Thanks for checking in, glad you and the fiance are ok. Like you, I am trying to train at the local parks and I have a National Forest close to me for rucking. Stripping and showering after buying groceries is good advice, especially if you have high risk family members living with you. Stay safe.
I sincerely appreciate the concern. Thanks. Long story short, my immediate circle is doing okay.
I’m in Nassau County, about 45 minutes outside NYC, 2nd largest cluster in the state. As of yesterday, we had 1,900 cases here (6 cases in my specific town), 44 hospitalized, 7 deaths. 48 hours earlier, the numbers posted by the state Dept. of Health were drastically less but still a shit-ton.
State’s basically on lockdown with only essential businesses (grocery, gas stations, banks, etc.) open. Will pop back in later with more thoughts, but suffice to say, it’s a straight-up “bug-in” situation here.
Thanks for checking in, I am glad you and yours are ok. NY and NYC are at the epicenter of this crisis and hopefully it will peak and level off soon.
I was going to post something this morning about what I saw yesterday but, didn’t want to insult anyone’s intelligence , so, just for those who know someone who is behind the eight ball, here it is.
I was getting gas yesterday and had to wait in line . I saw numerous people pumping gas and about half were handling the pump handle and eating some type of snack at the same time. Talk about stupid. Gas pump handles and grocery carts are about the two most hazardous things you can touch during this crap. I carry a set of gloves and Lysol wipes just for pumps and carts.
Just stay safe, brother ,based on replies here over the past few days, you are in the thick of it.
i grocery shopped today, and as soon as i entered a staff member disinfected my hands and basket handles. There were lines for social distancing near the cashiers, and the cash stations had plexiglass shields. I brought my own bag, but was told to take it off the belt and that they would give free bags, with all customers bagging themselves.
Honestly, I paid cash currency. I have nothing in the bank right now and a stash of cash for the near term, maybe I shouldn’t be doing it that way.
Thank you for the information. I have not been in grocery stores which had plexiglass shields, that is a new one for me.
I am not a financial adviser so my opinion would not be worth much, but, I know there are several advisers who hang out on PWI. Actually, a new thread over there, called something like " Cash or credit, which is best to use during this crisis" might be something worth considering.
Thought for the day:
Training:
Holy Hell! Yesterday, by pure accident, I was coming back from the park and saw a small gym that was open. Never been in there and don’t have a membership. Went in asked if I could pay a day rate to work out. Guy said: ten bucks. ok, brother, will do, go my container of Lysol wipes and gloves and went to work. Full body workout, just worked every part I could, since, you never know when the Governor is going to issue a mandatory lock down. Got up around 0430 this morning and could barley crawl to the coffee pot. Nice.
Question of the day:
If you have kids at home now, (no school in my state) are you dedicating any time to teaching them some simple practical skills? Get them away from the micro chip? Some suggestions:
how to apply a tourniquet and simple first aid skills.
how to use a whetstone to sharpen a knife.
basic knot tying skills.
if you live anywhere outside a major urban area, how to build a campfire using matches and tinder.
how to use a BB pistol or slingshot.
Outdoor tracks, I saw a mother (I assume) the other day with two small children walking around the track, skipping, doing body weigh squats, kicking a ball and doing planks. The kids were very young , guessing, 5 and 6.
Just some thoughts.
- Note:
This is an excellent article that was on Recoil Magazine on line this morning. Long, but, well worth reading, giving a view of the sales of guns and other opinions from several states across the country. I found it especially poignant that California first gun buyers only found out about the draconian laws they live under after going to a gun shop to buy a gun.
One of my best friends ran that school. Gunny Leahey.
Atlantic Canada here. Officially in a state of emergency according to provincial government. All non essential services are closed until further notice.
As this state of emergency was being declared, I high tailed it to a local shopping center to stock up on staples so I would have enough for a few weeks. Store was really quiet, surprisingly. Practiced all the recommended precautions and walked out with my groceries and a large discretionary purchase that I shared to my social media. Should have expected the shit storm that ensued. I had messages from one person asking how could I dare making such a purchase in a time like this. Well lady, it was a mere 10 meters from the check out lane, so why not? Another person said I was irresponsible and have no respect for the safety of others. This I thought was funny because the person who wrote that has admitted to me that they drive home while impaired because “it’s not that far away”. People are starting to get really shitty about this. You can take it seriously without the hyperbole and panic. Rant over.
Training
My range is closed so live shooting is out until further notice.
I picked up a few KBs and bands before this really blew up, so I’m good to go.
Morning - Dry fire drills followed by shadow boxing and stretching.
Evening - Dan John’s 10k Kb swing challenge. Lift will be KB rows. Some extra back work and ab circuit to follow.
Also going to work on knots and get all my outdoor gear sorted out for the changing season.
Does welding count?
Me and kiddo are having a ball with this stuff.
He has a Really rough idea of how to use the sights on my little Crossman, but I think he really needs a slingshot or archery kit to get the picture. I’m no expert, but I believe point and shoot with the slower, more manual weapons is best for getting the feel for it.
