Things I've learned with today's shopping trip - one week into the Coronavirus

[Baitball Blogger]

self-distancing.

1) Driving out I couldn't help noticing how the neighborhood looks like a real estate brochure. Families riding bikes together, working aged men out jogging. Dogs happily pulling their owners on a leash. And the golfers? Well, it looks like they have exclusive rights to the best social distancing activity of our times.

2) In the grocery store, we can add eggs to the list of hoarded items. I had to go to two stores to find some.

3) Pancake mix. Gone.

4) Overall, only organic, free-range or store brand items remain on the shelves.

5) And it dawned on me today why the napkin shelf was almost bare. It is filling in for the lack of t.p.

6) Pasta is also being rationed. I really miss the Goya elbow noodles that I cooked last week that was the best I ever made. But maybe it's not the brand. Maybe they cooked perfectly because the water in the pot is drinking water from a jug. I started cooking with it to avoid our nasty city water. Never had pasta cook up that good for me. Soft water vs. hard water?

7) And the best part of all, social distancing is a good excuse to avoid people who have been nasty to you in the past. Smile with your crow's feet wrinkling above your mask, say no to their offer to help and move on.

[Meowmee]

1. Number 7 😹

[leftieNanner]

2. Very good advice

And if you want a delicious pancake recipe - not using pancake mix, let me know!

[masmdu]

39. Yes, Please!

[leftieNanner]

42. Here you go!

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 cup sifted all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk (or more if you like thinner pancakes)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Method:

Melt butter and set aside. Combine dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, soda). Beat egg with buttermilk and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients and mix well. Add melted butter. Cook on the griddle and enjoy! We also love them with blueberries added to the batter. You can also make them gluten free with any good GF flour blend, but you will need to add a lot more liquid.

[CountAllVotes]

3. Good luck w/online shopping

Checked Costco last night. Everything was not in stock.

Walmart does not deliver food where I am located; other items not in stock.

Target does not deliver food to where I am located; other items not in stock.

Safeway does but ...

I cannot afford to shop there!

[tishaLA]

8. I've tried four times in the past week and a half to order Amazon Fresh

because, among other things, they were one of the few places that still had TP (no more) and pasta. And I'd go through the process of finding items to get to $35 so I didn't have to pay shipping, then I'd get to the checkout, and I'd find out that Aaon Fresh didn't have any delivery windows available in the next three days.

Four times. And I live in Los Angeles, so it's not like I live 30 miles from nowhere. It's horrible.

[gldstwmn]

27. We are experiencing the same problem in

Colorado and Amazon has a huge warehouse not 5 miles from us.

[Tink41]

31. Amazon Fresh

In my location there are random times appearing through out the day. I have 2 carts Fresh and Whole Foods thru Amazon. I keep a rotating variety of things I need. When pork runs out at one I put in cart in the other. Anyway at 5:10 pm yesterday a window from 6-8pm that evening became available, snapped it up. Woke up at 4 this morning checked my tablet in bed and Fresh had a slots available on Tue. I figure we need to be checking in til slots open up w a cart ready to go. A few times I've thrown in randoms to make to 35 minimum. Fresh meat, lettuce, milk, and rice seem to be in short supply

[agingdem]

13. so yesterday

after a week of "sheltering in place" I made a quick trip to Albertsons..shelves were picked over and chicken and hamburger meat were still available but rationed...what struck me as as "how stupid are you?' were the shoppers who were clustering while discussing social distancing...the woman overseeing the self-check "assuring" us that wiping down the screen and counter wasn't necessary because they had been disinfected the night before...the 20 something wearing a mask shaking hands with a checker and then removing her mask so as to sip from the checker's cup...the world is witnessing a plague...what is it these morons don't get?

[CountAllVotes]

19. *sigh*

The idiocy astounds me.

I've been on this since Jan.

Last night I called up the pukes I know and they figure the whole thing will be over in a few weeks and they had no idea that dump called it a hoax (yeah right!).

