damont

(Originally posted to my GoFundMe, and backdated to the date of that original post. This is basically copied verbatim, including the fundraising stuff at the end; I *was* posting to GoFundMe after all. Feel free to ignore those bits if you want. Link to the fundraiser will be provided in the comments and upon request.)

I now estimate that for the next while, I'll probably be posting one or two per week of these non-photo posts that combine the now-familiar begging with one or more links to articles/videos/blog posts related to COVID-19 that I find useful. It's time for the next installment in that series. Today's link is to a video about how to do Safe Grocery Shopping, or more specifically, how to maximize the safety of your groceries after you've gotten them home. As the virus spreads, it's going to become more and more important to limit your exposure to surfaces that have an increasing probability of harboring the virus, which means disinfecting every surface you can (glass, metal, sufficiently sturdy plastic and waxed cardboard, some produce) and for the rest, either quarantining the questionable surface or getting rid of it entirely. The video assumes that people may not have enough space to do the quarantine, and thus concentrates on disinfecting and other safe handling. Here's the link:

"PSA Grocery Shopping Tips in COVID-19 (See Important Notes Below) www.DrJeffVW.com"

Following the PSA portion of this post comes the usual begging stuff. As you may expect, in addition to the usual plea for help for ourselves, I'm going to ask those of you who can to SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES that are still open. Help keep your local economy a little bit more afloat, as and if you can. For example, my parents are taking part in this by getting takeout for dinner tonight. And remember that once the worst of this has passed, locally owned businesses will be struggling to get back on their feet, so please be ready to patronize them as much as you can when it's time for them to reopen.

And now, because we STILL can't afford shame, here's my shameless and desperate plea for help. Please PLEASE spread the word as much as you feel able; share this fundraiser on lots of social media, by email, even by writing the link on pieces of paper and passing them around. Encourage folks you know to donate and to spread the word themselves. I've long since estimated that I'll need about 1,000 different contributors to make the goal, so getting the word out is important. And IF YOU ARE ABLE TO, please donate, though we know that a few of you have done so in the past couple of weeks (for which A GREAT BIG THANK YOU) and lots of you just can't. But even a spare 5 or 10 clams, if that's all you can afford, is appreciated. Every little bit helps. (Remember, NO FEELING GUILTY if you don't have the means to contribute, or enough spoons to spread the word as far as you'd like.) And just as with the last several of these photo-less begging posts, if you have any job leads for either of us, PLEASE contact us! Relocation is TOTALLY an option.

Again, if anyone here actually is in a position to help out, right now would be a truly awesome time to do so. If you can't, you can't; I understand that better than most... thanks in advance for whatever you can do, and Happy April to you and yours. If you are inclined to April Fools pranks, please make sure that they will not trigger anybody! (That's especially important this year since we are ALL far more on edge than we might typically be.) STAY SAFE. Wash your hands, keep hydrated, boost your immune system by whatever means works for you. Practice social distancing as much you realistically can. Keep in touch with your friends and loved ones from a safe distance. Tell them you care and that you're thinking of them. And as always, thank you for your continued support.