If you call yourself a "GI" and have not prepared much, you are really an "SOGI" a sort-of-got-it.

If you not prepared (or well into preparation) for heat, water, food, light, health and family/neighborhood, you are not prepared and you don't get it.

It's only when you really start doing that you feel it in your gut. Then you understand what is at stake in your heart rather than just in your head. Your behavior will change. You turn into a shopping and planning machine.

www.y2kkitchen.com

-- Sally Strackbein (sally@y2kkitchen.com), November 13, 1999

Answers

Sally --

I was trying to get one of my Y2Klatura koinages into circulation by calling this species the Get Its; Don't Get It Totally -- or GIDGITs. Can you repost with this header? Thanks.

-- SH (squirrel@hunter.com), November 13, 1999.

Don't need much heat in Florida, which is why I'm here now--don't care about heating food (I'm kinda inelegant). Sure, I have lanterns, but I can also go to sleep early. Mostly need more food and a little red wagon.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

Isn't that like saying some of us are saved and some of us are just sort of saved? We are ALL just sort of getting it. No one is immune.

This is life, not a game. Some friends said once of a friend who had died, "It's such a shame because he was eating right and exercised and everything."

We [my family] are being precautious. We still own stock and have money in the bank. We have not removed ourselves from society [although I think my husband is considering having ME removed].

People that live through disasters get through them somehow and wish in retrospect they had been better warned or more precautious, but that might mean they would have had more on hand or they might have left the country. Precaution happens in degrees.

Please correct me, but it sounds like you're trying to attach labels and tell us what to do, which is not the stuff I come here to read. The PR guys and the press are trying to tell us what to do. Here, please talk, vent, inform.

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 13, 1999.

Who is Becky and who put her in charge?

I'll be glad to correct you, Becky; we come up with various abbreviations for assorted turns of mind (and other things) all the time here. If you visit Sally's excellent website, Y2K Kitchen, you'll know that she does indeed "talk, vent and inform", with some of the best y2k-related writing on the web. I fail to see in what way she is telling us what to do.

Sally, I've been there for a while now and know what you mean. The many large and small acts of preparing that I do, the plans and lists yet unfulfilled, about which I am becoming frantic, the larger expenses I bit the bullet and went for - which validate my worst fears to me so much more clearly than just the consideration of them did - all of this increases the reality in my mind, which is not pleasant.

A friend pointed out to me how unbalanced my food storage & water storage plans are as compared to some other things - like having only 2 or 3 weeks worth of kerosene for my heater. I do not believe in only 2 or 3 weeks of disruptions, and it becomes more difficult to balance my preps as time grows short. The subconscious is willing, the trembling hands do not want to cooperate. It becomes more surreal to me instead of less, as I'd expected. You do become a machine. I have not been functioning normally for months. I can't carry on a normal conversation. I cannot respond to people who say "next year we'll do -- whatever." I don't believe in that kind of next year.

I have family members, too, who say they get it, who play a little at prepping but don't go too far, because that would be paranoia - the kind they feel I demonstrate. No, they don't "get it" where they live. Not deep in their hearts. When you do, it changes you. This I understand.

Thanks, Sally.

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), November 13, 1999.

Is is possible to be "sort of pregnant"? I think we either get it or don't get it. If we get it then we only differ in the degree of our preps.

Trashcan who is a SGI (super get it!)

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), November 13, 1999.

Sally,

What prompted this meditation?

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (faryna@groupmail.com), November 13, 1999.

Sally --

You have it right. My wife has turned into a 'shopping machine'. In fact, she says that we have done a complete 180, where it used to be me that wanted to go to Sam's on Saturday every week, followed by a circuit among the three or four big grocery stores during the week, with the Ace, Sears, and Home Depot a regular stop on the way home, and *now* it is her who does these things. (Although the pet store, hardware, etc, it still mine.)

Of course, the last month has been surreal. I find myself in meetings, discussing tool rollouts next year, and products planned for third quarter and my mind just 'boggles'.

I have found that I am developing a 'split personality', in that, at work, I spend all this time working on stuff that probably won't ever see the light of day. At home, I am not planning anything other than survival, with a wait and see attitude after the first (see how bad it gets, then make plans consistent with current conditions.) Tres weird!.

-- just another (another@engineer.com), November 13, 1999.

Becky -

A curious thing happens in the world of physics. It is called domain. Basically what it amounts to is the grouping of similar types because of a polarization or alignment to a similar direction. While the presence of direction is the same for all within the set, the degree of prominence varies greatly. This leads to groupings in subsets.

There is also a phenomenon called angular momentum. This basically states that for every motion there is an opposing motion that exactly compliments the first. Thus resulting in balance and null. It always is and must be. As my old friend Al E. says it's "spooky action at a distance"

If you apply this theorem to this forum, you will find that many of like mind have varying degrees of sensitivity to the potential of Y2K. While we all share the same direction, we find our paths vary. All statements are not for the consumption of all members of the set. You will also find the angular momentum function at work as well. Those that necessarily cannot GI have presented their position, and must not move from it. The universe must remain in balance. Be extremely glad that you are among the GI camp, and please don't find offense in anothers presentation of direction or momentum.

