April 10

We did our shopping yesterday which we do about every 10 days. We didn't need a lot but the milk was low and that is what we run low on first. That means a trip to the small local dairy. We had a short list that included some vitamin supplements (trip to Walgreens) and a few groceries (a stop at our nearby grocery). The changes over the last 20 days or so are startling. Twenty days ago we saw only 3 people wearing masks and little attention to distancing. Ten days ago more people were wearing masks but much less than half and no employees. They paid a bit more attention to distancing and the stores had placed markers own the floor to indicate a six-foot space. This time almost all customers and employees were masked and everyone was very conscious of the space between people. That included us.

We listened to much of the discussion concerning masks confusing as it was. Some said it wasn't effective unless you got the N95 variety which they were urging people not to use so they could be reserved for healthcare workers. Some said the surgical masks were only somewhat effective in preventing the wearer from spreading the virus to others but these should also be reserved for healthcare providers. Then different stories described desperate healthcare workers begging for any masks at all and gratefully accepting homemade varieties. Finally, some experts said "Well, it can't hurt." We found several sites on line describing how to make a simple homemade mask and over the last weekend made up six for our use. We still weren't sure whether we would actually use them until #45 had his press "briefing" on Saturday night I think it was when he announced the CDC recommendations that everyone wear the masks when they went out. I lost count of how many times he used the word "voluntary." Every other words it seems was "voluntary." "The CDC recommends...but it is voluntary....voluntary...But I won't be doing it....voluntary...I can't see me doing it at the 'resolute desk' greeting presidents, prime ministers, dictators...voluntary." That terrible waste of human flesh (I think its human) has been totally wrong on everything to do with this pandemic so I decided the best course of action is to do exactly the opposite of what he says. Now, again, he is loudly pushing the notion that we need to open up the economy and get back to work. That makes me extremely glad I am retired and no longer have to go to work no matter how I felt or how bad the weather conditions.

We saw some other interesting changes--some of which were not at all surprising. The little dairy usually carries a nice variety of locally sourced meats but their quantities and varieties had been sadly depleted. They were out of the breakfast sausage we would have bought. We did get the milk, butter, and yogurt we needed. Walgreens had everything we had on our list and at a good sale price. We looked for the nitrile gloves but they didn't have any. We have a partial box we bought 3 or 4 years ago. I use them in the garden when I want a more delicate touch than regular gardening gloves can provide. I also wash the gloves after I use them and let them dry. The empty slot for the gloves didn't surprise us given the news reports; however, the pile of Tylenol and other pain relievers behind the front counter with a sign limiting each customer to 1 item did. The clerk said they had been run out of an earlier supply. The grocery store was fairly well stocked except for the bread aisle of which the whole center sections were almost empty. The juice aisle was good so I got the tomato juice we were out of. Almost everyone had their masks, customers and employees. And many had gloves, as did we.

The Federal government has been so totally inept when it comes meeting the pandemic. I can think of a good description that begins with "cluster" and ends with an impolite "f" word. Stories like this show exactly how badly managed this whole mess is. I was amazed when the "First Son-In-Law" claimed at the last press conference he spoke at (first and last press conference, I think) claimed the strategic stockpile was "our" stockpile not "the states' stockpile." Who exactly is covered by "our?" I read a number of homesteader and prepper blogs for useful information not necessarily for political view point. Most of them are doing very well in the present "stay at home" situation because they keep a deep pantry and grow much of their own food. A number of interesting thoughts arise. 1) The FEMA emergency supply checklist starts with food and water (1 gal/person) for at least 3 days. I remember when the list left out the phrase "at least." People who have been possibly exposed are supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days. 2) According to that article linked above had no answers to the question of what happened to the supplies. Four or five years ago the prepper universe was in an uproar about very large orders of survival foods and supplies placed by the Federal government which depleted supplies venders had available for their usual customers. Many speculated that the Feds were preparing for a crisis that would threaten the "continuity of government." 3) Just a few minutes ago the news carried a story that the Michigan governor is tightening the guidelines for "stay at home' and stores that sell a wider range of goods than food cannot sell any non-essential items which include gardening tools and seeds. Interesting. I bought the bulk of my seeds on line but I did pick up about a dozen while grocery shopping at two of our local stores. Given how many of the online sources  have noted difficulty restocking since the "stay at home" orders began. People have turned to gardening in their isolation. I wonder how many will make growing their own food or whatever a normal part of their lives when whatever new normal is established after the pandemic. 4) Maybe after this mess ends we will be looking at a reset of the role of the Federal government. And perhaps we will look for leaders who are competent and believe that government should be run efficiently but not necessarily "like a business." I never thought that a "businessman" would have necessarily been good or bad, or better or worse than a career politician. What we got was a businessman only in the way that an arsonist is a fireman. An illusionist. A fake.