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Post by iamnobody on Feb 18, 2021 13:07:24 GMT -6
I hope that withholding that information from her family will not come back to bite him/them. They seem to be trustworthy. IF in real life I won the lotto (and I do not play the lotto) I would be like Mike and no one would know. I would continue living my poor, rural life because it satisfies me. In real life I have extended family members that strongly dislike me because of my Christian and conservative views. But if they thought I had big money, they would be on my doorstep with their hands out, refusing to leave because they would be entitled to my lotto winnings.
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 18, 2021 13:22:20 GMT -6
I will say that after all he went through with his first wife, it is incredibly brave to put himself back into the relationship/marriage scene so quickly. Once bitten, twice shy. In real life, I was rudely awakened to real life just like Mike was – blindsided. I am conservative Christian and my late wife supposedly was too. To be married 13 years and never thought she would commit adultery, then on her death bed in the hospital, to hear it out of her mouth...... In a few hours I found out my wife was an adulteress and saw her die in front of me, my children, the nurses and the doctor. I had to hit the floor running because now I was a single dad raising 3 children that needed me. Their mom was “snatched” out of their lives. Would I remarry 5 years later? With current events, there is no possibility of even talking to a woman, let alone developing a relationship. They all have masks on so high and tight, covering everything but their eyes, while screaming “keep your distance” So I guess the women have already made that decision for me.
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Post by texican on Feb 18, 2021 20:26:44 GMT -6
ian,
There is a woman out there for you. You will meet her one day.
Texican....
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 19, 2021 7:05:47 GMT -6
The wedding was set for Sunday after the tent meeting service 5 days hence and would start at 1PM. Most of their family and friends would already be there. Mike would make a trip to the big city and get a set of simple wedding bands. They had decided on no fancy clothes or fancy party. People would each just bring a covered dish.
Sunday finaaalllyyyy got here and Mike was standing with the preacher while Pa walked Daisy down the aisle. Mike thought she was so beautiful in a simple skirt and and blouse. Mike and Daisy made a covenant with God to only have each other and then made their vows to each other. After the wedding, everyone had food and then some music and dancing. Evening rolled around and Mike and his wife Daisy went home. That is where we will leave them until morning.
Mike woke up the next morning to a vision of loveliness sharing his bed, his wife. If it was possible, Daisy was more beautiful every time he looked at her and he hoped that would never stop. She stirred and came awake as he lifted the blanket to look at her. She smiled and said good morning. She asked if he wanted bacon and eggs for breakfast and what the plans were for the day. He said that sounded good and he didn't have to go back to work til next week.
Over the wonderful breakfast she made, they discussed plans. He wanted to go over the plans with her about the 3 new Trusts. He told her he wanted to use local people whenever possible to fill job positions. The food store building was about done and he needed to oversee the ordering of items. He said the previous owner was now the manager being paid salary. His goal was to continue carrying grocery items that people bought before plus bulk non GMO beans and grain. To also have an “in house” freeze dried section along with dehydrated foods. Canning supplies of jars and lids plus mylar bags and O2 absorbents. Sales would be both local and internet sales. That he would continue to work a few hours a week at the store like he had been so he could get product with an employee discount. All employees got product at the wholesale price.
Daisy was impressed by the planning Mike put into the store. The fact that he was keeping jobs local and helping the employees with low prices. In her head, all she could do was thank God for the wonderful, loving, wise husband she had.
They moved on to discussing the 500 acres and what to do with it. Mike laid out his thoughts of making it into a farm. Having fruit trees, berries, grape vines along with vegetables. He wanted to grow dry beans and grains. Everything non GMO. He wanted to raise livestock – beef, milk cow, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens. Things that would provide food for her and him and any children they had. Plus to share with extended family. He asked Daisy for her input on what fruits and berries to plant because she had always lived in the area. She told him she didn't know that much about growing them but knew a local guy that had a small orchard. The same way with vegetables and grains, a local guy had a small market garden and another man raised some grains. Mike planned on using the Trusts to talk to those guys about planting those crops in the 300 acre field.
For their bunker, Mike plans to have a vast library of how-to books and videos covering a wide range of topics needed for every day living. He wanted to back that up with a local store carrying the same books and videos for sale. Maybe a “homestead” store that he would form another Trust for.
