Since most of us can't always do what we want to do, due to the pandemic or anything else, what are your substitutions?

Mine is indirectly pandemic-related. Because I can't go anywhere, my home has become my world, so I have to squeeze all the pleasure I can from it. The hummingbirds and finches won't be here for a couple weeks, so I make do feeding the crows.

I became a fan of them after watching a documentary about their jaw-dropping brilliance. They can differentiate humans, so they know I'm She Who Feeds. They use cries when I step outside that I don't here other times.

It's fun seeing what they like to eat. I'll put out four different foods just to witness their order of eating. They love hummingbird suet balls most of all. Then crackers. They like sunflower seeds least, but they eat them, down to the last seed. They are, in my grandmother's parlance, "clean platers!"

When they're not feeding, they like to hang in my woods and I watch them for hours. They're sweet, playful birds, chasing each other for joy, much like otters do. And they're terrific fliers. I think of them as jet black fighter jets.

So, what is it called when your woods is full of crows?

"Murder!" she wrote.

I have close Mt Bike trails and the Des Plaines river is open by me. So I can still do those activities. I'm practicing my bass and drums even more. My wife is thankful for the electronic drum set I recently purchased. Getting the garden ready, walking the dog. Trying to keep the TV off as much as possible. I'll watch IL Governors daily updates. Can't watch the Presidents "updates" anymore.

I don’t know if it’s true or not but, my father once told me if you see a crow eating something on the ground they have a partner in a tree looking out for them

Nothing much different here. Just waiting for stuff to reopen so I can take the kids somewhere.

Trying to do anything but watch TV. Modest success. Went through my stuff for our May trip. Leaving one month from today.

However, I binge watched "Tiger King."

O.M.G. is all I can say.

Mike

Since rush hour no longer exists, I no longer suffer from lost time, frustration, and anxiety during my daily commute. If the need for such emotions arise at some time, I guess I could watch an old slasher movie...

I substituted Shop Towels for Paper Towels in the kitchen due to the Paper product panic buying spree. I got the tip from a YouTube Preparation Channel along with the best caliber guns for home defense. He was right about nobody looking in the Automotive Aisle when searching for towels and Wal-Mart was fully stocked.

The Shop Towels lack the texture of Bounty Brand paper towels but seem stronger and less prone to tearing. I think the blue goes well with my Dinnerware and retro 1970’s kitchen and Harvest Gold wall color. I haven’t tried them as a toilet paper or coffee filter substitutes but I will keep you updated.

On a related note we were asked by the neighborhood Facebook group to put a Teddy Bear or other stuffed animal in the front window. The little kids that now leave their houses and go on walks with their parents like to see them. It’s a bright spot in their day I guess. They try to guess what mine is. It’s an old dog squeak toy that looks like a chipmunk!

I love the sentiment of the OP!
Crows are fascinating creatures who envelope varied superstition and mythology from the ancient Greeks, Celtics, Welsh, Native Americans, Norse, and Christianity. Their chatter from the treetops on a damp quite morning is inspiring and unmistakable.

That said, the pandemic hasn't created any noticeable extra time for me so I have no requirement for immediate substitutes.

blutofish1: "I don’t know if it’s true or not but, my father once told me if you see a crow eating something on the ground they have a partner in a tree looking out for them"

I think you might be right. There's nearly always (and perhaps always) a crow in a tree overlooking the crows feeding on the ground.

Plenty of open water and local trails so I have diverted work time to enjoying spring waking up with the wildflowers and bird activity. My yarden is in better shape than its ever been. I am adjusting to doing counselling over the phone and re-establishing the work load. Likely it will remain lower than usual until social distancing opens up, then who knows. The rest of my life is pretty much as usual. I do miss the social time so Sue and I hug a little more often.
Routines give our lives a sense of security and maintaining routines or developing new ones is important. Good topic.

Gas is a dollar down here. And the Ouachita National Forest is huge and a patchwork of old logging roads and gravel county roads.

One of my favorite things to do that's handy nowadays is to just go wander around in there and mark potential dispersed camping sites.

It's pretty good social distancing.

Zulu: "I substituted Shop Towels for Paper Towels in the kitchen due to the Paper product panic buying spree. I got the tip from a YouTube Preparation Channel along with the best caliber guns for home defense. He was right about nobody looking in the Automotive Aisle when searching for towels and Wal-Mart was fully stocked. The Shop Towels lack the texture of Bounty Brand paper towels but seem stronger and less prone to tearing."