I suggested MURDER charges as possible action.

All they could do was brag abt. the RX dog food they managed to secure 5 cases of for their tiny little $1,000.00 puppy mill dog and not to worry as they had already sold their stocks and made a bundle and the market will reopen full-speed ahead any day now and they'll be back making loads of bucks real soon now; any day. They had to cancel their planned trip to Italy. I mean like what a freakin' bummer!

Today I took the time and effort to send out emails to tell people wtf is going on (videos, maps, etc.).

I get a reply telling me how to wash my hands and that zinc lozenges would fix it all. No one bothered to pay any attention at all. They think I am nuts. Not a solitary thank you after so much work!

These fools will soon learn this is not over and won't be over any time soon -- like years dare one suggest if ever at all.

We've got a monster on our hands and no one gives a damn. Its easier to deny and ignore it because YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL THAT WAY!!

[gldstwmn]

29. Freud talked about a thing called

wish fulfillment. It's when you want something to be true so badly that you actually convince yourself it's happening/going to happen. I think some folks are suffering from it right now including some that are on the TV every day.
Zinc and hand washing isn't going to help you if you have viral pneumonia.

[brewens]

4. How big of an area and what part of the country are you in? My supermarket here in north

central Idaho was in pretty good shape Thursday. I saw one post the next day from a friend glad they found t-paper at Walmart. No other posts on grocery shopping so I was thinking things were better around here. It's a town of about 50,000.

I'm going shopping every fourth day, unless day three is Monday when I donate blood platelets. Might as well go as long as I'm out there. That's tomorrow, so I'll try and get in right when they open the doors at seven. I hardly ever eat anything but tuna that comes in a can, so I have to get fresh produce frequently.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Our general area is about that big.

We have three Publix's in a five mile radius. T.P., purell and facemasks are the only thing that I've completely given up on. But I have enough to get me by in the short term.

[brewens]

10. It doesn't hurt that our largest employer is a tissue mill. I know Costco was loaded with t-paper.

Their getting a special order load right from the mill made the papers. The only thing I struck out on was rubbing alcohol, but what I have left could last a week or a couple months.

[MissB]

5. Just for giggles

I looked at Bob’s Red Mill’s website. They carry all sorts of flours, beans and baking mixes.

Pretty much everything is sold out. Like.... gone. Quite shocking.

My hens are still giving me 3-7 eggs a day, which is more than enough. I regularly supply my sibling with eggs, who noted that even the $8/dozen eggs at Whole Foods were wiped out.

My neighbor uses our backyard to pass through when she’s out walking her dog (we do the same; it’s all good). I saw her yesterday and asked if she needed anything. She needed some flour and I left about 5 lbs on my porch railing for her to pick up. Happy to share what I have.

I may not go grocery shopping for a week or two. Might try online ordering mid week for next weekend delivery. Don’t need anything in particular so may just pass altogether.

I’ve spent a lot of time in my backyard this weekend. Planted potatoes, added some chips to the top of the newer asparagus rows. Redug my horseradish bed completely and moved a rhubarb plant. It’s sunny and beautiful out and it’s nice to be outside not worrying about anything.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. I love Bob's Red Mill.

Started buying their oats before all this started to cook Cashew Oats Brittle from the Dirty Gourmet. Like the recipe so much that I bought enough for two more batches to mail to family members.

[MissB]

11. I think I may need that recipe...

If you can share?

[Baitball Blogger]

12. It's under sweet snacks.

Sesame, Cashew Brittle

https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNWDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT59&lpg=PT59&dq=Dirty+gourmet+cashew+oats+brittle&source=bl&ots=qD72Kfn_p3&sig=ACfU3U1gygHuBHgKIdJj2ItHHv9Wv_GZQA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKjpjCg6_oAhUJVN8KHY8FDhAQ6AEwAXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=Dirty%20gourmet%20cashew%20oats%20brittle&f=false

[NutmegYankee]

33. I purchased a 4 pack of the Bob's Red Mill Sorghum Flour just before the panic.

It was one of the ingredients in hardtack that I was making for a civil war reenactment, subsequently canceled. So instead I used it to make Sorghum pancakes this morning.

