A few days ago there was a thread re food supplies. One of the larger food distibutors/grocery store chain owners stated they had serious concerns about imported items such as coffee, cocoa, sugar and especially the pharmaceuticals as the the raw elements are imported. This got me thinking about one time in my life, someone said that the price of coffee would double, same with chocolate due to freezes in Columbia and Brazil. As it turned out the info was correct, but what I remember most is that the shelves were bare of coffee in a few days. So if that were to hit one of the talk shows, the same thing would happen. Then I got to pondering what else I have/need that is important to my life style. BIRKENSTOCKS !! They are made in Germany and I have one pair that I am wearing, one pair off to CT to a shop where they rebuild them. I live in them 12 months of the year, with or without socks, depending on the weather. So I got on the net this morning and found my size, color and style in Seattle and ordered two new pair to be stuck away with my other preps. They are $90 a pair, but they could be non existent when I need another pair or cost twice as much. Chubby Hubby and I also bought us a bunch of cheap Chinese made tennies from WalMart. So, look around you with the thought in mind as to what is imported and may not be availble to you at ANY cost next year. In the meantime, I am going to get more sugar and coffee. Its one thing to face TEOWAKI.....and another to face it without coffee!!!!!!!!!

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 09, 1999

Answers

Already thought about the Birks. Got one pair that's really too large but wearable if I don't do a lot of walking, one pair just had rubber taps put on the heel, and one pair just rebuilt. I'll have Birks long after I've died of starvation because my food preps ran out!

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), September 09, 1999.

Thanks Taz! We have kindred spirit feet methinks. I'm only a social coffe drinker, but anticipating a couple of people here for "long" visits that I would not want to face if they were denied their morning coffee, LOL. Glad you gave me a poke about the sugar and cocoa. Got some kids here who would be REALLY disappointed to not get cake and cookies for birthdays and major holidays (the only times I usually bake).

Appreciated your post, as usual!

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 09, 1999.

So, where is the best and/or cheapest place to buy Birkenstocks? I'd better get another pair- been thinking about it for ages, should do it. Also picked up some of those cheap chinese (?) slip on canvas shoes that my spouse wears all summer, so no matter what happens we have a couple of season's worth on hand, and they were 2 pair for $5 at K-Mart.

I've been trying to avoid drinking coffee and would appreciate any suggestions for alternatives, such as barley based drinks. It would be especially nice if it were something I could blend myself (for those times that my favorite barley-based drink, beer, isn't appropriate).

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.

Already coffee'd up, here. In another thread we discussed shoes generally, not just Birkens.

Don't forget food, particularly Asian mixes. Food boredom is going to be a major problem if things get sticky. Mama Cita makes a line of TERRIFIC Filipino mixes, including Adobo and Caldereta. These take beans to a whole new dimension, though intended for meat dishes, lots of flavor but not so hot that delicate palates can't stand it. Also salsas, hot sauces. Get Ramen, too - one of the most versatile items in the pantry, eat with or without cooking.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 09, 1999.

I did an AOL search under Birkenstocks and there are tons of web sites. But the style that I wear,.. Arizona,.. was either not listed or was $90 everywhere I went. I settled on the one in Seattle because they are an old company/distributor and because their online ordering system worked!!

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 09, 1999.

Chocolate and other spices could be vital morale builders. I am a firm believer in storing what you eat...and planning to eat well, once the most basic of preparations are complete. Just put the first three coffee tree plants into the garden...should have at least some beans next year. Still looking for cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 10, 1999.

Unstereotypically, I don't drink tea--but Sweetie does. Have found boxes of 50 Twinings in gourmet and whole food places, also those 99c tea bags at Big Lots are very good.

With all the stuff made overseas, maybe we should have a thread on what IS made in the US these days!

Birkis--LOL! My Soc. Psych. prof told us, with a big grin because he was wearing them at the time, never to trust anyone who wears Birkenstock s! I don't wear 'em because they're made from dead things, but noticed Lands End has a good-looking lookalike. Can't remember the price but it was nowhere near $90. And they--wait, wait! Saw them on sale--here they are! Only men's are on sale but regular price is only $32 anyway. Sale on men's is $21.50. Made in Spain. . . They have a website, landsend.com. The sale things will probably be oin the overstocks section. Other good shoe buys there too: espadrilles (with/without heel strap), canvas and mesh deck shoes, Polartec clog slippers, rain shoes, etc., etc. Also, I have plantar fasciitis (yes, I know, easy for ME to say) and one of the sites recommends the K-Mart Birki look-alikes for the problem.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 11, 1999.

Taz - Try the Birkenstock retail outlet - take Hwy 40 past I-95 in Ormond Beach, Outlet is in Ormond Town Square on the right. Should be a nice drive from Ocala - Don't forget to pick up some crabs in Astor on the way back -

-- Local Boy (justsayno@hurricane.Floyd), September 11, 1999.

Mad Monk, If you can grow all that, I think I want to move there!

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 13, 1999.

Oops, that's Mama Sita.

Semi-sweet baking chocolate is about the cheapest way to stock. Comes in 1-lb packs of 8 2-ounce packages. Vacuum sealed it should last about forever.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 13, 1999.

Spices and such often go on sale around Thanksgiving.

There's this funny streak in me that screams 'perfume', though I rarely use the stuff.

-- flora (***@__._), September 13, 1999.

Taz,I have bought my Birkies from QVC(T.V.shopping network) for about $50 per pair on sale.You can also get them at www.IQVC.com.The price range is under $50 on up depending on what your looking for.

I buy alot of my spices and cat nip(y2k cat preps)from San Francisco Herb Co.(california).Cat nip $3.70 a LB, cinnamon powder $3.65 LB and nutmeg $2.08 for 4oz.They sell bulk tea also.I am not affiliated with either other then a customer.Don't forget pineapple and soyi sauce from the store.

-- maggie (aaa@aaa.com), September 15, 1999.

Thanks for the info re: Birkenstocks. I find that they really help my sore feet after all day working, so I really want to have a spare pair and I was hoping they could be purchased cheaper somewhere.

Regarding spices, we get ours in one pound mylar sealed bags at the local food co-op, the wholesaler is Frontier Herbs in Iowa. Great prices, excellent quality.

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), September 15, 1999.