This weekend I have contributed a tad to making the world a safer place by teaching this lady friend a little bit about shooting. She will be a tad safer by being better able to protect herself and the rest of the world will be a tad safer by hvaing a trained shooter out there.

And she's good too.

-Greybear

-- Got Ear Plugs?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), June 20, 1999.

Yeah but how's her shooting :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), June 20, 1999.

I bought some cans of Sterno at the hardware store and some boxes of dried tahini at the health food store. Maybe tomorrow I can get a battery-powered surge protector for my computer, in case there is electricity but it is not very even. I would hate to have my computer killed on a spike, if there's a possibility of using it.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), June 20, 1999.

Went to Sam's and I think I saw Gary North there. Sure looked liked him. Lost him in the crowd though. Bought more rice, Why? I have enough to feed half of China, I guess because it is so cheap. I have been stocking up on fruit and candy and just plain old junk food. I have enough of the basics, or all I am going to buy anyway. I bought more pool chemicals, and extra toliet repair kits. A roll of screening, and new screen doors to be installed later if needed. More batteries and a few toys for the little ones. I really like stocking up on items. Y2K or not. Not having to go to the store if I don't want to is great, but I am getting concerned about the amount of money I have spent and still spending. I guess I ought to be glad I have it to spend, and I am buying extra to share. Is y2k tax detuctable?

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), June 20, 1999.

WOW where do I start? Shopped till I dropped for some regular preps (food, soap, cocoanut, dental repair kit, etc). Cleared out various areas in the garage & shop for peatmoss, lime, fertilizer, compost, potting soil, tools, etc. Started taking the house apart & washing everything in sight, especially stuff that has been in cupboards for awhile (dust & old odors need to be removed so they are ready to use & clean smelling). Will really go on a cleaning spree this fall! Happy Father's Day all!!! ;-)

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0@hotmail.com), June 20, 1999.

Finished up soldering together my 12v fluorescent lamp set. Worked like a raccoon eatin' rock clams on the storage shed, no visible door and can only be unlocked from within the house, and yes manually thank you. It is fully insulated with 1 1/2" foam board which will stay warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. Also it is 100% screwed together and can be dis/assembled in about 2 hours. It has 20 shelves and will accommodate 3000lbs on them. A variety of secret stuff for protection Bwwaaahahahaha

Talked to next door lady about acquiring her old wood stove in barter for removing a tree. To be used as an outdoor source of heat for the inside of the house.(details on request)

Will be having a great day tomorrow too.

While laundry is doing itself (yea right!) I'll be talking to the maintenance fellow again about the process' involved in making sulfuric acid from scratch. He worked and retired from a plant back East as a boilermaker at a plant rendering acid. Then comes the lead and...electricity!

But most significantly, I'll be meeting two Cascadians for lunch!!!And some prep shopping. This will, by the way, be the first meeting of ppl of like mind(set) since I GI last winter! YeeeHaaaa!! Yahooo,,,,,Rendezvous!!!!!

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), June 20, 1999.

completed full list of protein/ nutrients that are now properly stored - 1 years worth, (Good list of food requirements OLD GIT!!)

added 2000 more rounds, finished solar alarm and intercom system, added travel bag to 2 vehicles, more work on place in country - added "back to basics book"

layout scenarios matrix to review next phases of prioritized actions.

-- living in (the@real.world), June 20, 1999.

I'm impressed, all of you. My sitrep not so good. Preps came to a grinding halt three months when we ran out of cash. Got enough food for about six months, but nothing like you guys...

-- Sandmann (Sandmann@alasbab.com), June 20, 1999.

Well this last week I put away 800 pounds of wheat, 100 pounds rice, 50 pounds pinto beans, 50 of brown rice, spaghetti, elbow macaroni, powdered sugar, jello pudding, tortilla flour, cherrios, other cereals, M&M's and dried carrots.

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), June 20, 1999.

This is a fun topic.....can we make it for the week, tho, instead of just the weekend? (I'm a senior, so probably don't get as much done in a week, than you young whipper snappers do in a weekend!) I bought two "found" Aladdin lamps, new seal for my pressure canner so I can can more items, like chili and beef stew for the coming months. Bought a small, sturdy table to set my solar cooker and Pyromid stove on. (Wish I had known about the Volcano cooker before buying these items! Has any reader tried out the Pyromid stove, yet? I haven't.) Picking lots of tart cherries off my trees for canning juice (it's wonderful.) The last shipment of my canned storage food arrived (ordered in Feb.! Still waiting on the grains ordered from Walton's in Dec.) Cleaned out and aired my 55 gal. water containers....ready to fill. Everytime I shop, buy extra pet food and chew toys and first aid items. Also have been stocking up on yard and garden supplies, in case of shortages, next year. Feel I'm spending too much money on stocking up and Y2K items, but next year, come whatever, I have a pretty good sized stockpile and won't need to shop so much. Seems like there's always something else too, doesn't it? Am wondering if getting a big dog is necessary, whcn I already have two small house dogs. However, they might not spot an intruder as quickly as an outdoor dog. Seems cruel to make a dog live outdoors, in the middle of winter, even with an equipped doghouse. A sheltered spot in the garage might be okay....the dog would be more apt to hear a visitor sooner than a house dog. Any comments?

