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sagesnow

(2,823 posts)
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:00 AM Mar 2020

Anyone noticing minor changes/problems in daily life?

Sorry, these problems PALE in comparison to those people with the virus, but I am noticing some other small changes in this Post-Covid world. The Grocery Store will not allow you to use your reusable grocery bags and they will not recycle pop cans until further notice. The Store is barely able to keep up restocking shelves for this small town.
And, for a while I had a clogged toilet and was about to call a plumber. I was able to get it unplugged, but will plumbers be able to make house calls during the Covid Quarantine?

Anyone else facing new minor issues? I'm left wondering if we will ever return to normal.

65 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Anyone noticing minor changes/problems in daily life? (Original Post) sagesnow Mar 2020 OP
.... rzemanfl Mar 2020 #1
Hardly anything worth complaining about, but just for the purpose Mike 03 Mar 2020 #2
Good to get the heads up on delayed shipping. sagesnow Mar 2020 #6
Why are you saying "Post Covid"? panader0 Mar 2020 #45
I placed an order with Vons for store pic up - they cancelled it Merlot Mar 2020 #20
We are trying to navigate this as well... cilla4progress Mar 2020 #39
While you're foraging, you could be raking. Totally Tunsie Mar 2020 #44
Maybe steam the masks? I don't know. I don't have any. panader0 Mar 2020 #46
Hopefully they will be refunding SoCalNative Mar 2020 #23
I doubt it! atreides1 Mar 2020 #29
Totally unnecessary to do so jimfields33 Mar 2020 #52
Shipping from Chewy is also delayed dansolo Mar 2020 #57
If our biggest complaints are minor.... VarryOn Mar 2020 #3
I was going to make my own reply to this OP Blecht Mar 2020 #10
The husband of my BFF (known her 40 years) is desperately ill in hospital a thousand Nay Mar 2020 #13
Hope your prescriptions will get filled on time. sagesnow Mar 2020 #14
I suspect my doctor is like many others... VarryOn Mar 2020 #18
Minor? LisaL Mar 2020 #4
Besides the aisles and aisles of empty shelves? Having to go to three stores to get eggs and milk? hlthe2b Mar 2020 #5
Sorry to hear... sagesnow Mar 2020 #8
Thanks. She's got enough for a couple of weeks and hopefully, Amazon will come through. hlthe2b Mar 2020 #15
I don't wear a tie to clinic anymore. Aristus Mar 2020 #7
Health care workers deserve a medal for working thru this. sagesnow Mar 2020 #9
+1 demmiblue Mar 2020 #12
Oh, yeah. The ordeal of stripping down and placing all clothing in a trash bag to go immediately to hlthe2b Mar 2020 #17
I do offer you deep gratitude for working thru this crisis. n/t sagesnow Mar 2020 #26
It is going to be one hell of a weight loss plan, that's for sure (as long as I can get enough sleep hlthe2b Mar 2020 #28
My wife bought a big plastic bin to dump everything into when she walks in the front door. hunter Mar 2020 #24
If you have any gritty facial scrub mercuryblues Mar 2020 #37
STAY SAFE ARISTUS, cilla4progress Mar 2020 #42
I've been told chapped raw hands can lead to more germ exposure . At night try some lunasun Mar 2020 #53
Oh yeah, I've been going crazy with Eucerin skin cream every night. Aristus Mar 2020 #56
Biggest impact has been to my wife.... getagrip_already Mar 2020 #11
I'm afraid refugees and the homeless will be the hardest hit sagesnow Mar 2020 #16
I don't blame them for restricting the use of reusable bags Aquaria Mar 2020 #19
Yes, you are right sagesnow Mar 2020 #21
Aw, those look comfy Aquaria Mar 2020 #50
Good post - I've been wondering the same thing matt819 Mar 2020 #22
Delivery people customerserviceguy Mar 2020 #33
Oh--Other than not getting out for my grocery shopping/mail run Aquaria Mar 2020 #25
The only silver lining I can see at this moment sagesnow Mar 2020 #36
With the idiot coming on tv more trying to con people into believing his lies duforsure Mar 2020 #27
our county was told to shelter in place last night..hubby still goes out to work.... samnsara Mar 2020 #30
Just FYI, Discount Tire is limiting service to safety concerns blaze Mar 2020 #38
We ordered a freezer snowybirdie Mar 2020 #31
Water filters cagefreesoylentgreen Mar 2020 #32
so funny about the bags because our county outlawed plastic bags 2 years ago so now i have samnsara Mar 2020 #34
It depends on where you live. Croney Mar 2020 #35
Trying to pleas with my daughter to postpone her trip... ProudMNDemocrat Mar 2020 #40
My experience was odd ( annoying) very odd. Doreen Mar 2020 #41
I have read as oneof the biggest buyers Walmart often approaches manufacturers to make a lunasun Mar 2020 #54
I was kind of wondering about that. Doreen Mar 2020 #62
Well the saddest part to me is areas where they have pushed out other grocery stores other outlets lunasun Mar 2020 #63
I have three choice where I an at. Doreen Mar 2020 #65
My fridge went out 3 days back JCMach1 Mar 2020 #43
My son's promotion and move is badly impacted. Totally Tunsie Mar 2020 #47
I'm noticing that my Internet is a lot slower than usual. totodeinhere Mar 2020 #48
Netflix actually cut streaming quality in response the surge in use, just Europe rn. Lancero Mar 2020 #51
Recommended. H2O Man Mar 2020 #49
Yes, I have. I am fine with it The Genealogist Mar 2020 #55
I am going into my second week of isolation Chainfire Mar 2020 #58
Thanks for the good advice about the plumbing sagesnow Mar 2020 #59
Toilet can always be unclogged with hot soapy water & a plunger. projectiboga Mar 2020 #60
Thank you sagesnow Mar 2020 #61
A hose bladder is far more effective and blasts your sewage pipes clean ansible Mar 2020 #64

