Scarlet Pimpernel

@RDM and @Mrs.J...good to know a couple of other fellow native Ohioans!! I grew up in northeast Ohio, on the east/southeast side of Cleveland. This was through the 1970s and 1980s. I also of course would visit during breaks from college. Much of my family since the mid 1990s has moved out for various reasons (myself included), though I still have a brother and sister in law living south of Cleveland (in Medina County). I still go back now when I can, a couple or three times a year, and it's always nice to visit! And not that bad a drive from the DC metro area. Of course, it sometimes helps when there are Indians' or Cavs' tickets involved for a game...or more recently, to see the comedian Jim Gaffigan! I miss it too...especially the winters. I don't mind heading up there when most would consider it the "worst time of year" to be in northeast Ohio! I still consider the area to be home. @RDM, we've talked a few times about the Ohio Blizzard of 1978 (Jan. 26-27, 1978), and our memories of that. @Mrs.J, were you in Ohio at that time, too? As I've said before, that's still the landmark winter storm of my lifetime. It has been referred to as the "White Hurricane" for good reason.

Very true. I think there's enough evidence at this point to show that at least some "social distancing" and staying at home has helped to mitigate the spread somewhat compared to if nothing were done. But we're far from ideal. As an aside, I'll say when I went out this past weekend out toward Rockville to grab a few things...the lack of traffic on the Rockville Pike was quite extraordinary (normally mid-day on a weekend it would be crowded!). Hell, I could even turn LEFT, easily, without having to wait for the next round of green lights!!

Pretty neat! I may have to confiscate one of my daughter's bandannas to use as a make-shift mask when venturing out to the supermarket. Not perfect, but it is something.

Thanks for those brief presser updates...I didn't have a chance to see or listen to it. Quite informative!

Here you go @mappy! A veritable sea of red tulips (took this the other day)!

This echoes my exact thoughts. I didn't vote for Hogan either but he has handled this crisis admirably. Credit where it's due and he deserves that. Maybe it's because he is a more "moderate" Repub in a heavily Dem state, but regardless he's done well here and I feel as though he has presented himself as trustworthy in this situation. Definitely more so than many in his party.

I'm reminded of this scene from "Count of Monte Cristo" (yeah, not completely faithful to the novel, but a pretty good dramatization all the same!)...

But of course! Tulips have just come up around here and there are a couple of places nearby that have really nice beds of them. So I grabbed a bunch of photos of those and some other things that are blooming. I'll see if I can scrounge up another one that I took for you, too, when I have a chance!

Some flower photos to brighten spirits a little... And some tulips for you @mappy!

Kinda brings a new meaning when people say, "shit's really flying!", doesn't it?? (or, "that shit won't fly!" or "hitting the fan" or... Well you get the idea!)

Ahhh, Ms. J! You always have some damn fine culinary creations I have to say! That looks very tasty, thank you for sharing even if virtually! That margarita...I have no words (but I do have a sudden...thirst, hahaha!)!! Funny, but the baking aisle has been mostly empty for the past couple of weeks. Can't find yeast, sugar, or flour really. My daughter has been asking me to find yeast (she likes to bake!), but alas, I come home empty handed any time I've checked. She made me my birthday cake this year (chocolate, of course...with a penuche icing...very tasty!).

I'm sorry...I know I really should not laugh...but I admit to finding that a little amusing! (But it is soooo wrong!!!)

LOL! I sort of heard of it growing up but never really knew much about or saw it until recently! It's funny that it is considered a "soap opera", I guess because the episodes were on in the mid afternoon back when it was originally televised. Sort of a horror/cult soap opera, I guess! It's funny to see some of the occasional "errors" that occurred during filming, of course it was really low budget for that kind of thing. You'd occasionally hear some background noise, something dropping on the ground, or see the shadow of a microphone that you weren't supposed to see...heck, I've even seen a fly or other insect appear and one of the actors had to wave it away right there on set and while filming! The over-dramatic music is kinda funny too. Have to say, Barnabas Collins and Quentin Collins were awesome characters (Quentin's snarky character is amusing)!

Ha! Well, I watched the original "Alien" movie a couple of weeks back...great film and still a pretty damned scary idea! It's been years since I last saw it. But now, I've got the complete James Bond series on Bluray that I've started watching in the past week (was given that for my birthday the other week). I'm still amazed at how good the "original" ones were, through the 80s (including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and yes, even the one with George Lazenby). I know, there's argument over who the best Bond is/was! Oh, and anyone remember the old "Dark Shadows" series from the '60s-70s? Someone gave us the complete set on disk (some 1200 episodes!) a few years ago, and have slowly been working through that when the mood strikes. Fun stuff (if campy!)...and it's easy to binge watch several half-hour episodes in an evening!! Still quite a ways from the end of the series though (and this is over the past 2+ years of occasional viewing)!

