Hi people, this is my first time talking on the web. I have benn reading my father's talks though. I would like to be able to talk to uncle deedah. He is my favorite character. Sorry, I'm a writer. I am 13 and in the eighth grade taking mostly advanced classes, all except for LA. if you where he is please tell me. Uncle Deedah i was wondering what you felt about a few subjects. if you have any information on the whereabouts og this character please contact me at here

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 01, 1998

Answers

Jean, sweetie, I have some questions for you first.

#1. Does your Daddy know where you are and what you're doing? Have you tied him up and put him in the closet?

#2. I didn't know they had a middle school course just on Los Angeles (or is it Louisiana)?

#3. Do you think Unca D is a work of fiction, like Winnie the Pooh, or maybe Holden Caulfield? Well maybe he is ROFL

I sure hope you find him. He'll sure have some things to tell ya! (pssst be sure to copy & paste anything back into the forum)

-- John Howard (Greenville, NC) (pcdir@prodigy.net), October 01, 1998.

First of all, LA means language arts. although I would rather study Los angeles. Yes, my dad knows what I'm doing (not going to bed yet) In case you don't know, my dad is Robert Cook. about the closet, you could pretty much call his office that. It is cluttered and 4x5 feet. As for #3 do you know where he is or are you defeating the purpose of this thread?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 02, 1998.

Get 'em, Jean. D. will be here. He always checks the new posts first.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 02, 1998.

Hi, Jean. Your answer on What About You (revisited) was really funny! I see you also have a sense of humor. I can't believe your dad wanted you to smell the skunk. It must be a man thing! Did you see the post from Morgan (16 years old) looking for someone to talk to about Y2K? Don't worry, Uncle Deedah will find your thread soon.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 02, 1998.

I appeal to Sgt. Schultz -- "I know NOTHING....I see NOTHING..."

(practicing for a job with some government Y2K committee)

-- Joan Howard (pcdir@prodigy.net), October 02, 1998.

Do you want to find him in cyberspace or track him down at home. He's like the Scarlet Pimpernel (they seek him here...) or was that the dediciated follower of fashion. Hope you succeed in your quest. Just follow the limericks that will lead you to the Holy Grail.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 02, 1998.

There was a young lady called Jean Who was so exceedingly keen To find uncle deedah she searched near and so far but nowhere was he to be seen ************************************************ There was a young lady called Jean Who looked everyday on her screen For a message from deedah Or a sign from a star To find where this elusion has been ************************************************* There was a young lady called Jean Who often her hair she did preen To look her best for Deedah Used cold cream from a jar She looked a stunner if you know what I mean ************************************************* There was a young lady called Jean Who decided to come onto the scene Of world wide web interplay She became addicted one day And off the habit we could not her wean ************************************************** There was a young lady called Jean Who wanted to contact the dean Of y2k eminence Who never suffered from pretence He's the rock on which we all lean ************************************************** There was a young lady called Jean Who said uncle deedah oh where have you been his folks said wait just a mo we'll search high and low and they found him there on the latrine **************************************************

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 02, 1998.

Gayla,

The skunk wasn't a "guy" thing -- the defense presents its rebuttal:

We were drving back from the Grandparent's house(s) in South Texas, saw/smelled the "distinctive" odor of a formerly round and cuddly skunk, now much rounder and a lot flatter (or shall we delicately say "his average elevation was much closer to 0.00 than it used to be"). Jean's face does a wonderful imitation of a prune (going the complete "EWWWWWWHHHH, What was that?" bit with scrunched up eyes and pinched nose). So I ask "Haven't you ever smelled a skunk before?"

It's about a half mile later by now, she answers by shaking her head, still refusing to let go of her nose, still not taking a breath. So I figure its time for a practical zoology lesson in comparative anatomy, (or distributed anatomy, depending on how you want to look at it), and I turn around to go back and show her the skunk.

