Unfortunately, we really cannot rely on BLS data, Commerce data or general information from the mainstream media to get a pulse on what’s really going on with products and prices on Main Street USA. Factually, your ground reports have consistently been the accurate reflection of what’s happening in the various states and regions around the country.
With that in mind, what’s the latest situation in your area with COVID rules, prices on stuff you buy every day, and the availability of products and/or services in your community?
Specifically, people would be interested to know what the climate is toward the COVID rules, regulations, masks etc. in your city, town, hamlet or local community? How are things overall?
What’s the impact of inflation and supply chain disruptions like around you? Gas prices, grocery prices, home heating or energy prices etc.? Also, if you are having any difficulties finding products that you normally purchase? What are your family, friends and neighbors saying about it.
In short, how are things around you this holiday season? Use the comment section to provide an update on your general area. Your ground reports are always insightful and provide a good & accurate sense of how things are going on Main Street.
#FJB
In my area, prices are up, and selection is down. There’s some empty shelf space. For example, if you want English muffins, you can get them, but you can’t necessarily get the brand you want. You can get Thomas’ English muffins, but if you want another brand, you’re SOL.
I can’t imagine why anyone would want another brand than Thomas’. They are the best by a long shot.
Bays eng muffins put Thomas to shame. In the refrig section. 🙂
I agree. 🙂
Normally don’t eat fast food but stopped at KFC the other day to grab three chicken tenders which normally are around $4. They said it was $10.60 I said I don’t want the whole meal I just want the three chicken tenders they said that is the new price my past and went home and had a bowl of cereal. Here in Upstate New York gas is around $3.50
Port St Lucie gas 3.30 plus or minus. Major Dickasons/ Peet’s Place coffee got to catch when shelf stocked. Some empty shelves everywhere above coffee up by two dollars.
$28.60 for 8 pieces, 2 side, biscuits, gravy — small pieces of chicken.
Who would pay that for fast food?
SW Colorado: Commercially if I needed the items I use on a daily basis my food provider is Zero quantities of:
Bacon X 8/3 =24lbs / case ETA Jan 17 … yes I hoarded this in May
Mozzarella cheese loafs ~6lbs ea * 8 / case ETA Jan 17 …. hoard this as much as I have available space to put when they have it, other options available if I must but this is a Wisconsin cheese not the “NYC” cheese.
Red Onions both large or medium bushel ETA 12/27… just buy at “Kroger” price difference is .10 less with case
Pit Ham ~17lbs x 2 / case ETA not available….. yes I hoarded this in May
Chicken wing jumbo
precooked only 1 in stock @ 6+ dollars a pound X 15 lbs and that is down from ~8.00 used to be ~4.00
Zero stock of the .60c cheaper ones
Raw jumbo chicken wings readily available but at 4+ per pound
Now that may seem like people are getting abused retail for wings but after cooked my average usable cooked is only 42% so 10lbs = ~4.5 lbs saleable.
I am talking naked wings not breaded wings, that is why everyone started pushing “boneless wings” (AKA chicken nuggets) cause bone in wings exceeded lb price of “boneless” (Br**st).
Causes massive extra flour coating on them to so they look bigger than they are, flour is…cheap but
Flour is up about 4.00 to 7.00 / 50lb bag. Flour prices vary widely depending on time of year.
Toilet paper aisle in “Kroger owned store” is all but empty it was briefly full but delta wave emptied it and seems to be staying that way it looks like.
Most of their food aisles are only about 50% full with holes of emptiness for popular brands.
Chips that I purchase for myself to make taco salads have went from 1.09 to 1.59 for the Kroger house brand. (46% increase)
Their store has been back to closing 2 hours early since ??? just after labor day I think. (kids went back to school)
Deli closes at either 1pm or 4pm not scheduled at all just got to come and look. I miss getting a single breast meal for my lunch now have to go to subway if I am pressed for time to make myself something to eat.
Gas @ “kroger” 3.59, less depending upon my reward points, 2.29 is what it managed to bottom out to pre-covid.
Milk is still 2.99 for now anyway.
Most things are up by 10 to 15% or same price and less product
Produce is aged depending upon what,
Tomatoes Roma. +.20 / lb and got to watch for mold already growing on them.
Red Onion +.20 / lb centers of onion can be moldy thrown away a lot recently.
Iceberg empty bin or brown … hard to find a good head since covid started.
Romaine empty or only Charlie Brown heads left for some reason, never had a problem getting one pre-covid.
Green pepper bin used to be empty a lot, now mostly full but poor source quality as hole in bottom of pepper doesn’t fully grow closed so moldly on inside, I have thrown a boatload of green peppers away recently and never had a problem before with this in 10 years IDK.
Price has actually went down -.10 per to .59, so has quality and size.
Eggs did bounce up to 1.89, but generally were never .99c (usually 1.29) that they should have been. If I could use 15/30 dozen they would be 2.50 / dz so retail is cheaper same for milk 5.00 / gl x 6 so milk & eggs are defiantly loss leaders to get you in the store.
Tried to get some of the pre sliced deli meat the other day….. EMPTY… too expensive anyway 8.00+ for half pound.
Sonic has been raising prices… yet another .40 increase in the meal I get, I remember it being ~5.50 now 10.97 since minimum wage has gone up +5.00 now at +7.00 (15.00/hr) and they can’t get anyone to work it.
They also close early randomly sometimes as soon as 7pm vs 10pm pre-covid close time.
And the 24 hour laundromat now closes @ 7pm as they apparently have to come in and release the “covid monster” from the back I guess. SMH
Real estate:
Land that has been up for sale for 10+ years doubled or tripled in price was snapped up by the end of summer 2020.
Just when I thought I could afford to buy someplace to put a tiny house…denied.
Asked a realtor how our market was doing ..slowing down yet?….nope they are calling anyone that ever contacted them about selling in the last 10 years to see if they are “ready” to sell.
MMW
Terrific report. Thank you.
Once you are stocked up on everything, you can go to the store and only buy items that are selling at a discount.
I generally only buy sale items unless I must & stock up if I can, freezer & refrigeration space is at a premium cost. I do not have a walk-in but have space for one for future expansion.
That goes for my food service provider too, they hide them well perhaps not intentionally but I can get 1.00+ per pound discounts when the have fresh stock that has sat on their shelves that is nearly passed in expiration and they freeze it & discount it.
Most restaurants never see that unless they have a really good representative, I on the other hand have full access to their online site and can look for myself most either don’t have the time or they HAVE to call their rep to get the special pricing they MIGHT have negotiated to keep them as a customer… I’m not big enough for that.
Prescott, AZ is open for business. This area of AZ is deep red and is Paul Gossar’s congressional district. People wear masks if they want, but mask wearers are the minority by far. The town is known as Arizona’s Christmas City and has several annual December events that all took place this year–parade, courthouse lighting ceremony, live music night around downtown. Thousands attending. We also get alot of visitors on weekends. New Years eve is still planned as well. Schools have been open (in person) all year. Hospital has 90 people–about double from the summer. Case rate is much higher than a few months ago. We are in a “very high” risk level county and barely 50% inoculated. Maybe 15% of the county has had covid. Yet people are living as normal as possible.
Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is the hospital system here. It recently has partnered (bought by?) with Dignity Health, who I think is calling the shots. Healthcare workers were supposed to be vaccinated last month, but due to pushback the deadline is now Feb 1 (needed more time to re-educate the unwashed). There have been rallys to support hospital staff and against the mandate. I’ve heard numbers upward of 30% not inoculated, so maybe they will push it out again. I know a covid-recovered nursing student at the community college who told me the college is not being cooperative towards the unvaxd nursing students. 16 of 20 students are not inoculated and don’t want it, but this is tied to the healthcare worker mandate as that is where they do their practicals. If they can’t finish schooling, they have student debt and no career. It is potentially quite maddening. Especially for a hospital system to not recognize natural immunity.
I’m retired and don’t buy much, so the supply chain issues haven’t affected me much–except the selection at the grocery store (Safeway) is narrow. I heard a worker say they never know what they will get in their order from day to day. I have experienced several times when an item is totally out, but “should come in today”. Shelf stock is shallow. Costco seems to be able to stay stocked of the things I buy. Housing market is very hot still with value on my home up 50% in 3.5 years.
I bought gasoline at Costco for $3.25/gal yesterday. We eat out 1 less time a week because of the restaurant prices. Eating out has become quite expensive. Minimum wage is $12.80 here starting 1/1/22, but there are shortages of restaurant workers in most places, so wages are significantly higher.
Stores have signs about the unvaxd wearing masks, but nobody enforces or asks. Everyone is quite friendly actually. I still see the outdoor mask wearers and it envokes a feeling of pity in me. They genuinely are trying to protect themselves and feel it helps. Most restaurant workers wear masks as well. I think it is employer mandated–thinking it makes the customer feel better. For me, every mask I see is a reminder that this world is not normal.
Here in N.GA things are just as “they” planned, we’re feeling pain. Inflation’s up, prices are up, simple math. Under normal circumstances, that’s kinda dumb where people vote their pocketbooks? …oh that’s right, the vote is rigged. For now they don’t care.
Part of the NWO Great Reset is to re-calibrate our expectations in the West, it’s not fair. I believe it was Bill “slick-willy” Clinton told us we were selfish when for example: a Kenyan bushmen have so little. With this childish over simplification of the 3rd world, which accounts for 6.5 Billion, to use Klaus Schwab’s term “useless eaters” not a moments consideration as to why? I like Sam Kinison’s overview of world hunger.
“Very salty language”
Covid is basically not even discussed anymore here in SE TN. People moved on months ago, rarely see masks.
Prices are up on everything and the general sentiment is disgust at our government. My business has raised wages significantly to find labor but those wage gains have been erased by inflation and is frustrating to everyone. Many restaurants are drive through only due to labor issues. Raw materials for our business are way up and supply chain disruptions are wreaking havoc on order fulfillment.
Gas fluctuates between $2.99 and $3.09.
Pretty much the same up here in NE TN. Regardless of politics the younger ones are saying very nasty stuff that they wanna do to the “elites.” They know their future is being sold out for 30 pieces of silver. What comes next won’t be pretty.
Same in central South Carolina.
Myrtle Beach area, SC: I work in a restaurant ~ no masks, some customers wear them but most do not. All customers complain about inflation, scarcity of products and a huge dislike of FJB. Only one couple claimed that, “Many people do like Joe.” However, they were here visiting from New Zealand. A BIG majority of people are anti-Joe and his minions.
Murders are frequent, drug crimes are rampant and lots of tourists are here. Gas is between 2.72 and 3.10 and food prices are rising. The owner of the restaurant is having difficulty buying certain foods and paper items and the rising prices are absolutely killing them.
Happy New Year to all.
You have to be from New Zealand to think many people like Joe?
Now that there is funny!!
20-something nephew visiting MI from Nashville. He said few in Nashville even talk about Covid or masks anymore.
40 miles outside the Twin Cities… The once beautiful city of MPLS is now a ghost town full of ‘walkers’; it is unpoliced and therefore, dead with relatively little legal commerce. Gas prices are still 50% than they were a year ago. I work for a profitable American OEM and we are millions on back order due to supply chain issues and labor shortages(ahead of the now revived vax mandate). If the mandate actually stays we are screwed as there are no machinists on the bench ready for the game; any perceived OSHA penalty will never be greater than the lost customer base if we cannot deliver.
Personally, my 23 yr old bodybuilder son who survived a deathbed virus three years ago was a victim of ‘the knockout game’ recently and thankfully the local prosecutors have not succumbed to the reduced sentencing regime followed by the Soros’ funded. he also survived the summer shooting of his buddy Charlie Johnson. My daughter and our first grandbaby are doing great and thankfully my other daughter is surviving the new high school order after shutdowns.
After serving in Germany witnessing communism my resolve to resist it here is absolute and so is that of my kids who I have educated. I don’t have any confidence that anyone in a leadership position -business or political – has any idea what is truly going on, but I do feel that Lee Smith’s Assabiya article is happening as it should.
I have absolute faith in God and the American People. We will overcome a stolen election and all of the deceit of our leadership class if we get involved at any level – truth will prevail. Make it so.
Merry Christmas!
Northeast, west of Cape Cod.
Regular gas about 3.25.
Diesel 3.50.
Boneless delmonico rib eye
20.00 per lb, ordered a 8lb. roast for Thanksgiving!
Sales going on now for Christmas rib roast approximately 7.00 a lb.
A 16 oz jar of peanuts 2.50,used to be 1.50.
I shop Market Basket in the area, they seem to be well stocked, occasionally short on single roll tp and certain frozen fruits.
Good luck trying to find a Mrs. Smith pumpkin pie!
This particular Market Basket employs a lot of Guatemalans, probably close to 70% would be my guess.
Lots of Guatemalans and Mayans in proximity to this grocery store, and the city of New Bedford in particular.
Market Basket is my go-to for staples and perishables. They always have the most stock and the best prices. I’m up north west of Boston.
I’m about 20 mikes north of Denver and in a county that has the mask mandate. Demo governor didn’t put it in place, neither did any local government. They’re having unelected bureaucrats do it — tricounty health people. Actually one county already pulled out of the detested tricounty authority, so the county government there must be demanding masks.
Not many seem to be masking and signs on store doors are ignored. Maybe 20% wear masks. No hassles so far.
Sam’s Club is about 15 Mike’s away, still in same county and gas there is cheapest — $2.749 today (I use gasbuddy.com). A week ago a town 6 miles north had $2.699, a red county. Gas prices have always been pretty good in CO overall, but before Brandon they were $1 less.
Some shortages, stores out of some items, seems pretty random as to what they’re out of. Sam’s was out of eggs last week but plenty in local stores.