Mike 03

(16,616 posts)
2. Hardly anything worth complaining about, but just for the purpose
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:10 AM
Mar 2020

of comparing notes, Walmart and Amazon's usual two-day shipping is delayed a few days. In the case of Amazon, I'm choosing to have items delivered a week out anyway because nothing I'm ordering is urgent. But the last time I placed an order, they are understandably no longer promising two day shipping.

For fun I checked toilet paper on Walmart's site. They offer TP from third party vendors at ridiculous prices, like $72 for a twelve pack of TP.

sagesnow

(2,823 posts)
6. Good to get the heads up on delayed shipping.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:16 AM
Mar 2020

I haven't needed to order anything Post Covid. I've been panic baking and will need to order baking supplies soon.

Merlot

(9,696 posts)
20. I placed an order with Vons for store pic up - they cancelled it
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:40 AM
Mar 2020

on the day it was supposed to be ready - today. To many orders, not enough shoppers. But they were kind enough to tell me that I could go to the store and pic up everything myself.

I was trying to stay home for 2 weeks, but now have no fresh produce. NOt sure how good or healthy it is to go with out veggies.

cilla4progress

(24,589 posts)
39. We are trying to navigate this as well...
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:18 PM
Mar 2020

just about to head out for a produce run. We will wear disposable gloves and our N-95 masks which we have for forest fire smoke which we get often...I know...don't even go there...

Start to thinking about foraging the woods around here!

Probably hit a liquor store.

I am wondering if we can reuse the masks?

jimfields33

(15,474 posts)
52. Totally unnecessary to do so
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 08:52 AM
Mar 2020

First this is an emergency. Second you have so much more then just shipping. You have a ton of entertainment options that is also included.

dansolo

(5,376 posts)
57. Shipping from Chewy is also delayed
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 09:55 AM
Mar 2020

If you need to restock supplies for your pets, plan on it taking a few extra days.

 

VarryOn

(2,343 posts)
3. If our biggest complaints are minor....
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:13 AM
Mar 2020

that's a good thing. I'm being forced to work from home. I've had two fairly common prescriptions delayed becasue the pharmacy couldnt get them in-stock, I cant shop at Walmart at 4-6 AM when I'd like, the funeral of a life long friend is being skipped, and church (an important part of my life) is closed down tun the end of March, when it will be re-evaluated.

