Random Ramblings

School's out for the next two weeks, although some assignments are still due. Not sure what to do with myself now. Hopefully they don't ban interprovincial travel, because I'd be locked away from my parents and my fiancee.

MikeInFla wrote:

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It might be an overreaction on our part but with her diabetes and weak immune system it just isn't worth the risk. 

The risk is higher for those with diabetes, high blood pressure and pretty much any form of weakened immune system.  So I don't think you have over-reacted at all.

It's the completely healthy 20-50 year olds buying all the toilet paper, hand sanitizer and food from the stores who are over-reacting.  Ticks me off.

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It's the completely healthy 20-50 year olds buying all the toilet paper, hand sanitizer and food from the stores who are over-reacting.  Ticks me off.

I know what you mean.  At a hunch decided to take an evening trip to Walmart down the street thinking the store will be empty due to the fact it is dark and pouring down rain.  Couldn't be further from the truth.  Parking lot was packed.  Store full of hoarding customers with one sometimes two carts overflowing with groceries.

Thought it would be best to take a deep breath and keep a cool head about things, so decided it would to simply by my normal weeks allotment of groceries without doing any overt hoarding.  In the process grabbed the last couple cans of tuna and Campbell's Chunky Soup.  

Talked to an employee at the store, who advised the 'panic buying' is a result from Trump declaring a national emergency.  Good news, however, is that the food trucks are running on schedule, but moving ahead my concern is not necessarily near term but rather long term- will stores be running out of food on a routine basis over the next several weeks?  Hate to have to stand in long lines waiting for the grocery store to open at 6:00 AM.  It almost feels like a third world county out there...

With us not having the ability to manufacture most goods, we are seeing a preview of what our nation will be like if a Socialist gets elected as POTUS.  The Russians saw this after the Bolsheviks took power. The Chinese saw it before they fell to Communism.  We can add Cuba and now Venezuela to that list as well.  This could easily become the norm for us if we allow the wrong person to take over the White House this fall.

Just an update, Expedia still down due to high call volume and online traffic but they did call me today to say the hotel is refunding our money.

Totally agree Chris, hope people get the message but I doubt it. When you throw out God you put your faith in something and in this case, many have put it in the government to do everything for them.

While I do think we should pay attention to this virus, I again threw some caution to the wind and attended a wedding of a former youth group kid tonight.  She was so pretty and they seem so happy.  If I die from the outbreak tomorrow, I praise the Lord that I was a small part of their celebration today.

I seriously doubt I'd die from the virus. But 1) it sounds unpleasant regardless and 2) I don't want to transmit it.

I'm back at my parents' for the next bit since school is out. Trying to decide what to do with my life other than finish assignments that are due.

Did church online from home this morning....I got out my acoustic and my daughter had her keyboard, we played along with the worship and then watched the sermon together as a family. It's going to be this way until at least the first of April.
Waiting to see if school will be canceled for longer than the regular spring break interval.

Ours was online also, going to be the new normal for awhile.

Missed church today, decided to go to Sam's. Got there at 9:15 but they don't open til 10. So I went somewhere else to kill time. When I got back at 9:50 the line to get in wrapped all the way around to the tire center. So I left. Some people in line were wearing face masks and rubber gloves. Crazy stuff! I did hit 3 Dollar General stores and picked up some Clorox wipes. Not because of this pandemic but because we needed them.

We only have 12 confirmed cases in Arizona, so we are not impacted quite as much as other areas of the country.  Plus I recall reading somewhere that flu viruses tend not to thrive as well in warmer climates, and we have already hit 80 in Arizona with 90's not that far behind.

As a result, kept my normal routine over the weekend.  After running errands on Saturday, visited a classic car show in the parking lot of a local Baptist church.  This morning hit the flea market at the drive in theater and, as always, it was packed with buyers and sellers.  On the way home, stopped by Albertsons, and it was not the same post apocalyptic style mob scene as Wal Mart on Friday evening.  Rather, normal amount of customers and no apparent hoarding.  Was able to stock up on essentials but other than toilet products and chicken and beef, most of the aisles were pretty much fully stocked.

Work is encouraging everyone to work from home, but I do not have a w@h station but might need to make temporary arrangements.

Now all Walmart stores Nationwide will close at 11pm so workers can restock shelves overnight.

Now states are starting to force restaurants, bars and other places to close. Man, this feels like something bad is happening, more then the virus.

