Just an update...

For those that wait patiently for a new post, I have some good news. I am planning out the year for a bi-weekly post (Bi-weekly, is every two weeks by my definition).

I don't do New Year's Resolutions as I usually have a tendency to blow those by the end of February. However, I do have lists that I hope to accomplish. This is a no pressure way for me to attain certain "goals" and usually finish them faster than if I had written them as a resolution. I am sure there is some psychological reasoning behind that but really, I don't care.

What does this mean to you? I will share some of my list in this post so you can see what is planned. Keep in mind with the exception of the top three, it probably will change, before the end of 2012.

• Bi-weekly Blog Post
• 5 retweets/day
• 5 tweets/day
• 2 special blog posts
• Complete first novel
• Start 2nd novel
• Learn 5 useful prepping skills
• Hone 5 different prepping skills
• Bug out bag for each family member
• Increase food storage to 3 month supply
• Kids and wife to gun range once/month (thank you dear for that suggestion)

...and the list may grow or shrink from there.

In the midst of me creating this list, I read an interesting post from Mr. Jack Spirko on thesurvivalpodcast.com site. The post was about a site called 13Skills.com. The site is geared to help you learn and/or hone your prepping skills. Now, I got a little gung ho and decided to click 13 to start with and then thought a bit and have brought it back to ten. Folks, at minimum check out the site, get registered and at least learn or hone two skills for the year. I think you will be happy that you did.

That wraps it up for this post. MERRY CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year.
(Please note, I do not wish you Happy Holidays because our men and women have fought for me to be able to say, Merry Christmas.)

Check us out on Twitter, along with @SurvivorJane, @SelfReliantinfo and @STO_Radio as they have vastly contributed to my knowledge as well as some other great folks on #preppertalk. They have websites that you should visit as well for some great and useful information.

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive

Book Review: The Ultimate Survival Manual

I was in the bookstore the other day and picked up The Ultimate Survival Manual: 333 Skills That Will Get You Out Alive by Rich Johnson. As I thumbed through the book, I saw great value in its pages. As I further perused some of the pages, I realized why the back of the book stated: “Your go-to guide for surviving anything”.

This book is just that. It displayed on the rear jacket how it was broken into three main sections: Wilderness, Disaster and Urban Survival. However, once you start at the beginning you realize that it has a fourth section. Essentials. 

I know many people that will buy this manual for that section alone because it gives you the checklists for everything. Car, BOB/GOOD and EDC bags, house and it goes from there. 

The sections of the book make it easy to read and put into practice the snippet that you just learned without having to worry about losing your place or attempt some complex process that is going to save your life. The 333 skills are broken down into bite sized chunks that are easily digestible and certainly easy for the beginner or the seasoned survivalist to understand.

I have been a fan of Outdoor Life since I was a child because of their stories, tips and great pictures. Now, as someone who reaches out to others to teach basic survival and preparedness skills, I have added this as a required read. And, at the moment, both my 11 and 14 year olds are reading it and enjoying the content and the beautiful pictures. I know the durability of this book will stand up to their little hands as well.

All in all, two words is all you need to know about The Ultimate Survival Manual. Buy it! You will be glad you did.

Until then,

Use your instincts to survive.