A Newbie's Opinion about this forum..and Ed Yourdon

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

I've been to this forum every morning, every afternoon, and evening (when I get a chance) for the last 2 weeks or so and the sad thing is that I haven't a clue as to who you all are. I asked for help in preparing for the new year and within 1 hour I got more answers than I could possibly have imagined. I thank you all for that.

Jay Urban made a humorous thread about how a newbie should act and that got me thinking. Who are you? Who are these people that took the time to help ME out? Who are these people who take the time to gather all this information. I find myself wondering if I'll ever get to come back here in the beginning of the year and check to see if everyone is alright. Jay talked about respect for "older forum members". How can I show respect if I don't know who the "old ones" are? Maybe, since we are getting close to D-Day, you all should stand up, take a bow and introduce yourselves. We're all in this together and personally, I'm glad I found you all but, it would be nice to know who you all are. Where your from.

I've spent a lot of time gathering info on Y2K, getting prepared and praying that this is all just bullsh*t. It just going to be another day. Well, it isn't and thanks to a lot of you, I'm better prepared and don't feel so alone. You know, the ones that are preparing are considered a minority. Not to many in my area are taking this situation seriously and if I talk about it, I just get a sympathetic stare. Like, its ME that needs help. Hell, it took me almost 6 months to convince my wife that we need to stock up and guess who helped me change my wife's mind. Ed Yourdon. She got onto his website and spent an entire evening reading his articles.

Ed...thank you. I got a lot of respect for you and hope everything you predicted to happen remains just that. A prediction. I wish you and yours a happy and healthy life and it would be nice to see more of you around the forum.

Finally, I would like to say again, to all that remain dedicated to sharing information, helping others prepare and, well, just stopping and reading my ramblings....THANK YOU. I'm leaving my real email address in case you want to take the time to send me yours. Like to keep in touch and even informed when the New Year hits.

BTW: My name is Sean. I live in S. Central Pennsylvania at the base of Blue Mountain. Got 2 boys ages 10 & 4. I'm married (10 yrs) and happily, at that. Lastly...I'm scared shitless as to whats gonna happen when my grandfather clock strikes midnight on Dec 31st.

-- Familyman (cmarpoe@mindspring.com), December 02, 1999

Answers

Familyman,

Thanks for the kind words. I echo your thoughts, and am sure that almost everyone on the forum does, too -- namely, that whatever pessimistic predictions and dire scenarios we may have imagined turn out NOT to come true.

Best of luck to you, your wife, and your family...

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), December 02, 1999.


Welcome to the TB2000 "Family." :-)

-- hiding in plain (sight@edge. of no-where), December 02, 1999.

Well Sean, let me first begin, by saying that most of us do not have a clue what horrific if anything will happen. (my humble opinion only). Will all the underground propane/gas lines blow up? We don't have a clue. Will all truck grocery foods stop, so there's no food on the shelves? Maybe, it will be a "Nothing Happening". But I would suggest stocking up on water, I have no clue, I only wish to offer you to stocking up on water. I wish to guide you on having much canned food, and an alternative way to heat it(can we say Barbecue pit?) We are Here, only as long. as we are "here.

-- Nana (donthave@clue.com), December 02, 1999.

Sean,

This may help...

Forum "Old-Timers" Raise Your Hand! (Especially programmer types)

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 001ou3

;-D

Prep well.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 02, 1999.


Familyman,

Great to read your post. There is indeed a lot of information here. Personally, I started "lurking" occasionally several months ago, as I did on a few other boards. I narrowed my "surfing" down to a few websites several months ago, and starting just in October, I started hanging out here regularly -- most of my 'net time is here now.

There are several very intelligent, well spoken people here -- on either side of the equation. On the so called "polly" side there are a (very) few. I take time to read Flint's and Decker's posts and responses, as well as the very few others'.

There are indeed many, many so called "doomers". Most are well spoken with much good-to-excellent referential information. I don't consider myself a "doomer". Although, life-as-we-know-it seems inevitably destined for the history books.

I have 22 years of application information systems development, integration, and project management. Several years of that are in programming (COBOL, PL/1, CSP, IMS DB/DC, IDMS/ADSO, Fortran, and various later technologies like PL/SQL and VB (Visual Basic). I am currently a project manager for a major communications company.

