Coronavirus prep

KrissCanDoThis wrote: »

just_Tomek wrote: »

GaleHawkins wrote: »

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I hate that I'm becoming desensitized to numbers. Back when Italy recorded an all time high of 250 deaths in one day my heart was breaking for them, now people are becoming numbers. I think I may need to lay off checking daily stats for a while.

Perhaps becoming desensitized is required so the left brain can take over and figure a way out of this mess starting with the positive good this virus is bringing to the human race and to nature as a whole.

Honestly pretty much every single one of your posts, especially here, WTF man???!?!?!?!

To add to the quoted post from gale, there are people who are going to say that this pandemic has brought out the best in people and showed how people can come together in a time of crisis.

But... shouldnt we be doing this anyway? Do we honestly need the thousands of lives lost? The heart broken families? The struggle of families trying to pay their Bill's? Feed their families? Keep up with work and home and trying to now home school their kids with no experience? Do we need all that to happen to have people be there for others? The best in people should be there no matter if there is a pandemic or not.

I highly doubt anyone who has lost a loved one or their business, their lives would appreciate it if someone looked at them nonchalantly and said yeah that sucks.. but hey, look how great it is to give nature a break.

I think it is a human impulse to believe that things happen for a reason and to look for the "silver lining" behind even terrible events. We can't ignore that terrible events sometimes show us the grace and resilience that humans are capable of, but I think it's extremely insensitive to talk about the results of this pandemic being a "positive good." My mind thinks about some of the heartbreaking stories I've read over the past few weeks and I'm also thinking of the huge economic cost people are enduring (which is, of course, actually emotionally terrifying for those going through it). To focus on the good to nature seems rampantly cruel.

JustSomeEm wrote: »

Just got back from Walmart. Got there right as it was opening and managed to snag some TP! Woot! There wasn't much on the shelf, so I'm sure it is already gone by now. They also had Easter candy at half off... I brought way nore home than I should have. I probably should have eaten before I headed out htis morning. During all this 'stay at home' stuff, I've been trying to create sourdough starter, which is taking a LOT of flour. Part of the process is feeding the starter twice a day for a short time to get it going, so I needed to pick up some flour too. There wasn't very much of it, and I felt a bit wasteful buying it to feed to a starter that I'm having trouble getting to do much. I'm strongly considering stopping this little experiment until things are more normal, which makes me a little sad, since I have so much extra time now and likely won't later. What are y'all doing to pass the time? I have work for 8 hours each day, exercise, cooking and I'm working on a Masters Degree, so homework. But other ideas are always welcome.

I’ve been having the same thoughts about sourdough starters. It’s something I’ve done a few times previously but, even at a better time when flour was easy to source, the thought of the inherent wastefulness to maintain a starter brought me to a halt. As a household of 3 there’s no way we could use the discard without there simply being more baked goods around than we’d eat in a decade!

However...I’ve recently come across a method of producing yeast from boiled potato. The starch in the potato replaces the need to ‘feed’ your yeast with flour. You use the fermented potato water to replace the liquid element of your usual bread recipe. I’ve not yet tried it because I don’t have enough flour on hand to make a loaf anyway. Once I manage to procure flour I’m going to give it a go!

https://practicalselfreliance.com/potato-yeast-starter/

Although, I’m excited! Yesterday evening my daughter’s boyfriend’s sister’s boyfriend (😂) messaged their family WhatsApp group chat that a pub near him (50 something miles from me) was selling some groceries including bread flour and yeast!! He managed to get me some of both! Just have to wait until someone is over this direction for work to have it dropped off! 😂

but no one would ever say to a family member going through that loss "well at least they passed fast and didnt suffer, how long before the room is empty? We need to have it cleaned for the next resident to live in it"

...and yet, people can be so cruel.

I've had the misfortune to lose all my family members, one by one.

The things people say just defy explanation.


If you don't know what to say, say nothing.



...and yeah, this virus is Nature's way. Doesn't mean it isn't horribly painful. It's a mass trauma.

cmriverside wrote: »

"well at least they passed fast and didnt suffer, how long before the room is empty? We need to have it cleaned for the next resident to live in it"

...and yet, people can be so cruel.

I've had the misfortune to lose all my family members, one by one.

The things people say just defy explanation.


If you don't know what to say, say nothing.



...and yeah, this virus is Nature's way. Doesn't mean it isn't horribly painful.

I'm so sorry, that's awful.. =/
I agree, if grief and condolences are not something you excel at, the best thing you can do is not say anything.

You know... sometimes I've had situations come up where I literally have no idea how to react with words, which really sucks if I'm alone, but if I cant think of what to say, I usually shoot for what the next most appropriate thing would be, in the case of loss, I would ask if i could give them a hug.

If I'm with others, i will allow someone else to say something and use that as a learning experience, because while i work in a place where loss of family is reality, I have honestly never lost anyone before. I had to learn my empathy of how it feels, and while i am sincere, I cant imagine I'm even close to how it truly feels. I know the sadness I feel thinking about what my life would be like once I lose everyone I'm close to but I cant compare it to the reality, but I do try my best to use what I feel and learn based on only outside experience to be there for people when they're struggling.