I always shop sales, have always stocked up when the price is right. Got choice prime rib, whole in the bag for $5.47/lb. (after store card and digital coupon discounts). More than I need for Christmas (it’s 21#) but I’ll break it down into 1 large and 2 small roasts, will freeze the small ones for future use. Original tag on the prime was $314 store card and digital coupon brought it down to $114. Got a Hormel 81 spiral ham, $1.29/lb. And a Cook’s shank ham, 97¢/lb. Butter 97¢/lb. Digital coupons and limits on all items.
People are pretty cheerful here, I’ve had lots of conversations in the stores. No one seems to care if you wear a mask or not.
Large liquor store was packed last Saturday, No masks except on employees, no shortages. Everyone was stocking up. Prices were okay too.
Got fast food that day, 3 double cheeseburgers, 3 fries, 2 value size soft drinks at Burger King for $14.42.
Phoenix, AZ:
A groundswell of support for PRESIDENT Trump that was already huge has tuened into a TIDAL WAVE, in the past 3 months.
No amount of nunchuk self-gratification will save Brnovich. He’s literally running for his life, atm- eating in alleys behind his office and hiding his face from cameras.
But: Christmas lights are everywhere. Masks are maybe 1 in 5 or less wearing them (except for hospitals, airports/public transit and service staff at bars/restaurants or grocery checkers).
Consider: we are the 4th biggest metro in the nation, now. And we cross-section from true AZ sand-standers to flower-kids from CA and CO to illegals.
PAST the Covid lies for 4 in 5, here. KEEP RESISTING. Laugh at the fools driving by, alone, breathing in masks.
They deserve it.
Where have you gone, Mel Brooks??
We are in Missouri (near the Arkansas border) and we check “gasbuddy” to see where the cheapest gas can be found. We live in a very rural area, so driving long distances in the norm. The cheapest gas we can find is $2.75.
I buy dry goods from a store that sells “expired” items and haven’t noticed any empty shelves, but that can be misleading since they switch out items depending on what is available.
What I have noticed is a dearth of chicken – about the only chicken we can get are those big bags of frozen pieces. Prices are up on most everything. I noticed that the bread I usually purchase went up from $2.98 to $3.05 a loaf.
Here deep inside enemy territory in the sector known as “Maryland”, food and fuel prices are way way up, as expected.
People in my ever-shrinking circle are basically still of good cheer, But my nutcase older sister is feeling the depressing effects of the Joebama regime. She called earlier this week and asked if we would get “Rona tested before we came over for traditional Christmas supper.
At first I replied, “no problem”, We got some kits at CVS ( $10.00 a pop) but yesterday I changed my mind and told her that we should just skip the tradition this year, and she sounded relieved.
On my own sanity front, they have postponed NHL hockey until after the 27th, I enjoyed watching my Capitals hockey, as right now we have the greatest goal scorer ever(look out, Gretsky) currently on the team.
Add to that the Capital One Arena, under dick-tatership of that ignorant hag Bow-Wowser, is now requiring papers to enter the arena. Doesn’t matter as I get to one or two games about every five years, the pisser is that the DC minions are cheering the decision on and saying it is long overdue. On the local hockey blog RMNB literally NO ONE sees any creepy historical precedence to these actions. This town’s in tatters… brainwashed thirty-somethings, like pod people.
But I guess you found that out during your visit last summer.
Merry Christmas to all us Conservative treepers. ~MIKE
Come to Tampa for a Lightning/Caps game. Amazing atmosphere minimal restrictions. Hillsborough is a little tougher but I live in Pinellas County, no restrictions.
WFB–I live in NE. St Pete (Pinellas County). A pretty liberal sh**hole. I get groceries at Winn Dixie. 90% of these sheep still wear masks. Rarely go to Wal Mart, but, probably 95% wear masks (a redneck store).
Pretty sad. I don’t think I get dirty looks. But, hard to tell with their face diapers on.
I thank God we have DeSantis.
Yes North East is very liberal lots of blm and Biden Harris signs last year.
There are still a couple of those signs in my neighborhood but I think they have thinned out considerably.
I think blueMA is in a wave of Omicron-inspired Xiden Buyer’s Remorse.
Would love to, my friend. Bolts are fun to watch and star-studded. Maybe one day…
Mike, I feel your pain, as I too live in Maryland suburbs. Maybe you can answer this question: where are the people like us, here? All of my family and friends are liberal and jabbed, and MoCo is likely to match DC with the vaccine passport. No one I know thinks there is anything wrong with this…. I will never abandon my loved ones, but I’m ready to meet new friends who are more in line with my thoughts about many things. Do you know of such a place or how to go about this? I’m serious. It’s very isolating here.
Shifting back to the question at hand…. the main thing I’m experiencing is the slow squeeze of the COVID insanity. Masks everywhere. Many people still wear them outdoors or in their cars. Every single person in every store I’ve gone to is masked. There is a mask mandate that our county council seems hell-bent on extending indefinitely. It was due to expire when we hit the 85% vaccinated (includes children) mark — we are so close to that now, it could expire in January. That does not please the council! So they are looking to restrict access for unvaccinated people. Most people I talk to about this get the glazed-over look…. the cognitive dissonance just makes them start offering talking points. They cannot think their way out of this.
For instance, “the OSHA mandate clearly states that the purpose of the employer mandate is to protect UNvaccinated people. Therefore, one can assume that means that vaccinated people are not in grave danger. So if vaccinated people are in no danger, why are we making policies as though the opposite is true? It doesn’t make sense…. if vaccinated people are safe and unvaccinated people are in danger, why would you be afraid of unvaccinated people….?” Their minds cannot handle it, nor do they seem to care about the implications of shunning.
Price-wise, every time I go anywhere, I notice random price hikes, overnight. Gasoline is all over the map…. $3.38 to $4.10. Chipotle raises the prices by $1 or $2, again seemingly overnight. I have a water delivery service which went up 25% this month. That is $7 this month. All of these single-digit increases add up. My salary has not increased, so the squeeze is on. I’ve shifted what I buy to mostly food and gasoline. Making do with what I have. This does not support the economy…. all of these shopping/buying decisions affect the businesses, when I and others spend less. And I strongly believe in buying local and supporting the mom and pops, so I’m very concerned!
As for “my salary not increasing” — well here’s another one for you. With all of the employer mandates (even if not official), the job market for an unvaccinated person around here has dramatically shrunk. Yes, I would look for a new job at a higher salary, but where I’m at right now, my employer will resist any voluntary mandates up until the point the government forces them to. So I have not been under pressure to get vaccinated, as so many others have.
Lived here my whole life — would rather not have to move. My loved ones all live here. Moving away would be challenging in many ways, but I will consider it.
Bottom line: the squeeze is on. This is an increasingly hostile place to be. The population does not seem to care that we are about to have vaccine passports, because most everyone is double jabbed and they think it is a right and good thing to shut unvaccinated people out of society. It’s so unbelievable.
I live in the Blue Ridge mountains of Western NC, gas is hovering at $3.19/gal. Grocery store shelves are sparse with many usual items not available. Diary case is less than half stocked. There have been absolutely no canning supplies, no canning lids or pickling spices. Meat/poultry prices are way up and overall grocery bill seems to be at about 20-25% higher.