Personally, I think we're in for a long term (24-48 months), seriously deep (10% US unemployment), global recession. I don't think things will ever be exactly as they are now.

My name is Terry. I live in North San Diego County and have a 4 year old son. I do not trust, the media, Bill Clinton, or any of his pawns. The most trustworthy information I can find is here.

Thanks to all of you who gather and post such valuable information!

Welcome to the forum, Familyman!

Terry

-- TA (sea_spur@yahoo.com), December 02, 1999.



Hello Familyman

In an effort to respond to your questions (or in other words I'll try).

Age:56

three grown sons.

Experience is 34 years in industrial construction (electrical).Primarily building coal-fired co-generations complexes through out the west. Throw is a smattering of oil refineries, pipe lines, and a couple of copper mines, and one open pit gold mine. The favorite part of my jobs where in start-up, eventually I specialized in that segiment of my trade. First as a doer, then LOL. Telling someone else to do'er.

If it helps, I get nightmares about the embedded systems. I know the extent of their frailty. And it does not help to remember that 20 years ago we (startup enginering) had pointed out the we had found a little "flaw" in the mother boards. But the brain boys would always tell us "the next generation main frames would cover the problems".

As I stated down on the poll thread, I am, must be "infomagic" on their numbering scale. I sat here this evening and watched a law enforcement officer on national T.V. kick a young man in the neither regions. And thought to myself "self if it would have happened to me. I'd be back in a minute with the difference in my hand." John Q. Public has been lied to. And when he finally comes to realize it, he will have his due. And may heaven help us all.

Incidently, if you want to read something intreguing..Pick up a king James bible. Go to Pslam 99 (as in the year 1999) read it slowly....Note that the last verse says roughly this.

Though thou didst forgive them oh Lord! Thee didst take thy vengence upon their inventions. (note the shaking of the ground mentioned also...and remember Turkey's E- quakes)..

Just something to think about

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), December 02, 1999.


Hi Sean,

I'm an oldie, but a goodie.

I've been lurking of late, because the flame wars are beginning in earnest with a little over three weeks to go.

I like to think that if bad things happen, we will all pull together, in much the same way this country has always done during a major crisis.

I know my neighbors. As a neighborhood watch block captain, I gave them the Red Cross information this past summer. I trust that we will pull together if there are problems.

Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I am, after all, the offspring of a member of the "Greatest Generation" that Tom Brokaw frequently talks about.

Each generation has its test. Maybe this will be ours. I don't know for certain, but I think we're up to the challenge.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), December 02, 1999.


Welcome! Relatively new to posting here myself - have read for a long time. I moderate another Y2k list.

I am an RN and a business owner (international tour company). 2 years ago when I first heard about y2k I started to research and read everything I could (I'm an information addict). I question everything - was born saying 'why'. I see society losing its critical thinking skills.

I love my community and I realized if my community isn't prepared I am not safe or prepared. I started a grassroots group in October of 1998 and held meetings to inform on Y2k and preps (food prep, equip prep, gardening, much more) and held them till April. I also went to our county Board of Supes and got them to listen along with an aware IT person. We then got an official Y2K Task Force appointed and have worked all year with all emergency and infrastructure officials in the county and have remediated and developed contingency plans. We are a mountain county - 2500 - 7000 feet and have a variety of needs.

So I am happy about the official's awareness here, but citizen preparedness is low, I fear among those in the small towns we have, especially.

Also was granted a radio program on the local station where I am a DJ and investigative reporter - The Y2K Forum. It was biweekly and now monthly. I've been able to have as guests on the show - Roleigh Martin, Mark Frautschi, David LaChapelle, Lia Danks, Mike with the Underground Houses and many others.

Our county will have an emergency information center set up on New Years Eve Day and New Years Day and I will be there monitoring and reporting over the radio as to what is happening around the world.

I've learned so much about our interdependencies on the planet, major flaws in our financial systems, government lies, and on and on. I've also met wonderful people on these forums and in person!

What an amazing journey so far. Who knows? I can't say what the ultimate scenario will be, though I've read literally everything.

Prepare for the worst as best you can. One of the best things I've heard is "Are you prepared to be wrong". Western Nevada County (Calif) Y2k Preparedness Network

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), December 02, 1999.


