Coronavirus prep

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Replies

  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I'd think it's actually pretty common, they sell little moistener pads for people who work with paperwork or money all day as an alternative, though they were more common before computerized everything. I grew up with my mom licking her fingers to clean schmutz off her kids faces. I found myself licking my fingers to get the Walmart plastic bags open and was utterly and immediately disgusted with myself :confounded:

    I've read the average person touches their face dozens of times a day while swearing they hardly ever do. With my contacts I tend to get little particles that get moved into the corners of my eyes, and I instinctively use a finger to wipe it away. I'm just trying to be more mindful of it and hope all that hand washing / sanitizing I'm doing will take care of the rest.
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    edited March 2020
    kimny72 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I'd think it's actually pretty common, they sell little moistener pads for people who work with paperwork or money all day as an alternative, though they were more common before computerized everything. I grew up with my mom licking her fingers to clean schmutz off her kids faces. I found myself licking my fingers to get the Walmart plastic bags open and was utterly and immediately disgusted with myself :confounded:

    I've read the average person touches their face dozens of times a day while swearing they hardly ever do. With my contacts I tend to get little particles that get moved into the corners of my eyes, and I instinctively use a finger to wipe it away. I'm just trying to be more mindful of it and hope all that hand washing / sanitizing I'm doing will take care of the rest.

    I've had jobs handling money & paperwork all day... still no need or urge to lick. ;)

    But I know for a fact I'm a terrible face-toucher and eye-rubber.

    In Walmart... really? :#:s
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    try2again wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I'd think it's actually pretty common, they sell little moistener pads for people who work with paperwork or money all day as an alternative, though they were more common before computerized everything. I grew up with my mom licking her fingers to clean schmutz off her kids faces. I found myself licking my fingers to get the Walmart plastic bags open and was utterly and immediately disgusted with myself :confounded:

    I've read the average person touches their face dozens of times a day while swearing they hardly ever do. With my contacts I tend to get little particles that get moved into the corners of my eyes, and I instinctively use a finger to wipe it away. I'm just trying to be more mindful of it and hope all that hand washing / sanitizing I'm doing will take care of the rest.

    I've had jobs handling money all day... still no need or urge to lick. ;)

    But I know for a fact I'm a terrible face-toucher and eye-rubber.

    In Walmart... really? :#:s

    Yeah. Not my best moment. :fearful::warning:
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I do it, but don't know where I acquired the "nasty habit". I assume I saw my parents do it, or something.

    I am, however, very concious and conscientious about when/with what I do it, for example, not ever when about to hand the papers to someone else. That's not polite.

    In general, I'm kind of the reverse of germophobic. One can take either side of this (germophobe or anti-germophobe) to an irrational level. IMO, the extremes of some modern obsessions with cleanliness and disinfection have caused as many problems as they've solved. We evolved squatting in the dirt in caves (and yes, not living very long at the time). An immune system with too little work to do gets up to mischief sometimes, and overdoing our attacks on micro-organisms creates stronger micro-organisms. There's a happy medium in there someplace, though I'm not sure rationally exactly where it may be.

    I seem to be one of the few who doesn’t touch my face. It’s mainly because my grandmother trained me that it was disgusting from a young age. I used to chew on the backs of my knuckles when anxious and had to break myself of that.

    If anyone does want to tackle breaking the habit, and has the problem of not being aware when you do it, get some cheap plastic food service gloves. They feel awful to touch your face with and will make you more aware.
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    Did you catch the corona special last night. ;) Chef Andres said the most profound thing. He's aiding these cruise ships.

    https://www.eater.com/2020/2/18/21142472/jose-andres-world-central-kitchen-brings-food-to-princess-cruise-quarantined-coronavirus

    He said all of the wrong people are telling everyone what to do. We need the experts who are pros that talk and plan less and adapt more. He said the way we're going to overcome all of this is by learning to adapt more. That's what he does on a daily basis. Good common horse sense for the WIN.

