God i forget how bad the hangover after a two day bender can be. Well lets get this all written down. it may take a couple days worth of entries but ill get it done.

The first day the mechs were still around and they helped us crusha nd lay in cars for the barricade wall. we cordoned off an area two blocks square by stacking the cars about eight feet high down the center divider. we made a alleyway to the area we cleared for the mechs trailer. kind of like a lopsided dumbell. we put up simple cattle panels to block access.

That night the governor called us on the radio and we filled him in on our plans. After a moment of silence, he said "i have someone who will want to help you." We were a littel confused but we'd take all the help we could get. our unknown assitant would roll in with the truck drivers on the last loadout of equipment.

We were curious to say the least. the absolute last thing we expected to drop off the running board was a 5'11" strawberry blonde with a colt 45 on each thigh and a remington 870 marine magnum slung across her shoulder. She reached in a pulled a duffel bag out of the cab and thanked the driver for the ride. We were standing there gawking like a bunch of schoolkids. Dressed in british DPM camo and a bright red beret she was a sight.

"Close your mouths boys. Bug might fly in there." Jeds mouth snapped shut with an audible "clop" sound. She strode over with a saunter. "heard you boys were going head hunting. Mind if i join in on the action?" Matt made a sound like dying fish. "Names Alice. It used to be something else but the first guy i came across after the outbreak swore i looked like the chick in that movie "resident evil" that was named Alice. Being as everyone i ever knew was dead, i decided it was time for a change."

I nodded. She carried herself like an Amazon warrior. She'd do just Fine. I stuck out my hand and introduced myself and rest of the crew. Matt and Jed both were still standing there like mimes with the switch pulled. She walked over put her finger under jeds chin.

"Not a chance littel man. But think about this when you're spankin' your monkey tonite." then she french kissed him full on the lips. Matt about passed out. She then looked matt in the eyes and whispered something in his ear. Significantly obscene im sure. Both of them were seemingly in shock. I grinned and motioned for her to come to the house. "lets get you bunked in." i grabbed her duffel in some sort of gentelmanly attempt and its weight about tipped me over.

"Careful. thats heavy." she glanced over her shoulder at me and grinned. "I have more toys than what you can see." I LIKED this chick. Jay looked at me and started laughing his ass off.

"Dude your face is a red as a 55' corvette." I was the subject of some well deserved ribbing for a few minutes. I Led Alice into the house and set her up in the front entryway. Its tight and it gets cold in teh winter but for now it works. Alice dumped her stuff and helped us load the trucks. We filled her in on our plans for the sweep and clear. She took it all in and sat back for a while. She nodded her assent. After that we chatted a bit and she filed us in on her past. it was quite a tale.

Sweep and clear of the first sector is complete. We're going to take the weekend off and party till we drop. Its been a long slog and we need some downtime. Come monday ill put it all down here.

Summer work is going hot and heavy. the sweep and clear is almost complete. i havent been writing much as im busy and tired. typical summer i guess.

I dont really know how to commemorate memorial day in light of our current situation. I am a vet but out of our small group the only one. both of the boys are too young and Jay never served either. everyone is a vet of the dead head wars, but that is more about survival that anything else.

With no better ideas I simply raised a flag this morning and gave er' a sharp salute.

Still working on the sweep and clear. ill write out a full detailed descrition of it when im not so tired out.

been busy with the sweep and clear. we got the trucks loaded and out yesterday inbetween pushes. ugh, im SO tired, plus we lost the mechs as they went back to pierre with the last truckloads.

Spent all day setting crushed cars. im beat.

Got the last of the equipment rolling and ready to go today. the mechs are packng up and geting ready to head back to pierre. They are going to help us set up the first sweep and clear barricade before they go. that will be tomorrow and wedsday probably.

took today off. not feeling very well. its windy outside again so is a good day to veg out in the house.

