A bit of a PTSD in a grociery store

I've been working on my bread making skill, lack thereof. I really am having a good time doing it. Amazing what you can do with flour, leavening and eggs.

I've been vegetable self-sufficient for a long time with our planting beds out back.

Garlic and onions are something that can be stored well for a long time, so I've bought a lot of those. Funny there seemed to be plenty at the store.

My friend Mark's wife has four chickens and two ducks so eggs are always available.

We sadly had to cancel a bunch of social events this week, and church is closed.

But there's a lot of live-stream Mass broadcasts.

So far, my supermarket has plenty of everything (except TP). My real concern is for the people that work in the hospitality industry (resturants, nail salons, hair stylists, etc). Most of these people are paid hourly and are now out of work. The casinos and resturants in Las Vegas are shut down. That could put 160,000 people out of work. How tragic.

Ya this definatly out of control at this point. Not with the virus but people freaking out.

I work in I.T. and I am able to work from home. No problems here in Denver area with my grocery store they have plenty of TP, The bottles of water supply was a bit low. Maybe they are stocking there shelves quickly.

Also they have just shut down all the resturants in Denver to take out or delivery only. No problem I prefer to order delivery anyways.

goldhammer

The zombies are now home, surrounded by all the TP .

 

I went to my supermarket today and they are starting to restock. Milk, cheese and pasta has been restocked. Still very little yogurt, cleaning goods, eggs, flour, bread and rice.

Well I put my house on voluntary lock down on Sunday.  Did my normal thing Saturday by going to the museum.  At that point there hadn't been any cases near the museum or where I live.  By Sunday morning there was one in Buffalo, which is 20 minutes or so south of me.  So I called it at that point.  That afternoon they closed all of Niagara county schools even though we didn't get our first case of it until today.  One case in my city so far, and I expect that to go up.  We were already pretty stocked up on food.  Habit of mine to go large grocerie orders so I don't have to go shopping for a few weeks.  I hate shopping.  So I haven't seen first hand how bad the stores are.  I've heard though, and I'm sure it is only going to get worse now that there is a case of the virus in the city.  So I'll be in my corner working on the current build until further notice. 

It's getting pretty serious around the Madness household. My wife has banned me from the spicy foods I love in an effort to conserve precious resources!   

The crazy things that people do when things go bad.  We all know that toilet paper usage will NOT go up, since it symptoms include a dry cough, not diarrhea.  Supply chains have not yet been disrupted, and the paper mills have not shut down.  Besides, if worse comes to worse, tell the kids to stand outside and daddy will get the hose.  And speaking of the hose, unless there is a zombie attack on municipal water systems, the tap will keep running.  No need to buy cases upon cases of bottled water - unless your area has tap water that smells like it came from an old tire left out in the sun.  

Being on an island dependent on shipping for pretty much everything, I can't wait for someone to start up gasoline hoarding.  Meanwhile global oil prices drop due to the ongoing price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Yup, stay at home, wash yer hands, keep your families safe, and build something.

I sure hope that those with concealed carry permits will not begin to use them in a fit of rage or supply depravation. Once that starts I can see a state of Marshall Law brought down on us and a confiscation of all firearms. On the other hand, those carrying can be our first line of defense for the martians and zombies... or food and TP hoarders.   

I can see a new interest in board games, playing cards, game systems, music, etc. I just hope it doesn't cause fights over the last monolpy game or Barry Manallo CD in the stores.   

I can also see several months of intense "Grand Theft Auto" (game) developing more fine young future criminals. Then there will be the massive increase of internet activity that will saturate and limit band widths in numerous areas. Then the internet suppliers will jack up their subscription services based on the demand to their network. 

And what about the gas wars dropping the price of crude because of the price battle between Russia and Sudi. This quarintine and travel ban will have to have an impact on thier market too. So will this be the right time for contries to stockpile thier crude oil?   

Speaking of wars, this corona-virus sure has put all of the war stories over the world on the second page. I know that many militaries have been placed in quarintine with no off base exploits (other than off post housing).   

Just in case you have not noticed, the worldwide stock markets have had huge losses as the collapse of one has a domino effect on the others. Most likely from those same TP hoarders pulling all their stock in a knee jerk reaction.  
Now is a time for savy investors to buy stock in Amazon, Google, drug - paper - beverage companies, cruise ship stock. Remember buy low and sell high.   

I've even read that some "expert" scientists recommend we stay in this level of imposed quarintine for up to 18 months. I definately have enough models for the duration but the paints might be a problem. And then theres still this TP, food, and beverage thing going on too.   

I went to several local stores just yesterday. Shelves for paper, beverage, cleaning supplies, and frozen sections were completely bare and the customers extremely rude pushing people out of the way to get the last item of anything. It looked like an apocalyptic or second coming event. Next we will most likely hear of buyers getting mugged in the parking lots for food, medicine, TP, etc.   

And what about those conspiracy theorists who will surface telling us that the whole corona-virus thing was man made like the H1N1, Ebola, aids, and such. They will tell us that it is being imposed on us by the world wide circle of power to thin the heards and make big money for certian markets. You know there are these stupid people out there just waiting for the right opportunity to stir the pot.   

Yes, this response is intended to poke fun at a select few, (humor) me included. Be safe and make smart decisions everyone. I do not want to hear of any of us sprue geeks getting caught up in any of this.   

Take good care,

Ben

Stik, you're giving me an urge to go downt to my local grocery store, pull my shirt up over my head, and run around with my hands in the air yelling "I AM CORNHOLIO!!!!  I NEED TP FOR MY BUNHOLE!!!!!!!!!!!  Bungholio! .........................................................ARE YOU THREATENING ME?"