Of course, by the time it took to turn around, go back to the location of said anatomy lesson, turn around again, and then head East again, its probably 2-3 minutes -- certainly longer than she wanted to hold her nose. So she did "accidentally" get a second exposure to the odor.

It was the only descent thing to do. I mean really, it seems cruel and unusual to have a nice young Southern belle with family from South Texas to have to go through life not knowing what a skunk smells like.

The defense rests. Do I dare ask for the mercy of the court? Am I guilty of assault (and pepper) with a deadly smell or innocent? Innocent or Innalotta trouble?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 02, 1998.

We get a few 2 dimensional animals on our highways too. A lot of big 3-D ones like moose and deer as well. They don't flatten as well as skunks. Anyway, I got particularly fed up with this one moose that kept wandering onto the road in front of my car. Frustrated, I stopped my car and looked for something small and heavy that I could throw at him. Bingo! Right next to me on my car seat was a size D Duracell. Well I winged that sucker right at that old moose and got him square between the eyes. Unfortunately a wildlife officer was watching the whole thing and I was arrested.

The charge: Assault with battery.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), October 02, 1998.

Craig,

That's a really electrifying story.

-- Dan Hunt (dhunt@hostscorp.com), October 02, 1998.

We must keep this thread at the top of the recent answers until Deedah sees it.

Uncle Deedah, where are you?

-- Beltway Buddy (buddy@bellatlantic.net), October 02, 1998.

Lurch: Yoouuu Raaaannnng?

Gomez: Ah Lurch my good fellow, fetch Uncle Deedah from the playroom, he has a young visitor/inquisitor.

Lurch: Yes Mr. Addams.

Hello Jean,

I hear you have some questions for me, I will try to help as long as no electrodes or inkblots are involved. We can handle it here if it is short and sweet, or I will Email you at pops address. Leave a response, same Bat time, same Bat channel.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 02, 1998.

I love it, Uncle Deedah finally comes out to play and Jean has disappeared! Jean, Jean???

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 03, 1998.

I think Jean went down to the swamp with Wednesday and Grandmama to feed the alligators.

-- Mike (gartner@execpc.com), October 03, 1998.

We have searched between the hedges, over the Rocky Top and through the "swamp" but she was not there, but t'was finally located at a band fund-raiser at Georgia Tech with the "mother-person parental unit" of female persuasion. (And boy am I glad I persuaded her to be persuadeable to be of the female persuasion, because it be difficult if both of us were male-types. 8<)...besides there wouldn't be any cooking done around here if that were the case.

But the fund-raiser is done ... and so she shall surface by the seashore to sell seashells .... wait, wait, wait, that is a different tongue-twister and we shall tolerate no tornadoes about this place.

Even though tornadoes gets us back into flying cows, which as she always maintained are second only to chickens .....

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 03, 1998.

Hi guys I'm back. Tis true i was sent off to slave with the rest of the conseccion standers. Did I spell that right? Anyway the difference between me and them is that I got paid. $$$. First of all, Dad got it wrong. I was working on this really hard problem and he says Did you smell that. I say smell what? Wrong answer. He says a dead skunk. I ay gross, glad i missed it. again wrong answer. He turns around stopps next to the skunk and would have stayed there had it not been for the car coming behind us. it was a little while before he could turn around so I breathed then. Then he stopps again and i hold my breath. Fortunately a car comes. He didn't turn around so I got off without smelling a skunk

Ok, next, Dale. I enjoy reading your poems they're really funny.. i happen to write a few poems myself. in fact, i won the school-wide poetry contest last spring. Maybe I'll post that here sometime. Anyway, here's something to keep you busy.

There is a fellow named Dale, who's limericks should go on sale. My freinds love his poems, For I print them out Fo'em, and repeat them till the school has heard your tale

And finally Uncle Deedah, I am here give a sig you're here too.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 03, 1998.

