Stuff I don’t understand

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Information please — With businesses in chaos, many of us don’t know who is open and who isn’t. We rely on Facebook and websites to find out that information. Businesses are not keeping their status and hours updated. This week I tried to find out when a business opened. Their website and Facebook had conflicting information and their phone menus did not work. I know it’s a crazy time but customers don’t know if they can’t find the information.

Is it just me? – I have trouble thinking when I have a face mask on. Why is that? It shouldn’t affect my brain yet it does. Makes me forget things and I can’t hear well either. The mask makes me feel 20 years older than I am and it’s not about the looks. It’s about functioning. Good thing I’m not a surgeon (or any other health professional). That would not fare well for patients.

Any weird things happening to you? Besides people of course. They are always weird!

84 thoughts on “Stuff I don’t understand”

  1. I hear you! We have a super yummy steakhouse < mile from our home – we would be happy to support them by ordering take out except they only have ONE PHONE LINE!! They also have reduced hours for take out — can't get through. They appeal to patrons on FB to remind us they're open and we comment that when we call there's no answer … and nothing. Just clueless. Sometimes businesses close for a reason I.e. Stupid Management.

    Agree that information is wonky right now ~ and I'm glad to still be an essential employee who is remote!

    Good post, MJ

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    • Our restaurants are trying hard but not enough phone lines, cold food when picked up and some other things don’t make it worthwhile. We have ordered from our Chinese takeout place twice during the quarantine. Both times something was forgotten. We use them all the time but now it seems like they can’t get an order right.

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        • I think that’s been the universal problem. Our beloved pizza place delivered a terrible pizza and it took over an hour. Too many customers! We always order in the afternoon for a 5:30 to 6 pm delivery but that hasn’t seemed to help. Our restaurants opened now so hopefully it will be better although they can only seat 50% of what they used to.

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  2. If you are wearing the mask for more than an hour, it really will affect your thinking thanks to reduced oxygen. That’s why I keep my shopping trips very short. We are now mask-less at the school and they will no longer be required in stores one week from now. I had gotten used to them, so it is not as freeing as I thought it would be. Still, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with steamy glasses anymore.
    Hope things will develop in a similar way where you are – and as quickly as possible!

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  3. I don’t like the masks either – reminds me of when I was a little nipper and my mom pushed me out the door with a scarf bundled around my face and said “go, get the stink off of ya!” I thought once we were in warmer weather, the fogged-up glasses would be a done deal, but they are not. Here in Detroit, the assistant to the Mayor today had to give a tutorial on how NOT to wear your mask (yes, 11 weeks into the pandemic) … apparently some people slipped the mask down past their chin, and bypassed their nose. And was it in Philly today that a warning came not to flush your masks and/or gloves down the toilet and just dispose of them in the garbage and maybe take it outside if you are worried about germs. Offices here returned to work yesterday and I heard a story on the news about how they are setting up office settings – Ford Motor Company is not yet ready to head back to work and their office staff and others who are able to, will continue to work from home. I’m glad I’m retired.

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    • My old company is still working from home. I was shopping last week and there were people whose mask have slipped under their nose. Although you are not supposed to touch them, I adjust when necessary to make sure it’s covering properly. Today is the first day we are in the yellow. Restaurants are opening but with separation. Stores too. We’ll see how this goes.

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      • I think companies should wait longer if possible before sending employees back to work. Our office building just announced it will open on Monday. but I read the list of restrictions in the rules/regs they circulated to tenants and it was just incredible. Before any employee can enter the lobby where the guard station is, you must go to the pumps of hand sanitizer (all those people pressing on the hand sanitizer pump – ewww).
        Our restaurants are opening Monday with separation and today our Governor announced hair/nail salons could open on June 15th.

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        • We are in the “yellow” zone. Some restrictions eased but not a lot yet. Since our numbers are dropping I think we will move to green soon. That’s when salons will open. Maybe gyms although that’s a very germy place so you may have to go with a spray bottle.

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          • Yes, gyms would have freaked me out a bit in Winter with the seasonal flu, let alone this virus. There is a recall petition for our Governor for her strict measures taken in combatting COVID-19, to the extend that small businesses have tanked and likely will never open again. I personally think she’s done a great job, but her rules and regs have not affected me (yet). We’re humming along with a little work so hopefully it continues like that through the Summer and beyond.

