This is a thread we've had before, that I thought more people would respond to if we put it at the top and made it "trendy", rather than out of the way in the archives where only old fogeys and really bored people will read it.

Tell us a bit about yourselves.. I hope I'm not invading anyone's privacy here, you don't have to if you don't want to, but we've found that in the past it's good to know who the person behind that name/email is, what they're like.. it's also surprisingly reassuring to find that you're on a forum of people, not the militant right-wing extremists that most people seem to think survivalists are.

I'll go first: 18 year old high school grad, applying to Harvard and the other Ivy League colleges, if I get in then I'll probably defer to after y2k. Live in Sydney, my HSC ended 4 weeks ago. Currently doing a bunch of things, including marketing, writing two novels and a movie, learning French and Spanish (when I find time), researching y2k, researching ways I can make money off y2k ;)

I believe the disaster will be at least an 8 (on the 1-10 scale); my reasoning is that it's almost certain to be 5 or 6, and when that happens civil authority will disintegrate and chaos will escalate, sliding the scale way up. I hope I'm wrong.

--Leo

-- Leo (leo_champion@hotmail.com), December 07, 1998

Answers

EXCELLENT!! Now all we need is someone to add the hot links to the other incarnations and we'll be all set.

Chuck

-- Chuck a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 07, 1998.

I'm still the mid-twenties english major at a local university. I am still on the 6 year plan (at the university). First discovered the potential of the Y2K scenario about two months ago. A friend of mine asked me if I heard of it before - of course I've heard of it before. She directed me to the internet (go to Yahoo and just look up Y2K - she said). I did. I converted immediately and have been a busy bee ever since.

Aside from preparing for Y2k, work and school, I am an avid reader. As an avid reader, I usually get lost in the endless research generated by the latest topic of interest. I have a lot to learn about the "basics" - I should be busy for a while.

-- Christine A. Newbie (vaganti01@aol.com), December 07, 1998.

Jerry beast is a jerry

he lives in a city

he does stuff

like smoke pot and hemp and cannabis when he is bored

and he tens to prefer lsd because it costs less and burns groovies in your brain like flashbacks and shit

ecstasy is also prityy cool

and hemp did i mention tab??

and alcohol?

i root sluts sometimss, entertainment machines they are. used to fuck whores at a brothel but they cost too mcuh, slutchs are easier

i think the scale will be a 42dd cause i like them with big ones

oh and i hate those fucking commies they are alll red arrssholes and if i had my way i would kill them all hehe bashing lefties is fun fnu!@!!1 bash tem hard! death to stalin and mao andd marx and all the fucking reds!!!!!

jerry

-- Jerry (jeery@jerry.jj), December 07, 1998.

Hot links to the other incarnations:

What About You?

What about you? (Revisited?)

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), December 07, 1998.

Well it's obvious that Jerry hasn't been to the beach yet.

I must apologize for my manners. I have been reading this forum for approx 2 months (mostly reading, not too much writing), and didn't realize that I should introduce myself. I am early 40's pharmacist (currently on short term disability due to back surgery), stay at home wife (GI), 3 kids, own home (no picket fence). We live in NW USA.

We got it when some friends loaned us a couple cassette tapes. I believe one was Ed's. We dove in with both feet since we are both home realizing that I will be back at work soon. We feel we are fairly prepared, just have to send one more food order and stock up on few canned items to feel mostly prepared (do you ever feel completely prepared?)

I have appreciated all the opinions, advice etc. I feel like we have ramped up the learning curve quickly. We have also been able to help research for friends who don't have the time availability we currently do. I don't understand HTML's or other related stuff, but maybe someday I'll learn. I was going thru a self tutorial in Visual Basic, until I GI. I plan on returning to it as soon as I feel I can relax with preparations a little.

Bill

-- Bill S. (Bill_S3@juno.com), December 07, 1998.

Many of us have been there and done that. Some of the newbies haven't caught on to what this forum is all about. Some may have worn out their welcome on other forums because they lack the ability to communicate in a rational manner, so they come here and try to piss a bunch of us off. So why should I tell them anything about myself? So I can be flamed by Jerry and Billy Boy? Maybe later down the road Leo.

-- Patience (patience@waiting.com), December 07, 1998.

