Life and times today

[Alpenfreight]

I live in Boston, MA. We had one of the original outbreaks right at the start of March due to some conference being held here that had international visitors. I started working from home full time on March 12th, no sign of getting laid off or reduced hours yet, but much of my business's clientele are facing these decisions so I think its only a matter of time.

Living close to downtown it has gotten extremely quiet. We have a large number of cases so its safe to assume you could get sick just about anywhere. I am grateful that I am fairly young (30) and decent health overall, but you can't be too safe. I mostly worry for my parents, relatives and friends. With the amount of sick they are projecting, it is impossible to think I wont be personally affected in any way.

I hope everyone stays safe out there. I think April is going to be a really rough month, but hopefully coming out the other side we have a better picture on what we are doing next.

[latimers]

I live in New Zealand. We are currently in our second week of "lockdown" that will last at least four weeks. Only essential services personnel are working. We have to stay home but can go out for food shopping, petrol (gas to you), drugs and doctor's visits. If we go out for exercise we have to stay in our local area - no driving to the beach. "Social distancing" is mandatory.

Only supermarkets, petrol stations and health-care-related offices are allowed to be open. All restaurants are closed (no takeaways), as are the liquor stores.

We are retired, so staying home isn't such a a big deal. As many people as can are working from home. The Government is providing a special wage subsidy for people who can't work.

The vast majority of our COVID-19 cases (about 800 currently) can be traced to visitors from overseas or to Kiwis returning from overseas. We closed our borders to all but NZ residents and citizens a couple of weeks ago.

Stay safe everybody.

[buzz456]

Our restaurants are allowed takeout but no dining in. Sales of alcohol is allowed at package stores but all bars are closed here. Sale of alcohol is considered a essential business probably for the benefit of parents with children at home. Construction is allowed mostly outside so I guess they think the Sun will keep the virus at bay. We are the same with grocery shopping allowed as well as visits to the pharmacy. My bride was scheduled to have cataracts removed but was cancelled due to some shortages of gloves and masks. Now that the pipeline is starting to fill up it will be interesting to see if they get going again shortly. Walking the dog is keeping us from going too buggy. We all say hi to each other in the neighborhood as we keep our distance. The most of us who don't get this will probably be healthier in the long run as exercise seems to be the new norm.

[Chacal]

Pretty much the same as everyone else. I'm lucky to be working from home, also keeping an eye on The Monster, while my wife is working in retail.

Sale of alcohol is considered a essential business probably for the benefit of parents with children at home.

Spot on. Trust me on this.

[cnwfan]

Sale of alcohol is considered a essential business probably for the benefit of parents with children at home.

Oh yes!! And how I can attest to that one. It was announced this afternoon that our school outage was extended to the first week of May. No real surprise there. But our district superintendent said that the school year would not be extended, and that outside classroom work was voluntary. OK for K thru 2 grades maybe and high school seniors suffering from senioritis, but seems like we're short changing the other kids. Businesses already closed and gatherings over 10 humanoids banned through the end of the month now. But, no shelter in place edict by the supreme high command yet. Only the large population centers (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Davenport) have the large number of cases. Surrounding counties have medium double digit cases, with the outlying rural counties having single digit cases to no cases.

My son, who is graduating this month from University of Wisconsin Online... formally known as University of Wisconsin Platteville found out his full time job that he had lined up after school finished is on hold indefinitely. At least he is still getting part time hours, as he works as a drive thru teller at the local credit union.

But on the bright side, neighbors are checking on neighbors... especially if they are in the high risk group. We are all trying to help each other out when we can while maintaining social distancing. It's amazing how little things, like bringing up a trash can from the street, or offering to run to the store for someone makes a difference. But as Iowans, that is how we roll here. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

[ForceGhost]

Aaaaaaaaand here comes the boom. Mandatory shelter in place for all of Georgia for the next 10 days, schools cancelled for the rest of the year. It will probably be sparsely enforced, but violation of the governor's order can result in a $1000 fine and a year in jail.

[Chacal]

Trev, let's stay on topic.
This information, and a lot more, is available in public media already.

[philmoberg]

Sunday afternoon in north-central Connecticut, and local access station is playing the greatest hits from my junior year in high school - give or take a year or so. The public TV station is playing Fail Safe. the professional talkers are haranguing the cameras, hoping somebody is still listening. We were finxin' to cut cable anyway ...

Our Town Manager continues to run the Town's EOP quite professionally. I'll be sending him a letter, as I do for any public servant demonstrating excellence.

Our Governor has ordered one-way aisles in grocery stores ... a week and a half after one of the regional chains took the lead and did it without being told. The Governor has also ordered the the floors be striped at six-fool intervals ... evidently it's more visible than telling adults to keep twice arm's length from each other (just don't shake on it) ... Beware of the pool. Blue, bottomless pool ... (Yeah, it had a really good bass line. All their stuff did.)

The magnolia is just about peak. The cat is looney from the first whiffs of outside air. We're healthy, as one would expect of pretty much anybody behaving prudently. There's much to be thankful for, and we are.

[buzz456]

One way Aisles? That would drive my lady love bats but is a really good idea I never would have thought of...............Maybe we could and should make that something permanent Those homicidal ladies in the grocery store have always scared the bejeezes out of me. I always fail at the game of 'chicken' with them.

[philmoberg]

One way Aisles? ... Maybe we could and should make that something permanent ...

I expect it will be, but not for the obvious reasons. Maybe a decade and a half ago, the local big-chain grocery expanded their building into a facility that was really too big. Year before last they compounded the mistake by squeezing 20% more aisles into the building, with the result that it's physically impossible for two people to pass. They'll be looking for an angle to attract customers back, once the virus numbers are past peak, but they don't have many options. This would be a cheap and effective one.

[artimrj]

My boss told me we will be off again next week. Sorta off. He only wants 1 of us at the shop at a time and is paying us cash for coming in and we are still getting a 40 hour week pay checks. I turn my computer on and TV to MSNBC and end up just watching the virus news all day and night. I keep trying to play with my Trainz but have not done it yet. I just check my email and validate newbies on the site several times a day. Can't wait to get back to work full time. I am losing a lot of overtime, the cash days make up for it to a point. Monday I worked 7.5 hours cutting stencil for 1 of the guys who does our cemetery lettering, got 150.00 for that day. Tomorrow I am going in to cut stencil for the other guy. I assume it will only be a 4 hour deal.

My 7 cats are driving me crazy, they are not used to having me there all day every day almost. One jumps on my lap and I pet her for 20 minutes and she leaves and another comes along an does that same thing. Wouldn't be so bad if they did not keep kneeding my legs and feet. They all have sharp claws.

I hope all of you are having no problems with the virus. I am still good. I am fine.

I found some N95 masks at work but have not had to use one yet. Pennsylvania is getting more and more of virus cases and a few more deaths but they are not in my area.

I had to drop my car off for a check up and today was the most traffic I have seen since this all happened. I got to the Chevy dealer in less than 5 minutes, it usually takes me 15 to 20 minutes to get through town. Red lights on each corner and lots of old people here who drive insanely slow.

Be safe. That's an order ;) I don't want to lose any of you guys cause your the best.

[Chacal]

Herding cats

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Be glad when you live rural.

Cramped city living can turn into a death trap.

But too remote living can be too.

[trev123]

New Zealand on CNN. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuLWQK7 ... pp=desktop

[buzz456]

Happy Easter to all you Christian folk and a little belated Passover to all you Jewish folk. This is going to be more than a little bit odd this year but we will stick together while we are apart and get through this. Through the miracle of modern communication even when separated from our loved ones and neighbors we can still be together in communication and spirit.