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            • Unfortunately picking lives over business is a tough choice. Some are bellyaching here but none of their loved ones died. I believe that everyone is doing the best they can. We have also lost businesses here but for the most part, they weren’t doing well before. I am hopeful we are at the tail end at least for now. I don’t like it but I strap on my mask when I venture out. It’s just the right thing to do.

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              • It made the Governor very unpopular and much of the bellyaching came from those who believe she is a “Media Queen” as she is on Joe Biden’s short list of VP candidates. I don’t believe that at all. A lot of restaurants will go belly-up. Today they opened for inside dining, the first time since March 16th and I listened to the criteria for dining in. I’d be leery for sure and their business will drop like a rock with social distancing rules for table placement. One city is going to shut off the main street and allow all the restaurants to encroach out into the street … nice idea for the restaurants, but you know the drivers are not going to appreciate the detour. I am still using a mask everywhere I go, even the Park.

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                • We haven’t had too much whining here. There were some protests in our capitol but they were funded by Trump supporters. He doesn’t like democratic governors and tries to undermine them every chance he gets. The really good restaurants have a dedicated following who have been ordering take out. It may take a while but as long as there isn’t a re-surge of the virus, some of the old routine will come back. I will be cautious.

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                  • We have had a lot of whining here … the person who filed the petition has 60 days to get his signatures and has hired 800 people to get it done. Today I thought of you as a guy opened up his gym despite not being allowed to do so. He said he was doing safe practices and hand sanitizer all over the place.

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                    • Some places can do that. Our local DSW shoe store opened up. Gyms are a different animal. People sweat all over the equipment and no one has the time to do a good cleaning between each client. Then there is the changing room, showers, etc. Maybe I’m just not ready for that kind of risk.

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                    • We have an antagonistic barber who decided he would go against the Governor and cut hair anyway. His customers continued going to the shop. The State took his license away – the customers don’t care if he works without a license; they continue going there to him.

                      I have heard the regimen they are going to be using when the Detroit Lions start their off-season training. Just incredible as to all the small things they usually do. Lockers are going to be “socially distant”, no showers, no high fives or fist bumps and no Ubers or Lyfts to/from practice … arrive in your own vehicle only. It may work for practice, but all bets are off how close they will be when the regular season begins and are caught up in the moment.

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  4. One thing I’ve learned is not to trust Google’s information about a business. I’ll always click on the link they provide for a website (if there is one) and go directly to that, or at least call the place. But, yeah, reliable information is really sketchy right now.

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    • I was using their own website and their Facebook page and the info was conflicting. I went at the later time and it worked ok. Wasn’t crowded so I could get what I needed and get out quickly. It’s a 20 plus minute drive so I was annoyed that I may be making the trip in vain but then again, nothing is normal now.

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    • I think they are helpful but do not eliminate the threat. In a high case area, it’s a good idea. In areas where there the case count is low, maybe not necessary. We still have to do it here. The stats I saw are that transmission without is around 17% and with is 3%. Also depends on how freaked out you are. I have friends who haven’t been out in like 12 weeks.

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      • They are testing more here now and tracing…(right…seen the marchers distancing, not.) The past 4 weeks the hospital admits are low and not increasing – still way below 50% bed capacity….but we’ll see in about 4-7 days.. One doc in Italy says the virus is losing strength and less harmful. Fingers crossed about that.
        The school districts are getting hit with demands for grad. ceremonies…after all, seen the crowds in the streets? (with and without masks/ masks hanging loose under chins..it’s hot). Some are holding outdoor ceremonies, some just trying to figure out what to do for next year. (CDC says on buses: one child per seat row and 2 rows between occupied seat…really not going to work. And with the “new” style buildings in hub and spoke configurations, no way to do one way hallways. And one teacher all day long? Even in middle schools and high schools? Art teachers will love teaching math and science….glad I don’t have to deal or worry about that.
        Life has totally changed.

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  6. I am not jazzed about wearing masks. The only ones we have are those ones for when you are painting, and they are not comfortable. I have some fabric ones on order, but they haven’t gotten here yet. Hopefully they will help the situation.

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  7. Hi, Kate – I’m glad that you, and those around you, are wearing masks. They are less and less common out here (even by staff at open stores and businesses). Our island hasn’t had a new COVID case reported in three weeks (she says knocking on her wooden desk). I hope that complacency is not setting in.

