This is not a drill

PSA: We will go into some type of nationwide lock down in one of many possible levels for sure. What level of a lock down I’m not 100% sure of, but everything I’m about to tell you are not things I think, they are things I know, so if you do not pay close attention and prepare your families and your household then you cannot say I didn’t try to warn you. As I have talked about many times in the last few weeks, there are about 4 levels to a nationwide lock down and this whole process for what it means to you. At this point in time things that have already been progressing more rapidly, will progress even more quickly in the coming days.

We are currently in level 1 – states having the ability to enforce laws at the municipal and county levels to prohibit gatherings (1^st amendment right) of more than 10 people. Enforcing and encouraging laws and “recommendations” at the city and county level to set food and product limits, change business hours, change work from home policies, and sending employees home, many permanently losing their jobs. Only essential businesses remain open in some places. Heavy lock down measures are being enacted everywhere along the coasts. Other lock downs, shelter in place type measures are being enacted on a county by county basis in Texas and other states in middle America. (Missouri is starting to do this as well starting yesterday).

Level 2 is more restrictive. Things get serious now because everyone will be on the same level of lock down at this level. All states will be required to comply. At this level only essential businesses are open. Luckily, many, many states have already begun enacting measures to warrant giving “essential” status to many people you would never even realize could be considered essential. Grocery store clerks are now considered “emergency workers” at this level (something we’re already seeing happen today). Mail workers are still essential so people can eat. Gas stations will be open as they will provide gas and supplies to the National guard, military, etc. Many restaurants will be allowed to both deliver food and have open drive-through. Almost no one will be out and about anywhere. Ghost towns at night and virtual communication for almost everyone that isn’t a necessity. If you’re lucky enough to have an “essential” job and get one of the passes through National guard roadblocks at this level, Level 2 will not affect you as much.  If your spouse or roommate is lucky enough to have this type of job, you will not be as affected in level 2 as anyone else. Consider yourself VERY lucky if your household has one of these passes being given out. The passes are issued by FEMA under the directive of and with the authority of the Defense Production Act (which I talk about in this blog here and explain it)

No inside dining options at this level. Whether or not states can allow this for less than 10 people is still in question. Many banks will be closed at level 2. I am seeing friends everywhere say their bank put up a sign that they would be closing temporarily. Some of these signs have said they will close at end of business day Saturday. This could become a widespread thing. That is also still in question, but I think it’s likely personally. As more and more people flock to get their money from their accounts, small branch banks will run out of money. The Federal Reserve has just agreed to give a Trillion dollars a day to banks in the US. Do you KNOW how much a trillion dollars actually is? Watch this video, seriously. So in level 2, many small bank branches could be closed to the public. I don’t think there’s a risk of running out of money at level 2.

I have believed since last Friday that I was seeing signs of a level 2 becoming reality. I am now seeing the proof needed to feel confident in that. I warned my sister last Saturday to be prepared for this. And a few others as well. Many of you already know a lot about this because we work together or are friends that I consider “my circle”. Some of you will not have heard this from me personally. Mostly because of the fact that most of my life I have been treated like I was crazy or stupid for believing any of this was possible or could happen in today’s world. So I’m careful who I tell things to now. If I didn't share this blog with you, consider it likely that you're one of those people. Just sayin. (some that I haven't shared it with are simply people who don't know me well enough to know why they should believe me and some are simply people who live in areas already under level 2 type restrictions). 

I think at this point it’s going to be public knowledge very soon. I don’t know how soon, but I believe this will occur by Sunday, Monday possibly, but Wednesday of next week by the latest. Level 2 isn’t that scary and while it does take away lots of rights, it isn’t nearly as bad as level 3 and if we never get past level 2 I’ll be thankful for that alone. I don’t know what the potential is at this point for level 3, I see it possible that we could get there if people don’t comply with level 2. After enough annoyances from the people not complying, they will get fed up and start Level 3 proceedings. Laws have to be made and enacted before level 3 can happen but we’ve already paved the way for this possibility in the ones we’ve evoked thus far (like the DPA, the Patriot Act, The Stafford Act, etc.). I see the probability of full compliance to be low. I believe Anonymous was right in many of their predictions. I won’t link those here, but you can google them yourself.

Level 3 is much more restrictive than level 2. Level 3 means everyone forced to stay home at all times except for the most essential workers. Healthcare and law enforcement, a FEW government workers and supply distribution are mostly handled by FEMA at this point. Only they can decide who can distribute goods. This will be massively mishandled like we’ve seen with other disasters in history like Katrina. They also took 20k guns in New Orleans during Katrina. Level 3 is scary because they can do whatever they like at this point and though they will attempt to make it look a lot less scary than it really is using the news and media as well as celebrities to keep the public calm and this will work on the majority of society. It will not work on the people who are paying close attention and ready to fight for their civil liberties and rights. We see lots of looting and riots at this level. In every city. Not just LA and NYC. At this level the world we live in now is very different and extremely different from the world we lived in just one month ago. At level 3, guarding your home and family is essential. Nothing is safe outside your home at level 3 because you are at a very high risk of becoming a victim of a burglary or worse. I hope like hell my own people have plans in place that will protect them from this in level 3 because it WILL get worse and affect your family. I am not sure yet what the risk is for level 3 is a real possibility because again, it is highly dependent on compliance levels.