Hey, FM, I'm a writer and researcher. When I started researching this topic, my jaw dropped... No one knows what will happen, but I have seen a few unhappy facts reported by rather reliable sources...

Shakey, thanks for the Bible quote. That's interesting. I don't believe God punishes us, but it looks as if He just wants to wipe the slate clean. Mankind has gotten into a little too much trouble lately and taken too much upon itself. My friend was explaining the Tower of Babel. Men were building a tower to reach God! So God messed up their plans. Hey, does that strike a chord or what?

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 02, 1999.


Dear Familyman:

Keep coming back. I am a family man, too. Been at his forum for many long months. 30 years in the IT business. Still working hard to make one major company come thru the other side. I am not optimistic.

I am keeping my sons close until all of this has passed (if it ever does). Suggest you do the same.

Pay attention to Diane, Old git, Sysman, Ed, Cory, Robert Cooke, Lane Core, (shit, I should not have started his list, because there are lots of good people here and I am half drunk and grieving from the loss of my seventeen year-olds best friend, who died in an auto accident Monday night. We buried him today. Nothing much matters to me right now. Have to go back and work on mainframes tomorrow.)

Wish you all well.

Mike

-- Michael H. Cumbie (Mikecumbie@yahoo.com), December 02, 1999.



Blessings, Mike. Many of us have been there. Peace be with you.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), December 02, 1999.


Welcome Familyman! I'm new here too, and not a techie. I work for Virginia's brand of public mental health. Spent 3 years at Hopkins doin' post grad work, then moved to VA and have been here for the past 3 years. I've come to the conclusion that VA is quite um backwards, so please pardon my sometimes cynical OT rantings. I like looking at the personal and social aspects of this y2k transition, and enjoy most the humor on this board. Laugh to keep from cryin, huh? I'm happy to learn from a variety of professionals in this forum.

I'll throw in a little personal info given your invitation, relating to Shakey's posting. When I was 19 I was walking with a friend on Myrtle Beach one night and literally swayed as I felt the ground shaking under my feet. A couple minutes later a gang descended on us and started beating my friend with bats demanding his wallet. That was fifteen years ago. Now I'm feeling the earth shake again.

Oh, my name is Donna. I post as Hokie cause I did my undergrad work at Virginia Tech, home of the hurrying Hokies, and the first thread I read on this board had one person ask another if he was a Hokie. The coincidence suggested a handle, and helped me feel kinda like I might fit in alright.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 03, 1999.


Mike, hang in there. Having lost some loved ones, I know how you feel. Take care of your family, #1. It's harder to deal with death when you're young. Help 'em through it.

-- TA (sea_spur@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.

Arnie Rimmer here. Mrs. Rimmer and I have been here on the forum for more than a year now.

I am a software developer and network systems administrator with nearly 20 years experience. Mrs. Rimmer is a database administrator. We will be delighted if no serious consequences arise from Y2K-related problems over the next year.

We take the potential risks of Y2K seriously but feel that there are just too many variables to make specific predictions. Our feeling is that it will be somewhere 'in the middle'. That is, things will be made worse than they needed to be simply because the vast majority is not taking Y2K seriously. We acknowledge that we could be wrong. We do not expect 'end of the world' scenarios, at least not on a large scale. But in the end, all disaters are local and Y2K could easily be the end of the world for some individuals caught by bad timing and lack of preparation.

I have no doubt whatsoever that some businesses will die as a direct result of Y2K. Just how many 'some' is, I can't tell you. Maybe relatively few, maybe more, and maybe a lot more. I would be shocked and amazed if no businesses died as a direct result (but as was pointed out in another thread, proving death by Y2K might be quite difficult in a mild impact scenario).

Our own preparations are mostly done, thanks in no small part to the help of other participants here. Our level of preparation is also in the moderate range. We are certainly not prepared for social meltdown. Is such a scenario possible? Certainly in some areas. Much less likely for the nation as a whole. But we live in a county of 200,000 where a week without electricity in the middle of winter could be truly catastrophic for anyone not prepared. If a large amount of severe suffering occurs and lasts for any extended period, then all bets are off.

