Cooking a Frog

In one of my elementary school classes we were actually taught how to cook a frog. (Not literally, but our teacher gave us specific instructions.)  For those of you who don’t know, cooking a frog requires patience and time. You simply can’t just plop a frog in boiling hot water, it will just jump out (albeit quite injured). Instead you need to plop the frog into a pot of cool water, and then slowly let the water heat up from there. Doing so will cause the frog to grow accustomed to the increased water temperature and it will not jump out. Before you know it, you’ve got cooked frog with very little resistance.  Many of us are preparing for a moment such as the first method of cooking a frog.  We have this immediate response of jumping out of the hot water and surviving for another day. But too  many of us are preparing for a singular event of disruption in our lives rather than that which we are much more likely to endure—one of slow and steady inconvenience until we eventually find ourselves cooked, so to speak.

Too often I hear folks say they are preparing for “the end of the world.”  To me that’s a boiling water scenario, whereas what we need to realize is that there will be numerous instances PRIOR to that “end of the world” scenario (as spoken of in the scriptures) which will require a preparedness minded response. Again, these kinds of instances will take place BEFORE the proverbial “fit hits the shan.” They will prove to be some serious “dress rehearsals” for us in dealing. In some instances these occurrences will feel like the end of the world.

Unfortunately we have seen evidence of this throughout the Asian peninsula. First an earthquake, then a tsunami, then radioactive meltdown, and then powerful aftershocks. Famine, financial collapse, sanitation systems compromised, and an outbreak of infectious diseases such as cholera can realistically expected in such circumstances.    And it is those types of scenarios that we must prepare to endure and thrive in now. This such preparedness is just as important, if not more so, to create an environment of independence in order the THRIVE during the incrementally tough times.

If you read back through by blogs in reverse order, you’ll see that I warned way ahead of time of a serious rise in food prices. Clearly that warning has come to an unfortunate fruition; and I suggest that it’s still not anywhere near as bad as it’s going to get.  You’ll also see that I warned of historically high fuel prices—also clearly manifested in the numbers we’re seeing that defy gravity consistently. Additionally, you’ll see that I warned of a full-out nuclear crisis in Japan following the first signs of trouble after the earthquake/tsunami. Today we see the radiation risk noted at the same level as that of Chernobyl.

I wasn’t accurate on these instances because of some lofty political or scientific connections. I was correct simply because I pay attention to what is going on around the world and, more importantly, pay attention to the necessary “cause and effect” of such circumstances. It doesn’t take a great scientist to figure out which way the dominoes are going to fall once the first one is knocked over. People may yell and carry on, calling me (or you, for that matter) all kinds of awful names but it still doesn’t alter the fall pattern of the dominoes.  Tying in to our “cooking the frog analogy”, when people throw a fit that I’m out of my mind because I’ll state the obvious and the obvious isn’t so pretty, it’s actually akin to them standing over a still pot of water that’s sitting on the stove and claiming that it will never come to a full boil. When that knob is turned up to high heat, it doesn’t matter what the water looks like at the beginning. The water is going to boil. Sure the boil will kill the frog, but 209 degrees is no picnic either and 209 definitely comes before 210.

(And by the way, I’m standing firm that a financial collapse is next. Since last summer when I wrote the series on Financial Preparedness, the indicators of such have only been falling into place, not only as I expected, but at a much faster pace than I had anticipated due to Mother Nature hastening things a bit.)

My point is, we’re all in a comfortably deceptive pot of water.  It’s critical that not only do we stay diligent in our efforts of preparing for “the big one” but to recognize that there are other, significant series of events that will lead up to much more serious times. I don’t say this as some futuristic storyteller.  Even if you don’t believe in the verses of the Bible which make what I’m saying quite clear, history has also made this pattern perfectly clear. So, let’s not “poo-poo” all of the other events which will require our focus and efforts. Let’s not underestimate what will be necessary in times prior to our most serious scenarios.  This means that we garden now, while we still can, even though there a seemingly endless supply of food. We stock up on our prescription medicines now by filling our prescriptions as early as we’re permitted. And we become as learned as possible in matters of self-reliance so that we can confidently and peacefully handle the tough times. From a strategic standpoint, we need to consider what is necessary in order to be able to THRIVE, not just survive.  Thriving will give us choices and independence whereas bare survival will only subject us to the will of others in spite of our best of intentions. Certainly let’s be mindful of this reality and peacefully prepare accordingly.


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Comments

It would definitely be better to thrive than just simply survive...Plus, if (most likely) needed, if you are able to thrive then it would make sense that you would be in a better situation to help others around you...

Thanks Kellene. One of the things I've been concerned about is sanitation. We're on a septic system and had it pumped today to insure it's viable and not prone to failure at the worst possible time. Just standing out there and asking questions, I felt filthy from the odors and could not wait until he completed the job so I could have a shower.

This made me realize how important getting some type of solar shower system (with backup of course) in place will be. Do you have any recommendations?

I have my food storage in place but realized today that I'd rather give up food than hygiene.