Christian, Licensed Private pilot & airframe mechanic & advanced Ham Radio operator & ex realtor & hairdresser & ex IBM customer engineer. Veteran, poet, never say quit fisherman, compulsive tinkerer, outstanding (from scratch) baker and cook. News junkie, problem solver, visionary, conservative, always learning, curious about everything, unconventional, 55 yr old mom of 3, grandma of 12, able to extract more from a buck than believable if not witnessed. Also married, fat, bankrupt, toothless but for dentures, and honest.

-- Ann Fisher (zyax55b@prodigy.com), December 07, 1998.

Mid 50's Dh is mid 60's. Own a small business. One 18yr adopted daughter. Trying very hard to be ready for anything that might happen. Learned about Y2K in late May and went to Atlanta for the Preparedness show. Some of my neighbors are preparing and some think the government will take care of everything (yeh, right, but what can you expect when you have a former Mayor and a fireman for neighbors?) Bug out plan in effect in case things are worse than DH believes will be.

-- Flagirl (Filterlady@aol.com), December 07, 1998.

This is actually the 5th
incarnation of this thread. There's also this two: What about you REDUX
and
Our What about you

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), December 07, 1998.

Ouch! what a mess I made, sorry. What about you REDUX
Our what about you
..now you know why I could never make it as a programer...I'm too sloppy with code (blushing)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), December 07, 1998.

Thirty-something former urban commercial photographer turned mortgage banker. Exurban community of 15,000 outside Wichita. Water well, generator, stockpiled, etc. Hey, Ann Fisher -- are you really an A&P mechanic? Have a restored 1953 Bonanza for the family's worst-case bug out scenario -- the "anywhere but here" option. Hope you are within 700 statute miles of ICT. We could be the first airline of the new century! God bless you all.

-- Dave (dwood@southwind.net), December 07, 1998.

Reativate for newbies.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 14, 1998.

Sorry if I offend some of you for being a new kid on the block. I am captiviated by this forum. It's been two weeks since I have found it. I became y2k aware about a year ago from a article in a sabbath keeping(saturday) religious newsletter. Many non-mainstream religious organizations are looking for the return of Jesus Christ and the "End Of The Age" and think y2k will usher in the chaos of the "Last Days" I am 44 years old, married for 26 years, father of three, one at home, one at college, one on his own. I live in small town/ rural Nebraska. I am self-employed building/remodeling contractor. Very middle class blue collar workman with one employee. I am very conservative minded person.I am on the local school board, on the local Habitat for Humanity Affiliate board, a member of the volunteer fire department,I work with the local town booster club. Hunting, fishing,camping, black powder shooting are some of my hobbies. This makes a lot of my y2k preparations already complete, lantern, stoves, guns, knives, ammo,tents,sleeping bags, ect... . Also my construction equipment lends itself to preparedness, such as 4000 watt generator, battery operated (DeWalt)flashlights/tools, kerosene heaters, cold weather clothing, ect... The local area has lots of wild game, rivers, lakes, farmers with livestock and grains. Being in small town business you get to know most everyone and gain a lot of access to diferent and varied stuff you might need in a crisis. Also small town people here in Nebraska help one another to the point of going without something that they themselves need. This brand of people are survivers and working together is what will get us through whatever is comming.

-- Patrick James (trickjames@hotmail.com), December 15, 1998.

Hey, I'm a lurker here for many months. Really enjoy posts by most all, and am LEARNING a lot. Don't feel smart enough to add to the pot.

But I like hearing background info on folks who contribute to this Forum regularly. I have NOT seen a Bio on the likes of

Hallx Diane J. Squire (wow, she is everywhere in posts!) Runway Cat Leska

Who are you folks? Did I miss your answer to this thread? I like what you guys (girls? Ladies?) write BTW.

Joska

-- Joska (Joska@Hunky.com), December 15, 1998.

Joska: Look at the New to the Forum - README thread to see some helpful tips and also the links to the other What about You threads that you are looking for... there are about five of these! Hope this helps.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 15, 1998.

Correction: The README thread has a link to this thread, which is the most recent. The other four 'What about You' threads are here on this thread... just scroll up and you will find the links.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 15, 1998.

Rob, thanks, I did and I still can't find the bio for Hallx, Diane, Runway Cat, and Leska...several of my favorites to read on this Forum. Oh, well, my idols remain annonymous.

Joska

-- Joska (Joska@Hunky.com), December 15, 1998.

Thought I would bring this tread to the top again, and introduce myself.

I have been lurking from quite some time now, collecting information, laughing, crying, and lately wondering where some of the good old posters have gone...