Well, I hope the original post I put up didn't sound overly alarmist or anything like that. I was just thinking historically what happened from the 1918 flu, where after the original wave it got bad again the next fall. Obviously this virus isn't the same and conditions/medical science, etc. are different as well. At any rate, I have heard what both of you say that thus far this virus apparently hasn't shown a tendency to mutate very much (if at all, really?). So yeah, that gives hope of a "one and done" vaccine, once there is a vaccine. The other thing here is, I've heard differing things on how long one's immunity lasts, which is another factor...though again, I don't think anyone knows anything definitive on that or if it's even been looked into (probably way too early right now to know for sure).

I'm so sorry to hear about that, WxWatcher007. For what it's worth, I send my deep condolences. Take care of yourself and those close to you! And like you say, despite the occasional political argument in this thread, I'm grateful for this community and the people in it...nice to know that other than bonding over weather, we can also discuss this current situation rationally for the most part. And it does help.

Actually, this is kind of what really worries me beyond this initial wave. I've heard indications that this virus could well be a "seasonal" occurrence. And keep in mind, this really showed up here more near the end of the regular flu season. Come next fall, we'll be dealing with this for the full complement of that season.

It's really hard, I suppose, to not wade too much into the political stuff with this issue. Maybe it's the nature of the beast, I don't know. Generally I try to avoid going into that too much in here (hopefully with some success!). I admit to having very strong views on this subject and politically in general, and all I'll say is that I do not have any confidence or trust in the current Administration for much of anything. To me, governors and other local governments are left trying to do their own thing however they can. While I lean quite left (though not "extreme"), I have to give great credit to Gov. Hogan here in MD as a Republican. Now, some of that may be due to the fact that the Statehouse here is heavily Democratic, so he's more moderate. But regardless, he's done a good job here, not just with this but in general I think. Same for some other Republican governors in other states, even if I disagree with them in general on policy, some have handled this crisis pretty darned well as Hogan has for the most part. As for your feeling a little rough, I hear you...it's hard not to automatically kind of worry. But it is getting into peak allergy season, and I've noticed times I have a stuffy/runny nose, even a bit of a cough or slight headache, most likely due to that. Dry air doesn't help (and it's been a bit dry lately, as well as breezy out).

Storm mode?? You stay well, too (goes for everyone, of course)!!

It's been interesting what's available at what stores, that's for sure. TP and even kleenex has been non-existent or in short supply nearly everywhere I've been. I did score some at a dollar store, strangely enough. I had already stocked up some on kleenex awhile back when TP was all but gone, and there was still a ton of tissue boxes available. The meat area has been hit or miss, at least at the Giants I go to. Pasta is likewise the same. And the baking aisle...they've been generally cleaned out for some time (obviously a lot of people decided to bake a bunch of stuff...and why not?), things like flour/sugar/yeast. I'm glad I spent about 2-3 weeks before the "rush" slowly stocking up on some dried/canned items. Something I found slightly amusing is cleaner...mostly gone, but the only things left are scented ones...I saw a whole bunch of lavender scented Comet of all things (apparently not popular)!! You're probably right, time of day might play a role too. But paper products (like TP) have been nowhere to be seen for nearly 3 weeks now, at least at the main stores.

I would expect nothing less after the improvements this year! Hopefully by then, the new talent won't have to remain 6 feet from you. And...bow ties for the snakes!! Don't forget the bow ties!! Gotta stay...sophisticated! (The top hat helps, too!)

Haha! That is f'ing hilarious!! Do the snakes also serve drinks?? May need to work on their form a bit before December...

Great...many thanks for that correction! That's what I get for reading it all too quickly and having my eyes gloss over the part that restaurants are still allowed. Good to know. My apologies for the misinformation in my earlier comment.

Ha! The one big difference I did see from the order is that now curbside and other pick-up of food from any restaurants is suspended in MD (but not in VA?). Unless I read that incorrectly. That was kind of a shocker, but that may be more temporary, not sure. I believe you can have things delivered...if a place offers that. I had patronized "carry-out" places a couple of times recently just to support them, as I know they're going to really suffer economically.

On a completely different and brighter note...Cherry blossoms with a golden sunset behind them: