Yes folks, it seems only yesterday that hurricane Ike was abusing us like a 2000 pound steer whuppin’ up on a rodeo cowboy. You can run, but you can’t hide. It’s still the tail end of May and already there’s a “disturbance” out in the Atlantic. Does this mean a hurricane?

Probably not this early, but it may become a tropical storm. And they can still kick some serious gluteus maximus. What does this tell us? Just that it’s time to get ready. Here are a few things to do this early in the hurricane season:

Get the plywood and hurricane clips for your windows now. Don’t be one of those folks standing in line at Home Depot at Landfall - 1 and counting down. Spend that time actually battening down the hatches. If you don’t want to cut and install it yourself at the last minute, call around now and lock in a commitment with a handyman. To find a reliable one, use Angie’s List where thousands of consumers share their ratings on the local contractors and service companies they hire.

Beef up the cupboard with canned goods and drinking water. My approach? Every time I go to the local Kroger’s grocery store, I pick up a few tins for my survivalist stash. Every now and then a case of bottled water. Have enough of each for a minimum of two weeks.

Stock up on ammo now. I’m not joking. I’m big on second amendment rights because looters are too. It doesn’t help to plead Obama platitudes to them while they’re shaking down your family. Ammo has been scarce lately, but I did score a thousand rounds of 9mm yesterday.

Need an emergency generator? Strictly speaking, no. But if you can afford one, this is the way to go.

Keep your vehicle gas tank topped off. Don’t wait; make it a practice to fill up when you get to 3/4 full. Not only will this help your fuel economy, it will keep you from sitting in line if your area gets emergency evacuation orders.

Buy a camp stove and plenty of fuel. During a power outage, a warm meal is a luxury.

Batteries, flashlights, and candles. This one needs no explanation.

You should already have the basic makings of an emergency first aid kit. If not, make it happen.

These are just a few of the things to take care of now. Forewarned is forearmed. ‘Nuff said.

GFCI receptacles are required by electrical code in several areas of the home. Most notably in the kitchen and bathroom. Guess what? I need to install a couple.

They weren’t required on kitchen wiring circuits until 1987 even though the NEC (National Electrical Code) required in for outdoor landscape lighting as far back as 1973 (a very good year).

I do not like getting shocked. Shocking, isn’t it? I’m making some really bad jokes this Friday.

The last time I had a good solid shock was when I installed an oven. Unlike the advice I give readers of my home improvement articles, I did not test the wires before working on them. I had flipped the circuit breaker, but alas, it was the wrong one. Bad labeling. Bummer.

Need a handyman? Find local unbiased reviews on the best handymen. Try Angie’s List.

Anyway, GFCIs should be tested on a monthly basis. Just takes a minute and it might just save your life, or that of a loved one.

And with that, I leave you with a Friday joke.

Q. What’s brown and sounds like a bell?

A. Dung…

On a smaller remodeling project chances are that you’ll be working with one contractor or handyman. But in larger jobs you might end up hiring a general contractor.

General contractors are used quite often on commercial jobs and by subdivision developers. They make the entire construction project easy to manage because they pull permits, coordinate subcontractors, and handle all the payroll.

In short, they take the headache out of the work. Think of them as job babysitters.

But when you get a sour apple and they cash your check and fail to pay the subs, you might find yourself with a lap full of mechanics’ liens. This means you’ll have to pay them again to get them off your back. Ouch!

There are things you can do to avoid mechanics’ liens. Get a detailed contract and file a “Waiver and Release” form.

A lien against your property is serious doo-doo. It you have one on the books, you might not be able to sell your home until it’s satisfied. Not that you could do that in the current Obama real estate nightmare.

What’s that you say? It’s Bush’s fault? Nay, nay; Barak was the guy that opposed Fannie Mae reform and took their lobbiest money when McCain was pushing for it.

But that’s neither here nor there.

I’ve been in the situation of almost filing a lien myself while operating my construction company, Reliable Construction. But I didn’t. Instead I made a pest or myself to the general contractor until he paid me. It was more fun, I must confess.

No, I wasn’t really going to break his kneecaps. OK, not both of them