I get a bit frustrated sometimes when I repeatedly see the same questions being asked for which there have never been answers. I see fewer good news postings, and more attempts as predicting the future, and more people surveying the consensus on Y2K severity, and more senseless bickering.

Ye gods, man, there are only 4 days left! Count them: 1,2,3,4. This is worse than when I was a child, waiting for Christmas to arrive so I could open my gifts. I remember when there were more than sixty days remaining, and the quality of exchange and dialogue was much higher.

On a personal level, once I reached my desired preparation level, I stopped worrying about what would happen; I reached my acceptance stage. I'm not sure what I'd like to have happen--bitr or teotw, but I've prepared amply for either alternative, and I am pretty sure that my wishes and prayers will have little effect on the outcome at this stage. i congratulate each of you that have taken steps to increase the likelihood of their survival.

Hang in there people! 4 days from today we can all begin another bout of waiting, waiting to see how bad it gets and how fast.

(thanks for letting me vent)

-- RZN (robinsun@netscape.net), December 27, 1999

Answers

Can't wait to start snarfin' them Fig Newtons

-- (salivating@my.hidyhole), December 27, 1999.

Not much to be said. Very little to be done but wait-n-see. Around my neck of the woods there are still generators to be had, plenty of food, no rushes for survival items etc. Could do some prepping I guess, but I am happy with our status. My advice: Order a pizza or eat out with the family, enjoy long hot showers or baths, go to a movie or the theater, call the loved ones far away, lay in some good books, hedge your bets as well as possible and relax. Good luck to all.

-- Ramp Rat (aviation_R_us@anchorage.ak), December 27, 1999.

I went to the supermarket today and bought some 5 lb bags of potatos, a couple dozen red apples, two cartons of eggs and five loaves of bread. I was surrounded by the Stepford Wives. There was one row of the store brand water gone, with the row behind it still there...as well as all of the "fancy" brands.

There HAS to be people who take steps to increase the likelihood of their survival..OR ELSE we are all doomed. Maybe not now...who knows, but someday, one day, the "survivalists" will be just that. It's neccessary to the survival of our species that some of us are crazy enough to worry about our survival. Pass the art down, to your children and their children, and have them do the same.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), December 27, 1999.

Good advice, Ramp Rat. And for those w/young 'uns, now might be a good time to get some puzzles, books,etc on sale and put them up on a shelf to bring down if the cabin fever gets to be too much in the days to come. Today we took a few things my daughter got that require electricity and/or batteries that she didn't want anyway and went to Toys R Us. They give you store credit with no receipt. (Before anyone thinks I'm mean, we took back three battery operated toys that she did not like or want.) Anyway, we got a decent store credit and ended up buying a Pokemon rubber ball (like the dodge balls from elementary school), a couple of no-tech board games, a couple of new coloring books, a few outfits for her favorite baby doll, a 3-pack of Yo-Yo's (I just re-learned how to use them!), a "stamper" marker set, some child-sized blunt-tip scissors, jigsaw puzzles, a book of Bible stories, a Child's First Atlas (at 5 she loves geography), a First Book about Animals, a First Book About Science, an Encyclopedia of World History for kids, and two workbook things: one first grade math and the other Kindergarten Thinking Skills. (Can you tell I am thinking I *might* need to homeschool?)

Did ya'll notice something? I only took back THREE battery operated toys/games and got ALL of the above in exchange. That was eye- opening.

I am taking your advice Rat, we recently went to a dollar movie and got all the classic snacks (hot buttered popcorn, soda, goobers) and I can't tell you how much I savored that popcorn and the movie. We spent the night at my parent's house Christmas Day and we all had a big pajama party, eating enchiladas and drinking cold beer and margaritas, acting silly and watching rented movies. I have just completed a 1000 piece jigsaw (love jigsaw puzzles!), and have been reading Learn To Mediate by David Fontana and A Dictionary of Angels by Gustav Davidson. Just finished reading Angela's Ashes.

Gonna drink some Godiva Hot Chocolate in new mugs the hubby and I got for Christmas and play dollies and Monopoly Junior with my daughter this afternoon. Then its off to the garage to build her new shelf unit for her bedroom (her books are EVERYWHERE).

So I guess you could say I am squeezing all the serenity and happiness I can out of the next few days. And hopefully after that, as well.

BTW, I am prepped for an 8, hoping for a 0.

God Bless, everyone.

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), December 27, 1999.

We've been eating our "preps' for months. and replenishing.

well...the short term stuff, although I did open a bucket of rice.

For short term (6 months-1 year) : Store what you eat, Eat what you store.

-- plonk! (realaddress@hotmail.com), December 27, 1999.

One prep I have not made yet, and am going to do it today. I am going to get about five gallons of hard candy to sock away for the bad times. Got to have my sweets. I figured after Christmas would be a good time to take care of this very important matter.

-- Notforlong (Fsur439@aol.com), December 27, 1999.

I'm looking forward to checking what my New Zealand tinned full cream (not ghee) butter tastes like.

I know many will say I should have tried it before, but it's not a critical prep item and I like surprises.

RonD

-- Ron Davis (rdavis@ozemail.com.au), December 27, 1999.

Same here, Plonk! Why would anyone wait to start eating their stored food? How will you know if you like it, how to spice it up, what to stock more of?

The only thing we buy fresh (done for the year, now) is veggies and stuff from our CSA farmer.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), December 28, 1999.