I am a COBOL programmer, working on the Y2K problem, everyday!!! There is just too much to do. Both my DH and I are GI's and have been preparing for quite some time. I have gone thru the many stages of disbelief, panic, acceptance, and am now beginning to feel comfortable about our readiness. This forum has helped sooooo much, it is hard to describe, how much it helps to know that you are not a "lone ranger" out there preparing by yourself.

I feel that Y2K will be about a 3/4 on the scale. But, that may change with the new year coming up.

-- Carlie (carlie_scott@yahoo.com), December 17, 1998.

To the top.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 21, 1998.

Newbies: Please post about yourself on this thread. To the top.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), December 28, 1998.

To post, just go to the bottom of the thread and click on "contribute an answer".

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), January 16, 1999.

Friends: I've read through all the bios, what a great cross section of people. I, too, wondered at first if you (not ME, of course) were all reactionaries but as I have followed the forum for the six weeks, have come to know that the majority of you are level-headed, thinking people. (Except for Dieter, two syllables, I know, he's the comic relief.) So, since I feel like I already know some of you, I'd like to formally introduce myself. I'm 43, married for 19 years, mother of 4, count 'em 4, teenagers-13, 14, 16, 17. We have enough hormones flowing at our house to power a generator. Too bad we can't harness it. I'm a graduate, BFA, of University of Oklahoma as of last May-took me 7 years, teach private art lessons at home, homeschool the 13 year old, help take care of my 73 year old father who is in the end stages of Alzheimers, lost my mother a short 2 years ago. My loving husband/best friend, who is a wishy-washy 2 on the scale, is very tolerant of my preparations-"hoarding" food, storing water, bought me a propane heater for Valentine's Day. I, personally, am an 8 on the scale. Unfortunately, some days, I can't tell the difference between an 8 and a 10. Fortunately, I lived on a very self-sufficient farm during my teen years and have alot of experience in doing difficult things; butchering small animals, canning, gardening, milking-lots of survival skills. My dad was a career soldier, 23 years in the Army, a very stubborn man. I may be a little flabby in body but I have inherited a lot of grit and determination from that man. My two oldest children think I have lost my marbles. They say I am being "foolish"-at our house, that's the strongest term allowable. We'll see who's foolish in just a few short months. Maybe I will make them kiss my hand and call me "O, Most Beautiful Mother" before I let them eat, drink, keep warm or use one of my 144 rolls of TP! Sorry this was so long, not much support in my community. (I did have an acquaintance call today, "uh, Linda, can I come over tomorrow and look at your y2k stuff?"-a woman who riduculed me a month ago.) God knows what's coming and I am glad that He will be there to help us no matter what comes. Linda aka Shorty the Clown, Long live our Fruitcake Freedoms!

-- newbiebutnodummy (Linda@home.com), March 02, 1999.

Linda, you are going to do just fine here in our Asylum. Welcome! Great addition :-)

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 02, 1999.

I'm an ornery old git.

-- Ornery Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 02, 1999.

Hi Linda! :-) Your bio is almost exactly the same as mine, except I'm a bit younger and have one less teen in the house, and my mom-in-law who I help caring for is in mid-stage. I too look forward to make my kids calling me O Most Enlightened Mother (they already must call me Most Beautiful before I feed them ;-) )

Welcome! And apart from ducking the flying fruitcakes, watch where you step around here ;-)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 02, 1999.

I'm glad someone asked this question. I have been lurking and occasionally posting under various pseudo names on this forum. I am 40 years old, married 7 years, (no children, 1 dog) both my husband and I are both air traffic controllers, employed by the FAA. I'm a 4 to 6 on the scale, my husband maybe a 3. We live in the northwest USA, my husband is a licensed pilot and we also have an aircraft for a bug out scenario if needed. We are remodeling a very interesting "Pacific Northwest type" house and are doing the work ourselves. I really like my life right now so I'm not very happy about any intrusion from Y2K but we are preparing, just in case.

Like one of the other posters on this thread, I have a significant background in self sufficient living in my early youth through early 20's, (my parents spent some time in a commune) there isn't much in the way of farming etc. that I can't do and my husband is the original renaissance man who can build or fix anything so I have no concern about our ability to adapt should Y2K interuptions change our life situation.

I appreciate this forum as I was late in getting it. I was too busy with our other projects to even notice really. I have used the experiences of my predecessors to very quickly get ready in what I consider nearly the midnight hour. Thanks everyone.

-- Ramp Rat (Aviation_R_us@nocity.usa), March 03, 1999.

