How is Everyone Doing (lets chat while weathering Corona)

[Florestan]

I thought a dedicated thread where OL members can just post up whatever they are thinking just so we keep some connection during this crazy time that we all hope ends sooner than later. Not trying to get a "Corona Virus" thread going so much as just talk and perhaps a place to relieve some stress.

Anyway, we managed last weekend to hit a couple groceries and stock up. We have a fair stock, maybe a couple weeks, but now it is like, I don't really want to enter the stores with the cases ramping up here in Michigan, so I made online orders for curbside pickup to fill in a few gaps. We will see how that goes and hopefully things will settle down to a sustainable pattern.

Or course, as bad as the panic is, I am very thankful to not have the virus--yet! I am on work at home since last Monday as they found a Corona positive person in our building (multi-tennant, very large business building). Yesterday we heard there were more. Work at home has been a challenge as we don't have enough VPN, so much work was off-line reviewing reports, then checking for email in the late evening, or use of personal email, which is not ideal policy. Phone calls of course work great. Some meetings have been a challenge too, especially if streaming the video part. They are upgrading our VPN this weekend, basically doubling capacity, so next week I'll have no excuses.

Dog has about 36 pounds of dry food and 9 cans wet. The cans last 3 days as we mix 1/6-can with 1 cup of dry. She is 55 pounds of muscle. This is an older photo, maybe age 7. She is now 11.

What else. Well my 2001 S10 pickup has been bucking on the freeway because the power will intermittently cut out for a split second, sometimes quite a lot. Now in a automatic, it would not be so bad, but I have a stick so there is no fluid coupling to buffer it. But I don't mind that much because I don't like automatics as I don't have any fun in them. I can avoid the bucking by not driving steady speed. At this time, I am not driving it so it has become a non-isssue.

Church is shut down and we are listening on line.

[Adrian]

In my country is not good, today at 18.30 we have a new press conference by the prime minster, I suspect a total lock down, meaning only the food stores are open .The barbers have closed down on own initiative like many big stores.
People all already ask not to go out is not strictly necessary. Dear friends of mine living in the south are almost completely isolated.
My godson bless him installed a video phone, so I can see them when speaking, horrible times, but... we still have our music.

[Florestan]

So my first online grocery order fell through, The shopper contacted me at the specified tiime then nothing, nothing, nothing. Order was auto cancelled at midnight. I have another one with a different gorcery that I hope will come through--if there is any stock left. And my son did a Whole Foods Prime delivery order and tossed in some items for us. Between three different stores I hope to not strike out.

I was sick at the end of February and lost about 5 pounds, Now I am down about 8 pounds and still losing, partly because I am trying to conserve food by not eating too much. I still have a good 5 - 10 pounds excess weight.

Seeing if my auto shop wants to use my S10 for long parts runs on the freeway so they can experience the bucking and maybe figure out what is wrong. Since I am working from home the rest of this month (at least) it is an opportune time to have my truck on an extended stay at the shop.

Public gatherings in Michigan are limited to 50 people and there is a penalty if exceeded, but the penalty does not apply to places of worship. My church is playing is safe, no more than 10 can attend including the minister and sound person, the rest stream the service.

[Nemorino]

It's been a really strange and awful couple of weeks, but I feel very fortunate to have a secure job in the financial industry and to have not had anyone close to me become ill. I do have lots of clients and acquaintances who are losing their jobs and closing their businesses. The biggest cities in Texas are all sort-of in lockdown - not very strictly enforced, though, and I'm concerned we're not doing enough to slow the spread before it gets a lot worse.

I haven't done curbside pickup yet, because so far the demand has been so great that you have to order 5-6 days in advance. Lining up in the morning to enter the grocery store - with 6 feet (basically a shopping cart) between every person - is such a weird experience. They also give us hand sanitizer and a disinfectant wipe to wipe down your cart before you use it. I'm glad they're doing it.

I have two housemates who rent their rooms from me, and one of them works for our biggest grocery chain. The other day he happened to arrive home as I was finishing up a BBC Symphony concert broadcast so that when he walked in all he heard was applause. On a whim, I stood up and motioned to our other roommate to stand up and give him an ovation. He was very confused, and then he laughed. And then he looked sad and said he really needed that after his hard day at work.

