len_mullen

While we all strive for perspective (hopefully), I wanted to share this speech from a kid who has it. https://www.facebook.com/dailygoalcast/videos/633117420616060/

I have had the displeasure of witnessing two loved ones being killed by Big Medicine. In both cases, it was obvious to me that there were better options. More power to you if you think you are a 'thriver'. I am happy to live and die without being a science fair project.

I have respiratory issues and am drug/physician adverse. I pay attention to my environment as well as my diet. I tend to abide by social norms just to avoid unnecessary conflicts. I do not get excited about proximity unless the person(s) close to me are exhibiting signs of illness. I am unaware of the social contracts that you speak of. Not sure I would rely on presumed agreements to ensure my safety. Getting aggravated will not preserve your health. Use common sense and avoid people you think put you at risk. If that is everyone, stay home and have your stuff delivered. LOL. We need to protect OURSELVES. People do not know enough about this virus to advise us how to keep safe. On the same day the governor of Massachusetts mandated everyone wear masks, the surgeon general said wearing masks could increase the likelihood of infection. All I know is that a guy arrested for exfiltrating laboratory samples from Massachusetts in January was a student who never attended classes. Just like the guys who set off bombs at the marathon. Boston Stupid. If you feel uncomfortable venturing out for groceries, stay home. That's what I would do. Relying on others to keep you safe is probably not a good idea.

I love shopping. Any kind of shopping. In a store or online. Just for research or against a deadline. It's a distraction. I especially like walking around shopping centers on cool evenings on my way home from work -- when the days are short and people aren't yet Christmas shopping. It was best when my kids were young. Now my kitchen is filling up with gadgets. I grocery shop on my way home from work. I pass a lot of grocery stores on my way home and most are co-located with retailers I have business with. The cycle starts on Wednesday when Hannaford, Market Basket, and McKinnons flyers arrive in my mailbox. I use these to tell Alexa what to put on my shopping list. I don't often shop at McKinnons. When I do, I take a different route home. It's the same route I take to pick my kid up from school. If I have to pick him up, I stop at McKinnons. Thursday morning, the Shaws preview is available online. I use that to amend/complete my list. Friday morning, Shaws posts their just-for-me deals. By the time I leave for work Friday, my shopping plan is complete. McKinnons and Shaws ads start on Friday. I pick one for my ride home Friday night. Generally, I stop at Shaws and Aldis (where I get milk, eggs, and bread) on the way home Friday night as Shaws runs three day specials that end before my next commute. Monday and Tuesday I stop at Market Basket and/or Hannaford as my list dictates. Wednesday we start over again. The pandemic has changed my shopping habits. First, sales are less common and less compelling. Market Basket is inconvenient to get in and out of. Hannaford has been sparsely stocked. I have been living out of my freezers only venturing out for fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, and dairy. Most of the time, I just go to Aldis as they have what I need at good prices with no unreasonable restrictions on access. This week, Shaws ran a decent ad including $5.67/# porterhouse steaks, $4.99/# jumbo shrimp, $0.25 New England Coffee k-cups, and $1.99 Friendlys Ice Cream. I stopped on my way home Friday night. It's work observing the one way traffic restrictions. Good exercise, I guess. Over to Aldis for rye bread (reubens), milk, potatoes, and salmon. They clean the carts for you as you enter and have one way aisles, but the aisles are short and no one loses their mind if you sneak in from the wrong way to grab something. Not stopping anywhere else this week. So, not quite normal, but I felt like lighting up a cigarette on my way home, if you know what I mean. New Hampshire hasn't really been impacted except for the unemployment rate -- first to worst in the nation. Mostly affecting service and hospitality employees. Help wanted signs everywhere, but most I know who have been furloughed are pretty happy with the $600 bonus in their unemployment and expect to return to work soon. My job is business as usual. No complaints. June 1 I start a two week vacation ;-)

Gottadeal flannel boxer shorts for the club and t-shirts for the contests.

I urge you to pull out a history book. Read about colonial life, the Civil War, Antebellum, WWI, The Depression, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam then count your blessings. We are a spoiled generation in a spoiled nation.

