I have been putting off whether we needed a place to chat about the coronavirus. At this point, it seems that as much as we come to this site to forget about the things going on in the world that are not that great, like this, and the election, etc it is all happening. And a lot of us do need a place to talk about it. As with any other post, if this in not a topic you want to discuss, I promise to have all of the usual ones as always. Once again, Below Deck Sailing Yacht will be up tomorrow due to the usual DVR conflicts, and because I have a lot of things going on. Some of which involve a bit of prepping for the coronavirus. All precautions, suggestions, etc that I might discuss here are my thoughts, and my decisions. We do not need to agree. But we are all impacted by the situation so if you would like to talk about it, this is the place. I’ve been getting a lot of emails on the subject and would rather we discuss it as a group. It’s just easier and less time consuming.
First let me give my opinion on hand sanitizer. I have had this opinion for, well as long as people have been using it. Especially when I was an elementary school teacher. The teachers would coat young kids with chemicals instead of sanitizing the things. I actually told my principal that I was allergic to hand sanitizer to avoid having it in my classroom. My kids washed their hands with soap twice a day. Once when they arrived at school and again before lunch, and of course other times as needed. Hand sanitizer is full of harsh chemicals. Some of you use CBD oil for pain relief or mood improvement. It is absorbed through your skin and travels through your blood stream. The same thing happens with chemicals found in hand sanitizer. There are also harsh chemicals in some soap. So consider this when making decisions about what you put on your body and especially the effects it could have on small children. I use Meyers Soap. You can find it in most grocery store. Or Ivory soap or Ivory dish washing liquid. That is just me.
I do use sanitizer sheets for wiping down shopping carts, my laptop, my phone (landline) my door knobs, etc. Then I wash my hands. For me the harsh sanitizers belong on things not people. I clean my credit cards and avoid using cash as much as possible (the germiest thing we touch other than maybe your cellphone.)
Other than that, I am sort of a closet prepper. I have plenty of canned food that I a can live on for months. And a couple hand held can openers! If I have power I have rice and pasta and grits and oatmeal. And lanterns and all that sort of jazz. I do not think drinking water or power will be effected. I just like to be prepared for anything. I buy tons of electrolyte water all the time because I drink at least a case of 1.5 liter bottles ever week or so. So I always have a ton of water on hand. I do have a mask and some disposable latex gloves. I don’t feel the need for either yet.
I have been avoiding crowds since all the mass shootings, so no malls, or large events for me. I have sort of been a self quarantiner for a while now. Oddly, now that I am in a better place and my anxiety has been gone for a while, suddenly they suggest not leaving your house as much. Go figure.
As for local ATL news, we have six people with the virus and four of them are close to where I live. In addition, the Fulton county schools have closed for tomorrow because a substitute teacher who worked in two middles schools last week has tested positive. IN OTHER not so great news, I live very close to where a lot of the passengers from that cruise ship that just docked in Oakland are being quarantined. This base also did Ebola quarantines a few years ago so they know what they are doing and the CDC is based here. Also the mega churches are telling people to feel free to just stay home and watch on TV.
So I am not really bothered by this. I pretty much stay ready for any sort of threat and have a whole military type OPSEC in place at all times. I think we will all be fine. There is no need to panic. At least not yet.
In other news, I am working on my passport application tonight just to stay ready. I keep putting it off but now it seems more vital. I am keeping a little bit of cash on hand. And I am working on my stupid taxes. So I might be a bit busier than usual this week offline.
Tell me some good news! Share your concerns. Has anyone planted tomatoes yet? General Beauregard Lee forecasted six more weeks of winter back on Ground Hog Day and once again, he was right. So we just have a week or so left of this nasty weather, hopefully. My ground is ready to go. I have been pulling weeds between raindrops. I will start with one big cheat plant in a pot and put the more fragile plants in a couple of weeks. What are your gardening plans?
I’m trying my best to ignore the virus. I’m more concerned about my grandparents who are elderly and more susceptible with their health concerns. I didn’t answer her phone call the other day, so naturally, she thought I had the virus. The panic is REAL.
I’m actually going through my own panic: I recently got into stock investing. Now that the market is crashing, I’m trying to desperately reduce my spending so that I can invest more while everyone else sells their stocks. I have an emergency fund, but I’m almost out of cash. I’m going to be miserable in the short term, but 10 years from now, I’ll be really happy I did this.
Smart, buy when the market is down.
The market has not hit bottom yet. And it’s down 19%.
Investing is all about your own unique goals. I’m not buying in order to make a profit today, tomorrow, this year or even in the next 5 years. I’m buying in order to make a profit in the next 30 years. So even if it hasn’t hit rock bottom yet, I know I’m getting a good deal if I buy NOW.
This isn’t the first virus we’ve encountered. The economy will bounce back stronger like it always does.
I usually put off funding my ROTH and then end up doing it in the first quarter of the following year. So I fully funded it for 2019 last week. It was after the first fall and the bounce back and I am not sure where the market was went I went in but it doesn’t really matter that much.
With the exception of a couple minor stocks I play with on Fidelity individually just for fun, I have multiple highly diversified portfolios. Don’t think you can just be a day trader. AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE REDUCING YOUR SPENDING. That is the best way to be rich when you grown up.:) Those fancy glasses and cute outfits are not going to buy you Viagra in your old age. xo
I would suggest, dear Cho, that you not just “play the stock market” and buy a bunch of individual stocks while they are down, but instead set up an account with a range of risk/loss potentials. I would strongly suggest a ROTH IRA at your age stuffing in the maximum which I think is 6K a year for your age, you could be nicely set up when you retire. Trust me you will be glad you did. Mine is with TIIA-CREF and I am very happy with them. If you want to play with the market for fun while it is down, I suggest that you keep it under $1,000. And that you won’t be destitute if you lose that $1,000. It’s a REALLY good time to have cash savings in the bank and a few bills around the house. I am expediting my passport application that I should have done a couple years ago. You need some jump on a plane an leave money available.
Maybe it’s not too late, but I should go back and fund my Roth IRA for 2019. When I set it up, I didn’t understand what it meant. How would I expect that I would be able to fund it for 2019 in… 2020?! lol But now I’ve invested so much cash into my stocks that I don’t really have enough to max out 2019… Missed opportunity that I feel stupid about because I’ve almost maxed out 2020 already.
I’m not buying individual stocks. This isn’t a FUN process for me. I’m a pretty big saver and even more risk-adverse person in general when it comes to money. I’ve invested in a Vanguard Roth IRA with a variety of ETFs that give dividends: VTI (Total Stock Market), VYM (High-Dividend Companies), VUG (Tech Growth Companies) and VBK (Small Cap Companies) is my current portfolio.
You have until April 15 2020 to fund your 2019 Roth, I’ll tweet this in case you don’t see it here.
Have them reclassify 2020 to 2019. It’s just administrative. No change of what you invested in and what it’s done activity wise.
Just an example, Cho of why buying now while things are low may be a good idea. BUT THAT IS NOT A GUARANTEE.
Consider this. Airline stock is way down. So let’s say I buy Delta. I am a long time customer of Delta. I think highly of the company. And the airline industry isn’t going to be taken down by the coronavirus. The airlines WILL come back.
Probably. But right now there are a lot of “ghost flights” in the air. Airplanes are cancelling flights do to low bookings and consolidating passengers, HOWEVER, they are also flying the unsold routes with empty planes in order to keep their routes. It’s complicated and competitive among airlines and only so many airlines can fly so many routes.
But how solvent is Delta? How long can they go without their usual flight revenue. What if Intentional flights are grounded? How long can they survive that? Airlines have gone bankrupt before for less reason.
It’s the same for many business. They are taking hard financial hits right now. They won’t all recover. And it could take quite some time for their stocks to rebound.
TLDR: Buying low doesn’t mean you are guaranteed to sell high later. Or even be able to see at all later in these very volatile times. And NEVER invest in the stock market alone any money you can’t afford to lose. Even diversified portfolios suffer major loses (like in 2008, when you were born). The old folks are only recently recovering from that, and here we go again…
Wow, Tamara, great advice. I’ve been wanting to dabble in stocks but find it intimidating, so I’ve stuck with normal savings accounts. I’d love to read more about what you’ve learned over the years saving and investing.
Start out small, etfs, mutual funds or index funds if you want to invest yourself. Less risky. If you’re young put in as much as you can in IRA, Roth or whatever retirement you have. If you’re going to do individual stocks buy a good stock with a decent dividend. Buy things you know and use. Do research. There is alot of info out there. Most brokerage accounts have good information. Fidelity has no commission which is great.
Well, I was raised by older parents. And they were very old school even for their age. Daddy said to put 10% of your paycheck in savings ever week. After a while he would put all of his raise money in the savings account. My mother was very frugal her entire life even though the savings plan had really added up over the years.
If you have a job that offers a retirement account option, choose one. If the company matches your contribution DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION, because you are doubling your money right there. I never got that lucky. Start saving now whatever you can.
I am fortunate in that I never grew up around people who cared about labels or ridiculously stupid expensive handbags. I never had the desire for all of that stuff. I talk about living in an iffy neighborhood a lot. I bought this house from my father’s estate after he past and paid cash. I drive a 2007 Honda Civic (it only has 25,000 miles on it because I work from home). It’s crazy to me that people spend so much money on fancy cars. Why? My Civic gets me to the same place, and I paid cash for it.
So when had anxiety and depression that caused me to leave my job, I didn’t have to pay rent or car payments. I keep my expenses low and my income goes directly into the bank. I pay for everything on my Amex card and get Skymiles from it. I pay off my balance every month in full.
These are the sorts of things you need to focus on before you even consider investing or playing in the markets. You first need to be debt free with at least three months of living expenses in the bank. Don’t buy things that are not necessities, shop sales.