When I was young, my mother taught me a very valuable lesson and it continues to help me today. "Gambling is OK if you never bet more than you are prepared to loose. Oh, and one more thing," she said, "..never draw to an inside straight." Collectively, we are now about to draw to an inside straight and the deed to the farm sits in the pot. I don't know what card we are about to draw, nor do I really believe it is an 'all or nothing' scenario, but I do know that I wish more people would have listened to my mother.

Good luck, keep your head low, and welcome to the forum.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), December 03, 1999.


Familyman: I too am a relative newbie to the forum. I have been researching and preparing for 16 months now. I have been searching the web and discovered this forum about 3 months ago. There is no other forum such as this one. These people. from ED, CORY, DIANE, SYSMAN...to FLINT, DECKER & others that will give you the insight of the ages. Their discourse and arguments are better than any novel I've ever read...next to the "Bible" of course. I come here everyday I can to hear both sides and find it extremely educational. By the way ED, I gave my DGI grandmother a copy of your latest book. She read it, and decided to make a few "adjustments" in her portfolio...which is well in the seven figure range. Of course, my mother and aunt tried to talk her out of it, but she politely reminded them that she lived through the first depression, and if wasn't for the "jar full of money she hid behind the stove" that continued their standard of living and helped their father start a new business, life might be very different today. Thanks ED. Anyway, kudo's to all who contribute to this "weaveworld" we call TB2000!!!. Shepherd

-- shepherd (shepherd@sierratel.com), December 03, 1999.


QUESTION FOR REGULAR POSTERS AND LURKERS ("POLLYS," "DOOMERS" AND "IN- BETWEENS"): WHO ARE WE? http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001BkV
This MAY be the link diane gave you all.

Oh LINKMEISTER::::: Could you link to the 5 or so "Who we are" threads for the newbies??

I looked BRIEFLY but Mrs D has me on a stopwatch so......

chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 03, 1999.

Michael H. Cumbie,

Just wishing you peace and tenderness. That's a hard one... for you and your child.

Many Blessings.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.


Familyman,

I'm a "new one". I stumbled onto this forum a little over a month ago, but I've been Y2K aware for around 3 years. I started prepping in earnest around May, shortly after I relocated to Chicago from Minneapolis. I'm originally from Detroit. Musician/Writer.

I too have found this site very useful since I've been on. I'm not a computer professional myself, though I've been using them constantly for about 15 years and have learned as much about them as one can without being an actual programmer (my brother is a programmer though...and he's prepping!)

The e-mail address is real, and my website is at http://web/rollin.com/~ludi

Best of luck to you!

-- Ludi (ludi@rollin.com), December 03, 1999.


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

I introduced myself the last time we had one of these threads. At that time, Chris pulled this list providing several previous threads:
What About You?

"OUR" What about you thread...

What about you? (Revisited?)

What about you REDUX

What about you? (third incarnation)

See also:

CALLING ALL LURKERS

How many people visit this site daily? What percentage are "lurkers?"





-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), December 03, 1999.

Family Man,

I started researching this question (Y2k?) in earnest two years ago. I looked for everything I could find on the web, other print media sources, and government sources (while I was working in the Senate).

In fact, I would have discussions with other Senate staffers ( a year ago) and was shocked by their level of ignorance, and the manner in which they would offhandedly and smugly dismiss this topic. I didn;t expect people to convert to total "get its", but I also didn't expect the outright hostility I noted because of my interest and desire to perpare. Mind you, these were not people directly connected to the Y2K investigations by the Senate Committee, but still people who one would expect would be sifting through various information sources in order to try and form a balanced perspective.

My twin brother turned me on to this forum. I had been reading mail from him on the subject and exchanging viewpoints. I still remember the day that I "got it." I was trying, for my own sanity, to consider the way in which our economy relied upon various connections, whether to the grid, to banking, to telecommunications, etc. I started to consider the scale of problems should certain interruptions to these connections materialize. I thought about which interruptions were most likely, etc. That night I went to Price Club and the Home Depot. I built a pantry/shelf set-up with the potential to conceal should the need arise. I stocked up quietly on food and water, medicine, and first-aid supplies.

I think that the most amazing thing to me about this forum is the dedication to continue exploration on both sides of this issue, which has been of invaluable assistance. While there are some "pollyannas" and "trolls" who are annoying, there is good discussion and information here.

