove myself from the situation she follows me, even outside. Therapist had no ideas for me, as usual.
2. I saw my shrink. We decided that I could go 2 months between visits rather than 1. I was also given the go ahead to wean myself off the primidone. That means dropping from every night to every other night for 2 weeks then off them completely. As I have said before my shrink has the confidence in me to control my meds myself. I tried to go off  keppra, but that didn't work well. That means I am staying on it. So far the primidone cut hasn't given me trouble.
3. I managed to socialize with my neighbor, lets call her P. P had an incident that I know will effect her forever. I went through it a long time ago. We hadn't talked much other than the hello in passing. Now we talk 4-5 times a week. She has bipolar, OCD and anxiety too.
4. I made several healthy dinners and made sure there was leftovers to take to my other neighbor, the shut-in. Lets call him S. S doesn't like being around anyone and he doesn't cook other than toss it in the oven crap. I just knock, he answers and I hand him the container. That's it. I go home... walk 3 steps to my door.

Writing
I didn't even come close to me writing goals. I started Midnight Whispers over and am stuck. I tried to edit Dalara and just couldn't get into it. I had hoped to have at least 10,000 words done. Though with everything going on I understand why. When I'm stressed I can't focus and I'm trying something new with Midnight Whispers. Oh, and I've been sick for 2 months or more. Now that I'm better focus should come soon.
Here is my February goals:
1. Re-setup Scrivener for Midnight Whispers
2. Write 15,000 words of Midnight Whispers.
3. Edit at least 2 chapters of Dalara.
4. Get Inevitable Destinyz off to a beta reader & editor.
5. Research self-publishing again
6. Get Aeon Timeline set up for Midnight Whispers


Reading
I finished "When Darkness Comes"  by Alexandra Ivy. It's the 1st in her Guardians of Eternity series. I have read it several times and I love it more each time. This month I plan on reading the next 4 in the series.

Other Goals
1. Make freezer meals (Feb. 2nd & 3rd)
2. Cut down o soda
3. Drink more water
4. Keep the living room clean
5. Crochet a bit

That seems a lot but it really isn't. I know if I set my mind to them all I can get them all done. Remember, when setting goals make them small and simple. Even 1 small thing completed will make you feel better.