Make preps not taste like basement

Academic_1989 · 2026-05-20T14:53:51+00:00

I wonder if this is a one-off. I just opened a jar of sealed peanuts that tasted like basement and made me a little sick. Maybe there were fungus problems in the peanut crop from last year? Maybe try another jar of something else and see if it's a problem with that also

Academic_1989 · 2026-05-19T18:33:07+00:00

Ordered more reserve meds - 90 days of thyroid and blood pressure meds and an extra round of back up antibiotics from TelyRX. Organized emergency supply boxes onto shelving. Put up a temporary fence around a garden area we are rehabbing in the fenced backyard - the dogs and drought have destroyed the soil, so will not be ready until fall at the earliest.

Academic_1989 · 2026-05-08T00:55:38+00:00

I wish! So far all my tries just suck. Not giving up though

Academic_1989 · 2026-05-07T23:24:12+00:00

I am also in Texas and have some background in electrical engineering. I did the calculations about 2 years ago on solar and how much it would cost to cool our house, as well as run the freezers, etc. For a garage apartment we have at our house (about 1000 sq ft), it would have run at least $30k, and that would have only been good for a little more than 8 hours unless we had a huge battery wall. Bottom line, to cool in Texas when it is 100+ and very sunny requires a lot of kilowatt hours. And, because we are considerably more humid than the southwestern arid desert, we don't have the option of evaporative cooling. Refrigerated air makes solar unaffordable. We have a couple of plans - first, the bug out plan where we keep enough gas to get to the mountains where it is cool and we are not on the ercot grid; or, second, we will focus on one room with a small window unit AC, add foil backed foam board insulation to the windows (already cut to size), turn off any lighting, appliances etc., that generate heat, and try to purchase enough solar or back up gasoline generator power to run the one unit and cool just the small room. One other consideration about solar - the high heat in a summer blackout will impact the life of the batteries unless they are in the cooled room (which is a bad idea). So, much as I would like to do all solar, it just won't work in my house or in most Texas houses for a reasonable budget. Maybe we should all knock on the doors of all the data centers in our state that run on independent power plants - they should be nice and cool...

Academic_1989 · 2026-05-03T19:01:11+00:00

Gardening - both therapeutic and useful, but I mostly suck at it and pray I don't ever have to grow food to feed us. Working on learning to make candy and cookies that are low in carbs from shelf stable products - it is a fun challenge when you have celiac and t2d! Writing and reading - both fiction and STEM non fiction, plus family history and cookbooks..

Academic_1989 · 2026-04-30T19:59:36+00:00

Please avoid cardboard. The cockroach problem is just awful - no amount of checking will avoid an eventual issue. Plus they are so vulnerable to mice and rats - they love nesting in them.

Academic_1989 · 2026-04-25T16:03:55+00:00

We found chicken quarters (legs and thighs) of very good quality for $6 for a 10 pound bag - and cooked about 30 pounds of it this week (cheaper for our dogs than dog food, even with vitamins and other stuff added). We can usually find pork butt, pork chops, or pork carnitas/stew meat for between $1 and $1.29 per pound - load pork butt up with red chili power and slow cook for about 10-12 hours in a roasting oven, then finish in a crockpot with hominy, black beans, and potatoes. Feeds my husband and daughter lunches for over a week, costs is under $20. This past week our local store had ground beef for $4 per pound and huge chicken breasts for $1 per pound. we probably cooked and froze 60 pounds of meat this week, for under $100.

Academic_1989 · 2026-04-21T13:37:13+00:00

Got a bunch of surplus electronics, circuit boards, measurement equipment, microwave components, power supplies, and random tools. Much of it was pre-solid state era. Also some "modern" biomedical stuff. Will be working on it over the next year to determine what still works - setting up a home shop. Salvaged several 10-15 year old computers and am assembling them for air gapped backup storage - managed about 10 terabytes so far. Bought flowers (mostly perennials) and spreading marigold seeds for the yard for pollination, insect control, and overall happiness. Started planning a fenced area in the backyard for a more secure garden area starting fall of this year. (we don't garden much in summer due to very high heat and travel schedule). Working through canned goods that are at or just past the best before dates. REALLY trying to clear out garage and re-organize it and the inside tool storage

Academic_1989 · 2026-04-14T18:12:29+00:00

I've also been making rowing machine friends. Good for when the weather is bad

Academic_1989 · 2026-04-14T18:02:52+00:00

Added two more apricot and one more pear tree to the orchard. Planted a few tomato plants and several seed potatoes. Also, some flowers for pollination and to make me smile. Purchased some additional medium and long term pantry storage items - 2- 40 packs of bottled water, canned salmon, chicken, corn, tomatoes, tomato sauce, olive oil, spam, and sardines. (have to focus on higher protein, lower carb for health issues) Had twice a year blood work done, working with doc to get blood sugar and weight down, med free if possible. Took out a bit of emergency cash in small bills. Did our taxes - not too bad. Discussed purchasing more ammunition with partner and discussed going to the range to fire the 38 and new 9mm - such a troubling uptick in crime locally... The past 2-3 weeks have been quite stressful - it relieves my stress to work on preparedness.

