Assuming that all the basic preps have been done (food, water, gas,heat, lighting, etc.), what last minute preps (48-24 hours before rollover) do you plan to do? Some ideas: 1. Fill all the bathtubs, pitchers, tupperware, etc. with water for general purpose use should the water supply become compromised. 2. Massive housecleaning, throw out the trash! 3. Fill cars with gas. 4. Print out my Quicken check register and other important files onto paper as hard copies. 5. Backup the computer. 6. Double check my bug out bag. 7. Turn on the tv and watch the world reports. 8. Wash the dog. 9. Go down to the local grocery store and observe the panic. 10. Pray!

-- Zoe (a@a.a), December 28, 1999

Answers

It wouldn't hurt to swing by an auto supply store and pick up a locking gas cap. Even if the outer cap to your gas tank is locked, I believe it's easily overcome with a minor tool, like a screwdriver. It'd be best to protect your fuel from fools like You Knowwho...

I'm sure we all hope You Knowho makes it to therapy ... real soon! Your misguided angst is almost amusing - like a child holding a temper tantrum hoping to get their way...go home to mommy now...she'll hopefully nurse you through the coming months.

-- Ford Prefect (bring@your.towel), December 28, 1999.

Don't forget to get the latest virus definitions and run a complete check. I also hope to organize boxes with 3 days worth of various foods in each. I don't plan on bugging, but if I have to, this will make it easier.

Laundry!

Pray that all this work has been for naught!

-- cmd0903 (cmd0903@dontcall.com), December 28, 1999.

Doctors appt. today, dentist tommorrow. Sanitizing the 55 gal drums as I write, vacuum seal the rest of the preps tonight. Disconnect the HD's. I'd make out a will, but ... I'm going to make it!! And yes prayer is a constant. Still need some fresh reading material.

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), December 28, 1999.

Go to a hilltop near my house around 7pm and watch to see if the lights of the twin cities go dark. Walk around a bit, and return at midnight. If they stay on, then i'll exhale a bit and wait to see how things pan out. If they go out, Well, that's going to be a hard one to take if they stay out....

-- Lonelyroads (Lonely@faraway.net), December 28, 1999.

Yesterday was Y2k day. We went through all the preps etc. Hubby tried starting the generator. Would not start. Ran it a couple of times when first purchased, no hours on it. Hubby had to go and get a new spark plug. Started right up. Point: start your gens now and make sure they are still running. Filling the tubs every night, not waiting until the 31st. Figure things might go wrong early.

Watching what They are Doing, not what They are Saying.

-- Nena (Nena@home.com), December 28, 1999.

Got the genset on line right now. Testing. Glad I have an APC though, power surges when water pump kicks in. All I have left to do is refuel genset. I'm compliant.

Never before have I wanted to wish time away. Come on y2k! Sure hope its a BITR.

-- Tommy Rogers (Been there@Just a Thought.com), December 28, 1999.

1. Haircuts for all! (Tomorrow) 2. Hang up cup hooks around windows and cut plastic sheets to fit over windows (in case we lose heat). Reinforce holes with Duct tape 3. Long showers/baths for all and pets 4. Spray house for fleas (today, while it can air out and we have heat 5. Finish laundry 6. Finish washing dishes 7. Attend church (pray for all, light candles) 8. Clean guns 9. Check on elderly neighbors who are preparing. Help with last minute items

-- (reallyshy@little.com), December 28, 1999.

Trying to beat my bronchitis bug and watching carefully over my mother who has asthmatic bronchitis (borderline pneumonia).

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), December 28, 1999.

If you haven't done so, READ YOUR GENERATOR MANUAL! Most call for intermittent running unless it's put into storage. Also, be aware of how often to change oil, oil filters (if necessary,) any tools you may need for maintenance, etc. You will feel very foolish if for want of a few dollars in supplies your $500-$1000 generator is useless.

Secondly, USE IT! If you have a gen-switch to power circuits, GREAT! Test it out. If you just plan on running some essential items, test out what you can run. Do you have the correct extension cords? Long enough? In the middle of a crisis is not the time to learn that you can't run both the freezer and furnace at the same time, etc. Take the time in the next day or two to make sure you are intimately familiar with it's care and feeding.

I'm sure there a many people out there who have never even pulled their generator out of the box. Folks, you're setting yourself up for failure - TEST YOUR PREPS!

I just pulled out my generator for the first time since it got cold, and it started on first pull. But I ran it a number of times in warmer weather, ran 8 circuits via a gen switch, etc. I've heard it's best to break it in with regular oil (which I did) and then changed it to synthetic after maybe 15-20 hrs. Yes, synth is much more expensive, but as with everything else, I don't know how many hours this baby will need to run next year. (even went so far as to contact a local place who converted the generator to tri-fuel - can use gas, LP, or nat gas, and I ran a natural gas line outside.)

I've been keeping track of hours running it in my head, but will write it down on paper if TSHTF - this one calls for oil/filter change every 50 hrs, but will likely stretch if further after the first few changes (since I'm using synthetic with oil filter.) If you don't have an oil filter on your generator, then you might just want to stick with regular oil and but be sure to change it as often as called for (you can weigh the costs/etc yourself.)