You are probably wondering where the fun budget is. Well for a while there may not be one. But after awhile you can use a bit of your savings for travel. Which I greatly prefer to fancy clothes or fancy cars. But that’s just me. Oh and if I fly Delta, and book wisely I ride in first class with very little cash to pay. It just takes putting in a few years first.
So I guess step one to investing is to live frugally and save money. Always contribute to the company retirement plan if you have one to the maximum account you can. When you leave the company don’t cash it out. Just let it sit there.
The stock market stuff I sometimes do is through my Fidelity account online. I don’t really know what I am doing. I own two stocks right now, one was a TERRIBLE IDEA. (Twitter, what was I thinking?) The other is a company that makes body cams for cops and I go into that before all the precinints started buying them and that is doing GREAT and sort of balances out the Twitter debacle. I was sort of buying and selling for fun a bit awhile back. But it wasn’t really a great return on my “investment” I figure I might have broken even. lol So I don’t advise doing that with money you will be upset if you lose. Set up an account at Fidelity, I am not sure if they have a minimum and play a little bit. But think of it as a gambling table at a Casino. And if you are losing, don’t “buy more chips” to try to win your money back. Have a set limit to lose and don’t go over it.
And don’t listen to advice on the Internet. Especially from me. 🙂
I think your advice is excellent!
Your advise is amazing. Listening to you!! I’m gonna see if I can somehow max out 2019 before I keep investing in 2020 Roth IRA. How long do I have? Hopefully there’s still time.
I’m a retired banker. I must say your advice was excellent!!!
OMFG Auntie, you should be a financial adviser. This is such great advise. I’m too afraid to invest in single companies like Delta. I LOVE Delta btw. I plan on getting a Delta Platinum card with AMEX which is who Eric and I get credit cards from. They have the best customer service. Delta has the nicest lounge down there in Atlanta. I’ve only invested in ETFs which are like the cheaper version of index funds. They’re really low-risk, but I’m playing the long terms game. I don’t need the money I’m investing until 30 years from now.
Some companies will not live to tell the tale about the Coronovirus. Consider looking at industries that will benefit from the virus and continue to thrive beyond the virus. Biotech stocks are very interesting. But I agree with Tamara about getting the personal finance basics done before investing. However, its never too early to start the research. Its been a bull market for over 10 years. For the past 8 economists have been saying “there is going to be a correction”, next few years markets will be quite volatile (in my opinion) because globalisation and the interdependence. When China sneezes the whole world catches cold!
Hi Cho,
It is a great idea to sock away retirement money. And maybe play the market a little with $ you can afford to lose. With retirement, get into a mutual fund with a diverse set of offerings. The younger you are, the higher your risk tolerance as the portfolio has time to recover and grow over time.
General advice, don’t cash it in before you are old enough to do so without penalty and never contribute less than an employer matches and vests. When you choose a fund manager, if it is not one you have to use because it is employer sponsored, be sure to compare fees. It the one your company has sucks, you can roll it over into a better fund if your own choosing.
Also, with the market. Stocks held a year or less get taxed as ordinary income, while those held more than a year get taxed at the capital gains rate. A good time to fuck around with the market is when you have low ordinary income, but do have money to play with. That way, your ETR (effective tax rate) on ordinary income is lower than the capital gains rate. But, you can get screwed if you make a killing.
(I’m an anxiety ridden fucktard in cyberspace, but IRL, I know my shit)
One more thing: sin stocks! People drink when they are happy and sad! Invest in shit that is bad!
absolutely! works for me!
Woah, I will have to read this a few times. The tax stuff is something I didn’t really think of. Thanks for the information.
And in terms of playing with the stock market, I would not consider what I’m doing “playing”. lol I’m an extremely low-risk guy, so I’ve only invested in ETFs. There’s less possibility for major lossess/wins, but I think I’m guaranteed a return over the next 30 years.
I am doing the same thing! But I am a little cautious, just adding more money to my DRPs. I did add 3 new stocks, but only invested about a total of $600. I love watching the market, this makes it so much more interesting. Good luck to us!!
I am just South of ground zero in Washington. My bosses/parental units that I see every day plus sometimes on weekends are in the high risk group. Fuck, as an asthmatic I am too, I guess. I have a piss poor pantry, I admit. One could live off my folks freezer/pantry for several months.
I am literally both sides of the coin. I am still eating out, shopping, etc. and washing my hands excessively. However, I also took the financial hit of cancelling travel plans from Washington to California. I kept thinking if ahit hit the fan while I was down there, I would be frantic to get home. Also, I was nervous about the airport. Finally, I have officially gone into my astha/allergy cough season. Trees are blooming. I can’t stop coughing and I think that would have gotten me kicked off the plane anyway.
I am just North of ground zero in Washington. I work retail in a military town. I go to the Y to work out in the pool 4x a week. I go to bingo and I shop at Walmart. My town has its first confirmed case and the school two doors down is closed. I had my flu shot last falI, wash my hands, tell my customers that are rabid for hand sanitizer to do the same and I try not to worry about the virus.
I’m over in Shelton, my best friends daughter teacher is married to one of the first responders who went into that Kirkland nursing home multiple times. Kind of crazy.
Glad to have fellow Washingtonians with me. Through a long grapevine, just found out that a friend may have been exposed to the first Thurston Co. case… which means I may be VERY indirectly exposed. Mom and I have decided we’re grocery shopping this weekend and at least reducing our eating out at lunch, etc. Tonight I’m freaking out more than ever – the President on TV was not reassuring. Plus I’m on the edge of my proverbial seat with election returns!!!
YOU need to self quarantine as much as possible. Not because you might have been exposed, but because you are in Washington. Buy a shit ton of groceries and STAY HOME and keep your mother at home. I am worried enough about you already.
Sorry for the lack of response. I’ve gone down the Twitter and Facebook suck hole looking for information constantly. Last night I dreamt my honorary niece came to stay with me b/c she was mad school was cancelled (which would NOT be the case in real life). She was sleeping in my room with me, then she turned into a cat and I got pissed because she was playing with a bell toy at 3 AM. So stress is manifesting itself in weird ways!
I’m getting ready to self quarantine, only after a convo with my folks, I decided it best if I stay with them. I technically live in a different county. I got worried if my county did something like what they did in New York, I’d be stuck & couldn’t get to them even for something like “our internet is screwy”. Since I work with them, it will also be easier to work from home (actually, we could easily get to the office and keep it locked. There is only one other person who works with us). Good thing I get along with them… Dad is making (hopefully) one last trip to Costco, and tequila is on the list for me! (I didn’t tell him I have a big Costco bottle in my car. If this thing lasts longer, I’m going to need the backup without them starting in on my consumption. They are both teetotalers!)
My dad can’t/won’t completely quarantine with what we do, but I can help keep him healthy in other ways. I got a stash of nitrile gloves, he has big professional construction masks, etc. I’m also going to make him scrub up right when he gets home.
Yes, T, you are right – soap and water is best! One of our tenants is a volunteer org. One of their volunteers told me yesterday he was retired CDC!!! (They deal with older people, I was giving them a tub of my Clorox wipes). He said that soap and water, the 20 second rule, etc. was best. It doesn’t even have to be warm water! He said that in this situation, the hand sanitizer is a good secondary backup for you when you have been out and about (shopping at the grocery, touching the items, etc.) We talked about how it wasn’t available, nor were a lot of other cleaners, and I mentioned how people were making their own. He said that it was likely they’d get the formula wrong.
He said what is even better is HYDROGEN PEROXIDE. You don’t even have to dilute it. Just put it in a misting bottle, and spray down the surface. No need to wipe it, just let it sit and evaporate. Plus, HP isn’t as corrosive as rubbing alcohol, etc. You could even mist your hands if you needed to I went to the Dollar store yesterday – no sanitizer, no rubbing alcohol, but a pretty big shelf of hydrogen peroxide! I bought 10! (Gave a couple bottles away to people I know.)
I never knew how much a fucking touch my face before this though!
Erica, just FYI, hydrogen peroxide is indeed a disinfectant that works on Covid-19. BUT, it has to be hospital grade kind that has a higher level of active ingredient- most that are sold to consumers don’t meet the criteria. I urge you to go to CDC website and check to see if the solution you purchased meets their criteria. It’s most likely better than nothing but usually the over the counter type typically kills bacteria better than viruses. The CDC has a list somewhere on their website that lists the exact concentration levels of all approved cleaning agents that are effective for Covid-19. Just double check to make sure so you don’t have a false sense of security. Sorry, don’t want to piss on your parade, just want you to be accurately safe! (Especially if you are going to be with your parents)All disinfectants are not equal.
I’m not sure I completely trust the CDC since Trump fired all the pandemic people a couple of years ago. I’ve been looking at the WHO website for confirmation on information.
But I did Google. Consumer Reports had an article about all the stuff you could use. the 3 percent HP is known to kill the rhinovirus after 4 or 5 minutes. CV is easier to kill – which is why the guy I talked to said DON’T wipe it away I guess. The article did say that this was best for inanimate surfaces.
So the plan is to use the hydrogen peroxide on our door handles in and out of the house whenever we DO leave (and we’ll be washing our hands when we come in, even if we washed them before getting into the car, etc.). Electronics will be cleaned with this because of the noncorrosive qualities. Don’t forget eyeglasses too! I’m wiping down or spraying the groceries (after seeing that video about the face touching. LOL!) HP is food safe. It breaks down to Oxygen and water.
Dad and I discussed having shoes we leave at the door and wearing others in the house that have also been disinfected. He’s walking on our downtown sidewalks. People spit on them or worse!
This way we can save the wipes for other things, like taking a few to the grocery store and wear gloves there besides.
