It's getting nuts out there...even in my little corner of the world.

[catbyte]

I've been laying low since Thursday in a mixture of self-quarantine (my doctor recommended it because I've been traveling) and massive jet lag. A friend of mine called and she said that stores are running out of everything. I'm so glad I had groceries delivered yesterday. Nothing on my list was sold out; today that's not the case. I'm afraid to look at my 401K and I keep getting emails from my financial planner urging me "not to panic" and things will get better which is doing nothing but making me panic.

I am so freaking grateful I planned my trip to Maui when I did. I avoided the insanity gripping the planet. I now also have a primo stash of 100% Kona Peaberry coffee to last 3 months, a boatload of Maui Caramacs (like turtles but with Macadamia nuts instead of pecans), Milk & Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts, and enough Coconut Taffy cookies from Diamond Bakery in Honolulu & Maui Cook Kwees in assorted flavors to last for a few weeks if I'm judicious. BTW, Cook Kwees are the finest dunking cookies on the planet. They're like Pecan Sandies on steroids. Awesome. If this is the end, at least I'll go out happy.

Please, my friends, I hope you all stay safe wherever you are. I love you all.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. We love you too, my dear catbyte!

I am sure you will survive and come out on the other side, just like us!

Enjoy your stash--it sure sounds good!

[Siwsan]

2. I have reinforced my gummies supply, so I'm going to be just fine.

Still no reported cases identified in Genesee County, but I'm not letting that give me a false sense of security. My last outing, for a while, will be to pick up my taxes. My niece and her husband have offered to do any shopping, for me, when the need arises.

I just wish the weather would brighten and warm up so I can get outside and 'socially isolate' in my yards and gardens!!

[thucythucy]

3. There should be a DU rule

about posts that bring on uncontrollable drooling.

It was the coconut taffy cookies that drove me over the line.

I've never been to Maui, but it sounds wonderful.

Stay safe, Cat. Stay safe and bring on the dark chocolate!

[2naSalit]

4. Don't you need some help with that?

I mean, you could get a tummy ache if you ate all that by yourself...

[gibraltar72]

5. You're ready.

[catbyte]

6. Luckily, my A1C in February was 4.2. Don't know what it's going to be after all this.

[customerserviceguy]

7. Insane

finally hit my location here in South Carolina. I went to pick up some things today, and the meat, produce, bread and dairy departments were ravaged. And more people in there on a weekday than I've ever seen. I was able to say words of thanks and encouragement to some of my favorite workers at the supermarket that I frequent.

They still had beer, though, thank goodness!

[GoneOffShore]

8. Steady on - Remember the big friendly letters on the front of the book - Don't Panic!

And here are some words to be going on with:

And the people stayed home. And read books and listened, and rested and exercised, and made art and played games, and learned new ways of being and were still.
And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless and heartless ways the earth began to heal. And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
-Kitty O'Meara

[Lonestarblue]

15. Wonderful words to live by.

Along with some wine and cheese!

[Tucker08087]

19. That was very touching.

There’s something in my eyes now. And we aren’t supposed to touch them, but luckily they are leaking. I’m far too sensitive!

[ashredux]

9. Hope stashed some Maui Wowie away as well

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. My first thought as well...especially with all the cookies !!

[ancianita]

10. So glad you had a great vacation. Stay safe, and enjoy all your treats! Love to you, too. nt

Keep the cats vids coming!

[Dem2theMax]

11. Umm, sounds like you have a lot of chocolate stashed away.

DM me your address?

catbyte, stay safe! That's an order. We need you. We need everybody, but you and your videos help us all to go to bed at night with a smile on our faces.

I don't have a penny in the world, but really, don't panic. Things are going to be crazy for however long they are crazy. Eventually, hopefully sooner than we think, some sort of normalcy will return to our lives.

And in the meantime, you have all of us!
What more could you ask for?
(I know the answer to that. More chocolate.)

[FuzzyRabbit]

12. Three months of Kona coffee!

My favorite. I am jealous.

[LSFL]

14. I never knew

That so many treats could be infused with thc.. Or am I just dreaming?

[rickford66]

16. Diabetes will get you first I see

[JudyM]

17. Your travelogue photos seem like a lifetime ago. I hope you carry all that good beachy, fresh air

feeling through the duration of this world event.

[catbyte]

18. I recorded about an hour of video during the day & an hour at night during the super moon

from my lanai with just the pounding surf to play in case it all becomes too much. Or if I want to relax. I'm so jet-lagged that the last 3-4 days have been a blur. I can't believe how much a 6-hour time difference screwed up my internal clock.

[JudyM]

20. A real treat that will last. I have ocean wave clips but they're much shorter, love them.

Now you’re making me want to seek out longer beach vids.

[Tucker08087]

22. Maui is my favorite place on Earth!

I’ve been to the Hawaiian islands a few times, and every island is its own sliver of heaven, but Maui, especially when the whales come in the winter.... I could just stare at the ocean all day, and listen to it all night. I live on the New Jersey coast, so I’m not deprived of ocean views or sounds. Jersey beaches are actually some of the most beautiful that I’ve ever seen. But there are smells that are different, “island time” and attitude are different, and the whales. After watching the whales and snorkeling (quite by accident) with a group of dolphin, I sat on the beach and said out loud to anyone who happened to be listening, “I can die now.” I can’t imagine a more awe-inspiring moment. Welcome home. I’m sure you will have pleasant dreams for months to come!

[Joinfortmill]

21. Your goodies sound a lot better than mine.

[Aussie105]

23. It's ok to panic.

The message 'do not panic' doesn't mean for you to ignore and be unaware of what is happening.

Look at your 401(K) and realize you are in the shit. People with shares are in the shit.
Big companies that were doing well are in the shit.

We are all in the shit. The whole world is in the shit.

Once the panic is over and rational thought returns, be healthy and plan your day to stay that way. Focus what is important to you.
Really important.

Disclaimer: The above is my daily routine. Look at the numbers, panic, reflect, accept.
That gets easier as the days of shit go by. I have the cycle down to about 15 minutes now.
Your method of staying sane may be different.