I don't know if y'all get the news from overseas in the US, but if you haven't read some of the reports coming out of Italy, it might help you see the virus differently. It's not so much the death rate of the virus, it's the inability of the national health system to treat people who need treatment. The death rate in Italy has risen from the virus' 2ish% to over 7% in just a few weeks. Health providers are having to choose who to give ventilation to. It's like "okay, this critical patient has a better chance at survival than this one over here who has exacerbating conditions." If they have one ventilator, it goes to the patient who has a better chance at fighting the disease. The measures that your country are putting in place are probably to ensure that the health system isn't overrun.
As one who has a pile of "exacerbating conditions," I hope people around me are wise enough to just lay low, wash their hands (not use stupid, useless sanitizer in lieu), and let the storm pass. Risk rate for me is between 12 and 20% for a serious outcome. I'm not liking those odds. Consider me cocooned.

Ordered several items from Amazon this morning with Prime. None of it is 2 day shipping. "You can expect your order by Friday, March 24".

interesting "tracker" updated daily:

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Jen5 wrote:

I don't know if y'all get the news from overseas in the US, but if you haven't read some of the reports coming out of Italy, it might help you see the virus differently. It's not so much the death rate of the virus, it's the inability of the national health system to treat people who need treatment. The death rate in Italy has risen from the virus' 2ish% to over 7% in just a few weeks. Health providers are having to choose who to give ventilation to. It's like "okay, this critical patient has a better chance at survival than this one over here who has exacerbating conditions." If they have one ventilator, it goes to the patient who has a better chance at fighting the disease. The measures that your country are putting in place are probably to ensure that the health system isn't overrun.
As one who has a pile of "exacerbating conditions," I hope people around me are wise enough to just lay low, wash their hands (not use stupid, useless sanitizer in lieu), and let the storm pass. Risk rate for me is between 12 and 20% for a serious outcome. I'm not liking those odds. Consider me cocooned.

Stay home Jen, and stay as safe as you can.
I will say this for Italy, they have a larger "older population" it seems than some nations (I hear Japan is another).  
I do believe that much of the intent with regards to imposing restrictions is to slow down the spread of the illness so that our hospitals don't become overwhelmed.  However, I think some of our leaders might be taking advantage of that to impose draconian measures.  At some point I expect them to tell us we can't leave our homes unless it's for medical care or food.

Yes, that's what they did in Italy, told everyone to stay home except for healthcare and food. But, the good news with that system is that the earliest quarantined areas are leveling off in terms of rates of infection. So that's a blessing and one we can all learn from I hope.
Over night here in NZ the government has banned gatherings of over 500. Here we go...bring on the crazy.

Well, looks like we're cancelling my wedding ceremony and reception. It's just not safe at this point to go ahead with it. Good news is, Lord willing, I'm getting married sooner than expected. And we might have time for a honeymoon, although to where is another question...

Driven wrote:

Well, looks like we're cancelling my wedding ceremony and reception. It's just not safe at this point to go ahead with it. Good news is, Lord willing, I'm getting married sooner than expected. And we might have time for a honeymoon, although to where is another question...

Oh man, that stinks.  I'm sorry to hear that.  I'm guessing your fiance is probably more than a little unhappy about having the big wedding canceled.
Honeymoon in the BACK YARD!!!!! (just keep it less than 50 people).

Aw, Andre, that's awful. I love how you've found the silver lining in the situation. God bless you both.

Staybrite wrote:

Driven wrote:

Well, looks like we're cancelling my wedding ceremony and reception. It's just not safe at this point to go ahead with it. Good news is, Lord willing, I'm getting married sooner than expected. And we might have time for a honeymoon, although to where is another question...

Oh man, that stinks.  I'm sorry to hear that.  I'm guessing your fiance is probably more than a little unhappy about having the big wedding canceled.
Honeymoon in the BACK YARD!!!!! (just keep it less than 50 people).

You'd think that, but she's fine with less attention. So, probably better for her then. I was wanting to celebrate with more people and share the joy, but there's something interesting about doing something so counter-cultural in a day where weddings cost more than cars. We'd already managed to reduce costs significantly by calling in favours from friends, but this is cheaper still.

I'm all for young people finding a more economic way to get married.  Weddings have gotten over the top crazy in terms of costs (at least in the Western world).

Staybrite wrote:

I'm all for young people finding a more economic way to get married.  Weddings have gotten over the top crazy in terms of costs (at least in the Western world).

Agreed. I couldn't believe the cost estimates from some people or the articles saying "How to do your wedding for under $30k". I could plunk that into a brand new car for crying out loud! And it would be worth a lot more than just one day! Of course, we wanted the day to be nice and special, but there are plenty of ways to do so without sinking thousands of dollars. This will feel quite Depression-era in a way, but I think I'm looking forward to it. I want that girl.