Hi Folks.

I have come to the conclusion that I am a whimp. If I get a stuffy nose or sore throut that is enough to throw my whole day off. Yesterday we ( my girlfriend and I) visited a friend who just got out of the hospital. All the people in that household smoke. I have quit for a while so I got watery eyes and a stuffy nose and a sore throut this morning. I am waiting for the tea to steep and a Hall's type candy to sooth my throut. We are lucky that we have the stores and the infrastructure for me to have my petty sniffles easily taken care of. No one would question some thing as simple as a Hall's type candy (or even tea for that matter)not to be available when we demand it. After the big crash, there are going to times when those will not be available and someone will be making a substitute that will not taste as good or work as well. Tea and honey helps. In the future tea will be a luxury item and so will honey. Honey stores very well. Even if it crystalizes, it is still good. Tea does store but not near as well as honey. Most things do not store as well as honey! Stocking up on honey now while you can still get it in the stores would be a wise thing. I also plan on getting a large batch of tea bags and putting them in vacuum packed plastic. I have one of those foodsavers. They are highly recommended by the do-it-yourself homefood storage crowd. Vacuum sealing will keep the tea fresher longer. It also allows you to store more in a smaller space since you have taken all the air out. Instant coffee in the jar will last for years. Glass jars would be better than plastic, but you have to protect them. If you bought a case of them, leave them in the case. Sugar also stores well if it is sealed completely. These items are cheap in most cases, if bought in bulk. The one food item you must stock up on is salt.It is very cheap but you must have it in your diet.If you want spices, buy them whole and grind them as you use them. Herbs you can grow every year. Spices from distant places will be very expensive once again.

We are off to see Al Gore's movie tonight. I will tell you how it went in another post.
All for now.
Michael J. Kaer, Author of "What money Can't Buy"