Level 4 is too scary to even talk about. Think, Nazi Germany without all the murder. If you don’t know what life in Germany was like for its citizens, use the next few days to teach your children the history of World War II while they’re being homeschooled this week. Not even joking. This is what America looks like at level 4. And all the movies you have ever seen about this become reality. We do NOT want level 4. I don’t see level 4 happening at all either. I think level 3 would be bad enough that people would pay fucking attention and not let it get to that point.

Now for the proof that level 2 will start VERY soon.

Someone I am very close to was briefed last night. Thanks to his company doing mail trucks along with many others he got a pass for driving back and forth. And one has to be put in every truck when they are done with it. Another friends husband was briefed as a unit and are doing exercises for looters and riots – which we’ve been hearing about from libertarian groups on social media for a week now, but all “hearsay” until these two things that simply are not, as I saw this proof with my own eyes and am not 100% confident it is true. and shit preparing this shit. They are allowing family on bases to drive home to their families if wanted for quarantined while their husbands/wives are sent out to deploy. There are teams being sent to every state and we will def have a federal lockdown. That is straight from the mouth of a woman whose husband is a decorated marine officer and was just briefed yesterday morning. They also were made to sign NDA's. My closest friend's husband got a pass last night as well (though I haven’t seen this one). Several of my liberty memes friends are starting to get them today. Those of you with military families, ask them if they got one, they probably did. Many of them will have also signed NDA’s and will not want to risk telling you, because they could get in serious trouble from their superiors, and are likely being monitored. So don’t be upset with them if they can’t tell you or say they can’t give you that info. They are trying to protect themselves and their own children and families so cut them some slack. Their passes look very similar to the one pictured here:

What do you need to do to prepare? Many of the things you've already been doing, but if you don't have a pass like the one above by tomorrow, then you better make the last trips you need to at the store by then. If this doesn't happen tomorrow, the likelihood of it happening by Wednesday is extremely high. It's almost guaranteed by the end of the coming week, but tomorrow could be the last time you leave your home for anywhere from 14 to 30 days. Get enough food, water, medicine, and necessities for each person in your family for 30 days. Make lists of each person and what they use weekly. Do not under-prepare for this part. And don't underestimate what your family uses. Do the math. It's not that hard.

Be prepared to find something you can do from home to make a little money. Find anything you have to get rid of, clean it up and take pics of it. You'll be happy you had this ready.

Make schedules for kids. Get them on a real home routine. You've probably been lax up until now with your kids being at home and calling this a break or a "wellness" break. And that's good. It gave their minds time to prepare for the other coming changes to their lives. You don't need to tell them everything, but do things that help prepare them for the changes because they will suffer too and be very confused by all this. 

Sit down and really think about what all this means for your specific family's needs. Gather the materials necessary to be in very close quarters for 30 days. You will need to prepare for this too because we're not used to being all huddled together 24/7 and you will not realize how much that is true until you're all driving each other nuts. We are all joking about "day X of the quarantine" right now and that's good because we need to keep our humor about us. But know that after a few weeks you WILL be thankful for the small amounts of alone time and space you get. Introverts will already be used to this feeling. This will affect everyone in different ways though, factors like personality type will be huge. If your Briggs-Meyers score is similar to that of your family or housemates, you're probably gonna be fine. If they're vastly different, you may want to schedule some personal time. Whether or not you are on the Autism Spectrum will make a difference too. So sit and use your family's personality types to plan for what you will need to keep each other entertained and self soothed. Because this will be a huge factor in how well you handle this new world. 

Keep up with your local updates. Follow your city management pages. pay attention to new laws and regulations that affect you. Don't mess around on this part. You don't want to be hassled by people at checkpoints in front of your kids. Watch your attitudes. Things could escalate to points that aren't good at all for your families to witness. Don't take these risks. Don't be a hero, and don't underestimate their power or authority. Know that they mean business and just be smart with your decisions. Keep your windows and doors locked. Be cautious of people coming around asking for help. You can still be a helper and take steps to protect your family. Don't be scared of helping people, but please, be cautious and aware. 

Set a schedule for yourself that includes mental health breaks. Write it down just like any other task. Every 2 hours a 15-minute disconnection from electronics will be good for you. Use this time to de-stress, stretch, sing, listen to a song, call a loved one, whatever makes you feel good. Then, 1 hour periods through the day/eve too. Pick 2 or 3 times during your waking hours to pencil this hour in. Then during the 1-hour sessions per day, like one from 12 to 1 and one from 8 to 9, or whatever works with your schedule, and use that hour to totally unplug, turn everything off, get outside, away from electronic devices, listen to nature, feel the dirt, plant some flowers, read a book, have a glass of wine, take a bath, or any number of things you can do. Stick with your schedule and do it just like it's any other task that needs to be done. Because this situation is taking its toll on everyone. And mental health experts are URGING people to pay attention and practice self-care because if not, mental degradation WILL occur. Every mental health expert in the world is in agreement on this. Without this self-care practice, we will see a major increase in suicides and even crimes due to mental degradation, but within your own families, you will see mood swings, grumpiness, rebellion, anxiety, depression, and anger. A little bit of planning can prevent this or at least make it milder.

This isn't the end of the world. But it is the beginning of a new one. Lots of positives will come out of this too. Look for them. Find ways to get creative in the new world. Stop complaining about small shit and worry about that which you can control. Take control of the things you've wanted to, and drop some bad habits. There are silver linings in everything, pay attention to them. 

Most importantly of all. Stay calm. Don't panic. Take only what you need. Be nice to people. Be understanding and patient. Think of others. Remember that everyone will handle this differently. Pay attention and you will come out of this JUST fine, I promise.