I’ve been trying to decide whether to write a blog post that would be uplifting and inspirational during this crazy and weird time we are all going through. The indecision has kept me sort of paralyzed and I’ve written nothing. Or maybe it’s the strangeness of how the time passes each day that’s kept me paralyzed. Am I the only one who’s been the victim of an all-consuming inertia? What’s the rush to clean out that cupboard? I’ll do it tomorrow. I don’t need to organize those files, I’ll do it next week.
Instead I stop to sit and read again, usually watching television in the evenings although I’ll likely never get through everything in my Netflix “list.“ But I’ve become very particular — the only things I really want to read or watch right now are the ones that make me smile, or even better, laugh out loud.
What you may not know is that I got about a three-week head start on you with the self-quarantining because I had knee surgery on February 24. I couldn’t drive for just over the first two weeks and all I did to get out was go to physical therapy a few times. I did have some wonderful friends who called and came to visit, brought me food and books to read and generally just cheer me up (you know who you are, and I love you!), so I did have a little human interaction.
Then the news began to get serious, and when I was allowed to drive again I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things. By then the panic buying had begun, so I missed out on hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, bleach and rubbing alcohol. I’ve always hated hand sanitizer and never used it, nor have I ever bought disinfecting wipes preferring to use other products instead, so I had NONE of these things at home.
But there are three things that I NEVER run out of: toilet paper, coffee and wine. I had stocked up on toilet paper not long ago when Costco had the good stuff on sale, so I was all set with an ample supply for the newly designated lifesaving t.p. Thank God, because in the middle of a pandemic, seriously is toilet paper what I want to be concerned about?
No toilet paper needed at this urinal!
But all this uproar and scarcity got me thinking. How much toilet paper do I actually USE? I decided to do a test to find out. The next time I replaced the roll of paper in the bathroom I use most, I wrote the date on the empty cardboard roll and put it with my supply. I’ve tested this twice now, and as it turns out I use a new roll every six days (actually more when you include the t.p. used in the other bathrooms in the house). I’ve gotten it down to a science: one roll has 221 sheets, I use four sheets per use. In case you think that’s a LOT of toilet paper for one person, keep in mind I usually drink a gallon of water a day. And remember the other two things on my “never run out of” list are coffee and wine. So there you go. Also, this usage is during the pandemic when I am at home 24 hours a day instead of using someone else’s toilet paper. 😄 This was so enlightening that I decided to conduct the same experiment to gauge my coffee consumption. (Don’t ask me about recent wine consumption. Some things are better left untested.)
The “site” of my experiment, La Toilette at Chez Suzette
This “research” naturally made me think back to this post, Les Toilettes en France. Somehow I don’t think the t.p. panic has been the same there. But if it has, I wonder which color has been most popular?
So as you have read in the end I decided to go with humour instead of an uplifting post. Everyone is aching for all of this to be over — the sickness and the loss and the grief, of course, but also the hardships and the restrictions of life in limbo.
I’ve been inspired over and over by the deluge of wonderful things I’ve read from other people and sites, and I’ve also smiled many times at the multitude of ways that people are finding fun, laughter and joy during this crazy, weird time in our lives. I hope we will all continue with both, and then one day we’ll all be “normal enough” to laugh out loud when we go to buy toilet paper and amazingly find the shelves are fully stocked. No more panic.
Here’s wishing you good health and safety, peace and lots of laughter, a view above the clouds again one day and plenty of toilet paper to go around!
Sometime ago, I played a silly and funny trivia game and one of the questions was how many sheets of toilet paper do Americans use daily. The answer was 57. So Kudos for you Suzette! Your consumption is below average.
My three things are Nespresso coffee capsules, Chardonnay and Lacroix water.
Fun blog. I enjoy reading it.
Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Cat Food …Don’t want an angry cat 🐺
Spot on Melanie….and thanks for the reminder, I totally forgot about my Cooper! Although he does go out and catch his own food regularly, otherwise I’d have to open a can of tuna. Thanks for the comment!
Love this! I never run out of:
1. Beer
2. Toilet paper
3. Garlic
Well so far t.p. is in most people’s Top 3 Things so that helps explain the panic buying. And now I’m really curious, what do you do with all that garlic?? Thanks for the comment!
Some time ago, I played a silly and fun trivia game and one of the question was: on average, how many sheets of TP Americans use in a day? The answer was 57 sheets. So, kudos to you; you are under the average consumption.
From what I hear from my family dispersed around France, yes, there was a rush on TP….
Some things are universal!
My three things: Nespresso pods, Chardonnay and Lacroix water.
Well, glad to know I’m being “conservative” in my t.p. usage! And I see many of us are thinking alike with many things on our Top 3 list in common. Thanks for your comment!
Water, toilet paper and wine
Ha Ha! I never thought about measuring my toilet paper consumption. You’ve got me thinking…
Three of my favorite things I never run out of are lipstick, butter, and books. But there are plenty more – coffee, tea and wine are certainly priorities.
I recently got a hankering to bake bread, and guess what, no one has active dry yeast packets, not even Amazon.com!
Sounds like you’re nestled into your beautiful home. A little inertia may do you some good.
A big hug and hope to “see” you soon (virtually or six feet apart).
Fascinating — I would never have guessed your three things! I can’t imagine ever running out of something to read, especially these days. I discovered the same thing when I tried to find yeast, so I’m actually in the middle of an authentic sourdough experiment. I made my own sourdough starter from just flour and water, will be trying to bake some bread in a day or two. I’ll let you know if it works!
I would love to hear about your sourdough experiment! I now have tons of bread flour and no yeast, so I need to go to Plan B (maybe it’s a sourdough starter).
I love your blog Suzanne!! Great job!! My top choices would be wine, chocolate and tp.
Thanks! I agree, dark chocolate was in my top 10 list!
Never knew we had so much in common in our old age 🙂 Greg keeps our frig stocked with his low-cal beer, my wine and fresh lettuce from the hydroponic farm in Bowersville. Next time your in Hartwell, look up Stonecreek Hydroponics. You won’t be sorry girl!
Oooohhh, fresh lettuce and produce were my biggest concerns when this whole pandemic began but thankfully they’ve not been hard to find. Thanks for the tip about Stonecreek!
Always love what you post ! You’re so right about coffee , toliet paper, wine ! I never run out ! Maybe Diet Coke but that would be more than three !
Thanks Carol! We are a lot alike in our three things. Guessing you don’t want to substitute Diet Coke for wine, huh? LOL
Tp
Pap towels
Vino
Like your three things, but I think coffee trumps paper towels for me! Ha ha. Thanks for the comment!
Good article Sis and well said. Love you
Thanks! Love you too. You didn’t tell me your three things?!