The Toiletpaperpocalypse

[Wędajihs]

Hello all. Just wondering how your area is dealing with the Covid spread. There are 4 cases of Covid in a city 30 minutes away from here. It's getting closer.

Here, our community called a state of emergency and shut down schools, public gatherings, events, sports, etc. The craziest thing people have been hoarding toilet paper. The world comes to an end and humans go to their graves kicking, screaming, and clutching their 24packs of tp.

Madness.

How you all holding up where you are?

[Caradon]

I know right, lol.

I have 6 rolls left. I'm in Minnesota one of the least hit areas so far. But I'm home way early because there is nothing to do at my job right now. The nearby Walmart is packed with cars like it's black Friday. Even though there is nothing left on the shelves to buy anyways. The only thing I've been hoarding (for a while now) is cash.
I have very little food at the house. I've been eating little to nothing since the death of my friend.  just enough so I can have enough energy to work. I have two packages of brats in the fridge. Seven little containers of Campbells microwave chili containers that I  bought before she died that I've not eaten yet. Some popcorn and butter. A couple 6 packs of orange juice, That's about it.

My step dad is in Mexico still, he is supposed to be coming back April 6th. I sent him a text saying that he might want to bring some toilet paper back with him since stuff like that is pretty hard to find around here right now. I have no idea if people there are hoarding like they are here.

The media isn't helping any. On the one hand they say it's no big deal way more people die every year of regular flu than has from this. And then the media is all over who has gotten it and dying and military quarantines and everything closing down all over the world. Travel bans.  None of that stuff happens because of regular flu season.

[Wędajihs]

I've always sort of been prepared. Got non perishables stashed away because you just never know. What I didn't think to stash over the years was toilet paper. lol. Now I'm running low here and can't find it anywhere. I nabbed some Kleenex boxes from the pharmacy down the street. Should hold me over for a couple of weeks. Told the cashier to stash me a couple packages of toilet paper when they get another shipment, not cuz I'm hoarding it but I actually need some. Good to have connections. 

[Wędajihs]

Despite being instructed to socially isolate, I'm off to work this morning. The computers aren't going to nerd themselves out.

[Caradon]

I'm off work today/Monday and Tuesday. I slept most of the day all comfy in my super warm soft down sleeping bag in my tent. Woke up to read more news about so much stuff shutting down, and government warning people not to go out to eat or gather in groups of ten or more.

I'm thinking there is a good chance I'm going to be out of a job soon, at least temporarily until when or if things blow over. So It's a good thing I've been saving money. I should be able to get by most of the summer without a job if need be. And if things get desperate my credit card is completely paid off and I have a fifteen thousand credit line. But hopefully it doesn't come to having to use my credit card for that. I don't have a fear of dying, wondering more about how to survive without a job when everything is shutting down. 

I was just thinking, if things get really bad, and my place of employment does shut down maybe I'll go and spend a few months at the cabin. That sounds kind of nice actually. But I bet it's going to be a mess. Not been there in two summers. Two summers and winters of the mice having the run of the place unchecked... I think I'll be camping outside until I can get everything cleaned up again.

[Caradon]

Lucky me I got the last two packages of toilet paper at Walmart today. Lol. But then I felt bad for taking them.

I saw people wearing masks and covering their faces with their shirts when they walk by people. And sanitizing everything they touch. I even used the sanitizer wipes on the basket handle for the first time and avoided touching my face at all until I got home and washed my hands. And I'm not even very freaked about things.
I don't think there has been more than a couple cases of the virus here in my state yet. But I'm not sure exactly. I forgot to check if there was any soap I only have two and a half bars left. They probably didn't have any anyways.

I got some chips and salsa, yay. And some Chex mix snacks.  Just going to relax and watch some Netflix and munch on some chips. They were sold out of the Campbells chili that I like. But got a couple packages of brats. Most of those were sold out too.

[Caradon]

I saw this yesterday, funny. A guy in California went out on the street holding up a sign saying "Share your toilet paper." And got people to start giving him toilet paper.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/causes/an-unlikely-hero-surfer-sets-up-toilet-paper-exchange-on-california-street-corner/ar-BB11g4w3?ocid=spartandhp 

Maybe there are more cases in my state than I thought. Going to talk to the boss today, see if I can find out if there are any plans for us shutting down for a while. It would be nice to know so I can make plans for that if need be. Just had a thought. Maybe I should go apply for a job at Walmart.  They are getting more business than anyone right now, and that's not likely to change until if or when this thing is over. But then I wonder how many others are having the same idea. They could be getting shit tons of applications right now. But probably wiser to just take a couple month vacation and hang out at the cabin.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/coronavirus-in-minnesota-st-pauls-bethesda-hospital-to-transform-into-covid-19-care-facility/ar-BB11kBnz

Ouch, and it's being found in my area too.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/coronavirus-tuesday-update-six-new-cases-reported-—-as-tests-run-short/ar-BB11jFv9?ocid=spartanntp

[Caradon]

Well just talked to the boss. Looks like I'm officially out of work for who knows how long. He told me there will be a few hours still available for a little while at least. But it didn't sound hardly worth it, or the risk just for a few hours here and there. So told him I'd just take a week or two off and then get back in touch with him and see what the situation is. And then go from there.