Peopel People.Cows then Chickens. Burger King then McDonalds. Regal then AMC. First then Second. Get you priorties straight. DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!!!

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 03, 1998.

Reporting as ordered, m'am.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 03, 1998.

Hay! (HAy is for horses I know) I was wondering what you thought the schools were going to do . I mean it's kind of apparent that we're going to have a long Christmas break. After all, the buses might shut down and the people who can get rides might have their car break down. I making a list of all the reasons we can't go to school year 2000. Safety hazards and things like that. Any ideas?

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

here's a wierd little tid bit for you. It is the pledge of alliegence.

I led the pidgeons to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the republic for Richard Stands.

One Asian in the garage(no offense) invisible,

with liver tea and just us four, all.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Jean

Your version of the pledge sounds like something you Cooked up, Im sure I would have joined you in it, were we classmates;)

Why would you ask (axe) me that question about school? Perhaps you read the short and sanitized version of The world according to Deedah in the autobiography section of this forum? If so, you might enjoy the full novel; Rebel Without a Clue which covers my adolescence and gangly, awkward teenaged years. It is full of excellent advice on how not to live your school aged years.

I shall now do an imitation of Pops Cook: Enjoy your school years, they are the best times of your life. Heed his advice in this dept. I chose to ignore similar refrains from my dear struggling overworked single Mom, and have numerous regrets because of it. Unlike yourself, who seeks logical sounding excuses, I merely skipped school after perfecting the art of forgery. It was that dang book The Great Escape which provided inspiration for myself, and my hooligan compatriots.

Now to the question of your educational facility, and its ability to survive the onslaught of disruptions to come. Yes, I anticipate that the Christmas holiday will be an extended one, due to the numerous problems with the utilities. However, I also suspect that Pops Cook will have a plan of action that will insure that your learning curve continues its ever-upward spiral, can you say Home schooling? Sure, I knew you could.

You sound like a smart Cookie to me, I wish I had been so together, at that age!

"Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge

PS, If all else fails, try this one: But Dad, what if theres a fire, and the alarms arent compliant, and they dont go off, and we all get trapped, or something like that happens, wouldnt you feel terrible, knowing I didnt want to go?

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 04, 1998.

The reason I asked you this is because I frequently talk about this with the peopl at my lunch table and all surrounding. You would be surprised at how many kids who don't care but think that their parents are crazy for caring. We were coming up with a list on Friday and I just thought you might have some input that i could use in defense.

My mother is a chemistry teacher and she taught me Algebra. She could teach Geometry, Science, and Language Arts. Dad would teach Spanish and Socail Studies mainly because he has every history book imaginable. I could practice band at home and who really needs PE. I am very serious about my future. I will take as advanced classes as possible followed by at least 12 years getting a Doctorrete in college. Be chosen by NASA and, using Hubble and other telescopes, perhaps live on the new space station, become famous.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Jean

You are already famous, a lot of people read this forum. I wish you a whole lot of luck, and have only the best wishes for your future success. Please remember to invite your old tired Uncle to the liftoff, I would be mighty proud. (and I live pretty close to the cape, to boot) Forgive my silliness in my last post, we as humans tend to project our motives and faults into others, deservedly so or not.

Short list: NO Water, Electricity, Telephones, Gasoline, Heating, or Food would make it tough for even the most ardently motivated student to go to class. The absence of these things are not of course a given, only time will tell. Does your library have net access? Send your doubters here, or to Gary Norths forum, let the evidence speak for itself. An industrious sort, such as yourself, could also print out some of the info contained on these sites.

But when it comes down to it, you are facing the same resistance from your classmates that we as adults (Moe: "Speak for yourself [slap]) are facing. I suspect your task to be even more difficult considering the limited real world experience of the average teenager.

Regards, your dear old tired Uncle.

PS, If I may, in any small way, help further, I am, of course, at m'lady's call.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 04, 1998.

