sub _setup_dbh {

      my $self = shift;

      $self->{'_dbh'} =
         DBI->connect( $dsn, $username, $password );

      return $self->{'_dbh'};

   }

##</code><code>##

sub get_dbh {

   my $self = shift;

   return $self->{'_dbh'};

}

##</code><code>##

$dbh = $foo->get_dbh;

$dbh->prepare( "blah blah whatever" )

##</code><code>##

sub dbq {

   my $self = shift;
   my $sql  = shift;

   my ( $sth );

   $sth = $self->{'_dbh'}->prepare( $sql );

   $sth->execute;

   return $sth;

}

##</code><code>##

$dbh = $foo->get_dbh;

$dbh->dbq( "blah blah whatever" );