Top o' the mornin' everyone

ei34

Trying to make it feel like St. Patrick's Day. Parade canceled, no family feast (my two youngest siblings are teachers in the city schools and students at each of their schools have tested positive in the last couple days, so my parents thankfully put themselves in self-quarantine).  No mass with bagpipes...our churches canceled all masses even through holy week.  BUT the kids and I read our St. Patrick's books with breakfast.  I think baking the soda bread will be our STEAM project today, and parades from years past are on youtube.  My small family will have our corned beef and cabbage tonight.  

Hope you and your families remain healthy and safe!

ILoveBeachMusic

This is just weird. I'm usually out and about every morning but no more. My head is in a constant fog. My book club for Thursday has been canceled - right call- but I will miss seeing my friends. My biggest concern for my own mental health is staying active. I've been on the treadmill (which I hate) every morning but unfortunately the weather hasn't allowed for out door activity plus our house isn't located so that walking outdoors happens easily. Once the weather improves, H and I will work in the yard - plenty to do there after winter. On the bright side, I now have time to organize stuff and throw things out! Also, I'm catching up/finding new shows to watch!

I think tonight we might order carry out from a local Italian restaurant. I'm worried about them (and other small businesses) staying afloat during this quarantine. 

MissKittyDanger

Woke up to province wide state of emergency.
So that's fun.

My daycare is only 3 {including BabyKitten} so they're staying open. Licensed daycares are closing. A lot of "effective immediately" situations.
Right now we're day to day at work. We're doing things as if we're closing tomorrow but hoping to stay open.

Coworker staying home as she isn't well. Ironic timing on rough cold or not feeling well, idk. No one is taking chances.

kerbohl

MissKittyDanger said:

Woke up to province wide state of emergency.
So that's fun.

My daycare is only 3 {including BabyKitten} so they're staying open. Licensed daycares are closing. A lot of "effective immediately" situations.
Right now we're day to day at work. We're doing things as if we're closing tomorrow but hoping to stay open.

Coworker staying home as she isn't well. Ironic timing on rough cold or not feeling well, idk. No one is taking chances.

Yep, that was a bit surprising, but at the same time not.  I was looking forward to March Break because hubby finally had some time off, but now we can't do anything.  Irony.

I usually wear orange on St. Patrick's Day (being protestant and always looking for an excuse to wear orange), but I forgot to.  Maybe I'll change at lunch.

Casadena

The babes school emailed last Friday that they were closing as part of the state-wide school closures, but yesterday followed up to say that they are able to remain open?  I think it's a horrible idea, but at the same time i know there are lots of parents who have to go to work and have no other options.  We're keeping him home because we're able to and figure it will help keep exposure down for people that do have to go. 

I hate WFH generally anyway, we're super busy right now, H is busy, and babe is 3 months old so needs constant attention.  It's obviously the right thing to do, but we're struggling.  

At least it's super sunny and fairly nice out, maybe we'll take a family walk later (practicing good social distancing in the neighborhood). 

short+sassy

Well.  I'm glad my work is finally doing SOMETHING.  But, good God, really?  Really?!?  It's only starting today/yesterday that they're "oh gosh, we should figure something out so people can work from home."  And I can be a little (only a little) more understanding about the company I directly work for.  They are really, really old-fashioned and technologically challenged.  For example, we still use paper timesheets, lol.

And their attitude, at least yesterday, was that if you're actually sick.  Stay home and take sick time.  But if you're caring for a loved one who is sick or a mandatory govt thing makes everyone stay home...and you can't work from home...then you need to use vacation or AWOP only.  FFS, this is unprecedented stuff!  If people have sick time available, let them use it!  WTF!!!

With that said, I'm actually on the client's network and that's where all my work is.  Now that company is huge and probably has more people working overseas than they do in the States.  I would have thought they would have this kind of stuff down pat.  But no. They are also scrambling to make remote access available.

((Vent over))

As I mentioned yesterday, I stopped at Harrahs on the way home to use my food credits.  That was surreal!  This was during rush hour, through some of the Downtown, and there wasn't much traffic anywhere.  I walked into the casino and every other machine was shut down.  According to one of the employees, they started doing that a few days ago to help with "social distancing".  So weird to see half the machines turned off.  At least from a "visual" aspect, it was another symbol of how forlorn everything feels right now.

