My brother works on location filming on major movies and TV shows. He has been in the Canary islands on a shoot and is trying to get home via London.
I feel my anxiety rising. Might need to take a break from the news.
I understand, @Nrdsb4. I hope your brother makes it home soon.
Many of my coworkers plan to go away (most on planes) for April break. One is driving a few days away. I realized seeing them raise their hands at our meeting yesterday the disconnect I have in my thinking with theirs. I will be scared of them when they return given how easily I get sick compared to other people. I can’t believe how many of them think it will be over by mid april.
I don’t know what I think about this virus and what people should do but I definitely don’t think highly of the choice of my coworker who came to work after staying home only 2 days with the flu while still coughing. I got the flu and I think it was from her. The flu can kill people. I don’t appreciate her disregarding that fact and coming to work while still contagious to others. She may not have known that. Another coworker came to work with a fever and didn’t tell me until the end of the day after she had been very close to me and talking to me. I don’t respect that choice, either.
That’s infuriating. Perhaps, maybe not in this case but in others, we can nudge people who are not practicing social distancing because they wrongly think other people would be offended or would look down on them. Perhaps some little reactions can move us to a better social equilibrium, where instead of shaking hands with others because you think they expect it, you won’t shake hands because you think others don’t want to and don’t want to have to decline.
Maybe when you hear, “I don’t want to make people feel bad by not shaking hands with them,” you can gently suggest that he might be making people feel pressured to shake his hand when they don’t want to, and he can establish a better norm by pulling back and doing a hand-over-heart bow or some other non-touch greeting.
I bet some of those CEOs at that press conference yesterday have stopped shaking hands, but when it’s the President of the United States they think they can’t refuse.
People are panicking here. My local Costco is out of toilet paper, bread, and many non-perishables. Local grocery stores have empty shelves and long lines.
For my part, I usually buy a months worth of groceries at Costco but went again this week because I’m worried about shortages. Stocked up on rice, pasta, eggs, and soup vegetables. I order wipes and hand sanitizer in bulk online, so we are good on those items, but I did buy a couple of more tubs of Clorox wipes just in case. Our family is naturally introverted and we don’t travel much so staying home is not an issue.
On the other hand, my 81-year-old MIL is susceptible to pneumonia, active in her church, and works a customer service job. She refuses to stay home. DH and I are very worried about her, but one thing we have learned is there is no commanding our Silent Generation elders; they do as they please.
@socaldad2002 H is a factory shipping manager, and he also feels strongly there will be manufacturing and transportation issues.
I had dr. and dentist appts. Wednesday and Thursday, and they both stuck our their hands. I said something light-heartedly and they just shrugged while still shaking my hand.
There is usually a spring break exodus from IN to FL. Most of my relatives and local parent friends seem to have canceled those plans.
I usually buy gas at my local Kroger grocery store. Today it was closed. What? Anyway I drove down the street and got gas at Exxon. But still …
Thank you!!! Our small farmers will really appreciate that.
My credit union sent emails to all members offering options to help people financially survive the corona virus.
These options include:
- missing a loan payment without being penalized
- a “relief” loan equal 1 month’s net pay
- waived penalties for early withdrawals from CD
- loan extensions
Our governor announced Friday that hourly workers who face a loss of income due to reduced work hours are eligible for unemployment–even if they have not suffered a total job loss
And one thing I did this week is have the awkward conversation with my daughters--who hold by healthcare POA--about my end of life medical care decisions.
I would urge everyone to have this discussion with their immediate family members, both with your elderly parents so you know their wishes and with your own children/spouses/significant other so they know your wishes.
While you may not be a high risk, if you're over 50, you are at elevated risk for dying of the coronavirus. Even young people can die from this disease. Glad to be in WA where the shopping craziness has mostly subsided. We were in Costco last night to replenish our berries and eggs. This Costco (THE Kirkland Costco) is usually packed like a Japanese commuter train. There was plenty of social distancing. The store was out of rice, TP, paper towels, freshly baked bread, and rotisserie chicken. There were different varieties of chicken soup, broth, and frozen chicken available though. The fancy cheeses were picked through (aaaaack!), but the berries were plentiful, with both organic and “inorganic” strawberries available. Also lots of fresh produce.