You sound like you have a very good plan! And FWIW, I’m not sure I trust anyone that is under Trump since he just fires ppl if they tell him something he doesn’t want to hear. But, the guy who is always on the tv from CDC is Dr. Fauci, and he is the real deal. He has been with the CDC (Infectious Disease Specialist) and he has been critical of how this has been handled and of Trump directly. I absolutely trust anything that comes from him. He doesn’t play the political games and is extremely experienced and highly regarded in his field. I’m glad you decided to be with your parents and I’m sure you will all be fine! ?
* meant he has been with CDC for a long time and worked his way up the ranks
Just clarifying lol
Thanks! Dad mentioned that doc. I am home (my home) tonight. Already in PJs. Will clean out the fridge, pack, and probably head over tomorrow evening. Every school in the state will be closed by Tuesday.
I feel the need to state the obvious here, but 3% hydrogen peroxide, the kind you get at the store is the appropriate concentration for disinfection. Overuse on the skin can be damaging. It is great for cuts and cleaning doorknobs with it is a splendid idea. But you do not need to search for this mysterious “hospital grade.” In addition, you do not need the percentage they use to make rocket fuel either. There is a reason it come very heavily diluted in water.
Also, I think self quarantining with your parents is a great idea. It sounds like you are going to be very careful to social distance and avoid things that could be passed on to your parental units too.
Yes on stating obvious. I should have clarified I was speaking to use as a surface cleaner. And I’m so scatterbrained lately that I meant to say that Dr. Fauci has been with the NIH not the CDC forever. My CRS is in overdrive. Either way, sounds like both you and Erica have good individual plans. Murphy’s Law is trying to fuck with all of my best laid plans! Ugh!
Thanks!!!! The peroxide will be used mainly on the inanimate surfaces. Already have the new bottle labelled and ready for the peroxide! I’m going to spray down our office on Monday. We don’t get a lot of people, but we’re emailing our tenants that we are keeping our doors locked to the public. We have a plan in place for what to do with mail. The millennials may still be going to bars, but this Gen Xer is taking this shit SERIOUS.
I am booked to fly into Nashville in 4 weeks. My fiancé is flying from Germany and I’m flying from Australia and I haven’t seen him in 2 months!!! I’m glad we are meeting in the US as he’s only 2 hours from the bad area in Italy. I asked my doctor and he said to keep living my life. So I am!
Lucky you Nashville! Enjoy! I’m too in Oz, in Sydney. Went to my Doctor about my Hyperthyroidism last week and asked her if people are being insane with the hoarding etc – we have had people involved in fisticuffs in Supermarkets and someone actually got tasered in Big W (Like Walmart) over a 6pack of 4ply!
Doctor agreed that yes, people are insane & yes to live life using reasonable caution. As far as we are concerned in Sydney if we need to resort to stocks of canned food & water – and toilet paper etc – that means we have no power & if we have no power we have no petrol, so definitely Armageddon / Zombie Apocalypse territory.
It’s the people who need to self isolate in their homes for 14 days that need to be provisioned as they shouldn’t be at the shops. Mind you you can’t get home delivery in under a week due to the in sanity. And its a bit frightening that some people who have been told to stay home from work and self isolate think that means shops & movies …
Wash your hands thoroughly in soap as TT said & running water. Use hand sanitiser only if you are out are unable to wash your hands. Stay away from the hot spots. My mum is 84 with dementia & lives with her carer – we are just concerned as she is close to the area with the outbreak that she should stay home and be safe. She’s chafing at captivity but what can you do?
Anyway, my sister & I are having a week on the Gold Coast start of April & me & my hand soap, antibacterial wipes and Glen 20 Antibacterial spray so I can do a Lisa Rinna in our Apartment will be boarding my Business Class Virgin flight & heading North for some sun.
Sarah, wishing you a wonderful visit with your fiance – long distance can be a bitch! xoxo
Hello! The insanity of the toilet paper is unbelievable. Did you see the women in Woolworths? TT, google Woolworths women toilet paper. Horrific and hilarious! I haven’t seen toilet paper for sale in over a week. I’m in southern NSW where people are usually pretty laid back but they’re panic buying with the rest of the country.
Your poor mum…. DVDs from the local library might help? They usually have a huge range to borrow for free. I would wipe them with alcohol swabs first though.
Enjoy your holiday, I’m planning on enjoying mine too.
My son is a study abroad student on the Gold Coast. He’s also complaining about the toilet paper. At least he is a guy/less need so to speak.
I’m meeting him (along with my husband and daughter) in New Zealand in 3 weeks. I’m 60 years old and want to travel before I can’t. My 85 y.o. Father said he’d pay for our travel expenses if we agreed to cancel the trip. I don’t think so. Scary to be on a long flight that stops in Singapore, but the South Island doesn’t even have any cases yet. I’m just hoping the flight doesn’t get canceled or New Zealand restricts who can enter. We have one case in my NJ town, but expect more because it’s a NYC commuter type place.
Totally agree with the live your life attitude and the hand sanitizer comments. I bought a bunch of it before people started going nuts in the supermarket just for travel.
Is he at university? I saw on the news this morning they’ve closed a GC University. They’re being quick to close schools too to be safe and clean them throughly. I hope you make your trip and your father doesn’t worry too much.
Thank you! He’s at Griffith University in Southport. I hope the closure is temporary.
Do NOT use antibacterial anything! That is what causes variations of viruses. You’re killing the good bacteria that fights the bad
I’m in Orange County, as are my parents who are in their mid 80’s. I have placed them on quarantine except for medical appointments that can’t be missed. I’m doing their shopping or they are using Prime Now if I can’t get to them in time since we’re 40 minutes apart. The mortality rate for the elderly is 15% which is insane! I’m soooo glad they are able to live in their home, I’d be terrified if they were in a residential facility. They’ve been paying for a Long Term Care Policy with in home care forever & I’m so glad, now more than ever.
Have they been able to reap benefits from the LTC policy?
Sorry. I replied in the wrong area. Thankfully, so far we haven’t had to use it yet but they chose the at home option only because they were adamant that they wanted to stay at home. Now I’m so glad. The premium was higher but well worth it. My mom was a teacher so it was offered as a benefit through the pension system.
I’m retired from the State of CA and have access to the same plan. It’s super expensive. I looked at getting a policy when I was 45 or so and for just me the premium was over $200 a month.
Taking advantage of the panic. Flying and traveling in two weeks! Not concerned at all.
Work in a grocery store,wash hands frequently. Only time I use hand sanitizer is when I am in a check stand and someone comes through with otc meds for cold, flu, etc. hand sanitizer does kill the good bacteria.
Have not been ill due to a virus in years. I work @ the store 40 hours per week, plus tutor elementary students on my day off-talk about a germ factory!
I love it! You are my kind of people!
Good for you!
I’ve seen it up north and down south on the western coast. SF, LA, Orange, and Riverside. The mortality rate has been under reported until recently.
Stock market tanking, of course it’s the time to invest. Has Costco stock, is up a bit. Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and canned beans.
Advice: don’t take a cruise, wash your hands. Would not travel if I didn’t have to, and by have to I mean I have a key and everyone will die if I don’t have to turn the key at the exact same time as two others.
I may have had a cocktail or two. Is not worried in the least.
Wal Mart stock went up 18+ percent today! There are also some bargains to be had.
Thankfully, so far we haven’t had to use it yet but they chose the at home option only because they were adamant that they wanted to stay at home. Now I’m so glad.
I asked because I have wanted to purchase it for several years now. But every time I look into it, I find tons of stories about how they don’t pay. Not to freak you out.
Also what sort of home care will they receive? It would seem they could have someone now if they wanted for light housekeeping, meal prep etc. Or not. The whole thing is kind of a mystery to me.
I am planning on being in Uruguay or Costa Rica or somewhere when I am ready for it and ASAP for basic healthcare. I would have probably already bailed to somewhere it if were not for Banjo.
It varies depending on the need but it goes above & beyond what Medicare & Supplemental insurance covers with no caps, I believe. It includes 24/7 in home nursing & hospice. This plan definitely pays out as it’s offered by the CA State pension program. I know that is definitely a problem with private insurers.
I’m in the epicenter, in Seattle. I think at last count we have 162 cases and 22 dead. The streets are empty, restaurants are slow, and you actually can find a parking space. It feels like a zombie apocalypse is upon us. I am doing the same as I ever do, while trying to support the small businesses that are hurting badly. This too shall pass, but not without economic consequences to our fair city.
Breaking news that adult care facility in WA finally got tests and MOST of the employees… like 40 tested positive. I’m trying to find the post from out friend here who is quarantined in an assisted living facility, ,,
I need advice. I live in SW Florida and someone has already died from the virus in my county. I am supposed to be a poll worker for the primary on March 17th. This would bring me in contact with lots of people. And I’m pretty old. Should I cancel? Husband wants me to stay home. Lots of food in the freezer. Help!
Yes, you have our permission to stay home. If you were 21 I’d say go. Also, in my county all the poll workers are “pretty old” I am kinda old on the old scale. 🙂 I’m frankly worried about all the “pretty old” people who volunteer as poll workers. I had not thought about that. Some healthy youngsters need to sign up.
Do you guys have training for that or do they just give you a job when you get there? I’m wondering if you could send a young person to substitute.
This could be an issue nationwide because the official recommendations are for people over 60 to stay home and avoid crowds. Call them tomorrow and tell them your husband is insisting you not go, that gives them time to replace you.
Thanks for the advice. I can’t send anyone in my place because I’ve already gone through online training and in-person training. (and gotten the polo shirt). If everyone over 60 stays home there won’t be any primary voting in Florida. I don’t think that I’ll be the only on cancelling.
Stay healthy everyone!
Hey! My oldest son is a pollworker today for the first time. He went to about an hour of training. He was esssentially recruited at his college to take care of technology at the polling center, since most of their poll workers are older folks who who are not necessarily comfortable with computers. He got paid for the training and will paid for the primary today.
