SWFeral Loc: SWNM

My business partner's daughter Jamie works with us at our small grooming shop (closed for now until things settle down). Always on the lookout for something to be outraged about, she is finding no shortage of material during these edgy times, as she tries to shop for her family and finds nothing but empty shelves. Recently she arrived at Walmart early in the morning and though she didn't need it herself, she glanced down the toilet paper aisle. She saw that there were only two packages left and that a pair of elderly women with one cart between them were heading slowly in that direction. From the far end of the aisle came two men, obviously with a plan and each with a full cart, and as they each grabbed for a package, Jamie darted into the fray, grabbed one package, and put it in the ladies' cart.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Good for her!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I know, right? When we resume working she'll get a bonus. This is a time to work TOGETHER. A time to show character.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Local reports here in So Cal are that when they open in the morning many stores now have restocked paper aisles except for TP which was cleaned out of the local warehouses and is on back order with the paper mills so it will be replaced slowly.

Now most will be upset, but paper towels can be subbed for TP. Long ago I remember some of the cheap brands made our modern paper towels look like the finest tissue. Some of the older C-Rations I saw in the army in the 60's were made in the 40's during the war and a paper towel is easily better than the TP in those. Don't use a whole sheet, cut them or use the ones that tear off into half sheets.
Oh, most plumbing will clog if you flush too many paper towels so put a liner in a trash can and put them in it.
When I was in Mexico in the early 70's with a university field the hotel we stayed in had old, small pipes and each restroom had a can for TP and since it was a bit upscale (an old mansion turned into a small hotel, our field school filled half of it-about 30 of us, two to a room) it had an air freshener in each bathroom near the waste basket.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Ha. Because I live in a house that is pushing 130 years old, its inhabitants figured out long ago not to flush even TP except in extreme situations--is this TMI or what? We're prepared to use torn-up tee shirts, paper towels, whatever. But there is a certain mindset that says, Only the best for me and mine. I'm not sure where they learned their manners.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The problem also lies with stores, that don't put limits on how much toilet paper you can buy. I have traveled nearly 90 miles in my car searching for toilet paper. I had to go to Walmart yesterday, to buy some stomach OTC medicine remedies. While there, I decided to go to the toilet paper aisle, to see if they had any toilet paper. Low and behold, there was some available. But, instead of putting them on the shelves, Walmart had a worker to distribute them straight from the box. One package of 12 rolls per customer. Kudos to my Walmart for doing that. I had purchased earlier, elsewhere, some paper towels. But, two uhh members told me that paper towels are unacceptable for flushing, even tearing them in quarters, because they don't dissolve. And, I could be looking at calling a plumber, to unstop my toilet. 12 rolls is enough for two people, for a while. No panic. I saw on TV that someone stole an18 wheeler, that was full of toilet paper. Fortunately, the stolen truck was found by a Sheriff Deputy in Guilford County, North Carolina. It was loaded with industrial grade toilet paper, used in business restrooms, schools, etc.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

We have always bought toilet paper and paper towels in case lots at the local Sam's Club. We had enough on hand when this madness began that we did not have to rush out and fight over it in the local stores. Hopefully by the time we need to re-supply things will have settled down and we will be able to buy another case. Over the years we have been able to build up a year's supply of food. Quite a bit of it is dry goods such as wheat, beans, rice, powdered milk, etc, etc. Our storage room looks like a small grocery store. We are pretty much ready for whatever comes. Toilet paper takes up too much room to have a year's supply on hand.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

the secret to buying toilet paper is to BUY A LOT WHEN THERE IS A LOT.! Anticipate something like this happening. I always maintain a good supply just in case something like this happens. and yet I haven't put anyone out in doing so.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

My daughter and her husband live in a house with a septic system and are also extreme environmentalists. A few months ago they bought a bidet for their toilet to avoid flushing paper to the septic. Apparently it washes and dries in just a few seconds. I know TMI, but they laugh at the run on toilet paper while padding themselves on the back (or butt) for their great timing!

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

And no one has mentioned paper napkins. They can work, too.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

Had a similar experience at our local Walmart last night. My petite (4'!!" ) 75 year old wife was trying to reach the last bag of flour on a high shelf when a younger taller woman walked up behind her, leaned over her, and plucked it out of her hand. My wife called her out as she walked away and her response was "Deal with it" and kept on walking. Her husband who was with her said nothing..

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Huh? Manners, what is manners? We don't need no stinking manners. Unless you are a lot bigger or more dangerous than us, and don't have these "manners" things. Then we will be very polite and have lots of good manners. Until we can get out of range.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

My wife went for soup as the stockpiled food, Progresso and other brands that don't need water added and can be eaten cold out of the can. Two shelves full, one can a day each and we have about a month of soup for our family. I like soup so I eat the older cans and then we replace with new ones with later expiration dates. I keep canned meats, like Spam (hey, I like Spam) and roast beef on the shelves with the soup. Used to keep a case of C-rats long ago and then MREs but my wife refuses to even consider eating them so I used them for lunches when out doing things and didn't replace them. I may reconsider that and stock in a couple of cases in the future if I can find them, and not too old.
Our oldest son is Army Reserve (after 6 years active) and down talks MREs. I tell him to be glad they don't still use the old C-rats as the worst MRE I ever tried is about the same as the best C-Rat I ever had (Beanie Wienies became part of C-Rats when I was in Nam in the 60's and tasted just like the ones from Campbell)
The wife also keeps bags of rice, beans of two or three types, instant hash browns, mashed potatoes etc. But those require water.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

My wife has been looking at bidet toilet seat units on line.