Masking seems to be more on the uptick, although our local school board has held the line and said masks are optional for students, they reevaluate this every board meeting.
I’ve had invitations to gatherings with the caveat of “vaccinated only” written on them, needless to say we haven’t been to many get togethers.
My husband is a building contractor and building materials are sky high, some materials not available and don’t know when they will be back in stock. He has left the house and had to slay dragons every working day of his life but has never faced this particular dragon before!
He works with men’s men, no one gives a flip about “social distancing, face masks (other than dust masks or paint respirators) or your “vaccine” status.
We are in out early 60’s in excellent health and will not have the shots. It’s our “hill”.
We live in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, and want to second your comment about canning supplies. We lay up scores of canned fruit and veg every summer, and this year found it impossible to obtain lids from local sources. Sensing what was coming, I laid my hands on a hundred or so via Amazon, but that source dried up about 2 weeks after I received my order.
We are expecting this to get very, very bad next summer, so have been experimenting with alternatives this year. For example, we have laid up whole peaches in the freezer, along with jalapenos and other peppers. We’ll see, item by item, how it goes.
Yes, I also resorted to freezing some of the summers vegetables I normally can. I had to buy several flats of jars with lids in order to get the lids. One thing I definitely don’t need is more jars but glad I did because the jar flats were gone the next time I looked!
Save all your bacon grease in clean dry jars.
Once the grease gets hard put a layer of wax on top and let that get hard, then store in a dark cool place protected from creatures.
Bacon fat will last for years that way, without any preservatives other than what is already there.
You can also store meat in bacon fat for years — without refrigeration. The old timers did it, and if we can learn now how to do what they used to do, we won’t have to struggle to reinvent the wheel.
Store as much grease as you can. When TWAWKI comes to a screeching halt and all people have is rice and beans, it will be those with healthy fat to eat that will do well.
Sad thing, my father-in-law used to tell everyone over and over again how, when he was a kid on the farm, that they never had butter. But they always had bacon grease, and that is what they’d butter their bread with. I used to think that was gross. Now I’m getting used to the idea of bacon flavored toast.
Ditto your last paragraph – it may indeed be “the hill” as it seems more than coincidental that 2020 was exactly 65 years after 1955 (the peak year of the Baby Boom). We have been told all our lives not to expect collecting our SS payments…it feels like we are in the crosshairs of the vaxx mania – we are the carbon they’re hoping to eliminate 🙁
Outside the urban areas of Michigan, the tyrannical governor is widely hated and masks are rare. She’s in for a tough run in ‘22, especially as patriots are filling county-level GOP organizations to oust the RINO’s. People are angry…prices up and shelves half-bare, and so many small businesses have died.
60 miles N of Dallas
Very few masked, those that are masked are either elderly or millenials
Prices high, shelves mostly stocked. Did notice no standard Chex cereal, presumably due to holiday party mixes.
I was looking at quality poplar for a woodworking project and it’s very expensive.
Cheapest local gas $2.66, average probably around $2.75
Ammo making it’s way back on shelves. 223, 45 and 9mm are pretty well stocked. Can’t find 357 mag (it is available online).
Central NH: Gas has been about $3.00 – 3.30 for awhile. When DT was in there I remember under $2.00. The cart of groceries that used to be $200 is now close to $300. Wally World, Lowes, HD seem to have stuff on the shelves though priced higher. Masking has gone up quite a bit. You see it in the local Market Basket. Gotta be 80% or more wearing them (not me). Where I work, the boosters are out and being soaked up by most. You hear some conversation about it but, people mostly do their own thing so that’s good. Living near Boston (about an hour and a half north) you see the Vax mandate crap and it makes you wonder where that’s going. NH has, at times, been an oasis of sorts in NE. We’re surrounded by wack-jobs here and our Governor, even though he can be very RINO, has generally held the line on vax mandates. He just announced he’s foregoing a run for Senate and looking to stay Gov. That may keep us out of mandate hell for a couple more years. Overall, life remains steady though you wonder where things are going. Merry Christmas to all and I’d like to say how happy I am that places like CTH exist. Helps keep me sane. God bless 🙂
Greetings from just a tad south of you!
In our very red enclave of NH close to the MA border, we see much of the same – similar food and gas prices (and those Brandon “I did that” stickers on some of the pumps), and the masks are back, baby, especially in the grocery stores.
Because of the vax mandate in Boston, our kids will be prevented from participating in many of the activities that bring them down there – such as sports and arts – and spouse has already changed jobs bc of an employer vax mandate there.
Our family is currently assessing whether a life limited to our little ole “oasis” as you so accurately describe our beautiful state of NH, can offer enough opportunities for our family and kids – bc as you also observed, we are surrounded on all sides by whackjobs, and the southern NH economy has strong ties to Boston. Our teen kids have it jobs in NH, and the grocery store employee has to wear a mask to work. A customer recently asked kiddo (bagging groceries) to pull her mask all the way up over her nose. Kiddo handled it better than I would have.
*!#!&
We are blessed to know many like-minded people here – freedom-loving/limited government live-and-let-live, family-oriented folks – but although Sununu says that he’s against a state vax mandate, he isn’t opposed to employers mandating the vax. And he thinks the unvaxxed are nutjobs.
Are there any trails to run on in Florida (sounds dangerous)? How about TX? TN? Maybe Montana …
Many (vaxxed and unvaxxed) folks we know are getting Covid now, and have been since around September. Our (unvaxxed) family had it then as well, and all recovered quickly and completely.
We hope to gather with lots of family from all over the east coast on the 26th. Some are vaxxed and some aren’t.
Thank you, CT for offering these “what’s happening in your neck of the woods” posts. I love reading everyone’s anecdotes, and appreciate the perspective that they provide.
Merry Christmas, all (as I continue my search for a Christmas Eve church service that doesn’t require masks)!
I’m just over the border into MA from you both – Nashua is a quick trip, though I find that city is as blue as anywhere down here. I did manage to get to a branch of my gym up there in 2020 when it opened sooner than my local one after lockdowns.
Trying to persuade my significant other to think about moving to NH – I could never get him all the way to FL. Hoping you see a red wave in 2022 – I would love to be able to vote for General Bolduc…
I forgot to mention this. Last week I bought a full-sized brisket at Sam’s Club. I’ve bought briskets there many times over the years. I always get one in the 16-20 lb range (more or less the largest one they have in the display case.) Usually I’d get one for around $40 or so. Can’t remember it ever being more than $50. One time I got a prime brisket that was great (I normally just get choice as they hardly ever have prime anything) and that one time it was about $80 for prime. Last week a choice brisket was $104. And I had to trim an excessive amount of pure fat off it, about 6 lbs. It turned out OK but was by no means anywhere near as good as other choice briskets I had from there.