I also feel like this pandemic has turned me into a hypochondriac, lol.  I get a headache or an upset stomach or just feel a little "off"...totally normal stuff...and I'm immediately jumping to "am I sick?"  Am I getting sick?  Should I stay home?  ((Using the back of my hand to my forehead to check for a fever)).  All right, I'm fine.  I'll give it a few hours and my headache or slight nausea or whatever will probably go away.

Casadena

Also, thoughts on ordering from Amazon at the moment?  pros: social distancing, no need to leave the house cons: is it fair for warehouse workers?  They will be there anyway, so will my order make a difference?  Am I overthinking?

short+sassy

Casadena said:

Also, thoughts on ordering from Amazon at the moment?  pros: social distancing, no need to leave the house cons: is it fair for warehouse workers?  They will be there anyway, so will my order make a difference?  Am I overthinking?

I say order.  They'll let you know if it is going to take longer for delivery or they can't complete the order.

I just saw an article that Amazon is looking to hire 100K people across the country to help with their uptick in orders.  But they are also looking at it as hopefully a win-win be a temporary employment "stop gap" for people...like servers...who are suddenly on furlough.  They were even specifically encouraging people like that to come apply and, if they're hired, they can work at Amazon until their current employer needs them back. 

CharmedPam

Casadena said:

Also, thoughts on ordering from Amazon at the moment?  pros: social distancing, no need to leave the house cons: is it fair for warehouse workers?  They will be there anyway, so will my order make a difference?  Am I overthinking?

I actually heard they have a high demand and hiring people right now (at $2/hr MORE for now) but I get it.  Are those workers working 6 feet apart?  In clean sterile places, etc?

VarunaTT

I had to listen to my office manager tell us yesterday that signing new clients was why we couldn't work from home and that this was all a population control measure from China.  I have no idea how I kept control of myself. 

Local schools have finally shut down.  K's college shut down, which means clinicals are out until April, but no guarantee.  They did get a message that the state boards don't require a specific number for clinical hours, just "the amount the program deems necessary to teach the subject matter," so hopefully this doesn't mess with graduation and new job.

I've been looking at other cities shut down orders and many of them have "legal" listed in essential businesses.  If my firm decides that we are under essential businesses, I'm reporting them, I don't even care.  The "legal" in those are supposed to be for criminal and family type firms, not PI.  I've never been so slapped around by examples of pure greed in my life.

ETA:  So it's clear, the courts are shut down state wide to all in-person required hearings, except for those that are constitutionally or emergency required.  So habeaus corpus, emergency custody hearings, protection orders, etc.  So those types of firms would need a plan in place to deal with their clients and hearings.  Other firms do not.

VarunaTT

Oh, I've also had my first client who can't come in to sign something because he's been exposed to covid-19.  He's going to the doctor, but I'm not really sure what this is going to start looking like.

mrsconn23

Oh @VarunaTT, I cannot believe that they are being so casual and careless.  Fuck that. 

BIL works for a large videogame retailer that's seen a HUGE increase in sales and they're claiming it's 'business as usual', not even addressing preventing the spread by offering a budget for more cleaning products or payroll hours to clean.  He's pissed, as are several others since it's the lead story on Koakatu (or however you spell it). 

DH's audits next month got pushed back and now I'm not so subtly begging him to consider WAH at least a day or two.  He can, but he's the only member of leadership who really can, so he feels like he needs to be there.  He's been told he can only go to one facility and do everything remotely for the other one.  

We finally have mom and dad agreeing to stay home and we're going to bring groceries to them if they need them. Dad took a minute to get on board and we were about to have words yesterday.  My older sister got to him first, which was better for everyone.  

SSDD work/quarantine-wise. 

CharmedPam

@mrsconn23, are people still buying physical video games? Aren’t they all available for download?

anyone go grocery shopping lately?  I keep seeing pictures online of empty shelves and while some at my local jewel were a bit sparse, I was able to get everything I needed.  Fresh chicken was VERY low.  But I didn’t feel the need to have to stock up for a month.  I hear it’s bad in other areas though.  I totally forgot to look for t.p.  I’ll be needing it soon.  T.P and dishwasher detergent. 

levioosa

I feel weird. I had a dream this morning that doesn’t take a psychoanalyst to figure out and a lot of it is related to what’s happening here. FI’s company finally relented yesterday and started to discuss WFH. FI straight up told his manager that yesterday was his last day in office and he would be working from home from now on to protect his mental and physical health. Then this morning he woke up to everyone WFH, other employees in the company on furlough. Once again the company had weeks to prepare but now they’re scrambling. 