Hope this rambling is of *some* use to someone... ;-)

-- Ford Prefect (bring@your.towel), December 28, 1999.

Nothing. I've done it. In fact, I went back out today simply because no else is. I was content with my gas tank at 3/4ths full but filled it as I was the only one at the station, bought more canned meat as I was the only one at Super K-Marts Y2K preparedness sale. I was out there yesterday hunting down a good sleeping bag and another camp table which turned out to be easy. Frankly, the streets are darn close to be empty in my end of Riverside County, CA. Not a creature is stirring not even a mouse. It's like everyone is hiding behind shut drapes and locked doors.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), December 28, 1999.

Do up all the laundry. Prepare "the Lecture" for the kids. Soak the string in boric acid solution to prepare it for candlewicking. Today I rendered butter into ghee. Yesterday, I rendered about 18 pounds of tallow (candles, if necessary, or soap.) Finally using up all those stupid plastic tubs I've been saving all year!

-- Liz (lizpavek@hotmail.com), December 28, 1999.

Taking all king size blankets and sleeping bags to commercial laundry do-it-yourself, and get it all done at once. Went to bank and emptied safe deposit box, got printout of all statements.

Went to Wally World (not any GI stuff going out the door that I could see, however no lamp wicks and low on coleman fuel), then to liquor store for some luxury items (blackberry brandy & wine as well as a few of those tiny bottles of really expensive liquors for a small variety).

Packing up all the Christmas stuff thursday, and a thorough vacuum job. DGI brother and family decided not to stay for rollover (hmmmmm), he knows the risks but waves it away. You can lead a horse to water......

-- Sammie (sammiex0@hotmail.com), December 28, 1999.

Pray. Buy cheese and other fresh food. Pick up new glasses from optometrist. Buy an extra case of engine oil. Buy some tomato plant seedlings from the nursery. Declare martial law (Just joking...).

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), December 28, 1999.

Got horses feet done...got huge bin of food, hay ready. Need to go buy some extra wormer. Bought some books, fun food, cards and milk and eggs. Will give spouse a list for tomorrow while I work!:> Can't believe we are still able to prep this late in the game...am thinking terrorists are going to be worse than y2k so will work on bigger bug out bag. Put all survival books in a bag so they are ready to go, getting clothes ready for outside camping if necessary...

-- More Dinty Moore (dac@ccrtc.com), December 28, 1999.

1)Inventory what's in the freezer shelf by shelf. That way if the power goes out we won't have to keep the door open long to grab something. 2)Return those library books due in January lest I get a bill saying I owe thousands in overdue fines. 3)Load the camera with film, snap a shot pre-rollover for the record. 4)Send out thank you cards for Christmas gifts. 5)Make sure everything rechargeable is loaded (cell phones, laptops, baby monitor, dustbuster, etc.). 6)Scrub the bathtub _before_ filling it with water. Get out the kids' swimming pool and fill that with water. 7)Phone calls to loved ones _way_ before circuits overload. 8)Buy a couple of alarm clocks with battery back ups. 9)Yep, I plan to pray, pray, and pray! Keep my eyes on Jesus.

-- J's Mama (count@down.now), December 28, 1999.

1. CLean out fridge, wash all tupperware in there with moldy food!

2. Bathe Buddy the Chihuahua (2 minutes, tops, might do it tonight)

3. Put camo netting on gas containers out back (which are already pretty well hidden).

4. Take out all trash.

5. Are already on top of laundry, do last minute loads.

6. Pack away rest of Christmas stuff (this is for Wed) and put neatly in attic.

7. Fill up waterbags (2 of them, 105 gallons and 200 gallons) and put in garage

8. Park Jeep Wrangler in garage, face out.

9. Continue eating up food that absolutely requires oven or microwave.

10. Hope the KI shows up in time!!!!

11. Call mom and dad --talk to siblings, as well. Don't act freaked, just to listen to their voices, JIC.

12. Long, HOT showers for all.

13. Clean tubs, sinks, fill with water (very close).

14. Double check all windows and doors for security.

15. Put binoculars on window seat over stairwell.

16. Clean and double-check guns.

17. PRAY PRAY PRAY

At midnight, the hubby and I will be praying. Then turn back on the scanners and shortwave.

Situational awareness, situational awareness, situational awareness.

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), December 28, 1999.

.....Get the last of what's needed. Plan on getting more fuel, smokes and a b't of the suds for the "off-hours." Clean and laundry.

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), December 28, 1999.

.....Get the last of what's needed. Plan on getting more fuel, smokes and a bit o' the suds for the "off-hours." Clean and laundry.

.....400 more lbs. of corn, 400 more lbs. of wheat. Complete my list.

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), December 28, 1999.

I'm DONE prepping (or at least as done as I'm gonna get). I've instead been focusing my attention on the KICK-ASS PARTY we are throwing! End of the world or not, I'm going to enjoy myself for a while...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 28, 1999.