You're a grown-up so matbe you can answer this. You agree that going to school is going to be hard. So why aren't the school planning. I mean they've got things planned for the week after Christmas break. they haven't done a thing at my school. Are they just doin ghtis secretly or just plain stupid? makes you wonder what the principal is going to say on the day before Christmas break.

I was just wondering did you ever play an instrument and what?

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Dang it.

A nuclear engineering degree, a PE license, 10 years navy engineering and power plant training, 20 year's computer experience, A Master's in QA, ....

...and all I'm good for is teaching history, and remembering my 2 semsters of Spanish from high school in 1972-1973.

Maybe she thinks I can teach history because I'm soooooo old.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

No i dont play and instrament and i think that some schools are being secret about it for fear of maybe like the school would become caotic. well all i know is im not going to school after x-mas

-- Morgan (Y2KFever@aol.com), October 04, 1998.

Amen. We wer going to go skiing, btu my dad said he wanted to be home. How did you like the pledge of alliegence? I got it off of this internet site that had what was said and what people thought they said. Like Away in teh MAnger, instead of the little lord JEsus asleep in the hay, it's eating the hay.

be sure to visit the site www.kissthisguy.com. moreso, if you need a laugh.

(It checked out okay. Very funny. RAC) ---Dad wrote in other words it is G-rated

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Jean

I, during my 'hippie' years, did try my hand at the 'gitar' but found my fingers were too fat to fit between the strings. Later I was sorry that I had not tried the sax, 'cause chicks dig it.

Perhaps they (the schools) are DGI (don't get it), it is , sadly, a common malady. Awarenes is increasing though, signs will become apparent before too long, but there is only so much that most schools can do with limited budgets. You seem a determined young lady, Pops Cook has my congrats, and my pity, in alternating doses.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 04, 1998.

Jean, you've already caught up and overtaken me. Love the limerick. Yes would like to read your prize-winning opus (about time we had some real verse that isn't perverse, terse, or worse which we wouldn't curse while riding on a hearse).

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 05, 1998.

Yo! Hi guys it's me. Dale, sorry, would you like to be called Richard or Richie? I don't know I like Dale. It makes me think of Chip and Dale. I can give my poem to my dad tonight so he can get it here tomarrow,October 7.

Help us! You will never guess what the schools are doing now. Instead of worrying about the real promblems the State Legislature is having every kid in the schools of Georgia sign a pledge saying that they won't bring a gun to school. I mean think about it. If you a desperate enough to bring a gun to school, do you think a signature on a peice of paper is going to stop you?

Say "I" if you think this is just another scam to put off dealing with the ever increasing problems of Y2K etc.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 06, 1998.

Aye, or is it eye, iye?

Actually I think that falls into the trying to look like "We're doing something about school violence" category. You are right Jean, a slip of paper 'don't mean diddley squat' to someone willing to bring a gun to school. What is the penalty increase over carrying without signing it? Faster expulsion? I do not see how that means anything at all. BTW, what if you refuse to sign it? (not that I think YOU would refuse, it does however sound like something that I would have had a lot of fun with in my day, screwing around with their heads saying "I can't sign that, it is against my religion" or some such nonsense [my poor mom, what she put up with, SHEESH] I was a real 'jailhouse lawyer')

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 06, 1998.

Nope they are just going to pass around this sheat of paper and have evrybody sign it. There is no cahange in punishment you just sign it.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

Aye, eeeh, eye, oh, you, .... and sometimes why. Why knot? Why 2 kay? Or not too kay?

That is the question.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows and all that.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 07, 1998.

Better watch out, we'll be asking for Sir Richard's head here in a minute.

Boil, boil, toil, and trouble. I wonder if witch's curses are y2K compliant? What about Frankenstein, does he have any embedded controllers?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

Oh for heaven's sake. Sign a pledge? "XYZ School District Takes Action Against Violence in Our Schools". Well, heck, let's just get all the adults to sign a pledge not to murder anyone, rape anyone, steal from anyone, discriminate against anyone, or lie. Wait - who gets to make out that list - I would probably end up not signing it too.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 07, 1998.

