Introduction to work-prospective of the start of Covid in March 2020:
Representing 2020, W is for Water's End Brewery, which I visited in the early Covid days in March 2020. This week in 2026 is the 6 year anniversary of when things were shutting down from Covid. On Monday, 3/16/20, I was very busy in the office preparing for roughly 80% in office/20% work at home (not counting any work travel) to 100% work at home starting the next day as virtual meeting company President said office is shutting down for the time-being. That next day, Tuesday, 3/17/20, I had work travel to Prince William County as we were trying to get stuff work done, and any day they could've shut their doors, which I think they did on Thursday, 3/19/20. They had gotten rid of the comfortable seating and had individual chairs spaced far apart and tape to stay 6 feet away from representative I needed to see. Any paper, etc being handed involved a bit of stretching, but we made do, and I got the work done.
Experience at Water's End Brewery:
My girlfriend of the time tagged along for my work travel. Before we got to my Prince William County work, we stopped for pizza slices in this same center for lunch. We saw Water's End Brewery out there selling beer to go since their indoor brewery was closed to the public. My g/f wanted, and I think we bought 2 beers to take to go. Staff was very nice, and the beer was pretty good.
Conclusion:
That Spring I had one more work travel to Prince William County on Friday, 4/24/20. Of course, the building was shutdown. They had a bunch of big drop-boxes outside, which someone would pick up once a day. Made my job easier except for the 2 minutes I was making sure I was putting in the correct drop-box. But a lot faster than going in to do the work dealing with the people.
Also, on 4/24/20, I smashed the record for longest without getting gas, 38 days. I had gotten gas on 3/17/20 in PW County, and then 38 days later on 4/24/20 as the gas was very cheap in PW County then.
Interestingly, as I write this today, 3/12/26, I'm currently tied at 38 days without getting gas (It was Mon., 2/2/26) & may go several days longer without. I would've never bet that break this Covid-era record in pre-retirement life, but I had major surgery on 2/9 & was in hospital for 16 days + a few days at home without driving right after hospital. read more