Still More Rain on Saturday and Stocking Up

It was another rainy day!  Not a heavy rain, just drizzle, but, precipitation, nevertheless! 

Last night, just before I went to sleep, I wrote out yet another shopping list!  Yesterday, when I checked on my prescription medication supplies, I realized that I was running low on the calcium and magnesium supplements that I take under doctor's orders.  I had also read an article that advised having a few meal-replacement drinks on hand if one should get sick and don't feel like eating.  I took them when I was undergoing chemo and after that, I didn't buy anymore.  Then, I thought up a few other items to add to the shopping list (to take advantage of weekly sales): cooking oil at $1.99/bottle (I am on my last bottle of oil, right now), fresh mangoes at 3/$.99, etc. 

This morning, I slept in, then, debated going grocery shopping because of the rain.  Friend M called by to give me more succulents cuttings from his garden, I checked the mail, checked on the garden and picked up an orange that had fallen from the tree, chatted on the phone with daughter, etc., and, around 4:00 p.m. decided to at least go to the pharmacy to pick up the supplements and the meal-replacement drinks.  I used a $5 Extra Care Bucks coupon I had and another $6 off coupon for the supplements. 

Then, I decided to go to the grocery store - a Kroger-affiliate store called Food 4 Less.  Well, when I got there, at 4:30 p.m., the store was closed for restocking, according to the store worker who stood outside the closed doors.  They were not going to reopen until 6:30 p.m. and people were standing in line to get in when they opened.  I decided I didn't want to stand in line for two hours. 

So, I went to the Armenian store for some fresh produce and the frozen puff pastry squares they had on sale for $1.99, this week.  I had been there on Tuesday, to take advantage of the one day sale on rice and I bought a few other groceries, too.  On Tuesday, the shelves were well stocked.  Today, when I went there, I was shocked to see aisle after aisle of empty shelves!  No pasta, dried beans, or lentils.  Hardly any bags of rice!  No flour.  No eggs or milk.  No bread.  No canned beans. No white vinegar.  No potatoes.  No ramen-type soup noodles.  Nothing in the bulk bins!  (Usually full of rice, semolina, dried beans, etc.)  I spoke with one of the workers and he said he's never seen anything like it! 

I liked how they handled the check out lines.  Usually, each cash register has a line, and it can be a bit chaotic with shopping carts blocking the way, etc., but, today, they had the customers form one single line (which wound around the inside of the store!) and called out whenever a register became available.  The line moved fairly quickly and everyone was rather civilized about it. 

I bought:

4 packets frozen puff pastry (@ $1.99/8 squares) =  $7.96
4 apples (@ $.49/lb) = $.74
4 bananas (@ $.59/lb) = $.81
1x 6oz container of blackberries = $.99
green beans (@ $1.29/lb) = $1.42
broccoli (@ $.49/lb) = $.30
small cucumbers ($.99/lb) = $.90
tomatoes ($.89/lb) = $2.72
onions (@ $.20/lb) = $.81
a small piece of fresh ginger (@ $2.29/lb) = $.32
1 bag golden raisins (@ $2.69/lb.) = $3.34

My total came to $20.31

After that, I filled the car with gas ($3.19/gal).  I was just above half tank level, but, I thought it was best to fill it up now while I could still be out and about. 

Then, I came home and had a cup of tea.

My daughter, too, went to the dollar store across the street from her apartment and stocked up on a few fresh produce and some coffee.

My daughter said that, today, the number of Covid-19 cases in Berkeley increased from two to three.  She also said that the management of her apartment complex had put up a notice to the tenants, outlining the precautions they are taking, such as regularly cleaning the elevator buttons, etc., that the office is still open, but, there might be a delay in attending to maintenance requests during this period.  But, more worryingly, the notice had said that the management won't know if a tenant is exposed to the virus or if such a tenant is or is not in self isolation and, even if they did inform the management, the management isn't allowed to give out that information for privacy reasons, unless required to do so by the public health department.  The fact that the management put out that notice on the same day that the number of confirmed cases in Berkeley increased has made my daughter wonder if there is a connection!  We won't know, of course.  But, maybe it was just a coincidence and the management was just trying to reassure the tenants that they are taking as many precautions as they possibly can.  At least, that is what we are hoping!

I spent a quiet evening after I came home from grocery shopping.  I did text cousin N to check on her and to ask if there was anything she wanted me to pick up for her.  She texted back, thanking me and saying she is OK and has what she needs.  Aunt T called, too, and I chatted with her for a bit.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Courteous cashiers at the pharmacy and stores (I am sure it is not easy for them)
- M bringing me more succulent cuttings for the garden
- The rain
- My daughter and I being able to stock up
- A working heater

Today's joyful activity was chatting with my daughter.

Plans for tomorrow include doing some laundry and a bit of general housekeeping. 

How was your Saturday?  Have you been able to stock up in anticipation of having to stay home for a couple of weeks if needed?  What are your plans for Sunday?