I'm listening to my Christmas albums this morning and wondering what next year will really bring...a BITR or TEOTWAWKI....Hopefully, something in between.

Many of us on this forum have loved ones who DGI and we are understandably concerned about them. Some of us have broached the subject with them to our dismay. The reactions we have received are somewhat less than we had hoped for and expected from those who claim us as family and friends. Nevertheless, we are worried about them and that brings me to this posting.

Let's list some of the things we plan to give or wish we could give to those we care for but are unable to convince.

I am sending lots of pasta back home this year and parmesan and olive oil. It is an obvious choice given that I live in Italy. It is also a long shelf life item (in the case of the olive oil and pasta) and will help those who need it if they do. What else can we send to those we love?

I am reminded of those old fashioned Virginia Hams. Anybody know how long they keep? You could send one of them with some bean assortments for "making soup" when they are done.

How about some dried fruit and nut assortments?

Do they camp or have kids that do? Camping gear and freeze dried meals for the kids!

Elderly? How about arranging to have their fuel resupplied and delivered before the new year?

A gourmet assorment of soups? With the title "gourmet" you can get away with just about anything.

How about those dried fish from Washington State?

Any gourmet cooks? Try the Penzey's spice catalog for a great assortment of specialty and everyday spices. They'll need something to brighten their lives.

Romantics and young marrieds? How about candles? Those great big pillar ones?

Assorted teas and coffees and creamers?

God children and grand children? Gold coins for their "future".

Clothes? Send some thermals and heavy blankets to someone in a cold state?

Don't forget to donate to your local food bank this year. It will be more than needed.

Now, what else can you come up with?

-- Ynott (Ynott@incorruptible.com), November 17, 1999

Answers

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

I'm sending everyone a full course of KI, and each family will also get a suds pump. The KI will be sent out tomorrow. Hopefully, if there is any threat of a nuclear event I will have the opportunity to call them and tell them to open their gift early. The suds pump is an item available from the Pampered Chef (a pyramid sales company). You fill it with about 1 part liquid hand soap to 20 parts water. Then, when you wish to wash your hands, you just pump out some suds. Water is needed only for the final rinse. This is a great water saver and in case of a BITR, we could all use cleaner hands anyway.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 17, 1999.

I'm giving my DGI family members the Lifetool, which is a creditcard- size Swiss army knife that they can carry around in their wallets/purses.

-- Midas (midas_mulligan_2000@yahoo.com), November 17, 1999.

In our families we only buy for the children. We're sticking with our yearly tradition of sending each 'family' a Christmas ornament.

Let them eat glass.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), November 17, 1999.

Country ham (salt cured) should last about six months unrefrigerated.

-- Butcher (meat@home.org), November 17, 1999.

I was listening to Y2K News Radio the other day and they had put together a "gift box" of about $200 worth of stuff for $100 or less. Can't find a link though.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 17, 1999.

Hey Dancr,

Just visited your website, VERY COOL! That suds machine sounds intriguing. Got a link?

What's a KI? (I am still looking through your very extensive website. Is it there?)

Thanks,

Ynott

-- Ynott (Ynott@incorruptible.com), November 17, 1999.

I'm giving Leatherman Wave tools. No home should be without one!

Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), November 17, 1999.

Re KI (Potassium Iodide) or KIO3 (Potassium Iodate), see:

The American Civil Defense Association

or Anbex

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 17, 1999.

I will be giving alot of useful things dressed up in disguise. My girls love books, clothes, art-supplies, games - we will concentrate on these types of gifts. Should I bother with computer games this year?

Can you get KI at a health food/GNC store?

-- silverbells (karlacalif@aol.com), November 17, 1999.

Sorry about the link for TACDA (The American Civil Defense Assoc.) about KIO3. Trying again. http://www.tacda.o rg/TACDA%20Store/kio3.html

SUPPOSEDLY you can get it without a perscription at your local drug store, but I tried and couldn't. Doubt if it is at GNC or similar stores. TACDA had good prices and quick delivery. Note - the NRC held 5 days of meetings of its KI Core group to decide on a new policy for Potassium Iodide and came out and recommended that cities STOCKPILE KI. Sounds like a good policy to me.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 17, 1999.

