what are you doing right now?

[chiver78]

right now, I'm listening to my robot vacuum work its way around my first floor while I close out a few work tasks in between calls. the pups are at the groomer's this morning, and when I pick them up later, I'll be taking them straight to M's house. laundry is also in progress, and I've still got a Walmart run to make too. tonight will be an early night, my alarm is already set for 3am tomorrow. woof. 

[skeeter]

May 3, 2022 9:16:06 GMT -5 giramomma said:

skeeter

I am also sad because I'm really missing Beth. When I discovered I was pregnant with the Missy, the first person aside from DH that I told was Beth. I could have an honest, non-judgemental conversation with her. It was a huge gift at the time, to be given space to be heard without being pushed on way or the other.

I knew enough to know that I had to choose for myself so I could be OK with that choice.

I can't imagine being forced into a decision. I'm all too familiar with what happens when parents resent their children. It contributed to my mom's issues.

Of all the unfair things in this world, losing Beth so early is right up there at the top.

Believe it or not, I understand completely.  Losing a trusted friend, whether in real life or not, is a huge loss.  They are few and far between.

Although you didn't actually say this, I am assuming your thoughts have also gone to the "why her and not me" area because of her cause of death, a question no one knows the answer to but yet it is a nagging and depressing one.

I'm truly sorry you are feeling this way, wish I could help, but all I can do is remind you this will indeed pass in time even though that sounds lame, and tell you to hug and pamper Missy a little more in Beth's honor.

p.s.  Whenever I think of Beth and all the other good people we have lost here, I really wish they were included in the Memorandum Thread.  Guess we don't do than anymore

[daisylu]

Ready for a nap. It has been a day already.

[countrygirl2]

And I haven't been up all that long. It's been raining so no yard work today. I have weeding to do in my beds along the front of the house. Want to plant more flowers and need to replace a shrub. But that's ok, I have laundry to do and floors to mop.

Hubs is working the election today so won't be home till night. He didn't want to do it at first but he and our republican neighbor are good friends. They do a lot of projects together, they are good people. He is a repub but after trump he has been trying to get his wife to watch other channels besides fox and can't get her to come around. Like he says a lot lie but they know fox does. I had talked to him as had hubs, he is the one that gave me the trump flag and said do what I want with it, burn it or whatever. At least someone is coming to their senses.

I'm curious how many of you wash your clothes strictly on cold water? I use warm for my sheets and linens, sometimes hot and I like the new Lysol sanitizer on them too. Hubs said it cost a lot for hot water, I used to use it a lot, so went to warm. I guess I need to try one month and see how the laundry looks and the difference in cost. He says all the new laundry products work just as well with cold. Maybe it's habit more then anything, hard to change some things.

[daisylu]

I wash everything but towels, sheets, and blankets in cold water. The detergent always works fine and have not seen any other issues.

[wvugurl26]

Towels, sheets and tablecloths get washed on warm or hot. DH's clothes generally get washed on warm because that's what he has always done. My clothes get washed on cold. My work clothes were generally more delicate than his and I didn't want them to shrink or fade.

[steph08]

I also wash everything in cold except towels and sheets.

[countrygirl2]

Sounds like I need to come around. Our electric rates are raising each of the next 4 years. Over 15% last year, soooo glad we put in solar. I thought we could get more panels, but hubs said Duke Energy and likely all the others only let you put so many in. They want you to buy some electric, makes sense.


Ok, here is some info.
The Shanghai cargo congestion could bring down the world economy

Zeleb.es - 8h ago

Hundreds of ships are waiting

China's strict lockdown is not only taking a toll on the population but also on the economy: Factories not working and the largest port in the world is virtually without any activity. The BBC reports that up to 500 ships are waiting to load and sail to their destinations.


Images of a collapse

Several analysts, such as former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, have shared online images like this which show how massive the ship congestion affecting the port of Shanghai.

Troubles for the global supply chain

Ever since the global pandemic began, the global supply chain in China and elsewhere has been
deeply affected and never fully recovered.

Microchip shortages

Problems in the world supply chain affect many areas, such as the automobile industry, which in the past has been hit by microchip shortages.

The machine is winding down

The port of Shanghai almost grinding to a halt now brings new fears of shortages for the global industry.

The busiest port in the world

After all, Shanghai is the busiest port in the entire world. According to the BBC, 17% of China's cargo traffic and 27% of its overall exports go through Shanghai.

