ChiCricket

My journalist daughter just posted this on Facebook (and let me tell you she never, and I mean NEVER, gets publicly "political" in any way, shape, or form..ever...plus, they are very, very conservative) “EVERYTHING WE DO BEFORE A PANDEMIC WILL SEEM ALARMIST. EVERYTHING WE DO AFTER WILL SEEM INADEQUATE” --Michael Leavitt That quote really got to me today. I know there is a lot of information coming out about COVID-19 and I have not posted too much about this, because I didn't want to add to the panic or confusion. But the fact of the matter is that I do live with an ICU Hospitalist physician who is also a Senior Vice President of Hospital Medicine for a Hospital Staffing company which manages thousands of doctors around the country. Plus, I am a trained broadcast journalist who tries very hard to fact check everything I share. With that in mind, I ask you to weigh what I am about to say with at least slightly higher consideration than the average internet meme going around. Based on days of analysis by my beloved, who gets multiple, insider-only, medical briefings a day, here's my bottom line request: STAY HOME!! Save lives. As much as you are itching to get out, make the commitment to stay away from people that reside outside your home as much as possible. And if you absolutely must see others, stay at least 6 feet away from each other at all times A few days ago I wouldn't have said this. I even went to the grocery store and the laundromat. But it seems to me that it is just not worth the risk now. Here's an article my husband, Dr. ____ ______ shared with me today. It's the best article I've seen making the case for social distancing. It may drive you crazy to stay home, in close quarters with your family, but the alternative will undoubtedly cost lives. **stepping off soapbox now** I hope we can flatten the curve enough to manage what is about to hit us. Praying that you and your beloved family and friends stay healthy and safe during these trying times. https://www.howardluksmd.com/sports-medicine/covid-19-update-3-14-2020-concerned-physicians-unite/ (I hope I'm not going too far in sharing this.... I'm just worried about everyone.««« this last part is from me, "Chi" and not my daughter,btw.)❤

Illinois governor just ordered all restaurants and bars closed starting tomorrow after the close of the business day (not sure about take out.)

Just do like the people in Puerto Rico do, and throw all paper including toilet paper in a covered trash container while you're using tissue. I think that started because their pipes can't handle even toilet paper (at least that's the case in the boonies where my husband's family lives.) It took me awhile to get used to , but I would have been mortified if I would have been the one to break the plumbing!

This funny video I linked below makes me wish my husband liked to watch the same kind of trashy train wreck tv show I do. Since he's staying home now from church and resale shops we could watch so much together..but nope..just old timey westerns for him. (too anti native American for me now) That's why I like these forums so much..other people who watch the same *carp* I do to snark with! 😂 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2348159365486475&id=1441658079469946&d=null&vh=e

My sister lives in Colorado too. She's 7 years older than me , so she's very much in the age group that has to worry. She's still convinced the whole thing is a hoax. I can't convince her otherwise...so I just gave up. I'm sure she'll be at her mega church all day Sunday with tons of other people. I tried.

My son in Germany just got this: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ON DODEA-EUROPE SCHOOLS The military communities throughout Europe continue to work closely with their host nation partners on the evolving COVID-19 spread, closely monitoring the situation and are taking measures that will help mitigate the spread of the virus. One of the most important service partners involved in these discussions has been the leadership of the DoDEA school system. To that end, over the past few days, and especially the past 48 hours, the USAREUR Commander has decided that DoDEA schools in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands will be closed beginning Monday, March 16. Garrison Commanders will make the decisions locally about Child and Youth Services. Our priority remains the health and safety of our personnel and their family members, and we will continue to everything we can to mitigate the spread of the virus. (My DIL will now be homeschooling 4 kids under 9 and is FREAKING out) Edited to add..Illinois governor just closed ALL schools, so now my Chicago grands are out too. And the Illinois diocese(?) {my husband is the Catholic one } just cancelled all public Masses, which really relieves me, because he goes to church daily and I have COPD (which is so not fair, because I've never smoked a day in my life.) I was worrying he was going to bring it home to me. (I need to go read a good book and stop obsessing now)😁

