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Coronavirus affecting April/May Decisions

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Posted 3/15/2020 12:09 PM (GMT -5)
Went out to Home Depot and our Publix grocery this morning. HD was a ghost town, but it is raining today. Publix was not busy but Thursday and Friday was a zoo. No pasta, orange juice and the only fresh meat was lamb. Paper products very low, but bakery and bread pretty normal. Spoke to the manager and he report they will be fine unless there is disruptions in the supply chain.

Lady behind me had the most in a buggy I have ever seen. She explained she has four sons, two in high school, a senior at UGA and a law student at Florida. Big guys, the smallest is 6’2”/225 and they eat a lot. All have had their schools closed and now at home. She and her husband have been ordered to work from home.

Among her concerns apart from food is bandwidth. She is in IT and says that as we get millions on individual internet connections on Monday rather than company and school based intranets, look for slow service and crashes.

Money, as she has paid the room and board for her college sons that will now not be using those facilities. Neither school have posted a refund policy. She understands there is some refunds when you borrow, but she and her husband have used 529 plans in addition to her sons’ scholarships and have not used borrowed money. She figures more than $15,000 may be gone.

They also have college buddies that are low income and a few from foster situations that essentially don’t have a home to return to or the financial means to travel. So far no assistance for them and she is figuring out how to house and feed a few of them. Real life and we have just begun.
Posted 3/15/2020 12:16 PM (GMT -5)
Just got back from Publix pretty crowded, pretty much no paper goods, Stop boy came out with a wagon full of cases of toilet paper, and he couldn’t get them out fast enough there was a crowd around them you could even get through the aisle. I took two packages which is for rolls only because I genuinely needed them. But at the checkout counter I was told it was a limit one package per person.
Meat counters were 80% empty. There were no burgers, I wanted a burger tonight for the grill, so I stuck my head into the back and asked him if they had any back there he made me four patties. There was a sign on the counter two items per person limit of meat.

Looks like insanity has finally arrived in Southeast Florida
Posted 3/15/2020 12:20 PM (GMT -5)
And on another significant matter. Of my nine grandchildren, six are grade school age and two are stomping mad. You see the are home schooled and the school administrator (my daughter-in-law and their mother) has declared that their school will remain open.
Posted 3/15/2020 12:20 PM (GMT -5)
I went to Home Depot yesterday to get some gardening soil and I need a new wheelbarrow so I was looking around for them. I asked one employee who said, "We have a display of them up front." As I was walking up front, another employee (who likely heard just part of what the other guy told) said to me, "We have a fresh shipment of toilet paper buy the registers."

I thanked her and decided to pass on a wheelbarrow ...
Posted 3/15/2020 12:34 PM (GMT -5)
What are our thoughts on going to the gym? My small, private community gym which I feel safe in (closed community) is now closed. I could go to LA Fitness up the street, but my wife is very much against me doing that. I’m inclined to abide by her wishes. But need to exercise. Can’t run outdoors (knees) and no weights at home)
Posted 3/15/2020 12:34 PM (GMT -5)
What are our thoughts on going to the gym? My small, private community gym which I feel safe in (closed community) is now closed. I could go to LA Fitness up the street, but my wife is very much against me doing that. I’m inclined to abide by her wishes. But need to exercise. Can’t run outdoors (knees) and no weights at home)
Posted 3/15/2020 12:57 PM (GMT -5)
No gym Ken. They covered that and others on Dr Radio on SirriusXM this morning. All the docs agreed to get outside to exercise, do so at home, but not in the gym. Just far too many surfaces, no way to keep them all clean. Plus everyone is breathing harder and releasing more breath into the air. CV doesn’t just come from coughing and sneezing, but from regular respiration as well.

And you don’t have to run, brisk walking is fine. No weights? Carry your dog with you. No dog? Adopt one so you won’t be lonely in quarantine....I mean......social distancing.
Posted 3/15/2020 1:15 PM (GMT -5)

Pratoman said...
What are our thoughts on going to the gym? My small, private community gym which I feel safe in (closed community) is now closed. I could go to LA Fitness up the street, but my wife is very much against me doing that. I’m inclined to abide by her wishes. But need to exercise. Can’t run outdoors (knees) and no weights at home)

Pratoman-- Here are some home fitness videos you may find useful

https://fitnessblender.com
Posted 3/15/2020 1:35 PM (GMT -5)
Unless they can disinfect after each equipment use, I'd opt for walking or getting free weights for home use.
Posted 3/15/2020 1:53 PM (GMT -5)

bbqdude said...

ps: i just had my 6 month blood letting yesterday. Still waiting for the results.

