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| Empty Store Shelves - Toilet Paper/Paper Towels Aisle |
Yesterday, one of my friends asked me if I could pick up a package of toilet paper for her when I went shopping next.
Today, I decided to go to a large warehouse type store (not Costco, as I no longer have a membership there) to buy a couple of bags of cat food for the garden cats and thought I'll pick up some toilet paper for my friend. This is what I found in the aisle where they normally stack their toilet paper and paper towels! Empty shelves, with just a couple of packages of paper towels, left!
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| Bottled Water Aisle |
I couldn't believe it!
I bought two bags of cat food (@ $9.99), a jar of Miracle Whip (I had come to the end of my jar and I have been wanting some egg salad), and a multi-pack of my usual bar soap. As I stood in the check out line, a lady asked me where I found the bar soap and I said, "Aisle 7". She came back and told me that there was no more of that brand of soap left on the shelf! Surely I hadn't taken the last packet of soap that they had? But, apparently, I had!
Afterwards, I stopped by a grocery store, where they had both toilet paper and bottled water, and bought the toilet paper my friend had wanted. I also bought a jar of prepared mustard (store brand stone ground mustard; $1.99), because I had come to the end of my jar of prepared mustard, a box of pancake mix ($1.99), a container of pancake syrup ($1.99), a pack of four cans of organic no-salt tomatoes ($2.99 as it was being discontinued), and a 68 load container of laundry detergent ($15.49). The canned tomatoes and the laundry detergent are stock up items.
I checked if the grocery store had any hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes, but they were out of stock. I don't have any hand sanitizer right now (I gave the last small container of it that I had to my daughter when she visited), but, I do have isopropyl alcohol (70%) and aloe gel, if I want to make some. As for disinfectant wipes, I have some for now and, if I need more, I can make them with a bleach solution and paper towels or old wash cloths.
Yes, I am preparing for more than an earthquake. I am preparing for another type of emergency, due to the corona virus.
I don't think I am being paranoid about it, and I do know that other illnesses, including the seasonal flu, have killed more people, world-wide, but, I am concerned. I do belong to that group of people who are more vulnerable to the virus (older, with pre-existing health conditions) that put me at a higher risk of not recovering from it if I should get the virus. I know I will not live forever, but, I would like to live a little longer if at all possible. As such, I try to be cautious and prepared in case my city becomes a containment zone and I have to stay home for two weeks or even a month.
My daughter's office received official notice, today, from the university they are affiliated with, to work from home until mid-April. Regular staff, such as she, have to be out of the office by Friday; more senior staff/supervisors have to be out of the office by the following Friday. As far as my daughter knows, this is a preventive measure being taken to minimize the exposure of staff to the virus and the spread of the virus. I am very grateful that my daughter is able to work from home. She is, too, although, she will miss the in-person interactions with her colleagues and being in her small studio apartment all day.
The shopping took up most of the afternoon. I had a late lunch of leftover rice and shrimp stir-fry when I came home (breakfast had been a cup of tea and a fresh orange). Then, I watched news, chatted on the phone with my daughter about this new situation at her work place, spoke with friend R, and practiced the piano. Later, I video chatted with my daughter. I am afraid I didn't do any housework, today. I will do that, tomorrow.
Today, I am grateful for:
- What I have already stocked up as part of my regular pantry/emergency preparedness
- Being able to stock up a bit more, today
- Being able to help out a friend
- My daughter will be able to work from home for the next several weeks
- A sunny day to help dry out from the rain
Today's joyful activity was crocheting (started a new project!)
Thursday's To Do List:
- Vacuum
- Vacuum
- Clean the kitchen
- Load of laundry
- Tax paperwork
How was your Wednesday? Are you stocked up and prepared for an emergency? Do you have enough food and household products to stay at home without going out to shop for groceries, etc., for two weeks, if required to do so? For three to four weeks, if necessary?
- Tax paperwork
How was your Wednesday? Are you stocked up and prepared for an emergency? Do you have enough food and household products to stay at home without going out to shop for groceries, etc., for two weeks, if required to do so? For three to four weeks, if necessary?
I think it is a good idea to be careful every flu season, and of course it is sensible to heed what our experts tell us about this new flu. The stores are just overrun right now. As long as the merchandise doesn't come from China, I'm sure they will re-stock eventually. Andrea
ReplyDeleteYes; I do what I can to be careful during flu season (get a flu vaccine, for example). Even so, I've had pneumonia at least twice as a result of the common flu. I do try to keep a stock of food, water, and other supplies (like toilet paper) on hand at all times, as part of my regular earthquake preparedness. But, there are a few gaps in my inventory and I would rather stock up now, while I can do so safely, than later, when my risk of exposure to the virus might be higher. Maybe, too, it is a coping mechanism: "Hope for the best, but, prepare for the worst". :)
DeleteI’m glad you have stocked up, Bless. Being prepared is the best thing we can do now.
ReplyDeleteIt really irritates me when I see how some people completely ignore this as just another flu, and put not only themselves, but others at risk.
We are anticipating a college closure. Universities are already closed, but the college system is not yet.
Thank you, Nil. Yes, it is best to prepare ahead of time, while we can. My main concern is to have enough on hand to enable me to manage for 2-4 weeks if I am unable to go to a grocery store for whatever reason.
DeleteThat's what I've told my daughter to do, too. She lives in an apartment building, sharing corridors and elevators with the other tenants. If anyone in her building gets the virus, she, too, might need to stay in her apartment for the duration. Food deliveries won't be an option if delivery people aren't allowed into the building and she isn't able to go down to the main entrance to collect the items being delivered.
Maybe the college will announce an extended spring break. Stay safe and healthy, Nil. Take care of yourself.
Hi Bless, I do. I think so. I just did a big shop at Costco and bought several staples in bulk. I am glad that you are prepared.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephenie. I'm glad that you stocked up, too. It might not be needed for this particular purpose, but, it won't go to waste, either, as, I'm sure, you'll use it up, eventually. :)
DeleteThe UK Government has just announced their crisis management for the next stage. It's scary, and although I don't personally fall into the vulnerable category, all of my siblings do. I've only just done my monthly shop but am planning to bring the next one forward so I don't have to worry and can stay indoors if necessary.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary, but, making some preparations, now, is helpful, I think. I'm glad you are stocked up for now and have plans to restock sooner than later. It might not come to that, but, it is good to know we are able to manage for several weeks if we need to stay home for that long, isn't it?
DeleteIt is always wise to be prepared for a possible emergency. If indeed you might need these supplies in the future, they may not be available. I knew today that hand sanitizer, Tylenol and isopropyl alcohol might be difficult to find (according to some reports), so before I went out to look for these supplies, I took an inventory of what I had already. I was able to find 5 small containers of sanitizer, a full bottle of alcohol and peroxide, and lots of vinegar. I was a little bit better off than I thought, though I still have quite a list of needed items I'd like to pick up.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Susan. We should always be prepared with a stock of needed pantry and household items. I have tried to be prepared with food and water, etc., in case of an earthquake. I have a first aid kit and try to keep enough toilet paper, etc. to last me beyond the 3-days minimum. But, there are always some gaps as stocks do get used up.
DeleteI'm glad you had enough of disinfecting supplies on hand to manage with for the time being. I hope you were able to find the items you needed to pick up.
I'm not ignoring it but I do think that - for most people - it has been blown out of proportion. People really need to think about what they do have in their homes for ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY. We keep extra food and other things on hand. I went to buy toilet paper for our weekly stock and was amazed to see the shelves completely empty. As for general handwashing, sneezing or coughing into your sleeve and staying away from people when you're sick it's just common courtesy and things that should be done everyday. IMO if the US government was really serious about helping people they would make sure that people who were sick or showing any symptoms could stay home without penalty of loss of pay and without the fear of losing their job. There are lots of people who don't have any sick time at all, can't afford to stay home and go to work sick all the time.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you, Sharon, that we should be prepared for any emergency, but, we don't always do that. Some of us think we have enough on hand for a week or so and we can always go to the store when we need more. Some of us can't afford to stock up because we don't have the extra funds needed to buy more than the bare minimum. Or, because we are limited by the amount of items we can carry home by bus.
DeleteAs for staying home when we are sick - that's the first thing I wondered about when the advice was to stay home if we have a cold, etc. What about the people who don't have paid sick leave or, even, unpaid time off? How could they afford to stay home and still pay their bills and buy their groceries? That is why so many go to work even if they are sick! They can't afford the luxury of staying home! And now, with so many businesses being impacted by this particular illness, more people will be out of a job, I'm sure.
A couple of weeks ago, all of the press on the virus got me to update our emergency supplies. We were about three years behind on that. They're in good shape now although you can never be prepared for every possible contingency at the same time. Separate from that, we have gotten a little extra food in the house in case we become housebound.
ReplyDeleteContinue to take of yourself and not expose yourself to any undue risks.
It's good that you were able to update your emergency supplies, Live and Learn. You are right, we can't be prepared for every possible emergency. I am mostly prepared for earthquakes because that is what I tend to experience the most in my part of the world. I'm glad you are stocked up with extra food, just in case you have to stay home. Thank you, I am taking care; hope you are, too. :)
DeleteNo, we do not. We just don’t do that kind of thing. All the kids are off of school next week, too. They just had spring break! I do have a 32 pack of bottles of water that is down to about 26, but that’s about it.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you have some water! 1 gallon of water per day per person for a minimum of three days is the quantity of water we are told to have on hand in case of earthquakes, as a major earthquake can cause damage to water mains and disrupt water services. Plus more if there are pets. That's just for drinking and cooking purposes. :)
DeleteI'm glad your daughter can work from home. I'm sure it eases your mind to know that she is not traveling and mixing with a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't been further than the mailbox for 3 days so I got some groceries yesterday including toilet paper because I didn't have a lot left. There wasn't much on the shelf and when I popped into the store this morning for a couple of things I had forgotten, there were only about 3 packages and the shelves were empty. The store was full of people with carts piled high!
It is hard not to think about coronavirus when it is all we ever hear about on the radio, so it was rather nice yesterday evening to go to a local, homegrown written and performed musical and forget it all for a while (yet still wondering if we should have stayed home away from people). Next week just about everything involving people gathering will be shut down.
I can see that we will just not be going out and about much for who knows how long, and it will seem strange. No excuse for not getting things done in the home!
Thank you, Bushlady. Yes, I am very relieved that she is able to work from home.
DeleteI'm glad you were able to stock up. Just in case you need to stay home. I think we will all be staying home for the immediate future. My piano lessons were cancelled, this weekend's monthly prayer gathering was postponed, the retirement workshop scheduled for next week has been cancelled, too, and, I think I will be calling and rescheduling my eye doctor's appointment that is scheduled for later this month. Well, I did this when I was having chemo; staying home and going only to the clinic for treatments.
Ha, ha, we will all have well kept homes and lots of crafts completed when this is all over, won't we? Well, at least, hopefully!
I am a relatively cautious person by nature so, yes, I have prepared a little more than typical for the corona virus. Nothing outrageous but where I might typically have one of something as a back up I increased that to 2. That sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteI have given thought to the foods we eat and considered not being able to go out and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables so I bought some canned fruit and frozen vegetables.
I also bought some shelf stable milk which I typically don't have on hand.
Things like that.
I read about this virus on a forum that I regularly visit. Many of the posters lean towards being engineer/scientist types. They had a thread about it back in January that caught my eye and alarmed me so I began then to slowly increase my normal levels of things that I had on hand.
I checked yesterday to see when that was and it was January 13th when they began talking about it. Reading that thread led me immediately to read the China based reporters for the NYT's and the Wall Street Journal.
Its all they were writing about.
Take Care
Debra
You were very wise to stock up when and how you did, Debra. I was pretty well stocked up, but, then, I realized that I had some gaps that I needed to fill up. I've been trying to do that, but, I think I am running out of time because every time I go to the stores, I am increasing my risk of exposure to the virus.
DeleteOh my, I hear much the same type stories around here. I usually do a quarterly stock up run on toilet paper, detergent, etc., so I had done one shortly after Christmas. I think I am still good for a couple of more weeks, but then it could get interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I just don't get is why stock up on bottled water. There is no known threat to the water supply, is there?
No, there isn't a threat to the water supply due to the virus. But, apparently, everyone feels the need to have a stock of bottled water! However, here, in California, we are expected to keep a supply of bottled water at all times, in case there is a major earthquake and the water mains break and there is a disruption in the ability to have running water.
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