Finally, I work for the government. While I strive to do a good job every day for JQP, I know firsthand that there are limitations on the government's ability to mobilize for anything quickly. Putting one's faith in anything but oneself is foolhardy and misguided. That is what has prompted me to stay prepared, continue to talk with others about what potentially may happen, and pray for the best. Meanwhile, I continue to lurk, and learn.

Good luck. Thanks for posting.

Mark

-- mark (mat_dc@hotmail.com), December 03, 1999.


Familyman:

Welcome, I am also from Pennsylvania (northeast) with 2 kids. Been here since january. There are some great people on here and they have taught me much. I have found that I learn about the most Recent events right on this forum! I may see it later on the news or days later in my newspaper. If I didn't feel people were sincere in wanting to help one another here I would not have stayed so long.. Even though I post occassionally and am not as well informed as most, I am a regular. With the government and media playing this down so, I find it amazing that our local Walmart now has a booklet from the State at the Exit on how to Prepare for Y2K. Seems things have changed here, but putting it out in December is a little late. It says to have a 2 week supply of can goods and fuel in case electricity is out. Best of luck and write me...this is my real email

Cassandra

-- Cassandra (american_storm@usa.net), December 03, 1999.


My husband and I are engineers. He has a PhD in controls theory and a PE. Taught automation and systems at PSU for 20 yrs. Started a business 15 yrs ago--manufacture programmable vibratory feeders with computer controlled fiber optic vision system (used in robotic applications). Moved our business to the family sheep farm 9 yrs ago. Normal people play golf--we raise sheep. And we are seriously worried about the power grid. Pam

-- Pamela (jpjgood@penn.com), December 03, 1999.

FamilyMan,

I've lurked on this forum for over a year, and began posting about 6 months ago. I "got it" in Oct 1998, and started prepping in earnest in April 1999. We live on the very western edge of Wisconsin, about 20 miles east of Minneapolis. Age 41, married 17 years, with two boys age 13 and 16. (I was on a contract in PA near Reading from 1995 - 1997. Place called Pottsville.)

I'm a computer consultant (last 10 years). Been in the business for 25+ years, mostly on "big iron" (mainframes) and doing process automation / data collection / bar-code type stuff. BSEE, and member of the IEEE. I know a plethora of languages, whose acronyms I won't bore you with here, but I'm sort-of a dinosaur.

My first exposure to Y2K issues was on the MSNBC Y2K board, where I had many a panicked discussion there. Thanks primarily to Anita Spooner, I "got a grip", and lost my total doomer mentality. As time has gone on, however, I have drifted from a '5' assessment to more of a 7 - 8. This has been due to the seemingly pathological inability of gov't and companies to GET THE JOB DONE, and provide TRUTHFUL INFORMATION to the public.

Oh well, hope this has been informative. I always post under my real name, and use a real email address. So far, I can count the number of flame/spam emails on the fingers of one hand, so I guess it's working out okay.

I get private emails from others in my business (in a variety of industries), the content of which would give most people a STROKE. Bottom line: I'd really, REALLY prepare for 3+ months, if I were you....

28 days remain.

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), December 03, 1999.


Director of Engineering for very large technology company. Started trying to get customers to address/fix Y2K problems about 8 years ago. Been inside the Y2K operations of many organizations from makers of nuclear power plants to aerospace firms to investment banks to governments. We are now in a lull. All the preventitive work that would be undertaken has been. After 2000 we will be recovery (for what can be recovered). I am not optimistic.

Married, 4 kids - 2 married. Last two graduate from college this month. Preps include 4 months food for 2 dogs.

-- ng (cantprovideemail@none.com), December 03, 1999.


BTW: My name is Sean. I live in S. Central Pennsylvania at the base of Blue Mountain. Got 2 boys ages 10 & 4. I'm married (10 yrs) and happily, at that. Lastly...I'm scared shitless as to whats gonna happen when my grandfather clock strikes midnight on Dec 31st.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hey Family man, you aint alone. Wife, three kids, two dogs, (and a bunch of chickens) all based south of Lancaster.

Been 'doing' Y2K since late 1997. We're gonna make it guy. It might be rough for a while, but we'll see the other side and be better off for it probably.

Don't let the fear get ya, you don't have time for it. Just do what makes sense to you.

