Day 27-LA Dept. of Health mandates indoor masking

I CANNOT get this door project up and running…

8/12/21. Thursday

9:00-9:30 – Awake and I finally drag myself out of bed so I can go downstairs to say good morning to the animal. I rub her tummy three times, she grabs her toy, and we go outside, where I almost step in dog vomit. I clean it up while she goes potty and then I water the potted jasmine and the hanging vinca.  The zucchini plants that I grew from seedlings? Well, they’re almost dead.  Disappointing. Inside and I make coffee and give the dog cheese. I’m at 101 pounds today as a result of L.’s soup.

9:30-10:00 – Kitchen duty.  As stated in my last entry, L.’s soup was amazing but she left a few dishes in the sink.

10:00-11:00 – I check my Summer session class for any emergencies, but it’s smooth sailing and things seem to be going well. Today is the last day and they need to complete the Final by midnight, but several of the students have already taken it. I listen to The Daily.

I also check email at College No. 2, where I discover that my Dean is requesting my services for a high school Synchronous online course. 

High School administration want the class to run every Wed. and Fri. from 8:05 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., preferably via Zoom.  I don’t do Zoom, but I can still conduct a Synchronous class via the “Poli Sci Podcast” (recorded lectures), which is what I’ve been doing for the past two years [well…19 months]. The only problem is it starts at 8:05 a.m., which means I’m awake and engaging with the students and deploying content at 8:05 a.m. So that part really sucks. However, I’m in the middle of obtaining my “highest 36-month salary” and the extra class will be helpful for my retirement. I listen to The Productive Planner.

I also check my personal email. B. sent me a referral for See Spot Go, a window-washing service that cleaned his exterior and interior windows and screens, and also vacuumed the tracks.  L. won’t open the  windows in her bedroom because they’re dirty and she’s afraid of bugs – maybe a professional cleaning service will make her feel better?  At any rate, the windows, screens, and skylights in the house are filthy, with the exception of the downstairs windows.  I cleaned the screens and tracks by hand a year ago, but only hosed down the exterior windows, while doing nothing to the interior. This place will also dust the blinds.

I call the service and schedule an appointment for an estimate.

11:00-11:30 – I change into my Covid-19 uniform, wash my face, put on sun screen, contacts, etc…

11:30-12:30 – I have some apple slices and almond butter for breakfast and read a Money Diary.

12:45 – 1:00 – I drive to Home Depot so I can start the garage door(s) project.

1:00 – 1:30 - At Home Depot but there is nobody manning the “Door” section and nobody available to help me.  Everyone is masking - customers AND staff. One of the employees does try to find someone, but gives up after about 10 minutes saying that “Vince” is at lunch and he’s the only one who can take the order. When I ask what time he went to lunch, nobody knows. I have no idea when he left – he may have gone to lunch 5 minutes before I arrived – and I don’t want to wait for an hour. I’m listening to PBS News Segments while I’m there. Shockingly, the Taliban are invading Afghanistan and taking city after city. All of this is happening while I’m trying to install new doors. Those poor people, especially the Afghan women.

I leave the “Door” section and wander around in “Spray Paint”, because Gus painted the rebar that he used to weld my trellises together gray when the actual trellises are tan. The sections that are not covered by potted plants look pretty terrible so I need a tan spray paint, but the spray paint cage is largely empty.  Is this due to the Covid-19 supply chain? I leave Home Depot.

1:30-2:00 – I drive to BevMo for their “Buy one, get one for a nickel” sale and buy several interesting champagnes. I listen to Organize 365. Everyone masks.

2:00-2:30 – To Michaels for a scrapbook to hold some of L.’s extra art projects.  L. is downsizing and re-arranging her room and furniture – she dumped several works of art that she didn’t want in my office, so I guess I’m supposed to store them somewhere? I also purchase a small plastic container for my gun-cleaning kit and ammo. I listen to Today Explain.

2:30-3:00 – It’s hot and miserable today so I drive home.

3:00-4:00 – I make a spinach salad with carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, cheese, and a boiled egg and read a Money Diary.

4:00-5:00 – I take a nap.

5:00 – 5:30 – My cheap, full-length mirror arrived and it takes forever to pull it out of the packaging and break the box down. It’s just what I wanted, though. I need to be able to see myself when I work out so I know that my form is correct and this mirror is light and flimsy enough that it’s easy to move from one wall to the next.

7:30-8:00 – I take the dog for a walk. I listen to the Political Gabfest.

8:00-10:00 – Gardening.  There is lots to do.  I trim all of the dead leaves and branches, sweep the patio, and sanitize the Astroturf with Simple Green. I listen to Fresh Air - specifically the segment entitled Investigating Trump’s Efforts to Subvert the Election Results. Terrifying!

10:00-10:30 – I hose down the front door to my house and the small porch because it’s filthy. I listen to What Next - specifically, A DOJ Lawyer’s Attempt to Overthrow the Election. Terrifying!

10:30-12:00 – i do a 15-minute Kathy Smith Ab workout followed by a 40-minute Insanity – Plyometric workout.

12:00-2:00 – I put the finishing touches on my Core Class in the Canvas shell.  Then, I prepare a Welcome email and attach the Syllabus and Audio Syllabus and send an email blast to all of the students.  I “publish” the Canvas shell and the class is now live. The first day of school is next Thursday.

I spend the rest of this time doing personal admin. 

-I place an order at Walmart for lip liners, a portable basket with handles for my garden supplies, and tan spray paint.

-I’m looking at chrome/stainless steel storage units (with wheels) for L.’s “art studio” (i.e., the garage) and I found a few alternatives.  L. comes downstairs and gives the green light on my selection but we need to put up the 8’x8’ art nouveau mural, entitled “Graffiti Girl”, first before we buy the storage units.  I’ll order the poster/mural tomorrow.

-I check emails at both colleges. The Inquisitive software for my Core Class at College No. 1 is from the wrong edition (12th) and I accidentally loaded it into my Canvas shell. I need the inquisitives from the 13th edition and Peter - from Norton tech support - and I have been emailing back and forth over the past couple of days while he works on the problem. Still not resolved, but he is very helpful.

-I contact my Home Warranty program to schedule a plumber to fix the “hot water expander” on top of my hot water tank.  The pipe from the hot water expander to the tank is leaking and completely rusted – it needs to be replaced.  The faucet outside also leaks.

I listen to this really interesting true crime podcast [15 episodes] from Ireland, called West Cork the entire time.

Finally finished, so I log off of my computer and turn it off.  I rarely turn my computer off but read something recently saying that it’s beneficial to let our devices rest by putting them down for the night, to  “tech bed.” I figure my computer can use a rest.

2:00-2:30 – Kitchen duty and I ready my coffee for tomorrow.

2:30-3:30 – Nighttime routine. Bed.