Growing concerns

Now, as the port of Shanghai is running at half-speed due to long weeks under strict lockdown, concerns grow around the globe that this might bring new shortages.

The perfect storm

Between supply chain shortages and Russia's war in Ukraine affecting fuel prices, the world economy is facing the perfect storm. Fears of a worldwide recession are real.

What will be missing?

Experts cited by the BBC assure that the Shanghai cargo jam might bring issues with the supply of washing machines, vacuum cleaners, solar panels, and textile goods.

No workers, no truckers, no Covid

Ships arriving in Shanghai are not subjected to any restrictions, but dockworkers and port truckers are under the Zero-Covid policy carried on by Chinese authorities.


Covid Centers

If a Covid test turns out positive, regardless if the worker shows any symptoms, then they are forced to be quarantined in cage-like dystopian 'Covid Centers'.

China's ulterior motives?

Forbes senior contributor Kenneth Rapoza wrote an opinion piece where he argued that China's Zero-Covid policy was 'magical thinking' and that the lockdown and cargo jam was a strategy to pressure the West to grow more dependent on Beijing. Though, it all sounds a bit like a conspiracy theory.

The end of globalization

Maybe the truth is far more simple than that: China believes in the Zero-Covid policy and can't afford to put a strain on its healthcare system. That's why many experts believe we might be seeing the 'death of globalization'.

Less globalism, more protectionism

According to The Economist, between 2008 and 2019 “world trade, relative to global GDP, fell by about five percentage points”. The trend isn't exactly new, but the war in Ukraine and the global pandemic have accelerated the return to old protectionist policies.

There are 6 more paragraphs to this.

[minnesotapaintlady]

I wash everything in cold. If I have a load of just towels I'll put it on warm, but more often then not there's a towel or two thrown in with the whole load of cold.

[CCL]

What's the benefit of washing towels in warm or hot? I wash pretty much everything in cold. The only exception is things that are really dirty or stained, then I use warm. 

[ohmomto2boys]

I wash everything in warm because that is the default on my washer.  I need to start switching it to cold.  With all the price increases.....I need to save money where we can.

[chiver78]

default on mine is hot and high spin. I need to reprogram that. sheets and towels get hot. everything else is "tap cold" and everything gets medium spin.

[wvugurl26]

I thought you were supposed to use hot for towels and sheets to kill germs. I know there's detergent but I thought those needed extra help? I have awful allergies and it's recommended to wash bedding and towels in hot to kill the dust mites and other stuff.

[susana1954]

May 3, 2022 12:10:10 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I thought you were supposed to use hot for towels and sheets to kill germs. I know there's detergent but I thought those needed extra help? I have awful allergies and it's recommended to wash bedding and towels in hot to kill the dust mites and other stuff.

My sheets and towels don't really get so dirty that they need the boost hot water gives them for cleaning.  And I thought drying them in the dryer takes care of germs, etc.

I wash everything in cold unless it is stained.  And then it depends on the stain.

[countrygirl2]

Even on hot I now add the Lysol sanitizer liquid. I use it on towels, sheets, and hubs work clothes he wears in the garages and in summer will start smelling sweaty.

I need to bleach and hot wash some of my dish towels alone, they are getting dingy and have lots of stains. I have more in the basement so need to bring some up. I have a bad habit of washing mirrors and cleaning the inside of my car with them.

I opened doors and windows but the wind is really strong.

Hubs was talking yesterday about this time of year and the trees not fully leaved out, that is unusal, I noticed it too.

Taking a break, need to mop our bathroom and the laundry room. Cannot use Once and Done on the hardwood, it's for stone, tile, and vinyl only. Have to get out the Bonair stuff.

I was wondering if I could do a good job today or not, was on my knees in the garden yesterday and was on some hard stuff, should have put on knee pads. But they are ok today. Only way I can really get my floors clean. I'm thinking of buying one of the Shark robots that the dirt, son got one, said it works really good and was less money then the other brand.

Tomorrow to the obesity and diabetic doc for DD and I. Likely not enough time after we get home to do much. May thaw out pork and make tamales on Thursday, eat a dozen or less and freeze the rest. I need to order another batch of corn shucks and seasoning also.  I looked at the reusable "shucks" but they were too expensive.