My grands who live in the (western) Chicago suburbs have just been told that as of today their schools are being closed. My grands who live in Chicago proper are still going so far...but there are major rumblings among parents and teacher who want them closed (my daughter is both a Chicago teacher and a Chicago students' parent.) PS..I thought this was hilarious:

I used to have stacks and stacks of (real) books too..but since I got my Kindle, I think I now probably only have 20 left (they are out of print ones.) My allergies thank me.🤧 😊

Thank goodness for being able to get my library books online now. I would go stir-crazy without new books to read. Btw, My daughter got to the store too late for toilet paper, but made sure to stock up on chocolate. She said that's WAY more important to her anyway. 😂 (this was in Virginia, near DC today)

My Marine son stationed in Germany just got this notice: "Effective March 13, 2020, all DoD uniformed personnel, civilian personnel and family members traveling to, from, or through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notices Level 3 (COVID-19) designated locations, will stop movement for the next 60 days." My daughter in law was planning a trip to Budapest for her birthday in 2 weeks, and now she can't leave Germany.

And now Disneyland (California) is going to be closed through the end of the month, at least. I *think* I read that they've only closed down 3 times before since its opening...so now shish is getting serious. (Just think of all the spring break $$$ they'll lose.) I'm sure it wasn't a decision they took lightly. PS once was the day after Kennedy was killed, once after a big earthquake, and the other after 911.

My grand-nieces are all Irish Dancers..I thought this was funny: The following is from my niece today...my grandniece L is 5yo. She's the one in the middle. I obscured their faces because they're not my kids. L is learning to count to 10 in Gaelic in her Irish dance class. Convo in car today Me: ok, here’s the plan. Number 1... L: A haon Me: A what? L: It’s how you say 1 in Garlic 😊

So sorry about your kitty, @Scarlett45 😞

And a lot of us who are just quiet lurkers 🙂

If any of you run out of bars of soap to wash your hands, just let me know..I have enough for everybody in here for weeks and weeks...and weeks. We didn't raid the stores...my husband grew up extremely poor and likes to hoard things he finds, when he can get them on clearance. Or in this case..I think he got a couple of cases of bar soap from some other old geezer's estate sale...so...yay? I have a bunch of dead guy's soap. I think some of it isn't even made anymore.😂

My husband still has a flip phone and wouldn't know a text if it bit him in the butt, so you're way ahead of me.😁

What state are you in (if you don't mind saying.) Here in Illinois we just got our 5th case, and this one came though O'Hare Airport, where my daughter works as a gate agent. Now it's getting too dang close for comfort. But the guy came from Italy, and she doesn't work international flights. :::::whew::::: (but somebody else's kid does.) PS the guy is only in his 20's, not elderly...

Well, good for them

Is it just me, or does that brown sofa look absolutely filthy? 🤔

Welcome @readheaded. 🙂 Illinois here, and hardly any winter at all...so weird. I also have horrible spring/autumn allergies. I look forward to snow and ice usually covering up everything I'm allergic to.😜

I read your entire(!) wall-o-text and found it very funny..but my watering eyes were begging for some paragraphs or linebreaks! But you do you. 😁 PS I'm way too old for anyone to empty their bank account for...😂

Geoffrey's seatbelt kept disappearing.

I found Richard Spencer..now what is COL?🤔

I use this one. (a 2 pack is about $10) Adult seat belt adjuster I'm 5'2" and they cut me on the neck too...always. Everyone always says "just use the button on the car to adjust it!" but it still cuts me in the neck (just me?😁) I carry one in my purse for when I'm not in my own car.

Just got back from seeing my therapist. She said believing in a higher power isn't for everyone, and she won't mention it again..so there's that. She said she just mentioned it because I said felt I was addicted to food..and some addiction programs work with a higher power mindset... something like that. I guess I just stay fat. Rest of the session I basically cried and cried about my shitty PR trip, and how I was treated. Now she wants me to write everyone involved a letter, saying how much it all upset me, and that I won't ever let myself be put in that position again. I'm scared to do it.😟