Just saw a commercial that advised me to sneeze or cough into my inner elbow. Naturally, this caused me to try to cough into my outer elbow. (Now you're trying, right?) It can't be done. Going forward, I think it would be more efficient to simply advise people to sneeze into their elbow. Gross, but efficient. (I'm going to carry a couple tissues in my pocket -- not my inner pocket, btw...just my pocket. My inner pocket is just for change.) A couple hours ago, the governor of Massachusetts MANDATED that people who go into public must wear a mask whenever social distancing could not be maintained -- without defining exactly what social distancing is or telling people where to get masks. Earlier today the surgeon general warned that healthy people wearing face masks to protect themselves from coronavirus can actually increase your risk of getting the disease... "What the World Health Organization and the CDC have reaffirmed in the last few days is that they do not recommend the general public wear masks," Adams told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "There was a study in 2015 looking at medical students. And medical students wearing surgical masks touch their faces on average 23 times. We know a major way that you can get respiratory diseases like coronavirus is by touching a surface and then touching your face." Still with me? That's OK. Here is a summary of everything you need to know to keep yourself and others safe during this epidemic... https://www.facebook.com/Kasey.Lewis12890/videos/10157784004845804/

^^^^^ You can pull a t-shirt over your mouth and nose.

T-shirts, please. Loved the reusable bags, but...

How is there a shortage of all purpose flour? Seriously, is every nonessential person watching the Food Network all day? Apparently. My oldest called me a week ago and told me that he had plenty of toilet paper but would kill for a bag of flour. Asked if I could pick one up in my travels. I tried. No luck. No place. Last night, I had to pick up this very cool knife set at Target... I saw the ad in the middle of the night and decided to see if it was all that and a bag of chips. Apparently it is... In my research, I saw Amazon and Walmart had it for less than the ad price and Target had it for less than half of the ad price with free store pickup. I drive by a Target on my commute, they had just sent me a code for my birthday, and I had some cash back on account, so I bit and ordered the set for $13.90 using a credit card that pays 2% cash back on everything. Gottadeal, right? While I was there, I figured I grab a bag of overpriced flour. None in stock. On my way home, I stopped in to McKinnon's to see if they had anything to hoard. They had one bag of flour in the store... A little googling assured me that all purpose flour could be stored in a freezer indefinitely (or at least two years). I don't expect even 50 pounds to last two years, but I found the news comforting and bought it. Maybe I can sell some off... While you ponder all of this, enjoy...

Walked to the grocery store this morning. The round trip is about six miles. It was nice...well, the walk to the store was nice. I tried to get in the wrong door because I walked behind the sign that said the door was closed and that I should use the other entrance. The sign was on the back of a sign that said 'did you remember your reusable bag?' Irony, no? No shortage of anything -- including customers. I had been avoiding this store because they had trouble replenishing after the hoarders retreated. Their deli is closed until further notice and their baked goods are all pre-packaged. YET, produce is just laying there being handled by the walking dead and sneezed on and all such things. IMHO, fresh produce is the biggest risk in grocery stores. No one else seems to care. They had lots of good stuff. I ended up getting about ten pounds of ribeye and a couple pounds of broccoli. Could not resist the corn on the cob and a couple perfect baking potatoes. Anyway, I ended up doing the return trip with about 20# of food. 20# gets heavy after the first mile. It's a burden for three miles. I think there might be an Olympic event in this. I'm thinking Pandemic Games I. Bottom line? Needed a nap when I got home. I heard from a lot of people last week (it was my birthday). Almost every single person believes they and/or their family contracted the Coronavirus. I call one hypochondriac (apparently misdiagnosed as bronchitis) at work Covid Kevin and another Germy George. The other interesting commonality is that everyone, while concerned for others, is enjoying their vacation from the rat race. My oldest works for a startup in Boston. He is out of flour and concerned about the availability of TP, but has been working out of his home nearly two months. The CEO of the startup was very proactive because he was concerned a widespread sickness could severely impact success. The company is very pleased with the change is considering closing or downsizing their Boston office. From a couple emails... "We have all been doing well so far during the crisis. Five adults in the house and our toilet paper supply remains solid. My daughter became unemployed last week, but is finding between regular unemployment and the $600 supplement she may be better off at least through July. The two boys are still able to work with some reduction to their earnings, but the impact is minimal. My wife will collect her first social security check next month and is quickly moving toward full retirement. All considered, we have nothing to complain about and I’ve been feeling very fortunate with our current situation.""My work insisted I be in the office (Irvine CA). Now I'm WFH in San Diego meaning I save $100 per week, plus much easier to walk to my home office. So I'm enjoying it some ways also."Must suck being isolated in San Diego. One consequence of business downturn for my company is that long service employees were offered a VRIP (voluntary reduction in personnel, I think). I know three guys who were planning to retire this summer who were just handed a year's pay. And two others who had been pondering retirement who jumped on the opportunity. In addition to the severance package, they qualify for 'enhanced unemployment benefits' and a supplement to their pension. All smiles. My sister is getting checks from every direction. Her daughter got a refund from her college. Her husband's small business got a chunk of that trillion dollars. I'm sure some people are suffering and God knows my 401k had suffered, but it seems like a lot of people are making lemonade. I am hoping a SERO (Special Early Retirement Option -- I know that one by heart) is in my future. Two years from pension eligibility, I am a prime target for such an offer. Start collecting full pension immediately, unemployment too, and that supplement. And maybe take a job somewhere else. One can dream. Meanwhile, my allergies are right on schedule. Symptoms I worked through for ten years might see me denied access to work. I am lying at the check point and working hard to get everything done that requires my presence, but, at some point, I have been warned that I will be denied access. Crazy, huh? I don't have a primary care physician. I have used our infirmary for healthcare for decades. They diagnosed my allergies. Yet, I may be denied access just because I sneeze, cough, and blow my nose due to allergies.