Hey All…I was a poll worker here in NC for the first time. Was at a precinct that was 98% a retirement community….the wealthy kind ?. Those folks were AMAZING. Average voting age was 70-80. Got to see a woman 101 and still sharp vote……here is what makes that even more important. When she was born we weren’t ALLOWED to vote. Had 60% turnout for a primary. Hopping I get to do the same in November. Had to take a vacation day to do it yet sooo worth it!
Unrelated note….did you all know that the sports bra we all love was just created less than 50 years ago? Originally was 2 jock straps sewn together. Ladies….while there is still work to be done we have it so much better than those that came before us.
So right Tamara, soap and water period, no hand sanitizers necessary.
Covin19 is one of a number of viruses, the common cold being one of the many Coronavirus’. Elderly, young and persons with chronic illnesses are most susceptible to poor outcomes from these viruses. Respect your neighbors and community when you have any upper respiratory infections, stay home, wear a mask if out and wash your hands frequently. Non sick people, same, wash hands, avoid touching your face while out.
I’d travel if I already had plans (except to China and probably Italy right now) following above. I’d mask for air travel, touch as little as humanly possible and vitamin up with a MVI, vit C and zinc.
I love me my TP but I really don’t see a need to stockpile it more than I usually do?.
I do hair, and people will call into work and then go get their hair done, that makes me nervous but it happens all the time so I don’t know if I’m more worried or just more aware. I already have a ton of nitrile gloves and disinfectant stuff because of my job so I haven’t had to stock up like some people are. It has been interesting to go to the store and see people with 8 things of toilet paper and bottled water. I have a very stocked pantry and freezer but when I went to get my weekly things like bread and milk, eggs and that type of thing I needed Clorox for the laundry. Do you think there was any? No I had to get some brand I’ve never heard of in a tiny bottle because that’s all that was left. Not sure if I think people are crazy, I think I’m just kind of over here observing the craziness of it all.
Same! My husband developed a nasty case of poison ivy and every time he gets it he puts bleach on it to dry to oils and kill it (it is HORRENDOUS on his skin). When I went to the store to get more bleach, there was nothing. Empty shelves entirely. I’ve never seen a Walmart with an empty shelf like that. I had to get some little bottle that’s scented a funny. Not a fan. Side note: poison got so bad, hubs went to Dr and got steroids. Happy to report poison is clear and the spots I developed from him sharing are fading as well.
As a teacher, I can’t get my kids to stop talking about it. The mayor of our town is coming to school today (planned months in advance) and we had to tell the kids that is on the “do not ask list.” They are playing “corono tag” at recess. We just had a few confirmed cases in Maryland. So now they’re panicking.
And with the full mood this week, 70 degree weather, the virus and spring break 3 weeks away, please send help! I am exhausted!
Any poison ivy OTC with jewelweed really knocks it back.
My rashes lasted weeks, got infected. I cannot use steroids, but I would have been a candidate.
And as goofy as it sounds, my encounters with PI were greatly lessened when I started drinking bone broth and collagen. Strengthens the skin, in my case.
badseed, it is nothing like the zombie apocalypse, because people are still able to choose to self quarantine if they suspect they were exposed. Then you have cunts purposely coughing in the faces of people trying to stop the infection. It is very scary, but if people stay sane, we can get through this. Who am I kidding, people will their usual moronic selves.
Yes, of course it’s not, but it’s pretty eerie to be in this city right now. Close to 10 locally owned restaurants (I am a former chef) have had to permanently close and layoff employees. People who work for big companies like Amazon and Google can tell folks to work from home, but I worry about my friends paying their rent, whether it’s for their home or business. We need some sort of stimulus to help us.
I am in a family of health care providers. We have masks, latex gloves, plenty of cleaning supplies, hand soap and non perishables because a quarantine for providers can come at a moments notice. We usually have these on hand anyway so I haven’t had to rush out and stock up. Masks are not necessary IMO for most. I care for my elderly mother in my home as well. I’m in agreement that frequent hand washing and cleaning of smart phones is best thing we can do. I’m used to stocking up since I live in Houston where prepping for hurricanes and devastating floods is common in these times. I am concerned about the panic that the media has generated. We have limited testing kits nationwide and there are most definitely people who are infected walking amongst us none the wiser. While influenzas debilitate and kill more than most are aware of, it is apples and oranges in comparison to the Covid19, because we don’t have the knowledge of incubation period, true forms of transmission, surface life, vaccines, etc.
Houston is close enough to the military base that is housing those who were brought back into the country from the cruise ship Petri dish. Protocol wasn’t followed by the ones who facilitated those evacuation flights home. We also have people who recently returned from cruises out of Galveston. Houston is a ghost town in many places. There are many unpublicized cases and quarantined here. But, some who were quarantined, broke quarantine for Ash Wednesday and TOOK COMMUNION. Now there are many in our Catholic diocese put on quarantine, along with people who were released after 14 days which didn’t show symptoms until AFTER their 14 days were up. Rice university has closed and some others have already gone to an online format. People are losing it over all the oil, gas and energy companies here. The galleria is a ghost town, yet the rodeo is going on as I type this. Go figure. There’s a lot of panic and mixed messages being broadcast nonstop. I’m actually not that concerned…yet, for my locale— at least for the general public in the here and now.
What my concerns are for is the providers that are not having access to the protective measures because of shortages being bought up by people who don’t need them ie masks, etc. These providers are the ones doing triage when the actual infected enter the ER, urgent care facilities, hospitals. The doctors, nurses, medical students, residents and non medical employees who work in the areas where the infected patients were before being put into the isolation units. Many of those people are under quarantine from known direct exposure. This part is not limited to just my city. I understand wanting to live as normal a life as possible but the panic causing the public to over prepare is hurting the ones on the front lines.
In addition, SPRING BREAK is happening this week and the next couple of weeks around the country. Once those students have returned (whether they traveled abroad or domestically), the number of cases will spike. Fortunately, it seems that the younger people don’t get as severely sick, but if you have kids coming home for break, they can unknowingly expose family who are not in their age group and cause the more fragile to be at risk. If they are traveling internationally, they can bring it home with them and expose their student populations. We are easily 3 weeks delayed our response to covid-19 as a country. We’re already at a disadvantage. I’m now feeling the building anxiety of what is to come in the next month, because of spring breaks and because my loved ones are on the front lines as medical providers. If the general public is taking away needed supplies from the providers, who will care for the sick when they get sick and/or more get quarantined? I guess I just am making a plea to not over buy when stocking up. I also now won’t be seeing my own kids until Christmas as medical students have cancelled their spring break plans to come home over this. I’m sad yet agree it’s the safe decision and the one is in DC. IMO, Trump is fucking this up BIG TIME.
And I also guess I just needed a place to vent. Please know that most of us are going to be fine. That said, if you have kids spring break age, please rethink their travel, even if it’s domestic. Thanks for this forum, Tamara. My intention is NOT to insight more fear, because the fear is counterproductive and in most cases unnecessary. Just “wash your hands and devices” may not sound like it’s enough but know that is exactly what the providers are doing too because there’s a shortage of anything else for them due to the fear and panic the media is instilling in every one of us. The fear is contagious. If you see the shelves are empty, it’s psychologically normal to think that you must buy it too if everyone else is. Truth is, that case of purel and second case of toilet paper isn’t going to save you if you get really sick. It’s a ruse to make you feel like you have control over SOMETHING. Let common sense prevail and be Reasonably cautious.
And regarding the stock market, many of us lived through black Monday and 2008. It will bounce back eventually as it always does provided you play the long game. Diversifying and buying gold etc doesn’t hurt either. TT’s advice is wise on this topic.
However unpopular, this is my opinion. I am a retired provider so I’m not on the front lines. But my immediate family members are and I trust what they are telling me and showing me.
Stay safe everyone and don’t freak out! ?
IJC, thank you for that thoughtful post. I hate to see supplies taken away from those providers who need it because of panicked people who stockpile. We’re all more safe when people listen and don’t be idiots, but good luck with that.
xo
Have to share a sad/funny as hell story. I work from home, I’m immunocompromised due to several auto immune diseases so I been buying online for years and only go out if I have to. Anyway, yesterday there is a knock on my front door and my 2 dogs go nuts, hey it’s their job. I ignore it as usual, but I do look outside to see if I see a car I know or anything. Another knock. Another round of dog craziness. After 4 knocks I finally go down to answer the door, realize this took about 20 minutes. I open the door and step outside…big dogs inside. It’s a door to door salesman. He starts his spiel, I tell him I’m not interested, he continues on, I try to politely open my door to go back inside, he starts telling me yada yada about missing out…about then the wind blew and I coughed…Dude fell over his own feet when he bolted away from me. I mean literally just suddenly started running away and tripped. I’m sorry I admit I laughed my ass off. Seriously dude your a door to door salesman…that means people!
Lol, and good for you. I try to stay at home all the time. I hardly go anywhere unless I absolutely have too. Instacart is my new favorite thing. And I refuse to open my front door to anyone I don’t know.
Of all the posts I read on here, and I am a daily visitor, this is by far my favorite!
I just spent an hour reading article about financial health on the TIAA website.
It is major spring allergy time for this house. DH went into the bank the other day and had a small cough, he then proceeds to tell the teller that he has not been able to shake this cough since he got back from China. She turned ghostly white before he told her he was kidding. We take Claritin but still have runny noses and coughs. I have hand sanitizer from last year when I had the flu and my 98 year old dad broke his hip and was hospitalized. I also always wore a mask when there to protect others from me. I always stock up on cold meds and Zycam in September when I get my flu shot but used it up because I got the flu again last month. The one thing I can say about the flu shot is that both times it never went into my chest. I am also a hand washer. I have two boxes of alcohol wipes and two canisters of Lysol wipes. I will use those if needed. I also do Kroger and Walmart grocery pick up 90% of the time. If I go in, I use their wipes to wipe down the cart and my hands and do it on the way out too. Looks like Dow futures have a 1000 point gain this am. I, too, am riding that roller coaster with Fidelity. A lot of my investments are tied to real estate, the consumer index and US treasuries which is where people are dumping there money for safety right now.