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    • That is good news for you. Our numbers are declining but they are still there. Someone is still getting sick although there are people who think it’s because we are doing more testing. Masks are pretty nasty if you have to wear for more than a few minutes. They negatively affect my brain for some reason. Maybe I’m rushing to get out to remove them.

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  9. I don’t go far, just a grocery store or drugstore, but I find my glasses fogging up while wearing the mask. It’s frustrating going around the store trying to see. Retail stores are open here if they have a street entrance. No malls, restaurants or salons yet. I find shopping very tiring and stressful with wearing the mask and being aware of distancing and what I’m touching. By the time I get home I’m tired and don’t want to go out for a long time.

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  10. Hiya Kate. Businesses may be unable to keep up with when to open & close due to the riots now. And yes, weird things happened by me. We had some riot activity Sunday night in a strip mall near our house. Scared me. Now it settled down, at least so far.

    It sounds like you’re experiencing mild symptoms of hypercapnia from the mask. I’ve been having symptoms too, except I get dizzy (I suffer from vertigo on occasion and the mask can set it off). Each person may get a different symptom from it. You can google it and see what it says. There are so-called “experts” denying hypercapnia with masks, but I know my own body, and so do you. I’ve heard many other people saying they’ve had symptoms. I won’t wear mine for more than 30 minutes, because otherwise it’ll be too hard to quell my vertigo.

    But, other than a virus, vertigo, and riots, nothing much is going on. 😏

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  11. The warmer it gets the worse the mask wearing is for me. Besides my glasses steaming up, I just feel like I’m going to suffocate behind it. I accept the reason I need to wear it, I just wish it worked better. 🙂 We have a computer part at a local store that has been closed since March. I looked on FB, the photo said ‘open.’ I drove over, the store is closed. I tried to find hours and finally messaged them – we may open mid June. Hmm. Then I showed up for a drop in hair cut at 9, but they don’t open now until 11. I went back at 11, but now you have to call to make an appointment for the following day, but they’re too busy to answer the phone. I think businesses are as overwhelmed as we are and that’s saying something. 🙂

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    • Well that’s frustrating. You can’t get a haircut locally (except in back alleys!) and that’s not changing yet. Places like Staples and Office Depot are open for computer stuff. I also accept that it’s better to wear a mask (required here) but the dang things just aren’t comfortable. I have gone to disposable ones and like them better than the cloth made versions. There is a metal bar that helps keep the glasses from fogging. They are also lighter.

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  12. I had some “instant old” moments yesterday. Wearing a mask, having my eyes dilated, and not being able to hear people through their masks was a comical living nightmare. Foggy glasses and not being able to breathe well added to my mental mayhem. Whew! I’m glad I’ve worn a mask only once!

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  13. I drove half an hour to a business whose Facebook page said they were open, only to find it closed that day too. So frustrating, when you’re trying to group all your errands at once. The mask is even worse in hot humid weather, and with my bangs being too long again, I have a very narrow margin of sight. On a plus note, our libraries are opening next week for curbside pickup which is wonderful as I’ve run out of good books but had lots on reserve. No sign of hairdressers yet though…..

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  15. I went into a local restaurant wearing a mask, my PS wrestling hat, and hair … lots and lots of hair sticking out from under it. I looked at the cashier and said “this is a stick up”. She looked at me, laughed and said “Hi Dennis, your order isn’t quite ready yet!”.

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  16. When I went to the hospital a few weeks back for my infusion, I wore a mask for the first time. My blood pressure was sky high! The nurses were quite concerned, but I told them it was the mask. I felt like I was smothering and my glasses kept getting foggy. Not a fan.

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  19. Weird things happening? Well, this whole COVID-19 thing is about as weird as it can get…Wait…now our cities are seeing civil unrest for days on end…Wait…our President puts together the experts and then ignores their recommendations… I don’t know how things could get much stranger or bizarre. We are lucky, our son goes to the grocery and pharmacy for us, so we have yet to have to wear a mask.(We have them, I ordered some of those N95s back in January when you could get them.) I have always been frustrated with the lack of correct information on websites, even pre-virus. I’ll hop off the soapbox now.