Thanks for checking in, glad you have supplies and are currently safe.
I posted this earlier last week, but, it is going apply more and more now:
Yep. Credit card machines at checkout, too. The little screen and buttons you hit to confirm the amount, the (blech) stylus to sign on screen, etc.
Not much more I can say about his whole thing. There’s four of us in the house here, and Mrs. and I both have older parents in the immediate area, so we’re staying put and we’re very well-stocked (hurricanes make this a necessity anyway). I planted lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes over the weekend, but those’ll take some time to be worthwhile.
Biggest issue is just general anxiety (not even fear, just anxiety), but the NY Governor said this morning that they’re now expecting the peak here to hit in 2-3 weeks, which is earlier than they were previously expecting, so that’s good and bad. Hopefully “the curve” will start to flatten after, but it means the potential for overloaded hospitals is more real since their prep time is cut short.
Anyhow, all you dudes keep staying safe.
Absolutely, he already has more welding skills than me.
I agree. I am now running into people who starting shooting and have only used some type of red dot optic system. Never really trained on iron or fixed sights. Bad, Bad mistake. It you tell them to only use their fixed sights, they look at you like you are crazy, then scoff, then try it, and cannot hit at 10 yards.
IMHO, starting on optics doesn’t teach you solid fundamentals, plus, batteries do go dead and shooting in heavy dusty conditions is not what the manufacturers tell you it will be. Optics are one of the greatest inventions for shooting ever developed, but, they are not a substitute for the basics.
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Thanks, Chris. All the best to you and your family.
If I can learn to use iron sights, without my glasses no less, anyone can. And I’m glad I did for the reasons you mentioned. But it’s all for naught because my state won’t let me buy an “assault rifle” anymore. Oh well.
Was the discretionary purchase booze?
If so, that’s an essential in times of crisis. I’m partial to weed (travels smaller/lighter too), but taking the edge off at appropriate times during a shit show, or just to fight boredom is 100% conducive to mental health. Plus, it makes bring cooped up with someone for days on end a lot more pleasurable.
What I meant is I feel like a heel for making the cashier handle cash I gave her from my hand.
Further along, I was on a city bus this morning for a new temp assignment, and some man picked an issue with the driver. I don’t know if it was Covid-19 stress, but I wonder if more had come of it if the police would have dealt with it quickly, the Province of Ontario has declared an emergency.
I saved the bus fare because they aren’t collecting it. Everyone gets on and off the back doors I guess to spare the driver.
I am amazed at the number of job ads lately for cashier. A lot of face to face contact with other people.
No, it was a TV. The first TV I’ve ever purchased (I’m 35) so I thought it was a big deal. I went in for food and it was a steal so I added it to my purchase. Apparently this wasnt cool and someone thought they should let me know.
Wtf? I honestly don’t actually understand how that would be considered feaux pas. All anyone can do now is watch TV. That is not an extravagrnt item. It’s as legit as buying a new car prior to a months long road trip.
Checking in from Nova Scotia Canada. State of Emergency declared here. Not lockdown, but no social gatherings of more than 5 people and y foot social distancing enforceable by law. All non-essential businesses closed. Naturally we’re getting plenty of so and so stood too close to so and so calls, because even at the end of the world, people are stupid. It’s comforting to know you can rely on that.
Decent availability on everything so far. I’ve got a respectable amount of rice, dried beans, canned fish etc on hand at any given time and have still been able to grocery shop as normal with usual precautions and some shortages (ground beef etc).
Ammunition is scarce but still available (00 buck is unobtainium). I’ve always got a decent amount of 9mm and .223 on hand. Contemplating a lever gun, maybe a Marlin 1895 in .30-.30 with a 1-6 LVPO as sort of a do anything (hunting/defense/recreational) gun that works within our gun laws. All I have now is AR’s and handguns, which, up here are strictly range toys. Looking pretty hard at this, but also considering the non black version.
Zero experience with levers, but it makes a certain amount of sense to me as an all rounder and, let’s face it, they’re cool as shit. Open to thoughts/opinions/experiences.
BJJ, gym, pool, beaches, range and kid’s school are closed until God knows when. Killing me a little. Mild cabin fever. Doing KB stuff, running, rucking, pull ups, sledgehammer work and picking up big ass rocks for fitness. Doing online kali through Pekiti Tirsia University. Seems like good content for online instruction (to my untrained eye at least). Have been pretty involved with the Invictus BJJ for LE group and was really getting some good momentum in my own training when this pesky apocalypse hit, but having fun with kali. Appreciate the adaptability to whatever is on hand and the footwork seems decent.
All courses are suspended at work, so my public order training and defensive tactics instructor pre-selection are postponed, which sucks. Feeling very blessed to be deemed “essential services” and getting a little unsympathetic towards my blue family for bitching about it. Many of my private sector friends stand to lose businesses they have worked for years to build and I am working OT for double time.
Be well and stay dangerous all.
HA, totally misread that one, now, I feel dumber than usual. Stay as safe as you can.