Here (W. MA) there appear to be no real shortages of anything. “rolling” shortages, something is unavailable, a day or two later it is. Gasoline peaked around 3.49, now 3.29. I torture myself by nipping into WM every couple of days to stay abreast. Propane was completely unavailable for a couple months ( I panicked) unless you wanted to pay premium price. Now it’s overstocked. I’m stocking up regardless. One item that I buy is Great Value fig bars. Comparable to Fig Newtons IMO and they have always been a dollar. A great value you must admit. Yesterday they were 1.68. This can’t be attributable to supply and demand as demand for these things is stable and there is no fig bar shortage that I’m aware of. While food prices are generally higher, especially meat, a 68 percent increase is significant. My sense is that they are artificially restraining food price inflation and making up for it to some extent on low end items like GV fig bars. They will let it out incrementally in the months ahead, a “boiling frogs” scenario, until a loaf of bread is ten dollars and headed up up up. Fiat currencies always return to their original value of nothing. Hyper inflation is inevitable with the bidens fanning the flames
I live in Perdido Key, FL, west of Pensacola (almost in Alabama). Masks are what northerners wear when they first arrive. Of course, the REALLY crazy liberals walk around with them on. Food prices have sky-rocketed. Gas is over $3 per gallon. Found a prime rib for $6.99 a pound at Publix for Christmas (obviously their loss-leader). People are sick of Joe. Actually in a world of “Roll Tide” all the time, I hear a lot of “Let’s Go Brandon”.
I work for the DOD (Navy). I waiting on my RA (religious accom). I want to tell you now, the civilian side of the DOD is hemorrhaging skilled workers. I am talking about network engineers, cyber, systems etc (I am in the IT field). My boss will leave if forced vaxx. I know the reputation of gov workers…but there are a lot of us (that don’t live in DC..extreme liberals are drawn to the positions in DC) who are proud of the job we do supporting our warfighters. DOD is purging patriots as fast and brutally as they can. Please pray for us…we face losing everything we have worked for in our careers. God Bless and Merry Christmas.
We need men (and women) like you who are purged, to start a resistance network.
We all need to be a part of it.
Reading to treehouse and writing our complaints and reading the real news about recent events won’t win back all that is lost.
Sorry to all the readers who are going to write: “okay smarty pants, do something!” I’m not a do something guy. I wish I was, but I’m just a join the movement guy.
We need a network. At last count, we are 80million strong. But his is a global takeover. In that sense, we are 80million plus may more, from what I see building.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone. Remember to make Christ a part of it; if not all of it.
Saying prayers. I’m from the same background, but thankfully retired. Hang in there.
I am from the same background 20 years ago, and I see a whole lot of potential for freedom laboratories, to the point I think someone must already be doing it, I just haven’t found out who yet. Keep an eye out, and I will broadcast to everyone I can when and if I hear about a solution. Also, there are so many tech people involved in the election integrity effort, it may be nobody’s had time to build anything outside of that yet.
Moved from dictatorial NY state in June to lovely TN. We are maskless for the most part. our middle Tennessee town is friendly and Godly for the most part. kindness abounds.
As in other reports produce is a joke. Old, moldy and returnable. milk and eggs doubled in last week. Gas prices around $2.85 gallon. Some stores have empty shelves; less supply of most grocery items.
No one here is going to be bullied or coercied
Love the volunteer state!
Tractor Supply hasn’t had unadulterated ivermectin (1.87%) dewormer for several months.
Regular gasoline seems stable at $3.05-3.30 per gallon. (eastern NC)
Car dealers have very few new cars for sale. I had one of our vehicles serviced a few weeks ago and the only person in the showroom was the manager.
Electrical/electronic parts are very hit or miss. Three weeks wait on an oven part, one week on a cooktop part.
Grocery stores are seldom out of the more popular items, but some items seem to be carrying lower inventory. I’m inclined to believe the grocery chains are running fewer supply trucks.
Every business seems to have help-wanted signs out, and their operation shows they are operating with minimum staff.
Very few wearing masks regularly, although you occasionally see a masked driver in a car. Perhaps 15% of grocery shoppers masked.
Overall traffic is down as customers haven’t recovered from the Covid fear porn and are now facing higher prices on everything than they were a year ago. Same situation with morale.
Merry Christmas fellow treepers.
Thank you Sundance and admins for all you do in keeping us together and feeling blessed.
Central PA reporting in..
Grocery prices up significantly and still rising. Store stock has been generally good throughout the fall.
A few extra maskers, but about 90% mask free.
Sticking only to my grocery list and essentials.
Enjoying the best of every day, with plenty of time in the sunshine walking with the pups.
Rhode Island generally: Covid: Vaccination rates are very high for all age groups (https://ri-department-of-health-covid-19-vaccine-data-rihealth.hub.arcgis.com/) and communities with higher incomes have very high vaccination rates. VACCINE RATES for ALL ages vary from 53% TO 88% of residents who have completed the primary series. More affluent communities have very high rates for all age groups with the older the age group the higher the percentage of fully vaxxed with 2 doses.
RI continues to beat the racism drum. Racism has caused more deaths in POC groups per capita than white groups. Quotes from the RI Dept of Health: The rate of death varies across racial and ethnic groups. AND These are trends happening across the country because of racism. Racism is a system of advantage based on race. It is different from racial prejudice or discrimination. Racism can affect people’s ability to live in a safe neighborhood, get a good job, and get good healthcare. Racism can also put someone at higher risk for getting COVID-19.
The top medical professional in RI is a POC. Yet NOT once has she ever discussed the genetic/geographic/staying indoors reasons why this racial disparity exists. Supplements to enhance our immune system have never been discussed in the daily/weekly covid updates in the past 18 months. I believe that Everyone must take supplemental Vitamin D in the northern hemisphere and especially if you have darker skin. This infuriates me to no end and I often have Vit D discussions in stores etc if I believe the persons will be amenable to this.
I know of more breakthrough cases of covid than from those unvaxxed. This is just from my circle of friend and relatives.
Dec 20, 2021: Masks mandated for the unvaxxed in places under 250 until mid-January. Covid passports mandated and spot checks by the health dept are imminent. The Catholic Diocese of Providence has recommended wearing of masks for the unvaxxed at all church functions and Masses BUT “the church is not going to turn anyone away from attending Mass if they show up without one.”
Most if not all people are wearing masks in retail establishments and have been since brandon told us this Christmas will be one of death and doom for the unvaxxed. I will not wear one and shop in nearby CT.
HOME HEATING OIL: November 2020- $1.48/gallon 12/23/21: $2.61/gallon.
Gasoline: $3.35/average per gallon.
Governor McKee has money to give poor people to pay for heating their homes yet says nothing about partnering with governors in northern states to petition Biden to open the Keystone pipeline, and allow drilling and exploration.
https://www.energy.senate.gov/2021/10/barrasso-president-biden-s-radical-anti-american-energy-agenda-is-hurting-our-economy
Phoenix, AZ- Gas is $3.60 for regular. OMG I bought chapstick yesterday for stockings, which were basically 3 bucks a tube. Some empty shelves but not like before when Walmart had no meat.