-- Art Welling (artw@lancnews.infi.net), December 03, 1999.


I'm a 'newbie', too, and can't tell Mr. Yourdon how much I appreciate his doing all he's done.

OT: For those of you who might be interested, please check out:

www.tip.org

This is something that mainly Christians would be interested in, but is valuable to all.

It is about technology and prophecy and is written by a systems analyst (largest bank in Michigan - - Mich. Nat'l - -now owned by the Bank of Australia). I was thrilled when I discovered this information, because the time-line of events in this century alone is something I've been waiting for,since becoming a Christian 40 years ago. The lessons are free on the Internet, but of course the book does cost a little.

I hope I'm not doing anything I shouldn't by telling you all about this, but I consider it relevant info to all of the Y2K info. Mr. Miller (the author) says that the people who understand money would not have spent all they have if it were not a real problem.

He wrote this book over a 30 year period and published it with help of someone who formerly worked for Zondervan ten years ago.

By the way, Y2K couldn't possibly be what some of the far-out prognosticators claim it is. (The return of Christ on a date we know).

'Til He comes,

Connie

-- Constance A. Iversen - -"Connie" (hive@gte.net), December 03, 1999.


Thank you all very much for the responses. The ones who have supplied "real" email addresses, you will most likely get a "hello" from me in the near future.

There's a lot of heart felt replies to this post and I do appreciate it. Matter of fact, my wife is still reading them and jotting down names and email addresses. Hopefully, they keep comin'.

Again, thank you all. God bless and God speed to ya!!

-- Familyman (prepare@home.com), December 03, 1999.


Mark,

We're glad your twin brother pointed you here too!

*Grin*

BTW... how do the Senate staffers and insiders view the Y2K work by Senator Bennett? Or the GAO reports from Williamsen? Or Congressman Horn's report cards?

Any thoughts on the Naval War College Y2K scenarios?

Just curious.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.


I have four children. I work in telecommunications. I have two kids in college. I can't begin to imagine what my life would be like post- y2k, if I had not researched it for myself. I read Timebomb 2000 on the train to Texas when I was going to visit my sister. My visit was more to the web and all the info I could get my hands on. Now over a year later I still feel like I'm in some movie that sucked out the brains of people and we GI's have to speak a different language so as not to be 'discovered'. I'm on the brink of insanity.(Not literally, I hope!) This waiting is so difficult! By nature I'm an optimist. So this is like a bad dream. A nightmare! This sounds so down but this is one of those days for me. I guess it's nice to be asked 'Who are you?'. But I ask this: who will I be after y2k? Some how I don't think I'll be the same.

-- ohioian (numb @finaldays.com), December 03, 1999.

Hi, Familyman........I'm a youngish (who am I kidding?) retired nurse who discovered this forum a year ago. I became a GI (Get It, if you're a newbie) a little before that. Living alone, I probably put too much thought into Y2K...it's kind of hard to not think about it most of the time, when you don't have family distractions. Still, I'm grateful I 'Got It' when I did, because it has taken an incredible amount of time, energy and money in accumulating my preps, everything from solar oven so a foot warmer! This isn't how I planned to spend my golden years and retirement savings, but I'm grateful to Ed and to Gary North for pointing the direction so that hopefully, I'll be able to survive whatever comes. If things go smoother than expected, very few trips to the stores will be needed for a LONG time! Besides, I have developed a new interest.....that of Camp Dutch Oven cooking. At my age, I didn't think there were any new interests, but this sounds like fun!

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), December 04, 1999.

Hi! I am in Hershey, PA. I have been working as a computer programmer for about 15 years now. I have a daughter, 12, a son, 7, and a DGI husband. I was walking around Weis Markets last night stocking up on things (because people on the Internet told me to) and wondering at what point my husband will have me committed. But to a parent, nothing else really matters except feeding your children. The boss doesn't matter, the spouse doesn't matter, and the Pollys don't matter. God is watching over us and guiding our actions like he always has. The worse thing that can happen is that I'll have a lot of food for the food bank. The ever-beneficent Clinton has been kicking single mothers off welfare and the food bank is in need of food anyway. It will all work out in the end if you follow your heart.

-- Amy (leoneamy@aol.com), December 04, 1999.

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