KrissCanDoThis wrote: »

cmriverside wrote: »

"well at least they passed fast and didnt suffer, how long before the room is empty? We need to have it cleaned for the next resident to live in it"

...and yet, people can be so cruel.

I've had the misfortune to lose all my family members, one by one.

The things people say just defy explanation.


If you don't know what to say, say nothing.



...and yeah, this virus is Nature's way. Doesn't mean it isn't horribly painful.

I'm so sorry, that's awful.. =/
I agree, if grief and condolences are not something you excel at, the best thing you can do is not say anything.

You know... sometimes I've had situations come up where I literally have no idea how to react with words, which really sucks if I'm alone, but if I cant think of what to say, I usually shoot for what the next most appropriate thing would be, in the case of loss, I would ask if i could give them a hug.

If I'm with others, i will allow someone else to say something and use that as a learning experience, because while i work in a place where loss of family is reality, I have honestly never lost anyone before. I had to learn my empathy of how it feels, and while i am sincere, I cant imagine I'm even close to how it truly feels. I know the sadness I feel thinking about what my life would be like once I lose everyone I'm close to but I cant compare it to the reality, but I do try my best to use what I feel and learn based on only outside experience to be there for people when they're struggling.

My mother was a registered nurse and worked the night shift for many years. Sometimes she'd arrive home in the morning and say that someone had died. I was a kid and looked at her horrified, and asked if she was afraid to be alone in a room when someone died. I'll never forget her response "No, I consider it a privilege to be there at that time and comfort the family as best I can".

snowflake954 wrote: »

KrissCanDoThis wrote: »

cmriverside wrote: »

"well at least they passed fast and didnt suffer, how long before the room is empty? We need to have it cleaned for the next resident to live in it"

...and yet, people can be so cruel.

I've had the misfortune to lose all my family members, one by one.

The things people say just defy explanation.


If you don't know what to say, say nothing.



...and yeah, this virus is Nature's way. Doesn't mean it isn't horribly painful.

I'm so sorry, that's awful.. =/
I agree, if grief and condolences are not something you excel at, the best thing you can do is not say anything.

You know... sometimes I've had situations come up where I literally have no idea how to react with words, which really sucks if I'm alone, but if I cant think of what to say, I usually shoot for what the next most appropriate thing would be, in the case of loss, I would ask if i could give them a hug.

If I'm with others, i will allow someone else to say something and use that as a learning experience, because while i work in a place where loss of family is reality, I have honestly never lost anyone before. I had to learn my empathy of how it feels, and while i am sincere, I cant imagine I'm even close to how it truly feels. I know the sadness I feel thinking about what my life would be like once I lose everyone I'm close to but I cant compare it to the reality, but I do try my best to use what I feel and learn based on only outside experience to be there for people when they're struggling.

My mother was a registered nurse and worked the night shift for many years. Sometimes she'd arrive home in the morning and say that someone had died. I was a kid and looked at her horrified, and asked if she was afraid to be alone in a room when someone died. I'll never forget her response "No, I consider it a privilege to be there at that time and comfort the family as best I can".

I have unfortunately missed deaths of residents who I grew close to. I remember one person I used to visit quite frequently when I would work and I'd stay and chat with her for a while, i remember as time went on, she became less and less interested in coming out for meals, I brought her in some home made turkey soup, and she told me that she was just so tired of living and that she was ready to go, that was truly one of those moments where I didnt know what to say because here is a person whose life has meaning and value and who I enjoyed visiting and getting to know, who has friends and family who would miss her... but also, who was i to dismiss how she felt and not also be fully present for her desires, despite what it truly was?

I wanted to tell her she was just being silly and that shes going to be here for a long time. But while that sentiment would show her I cared for her, it also would of made her feel lonely in her own feelings inside.

I put my hand in her hand and I said to her "well.. I want you to know that I have loved every minute we have spent getting to know each other and getting to serve you meals, and I will continue to do that no matter how much time that is"

She smiled and said thank you and said it was a pleasure to have someone like me. She passed away not soon after on my weekend off.

I walked out of that room tho, unsure if what I said was the right thing to say. It was an experience to learn from.

amusedmonkey wrote: »

I hate that I'm becoming desensitized to numbers. Back when Italy recorded an all time high of 250 deaths in one day my heart was breaking for them, now people are becoming numbers. I think I may need to lay off checking daily stats for a while.

To make my post clearer, I'm not desensitized to the struggles of people or the stories I hear. It's the numbers. What triggered my previous post was looking at yesterday's numbers this morning like I always do, seeing how Belgium recorded 283 deaths yesterday and thinking "that's not too bad". First time Italy broke 200 I felt differently. Numbers breaking thousands now are making me look at people as numbers and compare them like numbers. I don't like that.