Just For Fun . . .
I guess I’m odd woman out this week. While Leslie, Carly, and Julie have written about graduation, the maturity of teenagers, and reminisced about their high school years, I thought I’d veer off course and do something fun and different.
If you were stranded on a deserted island for a year with just the shoes and clothes on your body, and could only take five (5) items with you, what would they be? What couldn’t you live without? (No people or electronics allowed! I hear Carly gasping in panic that she won’t be able to take her iPod or Laptop, LOL!).
Here’s what I’d take:
1. My dog Sandie (pictured right with her feline buddy, Zoey). She’s such a sweet, loving dog, and not only would she protect me and help me find food, but she’d keep me warm at night. She’s a big cuddle-bug, as well as a fierce protector when the situation calls for it.
2. A big, huge case of college rule lined paper. At first I thought maybe I’d take a book, but once I read that book, that would be it and I can’t imagine reading the same book over and over again for an entire year. So, I’d take lots of paper so I could create my own stories and hopefully get them published when I arrived back home.
3. Bug spray!!! No explanation needed
4. Lip balm. I wear the stuff all the time and feel absolutely naked without it! And I’m prone to my lips blistering in the sun. Gotta have it with me!
5. A case of Hershey’s kisses. Hey, I have my priorities and chocolate is one of them! With Hershey kisses, I can take one small piece of chocolate at a time and savor each piece.
So, what are your “must haves” if you were stranded on a deserted island for a year?
First, your Hershey’s kisses are gonna melt. Take THAT for the no electronics. :d
Now for my list:
1. Buddy - though unlike Sandie he’d be no good at hunting food or protecting me (I’d have to protect him!) but at least I’d be warm at night and have company!
2. A case of fresh water
3. Bug spray.
4. Toilet paper - no explanation needed
5. I wanted to say a book (because Janelle has her paper but no pen or pencil!) but I know I can’t hunt or pick safe food to save my life, I need to pick one food item to sustain me.
For the record I’d NEVER survive this year.
Now if she’d said 5 LUXURY items b/c you’d have water and food, now THAT I could get into. 8)
Comment by Carly — May 25, 2006 @ 6:35 am
What are you going to write with? :s
Comment by Heather Dawn Harper — May 25, 2006 @ 9:00 am
lol Heather!
Hmm…if we’re going to assume that the island has a fresh supply of water and native food (so I don’t have to have a year’s supply of protein bars or something) I’d take…
1. A big bottle of sunscreen.
2. An enormous bottle of Motrin (I ache just vacuuming)
3. A vat of red wine.
4. My favorite Stephen King book The Stand because I can read and reread it whenever I want.
5. A first aid/home health manual (which includes a section on poisonous snakes, insects, plans, etc.)
Comment by Leslie Kelly — May 25, 2006 @ 9:09 am
Yikes…meant poisonous “plants” (not plans)
Comment by Leslie Kelly — May 25, 2006 @ 9:10 am
WAAH. No Les has to redo. No assumptions of water or food! LOL.
Comment by Carly — May 25, 2006 @ 9:14 am
Aww, come on, every tropical island has a glistening waterfall somewhere…and coconuts, bananas, pineapple.
Hmm…maybe I should change that Motrin to some Kaopectate.
Les
Comment by Leslie Kelly — May 25, 2006 @ 9:18 am
You guys are so funny. Carly only wants a case of water,that will be gone quick. I like Leslies island that has fresh water.I guess my five would be;
1. my bible-can take awhile to read again and can be done over & over
2. Bug spray
3. 50 cases of a variety candy-lifesavors,jolly ranchers, gum, taffy, starbright peppermints & spearmints. All good candy that doesn’t melt. I sure will be missing my chocolate.
4. a survival book that includes what plants to eat and avoid
5. a flint for fire
Comment by Dena — May 25, 2006 @ 9:27 am
Great topic! hmmm…trying to channel “What would Gilligan do in hindsight?”
1. my huge volume of the complete works of Shakespeare (can never get tired of reading him!) Plus, I’m totally anal about pointing out discrepancies between written works and their movie adaptations!
2. my golf clubs - can hit rocks into the ocean, perfect my swing, and show off to my club pro (who I have a total married-woman girl crush on!)