Delivery of livestock feed is definitely a concern. It’s not usually kept too far ahead. Pastures here aren’t up enough to lighten feed consumption. Rural, small, ag dealers/grain elevator owners are worried about route driver employees falling ill.
Sale barn operating as usual today. There will be herd reduction and sell-offs if feed supply becomes an issue. Here’s hoping for a warm, fast spring to get pasture up and going.
Many sales of livestock shown by youth (4-H/FFA) are this time of year, and they have been canceled or are in doubt.
We hardly have any ground coffee left (we do have k-cups) so I went o a Dunkin Donuts this morning - only one other person in the store. They had a buy 2 bags get 3rd for a penny. Good deal and I didn’t have to go to big markets - which I’m sure are jammed.
My tennis group has decided to cancel for two weeks and then reevaluate. We only have 4 weeks left on our contract anyway.
We all need to do our part in flattening the curve and not becoming a burden on our health care system. So if you have a choice - stay home.
@BunsenBurner How long did it take? In my area, the panic started on Thursday. It will be good to put an end date.
Our panic buying hit on February 29-March 1st. We were in Colorado that weekend and missed the local news!
I just went to a nearby food co-op after my attempt to buy something on Amazon failed. It was busy, some things were out, but people (customers and staff) seemed to be making an extra effort to be kind and polite.
I had a health scare a few weeks ago and updated my health-care POA then. I also made arrangements for care of my dog if something were to happen to me. Getting these things done made me feel less anxious.
As of yesterday, people in my suburban Los Angeles community seem to be panicking. I was at the grocery store on Wednesday and there were no disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer, but there was still toilet paper and paper towels as well as most other things. Yesterday I went to pick up some more groceries for the weekend and the store was insane! The parking lot was jammed, lines were long and there were lots and lots of empty shelves. I have enough toilet paper, but I really wish I had bought paper towels when I saw some on Wednesday. And I wanted to make a lemon pie today for Pi Day, but I couldn’t find any eggs or whipping cream. I tried going out early this morning again, but it was still crazy everywhere I went, so my pie plan may have to change. Even Trader Joe’s was closed because of low inventory, although they’re getting a delivery later today.
I’m in Ventura County, CA. I believe we have 5 positive cases in the county, including an 8 year old. Testing is not widespread so I think there may be more unreported cases.
Schools, churches, court system, recreation and park programs, all are closed. I’m in the mental health field and have decided to transition to video therapy, starting next week. Most of my colleagues are doing the same and all are at least considering it.
I went to the store this morning (Ralphs) and the crowds and empty shelves were stunning. Fresh produce nearly gone, milk gone, fresh meat gone. Canned soups low, canned vegetables low, flour and sugar and salt gone, cheese low, eggs low, bread low. All will be gone within a few hours. Forget TP and paper towels. I WAS able to pick up some cleaning spray. Plenty of wine and ice cream! People were being very kind. Most were only taking a couple of each item.
@BunsenBurner , it’s reassuring to know that this grocery store madness will end!
We did add our son as an authorized user of our safety deposit box last week, and I’m SO glad we did. Because our box was a transfer from a different bank which had closed, our bank didn’t have an original contract. And because they didn’t have an original contract, they couldn’t add our son without making an original contract with us. It took forever. I can only imagine what a mess it would have been for him to try to get into the box if we’d died without adding him.
I’m in Silicon Valley. After a brief failed foray into veganism, I went to my favorite butcher to stock up the freezer with meat. Crowds were normal for the time of day, I thought. I bought about 15 packets of different meats and smoked deliciousness. It’s like meat Christmas in my freezer.
This is not hoarding, really. The butcher is half an hour away, so I normally buy a big load when I go there.
I am not reassured. It took two weeks to calm down!