Larry

Larry - you and I are on similar trajectories it would seem. Let us know how the PSA went. My next one is in 2 weeks.
David
Posted 3/15/2020 1:57 PM (GMT -5)

InTheShop said...
My health provider, Kaiser, has been pushing for years to get people to do video or phone appointments. Today they sent out an email basically saying, "Call us before you come here." Many routine health things can be handled that way.

Yes, I heard the staff making calls to that effect while waiting to see my Kaiser neurologist on Thursday. So guess I got in just under the wire (thankfully). Got an eye exam in 2 weeks+the lab for PSA; obviously these are not things that can be done over the phone so it'll be interesting to see what happens.

At the Kaiser I visited they were already setting up tents outside - this was in West LA. I understand they're starting drive-through testing in the Bay Area. Wonder when they'll start it down here?
Posted 3/15/2020 3:22 PM (GMT -5)
The tents are up here in the bay area for drive in testing. I'd think they'll be starting that in LA next week, but I haven't seen an announcement.
Posted 3/15/2020 5:09 PM (GMT -5)
Prat I'd echo the other guys: forget about going to the gym for now - it's not worth the risk.
Posted 3/15/2020 6:05 PM (GMT -5)
California, Ohio, and Illinois have ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants.
Posted 3/15/2020 7:09 PM (GMT -5)

Buddy Blank said...
Prat I'd echo the other guys: forget about going to the gym for now - it's not worth the risk.

Yeah, pretty much what I was thinking, wife is right, as always. (She thought she was wrong once but she was wrong)
Guess I’ll be walking a lot
Posted 3/15/2020 7:10 PM (GMT -5)

Pratoman said...
Yeah, pretty much what I was thinking, wife is right, as always. (She thought she was wrong once but she was wrong)
Guess I’ll be walking a lot

My wife just told me I was wrong about something. I elected to eat in my man cave. Wedded bliss.
Posted 3/15/2020 7:28 PM (GMT -5)
It's gotten so bad here on Saipan that I'm relying on HealingWell for my entertainment. So keep the posts going, guys and gals.

No verified positives for coronavirus here yet, but Guam reported its first three positives yesterday, and that's sent all 50,000 Saipan residents scurrying to the grocery stores like a swarm of locusts to strip the shelves.

We'd already felt the sting because most flights in and out of Saipan were canceled over the past month -- first from China (our biggest supplier of tourists), then Korea and Japan. A United shuttle to Guam is our lifeline. The port of Saipan has been closed to all shipping from Asia, where most of our consumer goods come in from. The local economy is totally dependent on tourism, and hotel occupancy last week dove to 11 percent. Which means no business gross revenue tax income to the government, which is basically broke already. All govt employees have been on 4-day workweek, taking a 20 percent paycut.

The amazing (not in a good way) thing is how, until Guam reported confirmed cases last night, most of life on Saipan proceeded as usual. Restaurants and bars still open and doing half-decent business. The 2020 Saipan Marathon was held as scheduled on Saturday, even though sporting events worldwide have been canceled. No doubt there's already coronavirus here, even though no confirmed cases yet. (Two tests were sent to Guam last week, both came back negative.) Within a couple of days, I'm sure the island will effectively be under lockdown.

That's the report from across the Pacific. Stay safe, everyone!
Posted 3/15/2020 9:18 PM (GMT -5)
Back to earth... what do you think about this for a change in vacation plans?

“Here in the Superior National Forest, surrounded by more than a million acres of undeveloped wilderness, we do "Social Distancing" like nowhere else on Earth. Feel free to drive here in your private vehicle, stay in one of our private cabins, and enjoy a private sauna or hot tub.

Some people have been told to stay home, take classes online or work remote. We take working remote to a whole new level. With lightning fast cable internet in the Lodge, why not come up and stay awhile.”

Only a five hour drive for me to the Boundary Waters. What do you think?
Posted 3/15/2020 9:23 PM (GMT -5)
Clint Eastwood comes to mind: Do you feel lucky?
Posted 3/15/2020 11:33 PM (GMT -5)

Mumbo said...
Back to earth... what do you think about this for a change in vacation plans?

“Here in the Superior National Forest, surrounded by more than a million acres of undeveloped wilderness, we do "Social Distancing" like nowhere else on Earth. Feel free to drive here in your private vehicle, stay in one of our private cabins, and enjoy a private sauna or hot tub.

