During the last week, I posted that we were up at a ski resort in NC

[essme]

to be very clear, we were there to maintain and clean our property- we took all of our food with us, and did not go outside except to walk, or go on the deck. We did not go to a grocery store, liquor store, or take out from a restaurant. Our place does not share an HVAC system with any other place.

I wrote that I was shocked at the number of people out without masks- Our place overlooks the ski lodge....so, I don't have to answer the question of "how do you know that?"

This week, we got this email from the place we normally use to rent to skiers: "We wanted to make everyone aware that we have had to temporarily suspend booking for guests from today 1/1/20 to Tuesday 1/5/20. We are still honoring bookings already made, however, we have over half of our staff members including housekeepers out with covid. We unfortunately do not have the manpower to take on any more bookings until the beginning of next week when we are able to get more staff in. We apologize for any inconvenience and want to thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time."

I absolutely believe now there is the possibility that popular vacation spots in NC may shut down again to tourists. They did last March.
I hope they do again.

And yes- for any Republican reading this- we ARE losing money. And no, I don't care- I want to see people live.

[dsc]

1. meanwhile we have school districts with elementary schools open 4 days a week

for entire classes (mine starts that on 25 Jan). And our middle and high schools are opening for 50% of students at a time. Oh, and churches with full indoor services and choral performances.

[essme]

2. Are you in NC?

Guilford Co. just pushed back reopening, and other counties are starting to call "special meetings of the school boards."

Parents are starting to pull their kids out. I think NC MIGHT- MIGHT be starting to wake up slowly.

[dsc]

5. Yes

We moved back elementary to 25 Jan but I think barring a state mandate that is it

[essme]

6. I think Cooper might

mandate it sometime in the next week.

I work in MS; and started carrying my laptop and iPad back and forth with me every day. I never know when we are going to get that email from the principal ("you have been exposed&quot or, when the school is going to shut down.

I let the 8th grade science teacher talk me into bringing his snake home with me in March. My dining room currently looks like The Wild Kingdom.

[dsc]

9. I have good internet and a touch screen lap top at home

so I was able to do my work from home. Even if they go full remote here, I will likely be required to work in the building.

[essme]

10. I have been in our building since March- and most of the summer

So, I hear you.

BTW, after I retire, I am not sure I ever want to see an HP Chromebook again. For any reason.

I am the school librarian.

[dsc]

13. given how long our school's order is taking to fill I am not sure we will ever see a new one again

and yes, media personnel must be so tired of dealing with these. I honestly can't imagine.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Thanks and good luck to your resort area, I hope that they overcome the CV difficulties...

In my neck of the woods, the Ozarks, Missouri, we rent mobile homes for fly fishing/fishing tourists, floating the river, hunting, etc. and as you can imagine, the live in population down there in such a region is sparse and any job takers would have to drive substantial distances. We've always had issues trying to locate cleaning and/or other services (after guests leave). This has been a problem in really getting anything done down there, my Mom and Dad had big issues in trying to get help for their home (cleaning, lawn services, etc.).

And what's so funny about this is that the Lake of the Ozarks (remember where they had their insane gatherings earlier in 2020?), is just about 40-45 miles to the NW of us. Branson, MO is about 70+- miles to the SW roughly of us. In the middle of Nowhere, Missouri.
Pretty terrain and such, nice neighbors and such, but hard to get things done.

Best wishes to you all in ski resort country, all of us w/ homes and/or businesses in resort areas are hurting too.

[essme]

4. About a million years ago, I worked for Cox Paramedics

Went to St. John's Paramedic school, and lived in Ozark

Beautiful country; but I had a tough time with the winters there. I was working during that ice storm of '91. Holy crap!

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Small world! I had 2 family members who worked as nurses at Cox Hospital, and a friend ...

that we just ran into a couple of days ago that lived in Ozark too (Christian County, etc.). Like I said, sparsely populated. Of course they ended up moving away too (to STLMO).