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Post by smitty60 on Feb 19, 2021 8:03:20 GMT -6
Thanks for the new chapter. He found a good women this time. Fingers crossed.
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Post by solo on Feb 19, 2021 13:54:50 GMT -6
Makes me wonder if they signed prenup... Hate that it would come to that, but I would bet that trust is difficult for Mike.
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Post by sniper69 on Feb 19, 2021 14:02:25 GMT -6
Makes me wonder if they signed prenup... Hate that it would come to that, but I would bet that trust is difficult for Mike. Since his money is in various trust's - a prenup shouldn't/wouldn't be needed. He technically doesn't have the money, the trust does. He is just a trustee acting on behalf of the trust at that point (of course depending on the type of trust created).
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 20, 2021 9:45:25 GMT -6
Since his money is in various trust's - a prenup shouldn't/wouldn't be needed. He technically doesn't have the money, the trust does. He is just a trustee acting on behalf of the trust at that point (of course depending on the type of trust created). That is what I was aiming for. Since this is a fictional story, the Trusts are rock solid and iron clad that no one else can mess with the Trusts in any way. Mike may not have more than a few $ in his pocket from the part time job he has but he controls all the millions of dollars he won in the lotto and all the businesses that he is creating.
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 20, 2021 9:52:17 GMT -6
Mike takes Daisy along as he travels to the big city to set up another Trust for a homestead store that would sell products for self sufficient living, including books and videos. Once the Trust is set, he adds another quonset style building to the construction crews list. Daisy and he would think about which person back home to make the manager of the store. They headed back home so they weren't wasting their honeymoon in a big city. Mike was asking Daisy who the local guy was that had the most knowledge of guns. She told him there is one guy that everyone took their guns to when they needed fixing. Another guy was the guy with the most knowledge about reloading ammo. Who though would make a manager over the whole gun store with the 2 guys being manager over the gunsmithing and reloading departments. Daisy said that would be Zeb, that he had a lot of general knowledge of guns.
Who to get for the homesteader store. Daisy said that would be Pa. He was always advising people on their problems of how to do something and what would work best.
So Zeb and Pa as managers of 2 stores. Now Mike had a question for Daisy. He told her he had high respect for both of them but still had only known them for less than a year. Would they keep it a secret if they told them about all the money and what he was doing. Daisy said yes they would, that they had always been closed mouths about other people's business. Since it was late in the day, Mike suggested they wait til tomorrow to talk with them. Daisy made some supper and they retired to their bedroom.
Early next day after their breakfast, Mike and Daisy headed over to her old home. They found Pa and Zeb on the porch discussing the day's work. After greetings, Mike said they had some things they wanted to talk with them about. Then Mike started at the beginning and explained about his ex-wife leaving him for a woman, how he got money from her, the “woman friend” and his lawyer. How he had bought a lotto ticket and ended up with $777 million after taxes. How he was the trustee of the Trust owning the 500 acres he lived on, how he was the trustee of the new stores being put in town. How he was preparing for bad times, and trying to provide jobs for local people. He said he thought this was God's doing, providing the money to do things. Mike told them he had no desire to live a rich man's lifestyle, he wanted to continue living this hillbilly lifestyle.
Pa and Zeb looked at Daisy when Mike was done talking. She told him it was true, she had seen the divorce papers stating the reason why, also bank statements showing the money and the paperwork for the different Trusts. She also asked that they tell no one else, that Mike wanted to keep doing things without people knowing he was rich, though all the money and property was owned by the Trusts and technically Mike didn't have anything, he just controlled it as Trustee. That they wanted Pa and Zeb to be managers for 2 of the stores. Pa and Zeb are sitting there looking at each other with a dazed look.
Finally Pa asks about the manager positions, what it involved. Mike told them Pa would be managing the new homestead store that would be going in and Zeb with be the overall manager for the gun store with the 2 other guys being in charge of the gunsmith and reloading sections. That it would be a salary position. Pa and Zeb said they would take the jobs.
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Post by texican on Feb 20, 2021 13:38:01 GMT -6
Pa, Zeb and Daisy are all in. Makes it a lot easier, but??
Thanks ian.
Texican....
