Hunker Down

[idrivejunk]

Just call me thread killer  

Hey so uh... stats ain't none too good here, now. On the current state of well you know. So I got this for you...

Bought car parts over the counter (and rope) weekend before last and made out like the masked man I was. Without second glance or wasted moment, I took them home and stuck em on zip-zip. Well I say that but with rounded caliper bolts you gotta take off bracket and all.

I attribute that plain ol good experience to having bought the parts from Jesus.

Its a bilingual store.    Anyhow, today same deal but as I getaway, just out the door I says to myself "Self... " I says... Grey box, not yellow ( wheel bearing, 3yr vs 1 yr ). Checks me ticket, arrrg. Back to the scene and stand on the six foot sticker. Ten or fifteen minutes by my standing in line clock. Beats doorstep in undetermined number of daze.

Its not gonna get any easier being a blue eyed person, is it? We are tolerated. I had an easy enough transaction and experience. One was in right behind me asking about fittings and drilling into battery terminals and such and whatever ya got that he can make work, and yep. Anyhow, long story short I got my yellow box with same number on label plus gracious apology on top and off I merrily went.

Am I typing this on the wrong thread, you may ask? Naw. Grey box dude apologized not through mask. Come to think of it, he was the only one not wearing a company advertisement on face and I noticed that more than the name tag. But, thats what to expect from who and thats my point.

Not my intent to overemphasize face coverings or judge folks, far from it. I didn't even notice that ^^^ until re-entry. However, even my less than observant observations indicate they have caught on in the world now. Local restrictions are tightening and headlines continue to raise eyebrows. Continue your vigilance.

Last of decent TP on gutted shelves currently. House brand paper towels only. Enjoy this crazy rollercoaster and don't lose your lunch.

[jaybee]

Boss and his wife are both now COVID positive and symptomatic along with a big chunk of the others who were at what he now refers to as "the super spreader wedding."

[kb426]

My part of the world hasn't been hit with a tp shortage, yet. The numbers in my county are increasing with regularity. I'm staying home and wishing it was summer so I could be outside.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

Wife and I were at Sam's Club today....bought a big package of paper towels - Sam's brand - No TP in sight. One of my sons works in the grocery business at the corporate level. Says their warehouse orders are being filled at less than 50% most weeks. We were in one of their stores today and it looked well stocked but there were empty spots.


We aren't noticeably starving yet....Except for some fresh products we could probably live off the pantry for several months.

[WZ JUNK]

So far the solution to the situation seems to be hard liquor and ice cream.  When I typed this I had already consumed my quota of hard liquor for the day.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

We were informed 2 days ago...  our grandson and youngest grand daughter were exposed to a school mate who has tested positive for the chinese flu..  so now we sit and wait to see if the one of the kids come up positive.

We had not been told the 2 kids were back at school..  the twin sister to our grandson had decided to stay at home with distance learning

[Crosley.In.AZ]

We were informed 2 days ago...  our grandson and youngest grand daughter were exposed to a school mate who has tested positive for the chinese flu..  so now we sit and wait to see if the one of the kids come up positive.

We had not been told the 2 kids were back at school..  the twin sister to our grandson had decided to stay at home with distance learning

Update on the grand kids..  their tests came back negative.

Interesting rants here in AZ and around the country too I would imagine..  People are complaining about the gubermint suggestions that families should not gather together for Thanksgiving, even various threats of arrests or untility services shut off ...    Yet on black friday shopping day , large crowds in the stores were OK ?

I read that crowds were smaller at stores on friday around here. Not as many folks camped out at the doors..  something I have never understood is the camping out for a store opening.

We visited the local Costco store on sunday morning...  ppl lined up to enter at opening probably 300 foot long line.  I waited at the door for the line up to enter. There were Costco employees stopping ppl trying to enter along side the line up... that was not allowed.  Oh : No paper towels , toilet paper was gone very quickly.  Table napkins were in stock....  No disinfectant type products on the shelves either.

[Bruce Dorsi]

Lots of asymptomatic people testing positive in this area.

False test results?  ...Or, lots of vaccine to be sold?  ....After the initial covid surge declined, many people were shying away from getting the vaccine when it was available.  ...That's not good for business, so maybe a new demand needed to be created?

NJ Teachers' Union wants to keep schools shut down despite teacher, parent, and student objections.

NJ, NY, & PA each showing 4000-6000 new POSITIVE tests PER DAY for the last week or two.  ...Supposedly, 10% of the tests are positive.  ....That indicates 40,000-60,000 tests PER DAY in each of these states, which seems high.  

Test results are being questioned again.

Some local health officials are reporting that while positive cases are increasing in this area, many are asymptomatic or suffer very minor symptoms with quick recovery.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Out here in AZ... the governor is not installing mask mandates or a lock down to curb the spread of the chinese virus.  I think it is too late for that action.

""Exspirts"" are saying we need a 3 week lock down to curb the spread of covid in Arizona.  I remember in March 2020 when we only needed a 2 - 3 week stay at home quarantine to avoid a pandemic. I remember how well that worked.

On Tuesday AZ had a huge number of positive test results reported :  over 10k new cases.  Sorry to say these folks have lost me on listening to them. That 10k number just is way out of place.

[WZ JUNK]

We had another friend die from the virus this morning.  I have stopped counting the ones I know who died or are suffering the effects.  He and his wife both got sick.  She had mild symptoms.   He went into the hospital, then ICU, then on a ventilator last week, and died this morning.  

I had a yearly appointment with my heart doctor last week.  We discussed the virus and I had some questions for him.  He said that people who doubt the virus need to come make the morning rounds with him someday.