Here in Western Maine, under the democommie rule of Herr Mills, the Feds are coming in to support hospitals and EMS who are all short staffed due to her clot shot mandate. National Guard and FEMA medical staff and ambulance teams are here…who knows for how long. The Governor’s state of emergency expired 6/1/21, but the head of Maine’s DHHS issued her own public health emergency the following day….probably a political move to help Mills get re-elected in 2022. Maine has high vax percentage and big elderly population so lots of “cases” flooding hospitals, ICUs and nursing homes. I got the virus, received monoclonal infusion at local hospital and meds from AFLDS (ivermectin, Zpak, HCQ, prednisone, budesonide and albuterol) and survived. Local Dr. said…”stay home, stay hydrated and if your O2 sat gets to 88%…call 911. What a pathetic mess. No mask mandates but I still see adults and kids wearing masks outside, even when alone. I pay $3.49 for diesel for my truck. $5.99 for propane….so I heat my house with coal in my 1920s vintage cast iron cookstove. Electric company just got 30% rate increase…just lovely. Food prices way up and I’ve pretty much given up beef due to its sky high price…even for ground beef. Most shelves in grocery store are well stocked….especially the wine and hard liquor aisles. Lots of local seasonal produce available in store and at farmers market. Praying former Gov. LePage wins his election campaign in 2022. The coastal elites will be livid….too bad, so sad….go back to Massachusetts.
Coastal Empire guy in Savannah GA.
Our mayor hangs on every word of the CDC. He had a big media event last year with the former(loved typing that) ny governor delivering ventilators that they did not use or need. Still blabbering about the mask at any given chance.
Our police dept is understaffed. City employees have not missed a paycheck while providing limited services.
Obvious supply chain issues in the grocery stores in my area. Prices are up as Brandon ignores inflation.
Gasoline price is up significantly. If you have a large fuel tank they have yet to raise the chipped card pump limit,so I can’t even buy a full tank of gas without doing two transactions. Minor issue.
Good news is Herschel Walker is making a splash in Georgia politics with his down-home common sense. The left is actively trying to destroy the character of a decent guy.
I had a lefty family member making disparaging comments at a family gathering about Herschel’s intelligence based on his speech patterns.
Do you use gasbuddy? We were in your area about 10 days ago, and discovered prices along 95 at the SC state line to be significantly lower than the surrounds.
First I would like say “Praise the Lord” I live in Virginia that denied Terry Mac the governorship this past November. There’s the good news
Here in southeastern Virginia , gas has dropped from 3.29 to about 3.00. Meat is unbelievably high with a chuck roast in the sale section of Kroger for 31.00. I would laugh but I I know folks are struggling to feed their families. We find ourselves portioning out proteins and using the food saver so much more. We got a spiral sliced ham for .97 a lb and there’s no protein you can get for that price. I paid 35.00 for a lb of lump crabmeat from a local vendor along with 15.00 for fresh scallops for Christmas Eve dinner.
We anticipate huge price increases after the first of the year to coincide with the dark winter we have been promised. Neither me or my husband are vaxxed and it’s not a discussion we engage in with family or friends. We go maskless and he travelled extensively in his job and we did fine during the height of the insanity. We are blessed. We live in a community that votes conservatively and looks out for one another. We have noted however, there is a pervasive underlying anger with people that serve the public. Went to the dentist on Monday and was met with aggravation and rudeness. It’s happened more often than not and we think people are just not trying anymore. They care not about the service they render or the quality of that service. And if you voice your feedback, COVID is always used as the excuse. It’s in the schools, large corporate stores, restaurants,etc. it’s off putting and when we are paying more for what are purchasing, we kinda thought we would be treated a little better, but that’s not been the case.
So from the shores of the bountiful Chesapeake Bay, we wish all of you a very special Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
Oh. And if this allowed, I have taken to using an app my techno savvy niece shared with me….“Flipp” You can get local supermarket weekly ads early and all in one place so you can compare them for the best deals. Also has the weekly ads for department stores as well. It helps us find the best prices for what we may need to fill holes in the stash…
Milford, Ohio NE Cincinnasty belt loop. The great majority are done with masking. A few nutcase attention whores wearing mask AND face shields. I’m talking young and slenders displaying their “virtue”. Fortunately Ohio legislature took that power away from mikey dewine – liberal in a RINO suit – or he would be all in on masking.
College students are suing over jab requirements. Wife works from home for he world’s largest wealth manager. They are riding the fence on masking and jabs. Big fat targets gotta be careful…
Gas around $3.25. Food $ up! Store shelve stock erratic. Paper products especially were erratic for a while but seems to resolved. USA is full of paper mills! We have found Zycam had been missing for months and I was able buy some off Ebay but was on the shelves recently. Container issue? Lumber is still up but not quite as much as the peak. New work electric boxes have been hens teeth. Building materials in general up from the orange years.
I feel sorry for home builders and remolding firms.
I was in a restaurant in western NC a few weeks ago and a woman was eating her lunch with her face shield on!!!
SW Missouri……..Gas for 87 octane ranges from $2.51 (Sams Club) $2.89 (convivence stores) . The only shortages that I have seen that are consistent are cookies and some frozen items especially pizza. During late summer beef went to $20/lb for T-bones, now back to around $8.00 for Missouri beef. Hamburger ranges from $2.99 for 80/20 to $5.99 for 90/10. Dairy products seem to have went up the most (about 25%) Missouri has never had a state wide mask mandate just some local ones that mostly are gone (except for St Louis and KC) The Missouri AG is now fining any schools that have mask mandates, and most are gone. About 10-15% of people still voluntarily wear masks. Even my small local Post Office clerks ditched theirs. House building (and commercial building) is still on fire around here and the prices reflect it. Most people got past the ChinaFlu months ago.
South Puget Sound area, gas prices are close to 4 per gallon, most of the stores are well stocked, was in a Safeway over the weekend and saw only a few empty shelves, there is a general uneasiness when talking to people, they know something is wrong but can’t describe it. I don’t offer any ideas, if they haven’t been looking around for the last several years at the deterioration, there’s no way they will accept or understand the reality of it now, aside from reality biting them on the butt. Which is going to happen anyway.
Merry Christmas to all.
@Grog, Good to hear from another Puget Sounder!
@PgtSndThinker, good evening to you, appreciate knowing there is someone in the area.
Retired Magistrate here: Here in Delaware County, Ohio especially the Powell, Ohio area the shelves are fairly well stocked. Prices are up; however, the local Kroger store has “Mega” events and you can get items priced at what they were a year ago. There are gas stations where gas is $2.95. Fuel oil is $3.22 a gallon. In December of 2020, we paid $1.95. That increase is hitting us hard because that is what we heat with. So, the temperature is set at 65 and we just put on extra sweaters.
In the last recession, this area was fairly recession proof because there are a lot of individuals who work for banks, large corporations and the government. You don’t see many old cars and life is going on as normal. I do see more people wearing masks; however, those of us that don’t just smile and wave at each other.
