Some folks are having to work extra hard (medical care workers like Con's and Jarhead's wives) or are having to take care of kids who are out of school.
What are you doing differently at home during the outbreak that you either don't usually do or are doing a lot less of?
We are doing massive cleaning. Wrigley was incontenant the last six months of her life. I am literally scrubbing floors with a stiff bristle brush on a mop length handle and wiping up the stuff with old towels. Do that twice, then hit with odor neutralizer twice. In addition to the kitchen floor, we also thoroughly scrubbed every cabinet, counter, and the fridge. I'm having to do the rest of the tile floors that Wrigley hit in stages because I'm old. Should finish this project up in two weeks or so since it also includes cleaning and deodorizing all of the furniture. We had not thoroughly cleaned the tile floors in a decade - and tile is in about 40% of the house. The laminate floors can be steam mopped - and we have already done all of those before this virus hit.
Today I pressure washed all trash cans and outdoor garbage cans.
Like everyone else, we are cooking at home more.
What I'm doing less of is playing games. I cannot work outside long due to pollen & allergies. I can't do the out of home stuff we normally do (bars & church - like Good Catholics we miss you). And the cleaning stuff is taking a lot of time.
Oh, hey, as long as you brought it up, I've been meaning to look this up under the circumstances so I'll ask you, since you're handy! O:-)
How you y'all continue the Mass now? Or do you? Originally the primary function of deacons {diakones} was to carry the elements of the Eucharist to people who couldn't come to church; so I would guess that's the way, but I don't know.
I'm asking ecumenically, of course, not from the stance of being a Baptist -- other than some ignorance from being a Baptist. ;) I read a ton more than most Baptists do, but I've been searching my memory and I can't recall ever reading how our older brothers in the RCC and EOx and related groups deal with the Supper during pandemics.
I'm lucky that this is changed my daily routine almost not at all.
My wife and I have both been making a good living from home for the last two years.
I guess the main change is I'm going out to the grocery less. We're getting more hand deliveries.
We still have a weekly pen and paper RPG with our also shut in friends, but we may be moving that to Discord as things close off.
I have a distinct and pretty active lack of religion, so not much change there either.
OK - you asked so I'll fess up....
My wife and I (both healthy and in our mid 50's) are blessed enough to be fully paid to work from home during this crisis. After 33 years of marriage and with kids grown, out of the house and self-supporting, you might think the new close quarters are a problem. She and I have our work computers 5 feet apart all day every day for the last two weeks. You asked what is different as a shut-in and lets just say that my wife looks amazing for her age and her active welcoming of unscheduled work breaks is an unanticipated benefit of our lock-in situation.... Holy crap I never anticipated this! I hope it's ok to relay a beacon of joy in our lives as a result of this otherwise terrible situation!!
:D :smitten: \m/ :peace:
My girlfriend and I are already modern day hermits, so there hasn't been any big changes in our domestic life due to the pandemic. We did buy more non perishable food for our designated "zombie apocalypse" storage. The only real adjustment for my girlfriend is that she had to transition her brick and mortar college courses that she teaches to online for the rest of the semester. And, in any case, it wasn't that big of an adjustment for her because in the world of higher education, she prefers to teach online. I have a four day break from working at the medical center, so we plan on being full time hermits by playing MORE games and watching MORE streaming content.
As a healthcare professional, not only do I feel a sense of fulfillment that I make a contribution (no matter how big or small.) to a patient's quality of life, but that I also am grateful I have a job.
Grogs, we are only at the tip of the COVID-19 iceberg. It's only going to get worse in the coming weeks. And it's already bad now.
Even at my small medical center we have patients who are possible COVID-19 positive come through our ER. The number of patients are not large and significant, but it happens everyday. And modeling predicts we are 2-3 weeks from a hospitalization wave, and we may see a peak in late April or early May.
I hold in my thoughts the other healthcare professionals across the country working tirelessly to help patients. This is a difficult time.
Remember, STAY HOME and AVOID GROUPS. And play LOTS OF WARGAMES. And wash your hands after pushing cardboard counters and rolling dice.
Groggy
Right now my biggest takeaway is that I still like Order of Battle with all it's DLC a LOT more than Panzer Corps 2.
With airlines being pretty much grounded there isn't much to do for me, except training. So I am mostly at home taking care of homeschooling the kids and maintaining the house, while my wife works much more than she usually does because she is a nurse.