Zulu, the automotive section also has Nitrile gloves. Yeah, so they're black or gray, but they seem tougher than the blue or purple Nitrile gloves and have a grip pattern molded into the palm & fingers that other barrier gloves lack. We've also seen a couple videos touting the use of the blue shop towels as face mask material.

TZ

Thanks TrailZen for the tip on the gloves. I had given up hope on finding them and I needed some for revarnishing a ceiling and virus protection.

So, I have plenty of walking trails and park like private property available to me for long walks with my German Shepherd.

So what happens?

I get a deer tick imbedded in my back, causing me a trip to the doctor's office. The doc has to actually dig part of the tick out of my back and now I'm on a regimen of antibiotics.

My dog comes up lame.

So now I feel I'm not only stuck at home, I can't even go for a walk with my dog!

I've resisted it for years, but now I'm on a Breaking Bad marathon, on Netflix.

And then, I'm starting to have hand washing issues. This is my hands after washing them 180 times yesterday.

MikeinMpls: "Trying to do anything but watch TV. Modest success. Went through my stuff for our May trip. Leaving one month from today.


However, I binge watched "Tiger King."


O.M.G. is all I can say.


Mike"

Nothing odd about the Tiger King !! That show is double OMG

I'm still working, but fewer days a week and fewer hours per day. When I'm not working I've been very good at following the "stay-at-home" order. I went to the store for the first time in two weeks. And it showed!! $256 in groceries and supplies!!!
But I've stayed busy at the house. Trimmed all my bushes and low hanging limbs. Cut down a tree, saved the trunk wood for firewood and pulled the stump. All branches went into the street as we just had spring clean-up days where you can put items like this in the street and the city will come by and pick it up. The garage is looking pretty good now with all the cleaning and organizing I've done. With all the projects done I am getting a little stir crazy to get out. Can't wait until this is done and over with.

awbrown: "So, I have plenty of walking trails and park like private property available to me for long walks with my German Shepherd.


So what happens?


I get a deer tick imbedded in my back, causing me a trip to the doctor's office. The doc has to actually dig part of the tick out of my back and now I'm on a regimen of antibiotics.


My dog comes up lame.


So now I feel I'm not only stuck at home, I can't even go for a walk with my dog!


I've resisted it for years, but now I'm on a Breaking Bad marathon, on Netflix.

And then, I'm starting to have hand washing issues. This is my hands after washing them 180 times yesterday.


"

My friend, you may want to trim those nails...

podgeo: "

MikeinMpls: "Trying to do anything but watch TV. Modest success. Went through my stuff for our May trip. Leaving one month from today.



However, I binge watched "Tiger King."



O.M.G. is all I can say.



Mike"

Nothing odd about the Tiger King !! That show is double OMG "

My takeaway from Tiger King is the closer you get to tigers, the crazier you become.

missmolly: "

podgeo: "

MikeinMpls: "Trying to do anything but watch TV. Modest success. Went through my stuff for our May trip. Leaving one month from today.



However, I binge watched "Tiger King."



O.M.G. is all I can say.



Mike"

Nothing odd about the Tiger King !! That show is double OMG "

My takeaway from Tiger King is the closer you get to tigers, the crazier you become. "

You think.. I think everyone on that show is 24 beers short of 6 pack.
Was entertaining to watch

I like the empty space created by the shutdown. I’m trying not to fill it.

My life was pretty busy with tons of driving. I’ve lived in a rural area all my life. Commuting to stores, doctors, work is pretty normal. I have about a 35 mile drive to work. I am actually more busy now moving everything online. But, I am so much calmer. I absolutely love focusing on the moment. I don’t have to jump in my car and fly to work, school event, or other required event. The chaos of So much driving to school activities, lunches with friends, volunteer meetings, etc. is not happening right now. I love all those things, but it’s nice to just chill. In fact, I’ve made a decision that I need to do more chilling in my life.

A couple of days ago I looked at my car in the driveway. I don’t think it’s sat like that in decades. I don’t want to get back in it! Ha ha

Another thing is noticing how my daughter thinks up things to do. It’s kind of cool.

About a week ago, I started this thing that I’m going to watch the sunset on the river at night. No multitasking allowed! I can’t believe how the color of the water changes every minute or so. Every night is different.It’s so zen! Some thing I haven’t had for quite a while.