Things I need to do:
Make the 35 pounds of tomatoes in the freezer, into seasoned sauce and can
Make tamales and freeze, order more shucks, make and freeze more
Clean rest of flower beds and plant the rest of the flowers buy and transplant one dead shrub
See if I want to plant more in the garden

Following week, after next, help hubs clean empty rent house and prep for sale? Though we really need to look into selling the tiny farm first. Have to displace an over 30 year? renter.



 

[countrygirl2]

I do DD's, not always clean.

And the cats come in and sleep on ours so hot and sanitizer on those.

[busymom]

I wish the supply chain problems surprised me, countrygirl2, but sadly they don't.  As I've mentioned here before, we studied different inventory systems used in the USA while in college, around the time that the "just-in-time" inventory system was coming into vogue here in the US.  Our professor went into great detail about the advantages & disadvantages of each system, but warned us that although "just-in-time" saves corporations millions in building warehouses, etc., it would only take one or two things to go wrong before the whole system collapsed.  Of course, who imagined we'd have a pandemic, a major war between Russia & Ukraine, a previous president who didn't want to be friendly with other world leaders, etc.  The dominoes are coming down, and who knows where it will end?


If any good comes from all of this, let us hope that more corporations will learn to manufacture in the US, and have their own regional warehouses, rather than relying on overseas production, transportation, and inventory.

[taz157]

May 3, 2022 12:35:27 GMT -5 busymom said:

If any good comes from all of this, let us hope that more corporations will learn to manufacture in the US, and have their own regional warehouses, rather than relying on overseas production, transportation, and inventory.

I’ve been waiting 6 months for a Honda van to be produced by an Alabama production plant and it’s still not ready yet!!!!!!!! It’s supposedly been in production each month since I ordered it, but the production month keeps changing. The vehicle hasn’t been sold as it’s been confirmed by another dealership they are having trouble getting similar vans in and seeing the same thing. The dealer I’m buying it from doesn’t know what part or parts are the issue, but just that it’s been delayed again. It’s getting very frustrating!!!

[Deleted]

May 3, 2022 8:18:14 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

However, I’m not sure what going across the land borders is like.  

I guess I probably should do some research on this, we get dumped off the Bragi in Budapest, are spending 3 days here and are getting on a train to Prague for an additional 3 days before flying home.

You're right. I'm sure the process is a lot different for a small ship where everyone's vaccine status has been documented and verified than a random trainload of passengers.

Sticker shock all over the place today. My auto insurance premium just went tp 15% - from 6 months ago. Someone (cg?) had mentioned how expensive beef tongue. I just bought collard greens at the same price per bunch- but the "bunches" are about half what they used to be. Interesting how food that used to be eaten only by poor people becomes more popular and gets expensive. I still bought 3 Hot Wheels bath bombs because those are hard to find and my grandson loves them. I'm still Grandma.

[countrygirl2]

They have not learned, now going to Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan?? A lot are critical parts. Some is from Indonesia and of course, Israel and India. They are all about maximizing profits through starvation wages.


Black and Decker is moving back to the US and there are chips going to be made in Ohio. There are some others, but apparently neon used in the lasers that make chips came from Ukraine?? Who knew?

Seems like quite a bit of stuff is coming from there.

Greed will be the end of us.

[CCL]

May 3, 2022 12:21:55 GMT -5 susana1954 said:

May 3, 2022 12:10:10 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I thought you were supposed to use hot for towels and sheets to kill germs. I know there's detergent but I thought those needed extra help? I have awful allergies and it's recommended to wash bedding and towels in hot to kill the dust mites and other stuff.

My sheets and towels don't really get so dirty that they need the boost hot water gives them for cleaning.  And I thought drying them in the dryer takes care of germs, etc.

I wash everything in cold unless it is stained.  And then it depends on the stain.

That's my thinking, too. My sheets, bedding and towels don't get very dirty. 

I always figured the water would have to be awfully darned hot to actually kill anything via the temperature.

[chiver78]

May 3, 2022 12:47:40 GMT -5 taz157 said:

May 3, 2022 12:35:27 GMT -5 busymom said:

If any good comes from all of this, let us hope that more corporations will learn to manufacture in the US, and have their own regional warehouses, rather than relying on overseas production, transportation, and inventory.

