DD went to Costco to stock up on diapers. (What? They quit selling them at places that will bring them to your car? .....but that is a mother-rant for another day). She said all of the carts were in the parking lot and a maze of pallets had been set up to try to distance people from each other, A goes in the maze and goes right; B goes in the maze next and goes left. The only problem is that they both end up at the door at roughly the same time where they wait while a Costco employee with a RAG wipes down each cart, thereby assuring that germs are being spread from cart to cart. She picked up the needed diapers; saw the line for check-out was to the far back wall; she left without diapers. 🤦🏻‍♀️

@bbstx have her check the National Diaper Bank Network for a non-profit in her area if she cannot find any. Read on FB this morning, that local Targets had TP, diapers, etc. They are restocking.

I just placed my first ever order for food with Schwan’s. It will be delivered tomorrow. I have no idea if its’s awful or not too bad.

maddielee, my 90 year old in-laws are huge Schwann's devotees, it's not too bad, just don't look at the nutrition info.

@Allison0704, thanks for the link. Right now she has sufficient diapers for daytime. She just needs to move up a size for nights for the 7 month old. I haven’t heard that her local Walmart and grocery are out, but if I keep typing I’ll start ranting about “why did you think you needed to go to Costco???? Place an order at Walmart. Go pick it up. Do not go in!!!”

She is very smart and enjoys robust health. DH always did too, until he didn’t. I think she got his “but not me” gene!

@maddielee, my sister has bought from Schwan’s in the past. I think she was pleased. 🤞 that you like your order!

My niece orders diapers from Amazon, is that an option?

She picked up some at the grocery, but Amazon might be a good plan for the next box!

I just checked our Walmart for pick-up orders. No slots available for the next 7 days!

I’m picking up an order at the grocery in an hour. They were only out of 2 things that I wanted, both were frozen foods that DH likes with acceptable substitutes. He has thought up other things that he now wishes he had put on the list, but I think he’s just going to have to do without. I’m not exposing myself to the grocery just to get the particular jelly he wants. We have other jelly. Eat it! (Damn! I’m crabby this morning!)

Amazon is having trouble filling orders on more than just hand sanitizer now.

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/03/amazon-sold-out-of-many-items-warns-of-shipping-delays.html

Whew, my sister canceled her trip to Florida. I was going to call her to talk her out of it, but my niece and nephew expressed their concerns.

Back in January when DS was on break I came across this link to free tours of Amazon fulfillment centers. As a biz major, I thought he'd find it interesting, and he did. We had a choice of going a few hours So. to a NJ facility or a few hours N. to Rhode Island. We chose RI because we have a fave restaurant there (Nick's on bway). Anyway. the tour was very interesting and one thing I learned .... diapers are the number one item they ship!

I also learned that they store items in the warehouse randomly rather than by category, because it is more efficient.

Anyone ready for some levity?? I am!

TURN DOWN THE SOUND! THIS IS LOUD!

@mtnrdredux_gw, That sounds fascinating! Did they say why storing randomly was more efficient? Is most of the “picking” done by robots?

The beaches in FL are slowing closing. People in our area to the Florida Panhandle (Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Destin, Panama City, Seaside). Seaside closed their beach today, and all businesses will be closed by Saturday. They said they thought people would not come.. WRONG! I do know several that asked about canceling plans and did after hearing opinions.

I know two that had ordered from WM pick up and the day before they were to pick up, WM sent email saying they are not doing right now. Maybe they've blocked off the next week for deliveries. Another person said their Shipt buyer kept texting saying "don't have this and that" and after numerous items texted they were no longer going to be able to work on their order any longer.

Our son’s company is trying hard not to lay off employees.

When I picked up my groceries today, the parking lot was packed but there were only 2 cars in the pick up spaces! The fellow who delivered my order and I got to chatting (maintaining 6 feet, of course). He said the busiest time of the day for them is now 6 a.m.— people trying to get things before the store runs out!

A friend just texted me that her son’s wedding reception this weekend is being postponed. They will go ahead with the ceremony, but it will be family only. They are hopeful the reception can be held sometime in the summer. She is a major event planner and most of her contracts are insured for communicable disease. I’m pretty sure that was not the case with her son’s wedding reception. It had to be done, but it breaks my heart for the young couple.

I’m supposed to go to three day wedding event at the beginning of June. I really don’t think we’ll be over this by then.

The Houston Mayor has ordered, starting tomorrow at 8a, all bars closed and restaurants carry out/drive thru only. Praying small business keep afloat.

One of our liquor stores is doing curbside service. They said you are welcome to come in, but asked that you not touch a bottle unless you intend to buy it!

