It's Time to Get Practical and Tactical

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

I just posted a response to Andy's lament about the quality of recent posts commenting that we all feel about 7 months pregnant. It occurred to me that taking action (chop wood/carry water as the Zen followers say) is the best way to get through this time. (at least it is for me.) Get organized! Here are some thoughts.

Michael Hyatt, I think it was, counseled people to review their inventories to make sure they have not used things and forgot to replace them. Do it. Check out your supplies. If they are in the garage move them into the house.

Restack the firewood closer to the house.

Give the yard a good fall cleaning and save some of the debris to use as a fire starter.

If you live in a moderate climate, get those cool weather veggies into the ground. While you are at the nursery, there, pick up some seed packs for non-hybrid vegetables.

Get the fireplace chimney cleaned, have the furnace serviced if you have not done so already.

Buy that UPS for the computer system if you have a home-based business. Take the blue package from Microsoft and use it! Make hard copies of any documents you might need that could get fried.

Review your finances and your investments. Hopefully, you have made decisions about asset allocation or cash by now, but look at it again anyway. If you have dipped into the cash stash, fix it. Ones, fives, tens and quarters could be in short supply. Make some decisions about which bills need to be paid by the middle of December. Think ahead for tax filings. This probably is the year for refunds to get hosed.

Take your car in for a service. If you are due for a big one in the next few months--do it now. Start the discipline of keeping the tank at least half full. If you have been procrastinating about owning a bike-- go get a used one with a patch kit and a spare tire.

Develop a checklist plan for December--what are you going to do during that last month?

Think about cleaning up your diet. I have had to take this route due to allergies and tired adrenal glands (28 years of responses to high-tech stress). Lack of alcohol and sugar in the diet does save some money. I think this is one winter that I plan to have a clear head for. If you are not exercising or walking on a regular basis--start. Worst case is that you feel healthy and look more fit by spring.

Now, I know that Kosky and company does not want us good sheeples to do anything that might tip the balance and frighten the horses, but people either get it or not by this time. If you can, store some rice, beans, and canned tomatoes for callers, and it is time to keep a low profile.

I have converted a few people, alienated more and no longer care that much. If one of my relatives feels comfortable that his 486 PC will work because he set the clock forward, God Bless.

Turn off the PC, get outside and go to work.

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), October 24, 1999

Answers

To the top of New Answers.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 24, 1999.

And plant those tulips, crocus, daffodils and iris that may be waiting in the trunk of your car. They will give you hope come Spring!

-- Betty Alice (Barn266@aol.com), October 24, 1999.

KOS, I responded under Andy's lament...

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), October 24, 1999.

"If you can, store some rice, beans, and canned tomatoes for callers, and it is time to keep a low profile."

How about food baskets for Christmas gifts?

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), October 24, 1999.


Nancy: And I'm all for squishiness!!!

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 24, 1999.


Lots of good advice. I went through my aging house and looked for all the appliances and features (roof) that needed to be replaced in the next few years and got new things like a water heater or hit scheduled maintenance early. If it is not TEOTAWAKI, parts may be tough to get or finances may be such that one is barely scraping by. Not a good time for a water heater to take the final dive. Besides, I can use the old one to rig a solar one.

Got spares? Got parts?

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), October 24, 1999.


So, marsh, how exactly are you going to do that? Because I want to, too.

-- mommacarestx (notthereanymore@spam.com), October 24, 1999.

Nancy,

Thanks for the advice...I was getting stuck between the preps and the impedimenture of lots of pettyfoggery. Time to map out my December game plan, and to exercise now that the weather is FINALLY getting cooler here in the Arizona desert. Thanks again...for being so well grounded and down to earth!



-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), October 24, 1999.


Have the septic tank pumped out?

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), October 24, 1999.

And if you haven't already done so...get that water into those barrels and bags.

I like the one about getting the firewood closer to the house.

"And plant those tulips, crocus, daffodils and iris that may be waiting..." yep! mine keep staring at me from the dinning room table.

Hubby and I have also been doing repairs and finishing cleaning out and tossing junk saved for ages. It's funny how your idea of what is junk changes: all plastics, odd scraps of wood, containers, metals, bolts and nails, plant containers, get saved and put where they are findable. Blankets and coats I would have thrown out (donated) are now saved...may have neighbors who will need them.

Thanks for the additional positive admonition to action.

-- Shelia (Shelia@active-stream.com), October 24, 1999.



thanks for all the positive responses. I guess even mud wrestling counts--sort of like being whistled at by construction workers. I wrote this note because I needed the gentle kick in the fanny too.

We cannot alter the course of events, but we owe it to ourselves to stay healthy. I can't help myself, family and friends if I am disorganized and not feeling well. On that note, check out your vitamin and supplement stash and make sure you add anti oxidants and echinacea.

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), October 24, 1999.


I took an inventory of my water bottles today and found 5 that had pinholes in them. Check your food supplies for signs of insect or mice. Buy some extra D-Con to have on hand just in case.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 24, 1999.

Make sure you have your dental work and a new pair of glasses prescribed. Also make sure to get the flu shot and a pneumonia shot if you have any respiratory problems.

Take a last look at your wardrobe and make sure you have sturdy shoes (made in China) and lots of jeans (also).

Rehearse story for people who you tried to warn who DGI and show up at your door. "Gee, after all the reasurances we were receiving, we ate our 14 day supply....sorry"

Review supplies and reposition as neccessary so that they are rotated and easily accessible quickly.

