March Madness

"Trying to stay away from the media, as I have really been sucked into the vortex the past few days. Listening to enough of that Chicken Little stuff, will drive one cray-cray."

No, this is not about basketball. Seems our spring tournaments are also on the COVID -19 causality list. This is about the real March madness. How we are coping with the panic of this disease very few know anything about. This disease, which has gone through Wall Street like a bulldozer, has turned even the most sleepy grocery stores into mayhem. Why? Fear. Fear of the unknown. We keep getting information from the media that this COVID -19 is somewhere between a common cold and the bubonic plague.

Since we were gone for six weeks, we only "spot shopped" when we first got home. Yesterday, we did some "deep shopping" to re-stock on what we were totally out of. We picked Thursday, as we have found it is usually the deadest day of the week to shop. Wrong. It was a mad house. It was like the day before Thanksgiving. What were people buying? Not toilet paper. Gone. But everything else. Carts were full of stuff. All kinds of stuff. It was like, the asteroid has not struck as yet, but we can see it from here.

This is going to be a very strange spring. Basketball - gone. Hockey - gone. Soccer - gone. Baseball - delayed. Travel - forget about it. This country is not on lock down as of yet like Italy is, but it sure seems like we are headed in that direction. As goofy as March is turning out to be, what will April be like? I shutter to think.

Not even the "fireside chat" we had from the President could calm the nation's fears. This boogie man of a disease, has most folks thinking Armageddon - or worse. Washington can only play the blame game. Democrats blame the President, the President blames Congress, some of the Neocons in the Senate blame China. All this crap is someone's else's fault. And as long as we feel that way as a nation, Washington will be of little help in getting this thing fixed.

Today will be another day of social distancing (whatever that means). It will be sitting around the homestead, trying to come up with useful things to do. Trying to stay away from the media, as I have really been sucked into the vortex the past few days. Listening to enough of that Chicken Little stuff, will drive one cray-cray.

Good luck fellow Americans. Stay tuned, stay prepped, and most of all, stay brave. We will all get through this, and then maybe we can watch a good baseball game.

Okay - now this **** is for real

"Washing hands, not touching face - that is part of it. But since this virus can survive airborne, proper social distancing will increase our odds of not catching it. But social distancing is antithetical to the way we live. And that be the challenge. Good luck to us all."

Last night, the news was coming at all of us fast and furious. It was almost too much to absorb. But at the rate this new virus is spreading, to hesitate would be to turn us into a country like Italy. In case you have not noticed, Italy is a real mess right now. So much so, the entire country is on lock down. No travel anywhere, and the only stores which are open are pharmacies and food marts. 

President Trump had his no nonsense demeanor on last night. No flights from Europe for thirty days? Wow! That is a kick in the gut. My guess? Thirty days will just be a starter. According to the experts, this thing will be far from over in thirty days. Universities all over the country are cancelling formal classes (hello, on-line classes), the NBA has called off the rest of their season, and the NCAA final four will be played in front of empty seats - if at all.

Anything else? Plenty - just not announced as yet. Plus, welcome to the world of social distancing. Not something to practice for the future, the medical experts are saying to start NOW. Especially if you are over 60 or 65. Ireland has cancelled all St. Patrick Day events, but St. Paul is still going full steam ahead with theirs. So far. But in this world where things can change on a dime, you might want to keep that blarney stone in the closet up until the parade happens (if it does).

What do I think is next for social distancing? Buses. Trains. Church. To really curtail the spread of something this infectious, we need to practice social distancing like, okay - this s**t is for real. Again, to not take it serious, will allow us to fall into a total lock down posture like Italy is. 

These are the days the history books will write about. These are the days which will define us. In my book, there is a bright side to the darkness of COVID-19. We WILL learn how to deal with infectious diseases once again. So when the next one comes, which might have a death rate of 20%, we will be better prepared.

Washing hands, not touching face - that is part of it. But since this virus can survive airborne, proper social distancing will increase our odds of not catching it. But social distancing is antithetical to the way we live. And that be the challenge. Good luck to us all.

Into the darkness...

"Stay tuned. We have officially sailed off into the darkness. Whatever you do, please wash your hands, and do not touch your face. Get familiar with your TV - you will be spending a lot of time with it soon."  

When my wife and I went to the "U" (back when Moses was a boy), not even a nuclear attack would keep the "U" from holding classes. Yes, we did make it down to the campus in some blinding snowstorms and bone chilling cold weather. Flash forward to today. The "U" will suspend all classroom education, and go to "alternate" online teaching until at least April 1st. And they are not alone. Notre Dame is doing the same until (at the earliest), the middle of April. Wisconsin just published they are doing to do the same.

And just like that, this roaring market has entered "bear" territory. Companies are looking at furloughs, or at best, working at home. What happened? Where did this all come from? This is so very sudden. Yes it is. It is the destroyer of portfolios, delayer of vacations, and disrupter of plans. In other words, just like 9/11, this came out of nowhere - and, like 9/11, has the potential to change everything.