Thank you!

I went to work today. On the way in, I got a call from a guy who needed my help as soon as I got in. I spent four hours solving problems not related to my job. You guys are probably not aware of the fact that I am a social butterfly, but I had well wishers crowding my office for another two hours. In the end, I got about an hour of work in. Tomorrow is another day.

Well, Pam, you are looking pretty hot. Don't beat yourself up.

Hope your furbaby does not subscribe to this forum...

Happy birthday! Taurus? My 58th is Friday. I'm working. I guess that is something of a celebration. Got up late today , made eggs benedict and a bloody mary . Cleaned up and took a five hour nap . (Practicing for Friday )

We got a dusting last night. Looks nice.

Let's hope the people who did not show up did not need the meals. Sometimes people just sign up for all the free stuff. I am a strong supporter of farmers, but I am also saddened by the possibility that people would spoil food rather than sell it below the asking price. If it sounds like I am union bashing, I cannot defend myself against the charge.

^^^^^ Pam, coming from anyone but you, this would be offensive. I could not supress a smile. Happy Easter!

I lump those into #1.

Black Friday 2020 WILL be the same. It will be the same as the many we have all enjoyed together in the sense that... Some people will complain that it isn't the same Online sales will continue to eat away at B&M sales The best deals will be gotten by some seriously deranged individuals (I have been in these ranks from time to time) Some of the best deals will be had before BF Some of the best deals will be had after BF A lot of people will discuss merchandise, stores, and deals on these forums Some people (guilty) will discuss totally off topic stuff The giveaway will not be reusable bags I will get a new t-shirt I am already compiling my list. Some stuff will be bought before BF. Other stuff after. I will probably go out on BF, but maybe not until after the crowds have abated . Unless something makes me crazy or the weather is nice. I still enjoy waiting in line on BF. Got some good deals last year. Looking forward to some more this year. Last year, I went out to do some shopping midmorning. While I was shooting the breeze with the staff at Staples, I heard a familiar voice. It was this guy who I used to wait in line with when Staples had all the free-after-rebate stuff. He was 'just out' as well. We shopped at Staples and Home Depot. His phone rang. It was his wife. "Guess who I'm with?" "How did you guess?!?" Some things never change. See you in November!