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), June 20, 1999.

If anyone is in the Houston area. Try the Amish Barn in Old Town Spring. They have 'back to basics' area with alot of neat stuff.

-- quietly (quietly@lurking.com), June 20, 1999.

It's pharmacutical day at the Roland household!

Went "Wal Marting" and loaded up on more advil, vitamins, rolaids, first aid supplies, triple antibiotic ointment, caladryl, alcohol, hydro peroxide, ipec syrup, deoderant, toothpaste, tampons (can't live without 'em), hand disinfectant, cold medecin, etc.

Did complete food inventory and made list of things to get next weekend. Coming up on the finish line...

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), June 20, 1999.

In reference to getting a large dog; you'll need to provide food for the large dog too... My parents used to have a RV and traveled quite a bit. They never traveled with a dog, but you would have thought so after looking at their rig. A LARGE dog bowl of water was outside the steps (changed daily) and several large dog toys would be visable on the RV dashboard between window and the pulled curtain. Mom also hooked a leash on the ouside mirror... Another lady I knew always had a pair of shoes (size 14) outside her door at home. Were her son's but he lived several states away. She'd switch with old tennis shoes/workboots... Sometimes PERCEPTION is the point. But then when push comes to shove, a backup reality is neede too!

-- Rod (rjccushi@indy.net), June 20, 1999.

Went to Sam's and bought another 300# of rice, lotsa tuna, pasta, peanut butter, soap, veg. oil, olive oil, various spices, and a bit of sugar type comfort food. Fertilizer and lime at Wally-World. Bought 200# of dried beans at our local restaurant supplier. We hilled 1500ft. of potatoes, and made preparations to can 300 qts. of veggies. I did notice that the wal-mart brand of Spam is constantly sold out! Clerk said, "I don't understand why its selling so fast, guess people just like it". All in all, had a great weekend. This morning, church was fantas

-- RU (prepared@home.now), June 20, 1999.

Tested Katadyn Pocket Filters Saturday. Filtered water from our stream into a 5 gallon bucket and boiled it over an outdoor fire on our brick outdoor barbeque, which is nearly complete. We let it cool off, then poured into storage jugs. Well, I'm still standing and haven't experienced the runs, so it looks as if we're kewl there.

Worked on the garden, gathered more materials for rabbit pens. Making storage area for rabbit pellets which will be used in the winter, as well as extra dog food.

Did some reading at the beach, found some interesting things I'd like to try from The Encyclopedia of Country Living. Noticed tuna and pasta on sale, snatched up a few extra, and rotated them appropriately into inventory.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), June 20, 1999.

Bought a good short wave radio for my hubby for Fathers Day along w/2 pkgs of rechargable batteries. Got solar lantern & solar battery charger. Stocked up on ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce. Met w/our "core group" last night, we're going thru Ken Hyatt's book on Y2K prep one chapter at a time. Tried to get online at home but my computer won't open Windows so I'm at the office right now reading this BB and wondering how I will ever survive Y2K without all of you guys. Left a message on our computer geeks answering machine telling him that I'm going to go postal if I can't log on tomorrow night. Pulled weeds and talked to my tomatoes.

-- Mother Hen (JudiAnn_G@Yahoo.com), June 20, 1999.

Worked in garden and admired asparagus waving in the wind. Went shopping for more supplies. Talked with some GI's and learned some valuble info. Based upon that info, decided I need to ramp things up a tad........and I'm already approaching speed of light!!! Keep stocking guys!!

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), June 20, 1999.

Worked nineteen hours of voluntary OT yesterday and today. Gotta pay to play this Y2K game. Too danged tired to do much of anything right now, but had enough energy after work yesterday to to go shopping for the homestead and our church pantry.

Shopped Aldi's, nothing but cases of stuff on display. Very convenient; pick up case and put into cart. Probably not what the store chain had in mind when you're putting thirty-six cases into one cart. Especially when they watch their carts bend permanently out of shape under the load.

Purchased, loaded and then unloaded two pick-up loads of canned goods. Came out just over four hundred buck. Guesstimate it's one hundred cases (1200 cans) of various veggies. Will go back for tomorrow for a separate truckload of pork 'n beans ($.18/can or $2.16/case) after work. Might get another case or two of tuna, can never have too much.

Meanwhile, it's gonna be a short web session tonight. I'm beat and 4am is an awful lot closer than I car to think about. Especially with no Saturday or Sunday 8am sleep-ins.

Weary WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), June 20, 1999.

