Time to focus, people. Just over 5 months to go, and we may be overlooking some of the most important things. This thread is for our kids:

1) Have the dentist fix those teeth! 2) Get a check up from your doctor 3) Visit the optometrist 4) Don't forget how fast they're growing - hit those rummage sales for bigger clothes!

***By the way - now may be the time to stock up on extra seeds for next year; saw more than one store with non-hybrids 10/$1.00 last night.

-- not about me (it's @about.thekids), July 23, 1999

Answers

not,

I know this isn't about the kids, but where are you finding the nonhybrid seeds at 10/$1.00? I've seen this price mentioned in various threads, and I've never been able to find seeds that cheap around here (in western Washington). Thanks.

-- Don (whytocay@hotmail.com), July 23, 1999.

I've seen the 10/1.00 seeds at two places. Long's Drugs in California and on sale at Walgreen's with a coupon from their flyer, limit 10 packs. (This was about 8 months ago) Bought 10 w/ the flyer that came in my paper, took several ad flyers from the basket by the door. Put the seeds in the truck, walked back in and bought 10 more. Repeated until the clerk said "just take as many as you want, I'll ring them up seperately". Pretty cool.

-- i. (nospam@work.please), July 23, 1999.

Re optometrist... someone here locally ordered glasses about 3+ weeks ago. Still hasn't received them. Was told there was a problem making lenses. Isolated report... but is anyone else hearing this from anywhere else, and could there by a Y2K tie in?

Re: growning kids. SHOES! Most come from China which could be problematic for lots of reasons.

Bicycle tires. [might just become the major form of transportation]. Baskets or carts for the bikes could come in very handy.

Books.

Assuming you are not already home-schooling, this fall get familiar with the books and course of study your kids are using at school. Before Christmas break be sure you discuss with the teacher/s where the class is in the books and what is coming up, and arrange to bring all textbooks home over the winter break. If the power is out, school is likely to be too (or the school may become a shelter). Without TV and video games the kids will need some focus for their attention. They can at least keep up with their textbook readings.

Trial runs. Plan at least one lights out weekend (or longer). Summer is a great time because you don't have to deal with freezing weather, and it is more like a campout. It will point out gaps in your preparations while there is still the ability to do something about it, and will allow the kids to get used to the idea. They practice fire drills all the time at school...'bout time they get used to Y2K drills. Some things might be especially important to practice.. like:

Water:.. you may not have any warning that water treatment plants have suffered glitches until everyone starts getting sick. Develop and PRACTICE what you will do for water - for drinking, bathing etc. Especially important if water is still coming from the pipes as it may not be safe to drink.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), July 23, 1999.

Don

I found non-hybrid seeds 10/$1.00 at Rite-Aid in W. WA, don't know if there are any still there, but I bought them not long ago (already had a bunch of course, but you can never have too many *grin*). Just got my Family PC magazine, major article on Y2K preps, mild, but very well written, calm but much to the point about the possibilities and percentages of cities not prepared or even contingency planning, advises individuals to prepare for themselves. Just thought it might be of interest.

-- Sammie (sammie0X@hotmail.com), July 24, 1999.

the spartanswould turn their children out into the street to steal food to survive.Children caught stealing would be beaten(encourage excellence,discourage self pity!)Tough love,but your little sweety could be tomorrows corpse if they dont learn survival mindsets.Your choice,sweety pie,some of the "icky"hasrh realitys of life will lay your loved ones down for the carrion eaters if you don't harden yourself enough to scare the young 'uns into mentaly prepairing.

-- APOKOLIPTIK (APOKOLIPTIK@near.day), July 24, 1999.