    Talk less and adapt more.
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I'd think it's actually pretty common, they sell little moistener pads for people who work with paperwork or money all day as an alternative, though they were more common before computerized everything. I grew up with my mom licking her fingers to clean schmutz off her kids faces. I found myself licking my fingers to get the Walmart plastic bags open and was utterly and immediately disgusted with myself :confounded:

    I've read the average person touches their face dozens of times a day while swearing they hardly ever do. With my contacts I tend to get little particles that get moved into the corners of my eyes, and I instinctively use a finger to wipe it away. I'm just trying to be more mindful of it and hope all that hand washing / sanitizing I'm doing will take care of the rest.

    I've had jobs handling money all day... still no need or urge to lick. ;)

    But I know for a fact I'm a terrible face-toucher and eye-rubber.

    In Walmart... really? :#:s

    Yeah. Not my best moment. :fearful::warning:
    I've done it - and had the same reaction to myself :lol: Those picky little bags in the meat department are stubborn. At least it was one I'd already pulled off the roll.

    I'm also a contact-wearing eye-toucher, I've noticed since all this came up
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I do it, but don't know where I acquired the "nasty habit". I assume I saw my parents do it, or something.

    I am, however, very conscious and conscientious about when/with what I do it, for example, not ever when about to hand the papers to someone else. That's not polite.

    In general, I'm kind of the reverse of germophobic. One can take either side of this (germophobe or anti-germophobe) to an irrational level. IMO, the extremes of some modern obsessions with cleanliness and disinfection have caused as many problems as they've solved. We evolved squatting in the dirt in caves (and yes, not living very long at the time). An immune system with too little work to do gets up to mischief sometimes, and overdoing our attacks on micro-organisms creates stronger micro-organisms. There's a happy medium in there someplace, though I'm not sure rationally exactly where it may be.

    You're not wrong at all. I follow some of the top R&D scientists when it comes to Microbiome research. They all pretty much say we're underexposed in the modern world, especially when it comes to outdoors. The one scientist posts up all the time how he encourges his kids to play in the mud. It's also why people with dogs are healthier. Dogs bring the outdoors inside with them. We've all gotten too sterile. It's likely why I get sick easily. I work from home and my exposure to stuff is minimal. I'm like the bubble boy!

    I assume the scientists don't encourage playing in the mud or with your dogs and then licking your fingers. :D

    I happen to agree with the "too sterile" thing, but I was sick all the time when working with the public and rarely now that I am mostly at home.
  • bmeadows380
    bmeadows380 Posts: 2,981 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I do it, but don't know where I acquired the "nasty habit". I assume I saw my parents do it, or something.

    I am, however, very conscious and conscientious about when/with what I do it, for example, not ever when about to hand the papers to someone else. That's not polite.

    In general, I'm kind of the reverse of germophobic. One can take either side of this (germophobe or anti-germophobe) to an irrational level. IMO, the extremes of some modern obsessions with cleanliness and disinfection have caused as many problems as they've solved. We evolved squatting in the dirt in caves (and yes, not living very long at the time). An immune system with too little work to do gets up to mischief sometimes, and overdoing our attacks on micro-organisms creates stronger micro-organisms. There's a happy medium in there someplace, though I'm not sure rationally exactly where it may be.

    You're not wrong at all. I follow some of the top R&D scientists when it comes to Microbiome research. They all pretty much say we're underexposed in the modern world, especially when it comes to outdoors. The one scientist posts up all the time how he encourges his kids to play in the mud. It's also why people with dogs are healthier. Dogs bring the outdoors inside with them. We've all gotten too sterile. It's likely why I get sick easily. I work from home and my exposure to stuff is minimal. I'm like the bubble boy!

    I grew up playing in the woods, camping, working outdoors, and my mom had some rather antiquated views on cleanliness, so I know I was exposed to all sorts of things as a child. I know I ate with dirty hands as a kid. My brother, sister, and I were, however, healthy as horses, and the healthiest kids our pediatrician had ever seen. My sister has a tendency to pick up strep rather easily, but other than that, the three of us rarely catch more than the common cold once or twice a year.