I'm trying to keep things in perspective. I've been hard-core about self-quarantining, and so far, my family and I are seeminingly safe. My employer is letting me work from home and made the commitment for us all to ride this out. So far, none of my extended family has gotten sick. And I am talking daily to my elderly parents, up from my once every 7-10 days rotation. So, we are reconnecting.

And the big thing that I'm most gratefel for is that even though COVID-19 appears to be aggressively contageious, its mortality is pretty low. It could be so much highter, like MERS and Ebola.

We are going to be hunkered down for a while. I want to try and enjoy the forced slowdown.

Blecht

(3,803 posts)
10. I was going to make my own reply to this OP
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:20 AM
Mar 2020

but your story mirrors mine. Working from home. Important (to me and my family) events canceled. My children experiencing extreme stress.

This has been anything but minor for us. And it's going to get worse.

Nay

(12,051 posts)
13. The husband of my BFF (known her 40 years) is desperately ill in hospital a thousand
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:22 AM
Mar 2020

miles away, and I cannot go to her to help and comfort her.

sagesnow

(2,823 posts)
14. Hope your prescriptions will get filled on time.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:23 AM
Mar 2020

That will be a real worry for the foreseeable future.

 

VarryOn

(2,343 posts)
18. I suspect my doctor is like many others...
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:32 AM
Mar 2020

when I suggested I didnt as many pain killers as I had been taking due to a knew migraine prophylactic (YAY!), he said "let's wait on that." You might want to create a small stockpile just in case things go to hell.

He's probably not the only doctor recommennding that.

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
5. Besides the aisles and aisles of empty shelves? Having to go to three stores to get eggs and milk?
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:15 AM
Mar 2020

and forget peanut butter. Long gone.

Besides the fact that even though you plan ahead, pre-purchase enough dog food for 8 weeks from the big box store, wait to get your email to "allow" you to come pick up 5 days later-- ONLY to receive an email last night that they had CANCELED your order (it was in stock when I purchased at Sam's--clearly they aren't pulling pre-ordered merchandise from the shelves).

Yeah, small potatoes in the long run. So far I am healthy and grateful.

Aristus

(66,096 posts)
7. I don't wear a tie to clinic anymore.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:16 AM
Mar 2020

When I come home every day, I have to strip down, shower, and get into clean clothes before I greet my wife. My hands are chapped and raw from constant hand-washing. Two showers a day, even under lukewarm water, are drying out the rest of my body.

My wife and I hold seasons tickets for a number of Seattle's cultural offerings; everything has been canceled until further notice.

I'm fine with all of this if it means reducing exposure, illness, and death.

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
17. Oh, yeah. The ordeal of stripping down and placing all clothing in a trash bag to go immediately to
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:30 AM
Mar 2020

washer, Leaving shoes outside at the front door. Keeping all stethoscopes and other needed medical equipment in a series of individual baggies so that I can alcohol or Clorox wipe inside and out multiple times to avoid contamination. (Don't get me started about "disposable" ones--they are worthless). A special biohazard bag in the car for gloves and masks. Alcohol wipes at the front door and in the car to catch the hands and face in case I get that impossible itch. Sterile saline there and in my bag just in case I may have rubbed eyes unconsciously. And when you are tired, hungry and thirsty, it is sooo hard to remember to "be in the moment" so you don't forget something and contaminate yourself.

And damn. I am so dehydrated nowadays because I don't have enough masks to allow me to regularly swap them out so, I don't drink or eat at all until I get home. At least I don't have to go to the bathroom--another real trial right now.

And we are just at the start. sigh...

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
28. It is going to be one hell of a weight loss plan, that's for sure (as long as I can get enough sleep
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:00 PM
Mar 2020

so, there is that.

hunter

(38,264 posts)
24. My wife bought a big plastic bin to dump everything into when she walks in the front door.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:54 AM
Mar 2020

She also has one for her car.

I don't touch anything in the bins without taking precautions.

Everyone in her clinic sixty years and older has been sent home for their own safety.

Masks are being rationed, no more than one a day. So are gloves.

She's already seeing the first storm clouds of this hurricane.