Unlike many of you who live in areas of concern, I live in Maine where there are currently no cases at all. Even with that, when I went shopping Sunday lots of products were sold out. The one thing that I wish people in charge would emphasize is that this is not Ebola, the black death, or the zombie apocalypse. Of course high risk people should be careful and take appropriate steps to protect themselves. Of course everyone should be aware of what could increase their risk of coming in contact with the virus. But even if you get it, unless you are one of the high risk people, you’ll be fine. No one wants to be sick. But every year people die from flu and nobody panics about that. More people die from texting while driving every day than are dying from this virus but that’s not a headline. So, be prudent and aware but life will go on, stocks will recover, cruises will be fun again. (I used to live 30 minutes from port of Miami and went on many many cruises. LOVE me some cruisin’! But glad I always get a balcony room.)
TT, I found your financial and money handling comments to be thoughtful and practical.
As far as gardening goes however, if I could I would include a picture of my yard, which still has snow and ice on it. On the plus side though, we did take the plow off the truck. Still have snow in the forecast for the next couple weeks, but nothing significant. What plants do you think will do well if they get planted in a snow bank to start?
I agree with everything you said, Lucinda. Living in Michigan, we have not had any confirmed cases yet. Maybe that is why we are not anxious?
A doctor interviewed on TV said that most “healthier” people who get it will have cold symptoms. It is only those with compromised immune systems who will be more susceptible to serious health concerns.
I have a fully stocked pantry and freezer, but not because of Covid19. I tend to always stockpile.
I’ve got enough supplies in for a month. But I forgot about alcohol! Need to remedy that asap. I believe the stock markets were way too high and still have a way to fall. I strongly suggest buying gold. It could double in value, I think. In the last 3 months it has gone up 13.42 percent.
I’m in Alberta, Canada and we now have 7 cases. 2-3 new cases a day. I’m home now with a cold, I’ve had breathing issues in the past and a wee bit older. Lol
My boss has been great and has said I don’t need to come back until I’m 100%. However, I need the money to live. Sigh. I’m not too worried yet but I do worry about people who have little to no income. How are they going to make it?
Also, there is no toilet paper in the stores. Lol
Stay healthy everyone. Don’t panic.
TT, many thanks for the sound financial info. I plan to go back, make notes, and speak to spouse. He and I are working through the morass of money “things”. Your words are spot on.
I mess with my tiny Fidelity fund, but the real money is where we are cautious.
The issue, in our case, is spouse’s extra-cautious family who all passed before they could truly enjoy their earnings. It’s a question that pops up for us, almost weekly. Save 3 years for the “conservatory” for my tropical plants? (4 by 12 lean-to, don’t be impressed) Or use money as we save it up to replace windows, redo the floor my dogs have peed into oblivion, etc. Or take that trip to the Grand Canyon while we can?
So I live in San Antonio Texas where they are housing most of the infected or evacuees at Lackland Air Force Base which would be fine if that’s where they kept them before the tests were all back as clear they released a couple out into the public and let them go to the mall then their tests came back and they were positive so they had to bring them back close them all clean them all tell everyone what they did and then it came out that they had released more people at the mall without the testing in crazy and it’s not like they’re looking to go to the mall for a few hours they actually release them to high Hotel on their own and drop them off physically at the mall I’m pretty much said we’re done good luck
One word, Lisa: punctuation.
A few words for you. Multiple sclerosis. I talk to text. Sorry I did say the punctuation for you. One thing about this site that makes it great is we don’t make fun if each other. Notice I said the work PERIOD and the end of the sentence just for you
” One thing about this site that makes it great is we don’t make fun if each other.” I mean we kind of do make fun of each other. For example, if I could post a gif here I would have posted the Luann phonecall to Tom to confront him about his cheating, “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? question mark”
However, this is one of those comment sections where we are all on out best behavior because people are a little bit concerned about the nature of the world we are living in. So we are generally on our best behavior.
Love you TT
I’m sorry for your illness. I myself have battled ovarian cancer. We do have to keep a sense of humor about ourselves, though. I didn’t say what kind of idiot are you that there’s no punctuation in your post. I did find it a little hard to understand and read it a couple times to get what you were saying. And everyone pretty much understands the one word for you thing is a joke. But I am sorry to have offended and am leaving the period off of this sentence in your honor
Lucinda, Really? Important information yet you’re focused on punctuation? I’ll be watching your grammar when it comes to Maine. And it will. Way to read a room. ?
Oh come on, IJC. Lighten up! If we lose our sense of humor it’s all over but the shoutin’. TT has a statement at the top of her blogs about this not being for the easily offended or the precious little snowflakes. Let’s all just calm down, wash our hands, and enjoy a giggle once in a while.
This. Sofa king stupid. I discussed this briefly in my comment. They literally dropped them off AT THE MALL. That was a military decision for the record. The physicians are PISSED.
Weren’t they supposed to be quarantined? and why would the military make such a decision instead of the health professionals?HHS sent in untrained personelle with no protective equipment to interact with the group in California from the first cruise ship. This failure to follow the most basic of universal protocals to protect from infectious diseases is discouraging. Turning infected people loose in a mall is kinda terrifying.
My answer would definitely put me in the WLS. ?
I’ve been ordering my groceries online. I know the virus can live on surfaces for awhile, but figure having food/necessities delivered is preferable to being in crowded big box stores. I’m wearing nitrile gloves almost every time I go out. One seemingly magical benefit is that I touch my face less when I wear them…not sure why. Have a good stock of groceries and supplies on-hand. Taking LOTS of Vitamin C.
Stopping my face touching has been very difficult…my face is constantly itching, especially whenever I read online or hear people in TV say not to touch your face. ? I keep paper towels by my side and use that if I need to touch my face.
I totally agree on hand sanitizer having harmful chemicals, but I figure COVID19 is a more clear and present danger than hand sanitizer.
TT, thank you for creating this open forum. It helps to be able to share and read others’ comments on this. Reading about this topic on major social media is not for the faint of heart!
Still too cold where I live to plant, but we’re getting closer!
A happy for me thing. So, I am working on trying new things, and learning to live not just survive. I am really very pissed about the PTSD and anxiety from surviving my life for a long time. I’ll be damned if I curl up and die now. Learning what “normal” people do is so weird. So, anyway, I love animals. One if the rescue organizations I am involved with is having a fund raiser selling seeds. So, I am going to give it a shot! I have a black thumb, but think I can do it. I ordered some seeds for fresh herbs, and some flowers to put in a grouping of pots by my front porch, and something called a seed carpet, I think, to put around my mailbox. I am really excited about this!
Also, I am a germaphobe anyway, I wash my hands like I am scrubbing into surgery and wipe shopping carts etc. I also clean my keys and credit cards, and stink eye people who sneeze or cough and do not cover their mouth. I very pointedly offer a tissue in a totally unapologetically cunty manner. Also, there is, in my opinion, a special place in hell for slobs who do not wash their hands after using the restroom. So, no changes for me for Corona. Just afraid of losing money if my boss gets paranoid and closes the office.
I am pretty sure I already have a reserved seat, but thanks for thinking of me nonetheless. 🙂 I do NOT wash my hands in the public bathroom. That is one of the germiest things in the world. I feel smug getting the looks as the others firmly grip where everyone else’s possibly shitty hands have been.
I thought this was a joke, but Berea College here in Kentucky just canceled the spring semester! Everyone has to be off campus by Saturday. They can’t ensure everyone’s safety, so they are just stopping instruction. It is nuts!
Oh my gosh! I guess better safe than sorry but this seems like overreacting. The tornado in Nashville killed more people than the virus so far in the US. What’s next? Close everything and make people stay at home until there’s no cases ANYWHERE?
Yes, there haven’t even been any confirmed cases in that city. What are the international students going to do?
There are only a few weeks left in the semester. A TON of schools have stopped in person classes, pretty much all of the Ivy leagues. They are going to online instruction. Berea probably doesn’t have the equipment for that and all the students might not have laptops. The sad part is graduation ceremonies are already being cancelled a lot of places and the diplomas will be mailed.
A breath of spring air and daffodillys turns old grey mares into spring fillys. Crocus pokus!
I love daffodils and crocus! I also love tulips. We had nice rain today, the air smells clean and fresh…?
They cancelled the south by southwest music festival in Austin this month Andy cohen always broadcasts from there and its become a huge event
They just brought a ton of people from that cruise ship off California coast and put them at Lachland overnight. Several already tested positive. Here we go again!
My daughter Hope and I planted many flower bulbs this past weekend! Trying to go all perennial as I can! Super happy to report at least 200 bulbs of all kinds, that will bloom all different times of the spring and summer. Hoping the squirrels don’t feast on them! Even planted 2 giant elephant ear plants which I adore and one grew amazingly last summer. On another note, I had been walking since October over 10k steps a day, almost 60 minutes a day consistently, and was feeling great! Then about 2 weeks ago, had great foot pain…went to ortho doc today, and sadly I have plantar fasciitis which is a result of not stretching my calf’s and Achilles’ tendons more! Dang it all! Been doing so good, but missed something to keep me on my walks! A little PT, and a lot of stretching and I should be good to go for regular walks again in 6 weeks the doc tells me! So word …take stretching of calf’s and Achilles’ tendons seriously if you are getting your walk on!
The flowers sound lovely, Carol. I planted about that many bulbs once and the psychopath next door came out and screamed at me about putting up a privacy fence. I ignored him completely but on the inside I was thinking OH PLEASE DON’T THROW ME IN THE BRIAR PATCH! And wondering how he would tape me and my house with the video control center he had in the bedroom at the end of his house. He was very upset about the flowers and I believe he poisoned them all because the ones on the fenceline never came up. It was a complete deadzone in the area that was outside of his surveillance room. This year it looks like something is coming up, I will have to wait to see what it is. It could be day lilies, which would be find because even they would not grow there. But I am hoping for the dinner plate dahlias and whatever else I planted there years ago. Time will tell.