Using Amazon too much.
Frankly its not the restrictions that government has imposed it is the weather. Cold wet and mostly windy.
Otherwise I would be paddling on our lake.
We have many local paddling trails and the photography ops are endless.

I do miss eating out but in the Lake Region of Maine the restaurants are pretty much seasonal anyway and don't open for another month anyhow.

I really tried to watch TIger King.. It was to me boring.. everyone was someone I could live without.

I am paying more attention to noticing. Sitting in the yard with binoculars watching birds.. WHY do Pileateds always peck with the SUN in a direct line so I can see NOTHING?

I do miss neighborhood board games. I am not especially scared of CV here in the country but not all feel that way.

1. I refuse to watch Tiger King.
2. I am getting rid of my CD collection by converting them to digital.
3. I am teaching myself wild edible plants. Garlic mustard is just starting to come up.
4. A flock of Yellow-Rumped Warblers came through my backyard, here in the heart of the Twin Cities Metro. I see them every year because I have a hackberry in my backyard and all the animals in the tri-state area know about that particular grocery store.

Tiger King - Everyone needs to experience this just to know what is out there in our country. I had no idea this stuff existed. You might lose a few IQ points by watching but the entertainment value makes up for it.

My business is lighter but that just means I need less employees so in reality it's more work for me but less income. I am excited just knowing the BW should be open in September if Quetico is not. Researching an alternate trip to the BW has kept my interest lately.

Another substitution I've made is plodding planning for haste. An example is the nine flowering trees that I've had sitting on my front porch for a couple weeks and the six evergreens and Japanese maples arriving next week, all Internet purchases. In my past, they'd be planted the day they arrived or the following day, largely because they'd be followed by scores of local nursery purchases. With local nurseries hibernating, those are the only trees to plant and so I ponder and ponder the possible sites.

Forgot to add, that my wife and I have been enjoying at least one or two Metropolitan Opera streams per week. Last night it was "Le Comte Ory" by Rossini with Diana Damrau as the soprano and Jean Diago Florez as the tenor. I have always wanted to learn and understand opera a bit more, trying to figure out why such a bizarre form of entertainment has stuck around for so long. Watching the Met Opera has been great.

missmolly: "Since most of us can't always do what we want to do, due to the pandemic or anything else, what are your substitutions?

Mine is indirectly pandemic-related. Because I can't go anywhere, my home has become my world, so I have to squeeze all the pleasure I can from it. The hummingbirds and finches won't be here for a couple weeks, so I make do feeding the crows.

I became a fan of them after watching a documentary about their jaw-dropping brilliance. They can differentiate humans, so they know I'm She Who Feeds. They use cries when I step outside that I don't here other times.

It's fun seeing what they like to eat. I'll put out four different foods just to witness their order of eating. They love hummingbird suet balls most of all. Then crackers. They like sunflower seeds least, but they eat them, down to the last seed. They are, in my grandmother's parlance, "clean platers!"

When they're not feeding, they like to hang in my woods and I watch them for hours. They're sweet, playful birds, chasing each other for joy, much like otters do. And they're terrific fliers. I think of them as jet black fighter jets.

So, what is it called when your woods is full of crows?

"Murder!" she wrote. "

I also have lots of crows, turkeys, red-bellied woodpeckers, redwing blackbirds--all loving cracked corn from Tractor Supply. I get a 50 lb. bag for about $9.50, much less than black-oils or regular bird seed (not a good buy, much seed is rejected). The corn is also a favorite of Juncos, Titmouses, Morning Doves, Blue Jays. I do easily 800lbs a winter. When it gets really bad the deer find it too. My crows are very skittish, the flush even if I pass a window.

sunnybear09: "

missmolly: "Since most of us can't always do what we want to do, due to the pandemic or anything else, what are your substitutions?


Mine is indirectly pandemic-related. Because I can't go anywhere, my home has become my world, so I have to squeeze all the pleasure I can from it. The hummingbirds and finches won't be here for a couple weeks, so I make do feeding the crows.


I became a fan of them after watching a documentary about their jaw-dropping brilliance. They can differentiate humans, so they know I'm She Who Feeds. They use cries when I step outside that I don't here other times.