For those I care for: KI for the adults, KIO3 for the kiddies (who tend to chew these things). A set of "Camp Why-Too-Ka" mugs (perfect for SPAM chowder). Speaking thereof, some SPAM and other little food thingies (not intended as their supply, just as a reminder). A few gold coins (can always be made into earrings or pendants). A gen-u-wine military-type C-rations can opener (perfect for opening cans, envelopes, fingers, etc.). Some lightsticks. A bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.

For those I DON'T care for: A lump of coal. Directions to Da Fedz' Y2k Bunker. A treatise on the nutritional value of common insects and tree bark.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 17, 1999.

Flowers and a few bags of lime.

-- (its@coming.soon), November 17, 1999.

HEY! Where can I get that stud machine?? That sounds great! Does it come WITH the stud or do I have to get him separately????

Oooooops, just noticed it is a SUDS machine. Darn.

;-)

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 17, 1999.

I made a polar fleece cape for my mom and one for my daughter. I made pajamas, a robe, slippers, a pillow, a fleece jacket, and a quilt for my great nephew, all out of M&M (candy of the millennium) fabric. We bought several small, sports-bottle sized water purifiers to give for xmas. They only purify 200 gallons each, but it lets everyone know we take this seriously. (Several people have already been given their purifiers. Yes, recipients seemed a little puzzled.) I've also been passing out ziplock baggies containing the recipe for rehydration fluid and all necessary ingredients (except the water). We also bought a one-ounce silver coin with Millennium 2000 on it for everyone. (Some relatives will keep theirs forever and some will trade theirs for a quarter on the way home, if they don't lose it first.) Many months ago we gave the most important gift of all, the gift of early warning about Y2K. That gift was ignored by almost everyone.

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), November 17, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

The Suds Pump is available from The Pampered Chef. Unfortunately, this company doesn't sell direct to the public, but only through their local representatives. That link above will take you to their referral service.

I'm sorry, I don't recall from where, exactly, I got the KI. It was one of the first things I bought, before I got organized. It's not that easy to find. The box mine came in has this information on the side:

Wallace Laboratories Cranbury, NJ 08512

Although the stuff is kind of expensive for a Christmas gift (at least for me it seems expensive), I think this is an ideal present for this time. In case you haven't heard, KI is Potassium Iodide, the substance used to block the thyroid in case of a nuclear incident. This is something that we all needed to have had on hand all these years in case of disaster, but somehow our government didn't see fit to inform us. Now with the increased threat of nuclear plant anomalies and international sabre rattling, it seems an especially good time to have it. Recipients can use the whole 10-day course on their self, or share with neighbors in hopes that reinforcements will be coming in from outside the affected area.

It's compact and lightweight so it mails easily. Admittedly, this is a somewhat gruesome gift, but it's the kind of thing that I can't consider giving, and then not actually give. It's like the year that I considered giving smoke detectors... once I've thought of the idea, I couldn't bear the thought of how bad I would feel if they had a fire and I'd had the opportunity to give a warning device.

Granted, everyone who gets these is going to roll their eyes and give out a big belly laugh at my expense. Oh, well... I guess I'll just have to be the family nutcase, then.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 17, 1999.

We are giving each household in the family a solar powered flashlight/radio. We invited these four groups to stay with us for the duration of the Y2K disruptions. We invited them over a year ago with the provisio that they bring their own food. Only one of the four is preparing. The one with the least disposable income! It is driving me nuts -- all the superior smiles when I mention something we have bought for y2k. These are not poor people--they could easily afford food. On the other hand they are family. And they stayed with my Mother when she needed 24 hr care so I could have a 4 day vacation in three successive summers. So I'll buy more food for them --even if I'm a little cranky doing it. At least if we give them the flashlights and provide LED bulbs our house will not be toast from candles and oil lamps.

-- pamela (jpjgood@penn.com), November 17, 1999.

We send gag gifts (but practical) each year to relatives. This year we're sending a "Y2K" gift set........a can of spam, a candle, and a deck of cards. At least they'll manage for a couple of hours if the power goes down!

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), November 17, 1999.

I just got my gifts together this week = I'm making oil candels, with a bottle of paraffin lamp oil....only three friends are preparing, and will recognize what the gift is....the others may feel blessed for that tiny bit of light during the long winter nights....

Imma goin to git me oner them suds, too!!!

-- alice (alice@wonder.land), November 18, 1999.