[csziggy]

25. I tried to get flour from King Arthur's Flour last week

EVERYTHING was marked as "Not Available."

I'm not sure if they've sold out or if they are just shut down for now.

Then I tried to order flour from Amazon. They had it listed, I put it in my cart, and got interrupted. When I came back to it, everything had been taken out of my cart and listed as "Unavailable."

So far we've been able to get store bread and I do have enough flour to make a few loaves, so I may try next week or the week after.

[Vinca]

7. I've found that what isn't there one day is there the next.

With the exception of toilet paper. A psychologist explained the hoarding as it being our only control over the situation and that's true. We're totally powerless, but if you can find a couple of cans of black beans to turn into soup if you have to it makes you think you're doing something. It's really crazy because it's not the supply chain as much as it is the mind set.

[meadowlander]

43. +1. The food exists, the store is just having trouble getting it onto the shelves fast enough.

That's why some stores have meat but no eggs and others have eggs but no meat.

Which is a bugger because it means people are having to leave the house to go shopping more often than they normally would or are having to go to more than one shop.

Hopefully the supermarkets can hire a bunch of temporary stock workers and delivery drivers in the next week or two, people will calm the fuck down, and we can get into a better routine.

[zackymilly]

14. Lots of fresh eggs in my area for sale on Craigslist. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

15. You have a point with #6

We moved from NY to SC in the last couple of years. I always used tap water in NY to boil pasta, and it was the hardest water I ever had in my life. Our water in SC is much softer, and you're right, the pasta tastes better! I didn't think of that.

[StarryNite]

16. My sad realizationg today when I had to do some grocery shopping...

seeing empty shelves is no longer shocking, it's become the new normal.

[shanti]

18. It's been over 2 weeks since I was at a store

And I anticipate staying in another 2 weeks before needing to go shopping again. It's definitely going to be a shock when I finally go!

[CountAllVotes]

23. It seems that will be my case too

I'll don the N95 mask, gloves and what else I may have as alleged protection.

I'll have too.

The last run at Safeway was $375 for barely a cart of food and few supplies, no cat litter and a solitary bag of cat food.

If this is not inflation than what the hell is it?

We are screwed aren't we?

Someone tell me I am wrong!

DAMN!

[lambchopp59]

32. Not me, safeway is ridiculously overpriced

Especially for the non-perishables, OTC medications, etc. Unfortunately it is the closest market for my work commute (I'm in healthcare, I'm exempt from shelter in place) so I only breeze through for a few necessary items and save my weekly shopping for far better priced and comparable quality stores well worth the extra 10 mile drive.

[CountAllVotes]

35. I'm not supposed to go out at all

I am over 60 and have MS; double high-risk person and I've had 10 infections in a year.

But, if necessary I will have no choice but take the risk once again. I cannot afford Safeway again. Too $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for me needless to say.

[marlakay]

17. Had to go out today to get allergy meds for husband

I realized how reading this past week about virus and staying home, how much fear is in me. I was knocking things over inside my car, dropping groceries while bagging them at self check because line too long.

I went to Safeway to get meds and grabbed just some meat, pasta and sauce so we can stay home longer.

I almost feel like a crazy person wiping everything down, and rushing away from store in a panic.

Is this some new normal? Now I am afraid to go anywhere. 🥺🥺🥺

[CountAllVotes]

20. Now I am afraid to go anywhere.

Same story here.

Luckily the compulsive cleaning has not hit me *yet*. My mother was a cleaning freak of the worst imaginable sort and I kind of picked that up just a bit.

Then I think to myself, what the hell am I worried about? No one has been in/out of this house that does not live here in months. If a letter, etc. that I receive is contaminated and it kills well, to hell with it. WHO really cares to live in such a world? Who?

