Conference turris::womannotes-v3

        I was at the office late when I learned that the shooting
        had started.  I followed it on RSI -- Radio Scooter
        International -- there, WRKO 680 AM on the drive home,
        and CNN when I got home.
        
        I don't remember if I found out over the net or by
        someone telling me.  Someone told me the next night about
        the bombing of Israel, and remembering that kind of
        drowns out the memory of how I learned about the
        initiation of hostilities the night before.
        
        Dan

    About 7:30 PM.
    
    Met someone at a hotel lobby to go out to dinner.  Left, realized I had
    forgotten my umbrella, rushed back in to get it - the people still
    seated there told me while I was gone they heard it had started...
    
    Tuned into NPR on the way home.
    
    D! 

        re .-1,
        
>> said that no final decision had at that time been taken.
        
        By that time the president had already authorized the
        Secretary of Defense to give the order (I believe that
        had been done the previous day), the appropriate members
        of Congress as well as some allies had been notified, the
        aircraft were being checked, the pilots had been breifed
        on targetting and weather, etc.
        
        Dan
        

    I was sitting at DCL level, between edit sessions, and
    Dave, our sys manger, broadcast a message:

    7:06  for those of you still at work, the war has started.

    So I called home and my husband turned on the TV and we
    both listened to the intial announcements.

    I was at a meeting of my friendly neighborhood science fiction society
    when I first heard about it.
    
    -Jody

    I got in the car to go to a Tupperware party (I know, I know) and
    as the radio came on when I hit the ignition, I heard the first
    word.
    
    After the shortest such party I can ever remember, went home to
    CNN.
    
    Alison

I was at a recycling meeting. Someone came in a little late and
announced that the war had started.

I suddenly had an intense craving for a cigarette (after 2 1/2
years without one).

Kathy

    I went upstairs at 6:58 (to try something before my 7:30 meeting),
    Tim changed the channel to ABC a shade after the news had started,
    and shouted the news to me.  We went to our meeting (It was about
    sf, but it was a different meeting from Jody's.), where everyone
    was watching CNN on the television.  We watched until a little
    after 8:00, held our meeting until the President's announcement
    at 9:00, wathced that, and some more war, then finished our meeting,
    went home, and watched CNN.
    
    						Ann B.

    
    
    
    I had just left the health club where I'd been watching TV while
    working out......nothing had been on the TV.....as I was driving out of
    Worcester towards Littleton for volleyball, the news broke (approx
    7pm?)...
    
    ....I immediately switched to NPR and was shaking most of the drive up
    to Littleton.  
    
    kath

    Since the war started, in my estimation, last August with the invasion
    of Kuwait, I've lost track of where I was.
    
    When the allies dropped their first bombs on Baghdad, I was in school,
    and we were let out early to get home in time for Bush's address.
    
    mdh

    6:35 pm, I was watching local news when they cut to the network feed
    saying that bombs had been dropped on Bagdhad.  I watched various
    stations for the next 5 hours.
    
    Lisa

We were at home watching a tape of something else when it started. My stepson
called from school to tell us 'it' had started. I don't think we ever saw the
end of that tape, and I've been pretty much glued to CNN ever since.

Jenna

    Making supper while my son and husband were watching the news in
    the living room.
    
    Bonnie

I was watching ABC's World News Tonight when they cut to their correspondents
in Baghdad - they were somewhat confused with the first run as they saw tracers
but heard/saw no explosions.  I switched to CNN as soon as they pulled the plug
on ABC.  CNN later reported that the first wave was not to drop bombs but to
draw Iraq into using their radar/defense systems so that they could be 
targeted more accuractely.  I would say that the first wave was around 6:40.

Barb

    Gosh!  Me, I was just vegetating on my couch in front of the TV as
    usual watching Channel 5 local news when they transferred to the
    network to announce that it had started.  Remarked to my husband
    "I guess they waited a few hours to start the war so they could get
    it into prime time."
    
    -Mary

    I was on my way home from work...listening to my radio as usual.  
    When they broke in to say "WAR had started in the Gulf" (6:45?).
    