The promblem is that isn't one school district, it is the whole state. I'm just glad some adults have common sense. But then we aren't government people. After all, everyone knows that when your elected president your IQ drops 100.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

Hi Jean, Different people usually start calling me Rich, Dick (ugh) Richie, Richard or Dickie or whatever other diminutive of my name they can dream up, then I'm known by that thereafter. I don't mind, what about Ricardo,no Rich will be better. Unless you can think of another. Funnily my brother was called Dick Dale even though his name was Chris, but he hated that so he adopted Paul. Regarding pledge not to take in guns, don't know how to start. Of course this move is ineffectual, perhaps the teachers and pupils should have a brainstorming/debate session to decide what can be done, by pupils, parents, staff, teachers one and all. I don't know what drives children in the US to want to carry guns, how did they get hold of them. Maybe think about issues (I hate that word) about carrying guns to school: Why - motivation, protection required??? desire to kill, dominate How to prevent, either by parents, or are all kids frisked at school! Anyway you know the situation better than anyone over here, perhaps if the PTA or whoever could demonstrate that they are taking measures to prevent it happening, assuming you can, that will be more useful than signing a piece of paper.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 07, 1998.

Thought I bore you lot more on the subject of names. It takes me years to remember people's names if I succeed at all. I've still no idea what my neighbours in Friday Street are called even though I talk to most of them regularly, I've even been known to address people I've known for years by the completely wrong name. Other friends I've never bothered to find out their real name (only their nickname). If you have a monosyllabic surname like DALE it can be said with a lot of venom (yes I encounter that a lot), unlike say Taylor. Regarding poetry, nothing rhymes with Richard.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 07, 1998.

Okay Dale here's something to remind you of rhymes of Richard.

There once was a man named Richard,

Who was tired of being the pitcherd.

He tried being baseman,

But got tired of chase 'em,

So the baseball league he ditcherd.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

Ok Joan, there are a few words that rhyme with Richard, only a true poet(ess) would know them, it takes ingenuity.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 08, 1998.

Okay people, here's the poem you've been waiting for.

A Bad Day

by Jean Cook

Buzz, went the alarm clock, followed by a moan.

"I don't want to go to school. Can't I just stay home?"

"Oh, don't complain. You'll get to see your friends."

"Yeah right," she replied too low to comprehend.

She threw on her clothes, not bothering to look.

It didn't really matter which shirt she took.

She glanced at the clock and saw she was late.

Too bad that breakfast would have to wait.

She hurried out the door in such a rush

that her hair was all tangled, no time to brush.

She had just turned the corner as the bus was leaving.

She ran even faster, her temper seething.

"Too late," she sighed. The bus had left her.

"This day is doomed. Tomorrow I'll move faster."

She walked to school, the whole two miles,

muttering and moaning, all frowns, no smiles.

She arrived at school looking like a mess.

Now to face her teacher, Mrs. Cesse.

"Your late!" bellowed the teacher, wretched and vile.

"I didn't mean to," she said with a face of denial.

"This child here is nothing but trouble.

Sit down. Be quiet. Don't burst my bubble."

She sat down in a huff, her temper running short.

Just great, she realized, I forgot my report!

Now from the teacher, "Please quote your summary."

"Mine is about Egyptian Mummery."

So she held a blank paper and did what she could,

but, alas, it was doomed to be no good.

"For you, an F and see me after class.

I'll have no more of your sarcastic sass."

And so the day went on, getting worse and worse.

The pressure was increasing like a balloon about to burst.

When she finally got home, she stomped into her room,

slamming the door to make a satisfying boom.

Lo and behold, when her mother got home,

"That's it, honey. No longer use the phone."

"What!?" she exclaimed. "What did I do?!"

