Random Ramblings

We did a simple wedding for about $1500. Of course that was many moons ago but it is possible to keep costs down.

Jen5 wrote:

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.

We are now being told to avoid groupings of TEN or more here in the USA.  Most states have closed schools indefinitely.  Some cities are now wanting to have the residents self-quarantine until the end of the month.  San Francisco is one of them.  I don't know how that will work considering they have thousands of homeless people who are definitely not washing their hands.

Check out the images in this fb video of a New Zealander in Italy. Ten people at a time in the supermarket!
https://www.facebook.com/TheProjectNZ/videos/230759841442714/?v=230759841442714&__ft__=AZXAN78Tjl_DkWkHX_tAnpLHmhcKS9LyC-bOtwgrS_x2Pim1mvOwepfEoTwMd7YOhylOljsH7gYILmqdgnpQMAXrTO_uuiKb3WDD_EEiu2heAxh3P9GccuelhTwQG4g1w5A481Y94Tt43m1ZYfIEUgZhMq1YUHmTsQbYpBYDabmp-YAlsME5DTiZX2NyhOkDSYTSLPN_CuwWfY_rJ0GlddQwOUQfSBxWswNM3An2VrfDsXtbiG6_vPsAwc6huIiVgXANs4a10gH8nk35cz28R3sHuG4lTlBbNiJZ4zGGQ0br1fHNTDnSOzTiEBzy6Zo2dfweHUFOi2Ine-yUFa69eI4R7D0UVp2RhClJN_vJs61gBoWGUtW5K-hNZV9J0_rfWY5X2-RAxVRcZ8YWq_5rLtCCTJApDREk6VdwghkPphE-AVFkNrmfSQfMMIVvIh9VfOkJUYJFhQqcATKPzbauqv5sQn18dz-iWO2znpdJZNNFufDY0qry2WpU5iF2cxQgNRw_qIM76QLiJw0QBkQ91547ErHcA5UxBw-xDlCSUvipjlByLGJ4nYyoR6ldsWWIoNBUzzIoN7kyICg74w4Nr2gHzM9FNzJ0gvKi5j-bVa3MfsxfLw03ovZKxmnjGHK4_BemjR3OCJII8wO6Lk2qQ94EsxEDPjlF_9SP53MnOb7PLZEbBgU5sfhVpZ_5cgN1rR1tYzZp7avdtUkaTWOITsBAvj9vYck2oG981w-x4ayvrLwE9MdhaiD9t7gWLngy-v3M7LR8JVtGfX-YYSNlN_Lm3ioRJUXofUdbadCHTA4wkB75VtiDvUUTv-UeeDHx1eUFHQenPZiDSwOy2qzMBbkFz1LMZ-c7RbPY9xAIcYY_8Sz6Aihr9JPn2cas-Ztiez7bke23J4JSy52-1jb4PNn8pI1IIIVJ4LqBoZ5VjbVmuz7RWXD4QxZKKe2LYJ7MvS22eQy4x22vF-Wug5nHUm2LzYiHLH98pUOixfn5U5RTFAFcCtRQMebMKzVCr8NbFo7RIWqUjWKdMFG9HT7nc0SGkzmLCtJ4bWjl5K6DFUw2G4ZtAdboqp-fkJyvWqpEaIke7E7rum1Tb7sf8Nz7ZY5KqwX4Ek8SNZ2AJoGhgCi6-z2ELyzGcsqJ4glXb9F-Cik

Our schools just got closed until April 14....my kids are freaking out because they love school, my wife is freaking out because she's a school secretary.

Here, schools closed thru March 27 but that could change. My senior daughter is worried about finishing out the year and wondering what she will do about FSU since those classes start in June. I told her if everything is closed down they might let seniors graduate with the grades the have and I am sure FSU will offer online courses. They (FSU) did tell me they are closed this week and are transitioning to online courses but will still have staff on campus for any needs. Not to mention my wife quit teaching 2 weeks ago to become support staff so the salary stopped and she has only one week of work as an hourly employee. So far for me it is business as usual which is good but her losing an income with no work will impact us financially but I am sure millions of people are in the same boat.

I wonder if the fear and panic as a result of the coronavirus might lead to the type of government control that would force "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

Dynamis wrote:

I wonder if the fear and panic as a result of the coronavirus might lead to the type of government control that would force "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

Interesting. Very interesting.

