The Times We Live In (Part 2)

So, this is a quick update on things. The relief bill that should be passed soon by Congress is still not perfect, by any means. But in its final form, it's much better than it was initially. Stimulus checks are set at $1200 per individual and $2400 per married couple with $500 more for every child under the age of 17 living at home. Individuals whose 2019 income was $75,000 or less will qualify for payments.

The $500 billion fund that the Treasury Department will set up will have Congressional oversight. It was initially proposed that the department be allowed to do as it wished with those funds, while
not releasing any information on how money was to be spent for six months.

A flat increase of $600 per week to last four months and 13 weeks of extended unemployment insurance is also part of the final bill. This is just amazing and I'm so glad that Senator Schumer of New York fought so hard for this. I've already phoned his office and left a message thanking him as one of his constituents that will be helped immensely by this.

It's not perfect, as I say. But it's a good start.

As always, dear reader, wishing you the best.

The Times We Live In (Part 1)

Hello, dear reader. My absence from this blog is one I really don't want to talk about very much. Suffice it to say, I'm back. I'm currently out of work and will be for some time, I fear. There are more hours to fill than I can handle, and this will help pass the time.

As I write this, Congress is on the verge of passing a Coronavirus relief bill that needs a lot of work.

It's a gift to corporate America that doesn't do enough for the people of this nation. It appears

that cash payments to citizens will be one-time payments ranging from $600 to $1200. These payments will not be universal in nature. They will be means-tested and honestly, I have no idea

if I meet the criteria to get a payment. 

The cafe at the Y.M.C.A. closed last Monday, March 16th. 

I had the day off because I was scheduled to work a double shift on Wednesday. I did work two hours on Tuesday, which consisted of cleaning, putting away the food order, and panning up seventy meals that were given to my fellow residents.

At the end of those two hours, I thought that was that, as the saying goes. But I instead received

an offer to assist Lauren with the day care food service. 

I accepted that offer and thanked Tania (Lauren's supervisor who was mine as well, originally) for the offer. 

That lasted all of three days, during which I worked nine hours in total. 

On Monday of this week, I was informed that I was no longer needed, due to the low count of kids in the class rooms. I took this news as graciously as I possibly could, I believe.

I then wished Lauren good luck, and I said that I hope to see her back on the job when this is all over.

Yesterday, I filed for unemployment benefits. Getting through to someone in Albany was not easy.

But I did manage to get to talk to someone, and if my claim is approved, my first check will be for this week. 

I also went to a branch of my credit union, to do a couple of needed transactions. The lobby is closed, but tellers are on the job to process deposits made using the ATM. 

For the time being, Broome County Transit is still running most of its routes and allowing passengers to ride for free. Riders are being asked to board using the back door and police tape has been used to block anyone from getting near the driver. So I took the #57 bus to the Campus Plaza where my credit union branch is located, and then took the #47 to Wal-Mart.

And what an experience being in Wal-Mart was. I have never seen it be so empty on a weekday afternoon. The shelves were partially stocked with requests posted asking customers to not buy excessive amounts.

Some items, such as toilet paper and napkins, were sold out. All of the cleaning supplies were sold out, as were disinfectant sprays and wipes. I bought only what food I needed to last one week. 

I took great care to not purchase any WIC-approved items, because that's the right thing to do.

Parents and young children who rely upon the WIC program are in no position to improvise the way I can.

Everyone I passed in the aisles gave everyone else a wide berth. 

I am going to apply for food stamps later today. I will qualify, according to the benefits calculator

on the official New York state website. Being able to pay for food won't be the issue for me;

finding food to buy will be.

I mean, a lot of the things I normally buy just weren't on the shelves when I looked for them.

I normally buy a lot of all natural and organic products, but yesterday, I put into my cart whatever I could find that looked even halfway decent. 

Ramen noodles? Check. Knorr pasta side dishes? Check. Pop Tarts? Check (the new

all-natural variety that use no artificial colors or flavors). I "scored" a pint of Haagen Daz ice cream, and a submarine sandwich that was reduced in price because it had to be sold by the end of the day. 

Such are my victories, these days. Small ones that I still take pride in.

I am free of the virus, as far as I can tell. I am limiting my personal contact with other people

at all times. I have Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Video as my online streaming services.

I am, in summary, fairly well equipped to ride things out (with the exception of my credit card payments, which are just going to have to wait). But most of us aren't. Most of us are stuck at home, worrying about the next mortgage payment, or how to keep the kids from going stir crazy, or how to put food on the table.

Right now, our government is failing us. If we are able to vote in November, let's make everyone pay for that.