I feel like I’m expending so much emotional and physical energy with this. I can’t escape the overwhelming feeling of dread, not really just with the illness itself, but with the ramifications of everything happening. I think we are hours or At most days away from a shelter in place order. Which won’t apply to me because I’ll be working anyways. And this is selfish, but I’m really worried about my physical health and progress with the gyms being closed. And if we shelter in place I won’t even be able to run or hike. I’m also feeling so worried about my parents and grandparents. My mom sent me pictures of my grandma’s ankle yesterday and it’s really really bad. My mom isn’t doing well either. I’m usually freakishly good (or maldaptive, take your pick) at compartmentalizing. But this has gotten me twisted for sure. 

mrsconn23

CharmedPam said:

@mrsconn23, are people still buying physical video games? Aren’t they all available for download?

YES.  The stores are all up, almost to levels of the period between black Friday and Christmas.  

charlotte989875

I’m not even sure what day it is anymore. I sort of hate working from home. I used to do it a lot in academia and I think it was part of why I was so unhappy there. I feel unproductive even though I’m working. 

I also am struggling with delegating things to my team. We’ve gotten a few requests as it relates to the crisis and I’m a little bummed not to be doing the work myself. I get it, this is Managent but it doesn’t help my feeling of low productivity either. 

My parents finally decided going out to dinner right before all restaurants was a good idea but then asked my sister if they could go up and visit my niece and “take her out somewhere”. Where TF do you think you can take her?! Everywhere is closed. 

Casadena

CharmedPam said:

@mrsconn23, are people still buying physical video games? Aren’t they all available for download?

anyone go grocery shopping lately?  I keep seeing pictures online of empty shelves and while some at my local jewel were a bit sparse, I was able to get everything I needed.  Fresh chicken was VERY low.  But I didn’t feel the need to have to stock up for a month.  I hear it’s bad in other areas though.  I totally forgot to look for t.p.  I’ll be needing it soon.  T.P and dishwasher detergent. 

Pam, pretty sure we live fairly close and i had the same experience on saturday. Trader Joes had an emptey frozen section and no eggs, but the store across the street had everything. 

OliveOilsMom

I'm in the office, but will be taking extra stuff home for when they decide to close.  They closed 2 of our offices yesterday evening.  Daycare is still open and H still had work too, so we sent her in today.  H said there were signs all over about sickness and preparing to close.  I just hope they still pay the staff.  Those people are the hardest hit, the hourly workers who cannot work.  I think the reason my office is still open is because they don't have enough work for the support staff to do at home.

Stay safe everyone!  

OliveOilsMom

Oh and I need to say it somewhere!  I know someone who is working in the WH.  She is from NE.  Today, she posts that the world is basically coming to an end because Tom Brady announced he is leaving the Patriots.  THAT is what is causing her to think the world is coming to an end.  Not the fact that her shitstain boss is completely fucking up the response to this pandemic!  It took a lot to just keep scrolling on by.

But I keep her in my feed for some of the hilarious stuff she does post.  While she does it in seriousness - it gives me a chuckle!  

MyNameIsNot

We went to publix last night, and it was pretty limited in some sections. No paper products (I'm running low on paper towels), no rice/pasta, chicken, ground beef, eggs, frozen or canned veggies. Plenty of fresh veggies and steak. Very low on milk, flour, sugar, etc. I hear most of the deliveries come early morning, so you have to show up at 6 am for the most in demand things. I might have to wake my arse up super early over some dang paper towels if comes to that. Or you know, I could just use actual towels.

My hope from when we come out of the other side of this is that companies start to embrace WFH infrastructure and options for workers. I know not everyone likes it, but some of us really do. I'm 10x more productive at home, and my morale is much higher when I don't have to fight traffic. It's a scramble for some to put together now, but I hope companies see that they can have business continuity during other events (weather, superbowl comes to town) and give people more flexibility in the future.

short+sassy

MyNameIsNot said:

We went to publix last night, and it was pretty limited in some sections. No paper products (I'm running low on paper towels), no rice/pasta, chicken, ground beef, eggs, frozen or canned veggies. Plenty of fresh veggies and steak. Very low on milk, flour, sugar, etc. I hear most of the deliveries come early morning, so you have to show up at 6 am for the most in demand things. I might have to wake my arse up super early over some dang paper towels if comes to that. Or you know, I could just use actual towels.