    I like to think that some exposure, especially when young, to some germs is very beneficial to the immune system in making it stronger and more resilient. And my mother always had cats that were indoor/outdoor when I was growing up, so I was exposed to things, that way, too. But I fully admit that I think genetics had a part to play in the robustness of myself and my siblings; my parents and extended family all tend to be on the resilient side.

    Though I do remember reading a while back that kids grew up on farms tended to be amongst the healthiest of children, and the article seemed to allude to it being due to the types of germs and bacteria they were exposed to in that environment.


    I fully admit I'm a face-toucher; its an ingrained habit and I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I do it, but don't know where I acquired the "nasty habit". I assume I saw my parents do it, or something.

    I am, however, very conscious and conscientious about when/with what I do it, for example, not ever when about to hand the papers to someone else. That's not polite.

    In general, I'm kind of the reverse of germophobic. One can take either side of this (germophobe or anti-germophobe) to an irrational level. IMO, the extremes of some modern obsessions with cleanliness and disinfection have caused as many problems as they've solved. We evolved squatting in the dirt in caves (and yes, not living very long at the time). An immune system with too little work to do gets up to mischief sometimes, and overdoing our attacks on micro-organisms creates stronger micro-organisms. There's a happy medium in there someplace, though I'm not sure rationally exactly where it may be.

    You're not wrong at all. I follow some of the top R&D scientists when it comes to Microbiome research. They all pretty much say we're underexposed in the modern world, especially when it comes to outdoors. The one scientist posts up all the time how he encourges his kids to play in the mud. It's also why people with dogs are healthier. Dogs bring the outdoors inside with them. We've all gotten too sterile. It's likely why I get sick easily. I work from home and my exposure to stuff is minimal. I'm like the bubble boy!

    I grew up playing in the woods, camping, working outdoors, and my mom had some rather antiquated views on cleanliness, so I know I was exposed to all sorts of things as a child. I know I ate with dirty hands as a kid. My brother, sister, and I were, however, healthy as horses, and the healthiest kids our pediatrician had ever seen. My sister has a tendency to pick up strep rather easily, but other than that, the three of us rarely catch more than the common cold once or twice a year.

    I like to think that some exposure, especially when young, to some germs is very beneficial to the immune system in making it stronger and more resilient. And my mother always had cats that were indoor/outdoor when I was growing up, so I was exposed to things, that way, too. But I fully admit that I think genetics had a part to play in the robustness of myself and my siblings; my parents and extended family all tend to be on the resilient side.

    Though I do remember reading a while back that kids grew up on farms tended to be amongst the healthiest of children, and the article seemed to allude to it being due to the types of germs and bacteria they were exposed to in that environment.


    I fully admit I'm a face-toucher; its an ingrained habit and I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time.

    Also a face toucher. I rub my eyes, itch, etc.

    The common cold once or twice per year? Is that normal? I get it once or twice per decade.
  • bmeadows380
    bmeadows380 Posts: 2,981 Member

    Also a face toucher. I rub my eyes, itch, etc.

    The common cold once or twice per year? Is that normal? I get it once or twice per decade.

    I know folks who seem to get it or something like it every time the weather changes. My best friend, for instance - that poor girl stays sick it seems!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Athijade wrote: »
    That sounds like the round of flu that hit my church and community back in January. It held on a lot longer than the typical flu, and even once the fever left, the dry cough lingered. some folks are still coughing and its been almost a month now since they had it. Come to think of it, they did have respiratory problems and some folks ended up in the hospital with pneumonia from it - the older folks with weakened lungs. At one point, over half our church was out - the pastor actually canceled a service because of it.

    Makes me kind of wonder now......