[Florestan]

My first curbside grocery order failed to come through. Second one, different store, came through with 2/3 of total (on a cost basis). I reordered the first one and got it this morning, about 1/3 of total. I am in fair shape for now, but will keep looking for things I am running shorter on.

Am concerned (though not terribly) about the stock market too. My retirement account is down 18 Percent. I have a lot of it in more secure investments (not stocks).

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

I haven't posted here in ages. I've been extremely busy with the crisis, being myself a health care provider. Older doctors in my hospital have been (rightfully) taken out of the front line because they would be at extreme risk if infected, making the caseload per doctor balloon, and we are implementing all sorts of restrictions for patients, visitors, and employees. It's been challenging and I'm exhausted.

So far, healthy. But it is all very concerning.

I did some calculations of speed of progression, expected infection rates, and the size of the US population, and the way it is going, it's probably going to peak in a month or so and then we'll start seeing a decline. But until then, it's a long way, and several factors may influence the curve to make it sharper or flatter.

I hope all my friends here on Opera Lively are doing well, taking good care of themselves, practicing social distancing, and lots of hand washing. Stay safe!

[Florestan]

I live one mile outside Detroit. Coronavirus spreading faster in Detroit than nearly anywhere in United States. Staying home. Working from home.

[Povero Buoso]

My mother has PKD so falls into a higher risk category so I have been basically self isoalting for the past week or so. Fortunatley I completed my PGCE interview and have recieved a conditonal offer for my place before the virus hit London big time. Due to the fact I was living in semi isoaltion during the early months of this year to finish my dissertation changes there has been little day to day difference in my normal living habits other than I'm doing more excercise indoors. London is the UK's hotspot so I'm avoiding any shopping for another few days at least and no public transport or human interaction if it can be avoided while doing so. Hope everyone else is doing ok.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

Many thanks to Florestan for starting this thread. It's been interesting to read all your comments and I hope everyone stays well.

I feel like I'm living in a parallel universe where everything's the same but nothing's the same and my only consolation is that millions of other people feel like I do.

These are the regulations currently in force for UK:

Individuals will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes:

• Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
• One form of exercise a day - for example, a run, walk or cycle - alone or with members of their household
• Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• Travelling to and from work, but only where they cannot work from home

Participating in gatherings of more than two people in public spaces is also not permitted except in very limited circumstances, for example, where it is for essential work purposes.

Police have been given new emergency powers to enforce these regulations.

There was a lot of panic buying at first with people stock piling toilet roll, dried pasta etc. The government encouraged us to buy our food/essentials on-line but the grocery stores which offer home delivery were soon overwhelmed as normally only about 7% of grocery shopping was done on-line. Shops have since introduced phased entry and have rationed certain items and it seems to be working quite well.

Florestan - so sorry to read that you're losing weight because you're having to conserve food. What a dreadful situation and hope you can soon get what you need. It sounds like shopping has been a nightmare.
What a gorgeous dog! What breed is she?

Povero Buoso - London must feel very strange. I know my little town seems eerie, with virtually no shops open and hardly anyone about.

Adrian - That was kind of your godson; humans are sociable animals and we need communication.

Nemorino - it's good that you have a secure job. I loved your little anecdote about your room-mate and it's things like that which will keep us sane.

Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva) - I can't imagine how traumatic it must be to work in the health service just now. Sending thanks and best wishes to all who work in this sector.


I'm very fortunate in that I'm retired with a secure state pension and a secure work's pension so have no financial worries. There are three large supermarkets within about seven minutes walk of my apartment so I have been able to get most things. I do a three/four mile walk first thing when there's nobody about and try not to shop too often. I don't think things will get back to normal for at least a year or eighteen months, if they ever do.

I feel terribly sorry for the freelance artists and creatives who won't have any income for the foreseeable future. Some venues have honoured contracts but most have not.

Take care everybody and try not to get too downhearted.

[Hoffmann]

I moved out here so that I would be able to enjoy the lovely desert weather and spend time with old friends who live here - and persuaded me to make the move. I was a little wary of such a big move (I'm single and nearly 70 - and grew up and spent my whole life on the east coast of the U.S.) but, then I thought: Why not? What could go wrong?

