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| The MAN CAVE |
The last few weeks have been too hot for my taste. Growing up in Chicago, I hated
the hot, muggy summer months. That’s the
reason I live in California now and not Illinois. During those months, there was almost always an impending tornado
just waiting to swoop down on us. We actually had a storm cellar
and were all schooled on how to use it.
As soon as the sky blackened overhead (which was usually right in the
middle of a backyard picnic) we headed down the stairs into the basement. Yes, everyone had a basement in Chicago. We would pool our refreshments into the
cellar area and wait it out. The cellar
was different from the basement. It was
in the far southeast corner of the building supported by the foundation on two
sides with heavy wooden doors that closed tight. It was rank and musty and probably more
dangerous than the tornado if you had asthma.
It did serve its purpose though.
One summer, we lost an entire block of houses just one block east of us. Lake Michigan was east of our town (a little
southwest suburb called Berwyn) and the storms would pool from over the lake
and head out our way. We’d hunker down in that cellar
with a single light bulb hanging from a bare wire in the ceiling and wait it
out. They don’t build cellars out here
in California but they do have something similar – in our house it’s called a “Man
Cave.” It’s the place my hubby heads
out to hunker down when we have a tornado brewing. Of course that’s usually just me having a hissy
over something, not involving any atmospheric pressure or turbulence. The cellar and the man cave serve the same purpose though. Keeps everyone safe and cool and usually
provides solace in a place that generally includes beverages of choice for the
duration. Muggy, hot weather in
California also brings earthquakes, or so it seems. I just refilled my emergency kit with all the
necessities in case we have the big one. Being
a
Certified Emergency Response Team member, I’m always worried about these
things. So, my sage advice this month is
to stock your cellar (or man cave/storage shed) with emergency supplies just in
case we have an “event.” My husband
likes to help me with the emergency supplies.
I just don’t know how Jack Daniels became “medically necessary” for the
first aid kit but maybe I missed that in my CERT training. Anyway, remember – if you live in “shake and
bake” country or even in “tornado alley” you need to be ready for a big
event. Don’t chance it – you can always use
the water supplies and eat the canned goods later as you rotate your
stock. Nothing goes to waste –
especially the Jack Daniels …it’s a Man Cave
Thing! You might want to check out CERT training in your area too. It doesn't hurt to know how to function under pressure in an emergency and to protect your loved ones and fur people as well.
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| CERT Training in Redondo Beach |
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