"You didn't turn in your report and showed disrespect too."

"Why me?" she cried as she collapsed on to her bed.

She only fell asleep after every tear had been shed.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 08, 1998.

Ah yes, ain't life a hoot? The good part is that it only gets more frustrating and hectic as it goes on. :'''(

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 08, 1998.

Jean, what an excellent poem! I'm impressed! If I were your teacher, I would give you an A+. And now, since I am a teacher, just one thing...

"Your late!" bellowed the teacher, wretched and vile

Make that *you're* late, think in terms of you are late. (I hope this doesn't make ME wretched and vile! :-) Actually, I had a few teachers like that myself.) Really, I DO think you have talent!!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 08, 1998.

Thanks, but hey, the jugdes didn't pick that up and my Language Arts teacher didn't pick it up, how come you did? Were you looking so hard to find somethign wrong that, that, boo hoo. Seriously, how come they didn't notice it?

Hey Deedah, I was wondering. I figure that greatest thing o affect us teenagers is that we're going to have to make up stuuf to do. There will be no movies, skating(indoor) and it will be to cold to go riding bikes. Besides, some parents probobly won't let their kids go farther than the front step.

Now I can read books and solve problems and all that, but their are some kids at my school who haven't read a book over 20 pages long. What will they do? Keep in mind that they won't study and they don't have large imaginations.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 08, 1998.

Wash dishes, clean up their rooms, clean out the garage, wax the attic, cut firewood, .....

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 08, 1998.

YEA Jean! You know what I like? I like the vocabulary. You do a really good job, my friend. Do one about your dad.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 08, 1998.

Stare blankly at the useless TV, flicking the remote out of habit? Stare blankly at the useless Sega, flicking the gamepad out of habit? Talk to the dead phone and pretend its that dreamy guy/girl in science class? Hound their poor parents with incessant Mom, I bored, theres nothing to do (for the 10,000th and counting, time)? Admit to themselves I shoulda listened to Jean when she was talking about this, shes really smart?

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), October 08, 1998.

Jean, what can I say? Elementary Education was my major, but English was my minor. (I've also edited many books so it just comes natural!) I think it would be a hoot for you to write a poem about your skunk experience!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 08, 1998.

Mellissa here's a limerick about my dad.

I have a dad named Bob,

Who is always works on his job.

But when on the web,

He loses his head,

But is occansionally as dull as a knob

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 08, 1998.

okay gayla

Over a problem I hunched When a smell came that just plain stunk. My father turned around, and hand to nose I bound, And we stopped by the disgusting 2-D skunk.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 08, 1998.

Jenny, my efforts pale into insignificance alongside the poet master general. I am humbled (not often I say that), come to think of it never! Are schooldays really that bad. PS - its longer than mine (I can only write 5 lines at a time), but I can read a book 20 pages at a time.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 09, 1998.

Jean, about wondering what kids & teens will do after Y2K....

I skate outside all the time. Cold weather is great for skating; you can put on jeans, a thick sweater, and a denim jacket -- not only do you stay warm, you have some extra padding for wipe-outs. If Y2K curtails traffic, there's that much more room for skating.

Seriously, here's something I've found useful. If you knew an ice storm was going to knock out power & paralyze traffic for a week this January, what would you want in that storage box under your bed? From what you've said about yourself, I'd start with a few of those composition notebooks, a mechanical pencil & a box of leads, a few books you haven't gotten around to reading yet, maybe a deck of cards. The only thing I've put on my Christmas list so far this year is the card game "Magic: the Gathering."

Do you have friends down the street or on the next block? What kind of things do you like to do together? Go on from there.

That ought to get you started.

-- Larry Kollar (lekollar@nyx.net), October 09, 1998.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM BACK!!!!

Thanks for the suggestion that I should skate but in georgia you can't . TH places we go are indoors. Our blizzard is 6 inches of snow

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 26, 1998.