It's fun seeing what they like to eat. I'll put out four different foods just to witness their order of eating. They love hummingbird suet balls most of all. Then crackers. They like sunflower seeds least, but they eat them, down to the last seed. They are, in my grandmother's parlance, "clean platers!"


When they're not feeding, they like to hang in my woods and I watch them for hours. They're sweet, playful birds, chasing each other for joy, much like otters do. And they're terrific fliers. I think of them as jet black fighter jets.


So, what is it called when your woods is full of crows?


"Murder!" she wrote. "

I also have lots of crows, turkeys, red-bellied woodpeckers, redwing blackbirds--all loving cracked corn from Tractor Supply. I get a 50 lb. bag for about $9.50, much less than black-oils or regular bird seed (not a good buy, much seed is rejected). The corn is also a favorite of Juncos, Titmouses, Morning Doves, Blue Jays. I do easily 800lbs a winter. When it gets really bad the deer find it too. My crows are very skittish, the flush even if I pass a window."

Great tip, sunnybear. When the restrictions lift, I'm heading to Tractor Supply for some cracked corn!

Minnesotian: "
Forgot to add, that my wife and I have been enjoying at least one or two Metropolitan Opera streams per week. Last night it was "Le Comte Ory" by Rossini with Diana Damrau as the soprano and Jean Diago Florez as the tenor. I have always wanted to learn and understand opera a bit more, trying to figure out why such a bizarre form of entertainment has stuck around for so long. Watching the Met Opera has been great."

Do you mind sharing the link?

MikeinMpls: "Trying to do anything but watch TV. Modest success. Went through my stuff for our May trip. Leaving one month from today.


However, I binge watched "Tiger King."


O.M.G. is all I can say.


Mike"

The wife made me watch Tiger King. I want that 10 hours back! I will admit, that it is a good case study about everything that is wrong in this world.

I've developed a liking for the tv show, Maine Cabin Masters. It sort of makes me feel like I am in Northern Minnesota.

I drank the Tiger King Kool-aid. I found it fascinating. I like learning about subcultures and this one is a doozy! Some good case studies of apparent personality disorders, as well. And, genuinely kind people that have been socially outcast for a variety of reasons.

Michwall2: "

Minnesotian: "
Forgot to add, that my wife and I have been enjoying at least one or two Metropolitan Opera streams per week. Last night it was "Le Comte Ory" by Rossini with Diana Damrau as the soprano and Jean Diago Florez as the tenor. I have always wanted to learn and understand opera a bit more, trying to figure out why such a bizarre form of entertainment has stuck around for so long. Watching the Met Opera has been great."

Do you mind sharing the link?"

Nightly Met Opera stream

A new opera is ready to stream every night at 6:30 eastern. That opera is then available to watch over the next 24 hours. Tonight it is "Madama Butterfly" by Puccini and it is a performance March 7th, 2009.

We're still working full time but from home. So the main difference in our schedules is no commute. We're using that time to expand exercising and more cooking. For exercise we are aiming at 6 days a week alternating between our home gym and walks on the bluffs over the ocean near our home. We were mostly eating takeout food before the shut-in just because we were so busy. Without the commute we have time to cook all our meals and it has been really nice to be back in the kitchen.

I do need to get around to some tree trimming in the backyard. Maybe this weekend.

We’ve had a few first responder calls... and have done some drive by happy Birthday for kids in the area Birthdays with fire trucks.
Finally done with maple syrup and now Sadie and I are condensing my papers in my filing cabinet.
Also getting some projects done at the community center and beach while people are away. I’ve had to go to town to get prescriptions. Holy cow, people really like shopping Walmart. Hahaha! Online shopping is kinda fun...

Sewing masks. Started garden seeds. Going through closets. Husband is home.

All. The. Time.

He actually Is working from home thanks to technology, but still. I'm a substitute teacher, so my days now aren't that different from my days not subbing. Grocery shopping about once a week, gardening, biking, fishing, walking the dog, cooking. Never have had a lot of friends just drop by or call, so that whole social thing really hasn't changed. Isolating has been a lot easier for me than my husband.

Portage99: "I like the empty space created by the shutdown. I’m trying not to fill it. "

I encourage you to plan now how to hold some of this empty space when things go back to "normal." We do the things we prioritize. Even if we lose our focus, we can reprioritize. Maybe setup a check-in point for yourself every month - "am I doing the things that I know bring me joy and improve my life?"