    I 100% believe that we have no idea when the true first patient with Covid-19 was in the US or the true number of people who have had the virus. Until recently the US didn't have the test kits to test people, even if they matched the symptoms. Plus, for a lot of people, this is a fever and a cough and nothing "worth" going to the doctor or hospital for. They stick it out, go to work, live their normal lives. It's also why I think the mortality rate is actually lower then what they are saying worldwide. The statistics are going to be off because a mild to moderate case most likely is not going to be accounted for.

    The way the US lags behind other countries in testing is a disgrace. In fact, it's so bad that CDC removed "number tested" from their website. They have a BS reason for this. https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-cases-tested-us-removed-cdc-website-according-congressman-american-people-1490158

    There were supposed to be 1.5 million test kits available now, but that didn't happen: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/officials-say-coronavirus-tests-are-here-where-are-they-n1149716

    Not that we are ramped up for mass testing anyway.

    Here's more:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiqFnKXf3do
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I have done this all my life and really don't know how the habit started. I did retrain myself to use the jars of pink stuff instead when I was cashiering.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    try2again wrote: »

    I am certain, that she does this when turning book pages & counting cash, as well.

    My question is, how does a person acquire this nasty habit in the first place? I have never in my life had the urge to lick my fingers to help separate papers.

    But then again, I've never had the urge to put a burning stick in my mouth and inhale the fumes, either.

    I do it, but don't know where I acquired the "nasty habit". I assume I saw my parents do it, or something.

    I am, however, very conscious and conscientious about when/with what I do it, for example, not ever when about to hand the papers to someone else. That's not polite.

    In general, I'm kind of the reverse of germophobic. One can take either side of this (germophobe or anti-germophobe) to an irrational level. IMO, the extremes of some modern obsessions with cleanliness and disinfection have caused as many problems as they've solved. We evolved squatting in the dirt in caves (and yes, not living very long at the time). An immune system with too little work to do gets up to mischief sometimes, and overdoing our attacks on micro-organisms creates stronger micro-organisms. There's a happy medium in there someplace, though I'm not sure rationally exactly where it may be.

    You're not wrong at all. I follow some of the top R&D scientists when it comes to Microbiome research. They all pretty much say we're underexposed in the modern world, especially when it comes to outdoors. The one scientist posts up all the time how he encourges his kids to play in the mud. It's also why people with dogs are healthier. Dogs bring the outdoors inside with them. We've all gotten too sterile. It's likely why I get sick easily. I work from home and my exposure to stuff is minimal. I'm like the bubble boy!

    I grew up playing in the woods, camping, working outdoors, and my mom had some rather antiquated views on cleanliness, so I know I was exposed to all sorts of things as a child. I know I ate with dirty hands as a kid. My brother, sister, and I were, however, healthy as horses, and the healthiest kids our pediatrician had ever seen. My sister has a tendency to pick up strep rather easily, but other than that, the three of us rarely catch more than the common cold once or twice a year.

    I like to think that some exposure, especially when young, to some germs is very beneficial to the immune system in making it stronger and more resilient. And my mother always had cats that were indoor/outdoor when I was growing up, so I was exposed to things, that way, too. But I fully admit that I think genetics had a part to play in the robustness of myself and my siblings; my parents and extended family all tend to be on the resilient side.

    Though I do remember reading a while back that kids grew up on farms tended to be amongst the healthiest of children, and the article seemed to allude to it being due to the types of germs and bacteria they were exposed to in that environment.


    I fully admit I'm a face-toucher; its an ingrained habit and I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time.

    Also a face toucher. I rub my eyes, itch, etc.

    The common cold once or twice per year? Is that normal? I get it once or twice per decade.

    Yes, that is typical but as a person gets older, they get fewer and fewer. The common cold is something you get once and are immune to it. The problem is that there are so many different viruses that cause a cold that you can never become immune to all of them but the more you get the more immunity you build.