This article sounds like nonsense to me. It talks about the rise in demand at a time when restaurants and cafeterias are not selling very much at all. The article blames transportation costs when fuel prices have plunged >30%. Certainly, hoarding has contributed to a momentary price increase, but it sounds like the Egg Cartel is gouging a bit too. from https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-04-08/egg-prices-rising-coronavirus At the same time, dairy farmers are dumping milk on the ground rather than suffer market rates... https://vtdigger.org/2020/04/09/vermont-farms-dump-60000-gallons-of-milk-since-beginning-of-april/ https://nypost.com/2020/04/06/dairy-farms-dump-milk-as-coronavirus-crisis-spoils-demand/ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-02/farmers-are-dumping-milk-in-latest-blow-to-battered-u-s-dairy https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2020/04/07/dairy-farms-dumping-milk-due-decrease-sales-during-coronavirus/2961876001/ https://modernfarmer.com/2020/04/dairy-farmers-are-dumping-huge-amounts-of-milk/ from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-dairy-insight/u-s-dairy-farmers-dump-milk-as-pandemic-upends-food-markets-idUSKBN21L1DW

No gouging here either. I did notice eggs were going up (still $1.19 at Aldi's). Reusable bags are gross . In New Hampshire, there has been no effort to ban plastic bags and stores provide paper bags as an alternative -- all free. My plastic bags are re-used to line the small trash cans in bathrooms and bedrooms. Keeps the cans clean without the need to ship a new bag from China every time I dump the trash. I also use them to bag kitchen waste so that I do not have to dump that can as often (more bags not shipped from China). Of course the ecological impact of washing a reusable bag after each use is greater than the impact of using the (recycled) plastic bags.

The first is a local chain -- Market Basket. The second is an Albertsons/Safeway store -- Shaws. The fourth store (the one I can walk to) is another local chain -- Hannaford. Trader Joe's and Aldi's are owned by separate companies, but have an interesting connection... from https://www.thekitchn.com/aldi-trader-joes-parent-company-rumor-260999 Aldi began as a single grocery store in Germany in the early 1900s. Decades later, the owner’s two sons expanded the one family owned and operated store into a chain of hundreds. As with many family companies, the brothers eventually had a business disagreement and decided to split the company geographically into Aldi Nord (north) and Aldi Süd (South). The two companies both own and operate various Aldi’s across Europe and the United States, but do so separately. Meanwhile, Trader Joe’s began as a convenience store in California in 1958. A decade later, more locations opened across the state. In 1979 Aldi Nord acquired all Trader Joe’s in the United States, but continued to let them “operate independently.” On the other hand, Aldi Süd is the parent company of Trader Joe’s in Europe and Aldi locations in the United States. (Bear with me: I had to map this out Beautiful Mind-style on a Post-It note and am still doing mental gymnastics.) In short, these two (or is it three?) grocery chains aren’t technically in cahoots. Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe’s in the States, but the Aldi stores that you see in the States are run by Aldi Süd, which is separate from Trader Joe’s. The chains are kind of like estranged cousins. Step-brothers? In-laws? We don’t know! But it doesn’t matter because the stores are run entirely independently with no joint ownership. All great retailers. I have no desire to shop at a Warehouse or Club. I get as good prices on better products in reasonable quantities.

I ventured into the marketplace today. We have four grocers within ten miles of my home. I visited all but the closest (I can walk there when the sun comes out). At the first store, they had people lined up outside and only permitted people to enter as others left. The girl who was managing the entrance stood between the doors so that she was never more than three feet from any person entering or exiting. She had no mask or gloves. While I was in line, a woman (dressed like a surgeon) walked right passed this girl into the store to grab a cart then walked to the back of the line walking within a foot of every person waiting in line. Another guy walked right past the line -- just as close and completely uncovered -- and into the store. The line moved quickly and people were in good spirits. Someone was cleaning carts and offering them to entering patrons. The store was well stocked. While there were signs limiting most things, I saw one guy leave with a cart FULL of toilet paper. I guess the limits were more of a suggestion. The aisles were one way and traffic moved well. I completed my list and moved on to the second store. That store did not manage entrance. They focused on managing separation at the registers. They had put plexiglass sneeze shields between the customer and cashier and plastic sheets over the controls on the kiosk customers use to manage payment. Again, very well stocked. The third store was an Aldis. Aldis is ALWAYS different. Aldis has a system which requires customers to pay a quarter to release a cart then returns the quarter when the cart is returned. Today, they had a guy cleaning and disengaging carts. The store was well stocked. There were no controls until you got to the register. Some of the fresh items were out of stock, but eggs were still $1.19 and milk was still $2.59. Almost business as usual. It took a LONG time to complete my shopping, but I got almost everything on my list and the experience was very pleasant. A lot of people are covering up. I had an extended conversation with a man in what appeared to be a WWI vintage gas mask. People entertain the crap out of me. I am very proud of the behavior of people in my community.