Monday, April 4, 2011 at 3:03PM 
Before leaving last week's topic, a reminder about the Safety 1st Tot-Lok Locks that we installed on our cabinets two decades ago.
They're The Best.
Unless you misplace the magnet as we often have. Order extra openers.
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 1:38PM Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 11:29AM 
Today’s blog is about finding your PHP/Personal Happy Place/no matter how horrific the external circumstances. Have I lost it? Coming close but not quite over the edge. The sun is out, tulips are blooming. Life is pretty fine.
What feeds my PHP? Finally assembling an Earthquake Preparedness Kit for our family. I’m thinking that the better prepared we are, the less likely it is to happen. Totally illogical, yes, but I’m flying with it. We may be living in a tent but it’s going to be a colorful campsite. Know that you are welcome to join us should the occasion arise.
As you no doubt know, Amazon Prime Members benefit from free two-day deliveries with a nominal surcharge should you want items, as I did, overnight. My kit includes hot pink/turquoise duct tape, a rainbow assortment of bungee cords, screaming green parachute rope. And, obviously, other critical ingredients from the l o n g list I posted a few days ago.
Color aside, I never would have thought about purchasing a solar charger for my iPad and phone until I was stocking our bins. Useful on an everyday basis since my phone doesn’t hold a charge as long as I’d like.
Several have asked for my top picks. Here are a few.
OK, time to go to bed. Sleep well, friends.
Lois
How to remember to recycle perishables? Assuming food has not yet expired, many at FP simutaneously donated and refilled their Earthquake bins each Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 6:31PM 
The sun was shining after another winter storm. Chain saws whined as workers eliminated a limb the size of most trees.
One foot in front of the other, Lois.
If I watched the news 24/7 and focused on What’s Going Wrong in the World, I’d be looking for the nearest bridge. Life on a global scale can take you down.
It’s the middle of the night. I turn on my light to write. The dogs are burrowing under the covers. Life is good, completely normal, in my tiny part of the world. Normal, that is, if you sleep with dogs.
Tsunamis, earthquakes, potential earthquakes, floods, fires, wild weather. I can become so overwhelmed “living” other people’s lives that I fail to live my own fully. I have to remember that life has never been predictable. Much as I’d like it to have been. And, as always, what seems disastrous at the moment turns out to have tremendous benefits. Am I minimizing what those in Japan are experiencing? My heart breaks. The answer is an unequivocal NO. But what can we learn from their experience? Community, stability, support.
I have a very large Six Side (Enneagram-wise) so my shoes are lined up by my bed facing out. I’m creating earthquake boxes, having been complacent since ‘89. My Filipino friends are filling their bins with rice. Given the choices, I’m filling mine with Happy Options: two-tone turquoise tarps, Flamingo Pink duct tape. Life is crazy. And wonderful. And often overwhelming. All we know can evaporate in an instant. It’s the reality of living here with and on Mother Earth.
I’m repairing moth-eaten sweaters and scarves. Bringing beauty, I think, to that which is typically tossed. And in some small way honoring the Indian women who worked tirelessly to “tie” together two saris with very tiny stitches that have become my scarves-as-skirts wardrobe.
I’ve never been/nor do I ever want to be/an “End of the Aisle” Promotional Person benefiting from tragedy/scary thinking or events. I’m simply sharing links to sources I’ve found helpful in tomorrow’s blog. FYI, FP does benefit. To the tune of $7 last month. WOW. Know that $$$ is not a motivator/never has been. Simply sharing ideas that could work for you. Costco and other local sources provide the same supplies.
We have the distinct privilege of being here for a while. Let’s not forget that our day-to-day encounters with life are significant. Like my full-diaper-detecting furry friend, Buddy, we need to find and bring joy to our world. Let’s live our lives fully without fear of the future. This is, I think, our challenge. I’m up for a challenge. I bet you are, too. xoxox
Pass it on.
Lois
Beautifully written and so true. If there is one thing I have learned this year it is that we have no way of knowing when our time here is over. We "put one foot in front of the other" as you said and do our best--make the most of our lives--live our lives with purpose, spend time and special moments with those we love and do what we can for those that have not been as blessed as we.
Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 2:30PM 
I'm not normally an alarmist. But I do think we'd all be wise to revisit the Earthquake Preparedness Kit concept, don't you?
The last time I looked, the food had expired and worms had hatched from various packaged goods. Protein rich perhaps but otherwise not a happy addition to earthquake aftermath eating. Most everything else has gravitated to other less logical locations. I'm back to consolidating supplies.
Here's a Very Comprehensive List. Hopefully more than anyone would need. Still I think it's a good starting point for being smart.
We're rapidly learning that we can control only so much in our world. Gathering earthquake items is one thing we can all do.
I cannot imagine what those in Japan are dealing with. It's unfathomable.
Lois
We have time. Our friends in Japan did not. Let's learn from their experience. Their horrific experience.
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 6:11PM 
If you’ve lived in earthquake country long enough, you’ve undoubtedly experienced just how unnerving seismic shifts can be.
We knew that nothing, short of a very large earthquake, could possibly move the several thousand pound stone mantle that Four Extraordinarily Strong Men had placed in front of our fireplace. "Nothing," I then noted, "other than an mammoth earthquake." Why did I feel the need to say that? Remind me to never say that ever again.
So on October 17, 1989 we found ourselves sweeping up the remnants of our Enormous, Sure-to-Never-Budge, Mantle. We learned a lot from that experience. No more propped up anything/s. And ever since, our pantry doors have been in lock down mode.
Thanks to the Safety 1st Magnetic Tot Lok
But you need to know this: Earthquakes are not the only reason to consider this amazing locking mechanism. It’s perfect for little folks AND teens tempted to see how well your liquor cabinet is stocked. Not YOUR kids, of course/all the others who might be around when you’re not. It’s invisible from the outside and is opened by sliding a magnet in place/this can be tricky at first but you’re fast learners, right? I thought so. Read the reviews on Amazon and make your own decision. Order one and try it out. If you’re handy, you can install it yourself. I'm getting in line to place my order for more mechanisms now!