Some people have been told to stay home, take classes online or work remote. We take working remote to a whole new level. With lightning fast cable internet in the Lodge, why not come up and stay awhile.”

Only a five hour drive for me to the Boundary Waters. What do you think?

Great idea! Of course, I'm from the epicenter Seattle, so until testing becomes available, don't want to chance being the human vector to introduce corona virus to the folks t the Superior National Forest Lodge
Posted 3/16/2020 4:36 AM (GMT -5)
Mumbo, your only allowed to come up here to God's country's if you bring some TP!! .😂😂 I Was out snowshoeing with my Dog for 3 hrs yesterday was so nice just to get out in the woods and kinda forget about everything! Oh yea might want to bring some warm clothes they say we are gonna be -5 below Friday nite. LOL I'll be down your way this weekend to pickup the grandson as schools have closed here in MN. Thinking about what JNF talked about family and this time of being there for each other I'm so thankful that we are able to do that I encourage each and every family in America to use this time to become a family that helps each other out. My granddaughter was just ordered home from Australia where she was on a study program from UMD. I told her to have patience as she would be spending lots-of time in airports and quarantine area's. She worked so hard to save up money and was at the top of her engineering class to be able to go to Australia for 6 months and now only after a month and half now has to come home. I'm wondering about the week I have to be down at Mayo at the end of April? Lots of unknown's are gonna be facing the American Public in the next few months. Hope and pray that we turn the corner sooner than later!!
Posted 3/16/2020 4:52 AM (GMT -5)
Jack and Buddy, both of you, stop it. Really.

Reality is that the economic cost of this is going to be huge. Massive. I don't think anyone can even begin to calculate it. Restaurant owners--who are always living on super small margins are going to be hit super hard. Owning a restaurant is a great way to turn a large fortune into a small one. The 2008-2009 bailout is going to be dwarfed by what is needed here. And, like usual, the little guys are the ones who get hit hardest.

Honestly, I'm worried about my own employer. We have 14 employees, we do about $4M a year in gross sales..and break even. Our biggest supplier is in Italy. We have no idea whether (a) they will be able to keep working to produce anything for us--and (b) whether we will be able to find some air freight company to bring it to us. If that supply chain breaks completely, we probably have less than a month to survive.

So, Buddy, cut the sarcasm about the real cost of this--from whomever it is who cuts your hair, to the server at your favorite cafe--they may well find themselves closing up shop permanently. We all know what has to be done to protect the public--and those things are happening out there. It's going to get way worse. Hoarding TP will become a non-issue. I'm glad the grocery stores are staying open--but what if they suddenly can't keep people on the job to unload the trucks and stock the shelves? What if the truckers decide they can't risk the daily exposures they get? UPS, FedEx--what if they stop running? All of this could happen.

This is unprecedented. At least in our lifetimes.
Posted 3/16/2020 5:04 AM (GMT -5)
I put Buddy on ignore a long time ago so don't know what he has said and I'm glad I did because it doesn't sound very good. I encourage other people to do the same. Halbert I couldn't agree with you more as I said last week the World is going to change as we know it forever! 9-11 will pale in comparison! Now is the time for families & Americans to come together and overcome!!!!! We have done it in the past and we will again!

Larry
Posted 3/16/2020 6:19 AM (GMT -5)
I'd like to suggest we take it down a notch. Some of us have a style communicating that rubs people the wrong way, If thats the case,that doesn't necessarily mean that one is communicating with bad intentions.
As was mentioned, the ignore button is available to all if needed.

We all have serious worries of one nature or another. Some financial, others health, still others FEAR. THE LAST THING WE NEED IS TO BE SNIPING AT EACH OTHER AT A TIME LIKE THIS. If ever there was a time that CIVILITY was called for, this is that time, with tensions running high among most of us.

Lets also not forget, with so much of our attention focused on CV, that we can hopefully continue to provide plenty of support for our brothers PCa issues, especially the new guys.

Thanks guys, and stay safe
Posted 3/16/2020 6:36 AM (GMT -5)
Jack and Buddy....I love you both and highly value your contributions. Your last few back-and-forth posts were not particularly helpful to the conversation so I deleted them. Probably the first time i edited or deleted on either of you great guys so I feel kinda bad about it but felt we needed to get back to the point at hand. May I suggest you put each other on ignore? Particularly for Buddy...Jack has different opinions than you do and he is entitled to them. Please don't respond to them with sarcasm or insults...just as you don't want folks to respond that way to posts of yours.

Thanks and now let's return to peace in the valley...or whatever peace we can have with today's news.

Jim
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