Great Day, but too much work

Yesterday was a good and busy day. I participated in the Read "Write" Adult Literacy Program's Author's Event in Moriarty.
I sold a few copies of "Blind Man's Bluff" and met a lot of good people, and actually won a Kindle Fire in a raffle. I've had a Nook for awhile, so it'll be interesting to compare the two. So far, the Nook is winning.
Anyway, with a full day yesterday and chores to do today, which include starting on a final read through on my next book, "Time in the World" -- which will be out in June, I hope -- the desire and ability to write a posting is low today.
So instead, I offer you all, again, an older column from the Mountain View Telegraph. Which actually led to a short story I've written. (I'd post the story, except I'll be trying to sell it soon. Stay tuned for when and where it will appear.)
This was written right before the Mayan calendar was set to expire.
R



Depending on who you are talking to, the world is scheduled to end tomorrow.
This is according to the Mayas, who created a 5,125-year-long calendar that ends Dec. 21, 2012 — 10 full days before the 2012 At-A-Glance calendar on my wall expires. I guess the Mayas were ahead of their time.
Just about everyone with half a brain is not really concerned about this — most of us lived through Y2K and numerous other world-ending predictions without any problems. Still, I made sure not to do any Christmas shopping yet, just in case. However, this alleged apocalypse is supposed to be on Friday, a day after my wedding anniversary, so I didn't get out of that one.
The whole Mayan thing has had me thinking about surviving the apocalypse.
A contemplation that springs to my mind is would I want to know the end was coming. And if I did, what would I do?
Obviously, you'd want to spend what time you had left with those closest to you. I suppose, though, after we've told each other what we want to say in that sort of circumstance, there might still be a little time before "the end." I suppose we'd play Monopoly then. Maybe cribbage. We'd certainly make some popcorn and hot chocolate.
But what if this apocalypse is more of a Hollywood type end-of-the-world scenario where an event occurs that leaves us all fending for ourselves. In reality, when faced with this sort of thing, most of us wouldn't last very long. But in our minds, we are all part of a small band of survivors fighting off mutant zombies and what-not.
In this scenario, the first place I'm heading is to Walmart, which I would turn into a fortress and my followers would dub me King Rory.
The Walmart is an obvious choice to hole up in the first months of the apocalypse — there is enough there to keep a small group of people going for quite some time. There also is enough goods to trade for the essentials, such as gasoline for the generators — available in automotive — to run the freezers and other electrical needs for the fortress.
The only problem is that I may not be the only one who has thought of this and wrestling possession of the store away from those folks — some whom probably would have worked there — would not be an easy task.
While tamping down any insurrections would require a certain ruthlessness, I would be a fair ruler and reward loyalty. Most current employees would be invaluable to maintaining my domination. The folks in lawn and garden, for instance, would be necessary for constructing a defensible perimeter around the building.
The electronics department would be essential for establishing contact with the outside world and communications within the fortress. The pharmacy would be important, as well, for maintaining the health of my loyal subjects.
From the safety of our castle, we would be able to wait out the rise and fall of the mutants while noshing on frozen pizza cooked in toaster ovens. We would be ready to emerge and rebuild in the post-apocalyptic world.
As you can see, I've given this a lot of thought. That's what happens when someone tells me things like the world is ending.
And if the apocalypse doesn't occur on Friday, at least I've got a good start on my Christmas shopping list.