    My stomach fell into my feet and the next thing I knew I was saying
    a prayer for the safety of our forces.  
    
    When I got home I immediately turned on the TV to Channel 7.  I don't
    have cable and I do regret it now.  I hear that CNN has some of the 
    best reports coming out of the Gulf. 
    
    Carol
                                        
    Carol
      

I had just got home from work, vowing that I was not going to watch any
TV that night..for some crazy reason turned on the TV and caught ABC's guy
talking about the fact that "something was happening".  Being a news and 
information hound I've been glued to the tube since, though I took a break
Saturday night for a few hours.  I've gone from admiration for the wonderful
job the media have done covering this to irritation with what is IMO "over-
load".  Fortunately TVs come with a switch, but I find myself unable to stay
away for long.




Jim

    I was on my way home from a class, driving in rain and fog. It was 9pm
    and WROR was carrying Bush's speech. I was in shock. I went home, and
    watched CNN till midnight. CNN did a bangup job that night.
    
    
    

	I was at a Grand Opening reception at the new General Cinema one-too-
many across from the Pheasant Lane Mall when I overheard some of the other
guests discussing what they had heard on the radio.

	On the TV later, I saw the clip of the White House announcement
("The liberation of Kuwait has begun.") and of George-Who's speech.

						--Doug

    I was taking a nap (went in at 7:00), my finace tried to wake
    me at 7:30 (didn't mention the war at this time), finally dragged
    my butt outta bed at 08:30 and he told me.  We switched between
    channels 4 and 5 (primarily 5 tho) until 1:30 am.  It's been the
    same ever since.
    
    Christine
    

    	I was working out at the gym.  I left there around 7:30, got
    into my car and heard the news.  Immediately put on NPR, and as
    soon as I walked in the door of my apartment, put on CNN.  Stayed
    in front of the tv for quite a few hours that night.

    	Same thing the next night...came out of the gym and heard
    about Israel.  Headed straight for my folks house (I was going
    there anyway), and sat and watched the news with them (though they
    don't have CNN, unfortunately).

    	Friday night I had class until 7:20...I was almost afraid to
    get in my car and put on the news, for fear of what might have 
    happened next...(given that the previous two nights' events had
    both happened around 7:00pm or so)

    	amy

    I'd taken Wednesday off from work to spend Tuesday night celebrating
    Stacey's birthday in the city.
    
    Stacey and I were driving home from San Francisco via Berkeley (we
    stopped at a homebrew supply store) and we were really beat, so no
    radio or music...just silent driving.  Got home and took a nap at 4.
    She went home about 5ish, I headed up to Palo Alto to get my bicycle
    out of a repair shop...caught it on NPR on the way up, around 5:30,
    not quite two hours after it started.  At 5:45, the bike was on the
    car, and I walked over to City Hall to see what all the shouting was
    about...then headed for Gordon Biersch, a brewpub.  It was packed.
    The tube there was on...and the room went silent from 6:04 to 6:15
    while Bush was speaking.  There were over 100 people crammed in that
    place; everybody listened.
    
    DougO

    A gentleman here at the office informed me about 3:30-4:00 P.S.T.  I
    really felt sick to my stomache.  I cut out of work about 20 minutes
    early 'cause I couldn't get an AM news station here in the building. 
    For the first time in the history of my life I put my car radio on AM
    and listened intently to the news.
    
    My eyes were actually watering listening to the sound tracks of the
    bombing.  Although I truly believe that we should be there, my hopes of
    never seeing a war in my lifetime were crushed.
    
    Kelly_who_supports_our_troops_110%

    I was just heading out the door for a pottery class at 6:30.  Didn't
    hear that the first bombs were dropped until I got there at about 7.
    I think I'm glad I had something like that to do since it gave me some
    people to talk to.
    
    Karen.

    I was in heavy traffic, driving on Route 880.
    
    [Why does it seem like I'm *always* in heavy traffic on route 880?]
    