He told me I'm supposed to be able to get unemployment over the ordeal so that would be good, not completely without income. Will have to figure out how to apply, never did that before.

I guess I'm going to make another trip to the store today and get some more food. I'm not going to head out to the cabin just yet. I should be getting new tires on my car first too, before doing that because my tires are getting old and wearing out. And not holding air very well anymore either.

This is what I was wondering about. It's good practice to wash your hands after handling money during the best of times, let alone a pandemic outbreak.

  https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/will-handling-cash-put-you-at-risk-for-the-coronavirus/ar-BB11gF4C?ocid=spartandhp

[Caradon]

Okay, so since I officially lost my job this morning due to the Corona virus. At least until the scare is over. I'm now completely isolated from all ( in person) human contact. I'm completely alone here. And that's still at the house in town.

I should have enough food to last quite a while if I eat minimally as I have been anyways since my puppy died. I even scored another six roll package of toilet paper at Target. They are limiting people to one package per person. (At least the Target near me is I don't know if all of them are doing that.) So anyone reading this post might want to try Target for Toilet paper.

 I was hoping to grab another loaf or two of bread, since I have a lot of brats and some peanut butter. But not much bread to be found. I currently have one full loaf. There is some hamburger buns and some specialty breads. I just decided to skip it. Bread is more luxury than necessity anyways.

I forgot to pick up another phone card. I'm on the Walmart Straight Talk plan I should have grabbed another card while I was there. But I have a couple days short of a month before my card expires and my phone dies. Actually, I think I can renew it online or by phone too. So never mind, lol. I probably don't actually have to go to the store to get a new phone card.

 For the moment, I'm just going to chill and relax and just try and enjoy the fact that I don't have to go to a job for a while and not stress out over money.

And honestly, I'm not going to be seeing or talking to another human being in person until I have to go and find more food. So unless I picked up the virus while I was out for supplies the last couple days it's unlikely of any chance that I will until I have to go out again. 

And maybe it was good timing for my baby to die, as I would be so much more worried about it if she were still with me. But at the same time it's shitty, because had she held out a while longer we would been having these days to spend together where I don't have to be anywhere.

[Wędajihs]

I went shopping yesterday. Here, some stores have opted to open their doors for the first hour or two for the elderly so they can shop in relative peace. A elder lady at work said she went at 7am but the shelves weren't restocked. All she wanted was eggs, bread, and toilet paper. She came away with nothing. So, I went shopping and found some eggs. I grabbed her some too. Sucks that people are so damn greedy.

I decided to keep working. Where I work is deemed an essential service. I am very lucky to work at such an awesome place. Yesterday I was given the choice to keep working or take the next two weeks off, paid, without losing any sick days or benefits. I have minimal contact with people at my work so I'm hoping I'll be okay. I'm not in it for money or benefits, I'm just there to do what I can when I can. And besides, if this doesn't blow over, money will become useless anyway. After all, it's just paper. Maybe we can all use it as toilet paper if worse comes to worse. 

Take care out there people.

[Caradon]

Yeah, sounds like a good place to work.

It's nice the stores are open early for the elderly for a couple hours, especially seeing as how they are the most vulnerable to getting fatally ill from this thing.

Something really selfish is what I saw yesterday about college kids on spring break gathering on beaches in Florida, ignoring all requests to help keep the virus from spreading.

I understand the mentality of " I don't care if I get sick. I'm going to have fun and party until I get sick and or die. I'm not letting anything stop me from having a good time."

That kind of thinking is all well and good and fine, if it was just all about them getting sick and their choice to risk themselves or not. What they are not comprehending, and maybe someone needs to explain it to them. Is that it's not just about risking their own personal health.

It's about them helping to continue the spread of the virus, and prolonging the length of the pandemic. Helping to cause death in not themselves, but to others. And helping to make sure all the people in the world that are struggling without jobs, because of not being able to work because of this thing. Get to continue struggling even longer.

They don't get that they don't even need to be feeling sick, to be carrying it and spreading it around not even knowing they are doing so. Their selfish decision potentially having an impacting on the entire world. Just so they can have a few days of fun on the beach.

[Serenity]

This isn't really a new concept. Someone reminded me that, back before my time, there were "chicken pox parties," so that people would just get it en masse, get over it and have the immunity.

Of course, the people who are doing it now are just morons. They're having Corona parties, and... they're not going to build an immunity to it, that's fucking ridiculous. It's not the same thing. They're just increasing the potential of spreading it to each other and everyone they and their 20, equally stupid people, come into contact with over the next couple of weeks.

The beach thing, the corona parties... it makes me so angry.

[Wędajihs]

There are Corona parties? What the hell? Well, maybe humanity's time has come. Perhaps the earth needs a couple hundred years to recover from the damage people are doing.

[Caradon]

Kind of reminds of some apocalypse movies where some groups of people in the beginning are taking it as all fun and games like a holiday party, until things really start to fall apart.

I was thinking about it and decided to go out and pick up a few more food items. Decided probably better to do it now while the risk is at it's lowest. Almost changed my mind though, when I saw how packed the Walmart parking lot was.

[Wędajihs]

I agree, get supplies now. Every day they are lower and lower. I think I'm stocked up enough to last a few weeks comfortably so hoping I can just take this weekend to relax and do some creative things.