BBSTX,

So the Amazon warehouses are enormous ( some are like 40 football fields). They are stacked like 3 stories high. Human pickers drive around little trucks with computer screens telling them what they need to fill an order and where to find it. (the location on the floor and how high up together become an "address").

So you would assume that when, for example, Amazon receives 10 pallets of Pampers, they would put them all together in an area of the warehouse dedicated to diapers or even babycare.

No, each of the 10 pallets is randomly sent to an address. The computer system keeps track of all of the addresses that have Pampers.

So when a human "picker" needs Pampers for an order, the system will figure out the closest address with Pampers and send them there. By having the products randomly scattered, on average it will reduce the amount of time spent having to go to one spot to get a certain item.

Still only one case in the big city near me. I will be seeing a small group of friends tomorrow (6 or less). We meet monthly and I'm guessing we will not meet next month. I am stopping at the Assisted Living to see my dad first and hopefully meeting with the facility NP or Dr. It will be his first visit with them. Just praying things hold on for a few more days so we can celebrate his 90th on Thursday. The facility uses one of those light gun things 3 times a day to disinfect. They are not allowing visitors into the dining area but are going to make an exception for 4 family members to come in for dessert (we are bringing b-day cake and ice cream). Although we are still visiting dad, we are keeping a distance and not touching him. :( I do worry about those in small business. My husband worked onsite at the medical facility again today (installation) and will be there tomorrow. The facility is imposing strict procedures for those coming on-site. Tomorrow will be the last day he should be there for now. So we will both be pretty much at home by end of this week. Another worry is our best friends, her mother is under hospice care (although no immediate danger) in a nursing home under lock-down. Her husband's father is under hospice care and death is imminent, maybe even tonight. So, we will more than likely have a funeral to attend soon. I'm wondering how they will handle that? No receiving of friends? Graveside only? So sad. Another set of friends works at a local entertainment venue in the tourist area near us. They are both (husband and wife) not working at this point. Dollywood is a big employer for this area and they have closed down. I feel for those people. Our church cancelled activities (one for senior adults - a luncheon) and another activity for kids, for later this week, no word yet on Sunday services.

DH reads the obits daily. He noticed now that there are no services listed - deferred until post pandemic I guess.

You can order diapers from Costco online. Free delivery.

eta: Oops, sorry, I just checked and they are all sold out, too. I JUST ordered some a few days ago with no problems.

Em now is showing cold symptoms so we are getting serious about self isolation. We did click and collect grocery but now are moving to delivery left at the door.

aww hope poor em is better soon, robo.

Oh, no, Robo. Hope Emmett feels better soon.

I was shopping online at Target so checked there for diapers and it seems they have several kinds/sizes available. You can find what's in your nearest stores. Some of the choices will ship, some you have to order and pick up - or just go in and take your chances. Some they won't let you order for pick-up. It's kinda crazy, but maybe worth a shot for those needing diapers.

I think I'll suggest to DD2 to get more diapers delivered, but over a week ago, she said she was not going to have anything delivered to their home. I hope she stocked up on diapers then.

Hope Emmett feels better soon. DD2 had just kept their 8yo home from school for a week with a cold, and now his Montessori school is closed. He's handling it pretty well though, and she is starting homeschooling today.

@Allison0704, I’ve sent you a DM about some homeschooling activities.

@mtnrdredux_gw, now that you explain it, along with the size of the warehouses, it makes perfect sense to scatter goods through out the space! I checked to see if there were a warehouse nearby that gives tours. There is one not too far away. Tours, of course, are suspended right now, but I’d love to do that in the future.

About 20 years ago, I was talking to the owners of a major warehouse where all the pickers were robots. They saved tons on electricity because the robots worked in the dark!

Love this video!

BBSTX, you are a geek like me. I felt pretty smug when there were a bunch of MIT students also showed for the tour.

Longer ago then I care to think, I lent money to a joint venture that built cars in the midwest. They used robots extensively in their 1 million square foot plant. One issue was the robots moved so silently across the floor, they'd spook people (similar issue w electric cars). So they programmed the robots to play nursery rhymes. Cruel and unusual punishment.

For some reason, that Amazon "picker" job sounds fun to me!

@mtnrdredux_gw, omg...nursery rhymes! Couldn’t they just program them to sound like a little engine? I have read about the issue with electric cars. It is a particular problem for blind people.

@OllieJane, Here is an interesting article that I read a a couple of years ago about retirees who work at Amazon warehouses. It’s pretty hard work!

I work at a manufacturing company that employs a picking system in the warehouse and it is anything but fun.

This is absolutely not the worst thing, I’m not whining, just sharing stuff happening .... we have tickets to see The Rolling Stones May 29, but they announced today that the tour is being postponed indefinitely. We also have tickets to see Jason Bonham and his band, I’m sure it’ll be the same.

