My Ticket to Fame and Fortune

Every few months, I remember my interest in the idea of emergency preparedness. It appeals to the side of me that relishes in making obsessive lists. I spend a few days thinking about how it would be a good idea to keep some extra bottles of water around, maybe a few candles. I think about how we need to find where we put the emergency radio/LED light we won in our family’s gift swap game a few Christmases ago.

Then I let myself go deeper. I look at emergency preparedness blogs. The Mormons, incidentally, have this subject logged down. Their blogs are methodical. Based on what I’ve gathered from my extensive reading, these people are so prepared for an emergency, that waiting by the door in each house, every family member has an emergency bag and packed inside is another Ziploc bag holding emergency clothes to keep out the elements.

I’ve only gone so far as to keep an emergency business casual outfit hanging on the back of the door of my office. (In case I realize I have an important meeting and I’m wearing my Sesame Street T-Shirt … which has only happened once. Or if I shit my pants … which hasn’t happened yet.)

The Mormon emergency prep bloggers also store X amount of grains per person. I fantasize about having a real pantry. As it stands, Jason and I could potentially live off of the 20 or so packs of chicken-flavored ramen noodles we purchased during our one-year stint as Sam’s Club Members 3 years ago. We purchased a massive pack for $4, ate a number of them, and then made the mistake of looking at the nutritional panel, something I’d never bothered to do in college when I lived off the stuff.

Needless to say, I haven’t eaten them since, but in the case of an emergency/starvation, obscene amounts of fat and sodium would probably be good for me. Occasionally one of us attempts to throw the ramen out, but the other says, “Well … just in case …” and the ramen ends up staying.

Jason and I have arranged for two places in NYC that we call our “emergency spots.” In case the world is ending and we don’t have cell phone service, we have decided to first meet on the top floor of the Marriott Marquis—it’s large, air conditioned, and there’s lots of seating. Also a Starbucks. Very good for emergencies.

Our second spot—if the Marriott turns us away—is Bryant Park. It’s small enough for us to think that we’d probably spot the other huddled with strangers around a ‘wichcraft stand.

As it stands, we have trouble finding each other on the same subway platform and yesterday, there was a decent amount of frustration and across-the-street shouting involved in meeting up at at the same intersection.

This weekend, we’re supposed to get some rain from Tropical Storm Danny. There has been some discussion about going to the store for bread and milk, though I know that we already have a loaf and I’m 80% sure the milk is still good.

I think we’ll probably just order Chinese food, watch Netflix (3rd disc of “Life as We Know It!), and hope for the best.