3. a vinter’s barrel (tap included, of course!) of Silver Oak cabernet sauvignon to toast the sunset every night
4. a hairbrush - my hair gets downright unruly in humid conditions
5. a case of toothpaste - I’m pretty militant about brushing 3X a day
Can one perfect their serve at beach volleyball using coconuts?
I suppose I should have packed my dog, but he’s kind of high maintenance. Maybe a family photo? eh- they can’t change too much in a year, can they? Plus, it’d be out of date once I get off the island…
Comment by Nancy Geary — May 25, 2006 @ 9:36 am
Sorry. I agree with Leslie. Islands always have fresh water and native food to eat. We just have to figure out whether that food is safe to eat. LOL. Let’s see, I’d take:
1. A hunting knife (for cutting branches, fileting ocean fish, etc.)
2. First Aid Kit (Not the small one–the deluxe one)
3. A Case of Fresh Water (We’d have to explore to find the fresh water-could take a while and I’d get thirsty.)
4. A Case of Sea-Rashionings (The army has a different name for them now. LOL But it’s food packets which include the bunson burners to cook the food on. Also includes candy bars and deserts, coffee, hot chocolate, cider, etc. I’m not going to feel like looking for food right away and I’m also going to want fhe rashionings to supplement the island food.)
5. A Deluxe Emergency Kit (Included in it would be: box of water-proof matches, a flashlight, replacement batteries, bug spray, lip balm, solar blanket, flares, and because space allows, three of my favorite books. *g*)
I know I’m forgetting something, but oh well. lol
Ayreann
Comment by Ayreann — May 25, 2006 @ 9:52 am
What a fun question!
1. Callie, my feline companion, she acts more like a dog than a cat and is very protective when it comes to me.
2. A fishing pole (with any luck I’d be able to dig up some worms!)
3. A machete, after all you need something to cut firewood and open coconuts!
4. A flint.
5. A big first aid kit. I’d probably need that most of all to take care of the cuts from the machete, eating some poisonous fish or plant and burns from the fire!
Comment by Susan — May 25, 2006 @ 10:12 am
I would bring….
#1 My dog Bridgette for her warmth and her ability to keep me sane at times. (dog)
#2 a Case of Bridgettes dog biscuits that she loves.
#3 A case of peanut M&Ms
#4 A dozen toothbrushes and toothpaste
#5 3 packages of ponytail holders. I want to be able to pull my hair out of the way if I’m stuck for 5 years.
Comment by Gigi — May 25, 2006 @ 10:28 am
Geez, Carly, only YOU would think about having luxury items on a stranded island! :d
If my chocolates melt, then I’ll dip whatever fruit I find into the creamy melted chocolate!
What would I use to write with? Well, being creative here, I can use dark rocks that would rub off onto the paper. Or, I can use a plant stem and mud. See, who needs luxury items? :p
And I have to agree — there is usually SOME kind of food and water to be found on any island. But, I understand that Carly has to have her BOTTLED water. :d
Comment by Janelle — May 25, 2006 @ 10:48 am
Well, since people are saying a case of things, can I have a case of different books? Does that count? I’m assuming it does.
1. my case of books
2. bug spray
3. fling
4.pictures of my daughter and hubby
5. a tent
I also live on Leslies island where there is fresh water and lots of fruits!!
Comment by Kelley — May 25, 2006 @ 11:04 am
What would I take?
~ a tent (you the kind with more than one room so that you can have a screened room as well.
~ a first aid kit that is complete with sun block, lip balm, and bug spray
~ water purifying tablets
~ a case of peanut butter
~ my writer’s survival kit, which includes 2 of my favorite books, 1 new must read book, paper and pen for writing.
Comment by Vicki — May 25, 2006 @ 11:10 am
Since the island has fresh water and fruits, I would take:
1. Case of bug killer (I hate bugs of anykind, but have a phobia for spiders so there are NONE of them on this island)
2. Large emergency/first aid kit (the ones with solar blankets, etc.)
3. Case of Various Puzzle Books with pens
4. Hack Saw (anything else and I would probably injure myself - this could be used for cutting up branches, etc.)
5. A book showing what food is edible, and which is poisonous (I am so plant illiterate)
Comment by Cryna — May 25, 2006 @ 11:48 am
1) enough Diet pop to last me (don’t want
withdrawals).