Continue target shooting if you have weapons so you are proficient using them. Have a plan on how you would utilize the weapons. Ex: We have sufficient weapons to form neighborhood watch guard duty.

Don't forget flea control for pets; Program or other. Having a well fed pet miserable with fleas might impact family morale.

Think about buying song books for the family. Singing around the campfire is a fond girl scout camping memory of mine. It's something the whole family can participate in that's good for morale, easy and cheap entertainment. Reading aloud mysteries, thrillers and the family bible is an activity the family can share.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), October 24, 1999.


I'm a newbie (pulled my head from the sand this past Aug.) and live in a small town.

In addition to stocking up for my family, chopping wood, and trying to fix the computer, I've had the plumber come out and "rooter" the plumbing. Also had him point out the shut-down switch to stop the water/sewage from backing up into my house.

Also, I wanted to say thank you for all of the great advice I've seen on these boards, it's been very helpful and comforting to know that there are others that see the seriousness of the problem. Thanks for helping me to see clearly.

Deb

-- Deb (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), October 24, 1999.


Thanks for this thread. It is helpful. Seems like ever since the hubby and I GI'd over 14 months ago our list never seems to get any shorter.

Add Goldenseal to the list of herbal supplements. GREAT immune booster for cold weather. Echinicea--don't be without and start taking the multivitamins now.

Got up at sunrise today and went for a brisk walk and generally communed with nature as much as you can in the burbs. It felt really really good. Cleared my head. Too bad during the week I have to get up at 5:30 which is really too early to be out walking (I like to see the sun come up).

We tried out the camp stove for the first time in months. TImed how long it took to boil water and cook pasta on it. WAY longer than the electric range, causing us to buy more fuel. We also realized we need a smaller cast iron skillet and a thinner skillet as well. Also realized we had a tiny measly amount of lighter fluid and charcoal for the grill/smoker out back.

Filled up some more water bottles today.

Making the hubby;s dental appt tomorrow, mine is December 2, our daughter's is November 22. Wondering if we have the $$ for the both of us to go to the eye dr before 12/31.

I feel like there is still so much to think about/figure out/get. Believe it or not, for all the preparation I have done, mentally as well, I JUST realized today the garage door opener doesn;t work w.out electricity (DUUUUHHHH!!!!!) So we disconnected it to see how easy it was to operate manually. Not bad once we had a piece of rope tied to the inside center to help in pull down. Glad we did that now.

Little details: the hubby said we will have both vehicles pulled in the garage facing out so as not to waste any extra time if we need to bug out in a hurry. Wouldn't have thought of that. Also made a plan that we will take both vehicles and ditch one if we need to. He has a Jeep Wrangler, I have a minivan, both have advantages and disadvantages.

We already have our sleep schedule worked out for if things are bad...sleeping in schedules w/the awake one barely looking out the window over the stairwell and occasionally cruising the house, gun in hand, safety on. The window over the stairwell is a GREAT lookout, even has a window seat.

Need some plywood.

Still wondering if any family members will be joining us as it gets closer. If there starts to be signs that things will be bad we might have a few ask to stay with us for a while. That prospect scares us and comforts us at the same time. That will mean an extra adult or two but it will also mean our food and water stores don't last as long. How I wish the rest of my family would put away SOMETHING! (My dad joked he was going to buy a few extra cases of Dr. Pepper. Yeah, OK Dad.)

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), October 24, 1999.



As I was moving firewood today, a couple more things occurred to me. Start composting if you have room. It doesn't cost much to set up, it will take care of a lot of garbage, and good quality soil is the end product at a time when it might be tough to get fertilizer.

Start cooking meals with the endgame in mind. By that I mean introducing rice and bean dishes, being careful with left overs, etc. In short, live deliberately.

Good ideas here today, thank you.

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), October 24, 1999.


"He has a Jeep Wrangler, I have a minivan, both have advantages and disadvantages."

The jeep can move where the minivan can't. The minivan carries lots more than the jeep can. Why not get a trailer for the jeep -- and unload the minivan?

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), October 25, 1999.


Shoe strings! I have got to go shopping for those. Broke a string in two different pair of shoes, and guess what - not a shoestring in the house long enough to replace either one. I have a feeling it's the little things that are really going to throw the monkey wrench in all the works.

Anybody else know of any other "little things"?

-- me (me@me.com), October 25, 1999.


me, try reading this thread :

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0009dy

'What skills and non-food items...'

-- Tricia the Canuck (tricia_canuck@hotmail.com), October 25, 1999.


Thanks Tricia!

me

-- me (me@me.com), October 25, 1999.


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

Check out this thread on absolutely essential items.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), October 25, 1999.


Nancy, T. Carey, Tricia...you're so grounded and down to earth, it is obscene!!!

That level of practicality is usually reserved for the PREP forum.



-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), October 25, 1999.


Pick up all those last minute (perishable and on-sale) items like cheese, meat, candy, and baking supplies. Keep feeding the chickens. Make friends with the new neighbors. Get more involved with the church.

Loved the suggestion to plant daffodils...I just got back from Colorado where I was doing just that for a daughter!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), October 26, 1999.


great responses--and no flames. Taking action whether it is planting daffodils, moving firewood, or making last minute preps helps to allay anxiety and edginess. Not sure where mud wrestling fits, but I guess it would allay something :)

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), October 26, 1999.

The intent of this thread explains the absence of many of our forum 'regulars'.

Back to work.............

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), October 26, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