Years ago when we were both big city science teachers we used to watch M.A.S.H. in the evening to decompress, pour some wine, laugh about the day.

Now I can easily imagine my wife is away working and living in hospital tents while I'm home alone with the dogs.

Shit is getting real.

mercuryblues

(14,491 posts)
37. If you have any gritty facial scrub
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:13 PM
Mar 2020

wash your hands with that. Put some Vaseline on them at bed time. Even olive oil will work. If you want to protect the sheets, put socks on your hands.

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
53. I've been told chapped raw hands can lead to more germ exposure . At night try some
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 09:06 AM
Mar 2020

Oil or moisturizer The few hours you are not using sanitizer or washing are at night
Btw is this true about the virus , dry hand exposure ? Dyk ?

Aristus

(66,096 posts)
56. Oh yeah, I've been going crazy with Eucerin skin cream every night.
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 09:42 AM
Mar 2020

I recommend it to my patients as a moisturizer; it's formulated for baby skin, so it's nice and gentle.

Well, the coronavirus causes respiratory illness, so I don't think getting it under the skin due to dry cracked hands is necessarily a problem. But other organisms that are not harmful anywhere else can become pathogenic if they get under the skin.

Your hands and nails are covered with strep and staph, and as long as they're on the outside, it's perfectly fine; it's normal skin flora, you want it to be there; it keeps bad bacteria away. But if it gets under the skin, boom, secondary infection. That's why scratching an itch can be bad for you.

My dad was a surgical nurse. Decades of daily scrubbing with harsh surgical soap left his hands red and rough in a way that no moisturizer could fix...

getagrip_already

(14,250 posts)
11. Biggest impact has been to my wife....
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:21 AM
Mar 2020

She does a lot of service work for organizations in Haiti, and ALL of that has been halted. Between a level 4 alert (a don not travel level) in Haiti itself due to local unrest, the virus, and flight cancellations nothing is happening and she is frustrated.

She also does a lot of community work and is on several town boards, plus the local rotary, and all meetings have been cancelled.

Then she had a trip to Uzbekistan canceled because of the virus.

She is not a happy camper these days. I'm an introvert by nature and none of this affects me, but she is going to go postal if I'm not careful.

So yeah, first world problems, but some people like to live in the real world among their own kind.

 

Aquaria

(1,076 posts)
19. I don't blame them for restricting the use of reusable bags
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:36 AM
Mar 2020

Look, I'm sure you're a clean person who takes care of your reusable bags, but not everyone does that. I've seen customers with bags that are kinda disgusting, never washed after years of weekly use.

Since grocers can't know when you washed your bags, and won't insult you by asking, it's easier to ban them until further notice, to be on the safe side.

The plastic bags at the store are made by machines and get little or no human contact of any kind until they're opened to put your stuff in them.

For now, using the plastic bags will be the best policy, to protect people who have to come into contact with hundreds of customers a day.

sagesnow

(2,823 posts)
21. Yes, you are right
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:41 AM
Mar 2020

Don't think they will be taking them back at the recycling boxes either. Guess I will start having to make plarn with them and crochet mats and sandals with them.

https://pandercraft.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/plarn-saving-sealife-from-grocery-bags-first-guest-post/

 

Aquaria

(1,076 posts)
50. Aw, those look comfy
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 08:30 AM
Mar 2020

Don't worry about your reusable bags. If you can't wash them and they're canvas or some other porous material, they'll be fine after a week or two. You could spray them down with Lysol to speed up the process, but, honestly, by the time this is over, they'll be fine to use again.

You don't have to waste them over this awful virus. I'm keeping mine tucked away until I can use them again. Most of mine, I can wash or wipe down, so bonus.

matt819

(10,749 posts)
22. Good post - I've been wondering the same thing
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:50 AM
Mar 2020

I went to our town's recycling station (the dump) yesterday. Until further notice, you can only recycle cans, as these go into an outside bin. Cardboard, paper, plastic and glass - which go inside and have to be handled, however briefly, by staff - are not being accepted and should be tossed into the compactor. Or you can hang on to your recyclables until they take it again. I'm going to hold onto the stuff and also check other recycling options, though maybe they'll have the same policies now?

Minor.


