Day 10 - LA County Dept. of Health urges masking when indoors

Leaving the Marriott-Pulse…

7/8/21. Thursday

8:00 – 8:30 - Last day in San Diego. B. and I get an early start because we want to be en route, on the road, by 11:00. B.’s sister and her husband [M. and L] are arriving at his house this afternoon for a week-long stay and he wants to be home before she arrives.

I make coffee, sit and chill for 30 minutes, then jump in the shower.

8:30-9:30 – Shower. Lotion. Covid-19 uniform. Light make-up.

9:30 – 10:00 – We load everything on the bellhop cart [there are no bellhops at this place – it’s self-serve], take the elevator to the 12th floor and check out. Bye Marriott Pulse!

Wheel the cart to the parking garage. Elevators. Find car. Load car. Parking garage. Toboggan tunnel. One-way streets to the freeway.  And we’re out!

10:00-11:00 – B. and I have no idea where to go for breakfast so I google best places to eat in San Diego. Anything outside of the Gas Lamp district is okay with me. We settle on the La Mesa Café (4 stars) – it’s in La Mesa and heading in the wrong direction, but only by around 11 miles.

Arrive and we order inside and dine al fresco.  This is a plus because I really like eating outdoors.  I mask inside, while we’re ordering, but nobody else does. I order the Acai bowl – it’s not bad, but my friendly, neighborhood Nektar makes a better one – and B. gets…something???. We’re on the road by 11:00.

11:00-11:30 – Driving

11:30-12:00 - I propose we listen to a podcast – On Our Watch – but I’m unable to connect my Ipad to B.’s bluetooth, so we pull off at a Starbucks so B. can use their WiFi to download the podcasts through his phone. We go inside and I get a basic coffee with almond milk and B. gets a something, something, with three blond shots?? and a honeypack?? something, something??? I mask the entire time.

12:00-2:30 – We listen to two episodes and arrive at my house by 2:00.  B. unloads my bags and takes off – M. & L. have not arrived yet so, according to the plan, he will get there first. Success.

2:30-5:30 – I spend time with the dog and talk to L. about her week alone at the house.  Most of it was spent teaching art camps and she came home and slept on the 4th of July. Once L. and I catch up, I report to my office so I can “publish” today’s content for my Summer course. Things are going well and there are no questions from the students.

 I “walk the property” (my backyard) to check out the damage.  Overall, L. did a great job watering my plants.  Unfortunately, she missed the potted Persian shield?? [it has purple leaves] and I think it’s dead. Another vine is on its last legs. I show L. her oversight but, like I said, overall, not bad - almost everything is still alive. I do CPR [water my plants] and try to resuscitate the half-dead ones.

Unpack my beach bag, lunch bag, and suitcase, replenish my toiletries for my upcoming trip to Vegas, and start a load of laundry.   

5:30-7:00 – I microwave a cheese tortellini dinner that I made and froze a few months ago and put on The Little Things, starring Denzel Washington - this is a recommendation from my Mom last week. I pause it periodically to hang my clothes up to dry, start another load of laundry, and clean the kitchen.

7:00-7:30 – Another pause to the movie so I can take the dog for a walk.

7:30-8:30 – I leave for CVS so I can buy shampoo [I’m completely out – the shampoo I had at home somehow capsized and the entire bottle is empty!!] and nail polish. I add a bottle of champagne to my cart. I listen to Slates Political Gabfest.

8:30- 9:30 – Home and I hang my second load of laundry to dry, then finish watching The Little Things. Great movie!

9:30-11:00 - I do a 15-minute Kathy Smith Ab workout, followed by a 1-hour Insanity Max Interval workout. I cut the music on the Insanity workout and substitute with a Rob Zombie soundtrack. I have way more energy with this music and go further with the HIIT.

11:00-11:30 – Recover. I have a glass of champagne and read a Money Diary.

11:30-12:30 - I color my hair.

12:30-1:30 – Shower. Wash hair. Nighttime routine. I listen to By the Book.

1:30-2:30 – I braid my hair and listen to a couple episodes of What a Day.

2:30-3:00 – I put some snacks in my insulated lunch bag for tomorrow then I take the dog out, lock up, set the alarm, and put away my dry clothes (some of the clothes are still wet)

3:00-3:30 – I paint my nails. Bed.