I’ve been waiting 6 months for a Honda van to be produced by an Alabama production plant and it’s still not ready yet!!!!!!!! It’s supposedly been in production each month since I ordered it, but the production month keeps changing. The vehicle hasn’t been sold as it’s been confirmed by another dealership they are having trouble getting similar vans in and seeing the same thing. The dealer I’m buying it from doesn’t know what part or parts are the issue, but just that it’s been delayed again. It’s getting very frustrating!!!

I feel you. I bought my dishwasher in December, and I'm still waiting.

[Deleted]

May 3, 2022 13:12:57 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

They have not learned, now going to Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan?? A lot are critical parts. Some is from Indonesia and of course, Israel and India. They are all about maximizing profits through starvation wages.

I've always been suspicious of the "Made in USA*"   (*from globally-sourced components) label.  Umm, WHERE on the globe?  What % of the components?  Did the item get shipped to the US from China in 2 pieces so someone in the US could put them together?

One of Berkshire-Hathaway's subsidiaries is a factory in Israel with ZERO employees.  It's all robotics.

[daisylu]

My washer has a "sanitize" setting that I use for towels and sheets. I have read many places that high temp water helps keep down allergens and dust mites.

I quick search found this:


What water temperature to wash sheets is best?

White and light-colored cotton sheets wash well in the washing machine on any water temperature. However, during the cold and flu season, Zeitler suggests sanitizing your sheets by washing them on a hot/warm cycle. This will also help reduce allergens.


link

[cooper88]

I'm watching the governor's fire update. It's horrible. The big fire is 145,000 acres and it's still windy there.

[countrygirl2]

Be really leery of food saying distributed by, you have no idea where it came from. i read about that one day, that way they don't have to say.

I just don't want products produced in conditions in 3rd world countries.  Fresh you can at least wash though what fertilizer and stuff used you just don't know. 

One of the reasons I like to home can, I know where its grown, know the clean conditions I cook and can it in. I have a hard time eating some stuff produced elsewhere, I try not to think about it.

Foods produced and canned in Europe don't bother me.

[giramomma]

Trying to decide how to pivot our summer vacation, again.

I'll use more words.

We were thinking of going to DC. In July. I'm not sure I want to risk that, now.

[Deleted]

May 3, 2022 12:55:44 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

May 3, 2022 8:18:14 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

However, I’m not sure what going across the land borders is like.  

I guess I probably should do some research on this, we get dumped off the Bragi in Budapest, are spending 3 days here and are getting on a train to Prague for an additional 3 days before flying home.

You're right. I'm sure the process is a lot different for a small ship where everyone's vaccine status has been documented and verified than a random trainload of passengers.

Sticker shock all over the place today. My auto insurance premium just went tp 15% - from 6 months ago. Someone (cg?) had mentioned how expensive beef tongue. I just bought collard greens at the same price per bunch- but the "bunches" are about half what they used to be. Interesting how food that used to be eaten only by poor people becomes more popular and gets expensive. I still bought 3 Hot Wheels bath bombs because those are hard to find and my grandson loves them. I'm still Grandma.

I commented about that in the Gardening thread.  All the high-end bistros started serving grits, greens and corn bread a couple of years ago at outrageous prices.  People gushed on social media about "discovering" these foods.  Some of us never lost them   

[Deleted]

May 3, 2022 14:54:46 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

Be really leery of food saying distributed by, you have no idea where it came from. i read about that one day, that way they don't have to say.

I just don't want products produced in conditions in 3rd world countries.  Fresh you can at least wash though what fertilizer and stuff used you just don't know. 

One of the reasons I like to home can, I know where its grown, know the clean conditions I cook and can it in. I have a hard time eating some stuff produced elsewhere, I try not to think about it.

Foods produced and canned in Europe don't bother me.

Yesterday while shopping at our Asian mega-mart I realized that "Distributed by" are often the only words I can read, along with the ingredient and nutrition label.   DH kept handing me stuff and asking me what it was and I would answer "it's made with rice, soy sauce, soy beans....."  I rely on the pictures for what it might be and text a photo of the label to my Asian friends to learn how to cook it.  

Sometimes an Asian shopper will take pity on us and ask if we need help 

[Deleted]

Sheets and towels on warm wash, cold rinse, dried on high. Clothing on cold wash and cold rinse, dried on medium. Cleaning cloths are a separate load, warm/cold/high with no softener. I think most modern washers do a good job at getting stuff like dirt/allergens/bacteria out rather than just killing them. If I had indoor/outdoor pets like countrygirl2 that slept with us, I would possibly use a sanitizer for the sheets.