    

    I was at a going away party for a friend who is leaving Digital after
    18 years.  I heard the news on the car radio when I left the party at
    about 7:15.  When I got home I had a message from my 21 year old
    daughter who was home (her apt at school) studying.   The message was 
    "Mom, WHERE are YOU?!?!  I can't believe it We're at war!"
    
    Polly

    I was in the middle of a time out during a volleyball game.  The news
    didn't set in till I heard reports on the radio after the game.
    
    Kath

    It's 8:00am HKT I listened to walkman radio on my way to the Office.  I
    felt happy & sick.... happy that Saddam should got punish and sick that
    war will bring blood and poor economy worldwide...
    
    
    Joe,
    

    Sitting in my kitchen talking to a college-age friend, when Sue Walton
    called to tell me.  I promptly put on CNN and watched till well after
    midnight.  Thanks, Sue.
    
    Linda

        I was out having Nachos and Beer with friends.  When the news
        came on the TV (CNN) the whole place went quiet !
        
        Matt

    Ironically, I must have been on the phone with an American friend at
    the exact time, discussing the probability that it wouldn't take very
    long. I went to bed, woke up in the morning and only then saw
    the news on television.
    
    Ad

    
    In the middle of a heated mail message to a friend.  I received 
    a phone call, stopped my tirade, and typed "the bombings have 
    begun."
    
    Carla
    

    I was feeding Milo & Cardigan ... yes, yes, I know 7:08p EST is
    entirely to late for this sort of activity.  They were chastising me
    roundly for my wanton disregard for the fact that they hadn't been fed
    since the Battle of Hastings which is why I didn't turn the news on
    immediately upon arriving home ... when Rick came through the door and
    shouted "The Sh*t's hit the fan and we're bombing Iraq!"
    
      Annie

    I had stopped on the way home from work to get gas, return some videos,
    and pick-up some groceries, (yes, my life *is* an exciting whirl...),
    and when I came in the door at 7:30 both my daughter and one of my
    roommates raced to be the first to tell me the news.  I said,"Oh," put
    down my groceries, and then fed the cats.
    
    Lorna
    
    

I was doing my regular volunteer rounds at Children's Hospital when I
saw the news on at 7:00 and I figureded out that the killing had
started.  It was a weird feeling being there - all the volunteers
reported a strange disconnect or other wordliness about that night.

When I think of all the hospitals and morgues that likely are or soon
will be overflowing, the amount of pain and suffering boggles my mind.

john

    I don't remember exactly, at dinner I think.   I was just glad
    they gave us a day to savor the repeal of the Hall's Corner
    exemption and the overwhelming passage of a strict wetlands
    ordinance in Nashua before we had to worry about more immediate
    problems . . .
    
    --bonnie

    I was at home watching the early news and just about to start reading
    part of an RFP when they cut to the hotel in Baghdad.
    
    As it seemed that there was only anti-aircraft fire I told my son that 
    they were probably just nervous and shooting at shadows.  I wish I'd
    been right.  About 20 minutes later the bombs started to fall.

    I was at my parent's house, having Happy Birthday sung to me by friends
    and family when the news came over CNN.  It's one birthday I won't
    forget.

    
    I was at a friend's house having a splendid, long-awaited evening.
    We had been playing terrific music really LOUD all evening, had
    eaten well, and were a little drunk and very happy....
    
    A friend of his phoned him at 12.05am our time, to say that the war
    had started. We turned the music off, and watched TV in silence....
    
    'gail
    
    

    
    I was looking up the word "obscenity" in the dictionary.
    
    D.
    

    I was in the middle of getting my "oil" changed at LUBE STOP!
    When I got home about 20 minutes later my 16 year old son (Philip)
    and my 14 year old daughter (Brenda) came racing out the door to 
    tell me almost before I had a chance to get out of the car.
    
    We pretty much stayed glued to CNN until we went to bed and then
    tuned in again the next morning before work and school.
    
    Connie   

    
    I was on duty at a [British] Ministry of Defence establishment
    somewhere in south east England.
    
    I didn't watch it on TV until about 8 hours after it started, though a
    few colleagues were watching Voice of Iraq,... oops sorry, the Censored
    News Network,... er I mean CNN,... on a TV in the rest room.
    