Sorry about the plantar fascia. I used to have the several years ago when I got up in the morning. It was when I first started teaching all day on concrete. It’s painful.
Oh Carol, I feel your pain! I had plantar fasciitis in both feet at different times. It was so bad I went to a specialist who spent more time on the phone with the dealership about his car during my appointment than talking to me. He told me shots in my foot would really help. So he put a giant needle into my heel from from different angles. Yikes! Hurt like a sumbitch. And didn’t help at all. Icing it and stretching finally resolved it. I also got one of those braces that you wear overnight to keep your foot in a particular position. I hardly wore it one night. I couldn’t sleep with it on.
They canceled Ultra in Miami also.
We are the largest cruise port and that is going to shit pretty quickly. We took the Water Taxi to Margaritaville yesterday and it was crowded.
I’ve always used Dr. Bonners.
Along the lines of hand sanitizer, I go through the same thing with Sunblock because it is so horrible for you. It’s getting easier to find non oxybenzone sunblock.
I hate this shit. I’m very worried about the coronavirus and my husband and I cannot stay home. He runs the busiest restaurant in South Florida and I do all the human resources. We serve over 1000 people every single day.
I just moved from south Florida. What restaurant are you referring to?
Lucinda, where do you work? What is the street address there?
Feel free to email me at [deleted].
Why, you don’t want to share on the Internet where you work? Interesting. And yet you are asking someone else to post that information?!
I didn’t ask anyone to post any information! I didn’t know why you were asking me for that information but I didn’t want to be rude. I’m curious why you think I asked someone for any kind of personal information to be posted online, especially a work address. None of my posts…..oh, wait. Was it because I asked that person what restaurant her husband runs? She claimed it was south Florida’s busiest restaurant and I was wondering if I had frequented it while I lived there. If that made her uncomfortable she could have just said so. I wasn’t looking for information for any nefarious reasons. And I really couldn’t think why you had asked me for a work address and then taken me to task about my response. I’m a little hurt that a completely innocent comment got me in trouble.
I’m not on my best behavior today so I’m calling this one now… parathyroid 2.0
You heard it here first. Over.
Lucinda, TT is actually my friend and knows I’d rather not share on a public forum for multiple reasons.
She just has my back.
Oh NOE. Not Parathyroid 2.0 #NeverAgain
We had a supervisor position open up at work and my Supervisor recommended me for the position. That being said, I really don’t know how much longer I want to go into our office. We have a lot of colleagues come into our, small, but packed office from all over. Kind of freaks me out.
Otherwise I’m not on any diet except for intermittent fasting. I cancelled my gym membership as that is the worst place in the world for germs. My Birthday is next week and I’m checking a brand new dreaded box and am feeling old.
Yay for a happy post 🙂
We are in some shit up here with this virus. I work only a few miles from the epicenter in NY and it is directly affecting us. The woman whose desk is next to mine is quarantined, one of the kids I work with is being tested this week for Corona after having similar symptoms, and she is from the same town that was just commandeered by the National Guard. If she is positive, here go hell come. I did hear the part of the National Guard’s duties will be to deliver lunches to the kids who receive free food at school, so I am happy for that. and all of my patients are cancelling so I am going to go broke.
I have be a purell user for many years; we dont have easy access to a sink where we are, and sometimes I travel and need to purell in the car. I wash whenever I get to a sink but it is not always possible.
In other news my cat was neutered today and has a cone :(. poor thing has no body awareness now, he is trying to back out of it, there is food all over it, and he is trying to play like he always does and is just thumping into things. I have been through this with my fur babies many times before, but it is always sad to see them dealing with a cone.
On the positive side, we are starting to get crocuses.
Oh Wow, Ingrid. You are going through A LOT! I can’t imagine. The work situation alone and the loss of income is a devastating blow in itself. Add on possible exposure and and a pet surgery and aftercare. That’s a ton of emotional bandwidth and honestly more than I think I could muster.
Please keep us informed. will you have to get tested or do you wait for symptoms? This is just a giant nightmare. I am so sorry. I don’t know how to adequately express my compassion for what you are going through. Try to take care of yourself and treat yourself kindly. Do you have clients tomorrow? If not perhaps a good day curled up on the couch with the beverage and snack of your choice and some good distracting movies is in order.
Hand in there and please keep us posted!
Oh and I love that you can still find the beauty in the crocuses, a sure sign of spring. I don’t have any in my front yard but sometimes on single oddball flower that may be a crocus pops up in my backyard. I don’t think I’ve seen it this year. I have one last daffodil, a few irises and a couple of hyacinths. I pick up a hyacinth at the grocery sometimes when they have them in pots and just stick the in the ground without much love or fanfare and they come back every year despite my negligence.
thank you so much for the kind words! It’s weird, at home everything is just usual day to day, and at the store people are wiping their carts and everything, and then at work it is insane. I actually have Friday off since one of the places I was going to work closed for two weeks. Also I forgot to mention my mom takes classes for retirees at a place that was just closed up because it was in the no-contact zone. She is strong for 83, and I did convince her to stop going to church and stop swimming for a while (talk about germ factories…). I am really most worried about her and the other old folks in the world who may get knocked down by this.
Ok on another note, there is a town near me with this beautiful church with a big hill in front of it. Every year, for 30 years as far as I can see the hill bursts forth with crocuses, hundreds of them, maybe more. I drove past there today, and, like every year, the purple and yellow colors the whole hill. It is beautiful.
So nice to hear of spring flowers instead of other things. I love all of those.
I keep thinking I don’t have to worry about dying from corona because only old people are dying … then I remember I am old! Then … I think I don’t need to worry because my grandmother and her brother and sister were three of the very few survivors in their village in France in the flu pandemic in the early 1900s, so I am immune. I know it’s a different strain, but it makes me feel better, so I believe.
I am kind of the opposite of a germ freak. BUT I do wash my hands A LOT. Not because of germs, because I have dry skin and need to moisturize. The Beekman 1802 soap I use moisturizes and so does the goat milk lotion. So that habit is good. But touching my face 45 million times a day is NOT GOOD. I trained myself not to do it when I worked in food service and retail. But now … I’m just a natural-born tweaker old lady. Uh oh.
On the positive side, I may have my imperial evidence that opioids block viruses from attaching onto certain receptors. If people in methadone clinics don’t get corona, I will be vindicated. (Junkies don’t count, because when they go into detox, the receptors are exposed.)
I’m in Hong Kong, and I feel like we’ve gone through what the rest of the world is now experiencing, however I will say the city moved super quick, mainly because I believe they all experienced SARS PTSD. It’s scary, we worked from home for a month, airports were (and still are) empty, and our economy has taken a huge hit (as if we needed another one with the protests happening) I’d say avoid crowds, wash your hands, and wear a mask if you are sick. i think the US hasn’t seen the worst of it yet. 🙁
Also, excellent advice on the financial side!
Thank you for your insight!
Okay y’all, just my PSA for the day: Beware of scammers. The frenzy of the virus has brought out the bottom feeders. Even Jim Bakker of PTL fame is peddling snake oil claiming it kills the virus. Lots of fakes out there. But, beware of phishing scams—fake emails from CDC, NIH, WHO etc., some are even going door to door claiming to be representatives from the CDC. None of these actual agencies will email you or show up at your door! Again, use common sense and reasonable caution. I’m getting really pissed off about this crap and just wanted to warn who I can.
Thank you for alerting us….I am so over scammers.
A quick word on investing–at some point it isn’t about wealth accumulation, but income stream. At this point in my life it is more important to have ca$h coming in every month than an investment portfolio accumulating. When I was younger with a salary, the reverse was true. Strategies should not be static.
We could last about forever where we are. The pond is huge, & was originally stocked with 2,000 fish. There are about 50 ducks on the pond. The well is 1700 ft. deep. The whole-house generator runs on a huge tank of propane. We have a separate building that is an emergency pantry with a freezer & there is are two exterior fridges. The new kitchen pantry is full, & 2 of the dogs are on a vet-dictated green beans for breakfast diet, anyway. I have 2 lbs. of emergency quality chocolates & there are several cases of beer & half a dozen bottles of champagne. I have the ingredients to make laundry soap if necessary, though I have plenty extra (when I was single, that’s all I used, & made extra for charity). We are near a Marine Commissary, which is unlikely to run out of basic supplies & we have military IDs & we keep vehicles well-gassed. We could take in family & friends with no problem. Fly Boy spent 32 years in the military, so has always been prepared for disasters. We have not done anything special for this one other than buy a few extra pounds of brown rice because I use that to make dog food & the grocery store was out last week.
MsGrandma, if SHTF, people will be fishing in your pond and taking your ducks.
Okay, I just saw the Washington State people giving a press conference and I am finally starting to get a bit nervous. I may need to go back to the grocery store. I opted not to go to the pool today, I think. I don’t go until four. But still. And I like the pool. The NYT reports that Germany is anticipating …well a LOT of people contracting the virus.
I jumped up mid comment here and went back to the grocery store. I am officially buying wine again but I am still off the booze for Lent. But if the SHTF all bets are off. I am not going to the pool today. I wore disposible gloves (they have them cheap at my Publix and I bought some more) just because I get really intimate with my shopping carts, lol. I don’t just hold the handle, hold the sides, I pull it from the end, etc etc so the gloves kept me from having to give it a full blown wipedown. I wear a lot of rings though and I had to take them off because they immediately ripped. DUH. Lessons learned.