My hope from when we come out of the other side of this is that companies start to embrace WFH infrastructure and options for workers. I know not everyone likes it, but some of us really do. I'm 10x more productive at home, and my morale is much higher when I don't have to fight traffic. It's a scramble for some to put together now, but I hope companies see that they can have business continuity during other events (weather, superbowl comes to town) and give people more flexibility in the future.

This is actually one of the other things that is grinding my gears with my employer.  Being a Gulf Coast city, sometimes we have mandatory evacuation events during hurricane season.  Sure, the vast majority of the time they are for less than a week.  But still.  Without much WFH capabilities, that's a week with little production happening every time there is an evacuation.  And then there was Katrina.  I didn't work here back then, but I know the company was shut down for a long time.

But did they learn from any of that?  Put any of those systems in place?  Nope.  Because here we are.  Being one of the "scramblers".

There can be substantial savings for businesses who jump on-board the WFH revolution.  Just as an example, the company my cousin works for was bursting at the seams in their office building.  It was either move the entire company to a larger building or lease more office space at a second location.  I can't even imagine the expense.  OR, offer the WFH opportunity to various employees.  They chose this latter option.

short+sassy

FWIW, one of my coworkers went to Sam's Club 20 minutes before it opened the other day.  There were 100s of people already in line, so he left.

I just went to NextDoor for the first time in awhile.  There was a post about grocery stores and it was a good resource for "who has what".  Both stores mentioned as being good places to hit, were mom/pop local stores.  I could see that being true for other areas also.  In fact, an employee from one of those stores even posted to let people know what days they get deliveries!  And encouraged people that, if something is out-of-stock during their visit, to come back on a delivery day.  

MissKittyDanger

Couple updates.

Canada may be not far from emergency act. Which could lead to martial law. {Can do emergency act without martial law, so it's hard to say}
Trudeau commending Ontario for doing state of emergency and urges rest to.

Don't read this article if your anxiety is high. I made that mistake:
https://www.boredpanda.com/coronavirus-outbreak-stages-italy-jason-yanowitz/

DO read this if you wanna see some positivity:
https://www.boredpanda.com/italy-pollution-levels-coronavirus-quarantine/

short+sassy

OliveOilsMom said:

Oh and I need to say it somewhere!  I know someone who is working in the WH.  She is from NE.  Today, she posts that the world is basically coming to an end because Tom Brady announced he is leaving the Patriots.  THAT is what is causing her to think the world is coming to an end.  Not the fact that her shitstain boss is completely fucking up the response to this pandemic!  It took a lot to just keep scrolling on by.

But I keep her in my feed for some of the hilarious stuff she does post.  While she does it in seriousness - it gives me a chuckle!  

I normally try not to badmouth people's political affiliations.  Because we all have different opinions and that usually makes us a better society.  But this pandemic has left me angry all over again at the Americans who voted for Trump.  So now we are stuck with his complete and utter incompetence and tendency to make stuff up as he goes along, during one of the worst crises our world and country have faced.

I was reading about the bill they are looking to pass about requiring companies to give sick time.  But there is a loophole.  Ummm.  The word "loophole" doesn't do it justice.  It's more like a gaping hole you can drive a train through.

It doesn't cover companies who have fewer than 50 employees (fair enough).  But it also doesn't cover companies who have over 500 employees.  Excuse me?!?!  And why TF would that be?  Because those are the companies who fund your campaigns?  So, in a nutshell, 80% of Americans aren't covered by this bill anyway (according to the article).

Trump took his leave on the press conference when reporters started asking questions about this gaping hole.  Leaving Pence to fend for himself.  Who said something to the effect of "if you're sick, stay home, you'll still be paid" (paraphrasing).  Except that's bold-faced lies.  And, while I agree with the advice of staying home, how dare this administration give people false hope.  

NBSquared2017

Hi everyone - 

Day one of WFH and our servers are acting crazy and I am having FTP and VPN issues. Very happy that I have the ability to stay home, but over half the company does not have a laptop so our department is down to 5 people and we are all overwhelmed.

The building is ordered closed for two weeks so non-exempt people can't work at all.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! 

VarunaTT

Casadena said:

Also, thoughts on ordering from Amazon at the moment?  pros: social distancing, no need to leave the house cons: is it fair for warehouse workers?  They will be there anyway, so will my order make a difference?  Am I overthinking?