I heard about that ice storm, it did tons of damage to my Mom and Dad's place (of course their place had literally 10s of thousands of trees, all w/ major damage, it took a major amount of time to clean up). We were actually afraid to walk out in the yard for fear that the sound of our walking would cause limbs / etc. to break all of sudden while we were under them. The people we tried calling to clean up the damage wanted $6,000 an acre to clean up the mess. Wow.

You were smart to move away, the winters aren't a fun thing to enjoy for the most part. The wildlife and views are spectacular but...

[essme]

8. People in NC don't believe me when I tell them that

I had to wear golf shoes on the ambulance during that storm. I hope to NEVER see another one like that again!

Ozark used to be a darling little town-- especially pretty in the Fall. Even the Walmart was fun to shop at- it was tiny, and everything was Made in the USA. Sam Walton was still alive.

I moved home (to NC) because my boyfriend dumped me and moved to Texas. I didn't really like being a paramedic anymore, so I am a librarian now.

I still go look at photos from MO-- I could go on and on about what a nice place it was "back in the day." I don't know that much about it anymore- it looks as if it has grown quite a bit!

[world wide wally]

11. We have a house in Salida, Co that we have used as a vacation rental for 15 years.

When this Covid put a damper on the rentals, we decided to just rent it long term to our daughter and her boyfriend. I feel like it was a good decision. Now we will wait till the pandemic is over and decide what to do at that point.
In the meantime, it is nice knowing she has a place to live and the house is being well cared for. No stress over cleaning for Covid, and they love living there.
Happy New Year, y'all.

[essme]

12. That's partially what is hitting us so hard

We now have to go up and take care of everything all winter.

We have a few friends that will help that ski-- so they are getting a "free ski weekend," but other than that- they won't go to the restaurants or lodge.

[curthayden]

14. End the Pandemic

I have a plan to end the pandemic. Coming soon to a post near you.

[essme]

15. Oh goodie. I can't wait to hear it.

Have you notified the CDC yet?

[MustLoveBeagles]

24. Here it is

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214792711

It's not a bad plan in theory. It just depends on the majority of the American public complying with it. Based on recent history I have my doubts that this will happen.

[cwydro]

26. Yeah, nice thought, but it's never going to happen.

[cwydro]

19. Dupe of my own post.

Last edited Sat Jan 2, 2021, 06:00 PM - Edit history (1)

[cwydro]

20. Well, we're waiting.

[MustLoveBeagles]

25. See post 24

[COL Mustard]

16. I'm Afraid You're Right

About resorts shutting down again. The entire Outer Banks was closed from late March to mid May last year, and they only reluctantly opened to non-resident property owners after a lawsuit.

I will have to make sure I print off my entry permit for this year, just in case.

Be safe!

[homegirl]

17. I know I am a nit picker...BUT

1/1/20 to 1/5/20 ????

[essme]

18. This is a private company that takes care of vacation rentals

Over half their staff, and the owner's two daughters came down with Covid.

Pretty sure they are just trying to make it til the 5th. I think it will be longer. This was their second email; they are overwhelmed. The restaurant staffs up there are getting sick also- with no one to replace them-

[luvtheGWN]

21. Yep. My question too!

[Kitchari]

23. Typo

They meant 2021

[Lambiek]

22. Airbnb in NC

Back in the fall I reserved an Airbnb property for the month of Feb in NC. My kids live there and since it would more than a year since I had seen them, I wanted to spend a good chunk of time. I had my safety protocols in place, and there would be strict mask wearing by them when with me. They knew this and were fully supportive (they do wear masks in their work and day to day activities).

When I heard that cases were spiking in NC, I began to worry about myself (I am over 65, but no underlying conditions). I began the process to cx my reservation and rebook for later in the year. Because of an issue with my account, I needed to speak to the host directly and while I am sure he wasn't happy about not having Feb booked on relatively short notice, he was gracious and helpful in locating another month of dates later in the year. The following day, I received a nasty text from his daughter about people who cancel with little notice and how bad it is for business and sad that people are so thoughtless. I was going to ignore the text, but decided to answer her and point out my reasons for needing to change the reservation.

She is probably one of the people not adhering to a mask policy, and doesn't have the maturity to understand why an old lady can't just suck it up and take her chances.