This tiny virus, which has barely touched this country as yet, just killed 200 in one day in Italy. With no vaccine, with no warning, this virus can spread very fast. How fast? Check with China. And according to Dr. Michael Osterholm, we are just at the beginning of this mess. A fool's errand would be to take this lightly. A panic merchant would tell us it is the end of the world. Where does the truth lie? Somewhere in between.

So where are we right now? On March 11th? In the darkness. Knee jerk reactions will rule the day. Mad and insane stock piling of things we don't need will continue. Why is this virus so different? Is it more deadly? Nope. Not by a long shot. It is how contagious it is. And if you have the right chemistry to harbor this virus, and then let it invade you, it can be deadly to you and others you come in contact with. 

Where do we do from here? Isolation for seniors. No large gatherings for anyone. Sound like fun? Not to us. Will summer kill this virus off, so we can at least get to the beach? Maybe. Or, maybe not.

Stay tuned. We have officially sailed off into the darkness. Whatever you do, please wash your hands, and do not touch your face. Get familiar with your TV - you will be spending a lot of time with it soon.  

I am going to self isolate myself!

"Well in any event, back to my isolation. My wife is now up, and I fist bumped her good morning. No kisses or hand holding. Then what? Maybe another episode of 'Last Man Standing'. Welcome to my bubble."    

How is that for a redundant title? It is like when someone says, " I am going to take a selfie of myself". Drives my wife nuts. In any event, are we all ready for more isolation? Less crowds? Less gatherings? I am not. I am one of those nutty people who love to chat others up when I am out in public.

Yesterday, a friend dropped by and brought us three seasons of "Last Man Standing". That will put a dent in the boredom. Since we are both recovering from a lung disease, we nap more than once during the day. This is okay for a while, but only for a while. Even though some of the experts are telling seniors to get used to isolation, I don't know if I am ready for it. 

One of our couple friends who WERE going to Israel this week, posted a picture this morning of Ben Gurion Airport. It looks like a ghost town. Then there is Italy. Where the entire country is in sort of a "lock down". Or Ireland, where they are considering cancelling all St. Patrick Day events. Is this our new world? The world of isolation? Playing sports in front of empty stadiums? Concerts being cancelled? 

Both Bernie and Sleepy Joe were going to have rallies yesterday in Ohio. Both got cancelled due to this virus thing. The Governor of Washington is now considering limiting all gatherings to 250 people or less. The State Department is telling all seniors to stay away from cruise ships. If you are flying on a plane right now, you best not go into a sneezing fit, or you might suffer a beat down from other scared passengers.

Whoever said these are now uncharted waters might be right. With a young person living in our county, lying in the hospital in critical condition due to exposure to COVID - 19, one does not know who is safe and who is not. 

Easter is April 12th. That is a month away. By that time, will be also be like Washington, and not allowed to gather in numbers? Will Easter service be turning on the TV, then watching the pastor preach while sitting in your living room? Will Easter brunch be going out in your kitchen and putting some goodies out on the counter? Or will this all blow over by April 12th. Nobody seems to have a clue.

Well in any event, back to my isolation. My wife is now up, and I fist bumped her good morning. No kisses or hand holding. Then what? Maybe another episode of "Last Man Standing". Welcome to my bubble.    

Bunkering - a refresher

"Is there more? Oh yes - quite a bit. But I have addressed this many times before. The purpose of this article was for basic bunkering. This might be what we have been prepping for. If not, a good dry run for prepping for something much worse."

Okay. Now this stuff might be getting real. If you are over 55, you might want to pay attention. If you are over 65, you NEED to pay attention. If you already have a bunker - great. You are ahead of the game. If you have one and it is only "so-so", it might be time to buff it up a bit. If you have nothing, time is no longer your friend. You need to move with haste and purpose.

Today, we had the third confirmed case of COVID-19. In the county I live in. Only this time it did not hit an elderly - it hit a person in his or her 30's. And that person is in the hospital in critical condition. But the real scare of this disease is how easily it can be passed from one person to another. That is why more and more states are telling their seniors to self isolate. And to truly self isolate, one needs a viable bunker.

Here is a brief refresher on basic bunkering, if you have not started as yet:

• Water - Any prepper will tell you the same thing. Water is the most important. A viable bunker will have one half to one gallon of potable water per person per day. If that sounds like a lot - it is. But it is that important. Have at least one week, preferably one month of potable water in your bunker.
• Meds - Hopefully you have your meds "bow waved" out a month or so. Meaning, having at least one month on non-expired meds on hand. In addition, talk to your provider about getting 3 months or 6 months of meds per order. That will really help. If your water runs out, if your meds run out, you can get in trouble real fast.
• Tactical Food - That is what you have in or around your kitchen. Most folks have enough food to last two to four weeks in the pantry and freezer. Hopefully, we will never get to the point where that is not enough.
• Survival Food - This is your "oh, crap" supply. In other words, this is the long term survival food one would need should your tactical food run out. I have met preppers who have four years of supply. I recommend three to six months. If that is not enough, we have big, big problems.
• Paper Products - Yes, I am talking about TP. And paper towels. And paper napkins. And paper plates. Get the picture? All of this stuff we need, and it has no expiration date. Stock to your heart's content. 
• Guns and Ammo - Just in case...