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 22, 2021 13:19:57 GMT -6
Mike, through the Trust got in touch with the local guy about planting the orchard and berries in the field. Mike wanted 10 each of apple, peach, pear, cherry, plum, apricot trees. He wanted 1,000 strawberry plants. 100 plants each of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry plants. He wanted 20 grape vines. Mike set aside 2 acres for garden crops. Also 1 acre each for field corn, wheat, sweet corn, buckwheat, potatoes, pinto bean, great northern bean, red bean. All crops would be non GMO. The Trust put in several greenhouses and several high tunnels for extending the growing season.
For livestock, he wanted a Hereford steer for beef. He would get another every year so that it would be a continuous cycle after the 2nd year of growth. A Jersey cow for milk which they also could make butter and cheese. 4 meat goats, their meat would be similar to venison. He wanted 3 Duroc pigs every year. A flock of 12 chicken hens for eggs and 100 meat chickens. He wanted 10 honey bee hives, 5 of Russian bees and 5 of Italian. And a 1 acre pond where catfish would be grown.
Mike needed some buildings for the livestock so ordered more quonset style buildings built for them. He also put in several 1 ton feed silos to store livestock feed. Fencing was got for the pigs and chickens. For the steer and cow, he planned on using electric fencing.
Several weeks have passed and the buildings and fencing are up for the livestock, the pond is dug and is slowly filling from the rains. Livestock have been bought and are now on the farm.
The food store and the gun store are now open for business, there are local customers and internet sales. Advertising campaigns are in full force. The medical building should soon be done. Mike is working 4 hours at each business, including the farm, 1 business each day. That way he has an appearance of working and he gets the employee discount price on items from that business. The next business to be finished will be the homestead store.
From the food store, Mike has already started his food preps. He bought 500 of the 5 gal mylar bags and O2 absorbents and he and Daisy have been packing food in them. The bunker is water and mouse proof so he doesn't have to worry about buckets or drums to store the food in. He puts plastic pallets on the floor and stacked the mylar bags on them. He had bought 500 lbs each of the following beans: pinto, great northern, red, navy, black eye, garbanzo, black, lentil, split pea and baby lima. Also 500 lbs each of these grains: corn, wheat, rye, buckwheat, oatmeal. 500 lbs each of white sugar, salt and brown sugar. He bought 1,000 cases of quart canning jars, regular mouth, and 200,000 canning lids. Freeze dried foods of vegetables, meat and fruit would be in the near future.
From the gun store, Zeb about had a heart attack when Mike gave him his private order for the bunker.
The armory part of the bunker now had 12 of FAL semi auto rifles with wood stocks, in .308 caliber with 500 20 rd surplus steel magazines, 12 of AR15 semi auto rifles in .223 caliber, 6 of the rifles were equipped with 1-3X scopes, with 500 Brownell aluminum 30 rd magazines with no tilt followers. The AR15 rifles had the 20 inch barrels with full stocks. The 20 inch barrel is what the M16 was designed for so the 55gr FMJ bullet would tumble on impact. The shorter 10 and 14 inch barrels on the new AR15 rifles did not give enough velocity to make the bullets tumble, they ended up just punching a 22 caliber hole through the enemy. So unless in the heat of battle you scored a head shot or spine shot, the enemy was not killed and they kept fighting against you. They were a lot less accurate too.
There were also 12 of Savage Model 12 bolt action rifles in .308 caliber with Leupold 4-12X scopes. These had 26 inch varmint weight barrels on them. He had 12 of Savage Model 12 rifles in .223 caliber with Leupold 4-12X scopes.
Mike had 12 of Remington Express Home Defense 12G pump shotguns. 18 inch barrels and full wood stock. He had 12 of Ruger 10/22 rifles in 22LR caliber with wood stocks and 3-9X scopes on them along with 500 30 rd magazines. Handguns were 12 of Springfield Armory 1911A1 pistols in .45ACP and 500 Brownell 8 rd magazines with no tilt followers.
