Epigonos

I'm not terrible concerned about the ability of the chain restaurants to weather this storm BUT I am concerned about the individually owed restaurants. Purchasing take-out from them is one way to help keep them going and you might even consider adding a little something extra to the bill. Also please remember to tip the guy or the gal that delivers the food to you at their door or in your car.

I have NEVER understood this attitude from escorts. It goes right along with those who don't want clients who are overweight or older (like me 79). When posting something like this I think it would especially helpful if you would post the escorts name.

It is time, and more, to think about family and/or friends who might need some financial assistance in these difficult times. If we are finacially able to do so this is the time to take out our check books and send something to those we love who are in financial need.

Fortunately I don't have to concern myself with the significance of his name -- he NEVER responded to my original contact attempt. I VERY seldom make a second attempt to contact an escort; there are simply too many fish in the ocean to make that necessary.

I went to Stater Bros today instead of my usual Smart & Final. The experience was very enlightening. By about 11 a.m. every morning Smart & Final is picked quite clean. Many empty shelves and very limited dairy items and no eggs. Stater Bros, at about 2 p.m., on the other hand, was almost totally stocked. There was only one item absent, yea you guessed it -- toilet paper. The meat market was fully stocked with four butchers in attendance. No limits on water. I had no problem getting Distilled Water, which I need for a sinus rinse. Produce department was fully stocked and looked great. I bought wonderful asparagus on sale. I didn't even have to buy a gallon a milk they had quarts. I guess I will have to start driving to Stater Bros when I need things. The one thing they won't allow is customers to bring their re-usable grocery bags into the store.

Like many of you I'm walking. Although I live in a condo it isn't a high rise and it is located immediately adjacent to a residential neighborhood. I'm trying to walk at least three miles a day. I'm getting to know many neighbors as we greet each other and chat from across the streets. Maybe by the end of this we will have learned that getting to know ones neighbors is a nice and valuable experience. If my house get any cleaner I'll start eating off the floor. Tomorrow I'll start a job I hate doing -- cleaning out my entire pantry. Then on to emptying all the kitchen cabinets and wiping them down. I'm having to restrict just how much cooking I do or I will gain weight and I'm not about to allow that to happen. Two meals a day; a late breakfast and and early dinner and NO snacking in between.

Guess what? Amazon does sell the European style string grocery bags. They are about $13.00 for three. One caveat is the delivery date is April 24. Here is the URL if anybody is interested:https://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Reusable-Grocery-Bags-Shopping/dp/B016BDZ6CQ

Hey bigjoey great comment about the mesh or string bags common in Europe. The last time I was in Europe I bought a half dozen of them -- they are very cheap. I bought the string one and I love them. They fit in my pocket but expand and expand and expand when I fill them in the market. People in line have always asked about them and where I got them. Another great thing about them is that they can be thrown into the wash and dryer and they come out just like new. I wonder if they are available from amazon?

What I'm about to present is simply an observation. It is NOT in ANYWAY a political statement or a value judgment. Over the last fifteen to twenty years here in California our governors and our state legislators have made a very strong, and successful, effort to eliminate the use of free plastic grocery bags given out by the markets. The intent was to protect the environment from all the waste plastic. I have unfortunately noticed that during this period, of increased use of re-usable grocery bags, the conditions of those bags has deteriorated badly -- they have become more and more frequently soiled and dirty. Now we are being told NOT to use our re-usable grocery bags as they may be contaminated with the virus. Some markets chains will not even allow customers to enter their stores with these re-usable bags. Just returned from one of my local markets where I encountered a woman who was furious because she had to return to her car to leave her re-usable bag. I also find it interesting that the elected Lord Mayor of London asked all those, who could, to avoid using the city’s tube system. He wanted the ridership to be limited to those who absolutely had to come into central London. A number of years ago the London city government, to limit the congestion and parking problem in central London, placed a rather pricy tax on all car owners bringing their cars into the central city during the work week. The tax was quite successful in decreasing the number of cars coming into the city while greatly increasing the ridership on the city’s tube system. When people followed his plea to avoid using the tube system and the trains became half empty he cut the number of trains operating. This decrease in the number of trains caused major delays in the system and created crowding again on the trains. His response was to blame construction workers who were using the system even though the government had recommended the continuation of construction projection in the city. Damn life is interesting even in these difficult times.

I have found no untoward price increases in my local markets. I am paying more for certain items put only because my normal brands are sold out quickly and, on occasion, I have to buy more expensive brands. My markets are also still offering their weekly specials which seen in line with what they were offering prior to the current situation.