This also allows one to practice tolerance with the Polly's (most of the time) THEY JUST CAN'T HELP IT!! bwahahahahahahha!!!!

It's really just all part of the "seamless whole"

Respectfully

Michael

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), November 13, 1999.

Just another engineer: I always enjoy reading your posts! You summed it all up for me when you said "Tres weird!" The emotional dichotomy of living this split life gets to me sometimes, esp now more than ever. I find I am eating too much (a reaction to stress? worried about food supplies to come?), playing Free Cell solitare frantically and long into the night (anything to take my mind off things and I have become quite the insomniac) and then doing more preps with more urgency now than ever. I go to the store once a week and today was my cheapest total in recent memory--$130! (Around $600 a month!) I am actually getting sick of having my full to the overflow point basket stared at and then laughing and making a joke about my big family at home when the checker is nervy enough to comment on it (the irony is I have exactly ONE child). To top it all off, I probably have done the worst thing I could possibly do this weekend: watch scary movies (yeah, way to take my mind off things, huh?) Saw "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc" in the theater last night, and while not exactly scary, per se, I still see everything differently now. I had tears in my eyes when she was burned (everyone KNOWS the ending right??) GREAT movie, BTW. Then today, I rented The Blair Witch Project, and while I was aware it was a fake "mockumentary" it was STILL freaky. Stressed me out more than anything, and I am a pretty laid back person.

ENOUGH! Let the days go by quickly so there will be no more waiting! I got it in 1997 for crying out loud!

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 13, 1999.

Sorry I meant to address Sally as well. I know what you mean. My dad says he gets it, acts like he gets it, but as far as preparation goes, all he has done is joke about stocking up on Dr. Peppers. He must drink 11 cans a day.

BTW, Sally, y2k kitchen is AWESOME. I need to post my recipe for Weenie Soup. The ULTIMATE Y2K meal, and my mom didn't even realize it when she invented it in the 70's when we were poor. Anyway, great job!

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 13, 1999.

Michael

You took the words right out of my mouth!

Respectfully,

Trashcan

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), November 13, 1999.

Might I suggest there are those who REALLY get it and yet are not preparing? They are not SORT OF get its! Perhaps they are the Angels closer to Hell. They are the well-informed poor, the critically ill, the good-hearted disabled, those with absolutely no support system...especially those who happen to belong to more than one or two of the above categories simultaneously.

Others may say Y2K prep is NOT about money, but unless you have some of it, even $5, you are not going to be doing any preparing other than perhaps mentally. For many people, Y2K comes every day. It is right there TOMORROW ... when there is no food, shelter or support. And some of these people, believe it or not, are intelligent but powerless, and painfully have learned about Y2K, and Get It. They just can't do anything about it except prep mentally and warn others.

Don't tell me about government support systems, etc. where I come from -- for many honest folk -- there is no support, no welfare. It is just life or death. Some of these people have chosen instead to at least tell others about Y2K so THEY can prepare, even if the teller of the tale cannot. And good luck if they manage to change 1 percent of those they approach with this madcap tale of Y2K.

Be thankful you are blessed if you make $100 or more a week and can put something aside for now. Or if you even make $50 a week. Many cannot. The can of soup they get today will only last for one day.

I suggest we have another category, if we must, for those who know they might not survive, cannot personally "prepare", but dedicate their own two cents worth of information so that others might be bouyed up. Call them the OOTT -- the Orchestra On The Titanic.

-- (normally@ease.notnow), November 14, 1999.

I'm an SOGI: Scared Of Getting It. It's just too much. I can't bring myself to believe it, even though there is at least as much credible evidence of failures as there is of compliance (i.e. none versus none). I LIKE my life the way it is. Too scary. Must stop reading this forum. :)

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 14, 1999.

Sally - you nailed it. Could it be like runners hitting the "wall"? I have been like a deer in the headlights the last 2 or 3 weeks, not being able to move on some of my remaining preps. Oh, I can ALWAYS bring home a few more sacks of 2-fer deals on non-perishable foods. That's EASY! The mantra plays in my head that if the pollies are right it is no loss as I bought all the stuff on sale and it won't go to waste (waist, yes... waste, no). But it was only a week ago when I FINALLY got a water filter ordered [thanks Stan for the cooperative preps], and although I have 2 nice Aladdin lamps, I have no kerosene. I'm guessing I might need 100 gallons, and I just haven't been able to make myself face the local dealer and order it. If I'm/we're wrong, what the heck am I going to do with 100 gal. of kerosene? Got to get over this wall... and before the Y2K movie is shown.

BTW - thanks Sally for the recipies on your site!!! I work with adults with developmental disabilities who are used to popping a frozen dinner into the microwave. The staff is trying to get them prepared for the possibility that the microwave and the freezer might not be working. Your recipies are simple and will be really helpful in trying to get a very vulnerable population somewhat prepared [though I am still very very worried about them]. Thanks.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 14, 1999.

Just visited Gary North's site, and a post there seems applicable:

link

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 14, 1999.