Ammo: .308 150gr FMJ - 500,000 rounds .308 150gr soft point - 500,000 rounds .308 180gr armor piercing - 5,000 rounds .223 55gr FMJ - 500,000 rounds .223 55gr soft point - 500,000 rounds 22LR 40gr copper plated - 500,000 rounds .45ACP 230gr FMJ - 100,000 rounds .45ACP 230gr lead flat point - 100,000 rounds 12G 3 inch 1¼ oz slugs - 100,000 rounds 12G 3 inch 00 buckshot – 100,000 rounds 12G 2¾ inch #4 birdshot - 10,000 rounds
For his reloading Mike had: 5,000lbs of assorted gun powders - stored in its separate underground bunker 500,000 assorted primers - stored in a separate underground bunker .308 150gr FMJ - 100,000 bullets .308 150gr soft point - 100,000 bullets .223 55gr FMJ - 100,000 bullets .223 55gr soft point - 100,000 bullets .45 230gr FMJ - 10,000 bullets .45 230gr lead flat point - 10,000 bullets nickel plated 00 buckshot - 1,000 pounds nickel plated #4 birdshot - 100 pounds #2 Lyman lead - 5,000 pounds 30 cal 150gr LBT lead bullet mold 22 cal 55gr LBT lead bullet mold 22 cal 40gr LBT lead bullet mold for 22LR 45 cal 230gr LBT lead bullet mold 30, 33, 36 cal lead bullet molds for buckshot 12G lead slug mold
Mike liked the FAL's and Daisy liked the AR15's because of her smaller size. Pa and Zeb had 2 lever action 30-30's, a bolt action 22LR and a single shot shotgun. Both were told that in a bad situation, they would be using the FAL's. Mike also wanted the 4 of them them to attend several well known gun training courses.
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Post by solo on Feb 22, 2021 15:30:03 GMT -6
Mike's call sign should be "CIA"... He has set up so many shell, er "trusts" organizations to launder his prep purchases through. And there will be no record of who bought them when those in need decide to find out who those in have are...
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Post by texican on Feb 22, 2021 20:30:31 GMT -6
ian,
It is coming together, but when will it fall apart?
Texican....
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 23, 2021 15:18:57 GMT -6
ian, It is coming together, but when will it fall apart? Texican.... Is the story moving too slow? I am not a writer so I have no clue as to how fast or slow a story should move.
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Post by sniper69 on Feb 23, 2021 15:46:50 GMT -6
ian, It is coming together, but when will it fall apart? Texican.... Is the story moving too slow? I am not a writer so I have no clue as to how fast or slow a story should move.
The story is moving along just fine, in my opinion.
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Post by solo on Feb 23, 2021 17:01:08 GMT -6
ian, It is coming together, but when will it fall apart? Texican.... Is the story moving too slow? I am not a writer so I have no clue as to how fast or slow a story should move.
Two points here: 1. It's your story, move it at the pace you want it to move. I am thankful that it is free. 2. You ARE a writer. Just saying.
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Post by texican on Feb 23, 2021 18:46:59 GMT -6
ian,
Keep posting chapters and they will be greedily read by the Moar Hounds.
Texican....
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 23, 2021 19:18:01 GMT -6
ian, Keep posting chapters and they will be greedily read by the Moar Hounds. Texican.... The bag of Moar feed plainly states not to feed any in the evening as it would excite the hounds too much to get a good night's sleep
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Post by bluefox2 on Feb 23, 2021 21:29:11 GMT -6
ian, Keep posting chapters and they will be greedily read by the Moar Hounds. Texican.... The bag of Moar feed plainly states not to feed any in the evening as it would excite the hounds too much to get a good night's sleep You really read those instructions?
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Post by solo on Feb 24, 2021 8:10:54 GMT -6
The bag of Moar feed plainly states not to feed any in the evening as it would excite the hounds too much to get a good night's sleep You really read those instructions? I always remove so my wife doesn't see them... Otherwise....
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 24, 2021 13:08:57 GMT -6
ian, There is a woman out there for you. You will meet her one day. Texican.... 50% of the women that express interest in me are married – NO THANKS! The other 50% I do okay in talking with until they find out I read PAW fiction. Then they run away fast, screaming something about me needing a white rubber jacket to wear with 2 attendants helping me put it on.