I believe our school system, which has us closed until Mar. 31, is going to continue to pay support staff.  I sure hope so.  Why?  My church is small and we don't have a lot of extra funds.  Now that we are being told to avoid crowds of 10 or more, holding services will be near impossible.  Most people will withhold their giving to their churches during that time.  So, mu church has informed me that my pay from them will stop while we are not having services.  One fourth of our household income just vanished.  If I am wrong about the school system and there is no relief from them, then we will have to make some emergency changes to our budget.

I am not scared of getting the virus.  I am more concerned about financial ruin.

The financial part is going to be hard for a lot of people. Whatever happens, I see government taking more control.

On a bright note, though, instead of eating out like we normally do, I actually cooked supper tonight.  Oh, it wasn't fancy, but it was good!

Our schools just announced they are closed until April 15. All beaches only allow groups of 10.

MikeInFla wrote:

Our schools just announced they are closed until April 15. All beaches only allow groups of 10.

Beaches? Oh yeah, you live in Florida.

Our world is going to be very different for a long time, maybe ever.

Fortunately, most of the record stores that I deal with have an on-line presence on their own 

People have to work at home, churches are closed, we have an online service now. The schools are closed.
People are taking more food then they need from the grocerie stores. Restaurants are closed.

I only can hope that you all stay healthy and this virus will be over soon.

City halls around here are closing down. It's getting complicated to get a marriage license.

My wife was made to work from home starting today.  This should be interesting.

Also, we made the decision to close services at my church.  So, now I am taking phone calls from irate members who want to tell me how weak my faith is when all I am trying to do is possibly save the lives of the members who are all in the high risk zone for this virus.

Nobody ever said that being a pastor was fun.

For those in doubt, this is NOT real. Some people believed it:

alldatndensum wrote:

My wife was made to work from home starting today.  This should be interesting.

Also, we made the decision to close services at my church.  So, now I am taking phone calls from irate members who want to tell me how weak my faith is when all I am trying to do is possibly save the lives of the members who are all in the high risk zone for this virus.

Nobody ever said that being a pastor was fun.

Oh man. Praying for grace for you. I can imagine how much of a pain it must be to field those criticisms. By all means, God has the power to protect His faithful, but He doesn't always. I think it's a matter of protecting others more than anything. There are ways to video call and still commune from a distance.

Even for the hardest introverts, this will be a time of realizing the importance of human contact.

alldatndensum wrote:

My wife was made to work from home starting today.  This should be interesting.

Also, we made the decision to close services at my church.  So, now I am taking phone calls from irate members who want to tell me how weak my faith is when all I am trying to do is possibly save the lives of the members who are all in the high risk zone for this virus.

Nobody ever said that being a pastor was fun.

And you get to do all that for no pay. 
I wish some people would think before they open their mouths.

alldatndensum wrote:

My wife was made to work from home starting today.  This should be interesting.

Also, we made the decision to close services at my church.  So, now I am taking phone calls from irate members who want to tell me how weak my faith is when all I am trying to do is possibly save the lives of the members who are all in the high risk zone for this virus.

Nobody ever said that being a pastor was fun.

I just don't get this!! Why do the elderly think this is some kind of joke? Because they lived thru polio and small pox? This mess is for real! It has nothing to do with faith but COMMON SENSE. 

The reason I bring it up is because my dad is the same way. He is 79. My son called me the other day (they all live in Tennessee). He said my dad said it is no big deal and he's gonna go to the store when he wants and go out to eat when he wants and no one is going to stop him. My son asked me to talk some sense into him. My dad was also upset that only 20 people showed up to church on Sunday. I told him that was a lot and that everyone should've just stayed home. They can't do online services as far as I know. It isn't an old church, it is fairly new but it is a very small Cumberland Presbyterian church (Cumberland is different than Presbyterian). he just seems to think this is all gonna blow over and that there was no need to call off school, etc. For the sake of him and my mom he needs to stay inside. I told my son I can't keep an eye on them because I live 500 miles away. I told him to call my brother because he lives the closest to our parents.

Because living through diseases used to be normal and we didn't shut down the whole country for it. Are we going to do this every time a new sickness makes the rounds? We're on the verge of a major depression and that kills people too.