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    • The website misinformation was exacerbated by not being able to get through on the phone. I seemed to be in some kind of circle that didn’t include real people or real information.

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  20. Sometimes Google Maps has the most updated information on business near me.

    Everything is weird right now, especially in Los Angeles. The meeting of the LAPD commissioners was packed last night (on Zoom!) with thousands watching and hundreds calling in to demand the chief resign, the police be defunded and restructured, and the racism of the department be addressed. Maybe they’ll manage more than a bandaid this time.

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  21. Plenty of weird here. Most shops are still closed but some can open on June 15th. IKEA opened on Monday and some people started queueing at 5.30 a.m.

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    • Most shops are closed here except for curbside pick-up. Gardening centers opened and grocery stores and any kind of food places although not all chose to open. Our favorite pizza place was open one weekend for curbside pickup but they didn’t advertise. I didn’t find about about it until it was too late and they didn’t do it again. I suspect they didn’t get enough customers to make it worthwhile but they also didn’t do any notices that I saw. I saw it after the fact on Facebook. Now I’m “friends” with the business so I should get a timely notice. Friday more places are opening up but I don’t know what.

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  22. I think people are pretty much “flying by the seat of their pants” through this whole thing – add to THAT worry the worry that you’re liable to get caught up in a protest and – well – we’re just staying home period. Websites aren’t bothering to update it seems – at least not most – I think they’re just strugglng to get things moving in the business vs. keeping people informed (even though we are the ones who frequent the business!). Oh well……as we all know…..”this too shall pass” – hopefully soonish!

    Hugs, Pam

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    • You are right. Our local Starbucks opened up for in-store pick-up (the drive-through has been open throughout this). There is a pathway to walk in so you don’t come close to anyone. Every morning it’s different as they are trying to find what works best for both customers and workers. There are huge sheets of plexiglass up to protect them. This is all so weird but necessary. Other businesses must be struggling as well on what works. Even people wearing masks are weird. Many masks slip down so the nose and sometimes even the mouth is sticking out but the chin is fully covered. Argh! Although you are not supposed to touch it, I’m always adjusting to make sure that mine is covering the right parts.

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  23. We’ve found websites confusing and un-informative during the lockdown. Nothing is available to buy locally, you can order (and pay) on line but they can’t guarantee a delivery date.
    Purchase a laptop from one outlet, and if it doesn’t work, you can’t return it to a store as they’re all shut unless you’re prepared to travel 50 miles plus to a supermarket that has a store ‘in-store’. But………. if the packaging is open and the machine has been switched on, you can’t change it anyway! Work that one out 😦

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  24. I have given up on the idea of finding accurate information about what any business is doing. I read that our favorite local restaurant was permanently closed, yet we drove by and it is open. Happy about that, but lesson learned. Until I see something is so, I won’t believe what I read online about any business.

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    • I am assuming that many businesses have someone else manage their website and didn’t bother to put updates on it. Many also have a Facebook page that they can update themselves but some restaurants just don’t bother. I drove to a garden center because everything said it was open only to find the gates closed and a notice that it’s closed Tuesdays. Who would think it would be closed Tuesdays? Many businesses are too busy to man phones too. Very weird times.

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    • I think I get claustrophobic in one but I’m not sure if that’s the right word. I get agitated because I can’t understand people (I can’t read their lips and my hearing is not great) and it all makes me feel helpless.

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  26. Speaking as a business owner, I know lots of businesses rely on outside programmers and such to update their websites, and I suspect that is part of the problem with websites being updated regularly. (I can update my own, thankfully!) As for Facebook, should be easier so no excuses there.

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  27. I had to hold the mask away from my mouth after some minutes… so I follwed rule one but broke rule two “don’t touch your face” … bravo….
    I hate this, oh man why they can not post their changed opening times on their websites or social media ? I asked and they said they have a sheet on the door with the new times… well yeehaw, I know that the store is closed AFTER I drove 18 miles through the casbah…

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    • Happened to me too. I checked everything and it should have been open. Turns out they are closed Mondays. It’s not noted anywhere until you drive a half hour and see the gate closed.

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  28. People do get LESS oxygen when wearing a mask which could certainly affect clarity of thought. Not sure that it affects the hearing.

    Maybe that’s why stores are not keeping customers up to date on their hours ~> masks!

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