I wonder how many people would get it.  Or if I'd just get arrested.

Ever seen "On The Beach"?

Bigger picture; I was out today and a lot of us have started smiling at each other more.

goldhammer

The zombies are now home, surrounded by all the TP .

 

The next global event will be the "zombie" pandemic... pretty cool living on a island, zombies cant swim so I hear.

The zombies are now home, surrounded by all the TP .

Bish

 

 

damouav

I'm embarrassed to call myself Australian after these stupid women go full blown bogan.

Ridiculous is correct.

 

 

 

 

Don't worry mate, like the virus, stupidity does not respect borders. We have them here as well.

 

Hey Bish,

I hope you've been well, its been a while. I know stupid is global, but if people were just less self absorbed. Still cant buy any TP at any of the 4 local supermarkets... Most of the shelves have been cleanned out of shelf stable goods too.

All the best

Damian

I heard of a fight between two guys in a store and they used wine bottles as weapons, sending one to the hospital.  Later they said it was over some bottled water.  They ever hear of water faucets?  I heard the other day that one possibility for the demand on TP was to make home made masks.  Who knows.  Get a grip people.  Can you imagine what it would be like with a real serious emergency in effect?

I'm going to the store tomorrow during lunch to pick up a few things and some cat food.  I'm not looking forward to it but oh well, it I have to, I will.

My parents grew up during the depression and they always kept a supply of food, store bought as well as self preserved, in the cellar just in case.  During the war we had the supply lines to our base stopped and what little was in the BX went quickly, even the dining halls were forced to revert to C-rations, that's appetizing, for meals and then only so much per person.  

In Okinawa sometimes commissary shelves could be missing certain items and in its place would be a sign saying that that particular item might not be available for about 3-4 months more or less.  These aren't things I care to repeat and I know it wasn't as bad as some people had it, but there still is no reason for the things people are doing.  

I still haven't seen and signs of zombies or Martian invaders yet.

stikpusher

It's not Beavis, he's Cornholio!

 

Lord, I had forgotten all about that one...

 

"Do you have TP?"

modelcrazy

And the supply chain isn't even interupted one bit.

 

And this is the essence of this unnecessary panic and hysteria.

And the supply chain isn't even interupted one bit.

It's not Beavis, he's Cornholio!

Lord, I had forgotten all about that one...

Greg

 

 

fox

PS - Didn't know that the need for TP was one of the side effects of this virus.

 

 

To me, that is the great mystery of this thing, Jim.

 

Yeah. I want to know!  I went to the store today and the entire row of shelving was completely bare. And that was a long row! What is with hoarding TP. I mean seriously, WTH.

Beavis has to be freaking out over this.

My buddy had his brew pub closed. Had to bottle all the kegs. I'll be in beer for awhile.

The good news is:

No groceries on the shelf means in a few days, you won't need the short soft paper rolls.

At least spam will keep for a long time.

I guess ration cards are in our future as we head into the Toilet Paper Wars.

Pretty soon we'll have convoys to protect paper products being shipped to our allies overseas.

The EU will invade Russia for it's vast tracts of forest.

Lumberjacks will be in short supply.  "The Few".

Paper Mills will be placed on 24 hour shifts.

Looks like dark days ahead.

PS> I have library books of over 600 pages if anyone is interested. 

PatW

Same here in the UK. We went into our local supermarket on Saturday morning around 8.15am and most of the shelves were bare!

Here in Australia, the major supermarket chains have just announced  that they will restrict the first hour of trading (7:00AM - 8:00AM) to seniors/pensioners only, to allow them a chance at getting what they need. Don't know how well that's going to work because many of the shelves have been bare for at least two weeks already. Even basics like salt, pepper, flour.

We've had queues in-store where staff are handing out one packet of toilet paper per customer. You get no choice, only what you're given and that's it.

People are even buying up Spam... 

Greg

 

 

fox

PS - Didn't know that the need for TP was one of the side effects of this virus.

 

 

To me, that is the great mystery of this thing, Jim.

 

People are afraid of being locked down for a couple of week with nothing but dry corncobs.

Same here in the UK. We went into our local supermarket on Saturday morning around 8.15am and most of the shelves were bare!

They had not had time (if they had any in the warehouse) to re-stock the shelves.

One or to of the staff that we know well told us of the mad dash at 8am on the Friday morning to buy as much of anything as possible! 10 of this a dozen of that, multiple trolley loads etc. SELFISH!

As we are 70+ we have been told by the government that we will have to self isolate for up to FOUR MONTHS not weeks!

Who is going shopping for our normal weekly needs? Where we live in a close of seven houses, five of them are 70+ years old, the other two go out to full time work!

To avoid going to the supermarket the numbers of households that order online and have delivered has risen by 100%! You can't order today to get a delivery tomorrow but in 3-4 days time! 

One guy was seen in a discount store buying only kitchen towels and tiolet rolls all large Costco size packs of a dozen each! No food just them. An elderly lady saw him as he cleared the shelves and asked him for one pack of tiolet rolls, and he said NO they are all mine!

Our eldest son lives in Calgary Canada, and he says they have had buying restrictions for a few weeks now. This should be everywhere.

Us being the over 70's won't die of the virus but starvation! 

fox

PS - Didn't know that the need for TP was one of the side effects of this virus.

To me, that is the great mystery of this thing, Jim.

Same here. The wife just came back from trying to pick up a few things. Said paper products are non-existent in any of the stores she went to. Good thing we don't need any. Meat products almost out. One thing I find hard to believe is that she said there was NO yogurt of any kind at Wally World. I thought that they had an unlimited supply of all types and brands.

Jim