Jinx, Not the worst news, but disappointing all the same. I’m sorry that it had to come to this

I’m kind of obsessed with the WHO and Johns Hopkins maps. WHO isn’t loading for me today. Johns Hopkins is showing me that the Faroes, a tiny cluster of islands between Norway and Iceland, which had 1 case just a week ago, now has 47. Goodness, the population is only 50k. But of course, they all live in just a handful of communities.

Thanks everyone! I’m not worried about Em with respect to coronavirus because I know the illness is mild in young children. Realistically if he has it there’s no way we can avoid getting it so we’ll just play it by ear. We are keeping a daily temperature chart.

today we took dog and child out for a walk. The main parks are full to bursting and we really didn’t want to get to close to anyone since we are self isolating, so we found an abandoned atv trail in the middle of nowhere. one nice thing about living in such a small province close to the countryside.

Well today what I was dreading happened. Dad's Assisted Living facility is on lock-down. I hate it for him. I was hoping he'd have a bit more time to get used to things (he's been there less than 2 weeks), but he'll probably do better than my sister and I will. Our church is also cancelled for the next week, other than the media team/praise team/pastor who will go in and do the service for streaming (we stream weekly on FB).

Tina, similar situation. We are moving my dad tomorrow and I am not even sure if I'll be able to go in with him. (originally they said I would, but things are changing all the time) Can you imagine -- I may have to drop him off in a building he's never seen before, and who knows when I'll get to see him again. He is very social but he won't know ONE person there. I assume he will meet people quickly but it still stinks. They are no longer serving meals in the dining room, either -- they are delivering meals to their units. So he won't even be able to eat with other people.

Comcast is supposed to hook up his TV and phone tomorrow but I'm now thinking they're not going to let that guy in so my dad might not have TV or phone service either. And he NEEDS to watch Dr. Oz!

The State of Texas is now carry-out/delivery only.

All dine-in restaurants, bars, and gyms in the state are ordered to close until April 3. Pharmacies, grocery stores, banks and other “critical infrastructure” will remain open.

Same in AL, @cd7733. And thank the Lord they finally closed ALL beaches effective 5pm today.

A staff member at my mother’s facility tested positive. I don’t know if the staff member is on my mother’s unit, a caregiver, food service, admin, or activities.

They instituted a closed campus a week ago, no visitors through the gate, let alone into the building. No non-essential staff, so no salon. No new admissions. But, of course, staff goes home, and comes back.

I’m sure I will be hearing about more. Please send good thoughts to all residential facilities, to the admins, the staff, the residents, and their families.

I haven’t read all the comments, but this thread is fascinating in the way that it shows the changes in people’s thought processes as the Pandemic grows. It’s just so important to stay home!

I agree Jinx. And it is SO selfish. He could bring that virus home and infect others who would otherwise have been fine

Sueb20, thinking of you. Was your dad able to move in to his AL?

Gargamel, exactly. I’m just really sad about it. Thanks for replying, I’m glad you saw it ... it helps to commiserate.

(To others, I deleted my earlier comment because of personal info, sorry. Sometimes I forget anyone can find this board and read.)

Bpath, funny I saw this right after you posted! Total coincidence since I no longer get email notifications. Yes, my dad is moved in! No issues other than a screwup with his tv/phone hookup so he has to wait a few days for that. So I can’t see OR call him but I did get an update from one of the nurses yesterday and he’s doing fine. We were allowed to stay for a while after moving him in, long enough to get him settled and make sure he seemed okay. It feels very weird leaving him with a bunch of strangers without being able to visit. I feel bad for him but he’s very social so I trust he will find some buddies before long. Right before we left, a woman was already chatting him up so I think he may even have a girlfriend before long, ha!

And now I’m headed back to DD’s college with her, to pick up the rest of her stuff. Sigh.

Jinx - I'm sorry to have to deal with that. I saw your post too. I find it hard still with those going on about it being all the media etc. and saying it is a conspiracy to get the president etc. Fortunately these are not close friends at this point, but it really gets me especially since I have several friends in Europe who are seeing with their own eyes what is going on as many work in healthcare. I try to move on and skip it and hope we are ahead of things by starting social distancing earlier than many of the European countries did. Unfortunately I don't feel like looking at China is a good option since they have a way of controlling their citizens that isn't there in the same way in the Western world. We can learn from what happened to different age groups with their population, but as to control I don't think it is the same as they use ways that wouldn't work in the Western cultures until it is really bad to control things.

Thank you, lyfia, and well said. I’m still reeling from it, it was very unsettling.