I can relate to the 'less gaming' issue. My time gets eaten by managing daily life for the family and on top of that I feel that when I finally have a moment to sit down with a game my mind is just tired and I don't feel like playing anything difficult or visceral.
So, I bought Animal Crossing New Horizons on the Switch and while its definitely not game I would normally play, I must admit I am having a great time with it.
Me and the kids share the virtual island and as time goes by in real time in the virtual world there is no stress involved with trying to tick off achievements or whatever.
Its a cute little life 'sim' where each cycle of 24 hrs your resources on the island respawn and once they are harvested its done for the day.
It poses a great oppertunity to learn the children how to share and how to cooperate, because if one nicks all the stone, the others don't have it anymore for a whole day.
One tip; make sure that the player who is likely to play most (and knows what he or she is doing) creates the island first. That player will remain 'boss' and is the only one that can push the story forward.
Its a weird design decision, but it does provide great incentive to start planning and discussing the game with your kids.
On a practical note: the Switch is THE console for a time like this, I feel. Its portability is especially handy for 'in between' sessions.
Back to chores: we are also deep cleaning the house.
Yesterday my wife had a great idea to get the children of the street outside; we made 'lanes' on a field nearby to keep people distanced from each other and she made a fun little sports tournament event with all kinds of games.
Parents could work at home this way and the kids could release some energy. It was great fun and much appreciated in the community.
My job is mostly 3rd party management of co-manufactures so 1) it's not critical for me to be in the office anyway and 2) I work from home pretty regularly anyway.
It is an adjustment having the wife and kids home too.
I have been playing a lot of games, reading a lot more. Also trying to learn some new things too.
Weathers been mostly crap but if I get a good weekend I'll clean out the garage.
Quote from: SirAndrewD on March 26, 2020, 01:26:02 AM
Right now my biggest takeaway is that I still like Order of Battle with all it's DLC a LOT more than Panzer Corps 2.
If you have not already done so, you should download Erik2's campaigns from the Slitherine Website. I've finished the German 39-40 campaign and am deep in the North Africa campaign. His designs are excellent and overall more challenging than the official campaigns.
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 25, 2020, 04:53:02 PM
Oh, hey, as long as you brought it up, I've been meaning to look this up under the circumstances so I'll ask you, since you're handy! O:-)
How you y'all continue the Mass now? Or do you? Originally the primary function of deacons {diakones} was to carry the elements of the Eucharist to people who couldn't come to church; so I would guess that's the way, but I don't know.
I'm asking ecumenically, of course, not from the stance of being a Baptist -- other than some ignorance from being a Baptist. ;) I read a ton more than most Baptists do, but I've been searching my memory and I can't recall ever reading how our older brothers in the RCC and EOx and related groups deal with the Supper during pandemics.
The Archbishop of Mobile ordered all Masses closed to the public. The priests say Mass every day (streamed on the web now). The plan is to have public Mass on Good Friday. The Archbishop has given a general dispensation for Mass attendance on Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation and attending confession due to the health concerns. The last two Sundays we had Mass before the large public gathering order the Cup was not distributed.
Confessions are being heard daily (from behind the screen and at a six foot distance) and the Church is open for those who wish to pray - you just have to keep your distance. Food pantry is also open.
However, "whenever two or more people are gathered in my name, I am present." My wife and I are doing the Sunday readings together along with the scriptural interpretation I have as a Lector (person who reads the Old Testament and New Testament readings - but not the Gospel).
The Eucharist is still being delivered to shut-ins weekly - except those hospitalized and under restricted contact due to health orders.
Thanks! -- curiosity sated. O0
Quote from: airboy on March 26, 2020, 11:39:47 AM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on March 26, 2020, 01:26:02 AM
Right now my biggest takeaway is that I still like Order of Battle with all it's DLC a LOT more than Panzer Corps 2.
If you have not already done so, you should download Erik2's campaigns from the Slitherine Website. I've finished the German 39-40 campaign and am deep in the North Africa campaign. His designs are excellent and overall more challenging than the official campaigns.
So... he kind of ported the extended campaigns from PzCorp into PzCorp2?
Quote from: JasonPratt on March 26, 2020, 04:16:37 PM
Thanks! -- curiosity sated. O0
Quote from: airboy on March 26, 2020, 11:39:47 AM
Quote from: SirAndrewD on March 26, 2020, 01:26:02 AM
Right now my biggest takeaway is that I still like Order of Battle with all it's DLC a LOT more than Panzer Corps 2.
