Come January 1, 2000, how will you spend the day?

I suppose I will stay up past midnight the night before just to check the phone. It's working? hmmm, they must be on battery power, or is everything ok after all? Light working? Water running? Toilets flushing?Anything on the radio? I will probably go to sleep with the radio on so if it goes off it will wake me up. Waiting for the first shoe to fall and then thinking, "Was that really a shoe?" And then supposing the worst does happen. No lights, no water, no phone, no radio, tv and it is Saturday, hmm the calendar still works. I will spend most of my time watching the road, looking for my neighbors watching for strangers. "What are they doing out here? Are they armed? Are they slowing down? We will have food, water, shelter, warmth because that is pretty much ready now, just need to do some testing of systems. But mostly I think we will be watching out for what the population of unprepared people have in store for us. We will have done what we could do to prepare for what we could prepare.

This is it! What did we forget? Who and what is out there?

Msglory

-- Roberta Blackard (roblackard@juno.com), November 11, 1998

Answers

Shivering! Quickly layering up with the polartek ski accessories we bought for the occasion. Opening those first cans of soup. Using the first of our stored jugs of tap water to flush the loo (providing it's not backing up). Maybe realizing we need to implement the inflatable football loostops to stay rosy. When do we know about that? Better do it before New Year's Evil :)

Meditating, prepared for 5 months of hibernation mode. Will miss the hot showers the most. Cascadia isn't the best for solar heating.

Wishing we hadn't been so idealistic and kind all these years and had instead concentrated on making money so we could have made a bunker in the hills. Nah, we'll die with all the great karma!
Ashton & Leska


-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), November 11, 1998.

What a dayy for a dayydreeeeaammmm....

1/1/2000: At last, The Date has come. It is hard to believe that things could get worse, but they surely will. 1999 was nothing but Dates. January 1999: Suddenly everyone saw that Y2K was real, due to unremediated Y2K software that messed up accounting systems due to incorrect fiscal year treatment (the Jo Anne effect). Fortunately, that was something that was pretty straightforward to take care of. In fact, everyone was saying, "See, Y2K is no big deal, you can fix it easily enough." But, still, to have all these systems that you depend on suddenly do screwy things.... April 1999: Countries, states, counties, businesses that went to fiscal year 2000 suddenly had problems. People not getting their checks, riots, National Guard called. People starting to get worried, saying what about my check, what about my money? Lost jobs, lost economy. July 1999: More fiscal year 2000 rollovers, now it seems like everyone is in deep yogurt. People start hitting the banks, before they figure that their computers will get screwed up, "bank holidays" are declared. More riots, martial law. Assurances of contingencies, manual overrides, fixes in work, if we just hang in their together. mid-August 1999: GPS rollover knocks out communications systems, everyone unsure. So much worry, uncertainty. But if we all just hang in there, work together, they say....But now its here, January 1, 2000. And hey, no lights....

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), November 11, 1998.

NEW YEARS EVE 1999

Turn on the TV and hold our breath, as we begin to watch y2k unfold around the world. Bake ham and turkey. Prepare side dishes. TAKE SHOWER! Bring elderly parents to my house. Wait for son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter to arrive. (Thanks heavens we have a large house. (-: Pray we are as prepared as we think we are.

-- Sharon Armstrong (sarmstro@seidata.com), November 11, 1998.

Encourage guardian angels everywhere to give their humans a hug. They'll need to know they are not alone then.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 11, 1998.

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), November 11, 1998.

On the morning of New Year's Eve, I'll be listening to Radio New Zealand on the net, and seeing what the media has to say about New Zealand. It's the first major country that will enter the year 2000. Two hours later Y2K hits western Autralia, and an hour later Japan.

I'll take a bath on December 31, 1999, since I know I won't get that chance much during the following two weeks.

I'll be with my family on January 1, 2000, listening to battery powered radio, and trying to keep us low profile so neighbors don't get an idea on how much preparation we've done.

And I'll be praying.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), November 11, 1998.

I intend to spend the first three months keeping such a low profile that even my shadow won't know where to find me.

It's the old "look up at the snakes belly as he crawls past your nest" type of hide & seek. I learned it very well and it works.

Unlike Ms. Diane, I don't think the people will want to play "kissy kissy nice nice" during this time. I am more of a realist I believe.

S.O.B.

-- Sweetolebob (La) (buffgun@hotmail.com), November 11, 1998.

Protected by layers of polartec under my winter camo gear, I lay unseen on the hillside overlooking the major intersections leading to/from Philly. Using my 7-15x35mm Bushnell binocs, I watch as the regular Army troops position their Bradley's alongside the road. Those 25mm guns looking a bit threatening as they stop cars, search them and then send them back from whatever direction they came. From the looks of that burned out and shot up Chevy a hundred yards down the road, somone tried to run the checkpoint. Hmmm, seems like they are confiscating guns and food. The curfew and blockade started 24 hours ago and I heard about it on my scanner. Power is flickering on and off (not good for my heat pump compressor at home so I shut the breaker off). Uh-ooh, just heard a short burst in the distance. Sounded like 5.56mm from a '16. Better pull back. Those young troopers look cold and scared.

-- R. D..Herring (drherr@erols.com), November 11, 1998.

WOW! Some of these are intense! Reading all of the responses, I am concerned that most people are looking specifically at just that "One Date." Even if the power and phones stay on in most areas, the domino effect will still get to you eventually. As an example, it may take a little while, but a reduction of imports from other countries who are less prepared than we are WILL catch up with us. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you wake up on January 1, 2000, and you still have power and phone service, (I HOPE!) don't get careless with your extra supplies. Chances are good that you will still have great need of them later on.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), November 11, 1998.

