How's Your Week Going? - Week of March 16th

[ProudTVJunkie]

I think March Madness was supposed to start today but this isn't the type of madness we all expected. I really missed watching my Sunday NASCAR race yesterday.

My daughter started at home online classes today and so far so good. There's a discussion chat with her teachers and between Fortnite, email and onine chats she's keeping in touch with all of her friends. We live in a small apartment so I'm sure we'll start to feel claustrophobic after a time but even in our small backyard we have basketball and yesterday we put up a badminton net. I'm also hoping to take some walks down by the river that's near us as long as the weather is good and we steer clear of actual people!

We stocked up on popcorn which is a staple for us and I have food for most of the week...and about ten rolls of toilet paper! I've been steering clear of the grocery store since last week. My hope is that things will calm down a bit, the stores can restock and if I go in the morning one day this week it won't be so bad. Fingers croseed!

I hope you are all doing well, keeping safe and making the most with what you've got. Please check in when you have the chance. We're all in this together.

[geezer2008]

We are nesting just fine also. I went to the store for us last Wednesday before the madness started so we are stocked up well. We will go tomorrow and pick up a few more things that we forgot. I went alone last week as Rikki was still recovering from what ailed her. She is fine now and plans to go with me to the store. Our "system" will be that I steer the cart after wiping it down, put our items in the cart, unload it, bag, put in car, and unload at home. Rikki will manage the list and tell me what to get. That way, only one of us will touch the stuff in the store. Lots of sanitizer for me!

We have our TV for favorite shows and movies. Rikki goes on Facebook, knits and works on her projects, and reads. I have the computer, am reading 2 books, and have jigsaw puzzles to entertain myself. I am working my way through my stash of books. When my supplies go down, I just order online and replenish. We also have our exercise programs to stay busy with. LOL, but there is no excuse not to exercise now

Hope you all have a good week. Like Christine said, we are all in this together

[nathanfan1]

I haven't gotten out much this winter anyway, so I'm just keeping on with my normal routine. I, too, have many many things at home to keep me busy and content. I've been sewing quilt tops at a record pace and have umpteen things I'd like to watch on DVD. Like Geezer, I have a pile of unread books and I may just get to that 'someday' project of putting together some photo albums to give my daughters with their childhood pictures. We are well supplied to meet our needs and Steve is able to get groceries when needed. He'll have calves coming in a couple of weeks so he'll be spending a lot of time at the farm, but that's about as safe a place as you could find these days. 

I hope you all stay safe and healthy!

[tycho657]

I ventured out to the local grocery store today to get 4 items. I got 3 of them. buttermilk (to make my Irish soda bread for St Patrick's day), sugar ( my 6th month supply had finally run out ( I bought 2 small bags, not I'm good for another 6 months), fresh mushrooms and I was going to make sloppy Joes but the bread aisle was totally bare.I might just have to bake a loaf of fresh bread or make my Runza( it's a midwest thing) rolls to use for sloppy Joes.
I need to organize my tax information so that is my project for the week.

I just got an email today from the daughter  a good Castle friend that she passed away. I got to know her from a couple of Castle Con's plus another trip with another friend where we went to watch a couple of location shoots in LA. My husband and I were traveling in our RV and stopped by her house in Idaho and watched the Series final of Castle together. She was an amazing lady.

[DrvrTrnr]

All schools in Arizona are closed starting today for the next two weeks. That includes public, charter, colleges and universities. Our oldest daughter is a social worker and now has to do client visits via Skype or Facetime. Luckily our other daughter works from home. I'm glad my husband is retired from the grocery business. We went to two stores the other day for a few things. Left with nothing (no milk, potatoes, or sour cream). We found those things yesterday at a third store. I don't know why paper products are being hoarded. The virus doesn't cause intestinal problems.

Last week I wrote about our daughter's upcoming Vegas wedding and said I'd be surprised if Vegas shut down. Call me surprised as MGM Resorts and Wynn have closed today. This could be a new trend. Everyone take care as we could be in this for the long haul.

[ibmjas]

I went to Walmart on Saturday. Practically all canned goods, spaghetti sauce, flour, frozen meats, paper goods, etc were gone. I picked up a couple things then went to Meijers. Their shelves were less empty but I still had to go to a 3rd store. Their shelves weren't as bad as Walmart's. Today they closed all our bars and restaurants except for carry-out.

They keep telling us there are no cases of coronavirus in our area. Over the weekend one of my family members became ill (not in my house). It kept getting worse so she went to the clinic. She tested negative for the flu but couldn't get a coronavirus test. They said only the hospital could do that. Her fever spiked and her breathing worsened so she went to the hospital today. They said she could only get tested if she had direct contact with a known case or traveled to a high risk country. They told her she had pneumonia and sent her home with antibiotics. We probably have 100s of cases here but we'll never know if they don't test anyone.

I'm pretty happy sitting at home for awhile but I feel so bad for all the people whose jobs are affected and the parents who have to keep working but now have kids home from school and noone to watch them. I just don't know how people will manage.