I don't know if you want these numbers or not but I will post them for now. April 2 at 11:02 p.m. EDT (John Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering) U.S. Cases--245,213 U.S. Deaths--5,983 (2.44%) World Wide Cases--1,015,709 World Wide Deaths--53,069 (5.22%) There is still considerable discussion that the number of reported cases is way below the actual number of cases. If this is indeed the case then the percentage of deaths would be considerably less.

I'm one of those crazies who eats mayonnaise, by the tablespoon, right out of the jar -- I love it. My mother always used Best Foods and so do I. Making mayonnaise is really quite easy. All one needs is a neutral oil, eggs, a little lemon juice, a pinch of salt plus ane good blender. The problem with home made mayonnaise is that it can be dangerous. It should NEVER be used on or in picnic food unless the food can be kept very cool right up to the time of consumption. Some people are even afraid to use commercial on picnic food. They needn't be because as it is pasteurized and thus not a health threat.

Ok guy I’m going to present some “facts” and figures. In a way I’m going to sound a bit like Kesseler – I apologize for that aside Steven, it isn’t meant as a put-down. Each day the Wall Street Journal is printing an update on the number of World-wide Cases of the Coronavirus plus the number of World-wide deaths and the number of World-wide recoveries. For the United States only the number of U.S. cases and the number of U.S. deaths are presented. The Journal’s source for this information is the John Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering. One can certainly question the accuracy of this information but it appears to be one of the best sources available. According their count as of April1: World-wide cases are 935,817 World-wide deaths are 47,208 World-wide recoveries are 193,700 U.S. cases are 215,417 U.S. deaths are 5,115 Although the death numbers appear horrific, and they certainly are, especially if one is a member of that group or has a family member or friend who is, when one compares the percentage ratio of deaths to cases the numbers are not all that great. On a World-wide basis if one divides the number of cases into the number of deaths the percentage of deaths is 5.04457%. In the U.S. if one divides the number of cases into the number of deaths the percentage of deaths is even lower, 2.37492%. Thus the percentage of those dying in relationship to those cases reported is quite small. However the main question remaining is just how accurate are these "reported" figures; frankly that anybody’s guess. Additionally I would like to know the date on which these number were first presented. With that date one could mathematically determine the number of new cases and deaths per day to April 1. One might then be able to project how the future might look. Now guys do PLEASE remember that I was a public high school Spanish, Photography, and A.P. Art History teacher. Mathematics was NEVER my strong point so I’m just hopping I’ve done the math correctly.

Ok I'll admit it - I have a thing about pretty boys with nice body's. Anybody have and experience or information about this kid: https://rentmen.eu/Tony_Cortez/#platinum

Yea I read that down_to_business but thought it was odd that he hadn't mentioned "kissing" in his "Into" list.

Anybody have any information about this Palm Springs guy? https://rentmen.eu/jacktheripper

Glad to hear you are on the mend. My very best. Epigonos

He doesn't list kissing as something he is into. Any of you guys who have contacted him have any information regarding this matter. If he kisses he is a definite keeper for me once all this craziness comes to an end.

I’m trying, with some success, to keep my sense of humor. Just returned from my local Smart & Final here in North Orange County, CA. I live in a mixed ethnicity neighborhood with many limited speaking English residents. My market is operating with a single checkout line. As each check out station becomes free the checker calls out next and waves his or her hand for the customer to approach. A limited speaking woman charged past the line and when immediately to an open checkout station. The cashier, who defines the term “dumb blonde” informed the woman that she needed to wait in the line. The woman feigning lack of understanding insisted that the checker check her out. Eventually the “dumb blonde” checker began to do so. In her basked the woman had four packages of chicken. The checker informed her that she was only allowed two. Again feigning lack of understanding the woman insisted that she wanted four. This time the checker stuck to her guns. Finally the checker at the next stand, where I was being checked out, asked if he could help. The entire routine repeated itself. Finally the woman insisted that the checker call the manager. The checker in my line told the checker to call the manager on the store intercom. The “dumb blonde” looked askance but called for the manager. After a brief pause the young man who initially asked if he could help turned to the irate woman and asked again if he could help. By now the woman was furious and insisted that she wanted to speak to the manager. The young man proceed to look at her with a straight face and slight grin and informed her that he was the manager. The woman now proceeded to demand the name and telephone number of the manager’s superior. He happily wrote out the name and telephone number of the district manager, wishing the woman good luck as it was the district manager who had instituted the policy. The woman threw her money down and walked out of the store with TWO packages of chicken. The manager looked at me with a sly grin and muttered “fucking bitch”. I damn near wet my pants laughing.

