The Journal: Cracked Earth Read Online Free PDF Page B

party!
     
    * * *
     
    On Halloween I went into town early and got
four more fifty pound bags of cracked corn for the chickens. While
there, I picked up some more of Tufts’ favorite crunchy treats.
He’s so spoiled. Since it’s the official end of my season, I
picked up my celebratory rib eye steak and a single slice of cheese
cake for tomorrow. Dawn always puts out a lavish spread for her
parties, so that will be my dinner for tonight.
    I asked John to go with me but he had to work
like usual. This is the second time that he’s turned me down. Guess
he doesn’t like me as much as I thought. I can always hope though.
Well, maybe not. Perhaps it is not good to mix business with
pleasure.
     
    * * *
     
    There’s been a lot of internet traffic about
looting and crime in the cities that have been hit hard by the
hurricane. Eighty million households are without power. Without
electricity, no surveillance cameras, and with the police busy
elsewhere, it is a looter’s dream come true. I’m sure whatever we
are hearing is just the tip of the iceberg.
     
    * * *
     
    JOURNAL ENTRY: October 31
     
    I was right. Dawn put on a spectacular party.
Costumes were optional and only Guy and Dawn wore them. I love
dressing up, but I just didn’t feel like it this year. Dawn made an
artichoke dip that she put into the body of a bread “spider”. It
looked great and tasted even better. There were lots of appetizers
from ham roll ups, raw veggies with plastic spiders nestled in
between, chicken wings, a fruit tray, and the usual cheese and
crackers, to the smoked oysters and our local whitefish caviar. It
was good food and there was lots of it.
    We all played cards after satisfying our
appetites.
     
    * * *
     
    On November 1, the gals restarted our weekly
Ladies Lunch, one of those events to help stave off the boredom
when winter sets in, our own Cabin Fever Reliever. It has always
been on a Thursday because Mary’s husband Alan plays poker on that
day, which is the only day that he lets Mary do something by
herself. Geesh, they’ve been married for forty-five years, you’d
think they’d want some space, on the other hand, he is a control
freak. Now Bob and Kathy, they have such respect for each other
that it’s a joy to be around them. Dawn and Guy I don’t know well,
not yet anyway. Dawn seems to do what she wants and Guy goes along
with it. I’m the only single person in the group and the longer I’m
alone, the more I like it. Usually. I do get lonely but I try not
to let it show.
    About two months ago, Dawn approached me
about prepping. Their daughter turned them on to it. I’ve given
Dawn and Guy what advice or suggestions that I can, and they’ve run
with it. Then again, they’ve got the money to do it.
    Sitting on their deck having cocktails, I
asked them if they had any weapons and Dawn quickly said yes. I
asked Guy how much ammo he had. Before he could answer, I said it
wasn’t enough. Dawn admitted that she didn’t like guns; I told her
to get over it. How else was she going to protect those four
grandchildren if she was the only one there during a break-in? That
really made her pause.
    She also has extensive medical knowledge. I
think her mother was a surgical nurse, so she could be a real
asset, and lives within two miles of my place, an easy walk. I wish
that she didn’t smoke.
    Beginning with the bird-flu scare some years
ago, I’ve added to my own medical stores. Though masks and gloves
can be used for many different situations, I really went heavy on
them. At first I wasn’t sure about what kind of masks, so I got a
variety: regular surgical masks, respirators, N-95, N-99 and a gas
mask. The gloves range from surgical, some latex free, some not, to
several packs of “food handlers”. Those are really handy for
cleaning the wood stove, enough to keep hands clean and free of the
gunk. They also work for peeling beets. Once I went a whole day
with pink palms.
    Two years ago I added two stethoscopes