I mainly went this time for brown rice. I had purchased one container. But they are on sale so I went back for two more. Miz Grandma made me realize I need it for Banjo should this go on a long time. I also bought him some canned green beans. I give him beans and rice sometimes so that will be a new thing for him. I have enough canned beans to survive forever. As well as hand held can openers. (which I use anyway).Also, they were out of my protein shakes the last time I was there and I bought more of that. I bought even more kombucha. Basically I just bought more of what I normally use so that I don’t run out and have to go back to the grocery store frequently. In fact I hope not to see another grocery store for 6-8 weeks
I think you are being practical. Hubby is a firefighter in Everett (north of Seattle). He is the farthest thing from a drama queen you can get; you basically need to lose a limb to get sympathy from him! But he has been saying from the jump that shit is about to get real, and it will get much worse before it will get better. Most of us will get through it just fine if we get it, but I worry about older folks and those with compromised immune systems.
I am currently temping and the people around me are losing it. One woman is telling me that she can’t find toilet paper anywhere and that it’s sold out everywhere. Which is total BS. I told her to go to Pavillions down the street and says that she can’t do it before work or after. But keeps complaining that she can’t find it online. People are complaining that they can’t find water here in LA, BS again. Trader Joe’s is well stocked with water. I had a security guard tell me that she can’t find water. I told her to try TJ she asked what kind of water?! Really, does it matter since you say you can’t find water?! I told her it’s bottled water. Btw, what’s wrong with tap water, do people think the water source is also contaminated? While I was in the bathroom this girl tells me “thank god this is the last time I need to wash my hands”. I looked at her crazy. I was trying to figure out if she meant here at the office or was she going home and just being nasty and not washing her hands.
One of my WeHo friends said they were sold out of water today when he went shopping.
Tell him to try Hollywood, they still have a lot of items at Trader Joes, Food4Less and Walgreens. Pavillions on Melrose and Vine is well stocked.
Last Oct I stepped on a nail in my shoe and and after 4 or so hours unnoticed when I took off my shoe. Went to UC got antibiotic.3 days later was in the er with toe infection.after 7 different antibotics 6 wks of if antibiotics in pick line I had my toe amputated last Friday. I’m 62 and have diabetes. Good news I have only been out for doc.Apointment s Nd siurgery.I have enough food to live on for many many months.I have 3 months of my rx drugs.And when I can go back to work it will be here at home as I work from home.. Here into Minnesota we have cases.
Wow sorry about your food trouble that must have been awful. Good to hear you are all set up for three months, though!
On Long island I think Manhattan will bring more cases to us.Most people on LI travel to the city as well as people from CT and NJ, so we I think it will spread. I already know someone close to me who’s relative has it. The whole family is being tested now.
What makes me nervous is for people with medical conditions, like Pam stated above, they need to have their prescriptions and appointments. People who have dialysis and such. The elderly who need to get out and buy food and supplies.
Brown rice is much more nutritious than white rice, but if you are storing long term (more than 6 mo.), you need to cycle it or use white rice because the oil in the brown will turn rancid (same goes for processed whole wheat flour). Buy oils in the smallest bottles for the same reason, as they will start to go bad once opened. Mayo, the same, but the good news is that mayo doesn’t need to go in the fridge, even in the tropics (surprise!), so buy the little jars, use it up & open a new one. You can use a T. of real mayo as an egg substitute in baking, but I buy the generic cartons of scrambled eggs that last a couple of months & use those for most things. If you buy unrefrigerated eggs & turn them daily, they do not need to be refrigerated & they last a long time. To test to see if they are fresh, just put them in a bowl of water. If they float, they are bad; if they sink (no air has penetrated the shell) they are still good. However, for stuff like ham salad sandwiches or potato I like the hard tofu (no taste) & NO ONE can tell it isn’t real hard boiled eggs in the mix. (If you didn’t know or remember, I know this stuff because I used to teach boat provisioning at a college in Calif. to fellow sailboat cruisers.) One of the difficult things for folks on a stashed food diet is that much of the food is soft & after a while you crave stuff that is crunchy, & if you don’t get it you get cranky. Make sure your stash includes things like cans of bamboo shoots, water chestnuts & tiny whole corn on the cob you can add to dishes to add texture. Salads do not need lettuce to be great. Grow your own bean sprouts in a mason jar with a piece of screen screwed on the top & use all kinds of beans, onions, canned tomatoes, bacon bits, olives, etc. Freeze English muffins to make tiny pizzas. Cook pastas al dente. Buy crunchy pickles. I stocked complete mashed potato mix & added chopped green chilies to simulate lumps. Do not overcook rice. Here is how I cook rice for dogs & humans (no need for added salt): Heat 3 c. water & 1 can Beefy or other mushroom soup 3 min. covered in microwave. Add 2 full c. brown rice + 1 T. wild rice & cook 18 min @ 50% power. Let sit 15 min for excess water to absorb. I keep handy in the fridge 1/2 for humans & mix 1/2 for dogs. For humans I use as side dish, maybe doctored up a bit with cheese & mushrooms, or for a handy diet meal for myself with real (not the junk in a green cardboard tube) parmesan cheese on top. For dogs, I mix a combo of a variety of stuff, though always mixed veggies & meat (boiled chicken breast, tuna, ham, whatever, little sausages), maybe eggs, pumpkin, yams, other veggies. Coco Chanel, who loves any kind of rice–Thai, Mexican, fried, Chinese, whatever, loves this rice, as do Fly Boy’s minipins. We think of dogs as carnivores, but carnivorous animals get their plant foods from eating the intestines of their prey (see “Never Cry Wolf” by Farley Mowatt). Just keep the starch servings reasonable. Soy & almond milk comes in long-term storage cardboard cartons that doesn’t need refrigeration. Nestle makes really good whole powdered cow’s milk in cans. Bisquick recipes are great & you can even make your own Bisquick. Greek yogurt is easy to make with powdered milk, & is great for bread-making, which is a blast (the trick is to use a cloth for your kneading surface, then fold it up in a baggie for the next time). The biggest secret is to make the whole thing F-U-N. Tell yourself & the kids it’s an A-D-V-E-N-T-U-R-E, & it will be one. I spent several years doing this stuff & had an absolute blast while cruising on my sailboat.
Correction: Use 1/4 c. mayo as a substitute for 1 egg in baking.
Welp, I am going out tomorrow for stamps to mail in my taxes when I finish them, then going to buy more wine and cigarettes. Then I am heading home where THE DOOR WILL BE CLOSED. And I will only be leaving the house to roll the trash out once a week. I shall be wearing my disposable gloves.
I have enough stuff to keep myself just fine for a few months if need be. And I don’t need to go anywhere. If anyone knows how to self quarantee, it’s me. I have done it for years.:)
I thought I was the only smoker left out there…lol. I don’t do alcohol but am a fan of cbd.
In Ireland as of this evening at 6pm every school, college, child care facility will close &for the moment the return date is the 30th of March. We had one poor lady die yesterday & just over 400 confirmed cases….
And now for something to make you laugh…This lady sounds exactly like what I think out in THE WORLD…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYQXMODNdf0&feature=emb_logo
ROTF LMFAO! Thank you for this priceless gift! ?
Only laugh out loud moment of the day, thanks Tamara, love to Banjo, x
This lady is my soul mate. I could totally Meredith Baxter Birney with her.
Thank you for this. I truly laughed out loud. I love this woman!
You are welcome. We all need to laugh as much as we can these days.
I AM OFFICIALLY SELF QUARANTINED! I just made my final store run. I bought the essentials, WINE, Dark CHOCOLATE, Protein shakes, dog food and batteries for my lanterns. Batteries are expensive! 8 D batteries, $20 ! I am going to need to win the lottery to pay my Amex this week. But I literally will not have to go to the grocery story for three months…. unless it is for wine.
I’m already looking for a Lent Loophole in the case of impending death. Surely God would understand if I had some wine like Jesus did before Easter? We shall see. The spirit is starting to get weak.
Welp! We’ve had our first death in the county due to COVID and schools have been closed indefinitely. Here we go! Can I drink yet?!
I’m going to, but I’m going to wait until closer to Project Runway so I don’t fall asleep before then. I’m feeling a little sick *cough cough*
The schools here are starting to shut down also. I just made the husband leave work to buy gallons of milk!
My daughter lives in Floyd County Ga and the grocery stores up there have stopped pickups and deliveries. I live in Coweta County and they shut down the schools for two weeks. Got my instacart order in the nick of time before the same thing happens here. I hope everyone stays healthy and safe!
Whyyy is all the toilet paper gone???? I have to stock up as the kids are off from school tomorrow due to “preventative deep cleaning”. It may be time to take up drinking ? Stay safe everyone ❤️❤️
I love in at an adult facility, we have been quarantined! No outside visitors, no outside food delivery, no family or friends can come, we’re only allowed to leave the facility for doctor appointments. We can’t go to different sections of the building. The vending machines are on the long term care side, we have to ask a CNA to go but is a soda or whatever we want from the machine. We can’t get our own ice, CNA has to get it in a container then bring it to us. We can’t use the Kurieg in the dining room. So basically I’m stuck here without the ability to even order groceries. I’m not worried, I’m more pissed that there is no way to get anything in for our residents. I’m taking all precautions, hand washing, wearing masks and staying in my room. Hopefully this soon passes. Good luck to all of us. Lots of love to all of you!
Lots of love back atcha, Nadia. I wish we could send you things. I’d send you a chocolate stash or something. Glad you have Internet access at least. You can keep us updated on your situation. I’ll keep making open forum posts like this and we can chat,
Plus, you are a captive audience for my blathering comments in this comment section.
I am already wishing I had gone to Home Depot and bought tomato plants. I may do it tomorrow, the garden center is outside and that will make “social distancing” easier.
Nadia what state are you in?
I love in Snellville Georgia. That’s why I always say we’re so close TT. So now, it’s just me and the cat. I really appreciate your offer of sending me something. That warms my heart.?
