Survival.

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I watch survival shows as often as I can. I am not sure why, precisely. I will explain that in a bit. The first one was Survivor Man, I think, then the others followed after a few years. The original star now seems to do a show concerned more with getting high with various aboriginals than anything else. There is one I will not watch, the one that appears to be a survivor and his male queen. Are they gay? Close enough, or actually too close, for me to find any interest in watching.

In spite of watching, I see the shows as almost completely useless. Much of what they purport to use, do, or eat most people either already know, would figure out, or would be lost on people who could not or would not use the ideas. As well, many of the ideas they propose require specialized skills which could not be obtained by watching then doing at all safely, are inherently too dangerous in almost any case, or are so specialized that most people would never be able to use them. As well, many of the times they use these things, they have put themselves in situations most people trying to survive an accidental stint in the wild would never consider putting themselves in. Frat boys with gps, in a group, with satellite phones experience and an adrenalin addiction, sure... but not Joe 'lost in the woods' Schmo. As well, much of what they propose to eat, especially with regards to plants, is outright dangerous. Even people regionally trained to pick wild plants have and do poison themselves and their students. Some plants which look exactly like edible plants are anywhere from sickening to lethally poisonous.

There is a reason to watch, if it is weak. The shows offer an opening up of the field of possibilities. Well, that and it is or was interesting. I think the first one was better as the main character actually took risks. He was alone, he only had a set number of items with him so the chance of danger was much more present. Taking risks with real consequences, possibly fatal consequences, is interesting. Now, however, you will see plainly that the main character(s) will not take risks beyond what U.S. employment departments and laws allow. They may do something seemingly dangerous, if only to show how to do something. Further, they have a studio sized group of cameramen and whoever with them. Huh? It does kill half of the reason to watch. Which, considering the first paragraph, does not offer much of a reason to watch.

Not based on these shows, merely on the fact that I need to do grocery shopping, I created an interesting dinner tonight. I cooked millet, with garlic and salt, last night. I had some remaining and I was hungry. Another bowl of just millet butter and salt, however, did not sound good. I also had a few cans of tuna and mayonnaise. I mixed a few tablespoons of the mayo, a can of tuna, and the millet. Planning on at best a neuter tasting meal, at worst a fishy mush, I dug in. Actually it was not that bad. I might even say it was actually tasty. I do not, however, wish to feast on such too often or for long so I must get to the store.

I have not been doing as much as I would like. I am doing more. The kitchen has been hit, but I cannot prepare beans until I have more storage devices. But I want to be ready. I have started on the bedroom, laundry and some prep for a fuller clean are ongoing. I have set up my soda siphons. Wow does that taste sweet after drinking diet soda for so long. I have been floating along without much direction for a while and drinking soda is 'automatic'. I will, eventually, come back, slow as that goes. At least I am doing more, I am taking care of the felines, and I am creating goals.

Actually, I have been thinking about the cats. If I die, what would happen to them? I know no one who would take them in. This disturbs me far more than the notion that I will die. I can only imagine how people worry about this regarding their children.