    /. Ian .\

    I was teaching a kung-fu class.  After class finished at about 9:00,
    one of my students mentioned that he had heard the news just before he
    arrived.  I listened to the reports on the radio on the way home and my
    wife and I watched TV 'til about midnight.
    
    Pete

    I was just getting ready to go to bed (12.58am Irish time), when I 
    decided to turn on the radio to get the 1am news to see did anything
    happen in the Gulf.  As soon as we heard the news, both my husband
    and myself ran down to the tv.   We stayed up most of the night
    watching the CNN reports.
    
    
    Bernie

    
    Altho I have a roommate - I pretty much live alone and I was alone at
    the time.  I called my daughters and my mother all of whom live far
    away (GA., NJ and VT) Then my boyfriend called.  Seems we all needed to hear
    comforting voices.  Later in the evening talked to more friends .. many
    of us had the feeling that we (the US) were on more then the eve of
    destruction...we hadn/t learned anything from previous horrors.  Even 
    that first night it was clear to many of us that the US simply doesn't
    understand the Arab ways.  To be indignant about the things they do is
    to be ignorant of the difference in the way others value life.
    
    My mother and one of my daughters both feel I am overreacting when i go
    to rallys.  The other daughter, whose boyfriend is on the Bunker Hill,
    is more open then that.  And my boyfriend and I go to rallys on
    weekends and write letters during the week.  It helps us stay
    relatively sane. 
    
    Carol

    I was at SSST in Boyelston, sitting on the couch of my DECcondo,
    working on my presentation with CNN on the T.V.  All the sudden noise
    and panicky voices caught my attention and when I looked up at the
    screen and realized what I was watching, I cried.  It was too late to
    call my parents (they go to sleep EARLY) and both my brothers & their
    wives were out, so all I got was the answering machines.  I don't think
    I've ever felt so alone in my entire life.  Sitting on a strange couch
    in a strange city all by myself watching bombs drop.
    
    Miriam

    I was at my dart match, wondering why everyone was watching TV,
    
    instead of warming up??
    
    				Kbear

    Cooking supper, listening to a cassette tape. My little sister called
    me & sed, "It started, are you watching?" I actually had to stop &
    think about what the heck she was talking about & after a couple of 
    seconds, I sed, "WHAT?!? YOU'RE KIDDING?!?....OK, BYE!" & I turned on
    the TV.  Dave & I watched the news all night. I began to feel like
    Peter Jennings after two days of this! ;*)
    
    Let's just keep our fingers crossed & hope our troops are REALLY coming
    home soon!!
    
    Bon

    I was in bed recovering from a broken foot.  I'd watched the television
    anxiously on the night of the deadline and fallen asleep happy that
    the deadline had passed and dreamed of peace.  I was on a lot of
    pain medication and slept most of the day.  Jim came home from work
    and woke me and kissed me and said that the war had started.  I
    cried and said "Stupid stupid stupid obscene."  Then I fell back
    asleep.  When I woke later I asked if it was true.  Jim said yes.
    I cried again.
    
    It felt surreal to be lying in bed, eating dinner, and watching a war
    unfold on television.  But it wasn't the codine.
    

    I was teaching on site at LLNL (Livermore Labs) and most of my students
    had already left for the day.  The training room is outfitted with a
    12' square barco/sony video system, that when not using the video
    output on a vt2xx was tuned to CNN.  I walked back in after a trip down
    the hall...and my student/customer told me.."well, it's started". 
    
    Security was more noticable the rest of the week, altho I am famous
    with the guards anyway out there - apparently they had never seen a car
    which had been "catted" with kitty paw prints all over, and commented
    on it daily during the gate check.
    
    Every day that week driving out hwy 84 (windier that a corkscrew and
    less fun than wine) I cried all the way in, listening to NPR interviews
    of families, interviews with Cheney and Powell, etc. 
    
    The time since has been somewhat numbed, at times paralyzed with horror
    and fascination simultaneously occupying my image space (maybe horror
    is a subroutine).
    
    irene