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Post by iamnobody on Feb 24, 2021 14:38:08 GMT -6
By several months Mike and Daisy, along with Pa and Zeb have attended several gun courses. They had done Max Velocity's tactical training, Front Sight, Thunder Ranch, and a few other places. The different places covered rifles, shotguns and handguns. Both precision shooting and tactical use of small groups. They all came away with better skills in using firearms. In the gun store, the business was booming, both locally and on the internet. A semi truckload a week was being delivered and being sold just as fast, The gunsmith section had sent people to get advanced training from the firearm factory schools. They were already doing custom guns for clients and were authorized to do factory repairs and modifications. The Trust added cast lead bullet molds and tons of lead to their inventory. Nowadays people were using cast lead bullets with gas checks and getting great accuracy and speed as a jacketed bullet. There are guys shooting lead bullets in 30-06's at 2600fps and shooting tight groups. The reloaded ammo section was making the ammo. They had 20 of the Dillon reloading presses set up and were buying components by the pallet. They were making rifle, handgun and shotgun ammo, sticking to the main calibers. They were working 6 days a week, 3 shifts a day. The bulk food store was doing just as good in sales. The freeze dried section had 30 freeze dryers going full time. There was a big market for bulk and freeze dried foods. Flour was even fresh ground in the store as needed. The gun store and bulk food store were making a solid 15% profit after expenses. The medical Trust was up and running. Having a doctor, dentist, midwife and herbalist all on staff was working out great. Add in the sales of herb seeds, plants and dried herb and it was booming. The Trust sent more people to learn about the herbs and midwifery. The different trusts were providing the training at no cost provided the student would promise to stay and work at the business for a specified time period. The homestead store was open for business selling all the needed items for independent living. Mike was very surprised at the number of people that were ordering the tools, books and videos. Mike made another trip to the big city to set up some more Trusts and get some more quonset buildings built. He set up for: A work clothing and boots store making quality clothing. Mike was fed up with the “work” clothing and boots available at the big box stores. Clothing that tore quickly and boots that fell apart in a dewy grass. There would be sub section devoted to fabric and sewing needs. A butcher shop which also did meat smoking and preserving. Smoked hams and good cured bacon – YUM!
A Trust even hired the best local moonshine men and set them up with quality stills and tanks to make fuel.
Individuals were encouraged to grow crops and livestock chemical and GMO free and to sell them to the bulk food store or butcher shop. The Trusts were providing lots of jobs and training for the local people. People working for the stores were very happy with their jobs, training they got and free health care in the local medical store. Surprisingly only 1 person had tried misusing the benefits, and they were an outsider that had been hired. That person was fired. Mike thought everything was going great. He had stores set up that made this area very self sufficient, the Trusts were making him a good profit. What could go wrong. Mike had a gnawing feeling in his gut. He put out word to all the Trust stores to order 3X their inventory...........
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Post by brucearmstrong65 on Feb 24, 2021 14:51:28 GMT -6
Mike thought everything was going great. He had stores set up that made this area very self sufficient, the Trusts were making him a good profit. What could go wrong. Mike had a gnawing feeling in his gut. He put out word to all the Trust stores to order 3X their inventory........... As soon as someone asks "What could go wrong?", that's when you just *know* somethin' is a comin'... Excellent story so far! (But watch out for the MOAR monsters...)
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Post by papaof2 on Feb 24, 2021 16:57:09 GMT -6
ian, There is a woman out there for you. You will meet her one day. Texican.... 50% of the women that express interest in me are married – NO THANKS! The other 50% I do okay in talking with until they find out I read PAW fiction. Then they run away fast, screaming something about me needing a white rubber jacket to wear with 2 attendants helping me put it on. My retired schoolteacher wife has proofread some of the PAW stories I've written. I think I got the pick of the litter ;-)
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Post by texican on Feb 24, 2021 22:25:36 GMT -6
50% of the women that express interest in me are married – NO THANKS! The other 50% I do okay in talking with until they find out I read PAW fiction. Then they run away fast, screaming something about me needing a white rubber jacket to wear with 2 attendants helping me put it on. My retired schoolteacher wife has proofread some of the PAW stories I've written. I think I got the pick of the litter ;-) pp2, our wife is definitely the pick of the litter putting up with you for 50 (+/-) years. (Slept too many times to remember the exact number of years.) So is my wife putting up with me for 43 years and 4 and 1/2 moths. Texican....
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