[larryholmes]

I am 'under control' here at home. Dawn has us beginning to open remaining boxes from our move out of DC Metro area to Winchester several years ago. Of course, 'forgotten treasures' have suddenly reappeared among the 'why did we save these' items. Nevertheless, it is always entertaining to discover we now have two of some things. Anyway, it really needed to be done; and, some donations will be useful for other folks. Maybe this will also make time fly. After all, it is only 150 days until my brother and I head for our favorite lake near Sioux Lookout, Ontario, for our annual 'Great Canada Fishing Adventure'.

[Fjordmom]

Trying to stay home as much as I can other than going out to buy necessities, luckily I love being home and I have my sweet goaties and my two cats, books galore, music to listen to, and thankfully internet!  We don't have any snow right now, I am doing a little bit of yard pickup, it's so nice to be outside and hear the birds, but it's too early to really tackle any serious garden work as I'm sure Mother Nature probably has more snow in store for us.

Trying not to worry too much, I'm pretty sure I'll be fine, but it's pretty hard not to worry about so many others who will have to deal with the ramifications of  the coronavirus.

I did go out today and bought some stout to have with my meal tonight which I admit is NOT a necessity, but it definitely is fitting for today!!!  My son is getting St. Pat's takeout from our local restaurant which will be closing tonight (only takeout allowed now in Massachusetts).  They cannot afford to stay open for what would probably be minimal call for takeout.

It's so nice to have this community here.  Take care everyone!

[ProudTVJunkie]

I went to the supermarket this morning. Apparently I should have gone earlier. They said they had toilet paper at 6am when they opened but it was gone by 6:30am. There was not a single paper product on the shelf (toilet paper, paper towels, tissues).

There was an older women in the aisle with me who asked a store clerk when they'd get more because she only has one roll left at home. He said to just keep calling back or try to arrive at 6am and see if she got lucky. Unfortunately, she lives in the town senior center housing, doesn't have a car and can only get there by their bus. So, long story short, I now have Marge's phone number and if I manage to get some toilet paper in the next couple of days I'll be dropping some off for her at the senior center!


Also, the ONLY meat on the shelves was corned beef. There must have been hundreds of packages of corned beef. We normally only ever have it sliced on sandwiches. I've never made corned beef so if anyone has a good recipe, please send it my way.

[DrvrTrnr]

PTVJ said: "Also, the ONLY meat on the shelves was corned beef. There must have been hundreds of packages of corned beef. We normally only ever have it sliced on sandwiches. I've never made corned beef so if anyone has a good recipe, please send it my way."

My sister cooked hers in a crock pot. Add a little water, along with cut up potatoes and a head of cabbage quartered, for 6-8 hours, depending on size. Corned beef will be nice and tender this way.

[ibmjas]

Made a store run today to pick up a couple of things. There was no produce, no hamburger (or other meats), no cheese, no pasta or rice. I got a bag of frozen chicken breasts. Glad I usually keep a supply of things I use frequently.

[ProudTVJunkie]

Made it to the grocery store by 6:10 this morning and got a large pack of toilet paper so we won't have to worry about it for a while. But it was one of the last ones on the shelf. By the time I left the store it was all gone.

I even called Marge to see if she still needed some but her son was able to find it and drop some off for her last night. I also got some paper towels since we were running low and they had chuck roast (the only other meat available besides corned beef) so I got some of that too.

A week a go this would have been a normal shopping trip. Today it feels like some sort of accomplishment. How quickly things can change!

[marschg]

Absolutely crazy here in NY I live on Long Island very close to NYC,

[tycho657]

I saw a post this morning that Basha's, our Arizona local grocery store chain, and Target are having special hours for people over 65. You must show ID when you enter. The bread store that I use once in awhile also sent a text that they would bring your items out to the car. Since there is no bread on the shelves( the stockers said they had not had a bread delivery in 3 days) I think I might take a run over there tomorrow.

[geezer2008]

Complete WOW to all your stories!!!

Rikki and I went to Meijers and Festival yesterday. We were able to get everything we needed to stock up big time. The only things missing from both stores were sanitizers. Meijers had very little TP. Our spare bedroom is starting to look like a pantry with non perishables , extra TP and paper towels. We have enough for a couple months and will replenish when necessary. We will only need to go for dairy products and other perishables as needed. Festival announced today that they are changing their hours from 24 hours to 5AM to 9PM. From 5AM to 7AM daily, only seniors and seniors at risk will be allowed to shop. That way, the store will be the cleanest and the shelves will be stocked as well as possible. That is pretty nice IMO.

Many things are closed here including schools, colleges, stores, theaters, and businesses are allowing people to work at home. My SIL will be home with the twins for the next 45 days. My daughter, who works for a major insurer still has to go in to headquarters where she is a boss. She is not happy about it nor are her staff. They could easily work from home but the company is dragging its feet.