Not much. Father's day. Did buy two more coffee plants and a breadfruit. Weeded around the pineapples. My wife and I each bought 6 cans of SPAM and 20 pounds of rice (sale items) to add to the storage.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 20, 1999.

Shopped Walmart, Big Lots, Health Food Store, and BJ's. Spent too much money! Unloaded the car several times. Still putting stuff away. When is it enough? Had y2k practice night on Friday because the power was out!!! Got batteries?

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), June 20, 1999.

Bought adzuki, alfalfa, and mung beans for sprouting. Got more canned fruits and veggies, coffee, antibacterial soap, artificial sweetener, and vitamins. Rode my bike to get those muscles ready for next year. Lurked (mostly) on the forum to get my recommended daily allowance of things I still need to do.

-- Don (whytocay@hotmail.com), June 20, 1999.

Blew a wad at Big Lots for canning supplies, steel wool for fire-starting and foot-long Charleston Chews for 39 cents each.

Bought four Zippos at $9.99 each for friends' and family members' bug out bags (on sale at Eckerd and CVS for Father's Day).

Purchased Les & Carol Scher's Finding and Buying Your Place in the Country. (I know, I'm cutting it close.)

-- GA Russell (ga.russell@usa.net), June 21, 1999.

Watched US Open. (May be the last year that there's a fairway at all!) Tried to get She Who Must Be Obeyed to take a trek to Sam's Club to no avail. Did find another gas grill propane tank at a yard sale. (Never thought I'd be collecting these!) Maybe go to Sam's club tonight.

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), June 21, 1999.

Bought duct tape, birthday party, dinner out and Father's Day with entire family! Think I'm set on most things, getting ready for an 'in-depth' inventory and rethinking of original plans to see if we are good-to-go. Well digger on his way next week and propane tank will be set as soon as we find out where well will be set. We just moved to a new, rural location in mid April, so we are fine-tuning the new house and cleaning out the creek behind us. Ya'll are awesome. Cogitating on building an outhouse over our septic clean- out hole. Gotta find me some good windows for ventilation of new two holer. Keep up the good work, and don't let the unthinking turkeys get ya' down! One neice asked me yesterday if I was still scared about y2k, yep, you betcha and you should be too! Her reply, "It's too confusing, I just won't think about it at all..." Told her to get some food in the house for her month old baby and get her head out of sand. Why do people refuse to even think of the possibilities? Guess I'll be buying more baby food. --Kendall

-- Kendall Williams (eagled7@webzone.net), June 21, 1999.

Oh is the weekend over?! Up till 4:30 a.m. last night deydrating and canning?! My biggest excitement of the weekend was talking to my sister (DWGI) on Friday. She is heat, water, food ready for three months now. The rest of the weekend was getting ready for 50 baby chicks, getting a new roof over the rabbits, new milk pail, Walmart and hardware runs, tater bug patrol, hosted campout for son with buddies at river...geez, it sure felt like we had a lazy weekend for some reason? Must have been those work till ya drop naps!? Feel one coming on now on this drizzley Monday afternoon...:-)

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), June 21, 1999.

Thanks Randolph for remembering. Thanks Gayla for your color.

I had a couple over Friday for a fresh salmon dinner (great with zesty Italian salad dressing and broiled). They told us they finally got it on y2k thanks to my wife and I and he is ready to quit his job to prepare! He has a mini farm with sheep, goats, beef etc. What a catch huh? He is a great brother in the Lord. We are now looking for a tractor trailer body to put on his property to store buckets of grain. He knows farmers we can buy cheap oats, wheat, and soybeans by the bushel.

Prepared all day Saturday to give a y2k presentation at a local Assembly of God church. About 75 in attendence. I printed out overheads. Categories: Y2K is a: Technical problem, a Managerial problem, Has the potential to severely disrupt our lifes, What God is saying, and finally how to prepare and questions. It went really well. Believe me, y2k will disrupt our lives. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.

Got off the phone today with Geri Guidetti of Ark Institute trying to get the skinny on seed saving. I received a seed order that was vacuumed packed. Geri says that is a no no. So I mailed them back and asked them to mail me a fresh supply not vacuumed sealed. Then checked for desiccant and cannot find it at Walmart, or Home Depot or Sams. I only live an hour from a Mormon cannery where I got my dehydrated food so I'll just get them cheap there.

You people are encouraging. Remember your spiritual preparations. Being tuned in to the Holy Spirit will be the only real safety. b

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), June 21, 1999.

I took the weekend off. I went to Pensacola and enjoyed the beach and sunshine. Needed to get away from Jacksonville and all that rain! Got back yesterday and checked on the chickens. Wish I had been able to stay there two more days.

DJ

-- DJ (reality@check.com), June 21, 1999.

Oh yeah, and checked in here to the forum to watch Andy take on the pollys single handed with half his brain tied behind his back. Kind of entertaining actually.

-- BB (peace2u@bellatlantic.net), June 21, 1999.