The Uh-Ohs

We had great hopes for the 00s: The promise of not just a new year, new decade, and new century, but an entire new millennium.

Remember last year at this time? It seemed like 2001 was so far off; visions of even the near future seemed so fuzzy, so hard to predict. Having learned (thanks to TV and Madison Avenue) to characterize our decades and assign certain traits, we could shut our eyes and envision the Seventies (VW Bugs! Hippies! Smiley Faces!), the Eighties (Big Hair! Synthesizers! John Hughes!), even the recent Nineties (Act Up! Internet Romance! VW Bugs!). The impending 00s, however are difficult to conjure.

Yup, we remember last year. A decent decade was wrapping up, and better days seemed just around the corner. How could we possibly tank after a decade that brought us the end of Apartheid, the beginning of the Teletubbies, and www-dot-everything?

We’ll give you one guess. You want a hint? (Do you really need one?) Okay, one letter:

W.

We won’t lie to you. The embarrassing danse macabre of the U.S. Supreme Court had us wincing at remarks made by overseas pals about the state of mental competency of U.S. voters.

W. … Whoa. What were y’all thinking?

Then it hit us: The last time we felt this gurgling pit of boiling bile so deep in our bellies — mental stress manifesting physically for our sad national state of affairs — was early December, 1980. After choking down a Reagan victory (and quickly realizing that our 20s were doooo-oo-oo-oomed … ), the news of John Lennon’s murder just sealed it. Most of 1980 had been cool: New Wave was breaking big time in South Florida and going away to college was looming on the horizon. Then it happened: The election.

But let’s not cry in our figgy pudding too soon. After all, we’ve the present to ponder, and there’s no need for doom and gloom. Yet. But it’s all so déjô vu. It took the entire Nineties to recover from the psychic wear of the Reagan Eighties. That cannot happen again. We are going to pretend and try to see the impending 00s in a positive light. Here’s a Web page that helps: www.workingforchange.com/activism/index.cfm

Another helpful therapy? Get involved with your community. Give, if for no other reason than the totally selfish one that it makes you feel good inside. Now, on to the second half of the 2000 Holiday Wish Lists list.

Wish Lists 2000 € Part 2

In addition to the following items, all groups desperately need cash, volunteers, and computers or computer upgrades. Call to determine their specific needs.

Women’s Advocacy Project

PO Box 833, 78767, 481-8776

General Legal Hotline: 800/777-FAIR

Family Violence Legal Line: 800/374-HOPE

  • Nonviolent toys, books, and games for kids
  • Full-size refrigerator
  • Water cooler
  • New photocopier
  • Office supplies

    DiverseArts Production Group

    1705 Guadalupe, #234, 477-9438

  • Photocopy machine
  • Video editing access
  • Small multi-channel PA system
  • Storage space/performance space for event
  • Digital camera

    SafePlace

    PO Box 19454, 385-5181

  • Crib
  • Couch
  • Towel set (4 sets total needed)
  • Baby dishware set (5 sets total needed)
  • Cutlery set for 20 people (3 sets total needed)

    Capitol Area Homeless Alliance

    701 W. Fifth, 476-4377

    cswicker1@yahoo.com

  • Gloves
  • Backpacks
  • Warm coats
  • Sleeping bags/blankets
  • New, unworn men’s underwear

    Dougherty Arts School

    1110 Barton Springs Rd., 397-1456

  • Small theatre stage for the preschool classes
  • New dance floor for children’s dance classes
  • Playground equipment
  • Costumes for children’s drama classes
  • New piano and percussion instruments

    Family Eldercare

    2210 Hancock, 450-0844

  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Gift certificates to HEB/Wal-Mart
  • Family Eldercare Client Emergency Fund
  • Electric space heaters, new (for safety)
  • Electric blankets, new, not used, please

    Martin Junior High School

    1601 Haskell, 478-6770

    loricervenakrenteria@earthlink.net

  • Custom T-shirts for various student groups
  • Walkie-talkies for Student Hall Patrol
  • Student incentives: teen prizes, lunches at local restaurants for groups, bus passes/tickets, charter bus service for field trips, snacks for afterschool programs
  • New/used backpacks and book bags
  • Vouchers for area doctors and dentists

    CASA of Travis County

    6330 Hwy290 E., #350, 459-2272

    amy_aguilar@yahoo.com

  • Gift certificates for family needs and children’s birthdays from Target, Wal-Mart, Old Navy, Toys ‘R’ Us, K-Mart, Best Buy, etc.
  • Catering for volunteer training sessions and volunteer activities
  • Parking access near Travis County courthouse
  • Cell phones and usage fees
  • Polaroid camera and film

    House the Homeless

    PO Box 2312, 78768, 796-4366

    www.housethehomeless.org

  • $10 contributions
  • Thermal underwear for the Thermal Underwear Drive

    Connections Resource Center

    825 E. 53rd 1é2, E-101, 478-5725

  • 3 computer/office chairs
  • Glider chair
  • Microwave oven
  • 1 year service of fish tank cleaning
  • Chair massages for staff (approximately 15)

    Community Women’s Wellness Center UT School of Nursing

    1700 Red River, 471-9089, 471-6299

  • Gynecologist
  • Postage stamps
  • Gastroenterologist
  • Yoga “sticky” mats
  • Incentive gifts for women who attend classes

    East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Planning Team

    474-8148

  • 11″ x 17″ paper
  • Advertisers for newsletter

    East Austin’s First Police Explorer Post 88

    478-6770 or loricervenakrenteria@earthlink.net

  • Uniforms
  • Two-way radios for new Eastside Rangers Neighborhood Patrol program

    Martin Eagles’ Choir

    1601 Haskell, 288-8368

  • 50 uniforms: vests, shirts, pants/skirts

    Mary House Catholic Worker

    PO Box 684185, 78768, 472-6254

  • 32 quart pot with strainer & lid
  • Stove vent
  • Percolator (100 cup)
  • Water jug (huge)
  • Van, working, good condition, with seats and cargo space

    Martin Eagles’ Soccer Team

    1601 Haskell, 291-5947

  • Soccer net: new/used UIL-reg, portable
  • Goalie gloves
  • Game balls

    Lesbian Gay Rights Lobby of Texas

    PO Box 2579, 78701, 474-5475

  • Copier — ours seems to need a lot of stroking and touching, and still won’t put out
  • Speaking of “putting out”: a dotcom millionaire or two
  • Stamps, always good
  • Office supply-ey things: paper, pens, folders, and an electric stapler
  • Rainbow boas and Glow Stix: We are, after all a fairly queer org.
    Happy New Year from your pals at “Public Notice”!

    This article appears in December 29 • 2000.

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