Thursday, April 2, 2020

COVID-19 - 18 days into shelter-in-place

So we've been under a "shelter-in-place" order in California for about 18 days now.

Been a hell of a thing.

In truth, the impact on my life has been minimal. I don't go out much anyway and it's allergy season, so I'm actively trying to avoid the outdoors due to pollen.

Upsides:
  • I get an extra hour of sleep every morning due to not having to commute.
  • Pants are optional.
  • Feel like a beer at any time? No problem, provided there's some in the 'fridge.
  • I have a guilt-free excuse for not going outside.
  • Can do laundry almost any time I like.
  • Did I mention the awesome commute?
  • I can justify take-out orders as helping the economy rather than just me being lazy.


Downsides:
  • There is no toilet paper to be purchased for love or money.
  • If I want a beer, I have to have some on-hand or get a to-go growler from a brewery.
  • All food is to go.
  • Can't buy basics at local supermarkets: canned goods of nearly any sort, flour, sugar, soap, detergent, paper towels, and fucking toilet paper!!!
  • Almost everything is closed (for good reason, but still...)
  • Slight stir-craziness.
  • Did I mention the toilet paper thing?


Okay, my downsides are pretty minor. Hell, I managed to score a pathetic roll of paper towels this morning! I only had to get to the damn store at 7am...

Everyone wears masks and gloves now. In a way, I'm glad the fires last year had me invest in some masks. The news keeps flipping back-and-forth between "you don't need to wear masks" and "for the love of god, wear masks". That's not counting the gibbering nonsense from the Cheeto-in-chief who initially claimed this was all a hoax and that COVID-19 would be gone by Easter. Nice job, asshole.

I'm told by friends in the medical industry and in local government that I should prepare for the shelter-in-place to stay in effect until at least June. Gotta say, that's going to be brutal, but it sure beats getting hooked up to a respirator. Or, y'know, dying.

Crazy world. Stay safe out there!

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