My husband got me a propane heated shower. (I'll be able to charge good barter items for a hot shower..hee hee) There are a number of them. Just check and double check in terms of feedback on the internet for a particular item before purchasing.

Kellene,

I too was taught as an adolescent how to cook a frog, I really like your website and especially like your writing prowess (if that can be articulated in that sense). You are a cut above, and I also enjoy your personality, content and informative style.

Thanks for all you do,
ArizonaEric

Thank you, AZEric, for the kind words. And WELCOME! Come on folks, let's give Eric a nice welcome. :-)

Welcome Eric! Hopefully, you are a quick reader...go back to the beginning of Kellene's blogs and go for it. Have a notepad ready to write down ideas/questions/needs. Do it in blocks, not all at once or you will be overwhelmed ~ I was/am. But getting better!

....Drove the 50+ miles to go shopping yesterday... ( I took a friend to help, as I could have never gotten all the food in.((when shop.. I really shop)).....He is a great help I filled my suburban to the max.....My question is about the TLC program "Extreme Couponing" I must say I was dissappointed as these ppl look like horders.....and now all of the grocery stores are changing their policies.....living so far out of town puts me at a disadvantage but I am sure others have this same problem......I would love to hear what they do and how they handle this situation....Even though I signed up for your bootcamp couponing class on line......I had to turn it off after an hour..(not your fault) I was just out of the hospital and not well.....I have just ordered your CD (thank you, thank you) and I know I will save money...regardless of new grocery store rules....even if I save enough to buy the new buckets I need......I will be a happy camper.....any clues here......from anyone.....(and no am not griping.....I have learned nothing but good stuff here....life changing things......and perhaps life saving things )

I 100% agree with your perception about how the TLC show participants were portrayed--portrayed or what they just plain were--I don't know which, really. But I felt dirty and misrepresented watching the last two weeks episodes.

Now, now, let's not exaggerate. All of the grocery stores aren't changing their policies. And as for Kroger, I can tell you they will be singing a different tune soon when they realize they are chasing all of their key customers away.

You always make me smile.......Thanks friend......I feel a little better now. Kroger or Snithes as we know them here is great but Albertsons has not done a double coupon day in about 2 weeks....I am going to use coupons anyway.....other than that it seems like just throughing money away!

Kellene ~ Always look forward to your blog. You help keep me centered and affirmed, despite living in a world populated with people in denial. I prefer the optimistic approach to prepping. While I'm all on board with the doom scenario, I choose the JHK approach as he says in The Long Emergency, "it is imperative for citizens to be able to imagine a hopeful future, especially in times of maximum stress and change." Your writings, like today, speak of a hopeful future, particularly for us who are vigilant and alert and aware.

As far as the solar shower is concerned, that's an easy basic set-up. I've been camping and used a solar shower. No propane needed, just the water holder bag. It's easy, the real threat in Texas is to not let the water get to hot and avoid a burn! Get your supplies now for the solar shower, try it out (ie, figure out how to do it with privacy and modesty)so your family is READY.

I live in SoCal and have always had a garden. This year I am hesitant about putting it in (I'm already behind) because of the radiation problem. It has already turned up in strawberries, etc. I am thinking about foregoing fresh garden produce and using my food storage. I have a feeling that tomatoes, cukes, zucchini, etc..., will all have high levels of radiation. Radiation that you ingest is worse than being exposed. Am I being too paranoid? I hope you'll set me straight as I can't imagine a summer without all it's bounty.

Granny, also keep in mind that being out in the sun than that caused by nuclear problems/crisis'.

True enough. Due to my unfortunate (LOL) childhood spent on the water in Miami, I now have skin cancer. Unfortunately, 50 or more years ago the sunscreen of choice was baby oil. My mother made me wear a t-shirt at the beach but that didn't help. It was always burn, peel, freckle, burn... I'm paying the price now. I guess at my age I shouldn't really worry about radiation but I was concerned for my grandkids primarily who only eat fresh vegies it seems when they pick them from my garden.

Grannytraveler, if you live in SoCal you probably get exposed to more radiation sitting out in the sun on a typical summer day, or on a plane trip than you would from radiation from Japan. Remember radiation has something called a half-life which is the rate it looses it's umph! to harm you. It has to be in the soil as Cesium to cause the kind of harm you are worried about. The Japanese are now eating food from the affected area. You are right to worry, but go get information from multiple sources before you decide. Last year all our gardens in the Northwest were a bust because of so much rain and no sun, that was worse on morale than eating canned food will be when all the farmers markets are chock full of wonderfulness in fresh forms. If you drive in SoCal you are in more danger for your life that a short term exposure to a minimal amount of radiation will be. I grew up there, and yes what ever you get in radiation we will be getting up here, and in New York. So put your seeds in the ground and hope it isn't a drought year. Good Luck.

Thanks. Really couldn't see how I would get thru the summer without all those fresh tomatoes! LOL

Grannytraveler, you are welcome. Hope your tomatoe vines are prolific.

I like your analogy. I'm afraid many will be quite prepared for the Trip and only get to hear "Away from Me, I know you not" because all their focus was on the wrong thing. The Father wants us to be "doers of the Word, not only hearers of the Word".

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