Is there more? Oh yes - quite a bit. But I have addressed this many times before. The purpose of this article was for basic bunkering. This might be what we have been prepping for. If not, a good dry run for prepping for something much worse.

Berned out???

"Do I care about tonight? Not a wit. Will I watch the returns? Not a chance. Netflix is full up of shows which I have not seen as yet. I will self quarantine by the TV and just veg out. Thanks for your show Bernie - it was fun to watch while it lasted."    

This is almost funny. Every time someone on our side has talked about the "swamp" or the "deep state", eyes on the other side would start to roll. It was nothing but "boogie man" talk. So they thought. Well, Bernie Sanders supporters - welcome to your version of the "deep state". For the second time in four years, your guy is about to get screwed. By whom? By the DNC establishment. Only this time it is not Hillary. It is Sleepy Joe.

Tonight, on the mini version of "Super Tuesday", Bernie could see his Waterloo. Some pundits are thinking Joe might even run the table. Run the table including Michigan. Why? The powers that be in the Democrat machine, "got to" Amy, Pete, Spartacus, and others. There is no way that Bernie Sanders could be the torch bearer for the Democrat Party in 2020. Why not? Not only would the Presidential race be a blood bath, but also the all important down ticket.

How is this going to sit with the Bernie Bots? Not well. Not well at all. They will be at the convention, many dressed like Antifa. Milwaukee could end up looking like Chicago did in 1968. By the way - that was a Democrat convention also. Seems these kids just never grow up.

Here is the irony. In a debate, even though Trump would have eaten his lunch, Bernie could have cobbled together sentences which made some sense. Sleepy Joe on the other hand, is in the beginning stages of some kind of mental deterioration. Half the time, he does not know what day it is, what state he is in, nor what his name is. When Trump takes him apart on the debate stage, it might look more cruel than sporting.

If I were a Democrat, the question I would be asking this morning is simply this - is this all there is? Is this as good as it gets? The Dems need a champion right now, one who could maybe land a punch or two on Donald Trump. But alas and alack - this is what they are stuck with. Two almost octogenarians. Two escapees from the old folks home. 

Do I care about tonight? Not a wit. Will I watch the returns? Not a chance. Netflix is full up of shows which I have not seen as yet. I will self quarantine by the TV and just veg out. Thanks for your show Bernie - it was fun to watch while it lasted.    

  

Sense or nonsense?

"By the way, Dr. Fauci gave one more piece of valuable information. Age. When asked what is 'elderly' was in his opinion (as far as this virus is concerned), he gave an interesting answer. 55 and up. What? I thought 50's were the new 40's? Eventually, not with the Corona Virus."  

Yesterday I put it out on social media. I asked if we should go on our cruise(s), or cancel them due to the spread of this new virus. Background: I am 70, just getting over pneumonia, and have hypertension. My wife is late 60's, and is asthmatic. The majority of responses I received were to "pull the plug". The cruise line is offering an attractive way out, with zero risk. The exit, should we decide to take it, is clearly marked. We would just have to re-book and use our credit by the end of next year.

I have been wondering the same thing many of us have been wondering. Is this a tempest in a teapot? A whole lot of nothing? Or - is it what some experts said over the weekend, "the most troubling new virus in over 50 years." Also this weekend, there was an interview with one of the doctors in that very troubled care center located in Seattle. The one where all those older folks have died. What he said was a show stopper for older folks like us. 

It is one thing that this virus is so contagious. But if you are young and healthy, this virus could hit you with the lightest touch. However, you will still be contagious, and able to infect many people around you - of all ages. But - if you are elderly and/or compromised, this virus can go from mild, to deadly in an hour. That is what is alarming the doctors the most. Is the speed on which this virus can kill an older person. Not all old people who get it will die - but enough will to make it a big concern.

So what is the buzz? What is the truth? What the wizards of smart know right now is this - for certain people, this thing is a stone cold killer. For the majority of folks, it is like getting sick with a mild case of the flu. However - it is much more contagious than the common flu. That is the real danger. It is the transmission of this disease. It is young people giving it to the older people in their lives. Grand kids giving it to grandparents.

How are we going to get rid of this thing, for once and for all? Or will it be with us forever? Guess who knows the answer? Nobody. The only thing I keep hearing from the powers that be is STAY OFF OF CRUISE LINES. That message I heard AGAIN from Dr. Fauci (NIAID director) this morning. Other than that, he is stumbling through the darkness like the rest of us are.

By the way, Dr. Fauci gave one more piece of valuable information. Age. When asked what is "elderly" was in his opinion (as far as this virus is concerned), he gave an interesting answer. 55 and up. What? I thought 50's were the new 40's? Eventually, not with the Corona Virus.  

How is the market going to react to all this? If last week was any clue, not well. Stocks will be cheap, airlines and cruise lines will continue to hemorrhage customers, and TP will be in short supply. Other than that, what the future brings will be anyone's business. All we can do is keep our radar on, pay attention, and be as prepared as possible. Most of all - be smart about this.