I'm refinancing my house, and the appraiser won't come in the house and will only do a walk-around. I think the appraisal thing is hogwash, as the comps are always not quite comparable, and they end up using the town's tax appraisal. But not having him come in the house is great.

Minor.


UPS delivery guy came and went as fast as he could. Dropped the delivery off. No talking, no contact.

Minor, and, actually, probably an improvement.


I've been able to use my reusable bags at the grocery store, but I haven't been in a couple of days, and that may now be different.


That's about it for now.



 

Aquaria

(1,076 posts)
25. Oh--Other than not getting out for my grocery shopping/mail run
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:54 AM
Mar 2020

My life hasn't changed.

My husband works at a grocery store, so all of the CV-19 exposure risks, and all of the customers pissed off about the empty shelves on top of that.

But he's a super-laidback guy, so it doesn't get to him all that much. I worry about him, though, for both unselfish and selfish reasons. The unselfish? I don't want anything to happen to him because I love him, he's the best person I know, and he doesn't deserve to suffer or die. Not yet.

But the selfish reason is that if something were to happen to him, I'd have to go live with my mother, because I can't support myself anymore. I'm able to work, but no one will hire me post-cancer at my age. It totally sucks that I have nowhere else to turn because I'm discriminated against over something that I beat. I gave up looking for work, because even when I pounded pavements and submitted resumes all over, I never got a call back. Not one. Women pushing 60 have it hard enough getting work, but with cancer in the mix? Go ahead and kill yourself, because nobody will touch you.

So I'm essentially helpless about supporting myself without my husband until I qualify for SS. Hence why I would have to live with my 80 y/o mother.

I love my mom, she's my best friend, but there's a reason I live 300 miles away from her. It's called peace of mind. We are not suited for close quarters, and never have been.

These are the things that make me a little batty about COVID-19..

sagesnow

(2,823 posts)
36. The only silver lining I can see at this moment
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:10 PM
Mar 2020

is that, as this virus makes me realise how close to the edge of survival I live, it also makes me appreciate how much I love and depend on my family and DU friends.

duforsure

(11,882 posts)
27. With the idiot coming on tv more trying to con people into believing his lies
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 11:58 AM
Mar 2020

Its aggravating to have to turn the channel more , or miss more important shows on .

samnsara

(17,570 posts)
30. our county was told to shelter in place last night..hubby still goes out to work....
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:02 PM
Mar 2020

...and tomorrow we will go to the dump, to the vet to get dog meds and we may drop a car off at the tire place to get our snow tires removed. Those are pretty empty places.
What I have noticed is a surprising lack of urgency I normally feel. I am a vendor at the Farmers Market so I spend a lot of my spare time trying to get my crafts together..... but since I'm pretty darned sure the Markets wont be happening I dont feel the stress of HAVING to get stuff done for it....or the guilt of choosing to watch a movie instead. Its kind of refreshing ( for now)...

snowybirdie

(5,191 posts)
31. We ordered a freezer
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:03 PM
Mar 2020

It was delivered today. It was left on the first floor of our building. We live on the second! FedEx man didn't want to get too close, I guess. Now I can look at my new freezer sitting in the sidewalk below my balcony. Yipee!

32. Water filters
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:05 PM
Mar 2020

I have a water filter attachment on my kitchen sink, and the filters require replacement every year. Mine aren’t due for replacement until August but I figured it might be a smart idea to stock up on spare filters in advance. I got down to my filter supplier and discovered I wasn’t the only one with that idea.

samnsara

(17,570 posts)
34. so funny about the bags because our county outlawed plastic bags 2 years ago so now i have
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:06 PM
Mar 2020

...dozens of those dang reusable bags.

Croney

(4,646 posts)
35. It depends on where you live.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:07 PM
Mar 2020

Here in Mass. we are wiping down everything we touch, staying home as much as we can, and trying to help our struggling communities. My sister in Missouri went to her gym and used the treadmill yesterday.

ProudMNDemocrat

(16,485 posts)
40. Trying to pleas with my daughter to postpone her trip...
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:27 PM
Mar 2020

With her husband and girls, 9 and 7, to Arizonza. So what if cancelling the eesort, fetal car, flight from Minneapolis. This virus will kill children .

