DIY Survival Matches

DIY Survival Matches

MyApocabox

So I just signed up for the "Myapocabox". It's a every other month delivery of survival/bush craft supplies. It also has a challenge that teaches you a skill. It seems very cool. It costs $58, which includes S&H, but they say every box contains $100 or more of stuff in it. I will get the box in mid October and will post a review of it. I have been reading up on the first box that went out in August and everyone seems pretty impressed by it. http://www.myapocabox.com/
https://www.facebook.com/apocabox

Should be receiving my box in about a week. Feels like Christmas. 

So I got my box on Friday. Came with some cool things. So lets dig in. 1st was a fire keeper, valued at $12, it is a hard plastic holder for a disposable lighter, with a lanyard. kinda cool. not worth $12 in my opinion, but any-who, moving on. 550 fire cord. very cool product value $13. 25' of para cord, that ha been made to be used as fire tinder. remove inner strands and use as tinder the outer can still be used for cordage. Then we have a Olympia granola trail bar. $2.99, and a 15% discount coupon. I know hippy food costs more, but I can honestly say I would not pay that much for this thing. It was o.k. tasting, but for the size vs. the cost, way not worse it. Then we have a patch for a bag or coat, cost 5.95. I guess that's about right price wise. I haven't shopped for patches but the few I have seen are around that price. Then we have a E.D.C handcuff key. Pretty cool item, slips on a belt loop, can barely see it is there, cost $9. Have seen these a few dollars cheaper, but all so seen them a few $'s more. Now we have the big money item. I gotta say at first I had no idea what it was then I was blown away by it. Item is called "a bug out band" price $19.95. Basically you have one of those slap bracelets that has an 1 gig USB hidden in it. Now in a survival S.H.T.F situation I would probably want to black out or scratch off the giant white letters that say bug out band, so to make it a little less obvious. After that we have a Marbles razor knife $4( I was so hoping for a real knife like the first Apocabox had, still kicking my self for missing out on that.) Knife is maybe 2 inches long folded up. doubles in size with a very long nasty looking razor in it. could be very useful in a mini-tin kit, Feels pretty sturdy for it's size. 4 more items to go, so we have a solar parabolic fire starter $14,(this is part of the monthly challenge) so I will post how the challenge goes, it is way to windy to be starting fires today, but I have always wanted one of these types of fire starters I have not worked with one, and living in the high desert it makes thence to have a fire starting option that works with the crazy amount of sun we have. I will watch Creek's video on how to use it later and maybe tomorrow give it a try. It also came with a nice little bag of tinder options to use for the challenge I will definitely keep the sack for keeping fat wood and other tinder in my kit. So next up is Zombie Tinder, $9.99. It is almost Halloween after all, small tin of 100% water proof tinder. never goes bad, can be used with wet wood, and burns at 1,600*F while still being non toxic. Really looking to trying it out this winter doing some winter camping with my son. 2 more items to go, thanks for sticking with me, a pack of playing cards, $9.95, now these are not regular cards, while they can be used to play card games, they all so have info about wild edible plants in north America. so see, learning is fun. plus it looks like the box was signed by the creature, Mr Sergei Boutenko. Last Item, Creek had one of the last textile mills in the U.S. make a bandanna that he designed. It has an American southwest feel to it. Bandanna's are super helpful in every one's kit, so you can always use one more. Price on it $5.95 Total price, $106.78

Would I recommend the Apocabox? At this time I would say yes. Are you really getting your money's worth? I don't know about that, a few of the items I think were over priced and just filler(granola bar and fire keeper), but there were some real good items that have some real merit(bug out band, solar fire starter, wild edible cards). So I feel it is a nice way to treat yourself. Who doesn't love getting a package with goodies in it? Plus your getting knowledge, your getting challenged to get off your but and put skills to work, which is something we all need to do. Your all so getting exposed to new products(zombie tinder, 550 fire cord) I will get at least one more Apocabox before I really decide if this is worth it. I can honestly buy a lot of gear for the same price, but there are so many items and new ones all the time so it is nice to get exposed to some of those items. 

A nice surprise, and a rough end

So I got a very nice surprise this week. I opened my mail to find we got a bonus check from the old company. Was able to make a extra payment on the house, pay a few bills, and go stock up at Costco. Then Saturday to end my work week, I get a kidney stone. End up going home like a half hour early and spending the night and part of Sunday in a bit of discomfort. Thankfully it was a small one and passed pretty fast. So I week of highs and lows.

View from work today

I joined this cause, because I believe everyone has the right to believe what ever they want, and there beliefs should be treated with respect and understanding. With that said, the post before mine, by Hira Qureshi, is a prime example of why we have to have causes like this. If you don't believe as I do go to hell?? We all need to take on a attitude of patience and respect for others. Don't curse them, prey for them to find there way.

Very true. The weirdness kept me away for a long time. I just recently joined Facebook, do to pressure from almost everyone I know. When my mom and dad(both retired) began heckling me for not having a Facebook page when they both did, I caved. I am still treating it like a strange science experiment, that both amazes and scares me.

Paver Patio, Day 1

We started a paver patio project a year ago. I got pretty frustrated with it because it just wasn't going right. So today I yanked it out and started all over. I think I finally got the right pitch. Had to stop when my supervisor fell asleep.

New Bag

I have been shopping for a new bag for hiking, and/or as a bug out bag. I got one from National parks depot, they were having a killer sale. got it for like $39, plus S&H. Ordered it on Saturday, had it Thursday. So far I gotta say I am really impressed by it. It has tons of molly, came with three extra small bags. My only concern is it is single stitched, but it seems really heavy duty. I was going to post a pic, but have had not been able to attach a picture to any posts thence Google took over and fucked everything up.

A great teacher is humble enough to admit they still have something to learn, and actively look to expand there knowledge.

September

So September has been going well, I guess. Been trying to get the home ready for winter. So much work. The change of management at work has gone much smoother then I expected. I always expect the worst. It's kinda weird having everyone being a FNG. My only complaint is I wish they would have timed the take over to happen at new years. That way it wouldn't have messed with the health benefits as much. But the new benefits are much better, so I can't complain to much.