The Maryland Democratic primary (run by the state, not the party) in April is already pushing people hard to use absentee ballots. You can request one on the Internet and have it mailed to you and then mail it back in.
I reviewed our inventory again. This is becoming a couple of times a week task. Based on the latest grocery visit I did some Internet ordering yesterday evening - cat litter and dry cat food. Fresh produce is my biggest concern. I wonder how many people are over-buying when things are available and taking home what will end up being very expensive compost.
As I think I mentioned produce was pretty well wiped out on my last grocery visit. Root veg was gone (one potato, literally, was left) but there was plenty of cabbage and apples (both long shelf life) and none of the more fragile lettuces. How are people going to eat so much more than they usually buy? What are they going to do with all those mushrooms in the few days of life they may have?
It seems to me that people are buying emotionally and not rationally.
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Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
433
Our council and mayoral elections, due in early May, are postponed for a year. Sensible course of action, IMO.
Interesting to hear reports from different areas. In Connecticut I haven’t been to stop and shop in several days but was told it was ravaged. I did a lot of buying a week ago and have replenished dairy and veg. We are over 70 and h has copd so I think we are done and in until…
I’m tempted to nip out for another big bag of dog food.
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Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
435
Well, we’ve now signed up for a supermarket home delivery service, prompted by a report in the newspaper that they are tending to give priority to existing customers. It’s actually our third choice supermarket. Our usual supermarket couldn’t offer a delivery slot in the next three weeks and our second choice website was down due to overload. Even with the one we have now signed up with, the first delivery slot is 24/3. We will not be locked down then, but we’ll place an order to see how it works and to make us “existing customers”.
Problem actually is the second round of election should strictly follow 7 days after the first round. And most probably much more cases of infection next week, juridically one can’t not postpone the election of next week to another date. If this is the case, the votes of today will be annulled. And questions about those mayors who will win today (with more than 50% of votes) in the first round.
That’s very long! You mean even going out for a walk in the nature is forbidden?
Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
441
Yes - as far as I understand the press report, but we’ll have to wait for the details in the official announcement. I assume folk will be allowed out for things like medical appointments. The lockdown in Spain is being enforced by the police who are ordering people off the streets, unless they can prove they are making a permitted journey.
I understand the timing of this is crucial. The experts reckon (correctly, IMO, ) that such isolation is hard to sustain in the longer term. And what they don’t want is to introduce it too early so that people start ignoring it just as the virus reaches its peak, which it’s expected to do in the UK in about two months or so.
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ChristinaM
(Hungry in Asheville, NC (still plenty to offer tourists post Hurricane))
442
I had thought that the isolation needs to begin before the number of severe/confirmed cases explodes? Because that means it would be circulating, spreading, and silently infecting in the 2+ weeks before.
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Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
443
I can only relay the advice of the government’s scientific/medical advice.
That said, because of my current COPD flare-up, I’ve only been outside the house twice in the last two weeks. Hopefully that will clear up and allow me to get out for a while before the lockdown comes into force. Mrs H says I seem a tad better today although I’m not actually convinced she’s right.
On the Spanish front, the webcams in the resort we visit in Tenerife shows the area all but deserted, so the action of the cops must be working
I’ve got many new cookbooks, both in hard copies, as well as digital formats, including food memoirs, that I’ve barely even cracked. I have a hard time keeping up with my hobby sometimes…also, in the last 2 1/2 months, I haven’t had the focus or desire necessary to peruse them properly. This is starting to change, luckily. I’ll start posting on the cooking related reading material I especially like, or would recommend to others.
On a non-food related note, it’s kind of ironic that I’m feeling better and antsy to get out of the house, just as people are advised to stay in. I’ve basically been home since Christmas, except for medical and dental appointments, the occasional, breakfast, lunch or dinners out, with rare pop in visits to a friend and vice versa. I’ve got CABIN FEVER, in short! My doctor looked me straight in the eye (with mask on) and warned me strongly and ominously to “lay low, ok?” Of course I take that seriously.
To change my perspective on things, I downloaded and am reading: Breath - Life in the Rhythm of an Iron Lung. A memoir written by a woman, Martha Mason, who lived 60 of her 71 years in an iron lung. Very inspiring, makes me realize I can handle the self isolation, and enforced, if it comes to that. Which I fear it will, since Washington is the hottest state, virally speaking.
Be well all!
Oops, meant to post it in a different thread. Will try to get it moved.
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ChristinaM
(Hungry in Asheville, NC (still plenty to offer tourists post Hurricane))
445
There are reports that scientists are criticizing the government’s strategy as inadequate and dangerous: " In an open letter, the 229 specialists in disciplines ranging from mathematics to genetics - though no leading experts in the science of the spread of diseases - say the UK’s current approach will put the NHS under additional stress and “risk many more lives than necessary”"
Harters
(John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)
446
Indeed so, Christine.
I have absolutely no skill, knowledge or experience in these matters and really have nothing to base a view on. I do know that I do not relish the prospect of being trapped in the house for what may be four months. And that doesnt really change if that starts on Tuesday or next month. The government will take whatever decision it feels it needs to take and that will be it.
Yep, the liquor store had a line through the store. The shelves were decimated despite the fact that employees were in every aisle restocking. One of these kind employees went back to the storage area to get my preferred whiskey (whiskey and vodka seemed to be the biggest sellers judging from the empty shelves). On the plus side, everybody was pleasant and finding the humor in the situation. Also on the plus side I was told that the other store in my area had a line out the door . . . a line to stand in to get into the store to stand in line.
More fascinating was my local meat market. It’s always busy (good, fresh meat at very reasonable prices). But it was as if someone was predicting food shortages . Whole cases were empty . . .I couldn’t get the flank steak I had gone for, so I settled for one of the two london broils that remained. I also got the penultimate pack of chicken breasts. The butcher announced there was nothing remaining in the back . . . what you see is what they have left. Again, though, there was plenty of pleasant chit-chat in the long line.
If our gov has his way everything will close . . . bars, restaurants, “non-essential” retail, etc. Thank God they changed the laws a few years back and we can now buy beer and wine (in very limited quantities) at grocery stores.
Strange thing is these restrictions apply to Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties, but not to Philadelphia, where most people live in row homes, apartments, condos, etc.
Chewy.com has reasonable prices for pet food and supplies. I get seed for my wild bird feeders from them. It’s slightly more than Agway, but arrives at my front door. The convenience would be worth it even if I were still driving.
I just ordered something from Chewy and received an email saying that there might be a delay of 3 to 5 days to fill my order. I usually get my order the next day.