    During my school and working days I would get 1 in the winter and 1 in the summer. Now that I am 63 and retired I get one about every other year and they are usually pretty mild.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    While the main panic concerning daily necessities're customers, where I am via business & government here, causes it as well. Prior to the Blizzard of 1996, I took the bus to school whilst it was snowing. There were no delayed openings, ½ days, early release or snow days.

    After we were coddled by many snow less winters, shovels & sleds, weren't sold here. Now I know better than to take the bus anywhere, unless I know that I'll be able to walk home because they'll cancel the buses & our government, orders vehicles off of the roads because of just a dusting, of snow.

    Just out of curiosity, is the use of the apostrophe intentional here? necessities're

    If so, what English word are you contracting with necesseties?
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    My company just cancelled all domestic travel (we're in the US) unless it is absolutely business critical. I didn't think we were at that point, but I guess they're being extra-cautious.

    I have personal travel scheduled for this weekend. I'm still going to go, even though it is to an area with one confirmed case. I just plan to be extra cautious with the usual stuff -- face touching, hand washing, etc.

    I know a lot of companies doing this. It makes sense from a business perspective. While I am sure they are concerned about employee deaths the bigger threat is having a large number of people out sick. It could decimate departments and potentially bring the entire business to its knees.

    I get the logic. First you have the risk of someone bringing it back to the main office, along with the perception if people feel pressured to travel and then wind up getting sick.

    My company cancelled all large meetings/workshops, non essential travel and (intl and domestic US) and employees returning from any of the higher risk zones including China, Iran, Italy and now France and Germany are asked to work from home for two weeks before returning to the office.

    They also set up a 24 hour hotline by country for employees to ask questions - not sure what answers the people on the other end of the line have maybe I need to think of an obscure question and ask! Anyone got anything they want to know?
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member

    Also a face toucher. I rub my eyes, itch, etc.

    The common cold once or twice per year? Is that normal? I get it once or twice per decade.

    I know folks who seem to get it or something like it every time the weather changes. My best friend, for instance - that poor girl stays sick it seems!

    I worked in a small financial planning office (4 staff). 2 of the staff would wipe down everything at their desks with bleach wipes once or twice a day and use hand sanitizer constantly. Me, I would wash my hands after using the bathroom or before touching food and let the cleaners keep my desk clean (which the part time staffer also did)

    Guess which two were always sick?
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    Last week, my son's class had a demo where they had to choose what sort of music class they were taking next year: it could be choir or they could choose an instrument. To help them choose, the school brought in a company with all of the available instruments.

    Yes, you guessed it, the kids got to demo all the instruments: so 90 kids put their mouths on saxophones, trumpets, tubas, flutes, etc. I about had a stroke when I heard - the flu and strep throat have been sweeping through the school for months, and now the coronavirus is looming - what better time for an entire class to swap spit????

    Oooo brother. Stephen Colbert did a skit, he's going to use Jack Daniels to brush his teeth. :#
  • bearly63
    bearly63 Posts: 734 Member
    I have to admit....I was just doing the "lick my fingers" thing yesterday at work - they tasted like hand sanitzer. It is a crappy habit but I have to pull check stock from large piles of checks for work - its really hard to separate them when my hands are dry. I need to get those little rubber finger things, unless they are sold out.

    I have rarely been sick in the past few years....except for that time in December that I got shingles, just a day after getting the flu and MMR shot in advance of a trip. I questioned the connection. I will be getting a shingles vaccine soon - it really sucked.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    my dad was just admitted to the hospital. two weeks of flu symptoms, dipping oxygen levels, difficulty breathing. there haven't been any confirmed cases in my area yet. i'm trying not to get scared here but *kitten* it might end up hitting me close to home after all.

    update: so thankfully oklahoma is still (that we know of) coronavirus-free. my dad was let out a few minutes ago with an upper respiratory infection, apparently caught just in time before it became pneumonia. i'm sure corona fears helped get him out of the waiting room a lot faster though. definitely had me sweating.

    Did they test him for COVID 19?