The Great Virus/Toilet Paper Stampede & Attack

[fish]

Daughter and I arrived to join the "Star Wars XVIII"- premier-like queue at our large local grocers today.
Up early, I geared up with armored jacket, boots, gloves, etc.
Daughter refused to wear my helmet ("No, my hair...!" she said)
Store opened at 7AM. We're in line at 6:45 behind @ 50, of the 150 competitors, in the dark.
I went for bread and cream cheese....daughter fell into 2nd line at rear of store queueing to one spot for "T-paper, Kleenex, hamburger, chicken and paper towels."

She scored a 30 pack, I my cheese, newspaper and bread.
She waited for me on the dark sidewalk in front of the store entrance with her giant pack of T-paper - this is where it gets scary.....
She was approached in such a way by 3 or 4 late comers - that a watching store security officer took her by the arm and advised her to wait inside, "for your safety" !
My daughter said, she was "ready for 'em!". Her prize was as a gift for her brother's family.

Lady in line in front of us said, "It's only going to get worse."

God bless the grocery stores for trying to keep ahead of the ad-libbing coming out of the White House.
Fish

[Gil]

You are a brave man and woMan team Fish. No wonder people are buying guns. Crazy.

[Old Grinner]

Quite an adventure for what was once a simple 10 minute errand eh? Wow!

Thanks for the "heads up" . . ..

I'll have to make sure the next time I go for groceries I get there in the "Nick of Time".

[Ganglylamb]

My wife went out for groceries last week; she came back with some food but also: 4 cases of red wine, 2 cases of white wine, 3 bottles of gin accompanied with loads of tonic and also 3 bottles of champagne. My reaction: "this is not food", she said: "If we're going out, we're going out with a bang!".

Love this woman!

[Mel46]

Went to the store today...once more hoping to find little leftovers like a can of cut green beans. Scored a 4 pack just as it was put on the shelf. Found a loaf of bread that somehow made it's way to the very back of the shelf. We bought soup yesterday. Now we can have soup and grilled cheese sandwiches! Yesterday it would have been soup and cheese. Not as much fun.

[fish]

Was at Walmart at 6:00 AM opening today.
Krogers set up a distribution point in the store, manned by polite employees.
Walmart drops a skid of stuff on the floor - and then runs away. Really classy.

I phoned the Walmart office and suggested the managers go watch how Krogers in handling things.

Some levity helps. Lady waiting in front of me asked, "What are you here for?"
"Spray cheese and night-crawlers."

"That's not funny!"

Yes it is....
Fish

[Mel46]

So far we are still a little bit ahead of the communist countries when it comes to stocked grocery shelves...but we're getting there. It was a great effort folks, but we still have a little ways to go to empty those shelves! Let's get busy, people. There must be a need for these still-stocked items, like really, really big bags of kitty litter! Come on, think! There must be a use for the useless. Ask that old lady on the corner with 40 cats if she can use it. Then back your pickup to the door and empty that shelf!

[you you]

So far we are still a little bit ahead of the communist countries when it comes to stocked grocery shelves...but we're getting there. It was a great effort folks, but we still have a little ways to go to empty those shelves! Let's get busy, people. There must be a need for these still-stocked items, like really, really big bags of kitty litter! Come on, think! There must be a use for the useless. Ask that old lady on the corner with 40 cats if she can use it. Then back your pickup to the door and empty that shelf!

Did you really say communist countries.....

[Old Grinner]

For the first time today I saw people walking around with face masks while in a grocery store.

The experts say if you are well then don't wear a mask. It's not needed.

They say if you are sick to wear a mask because you don't want to spread your germs to someone else.

Yet the medical industry is screaming for more N95 masks so they don't get sick from someone else they are treating . . ..

Which brings us back to "Do"!

[Ganglylamb]

My wife went out for groceries last week; she came back with some food but also: 4 cases of red wine, 2 cases of white wine, 3 bottles of gin accompanied with loads of tonic and also 3 bottles of champagne. My reaction: "this is not food", she said: "If we're going out, we're going out with a bang!".

Love this woman!

Ugh how things can change in a few days.
My wife just got fired - she was on an interim basis working there for only 2.5 months - the company started firing all the people who are on interim contracts as there is already much less work to do. And I heard my work (university) will also take measures and call for economical unemployment soon for some staff members...

In addition my wife got sick yesterday (sneezing and coughing - no fever so I hope it is just a simple cold) and on doctors orders we are now both confined to our house (at least untill Monday then we have to do another "skype" doctors visit). Not that it differs from anyone else in Belgium as people are only allowed outside for essential stuff like groceries and to go to work. Luckily we have still enough food and drinks so we do not need to rely on other people to bring us food in the meantime.

[Old Grinner]

Ugh how things can change in a few days.

We've all been caught "off guard" with this virus thing . . ..

It certainly seems unfair that so many lives are being adversely effected.

I've heard from others recently who are concerned about their jobs as well.

It's just all happening so quickly.

Hope you and your wife feel better.

In the mean time cue the comics and free money I say!

[Limey]

[Old Grinner]

Brilliant!

[easyrider]

Nothing to worry about..all under control here in US.

Link removed. Rules easyr - WN

[SirHonkersTheFirst]

All good in Vietnam. Supermarkets normal. No panic.

[springer1]

[quote="easyrider"]Nothing to worry about..all under control here in US.

I have no idea how many of those are real, or quotes on another subject, or generated, or whatever. But even being a registered Independent, the amount of fake being tossed around is seriously obvious and I don't respect that at all.

[easyrider]

Its all fake..everything is fake... LOL

[WhiteNoise]

Ganglylamb please update us, how are you and your wife doing?

[fish]

Its all fake..everything is fake... LOL

Things will settle down as soon as the White House health experts learn how to hip-check the Pres away from the microphone!
Saw in the news that one of them said, "well, I can't just throw him down."
For the Nation - yes you can.

Fish

[easyrider]

Its all fake..everything is fake... LOL

Things will settle down as soon as the White House health experts learn how to hip-check the Pres away from the microphone!
Saw in the news that one of them said, "well, I can't just throw him down."
For the Nation - yes you can.

Fish

Right on!