I then sat down with my cat and decided she has a better life than I thought a creature could have as she purred away happily.

The survivors seem to be our animal friends.

[marlakay]

21. Must be nice to be a pet now

On walk my dog still wanted to go up to people and other dogs, i smiled and pulled him away. I can tell he doesn’t understand why mom won’t let him be social.

[CountAllVotes]

22. I have three cats

Two of them are tabby twin brothers and the other is a black cat, my girl as I call her.

Life has not changed for them except they've been getting fed late as I'm so stressed out, I forget. They are certain to remind me however.

A dog's life ... oh how I wish right now that life were just that, a dog's life so to speak!

[gldstwmn]

26. Our dogs are super happy because

they've been getting more open space walks than usual due to everyone being home more.

[hay rick]

38. Opposable thumbs are so overrated!

[gldstwmn]

24. They closed all of the golf courses here. The open space

Trails were busy but we've had snow the last couple of days. People were doing their best to maintain their distance.
It's a good sign that a lot of people are outside. It means they're not sick yet.

[Ohiogal]

28. My observation from this area

People still aren’t practicing social distancing. I am appalled at the clusters of people too close together in stores. Even some store clerks have gotten in my face. Aarrgghh!

[catbyte]

30. Here in Lansing, MI, my small, local independent market has a good supply of eggs--

they buy from local farms. They're more expensive because they're free-range and organic, but at least they don't have to be trucked in from who knows where. The only things that seemed to be scarce were produce items from far away (oranges, bananas, tomatoes, ginger root) and, of course, paper products like tp, tissues, napkins, and paper towels. The meat counter was full, but they're locally known for that department. I don't know where they get it, but there aren't any shortages so far. I stocked up on stuff for the freezer, just in case. I don't eat much meat so I'm set for weeks. Their salad bar/hot food/soup island is shut down but their deli counter is still operating and they have a healthy supply of packaged liquor, beer & wine if it all goes to hell.

[jmg257]

34. I went to a store to get bread, and compared to the last few weeks it was almost relaxing

Not nearly so busy, lots of bread, decent meats, produce, dairy, cheese, frozen foods, etc. Bought some basics, and I ended up going to another to get specific bread the wife wanted and a few more things.

Made me feel a bit better overall.

[lambchopp59]

36. California Gov. Newsom telling youthful recipients to "Grow up"

“Those young people are still out there on the beaches thinking it’s time to party. It’s time to grow up, time to wake up,” Newsom said at a Saturday evening news conference. “Time to recognize that it’s not just about the old folks, it’s about your impact on their lives. Don’t be selfish.”
To that end, I'm getting sideways glances and sneers for wearing my mask, gloves, glasses in the store, and witnessing how ignorantly so many are behaving in this relatively rural area of California.
This thing will become far worse before it's better. I have a full hooded PAPR ordered, it's on backorder and will take at least a month to arrive. By the time I'm entering stores wearing a spaceman suit, many of the ignorant will no longer be sneering.

[hay rick]

37. The OK Boomer moment has arrived! nt

[Stryst]

40. I've got some PTSD issues from living through a couple of natural disasters

I always keep several large bags of rice and a large supply of dried beans and peas and such; last night I found out that my roommates have never been taught how to prepare dried beans. Tonight I'm going to teach them how to make linguini from scratch.

At least people are learning how fragile the system is from something we actually have a chance of recovering from. Imagine this same scenario if there had been a supervolcano, or an NBC weapon deployed.

[Baitball Blogger]

41. Our diet has changed completely.

I'm doing all the cooking...and really like it! Started with my mom's latin american food and moving on to easy, but tasty meals.

[Stryst]

45. Get a small pressure cooker

I got my at a thrift shop for $10. It's a game changer for deal with beans.

[meadowlander]

44. The one good thing about the Global Financial Crisis...

At least I learned how to cook beans.

Looks like another year of "survival mode" coming up. It barely feels like we recovered at all.