Well we got all the trucks loaded up and rolled out. the drivers had a letter from the governor with a list of remining equipment the wanted. most of it we dont have. they were looking for a asphalt burner, sweepers and other oddball stuff. The only thing we have left on the list is a couple of farm tractors. there are plenty of fords and new hollands out at lindskovs we can get rolling. The drivers said thye'd be back next friday to pick them up and take the mechs back with them. It should only take a couple days to get them ready to go so ill have them help set up the first sweep and clear barricade before they go.

storm tuesday did a crapload of damage. lots of shingles missing, couple broken windows and the hail beat the shit out the trialers the mechs are living it. the equipment came through OK for the most part. bust trying to get everything patched up before the next blow comes through.

Storms' coming. Been muggy and hot all day. Usually the mosquitos are out in force on a day like this but i havent been bit by one since the outbreak. same with flies, and most small insects.

anyhow dark, dark clouds in the west. gonna be a gully washer for sure. i told the mechs to batten down the hatches. thier trailers probably arent eh best cover for a strong thunderstorm.

Got about all the cars we need crushed for the sweep and clear today. the mechs helped again and we plowed along all day. Jed mad eus a treat for lunch, he found a jug of powdered lemonade and fixed up almost two gallons of it. we drank until we nearly burst. I think tomorrow we'll work on equipment again. Pierre was on the radio this morning saying they'll be sending a convoy of trucks on friday. We have several pieces of equipment ready and we're abotu done with what pierre says they need. Ill be sorry to see the mechs go. they are good help around here.

the boys do a good job but they really arent capable of a full mans workday just yet. They never had time to grow up fully because of ht eoutbreak and poor nutrition afterwards has kept them thin and wiry. Matt is about ready to start running large equipment but for now ill keep him in the smaller stuff. id hate to see the kid lose control of the 688 cat and plow a hole in something important.

More sunshine, plenty of work.

we're starting to crush cars again for our sweep and clear plan. the mechs crush them and me and Jay move and place them. Matt and Jed watch our backs for dead heads and scout cars for us. Lots of work but we've almost got one sector blocakded and ready to sweep.

Really busy the last few days. good weather outside has led us to long days of hard work. Tired as heck from building upkeep and repairs and worig on equiment. at least the dead heads havent been bothering us.

time to think about gardening. Jed tilled up about 200 feet or more to get started. i scrounged him seeds from the hardware store and some garden implements. hes got plenty of gusto and i hope he keeps it up.

windy today. like sand blowing, not get anything done wind. We begged out in the house for the most part. I fired up my laptop and dug out a few old Star Trek TNG discs. The mechs showed up with popcorn and iced tea and we had a bang up good time. the wind is down now so maybe ill head out and round up the lawn mower. the gras is getting kinda tall already.

Ugh im tired. we moved several pieces of equipment around today and ended up replacing one of the tracks on an excavator. my back is about shot.

had a large group of dead heads move in this afternoon. Jed was on watch at the barricade and rang the alarm bell. he scavenged a 18" gong bell somewhere and hung it inside the barricade to use for alarms. The mechs all have M16s and Me, Jay and Matt all had our FPWs. there was about 30 of them, in fairly good condition (considering) that came out of the east. It took close to an hour to get all of them and another couple hours to clean up the mess afterwards. I hope this isnt a harbinger of the sumer to come.

quiet day. teh mechs took the day off and goofed around with rimfire rifles we loaned them most of the day. it rained in teh afternoon for aocuple hours and me and Jay played chess for a while. nice quiet, relaxing day.

SW

Beautiful weather this weekend. spent most of the time outside working. We got another excavator and a truck ready to go. i dont know when the drivers will come back for another load but we're working hard to have loads ready.

the dead heads make thier presence known from time to time but they are more of an annoyance now. we still keep a watch for them, night and day in the warm weather. usually Matt or Jed. those two boys have a natural knack for spotting and sounding dead heads. its uncanny how far away they can pick them out.