A friend of mine has the virus and he is scared shitless. He is in his early 30's.

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
41. My experience was odd ( annoying) very odd.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 12:39 PM
Mar 2020

I always get my Charmin to at Costco. Well, I went twice and they were out. So I went to walmart and found the exact same thing except the amount of tp in the package. I read the package thoroughly to make sure it was actually the same and it said it was. Got home opened into put someon the roller. Well, the to is not as wide, it was so thick I had a hard time getting it into the roller, it is rough, and it sure as hell not 2 ply.

Is this something that Walmart always does or just started or is this what Charmin does to walmart or they just started it?

I guess my simple questionis is if this is COVID-19 practice or common practice?

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
54. I have read as oneof the biggest buyers Walmart often approaches manufacturers to make a
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 09:23 AM
Mar 2020

Lesser product to be sold at a lower price. They have a lot of sway because of quantity
One older case vaguely remembered was some push back from kraft cheese . Walmart wanted them to use a portion of the process that is usually skimmed off the top and discarded to make slices or something and kraft said it would not

So no links but yes I think it’s common

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
62. I was kind of wondering about that.
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 01:57 PM
Mar 2020

I think some of the name brand clothing they have are the ones that had flaws that kept them from going to places like Nordstroms.

I used to work for a place that sorts and packaged produce. I learned there are three lines. One for the Safeway and such places, one for walmart and lower brand like western family and then the stuff used for animal feed and fertilizer. I tell you, the stuff for walmart and such looked pretty bad. I got talked to in the beginning because I was putting stuff meant for Walmart and such in the feed and fertilizer line. How in the hell was I supposed to know? They did not look that different from each other!

lunasun

(21,646 posts)
63. Well the saddest part to me is areas where they have pushed out other grocery stores other outlets
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 02:24 PM
Mar 2020

Absolutely no choice except the second tier items for those areas now unless they travel I have seen in docs about Walmart moving in to areas where completion drops out
also of course the people who can only afford it or limited $ store items the only option.
and terrible the areas with only convenience stores who may not have the lower bulk quality but high prices limited items and little produce
I don’t shop at Walmart but I have been at ones and I really don’t see that much of a bargain but maybe I’m not looking for the same things like soda and cookies - items where they make their own brands.
I have also been in Costco their quality may be high but I told my friend I could get that cheaper elsewhere and don’t need to buy 6 of something to do it or wait in a long line
so it’s different with everyone
Some have choices they make and some are just stuck by location or income or both

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
65. I have three choice where I an at.
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 03:01 PM
Mar 2020

Safeway, Walmart, and a place called Shop-n-kart. Each has stuff I prefer but I try my best to not shop walmart.

They actually do have a few thing that are a good deal. Their Tidy Cat cat litter is the best price of anywhere. Nothing wrong with getting something from Walmart that gets shit on.

JCMach1

(27,544 posts)
43. My fridge went out 3 days back
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 01:10 PM
Mar 2020

There is no warranty coverage, or parts from Asia at this point.

Lowe's and Home Depot have delivery backed up til April.

Luckily I found a small, local Mexican American owned scratch and dent place. Bought and delivered the same day...

Shop local folks... Those guys will be hurting.

Totally Tunsie

(10,885 posts)
47. My son's promotion and move is badly impacted.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 01:40 PM
Mar 2020

He and his family are to move to Sweden in June, but all the preparations are being shelved temporarily. They were to fly over Saturday for a house-hunting trip and a visit to the International School, and all that is, of course, cancelled.

They planned to move while the kids were out of school for the summer; however, they're not sure if that will be possible now. Timing the listing/sale of their current home is becoming a puzzle, and the stock market losses aren't favorable for house selling.

totodeinhere

(13,037 posts)
48. I'm noticing that my Internet is a lot slower than usual.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 01:44 PM
Mar 2020

And I'm afraid it will only get worse as more and more people stay at home and use the Internet.

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
49. Recommended.
Thu Mar 19, 2020, 01:46 PM
Mar 2020

I see it in my children and extended family. But I've been a hermit for many years, so no real changes for me beyond spending a little more time on the phone.