I remember a sign my High School History teacher had, "Ignorance is Bliss".  I am amazed that despite all the information and the simple things a person can do that so many seem to throw caution to the wind, and think that it can not happen to them.  I talk to people daily, (on the phone) who have risked sickness or death for the oddest of reasons.  I have also talked to those who were sick and went out into public, and exposed others, because they thought they needed some trivial item.   We are within 2 months of having a vaccine.  Do not do something stupid now after suffering in insolation for months.

[Bruce Dorsi]

John, I am the first person to acknowledge that the virus is real and life threatening to many people.

People who are at high-risk to covid complications should take whatever precautions they can.  

However, in my part of the country (NJ, NY, eastern PA, CT) the economic impact to small business has been devastating.  ....We suffered through a lockdown which forced many businesses to permanently close their doors, putting many people out of a job.  

People who had/have the ability to work from home have been inconvenienced, but have not suffered financially.  .....NO government employee has lost their job or gone without a paycheck.  ....Many of these employees were paid (by taxpayers) for an extended "vacation"  since their work could not be done from home.

Most medical people will tell you that the masks we are wearing will NOT stop virus transmission.  .....People have been wearing compulsory masks in this area for 8 months, so why is the virus spiking?  ......Why do mask-compliant wearers get the virus?

Why is it necessary to have restrictions on family gatherings on Thanksgiving, but it's OK to visit crowded supermarkets the days before, or go shopping for Black Friday deals?  ....Does the virus know what day it is?

Supermarkets previously required gloves.  ....Shopping carts were disinfected between uses.  ....Conveyors at the cashiers were disinfected between customers.  ....These procedures have been eliminated, but covid cases decreased until 4-6 weeks ago.

More of the people governing who are imposing restrictions are violating their own commands and proving their hypocrisy.

Bars & restaurants in NJ have to close at 10pm.  ....Does the virus know what time it is?  .....The joke around here is if you are getting a virus in a bar after 10pm, it is probably NOT covid.

There are people around that are afraid to go outside their home.  ....They believe the virus is lingering in the air and waiting to pounce on them.  ....Ignorance may be bliss, but it can also create panic and fear.

There is so much contradictory information and statistics concerning covid, it is difficult to sort fact from fiction. ....Everyone needs to evaluate their own risk  and beliefs and do what they feel is necessary.

While it is unfortunate for anyone to have died from covid, the survival rate is at 98+%.  ....As of mid-September, the covid deaths were in line with flu-caused deaths of recent years.

[jaybee]

Very, very sorry to hear of your friend, WZ.

Three of my drivers couldn't go back to work at the beginning of the week. One in Nebraska, one in Kansas, one in Kentucky. One of them has a daughter I don't think he's very happy with. She brought a college friend to their Thanksgiving dinner without telling her Mom and Dad why the young woman didn't have other arrangements. Turns out her Mom is sick with COVID and no one else would allow her to come to their dinner.

Young people...can't live with 'em, can't stuff 'em in a sack...

[Crosley.In.AZ]

John:  sorry your friend passed.  This virus is very real and harmful to many ppl.. It is the numbers and reporting that I do not have faith in on the accuracy.

My brother was over last week.  We do not talk often.  His next door neighbor died from the virus complications. The guy  had a weak heart. He was recovering from the covid and then his heart just gave out.

Arizona is at 18% positive test rate this week..  last week as I recall  we were at 11% positive rate.

AZ governor told the cities if they want stronger rules, mandate on masks, curfews : then put them in place.  Gov Doug is worried on a lock down during the holiday season and the results to citizens, the economy and jobs.  Tucson AZ has put a 10pm curfew in place, it starts this weekend or maybe it is monday.

I've heard many of the guys at work had large family gatherings for the turkey  day last week.  I keep my face covering on when I leave my immediate work bench area. 2 of them were in Mexico for the holiday. Is it worse in Mexico or no different for the virus spread? I have not looked at reported numbers for Mexico.

My neck has started to break out from the neck gator I wear.  It is around my neck all day at work. Only covers my face about a total of 1 hour a day when I am away from my bench.

I can not wear the mask design with ear loops.. between my eye glasses and the mask loops , my behind the ear  hearing aids are pulled off my ear.  I worry about loss of 1 or both of the aids. I dont have cash to buy another pair.  Altho medicare will pay some money on 1 hearing aid. Yippie

Oh, btw the Canadian snow burds are making their way to Arizona regardless of the closed down border with Canada.

[58 Yeoman]

It's really a no-win situation. You close the businesses, and people don't get paid to live. You keep the businesses open and people get sick and die. You lose either way. I'm lucky in that I'm retired, so my 'check' is always on time. when I go out, I wear a mask; it's better than nothing. My daughter in CA is an RN and sent me a picture that I've posted on FB. I don't know if I can get it small enough to post on here, but I'll try. It's a cutaway of a human skull with an intubation tube inserted in your airway; which is more uncomfortable, a tube or a mask?

[Beck]

My son-in-law caught it from his father. Then he passed it to his pregnant wife, my daughter, my wife, and I. The other three went through it without any issues. I tested positive on the 6th. On the 10th I was in the ER, treated and released. On the 12th I was back in the ER and admitted. All the Covid patients there go directly to ICU. I spent 6 days there, so was released on the 18th. I took it easy for a few days, but was back at it pretty quickly. The Drs. said I was not contagious, and had antibodies to not catch it again, at least for 3 months. Before getting it I thought I wouldn't have any issues if I contracted it. Whew, was I wrong. On the other hand, my wife was at risk as a previous chemo patient, but didn't have a rough go of it at all.  My daughter and son-in-law were down on energy for a few days. I'm back to 98% or so. I worked in the garage all day today. The cases are rapidly climbing here.