My markets here in North Orange County, Southern California are in decent shape. Toilet paper is still a problem but I'm OK there. Bottled water seems to be available in most stores but there are buying limits. Most people seem to be buying things like Hamburger Helper and frozen prepared dinners. All brands of frozen pizzas are gone as fast as they are shelved. I'm a scratch cook and thus am not having much of a problem. Several years ago I bought a vacuum seal appliance and thus have a freezer full of meat I purchased on sale. Last night, for example, I prepared slow cook spareribs. I find I am walking a lot in my neighborhood and greeting neighbors, from a distance, who I have never met before. Everybody seems to want to exchange greetings which is nice. Thankfully I have a huge collection of DVD which help alleviate the boredom.

Regarding this thread I’m about to make two very different observations. The first is strictly my opinion and thus open to discussion and disagreement. The second is fact and is verifiable. Number One: In a Western Democracies the government is dependent on the volunteer compliance of the public to their rules, regulations, and laws. The government cannot arbitrarily shoot or imprison large number of its citizens if those citizens refuse to comply with government rules, regulations, and laws. As a case in point; over this last weekend large numbers of people, mostly in the 20 to 40 age group, congregated on the beaches and in the parks of Northern and Southern California. They, most certainly, did not practice safe distancing but they did party big time. Governor Newsom was so furious that he ordered all the parking lots at state beaches and park closed immediately. As the number of people refusing to comply with these new state rules, regulations, and laws increases the government will quickly lose control. A physician recently addressed an adjunct of this very point during an interview. The doctor claimed that increasing numbers of people in the 20 to 40 age group category believe that the coronavirus is an old peoples problem NOT theirs. The doctor stated that unfortunately they are essentially correct. If they contract the virus they will be ill for a short time and recover. The problem is that they will pass it on to older people, who facing the consequences of this groups actions, will die in increasing numbers. A second point here is that government officials are mostly elected politicians and their greatest fear is that they won’t get reelected. Therefore if an ever increasing number of citizens refuse to comply with the virus regulations elected official will begin to waver. My guess is that if things don’t loosen up considerably by the middle of May the shit is going to hit the fan. Number Two: Those of you who are milk users may want to consider looking for organic milk. My local market had an ample supply of organic milk but no regular milk. Organic milk differs in only three ways from regular grocery store milk. First the cows that are used to provide the organic milk are NOT given growth hormones or antibiotics. The lack of the two items does not change the flavor of the milk. Second in the preparation of organic milk the milk is heated to a much higher temperature than is regular grocery store pasteurized milk. This causes organic milk to have an incredibly long shelf life – it doesn’t even have to be refrigerated. However, it does change the flavor of the milk. Treating the milk at the higher temperature causes the sugar in the milk to caramelize and thus organic milk is considerably sweeter than regular pasteurized grocery milk. Come get me on Number One and if you don’t believe me on Number Two google “the difference between organic milk and regular pasteurized milk”.

Well it seems I won’t be going to Puerto Vallarta after all. United Airlines could and would guarantee my flight there on Saturday, the 21st but couldn’t and wouldn’t guarantee my flight home on the 28th. The agent on the United customer service line was great. She assured me that the flight would “most likely” be a go. However, on the Q.T. she told me that if she were in my place she wouldn’t take the chance – I cancelled. The condo owner of the place I rented has been fantastic and I am rescheduled for Saturday, November 7th – Saturday, November 14th. Tomorrow I will cancel my LAX valet parking. As someone else said in retrospect 2019 is looking awfully good.

At times like these there are always assholes who attempt to rip people off and make money at others expense. HOWEVER, there are also those individuals and businesses who go the extra distance to help others. Here in Southern California we have a local family owned Mexican supermarket chain by the name of Gonzalez Northgate. These markets normally open at 8 a.m. but are currently opening a half hour early for senior citizens 65+ with photo I.D. They have their own security personnel at the doors to enforce the policy. It is reassuring to learn that in these difficult times some businesses are doing something very nice. I commend and strongly recommend Gonzales Northgate to all of you who live in areas where these markets are located.

Despite the severity of this current situation it really helps to keep ones sense of humor. In the freezer section of my local market there was an abundance of good quality frozen dinners on the shelves. However, the frozen pizza section was stripped bare. Standing in line to check out I noticed that the woman in front of me had her shopping cart full of frozen pizzas plus several huge bags of potato chips. People never cease to amaze me.