Emergency Essentials

Living in SLC for the past two years, I have found many benefits of living in, what I am convinced, is the most neurotic city on the planet.  SLC citizens worry about many things - government takeovers, earthquakes, fluoride in the water supply, the apocalypse, - I digress. This weekend I learned that a huge benefit to all of this neurosis is that SLC is filled with Army Surplus and Emergency Preparedness stores. While that meant nothing to me a mere couple of months ago, getting invited to serve in the Peace Corps has changed that attitude. Going over a list of all the things we need to buy before June, my suave mother-in-law knew just the place to go! Emergency Essentials was so awesome that I barely mocked at the two older ladies in the corner talking about a government takeover and socialism coming in a mere couple of months. (It’s a good thing I didn’t shout I was joining the Peace Corps…)

Thus far Ryan and I have purchased the following for our trip:
Hiking Backpack x 2 ($25.00 a piece!)

Sleeping Bag x 2 ($30.00 a piece)

AM/FM Radio

First AID Kit

Emergence – C

Soap

Tampons

Deodorant

Matches

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste

Earplugs

Eye Masks

Even though we still have a long way to go, it was a good start, and done very cheaply.

In other news: I turned 24 on Thursday, ran 20 miles on Friday, and enjoyed a great weekend with my in-laws and an old friend from High School.  Ryan’s Tome to the Weather Machine website presented a show on Saturday with four different bands that went very smoothly and was well attended.  (Check out www.tometotheweathermachine.com to check out the details.)  Overall, it was a very productive and exciting weekend. I am off to run on my new slick Mizuno sneaks!

-          A