Nearly a week since this thing in the US about social distancing, and it still could be many more weeks until it’s known if these drastic measures to slow the spread of the Coronavirus is actually helping.
And now this thing is impacting me, food wise; thanks to hoarders feeling this is the end of the world, businesses like Kroger are forced to limit their hours in order to keep the shelves stocked.
Just today, ordering a little something has proven to be challenging. Kroger.com won’t do online ordering ’till Monday. I mean, that’s fine. I don’t mind waiting. Unfortunately this isn’t the only thing I’m having to wait for– my old email address that the website is using to send a special code to place the order (that’s part of my ISP), isn’t working. Try to ask the website to change it to my main email address: “Email Address is unavailable” it tells me. WTF?!
Try to call them, they’re so busy dealing with customer concerns that they won’t even allow me to wait on hold– just tells me to call ‘at a later time’. DAMN these hoarders!!
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So now I’m desperately trying to get ahold of Spectrum (my ISP), because I cannot log into my account as apparently I now require a separate password for it (and I do not know it).
Their online help section ‘works’, just I’ve been waiting for 15 minutes with nothing going on. On hold using my phone now, as this is my only option.
Occasionally there’s a message about “longer than normal wait times due to ‘a glaring internet hopper'” and they recommend calling back “later this week”. Seems to echo what Kroger’s support line is also trying to say.
And that’s now taken care of. As for my email, there’s ongoing maintenance with the servers, and something about it may not be back for two days.
Had to go up to Save-A-Lot today just to buy more milk, which is the first time I left the house since this shelter in place order started. So many signs there about the virus, and they too are out of toilet paper.
Got my milk and stayed far back from the rest as I waited in line (the whole social distancing thing). But when it was my turn to pay, the couple infront of me actually paid for my milk. Wow, that was nice of them! Thanked them a lot, went home and washed the fuck out of my hands.
Glad I didn’t have to use my debit card, as we don’t exactly have anything to wipe down surfaces in the house.
EDIT: Went to Kroger (father took us) and tried to get what I need. They are completely out of tomato soup. And when it comes to the Uncrustables PB&J patties I usually get, out as well. But they did have peanut butter only patties.
Getting shredded cheese was even worse. Completely out of sharp cheddar. Had to get
this ’15 month aged parmesan’. Not sure how well that’s going to taste.
Shockingly, they had plenty of Easter candy. So if I have to survive off of it, at least the calories will keep me alive.
I just pray these two times of having to go out and potentially exposing myself to the
virus, didn’t actually make me sick. I’ll be checking my temperature for the next two weeks as a precaution (three times a day should suffice). I do not think I’ll get it as I wasn’t around anyone who was coughing, but the fact the virus can live on surfaces does kind of concern me. But I took every precaution I could (stayed away from people and tried my best to not touch my face). I used my coat sleeve to itch whenever I needed to.
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It hasn’t been easy for Jero either, his family being forced to stay home with the UK under lockdown.. all because they allowed what the US stopped; flights coming from other countries. A day ago, his brother came home from college as all colleges and universities are closed in order to slow the virus.
Yet despite the lockdown, he has to go out every morning (after I go to bed) to the store in hopes he can find something. He’s also dealing with a major shortage of toilet paper and other essential day to day items. I pray every time I can that he finds what he needs, as he’s got it worse than I do (larger family, and under lockdown).
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This.. this virus, no one has ever seen something like it. But, it’s also bringing the best out of humanity. It’s making us realize when one hurts, we all hurt with them.
This virus has demonstrated that when it comes to a crisis, this isn’t typically an area that desperately needs food, water and medicine (like an earthquake or a weather-related disaster). No.. we are ALL in need of food, water, and medicine. We are all survivors of a pandemic. It’s affecting all of us at the same time.
And it’s showing the power of humanity. We are all in this together, and just like Dr Felci said, we will get over it. All we must do is follow specific guidelines to keep ourselves and everyone away from this evil, invisible enemy that threatens to sicken everyone on the planet;
-Social distancing (6′ apart from eachother).
-Wash your hands for 20 seconds. <- VERY important
-Don’t touch your face with your hands, use your elbow or arm instead.
-Avoid handshaking. Do an elbow bump instead.
-Stay home when sick.
-If you need to cough, cough into your arm to keep the virus from going into the air.
-Only leave the house unless it’s essential (grocery shopping), otherwise stay at home and use carryout or delivery.
-Cancel any doctor/dentist/etc appointments to free up equipment that can be used to combat the virus.
-When it comes to grocery shopping, buy only what you and your family need to survive.
-Disinfect surfaces that are touched a lot, has been proven to limit spread of the virus.