We drove around a couple of nights ago to look at Christmas lights and I was pleasantly surprised at the number of houses that were decorated; it was lovely. In the last several days, I have talked to numerous people who are finally realizing that covid is not going to go away and that we need to learn to live with it. So there is a ray of hope that some people are coming to their senses.
Reporting from Florida’s gulf beaches, people here are going for Christmas BIGLY. Decorations have been out since before Thanksgiving, I think we just want something positive to celebrate. No covid restrictions at all, gas hovering between $3.30 and $3.35. Some stuff missing (salad fixings?)managed to get everything on my list, got my wife, both kids, BOTH parents sisters,nephews and nieces, good booze and good cigars. Blessed. Merry Christmas! !!
We have started baking our own bread (frozen but dont knock it til ya tried it) and it really is good and easy and CHEAP relatively speaking. 3 loaves for less than the price of 1.
I work from home and cycle my little space heater off and on in my office and is quite comfy and keep the thermostat down.
We sold one of our cars and because of the price of used vehicles we made a nice little profit and no more expenditures on gas and insurance so again a PLUS in the assets column. It is surprisingly easy to live with only one vehicle
Check out the deals at Menards of all places……great deals on bacon, peanut butter and dairy…..who knew?
Decided to forgo the customary Beef tenderlion and go with a nice brisket for Christmas Day dinner…i am lucky my hubby is a fantastic cook! Celebrating a grandchild birthday on Christmas Eve so no one minded a nice spaghetti dinner (cheap and good).
All in all we have cut back where we can and are managing but sure pray that this doesnt get any worse as my working years are winding down faster than I care to admit.
Merry Christmas to my Treeper family and thank you all for the fellowship and leadership from our fearless leader Sundance!
Jesus is the reason for the Season!
Have started baking all our own bread over the past 12 months. Getting quite good at a variety of styles. Price is just a fraction of commercial and flavor of homemade bread is beyond compare to most retail products. Who knew what you could do with flour, water, yeast and salt.
Yes I’ve done the same and agree 100%. Bought myself a hand crank pasta machine machine and cutters for Christmas. Making my own fettuccini and crusty bread for part of Christmas dinner. Pizza dough is easy from scratch too! Merry Christmas and happy baking.
I’m also am making my own pie crusts and pizza dough. Last year couldn’t get yeast when it finally came back in I bought enough for the year and put it in my freezer.
Collin County, Texas (North of Dallas)
Grocery Bills and Cost of everything is up 50-100%. That includes services such as plumbing and house repair, which is related more to the ability of the firms to hire GOOD, QUALITY technicians. We keep names of folks who do work on parts of our home and ask specifically for them when contracting for a repair. We have delayed services until we get the right guy or find a good independent.
Gas Prices at the pump still fluctuate 5-10 cents/gallon, up-down. Diesel has stayed high and is creeping up. Note that part of the supply chain issue list is fuel as in diesel used by trucks and marine diesel used by ships.
The number of masked sheeples has actually taken a slight dip…with those of Asian and African-American persuasion being the majority of masked. Actual public scoffing at pronouncements of media and government.
Masks are again being worn by staff members of larger chain businesses, in the store.
The local RNC has already posted election signs. Resist in the major population centers dominated by thedemocra ts continues, while the ALL the media outlets in Texas proclaim death is coming on Christmas Day due to the unvaxed.
Forgot to mention, the stock levels for store shelves where we shop seem to be OK.
It was noted by Sundance, 2-3 days ago, that most businesses had already shifted their ports of entry before 2021 in anticipation of Left Coast Green Regulations. As long as Texas remains, Republican or even RINO, the state will be well served by our own ports and truckers supporting those ports.
Also, as odious as it sounds, Texas is well served by ports in Mexico via Interstates 10, 20 and 35. Governor Rick Perry had the forethought to expand and improve those routes before he left office, using Federal Transportation money allocated to the state.
Large fire and injuries at the ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown last night. This typically results in price spikes especially when a large refinery like this one is affected.
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/fire-at-exxonmobil-baytown-complex-leaves-four-injured
I live in Collin County and often marvelled at these fires and explosions. It always seems the refinery recovers rather quietly and quickly after the requisite spike in costs.
Thought I’d be a bigshot and buy Mickey D’s for my parents and I. 3 Big Mac’s & 3 large fries w/o a beverage was $31.00. Last time I go to Mickey D’s.
WHAT??
Northeast NC coast.
Gas $2.82 today, but can spike $.20 or higher overnight. Has been $3.10-$3.12.
Small rural area and grocer shelves have massive empty holes. Unsure now what was on those shelves or aisles.
Meat spiked and noticing bags/boxes are much smaller but with increased prices. We are being gouged right before our eyes.
Help Wanted in every biz. Some restaurants have closed citing lack of help and take-outs not their biz model.
Our sheriff said 2Y ago, Day 1, NOT my mission, charge, responsibility to govern masks; will not!
See some masking, various ages. The majority of blacks I see are mask wearing, all ages.
Overwhelming majority NOT masking and I don’t see any signs now; other than medical offices, urgent cares. I went to dentist last wk and did not mask. The staff had their usual protective gear; desk employees unmasked.
Schools are option masked and unsure %, but told the vast majority NOT masking, including teachers, staff.
MOST in my area have returned to normal. Don’t think any mandates, govt shutdown, lockdown going to work now. Area had a breakout of the omicron (I assume) last 2 wks but then quieted down quickly. Was told by doc at the Urgent Care, seeing far more seasonal flu than COVID. He was having oil changed and he was unmasked and enjoying life as we all are.
I live in a very conservative area and rural. We don’t succumb to the ‘world’, leftist, lib agenda at all.
I’m a beekeeper. Last year a pound of honey was $10. Today….$20. lol! And if they ask if it’s “organic” it’s $5 more! Luv those Karens! 🙂
When it comes to gasoline or natural gas, we are happy to live in Oklahoma. Gasoline $ 3.20.
Groceries are over-priced. Usually, I do better to pick up necessities at Braums Dairy Store.
While traveling to Houston, this week, I ventured into an HEB and discovered just how overpriced everything is in Oklahoma grocery stores.
Everything is probably 25% cheaper at HEB than the WalMart in Oklahoma!
19 CityMD Urgent Care Clinics in New York City Close Due to Staffing Shortages Caused by Vaccine Mandates December 22, 2021, 4:11pm
Field report from SE AZ. Prices are up here on every item including gas. Seems to be the normal amount of people going about for their Christmas items and shopping. The progressive goons brought back the indoor mask mandate but it cannot be enforced since Ducey and the legislature outlawed any town, county, etc from enforcing one, only the state can. I have been in a few stores the last few days and nobody is wearing a mask except for the few holdouts. Life is good here and Merry Christmas to all of the Treepers!
Here in Broward County, Florida, a lot of folks sticking by cancelling parties, group sizes etc for holidays. Went to an independent pharmacy the other day and observed an almost overwhelming number of people there for boosters, some asking to get squeezed in etc. Very disappointing to watch the pharmacy staff. Must be making a ton of money on this. Can’t find Gatorade anywhere, had to use Amazon. Otherwise stores seem stocked, grocery and others. Michael’s crafts has very little but Hobby Lobby has product. Families seem to be traveling for school break vaca from here so a mixed bag.