If you have not already done so, you should download Erik2's campaigns from the Slitherine Website. I've finished the German 39-40 campaign and am deep in the North Africa campaign. His designs are excellent and overall more challenging than the official campaigns.
So... he kind of ported the extended campaigns from PzCorp into PzCorp2?
These are for Order of Battle (http://www.grogheads.com/forums/index.php?topic=24338.0)
Changed almost nothing for us. Grocery shopping is more difficult, but we stay stocked up anyway, shopping only two or three times a month. Right now, we could go three months without leaving the house but for prescriptions. Retirement is great unless we get sick and die. We live out in the country 10 miles from the nearest town. That town has a population of 1200.
Quote from: airboy on March 26, 2020, 11:39:47 AM
If you have not already done so, you should download Erik2's campaigns from the Slitherine Website. I've finished the German 39-40 campaign and am deep in the North Africa campaign. His designs are excellent and overall more challenging than the official campaigns.
I'll give them a look. There are actually a few OOB campaigns I own and haven't given a spin, so I'm leaning towards putting Panzer Corps 2 on the shelf for a bit and trying them.
I'm a technical writer and I already worked from home 1 day out of the week (Wednesdays), so it's not been an awful transition for me. I still have my job and I'm significantly less busy. However, adjusting to working at home full-time has been a bit of a mixed bag. Especially with so much less to do, it's too easy for me to get distracted :crazy2: Overall I'm quite thankful for my situation.
The real big difference is that I'm cooking for myself a lot more, and I'm spending a lot more money on random games I otherwise wouldn't have bought. I picked up the Resident Evil 2 remake for 50% off on Steam, and Piercing Fortress Europa for 50% off from Matrix. I gotta say I'm pleasantly very surprised with Piercing Fortress's WEGO system -- I always wrote it off as a generic looking IGOUGO title, but so far I'm really digging the basic blow-by-blow gameplay, and the focus on the Italian theater is an interesting one I don't see tackled often. Not my favorite theater by any means, but it's always good to switch things up :coolsmiley:
I could not play the RE2 remake for more than an hour. It was just too gory for me.
I already worked 90% of the time from home as I am in IT and support some critical systems for our municipal government. Our whole team were already teleworking almost full time for the last 7 years or so. I maybe went in to the office about once or twice a month so it hasn't been much of a change for me.
Our IT department has worked hard to set up many employees to work from home including adding new hardware as quickly as possible and most people are now set up.
Quote from: WallysWorld on March 26, 2020, 09:49:20 PM
I already worked 90% of the time from home as I am in IT and support some critical systems for our municipal government. Our whole team were already teleworking almost full time for the last 7 years or so. I maybe went in to the office about once or twice a month so it hasn't been much of a change for me.
Our IT department has worked hard to set up many employees to work from home including adding new hardware as quickly as possible and most people are now set up.
No need to emphasize 'it', we are ALL in it together! ;-P
Not much actually, except that i work from home and my kids share my office in the morning for home schooling. I don't have more time than usual...
I have less time than ever, actually. I'm feeling very fortunate for that, though.
Well unfortunately the problems from being isolated are starting to hit. My hip dislocated last night. I have an inherited problem.
I go to the gym and do light weight training religiously. I've not been to the gym since this accelerated - about a month now. And I've lost muscle mass and my hip has started going out. Nothing can really be done for it - except the weight training. Think of it as regular physical therapy. This is only going to get worse during April.
At least I have the Scotch.
Man, you should do some swimming if you can get to a pool. Best thing for any ortho injury. Even walking with weights in chest deep water is great for hip injuries.
Quote from: Skoop on April 05, 2020, 03:21:36 PM
Man, you should do some swimming if you can get to a pool. Best thing for any ortho injury. Even walking with weights in chest deep water is great for hip injuries.
Thanks - we have a pool until we get it taken out later this year. A little cold - but I can probably walk around at high noon in it. Unfortunately - it is not configured to swim with a long shallow stretch.
Hope your hip gets better AB. It's not quite warm enough here to get pool party going just yet, even with scotch. But soon.
How much scotch do you have to pour into your pool to warm it?
At least warm it using cheap scotch.
As a "needed," worker in the construction/civil engineering/transportation world, I'm still out and about (as is the Mrs. though she does community outreach/help stuff) and we're not complaining as we still have jobs. Can say that I get the feel like I did before going on convoys and shit in Iraq/Afghanistan that "it is what it is," before going outside the wire each day now. It's oddly comforting and frightening at the same time. Shit'll get me. Just a matter of when.
Figured my end would be more explodey or shooty rather than drowning in bed but...
:o
I pour the scotch into ME to warm the pool. No, it doesn't really work but it makes it so I don't really give a damn. O0
We may take a scenic drive tomorrow. With the Prius I'll only have to go to the gas station once for the entire trip. I filled up today at $1.47 with the lowest I saw on the drive to pick up my taxes being $1.43.
$1.60-ish here. My tanks are full.
I haven't bought gas in almost 6 weeks.
Car insurance companies with mutual ownership have been returning $100s due to much lower accident payout rates because people are not driving very much.
I just walked by a house a little further down the block from mine, on the main road. They are playing a drinking game on the yard. They and about ten friends have a sign posted towards the roadway saying "you honk, we drink". They are feeling no pain right now... :)
I wish I thought of that.
My wife has decided that she should improve her life skills during this plague. She has purchased three research tomes, about $200 of ingredients, and has started the experimentation process.
Her field of study: Cocktails.
We now have about five different types of bitters (rhubarb bitters is a thing), two types of vermouth, and a bunch of flavored liquor. I'm getting a new cocktail as part of the research process several times a day. Her experimentation is so serious that I've had to cut back significantly on the Scotch to be able to walk.
I have talked with quite a few of my buddies and when our Governor lifts the plague restrictions we are going to have a Pig Roast Cocktail Party. Everyone goes in on the roast pig and takes home leftovers. My wife makes a couple of pitchers of cocktails and has recipes out that she is willing to make.
Her main research finding so far is most cocktails are way too sweet for our taste. She dials them way back so they are tart, not sweet.
Her studies continue.
Oh man, that is fantastic. I fully support that research. :coolsmiley:
That's a Good Husband Airboy! Nobody said it was going to be easy being married. I think you've handled it well. Brilliantly even. ^-^
Most of the insanity is ending in my State. I can go to the gym tomorrow and to Mass on Sunday.
Mass will have no hymnals which will be different and there is a general dispensation for those who feel their life is in danger. I would not go if I was very elderly or had a compromised immune system.
I took the Wife out for Mother's Day tp Outback Steakhouse this evening, the only place that allowed call ahead seating. Limited menu, slow service, but the bar was open so.... <:-) Our first Post-Lockdown outing.
Quote from: Sir Slash on May 10, 2020, 10:35:38 PM
I took the Wife out for Mother's Day tp Outback Steakhouse this evening, the only place that allowed call ahead seating. Limited menu, slow service, but the bar was open so.... <:-) Our first Post-Lockdown outing.
How romantic!
True. Nothing says Romance like face masks, rubber gloves, and alcohol... internal and external. O0
My son was working, but wife, daughter and I went down to the beach for a walk and then got Japanese food takeout and had a floor picnic. No sake, though.
[/hijack on]
Airboy, I was talking to my mom yesterday and you came up. I remember a while back you mentioned that you could have communion delivered to your house. I was telling my mom that and she asked if that was once or every week. I thought it was every week, but then I couldn't remember if it was just for Easter or what...so, what was the deal with that again? My mom offers the communion at her church (Catholic).
[/hijack off]
I don't know about you guys, but this whole mask, social distancing, etc. stuff is really starting to bum me out. I was never someone who went out much to begin with, but now I genuinely hate going out and seeing everyone with face masks, everyone avoiding one another, and so on. It's just a complete bummer.
All of this is really starting to take a toll on my mental well-being. Overall I'm one of the very fortunate ones, I'm still safely employed and actually have more free time than I've ever had in my adult life. But...I can't help bumming about the state of affairs, the suffering of others, and what the future holds for everyone including me.
^It's the unemployment situation that is rattling my nerves too. The Wife and I are still working but watching the news is really depressing/frightening. Just gotta keep on keeping on.
Quote from: Toonces on May 11, 2020, 12:54:35 PM
[/hijack on]
Airboy, I was talking to my mom yesterday and you came up. I remember a while back you mentioned that you could have communion delivered to your house. I was telling my mom that and she asked if that was once or every week. I thought it was every week, but then I couldn't remember if it was just for Easter or what...so, what was the deal with that again? My mom offers the communion at her church (Catholic).
[/hijack off]
Every week for shut-ins at our parish. Can't say for anywhere else. Some people this goes on for years because they are very frail and cannot travel.
Quote from: Toonces on May 11, 2020, 12:57:22 PM
I don't know about you guys, but this whole mask, social distancing, etc. stuff is really starting to bum me out. I was never someone who went out much to begin with, but now I genuinely hate going out and seeing everyone with face masks, everyone avoiding one another, and so on. It's just a complete bummer.
All of this is really starting to take a toll on my mental well-being. Overall I'm one of the very fortunate ones, I'm still safely employed and actually have more free time than I've ever had in my adult life. But...I can't help bumming about the state of affairs, the suffering of others, and what the future holds for everyone including me.
Unfortunately, this was a predictable side effect and has been well documented in the medical press. Total prescriptions filled for antidepressants & anti-anxiety drugs have increased substantially according to the WSJ asking several major groups that track aggregate prescriptions.
Another side effect is people avoiding treatment for other problems. During past disease outbreaks people stopped treatment for diabetes, stopped getting their hearts checked for chest pain, etc..... As a result, deaths from other diseases take a sharp increase in the following months. Again, well known in the medical literature and highly predictable.
Quotenow I genuinely hate going out and seeing everyone with face masks, everyone avoiding one another, and so on. It's just a complete bummer.
You should come to Arizona, I hardly see anyone wearing masks or social distancing.
Interesting. This morning I went first to Home Depot and then to the Walmart next door. In HD, masks were rare; worn by maybe 10% of the people, employees included. In WM, pretty much the exact opposite. Almost everyone had masks, including the employees. But I was surprised, almost shocked, by a young mother with two very small children none wearing masks. :-\
Were her kids THAT ugly? :2funny: Pretty much same here. Last Sunday Home Depot had almost all their employees with masks and about half the customers were wearing them though the store was far from full. Lots of traffic out and about but no large groups. The line at Dairy Queen was around the block. :idiot2:
You can't shop without a mask here.
How do you buy one if you don't already have one then? :P
Quote from: Sir Slash on May 12, 2020, 03:02:56 PM
How do you buy one if you don't already have one then? :P
From the internet of course! That's where I ordered mine from. Of course, the item description (Amazon) never mentioned they'd be shipping from China! :-\ >:( #:-)
My wife is a seamstress. She made masks for us and the kids. They work great.
Quote from: RedArgo on May 12, 2020, 11:31:56 AM
Quotenow I genuinely hate going out and seeing everyone with face masks, everyone avoiding one another, and so on. It's just a complete bummer.
You should come to Arizona, I hardly see anyone wearing masks or social distancing.
I drove by an IHOP on Mothers Day (one of the few places with open dining rooms) on the west side of Phoenix. There were about 20 people waiting to get in outside the building. Everybody real close, few masks... The parking lot was packed. I can only imagine what it was like inside. The crowd did seem to be mostly younger (under 40). Guess we are about to find out how dangerous this is...or isn't.
But if you want to see plenty of masks, go to Sun City. The older folks seem to be much more careful, at least as far as I can see.
QuoteBut if you want to see plenty of masks, go to Sun City. The older folks seem to be much more careful, at least as far as I can see.
My in-laws winter in Sun City West, and I was pleasantly surprised how seriously they took the masks and social distancing.
Then they got on a plane and flew back to Illinois about a week ago, so hopefully they are okay.
We live on the suburban southwest side and at least the few places I've been, I don't think many people here are taking it seriously.
I actually bought masks last year to mow the lawn in to keep allergens out of my mouth and nose, and they worked great. Didn't think they would come in handy in the way they are now.
Quote from: Gusington on May 12, 2020, 05:14:44 PM
I actually bought masks last year to mow the lawn in to keep allergens out of my mouth and nose, and they worked great. Didn't think they would come in handy in the way they are now.
We have a stockpile. My wife even had the extra special masks for when she does her artsy welding.
IF I was going to risk getting this disease by going out to a restaurant, you better friggin' believe it would be IHOP. Good lord, what is wrong with people?
Agree. I can see dying for bacon, but pancakes? :idiot2:
LOL, that was supposed to say "wouldn't be IHOP." ::)
What about pancakes AND bacon?
That would be worth taking a 'Life Chance'. But only if it's really good pancakes, and plenty of bacon. None of this 2 little, dried-up pieces that resembles blackened noodles. And NO Canadian Bacon! Sorry friends and allies to the north, that's not real bacon. It's ham that's bacon want-to-be. I would also risk my life for really good sausage as well. But I would fight the United States Marine Corp for.... Apple Fritters. :dreamer:
I had some smashing bacon with dinner last night.