Be Prepared

I have felt an urgency this month to be better prepared.  One day Joe and I had a discussion about what we would do if there was a massive snow storm and no trucks could bring food to our town?  What if we couldn't get any of our money out of the bank? What if our electricity stopped working?  We need to be prepared!!

First, I decided we needed food storage.  We seem to buy a lot of food about once a year (cannned items, rice, noodles, etc.) and use it over time.  Well, when we got back from Christmas vacation, it seemed everything from our last major purchase was all gone.  So, I decided I would use the money that I got sort of as a bonus/ gift from work at the end of 2010 to buy food storage.  I went to Hyvee and loaded up my cart FULL.  Sadly, when I got to the check out isle (and luckily there was no one in line behind me or I would have been embarrassed), I watched the total rack up and I started feeling uneasy so I decided that I just couldn't afford everything I wanted to get. I nicely asked the cashier if she wouldn't mind putting back all that I had left in my cart after I had reached my limit on the money.  So no flour, sugar, maple syrup, jellos, etc.  They got left behind.  So, I plan to get the rest of what I had in mind over the next couple of months (and hopefully nothing terrible happens before then.)

Next, I decided we needed some liquid cash for emergencies.  I pulled some out of the bank and stashed it in the house.  (Please, no one rob us after reading this post! It really wasn't that much and not worth your efforts).

Third, (and this doesn't really have to do with being prepared, but being organized) I cleaned out my house and got rid of clothes, towells, and jewelry that I didn't want anymore.  I reorganized most of the closets and switched all of my decorations around.  I wanted something different to look at.  I changed the pictures in the frames, changed my flower arrangements, took some decorations in the front room to the bedroom and visa-versa and even changed the light bulbs to offer softer lighting.  All the Christmas decorations got put away and were organized better than ever. My house was just how I wanted it (until the laundry came back to haunt me and the dishes piled.  It's a work in progress!)

Through it all, I have had a nasty cold this month. I finally made myself a Dr. apt. today. I don't really want to go though.  I've been trying hard to just "play it out," but the symptoms keep getting better then worse, then they change to something new.  Confession: I have Dr. anxiety.  Everytime I go to the doctor, I worry about how they are going to treat me.  Will they listen to me?  Will they address my concerns?  Will I feel like they don't have time to talk to me about everything that I want to? Will I walk away frustrated that I just wasted my money and could have remedied myself?  Will they ask if residents can attend my appointment? I went to the Dermatologist in April last year and I was surprised to find a sign in the waiting room that gave forewarning that you may not even get to see the doctor you made an appointment with.  Special arrangements would have to be made for that. Most people just got to see the resident.  Of course the bill was in the Dermatologists name, even though I didn't see him for more than 2 minutes and I felt that he didn't take the time to even understand why I was there. Bad experiences make my anxiety about going to the doctors worse.

I know what you're thinking... isn't your husband going to be a Dr.?? Rest assured, Joe does not give me anxiety! :)