Life hasn't changed much for me. Still going to the office to check in, check the schedule of appointments on computer, and head out to the farms with a list of things to do. Some of my partners are doing most of this from home as our software is cloud based so they can see the schedule on their phones. Still need a doctor at the clinic to do various things so I stop in between calls to do those things and actually doing some extra things to keep employees safe....and still working. It's been trying. My wife has been working from home 2 days a week and going in the other 3. We never did go out much.....kinda home bodies. I always said that a fancy night out to eat meant we didn't spill in the car ;) We have not seen our kids in a while as they all live in different towns. Lots of phone chats.
I still go out and hike, scout for turkeys, canoe, when I have time off. I would really relish some more "empty space", but I haven't seen it yet.

It's cribbage wars at our house

One of our fundamental substitutions is the shift to 100% home cooking; we used to go out or get take-out frequently. I've heard my wife tell people that we have a deal where I do all the cooking and she cleans up. I don't remember that conversation.

So I recently used yeast for the first time. What fun. Who could have imagined that just flour, warm water and a little yeast turns into a loaf of bread. It's like a big secret. Pic shows my third-ever loaf and first-ever using beer instead of water.

arm2008: "

Portage99: "I like the empty space created by the shutdown. I’m trying not to fill it. "

I encourage you to plan now how to hold some of this empty space when things go back to "normal." We do the things we prioritize. Even if we lose our focus, we can reprioritize. Maybe setup a check-in point for yourself every month - "am I doing the things that I know bring me joy and improve my life?""

Thank you for the comment. This is great advice and what I have been reflecting on. Much of the "stuff" is unchangeable for short term. Lots of kids activities. Rural area, so spread out. drive, drive, drive. Taking care of ill family members, other family crises, cleaning out and selling my parents' house. But, like you said, I have been using this time to think about small ways I can improve the commute and the other "have-to"s; improve the moments.

I know what the real problem is though. Before I had kids, I was a bit of hermit in the woods. I spent most free days in the woods by myself all day. I just naturally love it. Ever since I was a kid I've been like that-I wanted to be out there in rain, snow, storms, whatever. That is the real key I need to prioritize because that is what makes me tick. Lack of this is why my fuel tank has been running low.

Next year my kids will all be out of high school and my responsibilities will be much less. So, I have been reflecting on what that means for me. It is kind of exciting!

tobiedog: "I've developed a liking for the tv show, Maine Cabin Masters. It sort of makes me feel like I am in Northern Minnesota."

I enjoy that, too. Was sort of surprised at how much fun it was to watch.

Just watched Game 6 of the 1991 World Series with my oldest who was not alive then. She is a huge baseball fan and now we are gong to watch Game 7. I have a good feeling about it. the Twins have momentum!

Maine Cabin Masters is great. What a funny bunch of people and their vibe is definitely northern MN. Last episode we watched could definitely have been an old camp on White Iron. It even had a hand pump in the kitchen which is how my wife grew up in upstate NY. And that wasn’t their camp. That was their home. At their camp, the pump was outside.

Not so sure about Log Cabin Living though. Some of the homes on that show make the Grand Ely Lodge look a little small.

Our favorite is Love It or List It. Without sports, Hilary’s renovations versus David’s new homes might be the best competition on TV. And having renovated both our cabin and our home in the last 8 years we are definitely rooting for Hilary.

Okay, I just dug a hole for a tree and dug it twice as wide and twice as deep as I normally do. By next week, I'll be digging the holes threes time as wide and deep!

We’ve been working so hard on staying at home. Now all the snowbirds are coming back. They are being asked to self quarantine for at least 14 days... but I see more and more people getting out and defying the order. I don’t blame people for getting a bit stir crazy... but I hope people will use their heads.
Now it’s full blown grass fire season. I’m spending time getting and keeping that equipment up to par and ready to go. Today I hear calls of power lines down in the wind. So far we haven’t had a fire call... cross those fingers!
I’m working on my big canoe trailer. I’m knocking off the top bars as it’s just too much for me to go that high. Also rebuilding an old truck camper as I plan to go south next winter. The lake opened up right on schedule today thanks to the winds. The loons have been back a few days and the eagles are letting them know they plan to have baby loons for supper this spring again. I like the eagles, but their numbers are getting quite high. And aggressive as all get out. They kinda tick me off cause they always beat me to the road kill. Haha.
I’m really liking my new kitchen light... I can’t wait til I can get to town again to get what I need to finish it up...