The Genealogist

(4,723 posts)
55. Yes, I have. I am fine with it
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 09:41 AM
Mar 2020

Compared to what some people are going through, it is nothing. I already work from home. My gym closed indefinitely, so I am working out at home. No haircut for the forseeable future, for social distancing sake. I'm a guy, and I like my hair is little longer on top, what's left of it, but when it gets too shaggy I'll just shave it off myself. Been there done that. Stores out of a lot of stuff, but ordering for pickup. My one on one with my boss Monday has been moved to a phone call. The main annoyance is people yapping it up that this is just cold or flu and a hoax or whatever. They are willlfully ignorant and j hate willful ignorance.

Chainfire

(17,308 posts)
58. I am going into my second week of isolation
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 10:27 AM
Mar 2020

from the outside world. What I see, I see on this or another screen. I will not leave my property for at least a month. It is not difficult for me as I am a bit of a loner anyway. Life is certainly not "normal" so that causes some anxiety; I will try to forgive myself for that. The only way for isolation to work is to make it as absolute as possible. The only thing coming to me from the outside is mail and I am handling it like it was radioactive.

Anyone who isn't seeing changes in their daily lives or their lifestyles are damn fools.

My wife is far more socially active than I am, so I can see that she is getting a little restless already, but she is smart and tough and we will get through this. If we get too stir crazy, both of our vehicles are full of gas, so we can go for a drive. Hopefully the virus isn't fast enough to run down a car. I suspect that I could also speed down the road with impunity.

My wife and I, like many others, have lot to lose if I get this virus, we are both in the age group that is taking the biggest hit and we both have conditions that would complicate treatment, especially if the hospitals are having to make triage decisions because of limited resources. When the hospitals become overburdened they will have to make hard decisions. It would be right to let me die if it freed up resources to save a 30 year old. C'est la guerre. I would have to try to take it like a man. It would have been safer for us to have contracted the virus two weeks ago than two weeks from now. At this time I see it as my own responsibility to protect my health. If I succumb, I will follow Jimmy Buffet's philosophy, "Its my own damn fault." I am not fatalistic, and I am still cheering myself on!

As far as your plumbing issue, I can tell you, that as a retired plumber, I would not be jeopardizing my and my families health by going house to house doing routine calls. If you are having problems, be careful of what you flush. Furthermore, as someone who is taking this seriously, I would not want someone who is going house to house doing calls in my house at this time. I am going through a similar problem, my AC is trying to fritz out on me, but I will just tough it out until this too shall pass.

So, yes, even from an isolated position I am seeing changes.

sagesnow

(2,823 posts)
59. Thanks for the good advice about the plumbing
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 10:55 AM
Mar 2020

I'm thinking about ordering a porta potty in case someone in the family has plumbing problems. Hope they are not already sold out.
I am also pretty stoic about getting this virus. I am following all quarantine protocol, but as Eckert Tolle writes, "Even the Sun will go out". In the meantime, I am still enjoying watching Sunrise and Sunset each day.
Cheers.

 

projectiboga

(53 posts)
60. Toilet can always be unclogged with hot soapy water & a plunger.
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 11:38 AM
Mar 2020

If there isn't cloth, a toy or tree roots clogging the drain system, you can always get a toilet unstuck with a bucket, plunger, some liquid soap and effort.

Fill a bucket with hot water. add soap once full. get bucket ready to dump into toilet. Flush toilet and then chase the end of the flush with hot water.

Often the clog is up high in the trap and the extra, warm soapy water will all help to clear. then the plunger with the extra water in the bowl can loosen the clog too.

Broken pipes, heat and hot water system failures will be another issue. Plumbers, and HIVAC techs will be working on actual emergencies.

Best wishes.

 

ansible

(1,718 posts)
64. A hose bladder is far more effective and blasts your sewage pipes clean
Fri Mar 20, 2020, 02:29 PM
Mar 2020

Here's an example of one, but the one I used was much bigger because the clog was in the sewage pipes outside the house. Home Depot and Lowes sells them. If you're short on money and feel confident enough for DIY jobs try it, plumbers are NOT cheap and you'll lose quite a bit of money.

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