Chris-O, Most Enlightened Mother-yes, that has a lovely ring to it. Only three teenagers? What do you do with all the extra time?! (That's a joke, a bad one, though.)

Old Git-somehow I pictured you as a grizzled, grey-bearded mountain man type. Come to find out you are the tough, self-sufficient granny type instead. How did I go so wrong? Maybe it was the Old part-most women try to avoid that descriptive like the plague. How about Girly Git?

Dieter-love to read your posts, sorry about the Mrs. Maybe if you promise to take your meds she'll come back.

Arnie and the Mrs., Greybear, Mssr. Kennedy and Cook-You all represent the voice of reason to me and 'though several of you are close to my age, I feel a little "fathering" going on in this forum. I can always use that.

Ashton and Leska-My term "hospice care" is your "palliative care", one of those things I learned recently. Figuring out that definition explained to me why I feel such empathy/sympathy coming out of your posts. My dad is also being cared for by a very caring married couple-both GIs.

Kevin and Diana J. Squires-you two are the link masters. I bow to your expertise and thank you for all the 'ammunition' you've given me to share with my husband and others.

Donna B-thanks for all the work on the MCYY2K Circus. When I'm not running to the grocery story (Pavlovian response to reading the day's news), I'm checking on the show dates and new acts for the circus. Polishing up my act and thinking of new routines keeps the Prozac away. (Wonder if I should resurrect "Sally, the Wonder Puppet"?) Shorty TC

His highest pooper scoopedness, Lon Frank-Do I get the job or not? May the piles you step in be small ones. Shorty the Clown

Rob Michaels-I'm been thinking of how to make fruitcakes in my new dutch oven-lessee, charcoal, gasoline stove, propane grill, buddy burner, sterno? Long live the FRL!

Uncle Deedah, E. coli-We miss you.

Night Driver, Chuck-It seems to me that your 'vision' has been pretty clear so far. Hope the surgery goes well.

Tricia, Arewyn-lovely names for caring ladies.

More later-THANKS, THANKS, THANKS! Linda

-- newbiebutnodummy (Linda@home.com), March 03, 1999.

Joska, Hallyx, Diane and Leska are all on one or another of the what about you threads - maybe you missed some postings, or even a thread? Runway Cat may be there, too, I don't specifically remember.

My thanks to Linda for re-activating this thread! I took some time to re-read bios of many, and to remind myself how grateful I am to have met them (even if not face-to-face).

In my own bio, I think I missed stating my career (respiratory therapist, currently working in a sleep disorders clinic) and pets. (2 cats, old and fat, and a grey African parrot, much older than the cats, but young for parrots, we assume. My family had her for 20 years before she laid her first egg, and they live to be 85-150, depending on which book you read.) Anything else you might want to know, feel free to ask :-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), March 03, 1999.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

-- Rob Michaels (sonofdust@net.com), April 15, 1999.

Well, I was born a poor black boy, but I grew up to be a rich white woman.

-- Michael J. (jackson@strange.one), April 15, 1999.

For all the newbies, & those who wish to reminisce.

Best Wishes,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), June 25, 1999.

thanx, Bingo1, somehow i've missed all the incarnations of this thread until now. actually, i haven't been on this forum all that long, and looking at the dates from the previous threads i think they all predate my presence.

wife and i are both early forties, coming up on 21 years of wedded bliss (seriously). no kids by choice, but happily enjoying nieces and nephews. we've been improving our self-reliance for a long time, y2k just sped up our plans.

wife's a teacher, i'm a generalist. started in IE, moved to sys analysis and coding, found out i really loved customer service and now that's what i do for a living in an industrial environment.

have to admit i coded with a two digit year field, never expected that code would survive 20+ years. (in all honesty, i don't think anything i coded *is* still around). i got out of coding around '90 (that's 1990 to those of you who still don't get it), and never thought anything more about it until seeing cory's wrp around day 500. talk about a flash of lightning! GOT IT in a big way.

fortunately we were already working on contingency plans based on the fragility of modern supply chains.

living in so indiana (kentuckiana) on forty acres with three spring- fed ponds and two wells. wife doesn't think it will get all that bad, but i very much agree with carl chaplin in another incarnation of this thread, if it gets to 3-4 and doesn't recover within a few months, it will go all the way (IMHO). there just isn't going to be anyone else to pull us out of the fire if it goes the way it's looking.

love and peace to everyone (doomers and pollys both) (i'm *not* sure that includes trolls!)

-- Cowardly Lion (cl0001@hotmail.com), June 25, 1999.