It just seems like all the supply chains are lumpy

this.

Weird gaps in grocery shelves. I am trying to be smart about what I stock up on, but my planning and whatnot is FOR SHIT right now.

Weird gaps in grocery shelves. I am trying to be smart about what I stock up on, but my planning and whatnot is FOR SHIT right now.

Are there any OTC meds you wouldn't want to run out of? Tim takes Tylenol for his RA, so we've been keeping a backup bottle of Tylenol in the Covid stash ever since spring, because the Tylenol shelf tended to be empty really often. Or tampons/pads (if applicable) -- their supply wasn't affected back in the spring, but I'm slightly paranoid, so I have extras of those, too, because running out would *really* suck.

Flour and yeast if you plan on doing much baking, dried and/or canned beans, extra butter that can be stored in the freezer, canned milk or boxed nut milk with a long shelf life are some of the suggestions I have based on what I had trouble getting last time around.

Pasta was the one thing I actually wanted and had a hard time laying my hands on. And when I thought I might do a "comfort food dinner" for my brother's birthday back in March, I couldn't find Kraft Mac & Cheese to save my life. When I mentioned this idea to him, he said what he'd really like was a Rice-a-roni thing our mom used to make with beef flavor Rice-a-roni. All of a sudden, there was plenty of Kraft Mac & Cheese and Beef Rice-a-roni was more elusive than Charmin.

Yeah I feel like the shortages have been super random lately. Like one day there was no yogurt. Another day, zero frozen fruit. But what Teppy said about otc meds and period supplies. I’m picky on the latter, so shortages would bum me out. And I got a big thing of sudafed on the former because it’s not as easy to get!

Timelies all!

Mr. S's school has decided that due to the increase in COVID19 cases in MD, that things will be 100% virtual from after Thanksgiving until winter break. It makes sense, but Mr. S has been doing so much better in the in-person classes than in virtual classes.

Apparently part of the supply weirdness is the bullwhip effect and the rest is the intersection of global supply chains and individual decisions.

Like how all the turkey farmers didn't (couldn't?) change how many turkeys they produced this year, and without Ren Faires and big Thanksgivings and such there is a turkey glut.

Market them to people as pets!

Unsweetened/Unflavored Coconut "milk" is my coffee addition of choice and I have found it hard to find reliably since I moved here. TJs always has it, but that is not my go to store, so I buy 2 boxes of it whenever I see it. Rarely find it in Giants, Aldi does not stock it, Safeway and Sprouts are about 50/50 on it, Target maybe more like 60/40.

The OTC medicine I need is generic mucinex. I had a repeating order online and then cancelled and now cannot remember my login. I should get on that, so much easier than going to the store every few weeks.

Oh -- Murderbiscuit wanted me to mention that it's a good idea to stock up on pet food (and litter, as applicable).