I think of those who buy food to feed the hungry and refuse to own firearms to be SOGIs.Feed the starving masses and you will become the starving masses.Refusing to engage in the brutish violent nature of spoiled people in times of crises is differant from Denying said nature.

-- It's too late,millions will die (de@th comes for. us all), November 14, 1999.

I _think of those who buy food to feed the hungry and refuse to own firearms to be SOGIs.Feed the starving masses and you will become the starving masses.Refusing to engage in the brutish violent nature of spoiled people in times of crises is differant from Denying said nature.

-- apokoliptik (apokoliptik@yahoo.com), November 14, 1999.

I'd love to feed the world and have them smile and go away.But history seems to teach that they will envy,resent,and despise me for it.Death comes for us all,and for many all too soon.

-- apokoliptik (apokoliptik@yahoo.com), November 14, 1999.

Geez, Sally, what a hot thread! I wondered for a second when I posted my reply if I was not being nice. But when I read all this . . . I guess when I read your question the first time I really thought you meant "ME" when you said "YOU."

I will make a big apology move and visit the kitchen. You must be really dedicated because you have so many fans.

I really did think you were implying that if I didn't have that radiblock iodide stuff or have a year's worth of food and fuel that you and the other posters would like to give us a new name.

But Dr. Peppers? Okay, put me in the GI category, please, and I don't know anybody who pretends to get it but stocks Dr. Peppers and laughs about it. [Painful when it's your dad.]

You see, I'm still digging potatoes and instead of going on line this morning I threw firewood into the shed behind the house. We have a beef farm and for dinner [I'm not kidding, one poster declared this practice weekend and I took his lead] we had potatoes boiled on the camp stove, steak from the grill, and bread baked in a cardboard box. We had green beans that I canned but they are not good, so thank goodness I only have one jar of mine left.

My husband, I would say, Gets It To A Point, GITAP. He lit the lamps and yells at our 7 year old, "Who turned on the lights?"

I haven't been to the kitchen yet because I just got here.

And would you all mind not ganging up on people because they don't speak your language precisely or because they have a different slant? Some of us have been going it alone and need to talk.

Who put me in charge? God did! From the minute I was born! That's what I've been trying to tell the Don't Think, Don't Act messengers who want us all to go back to watching TV!

Okay? Friends?

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 14, 1999.

Thanks to all of you who were kind.

I'm not trying to gang up on anyone. I'm just trying to wake up some people who are going to be part of the problem. I personally am acquainted with people who have been speaking out about Y2K for a long time who have not actually made any significant preparations.

I am not talking about people who think it will be a 2 week thing and have prepared for 2 weeks. They have a right to their opinions. I'm talking about the people who have been telling everyone else to prepare and have not done so themselves. I care about them and I want them to get started!

When you do your Y2K test, you will immediately go to the store when you finish the test to get the stuff you need to fill in the gaps.

I am not speaking to those who cannot afford to do anything. I am talking to the procrastinators.

ps: got some new recipes on the site

www.y2kkitchen.com

-- Sally Strackbein (sally@y2kkitchen.com), November 15, 1999.

I'm posting this to the thread because it belongs here, then I'm done:

Becky, you must be pretty new at posting on forums & I was new myself early this year & made some mistakes too, but I don't need my personal email used for your ongoing argument on any matter - that's what the thread is for. Having said that, I decided to reply anyway - we can't all be consistent. You've no idea how "dedicated" Sally is unless you've perused her site, which I recommend:

http:www.y2kkitchen.com (I hope)

You also may not know how much harder it is for some of us than for....you, for example. Yes, some of us are "going it alone" - really alone, not on a farm with husband, beef, garden, firewood, etc. Just to illustrate, my husband has been gone for years, my grandchildren are older than your child and far away from me, and I go to work at a city job every day - I'm not at home online. There are many women in similar circumstances who post to the forum irregularly, as we don't have many opportunities. We find friendship, support and help from each other. We know each other. It is not being exclusive, it is simply familiarity.

There are many kinds of GI's here, and many levels of preps among us - I think mostly we all prepare as much as we can and worry that it isn't enough. Especially in cities we have no real way to leave. When any of us respond to threads, although I don't mean to try to speak for all, I'm only one, I think we must base those responses on personal circumstances, because what else could we base them on?

I just returned a few days ago from a hurried weekend in Texas - a very long trip for me - prepping my single-father son and two youngest grandchildren. He was and is an SOGI, as Sally called it. I was worried out of my mind for them - now I'm not. I had been piling up non-food preps for them since May and did the food shopping while I was there. My grandchildren helped. "No spinach." Their father was stunned but he is a church-going man, and I had an excuse for him: "By Faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in Holy Fear, built an ark to save his family." It is heartbreaking when we have family and loved ones who "sort of get it" but are not prepared. I have several.

It's nice that you have a lot of self-esteem, but it does come across rather badly to people who are dead serious and scared, and possibly not in the same circumstances you are. Nobody is "lashing out" at people who don't feel they need the same level of preps - not Sally, not me.

But there are a number of broken hearts here. And I'm sure you don't mean to walk on them.

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), November 15, 1999.