And I have no problem being held captive by you. You’re wonderful!
AND ANOTHER THING…. this no touching your face thing is ridiculous. People are (stupidly in my opinion) coating themselves in hand sanitizer, Your hands are not going to put any bacteria on your face if you are at home where you should be. When you come in from the world, WASH YOUR HANDS. THEN WASH YOUR FACE. Then touch your face all you want!
Report from the outer limits: today while I was making my daily trip to Home Depot I thought I’d swing by Walmart and pick up a few things. Just a normal day. I was shocked to see the parking lot packed. As I was headed to pick up a package of napkins, I thought what the heck I’d pick up another package of toilet paper. Think again! The entire store was cleaned out. Two days ago when I was there the shelves looked like normal. There is only ONE case of covid-19 in the entire state, that was confirmed today. Wtf is going on with toilet paper?? I went online when I got home and there’s no tp anywhere. Including Amazon! There’s tp on Ebay…if you want to spend $20 a roll. I grumbled as I went out to the camper and scavenged 5 rolls of the hardly-qualifies-as-toilet paper dissolving toilet paper. I can understand water, food, milk, bread, OTC cold medicines, flu medications, almost anything except for toilet paper. What are people thinking? That we’re all going to be locked in our houses for the next several months with no escape? That we’re suddenly going to increase our excremental output exponententially? Stop the madness! Step away from the paper products!
The virus doesn’t make you poop on yourself, yet the vitamin and cold medicine isles are still packed! How stupid is that?
Thank you, Nadia! What a relief! A like minded individual with critical thinking skills!
A lot of cold medicines are simple immune system boosters. One article I read said that the CV may not like zinc just like the common cold doesnt. I have been taking Vitamin c and zinc every day.
This one is easy, Lucinda Meyer. Most long-distance boating folks know that a single square of tp is almost always sufficient for #1. If your tp supply is skimpy, time to get out the good scissors & raid the family stash of ratty t-shirts. Stack small squares in the bathroom & add a small plastic trash bag next to the potty. Run a separate laundry load every couple of days with laundry soap & bleach or ammonia as needed, & save the tp or baby wipes for #2. Too yucky for you? Get a small covered trash container for the trash bag & get over yourself.
What’s with the get over yourself? That’s rather rude. Is there really any reason to insult someone who’s expressing herself and talking about what this experience is like for her? Plenty of other people don’t understand the toilet paper hoarding that’s going on. With all the natural disasters I’ve experienced in my life, hurricanes, blizzards,tornadoes, floods, droughts, I’ve never seen anything like this. Especially people in an area like mine which is hardly impacted at all going nuts for no reason. One can be prudent without losing one’s mind in a frenzy of unreasonable panic. And losing your sense of humor, which is sometimes the most important thing to get one through a bad time.
Only the first sentence of my post was directed at you, Lucinda, & just to get your attention. The rest was info for the general population. If I was rude, then I was rude to everyone.
Hells bells. It’s deja vu all over again. I am old enough to remember the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 1973. Johnny Carson joked about it and it fueled a frenzy of midnight madness TP shopping. Back then, in NorCal, the only 24-hour supermarket was Mayfair. We would wait in the parking lot for the supply trucks to come in and get our rolls. Ever since then, I’ve stashed toilet paper in several places — in case of emergency. There have been times I had no money to buy any, or a visitor has used an entire roll in FOUR HOURS! I bought an extra 6-pack at Trader Joe’s last night and they are gone today.
OH NO. :(Breaking News: Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, tested positive for the coronavirus,
Oh no.Spent most of the day in my just bleached sheets. Not Canada too.
The government surely has our best interests at heart. They will save the day. They will give us stipends and feed us at their convenience. They will rid us of germ filled cash. They will give us crypto currency. We will beg for it. We will praise them for they are our salvation ?.
Oh My Fecking God,: Are these people fecking stupid???
Spain has declared a National Emergency we are basically on lock down for 15 days, schools etc closed, you can leave home for 2 reasons, chemist and supermarket,
Northern Spain particularly Madrid is one of the MAIN reasons the emergency has been put in place however people who live in Madrid seem to believe 15 day lock down translates into 4 week easter vacation in Southern Spain and are now causing major traffic hold ups to reach their vacation homes in Marbella or Soto Grande. this includes the Ex – Spanish Prime Minister and the Mayor of Madrid.
Why is every fecker in the world gone bat shit crazy over toilet rolls,
So my question is what is everyone doing with their toilet rolls?
Should we all be investing our cash in toilet roll companies?
You think it is stupid to go on lockdown? I wish my country had done it a month ago, with assistance for those who could not afford food, etc. for 2 weeks, and giving assistance to small businesses. I’m in a state where school is now closed for 6 weeks, and I have friends who own their own businesses who are facing complete failure.
I think what Tuatha was saying is that the pesky Northern Spainards (yankees, lol) including the political figures have taken “Lockdown” to mean, EVERYONE DRIVE TO THE BEACH in Southern Spain and “lockdown” there. This means that EVERYONE in the country is now cramming into an even smaller and causing traffic jams and using up all the resources meant for half as many people.
Also how is Tuatha pronouced, Is it TWO ah tha?
Thank You Tamara… You hit the nail on the head with the hammer.
Yes you are correct TWO ah tha from Tuatha de Danann
We are in lockdown fastest growig cases are now officially Spain and the USA, We have a facebook group to esure all our local elderly/vunerable neighbours are getting food/medication etc
Only 20 people in supermarkets at the same time as of 7.30am
Stay safe everyone….Spring cleaning, paintig,batch cooking and a little gardening for the next 15 days… productivity plan commences monday,
I need this productivity plan. lol. I was up all night for no damn reason and am trying to plow through a few more hours to TRY to get my days and nights back on track.
The lawn kid came buy today and I let him cut the front lawn spread some cedar chips in the back yard (supposed to ward off fleas) without talking to him or opening the door until he was working and then I put the money under a magnet on his side of the door and that was that.
Should I survive I am coming to live with you iwhen he kicks the bucket. 🙂
You are welcome anytime after October, Anyone breaking the curfew faces a €30k fine, we are a little confused as we can go to the supermarkets, chemist,, walk the dog 1 person, 1 dog and most important…we can go to the hairdressers…LOL
Well, I mean, one must have the proper hairdo for isolation. Totally makes sense.
I’m an idiot. I am burning through the tequila faster than anticipated.
The toilet paper was a mystery to me. Especially since I was there to stock up on wine and chocolate bars. Which there was plenty of, How much toilet paper do people actually need? Was everyone completely out of toilet paper when they wend to the store?
Two dead in Ireland now, the Health Department is saying at a worse case scenario 75% will survive, I’m hoping they are over exaggerating…. I’m really afraid, loo roll is the least of my problems, stay safe all you lovely people, Niamh x
And I don’t want to disagree with your government but even if you are INFECTED and over 70 may be, Is Trump running your government? BECAUSE TRUMP IS OUR PRESIDENT AND KEEPS SAYING STUPID SHIT. And we are fine with the virus. It is TRUMP who is our larger issue. He follows no rules and my even have the virus because HE REFUSES TO To follow protocol.
STAY INSIDE. Surely the Irish have some booze.I know I do….stay home, don’t open the door for anyone you are not expecting. We are all going to be okay.
Booze!!!! You can send me some booze. Tequila silver please! LOL????
Thanks TT, plenty of booze… in an Irish household that’s a given! My teenagers still want to go out & it’s impossible to explain what germs they can bring home, sure teenagers are bullet proof…! I really hope your right ,we’ll all be ok, I’m inside !! xx
By the way Tamara, our Taoiseach (President) Leo Varadkar.. waited until visiting that gobshite Trump in Washington to tell us in the Republic of Ireland that every school, college etc, was closed from 6pm on the 12th of March.
I don’t believe we as a nation are being told the truth, two deaths is too many, but the measures in place seem extreme…. x
Plenty of booze to be had, but shelves are empty. I bought too much alcohol. Some rice, the last box of pasta and spaghetti sauce. I’m fatty enough I can live for at least a couple of weeks. Clutches my toilet paper.
Okay, so I went to my local grocery store on Tuesday and it was fully stocked with a few other customers there. Today I went to the supermarket and it has turned into bedlam, but drunk bedlam. I had a drunk lady who was a bit rough around the edges come up to me and she asked where the toilet paper isle is, I showed her and handed her a package of napkins, I told her it’s the next best thing, she was happy and left, then another drunk lady came up to me and talked on an on to me. I don’t remember what she said. So basically everyone in my grocery story was drunk and speaking to each other, no one usually speaks to each other here, I do, but mostly no one does until now.
In NY, plastic bags are banned. We have the brown paper bags, they are running as low as the food. When I was at the self check out, I grabbed 4 bags from another register, a man went to grab one of them and I yelled “Let go of my bag!” I was joking, he really thought I meant it, so he ended up laughing.
Then I went to the local seafood restaurant to get cooked shrimp, there was another drunk lady waiting at the counter, she was cute and funny, her husband only wanted to buy scallops, when he went to the bathroom, she added some herring, clam chowder and a crabcake. He said what did you buy, she said Nothingah!! Where I live, when women answers kinda annoyed there is always a gah at the end of the word. They took off on their Harley and I went home.
Schools are slowly starting to close one by one here. Transportation by ferry might halt for two weeks. Basically everything is shutting down. Oh and people are sanitizing their homes with nail polish remover, it’s weird and must smell awful.
Stay safe everyone and if you can help the elderly, call and ask them if they need any help.
Finally, I just heard that NY officials are closing all the NY schools. I knew the school in my town was closed next week, but I was hoping for all to close.
I know this is hard on working parents and children learning, but we must do this.
This is all very confusing. I’m not sure if they are talking about New York City or the whole state. I just know most schools around me on Long Island are closing next week.