Amazon just suspending everything that isn't medical or high demand related.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-amazon-suspends-delivery-shipments-stock-price-a9406951.html?fbclid=IwAR3Wrpnu-B6kf3TKHgRM4LZxXV1RtiKwYgsi6saVVk4PekBOPgeuDaYb8Bw

ILoveBeachMusic

VarunaTT said:

Casadena said:

Also, thoughts on ordering from Amazon at the moment?  pros: social distancing, no need to leave the house cons: is it fair for warehouse workers?  They will be there anyway, so will my order make a difference?  Am I overthinking?

Amazon just suspending everything that isn't medical or high demand related.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-amazon-suspends-delivery-shipments-stock-price-a9406951.html?fbclid=IwAR3Wrpnu-B6kf3TKHgRM4LZxXV1RtiKwYgsi6saVVk4PekBOPgeuDaYb8Bw

This says that it is suspending items from independent merchants. I'm reading that as third party, not directly from Amazon - do you think that is right? Also household supplies, I'm thinking diapers and wipes, are also being shipped?

banana468

I am SO PISSED that DH's employer is both open and has not embraced the WFH possibilities.

They are a large employer in the area, do NOT make anything that is used for the coronavirus prevention and their inaction is going to increase exposure and flood hospitals.  I hope they are raked over coals. 

charlotte989875

ILoveBeachMusic said:

VarunaTT said:

Casadena said:

Also, thoughts on ordering from Amazon at the moment?  pros: social distancing, no need to leave the house cons: is it fair for warehouse workers?  They will be there anyway, so will my order make a difference?  Am I overthinking?

Amazon just suspending everything that isn't medical or high demand related.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-amazon-suspends-delivery-shipments-stock-price-a9406951.html?fbclid=IwAR3Wrpnu-B6kf3TKHgRM4LZxXV1RtiKwYgsi6saVVk4PekBOPgeuDaYb8Bw

This says that it is suspending items from independent merchants. I'm reading that as third party, not directly from Amazon - do you think that is right? Also household supplies, I'm thinking diapers and wipes, are also being shipped?

The way I read it is Amazon is suspending their fulfillment of 3rd party vendors sales (the Fulfillment by Amazon program) and it’s major vendors to focus on baby, household, personal care, pet, scientific products. 3rd party vendors can still sell but they have to do their own shipping. 

GBCK

so, this past weekend was supposed to be the LARGEST FUNDRAISER of the year for the small nonprofit I work for.
It was cancelled (I got to contact my 150 volunteers to make sure they didn't show up).

And my work is closed.  They're paying me for 2 weeks, and they will 're-evaluate' at that time, but, reality is I'm functionally unemployed for the forseeable future.
To say my stress level is high is an understatement.  It's not that I don't trust my company to try to do right by us, it's that reality is that there's only so much we can do.  Until schools open we're shut for groups/field trips.  Until fears pass, we're shut to the public/break camps, etc.
There isn't a way to not have all of us be screwed.

Also, the Mr. and I were supposed to be leaving on our mini vacay today.  Which isn't happening. 

Also, my parents are *both* older and my mom is immunocompromised and they are hellbent on doing shit like mall walking daily.
(While at my house we're making daily decisions on 'so, the kid's therapies, are we putting us at risk?  because we could be vectors, are we putting other more at-need-immunocompromised kids at risk?" )

And I'm just tired of people--even w/o leaivng the house

short+sassy

@GBCK, that is so sad about the fundraiser!  I hope it is something that can be postponed until later in the year.  I suspect there are a lot of not-for-profits who are already having all kinds of problems.  With uncertainty, comes fewer donations.  Money or otherwise!  I got an e-mail from a blood bank I've donated to in the past that they've needed to cancel all their blood drives.  But, if you're feeling well, to please come to one of their facilities and donate because supplies are getting low.  Everything is still so day-to-day right now but, if they are still open on Friday, I'm going to drag myself and my H there.  We're "extra valuable" donors, lol.  Of course I'm kidding about the "extra valuable", but I do have a rare blood type and he's a universal donor.

My local news was talking about pet shelters are seeing a decrease in adoptions.  Plus they can no longer do the adoption events that are usually a big part of their programs.  They're worried about their staffing levels, if people start getting sick.  So a call-out for more people to consider fostering, if they can.  Even if it's temporary, anything to help decrease the number of animals at the shelters.

They already closed the malls in my state.  So it's probably not that much longer your parents can mall-walk.  But I hear ya!  I know that is not the point you were making.