Emergency Preparedness

Angela and I have been working on a project for about 6 weeks now and this Saturday we finally finished it! The project?

Creating an emergency kit and making sure we are prepared in case something happens.

What's the something you ask? Well, it could be anything. In our neck of the woods it most likely will be an earthquake that's stronger than the ones we've experienced recently. Or maybe another type of natural disaster. Or maybe an extended power outage, like the one on that show Revolution I keep meaning to watch. (But most likely our kit will not help us much in the event of a zombie attack, if my viewing of The Walking Dead is at all accurate. But Angela has expressed her desire to just be killed immediately if that happens, she has no desire to battle walkers, so maybe the kit will sustain me if that happens.)

We run our Neighborhood Watch group and each month we talk about being prepared for different events. Angela has participated in the Great Shake Out each year through LAUSD, which is a simulated earthquake-type event where they practice their roles. And we had some water and corned beef from when we first moved to L.A. but we recently decided that would not be enough. So this summer when Angela and I both stumbled upon a blog posting about being prepared, we decided to take action and do it right this time. It took a while to collect all of the necessary things, many of which we had to purchase, but I think we both feel somewhat comforted by the notion that if something bad happens, we can try to manage it with some supplies.

On Saturday we put the kit together in the tub we bought and these are some pictures of what went in it. A full set of clothes including shoes, for both of us. Glasses for me (conveniently I just got new glasses so the old, unattractive pair, goes in the box!), plastic sheeting in case of airborne emergencies, etc. We bought a hand-crank flashlight this spring and it works, not that well, but it'll be good if the batteries go out in the regular ones we have. We also bought a Red Cross approved hand-crank emergency radio. The Red Cross kit pictured above is something I won at a community event last year and we threw it in for good measure. There's a poncho and warming blanket in it which Angela has already claimed. Yeah, there are 2 whistles so there won't be a fight over those.

We fashioned a first aid kit from the list we found. I substituted some things like bleach with wet ones and hand sanitizer. It took some legwork to find the waterproof matches. And I still don't know the difference between peroxide and rubbing alcohol so we bought both. We didn't put any prescription drugs in the kit, just some pain reliever but if you take medicine regularly, it's suggested you put that in. Angela figures that in case of extreme emergency her anxiety meds won't really help her anyway so no need to get an extra bottle.

We put old shoes in but shoes that will be okay for walking or running (God forbid). I think these are really important since an emergency might occur at night when you're not thinking about what to grab or have nothing on your feet. It's also why I keep shoes under my bed for quick access. We added food that won't go bad quickly, won't require much prep (nothing here requires so much as even a can opener, but if you put tuna in your box, put in a can opener!). We did nuts and canned meat and peanut butter (with spoons!). We'll also check our box once a year and refresh the water and food as needed. See the plaid blanket above? That's from my car, and that's mine because I don't get a poncho!

We had originally purchased these 3 Day Emergency Backpacks and are keeping them close as well. This one is 2 years old, bought after the last big quake when the store had only 2 left. We have 1 in the house and 1 in each of our cars. They're pricey (about $90 if I remember correctly) but if you want easy, it's a great way to go!

Do we feel more secure? I guess Angela does! And yes, I think it's a good idea. It's great to know that in case something happens, we'll have some things we might need handy, in a tub that although heavy, I can carry with me if I need to leave my house immediately. Or if I can't get to a store or something. And basically, we put this kit together with the hope and faith that we'll never need to use it.

Here's a more comprehensive list of what we included in our Emergency Preparedness Kit:

• 3-day ready made kit
• Plastic container for kit/supplies
• Ziplocs for storage of open food/supplies
• Water - 3 gallons per person
• Food - highly caloric, canned (we have peanuts, peanut butter, granola bars, canned meat, and the energy bars included in the 3-day kit)
• First aid kit including gloves, gauze, tape, antibiotic ointment, pain reliever
• Surgical masks (in 3-day kit)
• Clothing (we included both short- and long-sleeved shirts, yoga pants, bras, underwear, socks, shoes)
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Waterproof matches
• Fire extinguisher (this isn't technically in our kit but we have one in the house, we're going to look into getting another one for the kit/house though because Angela learned at the last Great Shake Out that the Red Cross/city recommends having them as police/fire may not be able to get to us quickly)
• One large flashlight per person/batteries (we have hand-crank varieties too)
• Hand-crank radio
• Utility knife
• Whistles with lanyards (in 3-day kit)
• Cash (the suggestion was $150, we have a cash stash of over $200 which isn't in the kit but is in the house)
• Hand sanitizer/wipes and/or chlorine bleach to use as cleaner
• Tampons/pads
• Garbage bags
• Blankets - 1 per person
• Duct tape and plastic sheeting
• Fun stuff - we chose 2 decks of cards though Angela says she needs to brush up on her card games now  (if we find a cheap Uno deck, that may go in at some point)
• Documents (this took some time but we felt it was really important regardless of putting the kit together or not) - all are copies (not originals! those are in the fireproof lockbox in the house!) which are included in a Ziploc/waterproof bag
• Passports
• Driver's licences
• Bank accounts
• Credit cards
• Birth certificates
• Social security cards
• We also put all of our digital photos on a flash drive and put a copy in the lockbox

In addition, we talked about our emergency communication plan. I put cards in both of our wallets that include our cell numbers, contact numbers for people out of state (Mom and Dad!), and where to meet if something happens and we can't get to our house (Angela's school which is within walking distance of here and is a Red Cross/city shelter). We made sure our car kits were up to date and also made sure Angela has some things at school in case something happens while she's there.

We still have to find out how to turn off the natural gas and main water source at our house but we're well on our way to being prepared. And basically, that's all we can ever do, right? Prepare?

So that's what we've been up to. Not sure what we'll do with all of our spare time now that this project's complete! But it's one of those things that's good to be done with.

Birthday Month!

I don't know how it started but at some point, birthday weeks sounded like a good idea. A whole week of celebrating, eating out, slacking off, hanging out with friends. And then...inevitably, it turned into birthday month. Chipolte even though we have sandwiches at home? Yes, it's birthday month. Watch a movie instead of clean the house? Yes, it's birthday month. Need an excuse to go out with friends? It's birthday month!

And so it goes...this month is my time! We've been doing little things all along. Birthday pedicures. Birthday massages because we got a coupon and it's birthday month! So naturally Thursday, my actual birthday, had to be a bigger celebration! And it was!

I got to talk to my parents several times (love that!) and hear the stories about my birth. I had lunch at Canter's with my writer group friends and we talked about TV shows and showrunners and ratings and our own ideas and didn't have to worry that anyone else, not in the screenwriting biz, was bored. One friend even made me cookies in her new apartment!!!

Then I hurried home to see our amazing Detroit Tigers beat the Yankees to get to the World Series! (And there was much rejoicing!!!!) An awesome afternoon couldn't have been better planned!

After Angela chased the mail lady down the street to get the package from my mom, I got to open presents(!) and found this among all the lovely things! My mom has been working on it for a while and I LOVE IT!!!! I always wish for snow on my birthday and I got it (even if it was 91 degrees in L.A.)!

Then Angela and I had my favorite meal (meatloaf just like mom makes!) and headed to Hollywood for some bowling. See, we really know how to celebrate!

We continued Friday with a girls' night at The Velvet Margarita where our wonderful friend Thomas works. He arranged reservations for us and a special birthday surprise (hence the candle!). We ran into friends new and old as the night wore on and just had a wonderful time!!!! All in all, a spectacular birthday month! But yet, not over. Because October's not over yet. No big plans left but you never know! Plus, there's still cake in the kitchen!

Birthday Eve

Tomorrow is my birthday. It's not a big one like 30 or 40 or even 21 or 16. But it's a birthday. In fact, I think I've been contemplating this birthday more than I have any other in my past. Why? Because I'm turning 35.

35.

So far, the biggest change I have noticed is that I'll no longer mark the box on some forms that says "Age: 22-34", instead I'll have to mark the box on forms that says "Age: 35-Dead" or something like that. Other than that? I'm not sure what will be different tomorrow.