A week or so after arriving here (Palm Springs might be most familiar to you, is about 2 hours east of L.A.), my old friend Doug, whom I've known since we worked for the U.S. Senate at the same time (different senators) had to have brain surgery. He's recovering well, but since the virus issue ratcheted up while he was still in the hospital, he and his husband self-isolated almost immediately after returning home from the hospital.

It's beautiful here, but there are nearly 200 cases in the county, most of which are local to the Coachella Valley. The Coachella Valley includes the cities of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert and Indian Wells and Indio, CA - maybe more, I'm not sure) has a population of, maybe, 200,000, a large percentage of which fall into the vulnerable age range.

The good news, I suppose, is that I'm now living in a house in a more spread out community than in the far more densely populated hi-rise I left behind. The hi-rise, with 206 condos, also is heavily populated with an age vulnerable population. I worry about my many friends in the building constantly, most of whom have underlying health issues.

In the meantime, I'm doing well and finding it easier to stay out of trouble than when I was younger.

[Florestan]

Florestan - so sorry to read that you're losing weight because you're having to conserve food. What a dreadful situation and hope you can soon get what you need. It sounds like shopping has been a nightmare.
What a gorgeous dog! What breed is she?

Well it was not quite so bad as I needed to lose the weight and a few more pounds yet. I was being extra careful, but since we have layed in a bit more food, I am now eating more heartily. Some friends just tried an online order and their pickup day is next Friday!

Thankfully, I have a secure job, am working from home, and will continue to get paid. I feel sorry for those who had to be laid off and those who had to close their businesses. Only essential businesses are allowed open in Michigan now. We can get carry out food and all stores selling groceries are open.

Acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I [the Governor] order the following:

Beginning as soon as possible but no later than March 22, 2020 at 9:00 am, and continuing until April 13, 2020 at 11:59 pm, the following places of public accommodation are closed to ingress, egress, use, and occupancy by members of the public:

Restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, and other places of public accommodation offering food or beverage for on-premises consumption;

Bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, special licensees, clubs, and other places of public accommodation offering alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption;

Hookah bars, cigar bars, and vaping lounges offering their products for on-premises consumption;

Theaters, cinemas, and indoor and outdoor performance venues;

Libraries and museums;

Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, and facilities offering non-essential personal care services;

Casinos licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, racetracks licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and Millionaire Parties licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board; and

Places of public amusement not otherwise listed above.

https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9...2576--,00.html

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I moved out here so that I would be able to enjoy the lovely desert weather and spend time with old friends who live here - and persuaded me to make the move. I was a little wary of such a big move (I'm single and nearly 70 - and grew up and spent my whole life on the east coast of the U.S.) but, then I thought: Why not? What could go wrong?

"What could go wrong?" - What indeed.

A week or so after arriving here (Palm Springs might be most familiar to you, is about 2 hours east of L.A.), my old friend Doug, whom I've known since we worked for the U.S. Senate at the same time (different senators) had to have brain surgery. He's recovering well, but since the virus issue ratcheted up while he was still in the hospital, he and his husband self-isolated almost immediately after returning home from the hospital.

I hope your friend makes a complete recovery and that it won't be too long before you can see them both.

It's beautiful here, but there are nearly 200 cases in the county, most of which are local to the Coachella Valley. The Coachella Valley includes the cities of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert and Indian Wells and Indio, CA - maybe more, I'm not sure) has a population of, maybe, 200,000, a large percentage of which fall into the vulnerable age range.

It sounds like a beautiful place to live.

The good news, I suppose, is that I'm now living in a house in a more spread out community than in the far more densely populated hi-rise I left behind. The hi-rise, with 206 condos, also is heavily populated with an age vulnerable population. I worry about my many friends in the building constantly, most of whom have underlying health issues.

In the meantime, I'm doing well and finding it easier to stay out of trouble than when I was younger.

What a shame about the friends you've left behind but even if you hadn't moved, it's unlikely you'd have been allowed to visit them.

Pleased to hear you're well.

[Hoffmann]

I got seduced by this:

[Hoffmann]

In addition, LA - and the LA Opera, which has been superb, are only two hours away. Unfortunately, looks like it will be a while before attending live performances will become likely.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I got seduced by this:

I can see why. Stunning.