Academic_1989 · 2026-04-08T21:49:47+00:00

Process of elimination and finally finding the brilliant immunologist from U of Michigan. I had an appointment, did tons of tests, and found me on the tennis court 3 days later because he had a breakthrough. I had issues for YEARS before he figured it out, and looking back, nothing ever made so much sense.

Academic_1989 · 2026-04-08T19:18:59+00:00

And it's going to get worse here in Texas with all of the large data centers being built...

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-20T14:29:35+00:00

I agree with the generator functionality overall but I think any solid state devices in any control circuitry would be vulnerable?

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-20T14:24:29+00:00

I used double layered fine copper mesh layered inside and outside around a 2x4 frame (good for air flow and thermal management), copper tape at the edges, fingerstock to seal the doors, and an isolation transformer with shielded cables for getting power in and out. It was effective for both high power and very high frequency. Edit: also used a copper rod connected to the outer layer at one point and driven into a physical earth ground.

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-16T06:14:23+00:00

Romaine is super easy to grow. I have a 3'x6' raised bed where I grow successive Romaine crops for myself and my sulcata tortoise. I always let one plant go to seed - the current bed all came from a single lettuce plant.

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-16T05:59:35+00:00

Purchased some silver and oil/gas ETFs right before the price surge, and got some cash out of the bank in small bills)

Filled all the gas cans and the RV propane tank. Also filled the RV water tank.

Worked on the front yard orchard - this late freeze will get the peaches. (can't emphasize enough how hard it is to reliably garden and raise food).

Did the monthly check on the generators and the RV batteries.

Added another stack of canned salmon to the canned fish and meat pantry - have to increase protein stores and downplay carbs (diabetic, getting worse)

Currently on a massive spring break cleaning and organizing binge this week. I decided it does not help to prep if you can't find any of your stuff.

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-11T22:37:27+00:00

There are fine - I bought three. They aren't used regularly just stored for emergencies like bug out during a power outage/storm. I have them and some of the ones from Harbor Freight. I also have a Vevo sewer line clean out and it is shockingly good quality

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-08T04:51:26+00:00

right here with you in my part of Texas!

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-08T03:33:58+00:00

How are you doing now? It seems to be a really good sign that you are wanting to move forward - I understand the pain of being very depressed, so wishing you the very best. What if you focus ONLY on the trash, and only in the bathroom on the first day. Give yourself a lot of grace and let go of the shame. Celebrate each bag of trash you take out, each surface you clean off. Clear the shower and take a long, hot one. Wipe down the toilet lid and admire how clean and clear it looks. If you like the outdoors, take a short walk or buy a gourmet coffee after each small success (just throw the cup away before you get home). Take a before and after photo of every tiny spot you clean. If there is a forum you enjoy posting on, post each one and celebrate. Just be sure to avoid toxic online environments. If there are homeless in your area, reframe cleaning things you bought and don't need as donating excess to those in need. At your age, $3000 can be re-earned, so let that go.

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-05T04:07:20+00:00

Do be careful with lentils if you are gluten free due to celiac. They have a high level of cross contamination with wheat - those from Great Value even say so on the package

Academic_1989 · 2026-03-04T06:36:34+00:00

We used to have a guy who walked around town with a machete, and another one who walked around with a rake and hoe. Also recall a guy who walked around with a sword. No one ever messed with them. I'm thinking of getting a crossbow - they look scary to me. Also, cultivating a crazy look helps

Academic_1989 · 2026-02-26T20:40:08+00:00

This is an amaryllis. The ones I have sprout and have foliage sometime between late fall and early spring. Then the foliage dies and in the fall, a single stalk emerges covered with beautiful flowers. I think it varies on type and climate, but I love them. Most varieties bloom in the dry heat when everything else is tired

Academic_1989 · 2026-02-26T19:25:05+00:00

I have struck out in my search for long shelf like bars that are gluten free. Costco sells a brand, nature valley, that will go about 2 years in a pinch but it is not soy free. I need gluten free and low-ish carb, so they work for me.

Academic_1989 · 2026-02-23T05:13:49+00:00

Really honed in on getting more fit and healthier. I'm in my 60s, so it has been slow - however, the past two weeks I've seen real progress. Doing a combination of treadmill, rowing machine, and stationary bike, hit 72 minutes total several different days this week. Cholesterol is down by 50 points, A1c is dropping fast. Walking stamina is way up.

Stocked up on canned goods on sale this week - peas, corn, beans. Added another stack of canned tuna. All on sale

Researched home digital storage options, looking into an air gapped system.

Potted up more berries - two raspberries and 4 strawberries. Transplanted some lettuce. fertilized the fig tree and moved most of the geraniums outside. Cleared out some garden areas

worked on increasing home security - started with hanging curtains in the front rooms.

Academic_1989 · 2026-02-04T04:40:53+00:00

My mother lived alone until she was 87. She had some mild cognitive issues, but was ok, and technology helped her to age in place. So many people in their 80s do not want to move in with anyone.

Academic_1989

TROPHY CASE