Don't know if this has been posted yet, but I got a text today from the Biden campaign that says random donors can get on Joe's call list if they make a donation at this link:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/biden2020_fr_callfromjoe-q12020?refcode=sms-mc-20200325-jrb-phonecalls&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=mc&utm_campaign=sms-mc-20200325-jrb-phonecalls&amount=20

Unfortunately, I don't have the $$ right now for this, but maybe one of you could be one of the lucky callees!

Effective at midnight tonight, and at least until 9 April.

There are numerous exempted businesses, including essential government functions such as solid waste collection and utility operations; educators and other personnel supporting public and private schools and universities to facilitate distance learning; public transportation; businesses supporting airport operations; businesses that provide food, shelter and social services for economically disadvantages or other vulnerable populations; banks and other financial institutions; funeral homes and cemeteries.

Churches, which had been exempt previously, have been directed to provide religious and worship services only by video, teleconference or other remote measures.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Shelter-in-place-order-to-slow-coronavirus-15151183.php

I'm trying to find a complete list of what constitutes essential v nonessential. Will update when I have it.

Starting today, my husband's store has posted a notice at every entrance that states the following:

Out of an abundance of care and caution for all H-E-B customers, we will not accept returns on the following categories that were purchased in anticipation of the Coronavirus outbreak:

Paper Towels/Bath Tissue
Analgesics
Disinfecting Wipes
Liquid/Bar Soap
Vitamins/Supplements
Cold/Allergy/Sinus Medication
Thermometers
Disinfecting Spray
Frozen Foods
Hand Sanitizer
Laundry Detergent

---

I just love seeing a big old backhanded Fuck You first thing in the morning.

1 833 397 0080

Get in your food order 9am - 1pm, seven days a week.

You can also place orders on the Favor website, favordelivery.com/senior, or on the Favor app by searching for HEB

Catch: There's a maximum limit of 25 items. There's also a required $10 driver tip. All other delivery and service fees are waived, at least for the first 30 days.

For those who don't want to deal with trying to shop and risk getting sick, this could be an option.

More information here:

https://newsroom.heb.com/h-e-b-launches-community-care-efforts-across-the-state-to-assist-our-most-vulnerable-neighbors/

COVID-19, of course. They're having only a pro-forma meeting today for the leadership and committee chairs, but they did direct those of us who planned to attend to instead sign up for the State party convention 4-6 June at the Henry B Convention Center. I signed up today. I guess we'll see if the virus cancels that, too, or not.

This kinda guy:

njevancik
@nevancik1

I actually knew a guy who told me that Biden showed up at a funeral service for an elderly lady who had been making small donations to his Senate campaign for years. No one could figure out what Biden was actually doing there, and basically this old lady was one of the first

people who attended one of his the campaign events for his first run for the Senate way back in 1972. Somebody must have seen her obituary but Biden showed up in this small room in an apartment building where they were doing a service.

https://twitter.com/nevancik1/status/1240360383648538625


I want decency and gratitude in the Oval Office again.

Andrew Weinstein
@Weinsteinlaw

Seems like a good time for a reminder that when @JoeBiden first ran for office he pledged not to own a single share of stock so long as he held public office. He kept that promise for his entire political career. Honesty and ethics matter.

https://twitter.com/Weinsteinlaw/status/1240810773477240832

No, I’m not kidding.

In a glass bowl, put in these ingredients:

1 16 ounce block of cream cheese, cut up into small cubes. If you have 12-16 of them, good enough!

3 ounces (3/4) of a stick of unsalted butter, cut into pats or cubes. DO NOT USE MARGARINE. It is too greasy for this dish.

1/2 cup shredded fresh Parmesan. Or the same amount of the shaky stuff in the jar.

1/3-1/2 cup heavy cream. Start with 1/3. See the directions for when to use more.

1 TB garlic powder.

1/2 teaspoon white pepper.

Put the bowl in the microwave and run it in high for 2 minutes. Take it out and whisk or stir the ingredients together to combine them. They’ll still be lumpy. Don’t panic. Put it back in the microwave and run it another minute or two, stirring again to combine everything. At this point, if you think it’s too thick or gooey, stir in more cream. Run it one more minute. Should be a smooth sauce after a stir, but if it isn’t, repeat the 1 minute-stir step until it’s smooth.

Serve over fettuccine.

No, this is not healthy. Not in the least. But it is good and easy to make, which is good enough.

Lots of people these days aren’t much on cooking, but now they may need to know some basics because they can’t get their frozen/processed favorites or they need to make food stores last longer.

It doesn’t mean cooking has to be time-consuming or complicated, though. This recipe uses things from a pantry/freezer and some convenience ingredients to make a healthy dinner in about ten minutes.

In a large Dutch oven, put in:

16 ounces roasted or rotisserie chicken cut up. You can also use canned chicken breast meat, frozen chicken breasts or, to really go with the Southwest theme, frozen fajita strips warmed up first!

32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth.

1 14.5 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

1.5 cups frozen corn kernels -or- 1 14.5 ounce can of whole kernel corn.

2 cans of Mexican diced tomatoes with green chiles. I use Rotel.

1/2 of a medium onion diced.

2 tsp minced garlic -or- 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp salt (less if using canned ingredients)

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp chipotle powder, less if you want milder soup. You can substitute this with cayenne or a couple of dashes of Cholula or Tabasco hot sauce.

Cook on the stove on medium high until it boils, then lower the heat to simmer. Serve when it stops bubbling (careful! Hot!)

If you like, top it with some sliced avocados crushed tortilla chips or a Mexican blend shredded cheese.

That’s it.

Normally, I make a more involved Southwest chicken soup, but this is for those days when we’re in a hurry, or “Oh come on—the meat for what I was going to make still isn’t thawed!” Or, more likely, “Crap, I forgot to take out that pot roast from the freezer!”

It takes no more time than putting on pasta and opening a jar of (ew!) processed sauce, and it’s a whole lot healthier than that.

Here in Texas, the grocery chain HEB was kindly providing hand sanitizer for customers to use at the register, to cut down on spread of CV-19.

My husband just told me that customers at his store were stealing the supplied bottles for themselves.

Thanks a lot, assholes.