2) Samson my poodle who curls up behind my
legs at night and would keep me warm and
of course we communicate with each other
all the time so he’d be company.
3) diary and pen
4) laundry soap to wash clothes
5) a tent or screened Gazebo
Comment by RobynL — May 25, 2006 @ 12:08 pm
Okay…I think I have figured this out. I took this task WAY too seriously. I also realized I am WAY too practical. I have been making a list, crossing off items, changing them, etc. My first question when I landed was, “why, for my weekend away, did I go so far away?” Usually, I only go about 3 hours maximum from my house (in case of emergencies with three gorgeous, little boys…see, I had to get that in!) This is assuming there is a fresh water source and fresh fruit to supplement the food I took with me….I would use my glasses to start fires, so I don’t need a flint….
1)A HUGE case of the Sea-Rations as mentioned earlier by Aryeann…hey, I wouldn’t have to cook for a LONG time, I am all over it! Plus, a built in burner….I am there. Plus, I wouldn’t have to worry about eating the vegetation because I would have already prepared food…..
2)A HUGE case of books by you Plotmonkeys….I am so far behind on my ‘fun’ reading, any chance I would have of reading fun books, I am there (no, I am not trying to kiss up).
3)A sleeping bag with a built in pillow…I considered a deluxe first aid kit with solar blanket, etc, but I love my pillow way too much…Plus, the nights would be cold…., so this is a compromise luxury of sorts…
4)A HUGE case of M and Ms…I think I have solved the chocolate melting in the sunshine problem……they melt in your mouth, not in your hands, right?
5)a “rescue pack”…You didn’t say the items had to be real…this item came to me from watching Diego (Dora the Explorer’s cousin…a preschool cartoon show)….a rescue pack can turn into a lot of stuff: zip line, bike, flippers, but most importantly, a BOAT! Frankly, after a week of quietness, knowing that my husband was probably going nuts with our three boys, I would miss all four of them too much and I would want to do anything to get back to civilization. He’d probably be searching for me, anyway. The authorities would probably give up after a week, so I might have to leave my tropical oasis on the sixth day or so.
Comment by katie — May 25, 2006 @ 1:03 pm
1) My cat, Damian 2) Books!! 3) journal 4) chocolate 5) cigarettes
I’m back from RT! Had a blast. (y)
Comment by Melissa — May 25, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
soap and skin care
Comment by kim H — May 25, 2006 @ 1:09 pm
Wow, this is tough! By the way sea rations are C Rations but are now MRE, Meals Ready to Eat! Just for future reference.
I’m on Leslie’s island with water & fruit
What would I take?
Books, of course
Deluxe first aid kit w/ bug spray & solar blanket
Lots of sun screen
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Pictures of my daughters & grandchildren to remind me how much I want to be back home!
Boy, a person would have to get creative with only 5 items.
Being stranded for a day or two might be okay beyond that, no thanks!
Comment by Donna M — May 25, 2006 @ 2:40 pm
I would take my Pekingese, Lacey, to keep me warm.
A case of toilet paper(self explanatory).
A case of jelly beans
A first aid kit
A hatchet
Comment by Estella Kissell — May 25, 2006 @ 3:37 pm
(*)
I would take my TBR list written on sturdy papyrus, along with strong cording and a sharp knife. With these, I would construct a Kontiki- like raft and sail away from the island to the nearest RWA conference.
Comment by kaisquared — May 25, 2006 @ 10:44 pm
My first though was - how can you use the paper with pens or pencils? Then I thought, well, maybe she can find a rock than will mark on paper???
I would have to take 1) an excellent hunting knife 2) a tent 3) fishing gear 4) toothbrush, toothpaste & floss 5) cigarette lighters & fluid. My first instinct was to take my Yorkie, Spike, but that wouldn’t be fair to him and I couldn’t take his food or toys. I think I would probably go crazy being stranded for a year on an island by myself.
Comment by Helen T — May 26, 2006 @ 11:55 am
Alright, I would bring with me to Leslie’s Island
1) Matches
2) Toothbrush and Paste
3) a Big sleeping bag- I freeze way too easily
4) Cards - I could tottally make up like so many games
5) Tons of pictures of my boyfriend
With all of these, I could easily live for a year.
Comment by Cailyn Nichols — May 31, 2006 @ 12:27 pm