Amazingly, very quiet here in our little rural hamlet on the Tennessee Plateau. Chinamart is of course a madhouse and other retail are packed, but there’s little Christmas spirit. It’s almost like the parents are doing their obligatory chores of picking up Christmas presents, but it’s likely a financial strain. All my UPS/FedEx pkgs arrived a day or two early – perhaps they anticipated the crush that never happened. Folks around here are more focused on being prepared, stocking lots of groceries and prepared to hunker down for a while. Most are anticipating unvaxxd to be locked out soon. Filled up with gas $2.60/gal. Haven’t experienced “out of stock” food items on pickup orders. Our parts never seem to suffer similar to larger urban areas. Our area drew liberals from NY/NJ and CA because of low cost of living and no taxes. They brought their Marxist mindset with them but are pretty much ostracized in their “wealth community”. They all wear masks – no one else does.
I live in a red state in the intermountain west. Everything is fairly normal (before the plandemic), however, some dr’s offices ask that you wear a mask in the waiting area. If you don’t (I don’t) they don’t say anything. Some businesses are still looking for employees with big signs out front, “Hiring”. The main thing here is gas prices went up but they have come down about .22 cents this week to $3.66/gal.
#FJB just the same!
In my small town here on the cusp of West Texas, life has been fairly normal for quite some time now–even before Abbott the Idiot rescinded the muzzle mandate. The vast majority of people are maskless, but a few idiots have started wearing them again. However, NO ONE says anything about those not wearing masks, and they never have–even when things were at full frenzy.
Gas prices are up (about $2.95), almost all groceries are available–sooner or later, but the price of food has gone way up. Both used and new cars are pretty much nonexistent in the few car lots around and this has been true in all the places I’ve traveled to lately.
Help wanted signs still appear in many businesses, but some have taken them down, so I presume they have found the help they needed. People here are hunkering down and preparing for the worst. We are making connections with other like-minded people and setting up bartering partners. We’re also learning to can, make soap, dehydrate food, and be as self-sufficient as possible. Until they drive us from our homes, we will be fine.
Besides stocking up on food, people are also buy guns and ammo in bulk. It’s still very scarce around here. That could be because it’s hunting season, but I don’t think so. Speaking of hunting season, people here are harvesting deer and hogs as much as possible. One more time: Thank God for those superbreeder hogs that no one has figured out how to destroy yet. They may help us survive just a little longer.
In this small community, people are pissed. I started a conversation with a stranger at the gas pump the other day about politics in general (sand in the machinery), and he brought up Brandon and said all the price increases were his fault! We may be poor, but we ain’t stupid!
When it comes to gasoline, everyone should be using “gasbuddy.” We have been relying on it for quite some time, and have found it to be very accurate– and we were on the road for 100 days this year, from the outer banks of North Carolina to Spokane, from Williston, ND to Brownsville, TX. Just two points: 1) gasbuddy prices will give you the “cash” price, not the “credit,” when a station has both options. If you are prepared to pay cash, you should be able to save at least 10 cents a gallon. 2) When it comes to ethanol, not all 87’s are equal, so occasionally gas buddy’s prices reflect a higher ethanol content. As best we can tell, gasbuddy listings are never based on 85.
In blue collar mid-Maine,
1) Ordinary folks are beginning to push back hard against foolish c19 rules. For example, parents of students are protesting the local schools’ failure to educate quarantined students. Quarantined students must stay home 10-14 days or so after possibly being exposed to C19. The schools fail to send lessons home. They also fail to provide video instruction.
2) The pushback triggered the school board to jam thru a policy which spares board members the aggravation of hearing in-person parents protest foolish c19 rules. To do so, the school board used a repealed law, ignored governing law, falsely informed the public and behaved badly in other ways.
At church last Sunday, less than 2 dozen congregants wore masks. I guess nobody’s buying the latest lie about what appears to be the sniffles.
Denver metro: Prices up and service down. Many businesses functioning with limited hours and staff. Everything from local dollar store to big banks. Wells Fargo has shut down all motor banking across the metro area because they can’t find anyone to work as tellers. Pay starts at $20/hr. Quite astonishing.
Indoor mask mandates back in place, but very few businesses insisting this time around.
When they do, I pull out a bandana that spells out F*** JOE BIDEN in 2 inch letters! Gets lots of laughs and thumbs up!
Spent 11/15 -12/10 in Northern Michigan. My mom died from Covid Jab side effects…1st jab Feb, 2nd jab August, Funeral paid for in September, she died Nov 15. Spent 5 days in hospital before she died with Myocarditis. 3 days later blood clot to heart, killed her before she hit the floor, 6 shots of adrenaline to bring her back were a waste. Dad killed himself 6 days later, couldn’t do life without her help due to his limitations. While cleaning out the house to put on the market, found notes tucked in cupboards from mom describing the heart pains and weird feelings she was having. She knew she was dying.
Some wearing masks in Herr Gretchen’s northern world…. many people know it’s a genocide agenda. Lots of older retired GM/Ford workers there and know the plan to lighten SS and Pensions load. Many stores are closed down up there, supplies are short. Gas around $3.25.
While handling legal business from the deaths, lady at the bank told me there used to be 3 people a month coming in to close out parents business, now 3 A WEEK. Locksmith we used told us he personally knew 35% of all people listed in obits. Medical Examiner told my dad that nearly all calls he goes to are heart attack related and nearly all are jabbed, and die, Just like my mom.
I live in SC and I felt like I was in enemy territory the minute I crossed the Mason-Dixon line. Northern born and bred, but now southern by the grace of God for 36 years. In SC if your not in a large town/city, life has gone on and we bitch about the gov’t. The others wear masks and except the propaganda as gospel. Pity the fools……
So sorry for the loss of your parents. Such a tragedy.
God must be standing with a hand on your shoulder to enable you to recite such a horrible tale. I’ve realized this was happening for some time, and have been amazed that people have been so restrained.
God Bless and keep you.
The truth must get out. Have no fear of repercussions for doing the right thing. When this hell ends, God wins. The ride is sucking, but….paradise if you have the faith.
Sorry for your loss. Regrettably, you are not alone. Family member, vaxxed, hosting a dinner party started bleeding uncontrollably from nose, off to hospital, aneurysm, mental impairment, then to hospice, then to crematorium. Find comfort in Jesus, as he helps to calm the extreme anger you must be feeling. You are not alone.
I, too, am sorry to hear about your parents. May God wrap you in His love!
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss.
Minnesota: The shortages that I am noticing are more in hours open and customers than in inventory. There’s lots of stuff in the stores, just not the things I was looking for. Week before Christmas in the suburbs, one national chain store was closed by 8 pm, the big-box store was open until 9 pm, and I had to use the self-checkout while two employees were standing around doing nothing.