We are now stocked on food. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much food in my house in my life. And we didn’t go overboard - I only got dupes of anything I’d be extra cranky to run out of (cheese - the normal kind, not fancy, coffee, rice crackers, almond milk, WINE) and by dupes I do mean 2, not 10. We just… don’t normally keep much food in the house, usually? So this feels very strange. Trying not to wig out about what we spent; we went to the spendier store because I couldn’t deal with two trips on foot in 1 night and Aldi doesn’t carry much of what we needed.
The store we went to was decently stocked, unless you wanted disinfectant, pasta, or, oddly, fresh mushrooms? Shelves were emptiER than usual but not empty. We grabbed one 6-pack of TP and there was still some left. My friend went to Trader Joe’s and said 80 percent of the store was empty.
I’m totally feeling like it’s hard to put my life on hold, but it would be a heck of a lot harder if the government were forcing it on me. I also feel like it’s okay to be sad or upset about making these choices.
With numbers in Chicago right now, I probably would keep my appointment.
Keep in mind Meow is immune compromised and lives on the west coast. That’s a different risk scenario.
My dental hygienist had a conflict so my appointment tomorrow was just rescheduled for three weeks from now, which is riskier than tomorrow, but I’m keeping it and I’ll see how things progress.
As bad as things are in Seattle, I fear that the NYC metropolitan area is going to be the top hot spot here in the US, given our population density and just overall interconnected-ness. There are “only” 52 confirmed cases among NYC residents as of today, but most of the ~200 confirmed cases in the state are from the NYC metropolitan area. And we can really count many of the cases from NJ, PA, and CT in our contiguous metropolitan area of ~20million, too. The case numbers don’t even mean anything because testing remains woefully inadequate: I think the public health lab can now run ~100 tests a day using a labor-intensive manual process? Are you kidding me? And the economic inequality here is insane; 70,000 homeless, and so many people living on the edge even without the virus. What’s going to happen to people? There’s definitely been a change in mood here the last two days. The subways are less crowded, but there are still, objectively, a lot of people riding during the busy times. Colleges and universities have cancelled in-person classes, but the public school system remains open, because shutting it down would mean that 750,000 poor students can’t get a hot meal. And I fear whatever the city does, it’s not going to be enough. I fear, of any place in the US, we’re most likely to see the northern Italy scenario here. As a heathcare worker, I fear being called to the front lines when the system becomes truly strained, and I fear being separated from my family. I also fear school closure, being quarantined, and being confined to a small apartment with my super high-energy 4yo.
H has been keeping up with the Italy news and is officially freaked out once he stared doing the math himself about our predicted number of cases and the resources of our health system.
I’m annoyed because I’ve been trying to quietly and reasonably prepare for a while and now that he’s more on board he gets mad every time I question something. I think he’s more worried than he wants to let on which is why he’s getting mad but it’s still annoying. He wants me to buy a pulse ox and some bleach to round out what I’ve already bought for our stash of things which feels reasonable to me.
I have pretty low confidence that the US will handle this well, given that a science denier is in charge of managing things nationally so I’m trying hard to focus on only things I can do, within reason, so that I don’t completely give up.
Am gonna stock up on yarn to finish my sweater and call it quarantine prep, because I have to find a little humor in it somewhere.
I have zero confidence that the government of the US will handle this well since the travel ban is now proof we will let someone make up rules that don’t help at all.
A big clothing swap is likely being postponed, thankfully. I was not going to volunteer this time.
I’m pondering saying something to my buy nothing admins. People should minimize posts, avoid in person handoffs, and pick stuff up only if critical. If you pick up, disinfect.
That’s just my little neighborhood. National bn admins should give official recs. Not sure this link will go anywhere but I can try in the morning. https://buynothingproject.org/contact/
Washington State is also on lockdown, Governor Inslee banning gatherings of 250 or more in the three high case count counties, likely to be extended statewide within days.
Partner is no longer doing the international part of her trip and will be returning to town today or tomorrow.
She is super bummed, but doesn’t want to be the idiot white lady who infects everyone. Her international destination was not a hot spot, but she’d spent a few days in NYC, which… is. Also airports.
Part of her choice was also not wanting to be caught in the middle of an international travel standstill. Which is also reasonable.
I’m proud of her for making a touch decision.
I’m finding everything so strange right now! I almost feel as if I’ve woken up in an alternate universe where everyone is living how I live. It’s very surreal to see so many people (not just here, in articles, IRL, online) talking about the struggles of cancelling looked-forward-to events, not having control, having to stay home, missing out on things, not being able to work normally, missing out on socializing, fearing what it will be like to not have access to regular self-care activities, possibly missing out on income/upset about lack of remote work options, and worried about health and health care.
It’s so truly bizarre that I almost feel like I’m in a dream. For so many years I’ve tried to convey the frustration I feel and been mostly brushed off like “well at least you…” or “well aren’t you glad you…” or “it’s only for 6 months!” like it’s nothing. But now that such a huge part of the population is facing it, even for a couple weeks in an emergency scenario, it’s like the real feelings are coming out! It is a challenge to everyone when they are in this situation!
I’ve had these sort of touchstone realization points before and I find them strangely beautiful, where I see that so much of what looks like people not caring or even being hateful is truly people not understanding, and not being able to put themselves in another person’s shoes. We humans are still so primitive! Anyway, that’s my kind of nice realization of the day, amidst all the stress.
My thoughts are with the people infected and the first responders out there. I’m so grateful to be in the situation I’m in, and safe. <3 Also, haha, I definitely know how to keep myself entertained whilst on lockdown lol! At least I have that covered !
Anyway, that’s my kind of nice realization of the day, amidst all the stress.
lol! At least I have that covered !