Our summer people have also arrived, Ben. How do I know they're not locals? Well, I wear my Duluth firehose pants with a thousand stains and summer people wear pretty, clean clothing.

Love those lights, Ben. Great choice! We did undermount lighting in our kitchen and lights in the glass-doored cupboards too, giving us about 52 lights in our kitchen!

Yeah, good lighting can't be beat especially as our eyes age. We improved ours a lot during our remodel 5 years ago. Sounds like you have plenty of projects, Ben.

Love your ceiling, too! With that canoe for eye candy who would even notice the insulation.

Been flying a bit - checking out airports I've not been in/out of. Opening the pool. Quite a bit of spring yard work. Cutting/splitting a big ash that had to come down. Picking up a LOT of sticks after several wind events that include an F1 tornado a week and a half ago. Finally pulled the trigger on a pair of K-Horn speakers a few weeks ago, so even more music than normal lately.

I am substituting a little more time at home for one of the two work projects that got cancelled due to lab closure. We are working up to a bigger garden, so that is where most of the time goes. Retirement was planned for end of the year, so I am in training.

If I cannot do my mid-July 10 day solo I will substitute two 5 day backpack hikes in the southern Appalachians. Maybe a combination Foothills/Bartram Trail and a fast summer hike on the AT in Georgia. The AT is closed in GA right now due to the huge swarm of thru hikers that usually start March and early April, but I imagine it will open back up soon.

Also substituting local paddles for cardio at the fitness center. It's a sacrifice but I'm dealing with it.

justpaddlin: "Also substituting local paddles for cardio at the fitness center. It's a sacrifice but I'm dealing with it.
"

Your upper lip is so stiff I could perch Hummel figurines on it! ;-)

tobiedog: "I've developed a liking for the tv show, Maine Cabin Masters. It sort of makes me feel like I am in Northern Minnesota."

That's a good show. Try the Building Off The Grid show.

Spent the day tearing apart my sewing/ laundry / storage room. Found a missing Tupperware container inside a sport box with 2 used football mouth guards. And lots of soccer socks. Anyone need a spool knitter, circle loom knitter, tie dye, macrame? I was a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader for 10 years so I have lots of craft stuff to get rid of. And yes, I am a fabric hoarder.

My big dilemma now is this: I have several projects that need to be done, but I need supplies to do them, So I would need to shop at someplace like Menards. But the projects are not essential to daily living, so I have put off shopping. At what point do I just take my long list and just go shopping? I'm really getting tired of cleaning out closets. The projects include repainting the living room ( replaced drywall due to mold), staining the porch, replenish wood chips around the trees where the animals have dug up the landscaping fabric, and getting potting soil etc.

4keys: "Spent the day tearing apart my sewing/ laundry / storage room. Found a missing Tupperware container inside a sport box with 2 used football mouth guards. And lots of soccer socks. Anyone need a spool knitter, circle loom knitter, tie dye, macrame? I was a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader for 10 years so I have lots of craft stuff to get rid of. And yes, I am a fabric hoarder.


My big dilemma now is this: I have several projects that need to be done, but I need supplies to do them, So I would need to shop at someplace like Menards. But the projects are not essential to daily living, so I have put off shopping. At what point do I just take my long list and just go shopping? I'm really getting tired of cleaning out closets. The projects include repainting the living room ( replaced drywall due to mold), staining the porch, replenish wood chips around the trees where the animals have dug up the landscaping fabric, and getting potting soil etc.
"

Just go there and get your stuff. Everyone else is doing them same projects.

Ive been Menards few times in last few weeks. I have a list and get in/out of there. Try and go in the morning not as many people in there or just before they close.
you can order on line and pick it up now too...if you want

My dog is loving the company and the frequent walks.

My two teenage sons are home all day and often seem to appreciate my company less than the dog. I feel bad for my senior who loses the last of his days with friends, graduation, and the track season he prepared for so diligently. His summer job at a Y camp seems unlikely to happen as well.

I have newfound appreciation for the monetary value in school lunches.

The mountain bike trails have been great. Everyone else seems to think so too. The trail I use frequently in my hometown of Monticello has been super busy with probably 8x the normal number of users. The local state park is also overflowing.

I've been just fine with the shutdown, but as a small business owner I know that this plan isn't a long term winner for my business. While it lasts I am making the best of it.