First, a personal thanks for all the great conversations many of us have had here over the past year. I also deeply appreciate Ed's faithfulness and the work of Diane, Chuck and the other sysops. Thanks as well for all those who have coordinated chats and physical get-togethers among us.

I'm sure you share with me the odd feeling of reality/unreality as we look forward to rollover -- finally! Do you believe it? Is this life a long strange trip or what?

I'm not going to rehash predictions or expectations in this thread. That's the point - we're finally going to smash the time barrier. All these months of framing scenarios, debating news, and completing preparations are finally meeting .... the .... date.

Whatever happens with Y2K (and that will be a matter of months, not hours or days), I feel I have come to know, to varying degrees, real and virtual, a fascinating group of people who think and live "outside the box." Though we're a cantankerous lot, I have a feeling we'd be having one heck of a party tomorrow if we were physically close - if not as good as the "dunk Paul Milne" party that we still hope for next summer

Whatever happens tomorrow, New Year's Day and beyond, you are in my heart. Don't freak. Stay cool. The most important prep is your own peace.

If the power stays up worldwide and nukes/chem/water remain stable, drink a whole lot of extra champagne and toast our good fortune -- Y2K may still devolve over months, but an easy rollover will deserve major celebration.

If bad reports start coming in worldwide, check your preps, take a deep breath and then drink a whole lot of extra champagne anyway and face the uncertainties with boldness and courage.

Virtually speaking, we're in this together either way.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), December 30, 1999

Answers

Good thoughts, Big Dog!

I've got a case of champagne, and several cases of wine.... enough to last for the months that it may take to figure out what's really happening.

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), December 30, 1999.

Thanks to you BigDog,

I've enjoyed many a BD analysis. It does seem like yesterday when I first looked in shock at Gary North's site and only hope/pray that this was a mind-bending folly on our part. I fear not, but can preach and prep no more. Good Luck to you and yours after the big rollover. May you preps go unused....

-- PJC (paulchri@msn.com), December 30, 1999.

Ed:

Many months. We once took a case of the stuff on a one week trip into the San Juans and Sangre de Christ. in June. It snowed every day and the stuff didn't last the week. Thirty-five years later, one glass will do.

Best wishes,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), December 30, 1999.

Well said, BD!

Things have taken on an unreal quality now that it's grown so near. I keep thinking about the long ride to the hospital to have my baby so long ago. The overwhelming sense of being on the threshold of a whole new world, after so much waiting, wondering and worrying.

Sort of leaving me breathless.

No matter what happens in the next few days, I know my life will never be the same. I've learned to stretch my mind, thanks largely to my forum family here. I've learned to question entities that I'd never looked twice at before, and to dig for the truth before taking anything handed to me on blind faith.

I feel like my words are starting to get tangled. All I know is that, Ed, I picked up your book in the beginning of May 1998, and came to the forum shortly after. If I hadn't read your book, or had the opportunity to 'hear' the thoughts of so many others, well, I wouldn't be sitting here tonight safe & sound and as ready as can be for what may be coming next. Maybe I'd have found you all eventually, but maybe not. I really don't think it's extreme to say that we may very well owe our survival to you all.

No, I haven't been drinking, I'm just getting mushy because the moment allows.

Thanks, man. Thanks, BD, for the eloquence.

-- Arewyn (artemis31@email.msn.com), December 30, 1999.

Big Dog,

Thanks...Dude, your post said it better than any I've read. May we all come thru this as unscathed as possible. No doubt, the challenge will be interesting, to say the least. I'm glad I found this site, (and Lisa's today) It was refreshing to hear intelligent folks putting forth their opinions, doomer or polly, just because we can. Now we observe, and wait, let's hope the pollies were right. Unfortunately, at this late stage, I should be considered a doomer, ARGH, ARGH. Wish it were otherwise. Thanks....ALL!!

-- Michael (michaelteever@buffalo.com), December 30, 1999.

A Mint Juliep on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs (The Kentucky Derby) would be the best gift of all to the son of the Bluegrass.

Butn I will settle for a Mint juliep at Churchill Downs on the Friday before the Derby (the Oaks) that would be most pleasent too!

Hell to be drinking anything in May in Kentucky (a most beautiful time of the year, here) will be just fine too.

Cheers!!

-- Johnny (jljtm@bellsouth.com), December 30, 1999.

Old NATO joke...a French soldier is telling a German soldier about his weekend plans for his girlfriend. "I'm gonna start by pouring Champagne all over her and licking it off!" German soldier; "That sounds great. Say, could I do that with beer?" Hope I have time for one more beer run tomorrow!

-- Mr. Mike (mikeabn@aol.com), December 30, 1999.

"Virtually speaking, we're in this together either way" And the forum family has been wonderful Thank you My blessings to all Ruth the Moab

-- Ruth the Moab (aapm@aapainmanage.org), December 30, 1999.

BD - Been lurking at ed's site for about a year now. I think the guardian angels will be working overtime this weekend on the nukes... the rest of us will have to fix the software boo boo's as they pop up.

Most geeks i know do their best work under pressure. We'll fix the bugs, one at a time. Just like we always do. Everybody do their part and the fixes will be awesome. Our users won't understand like they never do, but we will. Some things never change. Happy millenum! ;)

-- KatInSeattle (YouC@ntSpamMe.com), December 30, 1999.

I'll lift a glass to you, Russ, for all the intelligent, insightful comment you've offered through the months.

I'll offer a toast, too, to the many on this forum who have provided encouragement, support and assistance on everything from buying gold (Andy) to home remedies (Old Git) and a thousand all around.

Here's to you, one and all.

-- Vic (rdrunner@internetwork.net), December 30, 1999.