Martial Law in the first 24 hours. Um...ok. MAYBE day 3 (and boy is there ever stress on that maybe), but the first day? Sure..I guess. I'll just happily sit out in the middle of nowhere where I have for the past 13 years.

Rick

-- Rick Tansun (ricktansun@hotmail.com), November 11, 1998.

I'm going to spend it gathering information.

All I can, however I can.

I'll have electricity (but not from my utility, I expect) and if the 'phone works, I'll certainly try to log onto this forum and see who else is here (if anyone) and what they have to report.

Beyond that, it all depends on what's going on. . .

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), November 11, 1998.

regular morning prayers; run checks on electrical and water systems; attend New Year's Day Eucharist (may have to improvise locally if neccessary); establish radio listening watch monitoring for news; lunch, walk or ride around to the neighbors' places and make sure everybody is okay; have some sort of New Year's celebration for the kids - maybe take them target practicing for a while if the weather's decent; walk the property line; establish night watch rotation, dinner, check the radio again; socialize with the other adults, regular evening prayers; stand watch; sleep.

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), November 11, 1998.

Gayla,

Excellent points. I have heard a lot of people say "Well if nothing happens I willmake a large donation to a food bank". WHY???? If Y2K has taught us anything it should be that we should be in afar better state of preperation than we have been in the past.

Let's say you make that big food donation and a year later some similar event is predicted of coming at us again, why not keep what you had to begin with or do you really want to go through all of this again? (And by "you" I do not mean you specifically Gayla:)

Rick

-- Rick Tansun (ricktansun@hotmail.com), November 11, 1998.

Fresh eggs, sausage and hot coffee for breakfast(cooked on my woodstove or grill). Listening to my new SW radio (solar/hand crank powered) and calling friends and family if the phones are working. Watching my unprepared neihbors wander around outside with "y2k wasn't a joke" looks on their faces. Making a bee line for the soon to be empty Safeway. Using their last 1/4 tank of gas searching for propane heaters and propane. Listening to police driving through our neihborhood announcing emergency shelter locations as I put another log on the fire, cook a steak on the grill, drink a glass of cheap wine and ring in the new year.

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), November 12, 1998.

With a hangover, may exchange a few insults with (t)he clean dude, may broadcast a few millennium poems. Will view the mounting chaos through bleary eyes.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), November 12, 1998.

I've sworn off hangovers (not that it stops me). When (t)he clean dude is partying, tomorrow is another day. Big fun this New Years Eve, straight and narrow next year.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), November 12, 1998.

How I spend New Year's Day 2000 depends: If panic has brought martial law, empty shelves, economic collapse, I plan to be in my bolt-hole with as much of my family as possible. (Gotta remember to mark the days, so we know when New Year's comes.) If people follow true to form, I will probably still be in my suburban home, packed and ready for flight.

-- Lois Knorr (knorr@attcanada.net), November 12, 1998.

How I spend New Year's Day 2000 depends: If panic has brought martial law, empty shelves, economic collapse, I plan to be in my bolt-hole with as much of my family as possible. (Gotta remember to mark the days, so we know when New Year's comes.) If people follow true to form and wait until 2000 hits them on the head before they wake up, I will probably still be in my suburban home, packed and ready for flight.

-- Lois Knorr (knorr@attcanada.net), November 12, 1998.

If all is well: looking for Deedah and the PAARRRTY!

If all is not well: wishing I could have gone to Deedah's party.

nemo...

-- nemo (nemo@deepsix.com), November 12, 1998.

If you live east of the Mississippi, as I do, the lights could go out way before 1/1/2000, because of shut-downs of the nuclear power plants. 1/1/2000 could find me 1 or 2 months into y2k. A seasoned veteran of woodstove-cooking, sponge-bathing, and in-law-bickering. Did I store enough chocolate...

-- madeline (runner@bcpl.net), November 12, 1998.

Well I will be helping my dad check appliances. Then I'll propbobly read a book or two. It would be a good time to write stories. In fact I'll probobly keep a diary. Who knows i could be the next Anne Frank? About people not knowing, news week had the crash of '99 on its front cover. Our social Studies teacher showed us it. we had a talk about it and i gave alot of info about it. Here's some quotes,

"Man this is really scary."

"We won't be able to have school"

"Well then bring it on"

"or Nitendo 64"

What! oh Man This majorly stinks

-- Jean, a Cook, P.P. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), November 12, 1998.

Praying.

Greybear

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), November 13, 1998.

IF I GET THE DAY OFF...
I'll probably listen to the radio for news as I do some ice fishing. If I catch some good-sized bluegills or a bass, I'll probably clean 'em. If the utilities are still running, I'll bake 'em with a slice of lime and cracker crumbs. Otherwise, they'll be skillet-fried on the wood stove, accompanied with some ready-to-eat or canned stuff. If there's power and Internet access, I'll likely visit this board and monitor the boob toob to see what's happening...otherwise, I'll probably read, delve into that stack of magazines that I've been too busy to touch, play my old piano by the firelight[ I'm gonna miss my synthesizer, if this is the case :-( ], and chat with the family... I'll probably be doing alot of contemplating and praying that day, hoping for the best and doing my best to adapt to whatever may occur.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), November 13, 1998.

My husband, children and I shall be at the church in prayer as we do for the new year. We pray from 8-12. At which time, we shall return to our home. I shall be thanking our GREAT GOD for His love and for the blessings. Then we will most likely pray for the entire nation. If the rapture doesnt happen, and I am left here to defend, I'll be praying God keeps the "Lep's" away from my door. As well as prying for all of mankind. I have been so afraid for soo long that I have entered the acceptance phase and am "leaning" on God. Prepared, YES. Afraid, NOT ANYMORE

-- consumer alert (private@aol.com), November 13, 1998.