This morning when I talked to my mom she reminded me that 35 years ago today she was Christmas shopping with my Grandma Boutell. She reminded me that it was cold and rainy on the day of my birth but then hot and steamy a few days later when she introduced me to family members. I remembered that I always used to pray for snow on my birthday, even just a few flakes. I love snow. Always have. I used to pray and pray and maybe once or twice, I got my wish. But usually? It was cold and dark and rainy. Michigan in October.

Tomorrow in L.A. it's supposed to be 90 and sunny. Not the birthday I would have imagined for myself all those years ago. But then again, I never would have dreamed I'd live in California either. When I was little I don't remember thinking about what life would be like when I was older. It seems to me that you just grew up and there was more of the same. More of life. More of Michigan, of the town I grew up in, more of the people I love, more of just making it through another year. Not bad, not good, just that was it. My how things have changed.

In 35 years I've lived in three different states, done countless jobs and embarked on several careers. Would I change anything if I could?

Ooh, good question.

I think about that all the time. What would have happened if I had stayed in Michigan. Or gotten my doctorate degree after grad school. Or pursued a teaching certificate. Or followed the journalism path I started down once upon a time. What would have happened if I'd married that college boyfriend. Or been too scared to apply to film school. Where would I be. Who would I be.

I don't know. And I guess that's part of the fun of it. As I make it through another year, a year filled with sickness and rejection and sadness and disappointment and terror of what's coming next, I think a lot about all of it. But I also think about all of the awesome things that have happened. All of the people I've met. All of the things I've experienced. How I get to spend each day writing. Writing. That's something I cannot take for granted.

I might wish for snow tomorrow. Or wonder what life would be like in Michigan with kids and a husband and a regular job. Or think about what next year will bring and how I can make it so. I might curse the warm weather a little and dream of air conditioning and chocolate ice cream. But here's something I know for sure.

I'm where I am because this is exactly where I am meant to be. This is the plan, this has always been the plan, and no matter the course I took to get here, I am here.

I can second guess my choices, play back my decisions, question my thinking all I want but it won't change that fact. I'm who I am. I'm doing what I want to do. I'm happy. And that's the truth.

I can't remember a lot from when I was little. I get scared sometimes thinking something's wrong with me because I don't recall my third birthday party in detail like others do. But then I remember that it's ok. I have people in my life who love me and who will share my story with me. I have new stories to share with them. And that's really what's important. I am blessed and grateful and happy. I'm alive and well and turning 35 tomorrow. And no box on any form define who I am. Only I get to do that. And right now? I like the definition I've come up with. I like it a lot. And guess what? If I want, tomorrow I can write a new definition. Happy birthday to me.

Bad Girls

I have a new favorite song. It happens from time to time, I get a little ditty stuck in my head and I can't get it out. I listen to it on repeat over and over, mostly in the car. And I get really excited when I hear it out and about in the world.

My new favorite song?

Bad Girls by M.I.A.

I heard it originally playing through a scene of the pilot of The Mindy Project that new sitcom on FOX created by Mindy Kaling. It was fun the way the music swelled and highlighted what was happening to the main character onscreen. It took a little Googling but I found out what the song was, downloaded it and put it on repeat.

Then last night I heard it again. Angela and I went to a screening of the new Melissa McCarthy/Jason Bateman comedy Identity Thief. And there was my song, playing at the beginning and the end, perfectly bookending the movie. I was in love. Until I was driving home from the grocery store this afternoon. Windows down. Bad Girls blaring through the stereo.

I was thinking about the movie. About the scenes over which the song played. And I suddenly realized, I can never use that song in my own movie. It's been done. Someone else did this really cool thing. Wow.

It was just an interesting thought. To think that this has been done. And can never be done the same way again. How each day, we do something different, maybe something similar but it's never going to be the same.

It was a great movie. Go see it when it comes out in February. (It was even better for me because I spent the entire screening with the knowledge that the screenwriter, Craig Mazin, was in the seat directly behind me! Very cool!).

And download the song, give it a whirl. Maybe you'll like it just a fraction as much as I do;-)