Day 2-LA County Dept. of Health MANDATES indoor masking
NOT the location of the “Summer Concert”, but you get the idea…this picture does not do the actual house and backyard justice…
Republique…it’e even more beautiful at night but I couldn’t find any pictures online…
7/18/21. Sunday
8:30 – L. leaves for Art Camp.
8:30 – 9:00 - I went to bed on the early side last night so I’m up early. I weigh 100 pounds this morning. I knew last night’s eggplant parmigana would be a problem! I change into my Covid-19 uniform [yoga pants, sports bra, tank top] and go downstairs to greet the animal. Of course the dog’s asleep – she’s not a morning dog. I rub her tummy three times and she still won’t get up until I rub her tummy a fourth time. Spoiled! Then, she grabs her toy and we go outside.
I note that the dog pooped on the patio so I clean it up (sigh) then water my jasmine potted plants. Return inside and it’s cheese for her, coffee for me.
9:00-9:30 – I’m ‘frontloading’ my activities today because L. and I have plans tonight. I ask the dog if she wants to ‘Go for a walk?!’ and she does. I put her leash on, grab my coffee, and we take off.
I teach Specialty Class No. 2 at College No. 1 every Fall semester, but enrollment is down and it might not run. Currently, there are only 4 students enrolled in the class but who knows what will happen in August? I need to catch up on several podcasts that I’ve saved especially for this class and I spend today doing just that. I listen to Today Explained – “The Tulsa Masacre – 100 Years Later.”
9:30-11:00 – I put the trash cans out for tomorrow, sweep the patio, and water all of my plants. Then, I pick up the dog poop and hose down the Astroturf, still drinking my coffee. I listen to Fresh Air – “The Racist Roots of The 2nd Amendment” and “Reckoning With the History of Slavery.”
11:00-12:00 – I eat my leftover eggplant parmigana and read Formation.
12:00-3:00 – Blog posts.
3:00-4:00 – I prepare snacks for tomorrow [sliced apples, walnuts, cheese cubes, a few potato chips] and pack my beach bag. Kitchen duty – I clean out the refrigerator – and ready my coffee for tomorrow while listening to What a Day – “Reparations for Tulsa” and some PBS Newshour segments on “Juneteenth.”
4:00-5:30 – I read a Money Diary, then do an Insanity Max Interval Circuit.
L. returns and reports to her room for a nap.
5:30- 6:30 – Shower. Lotion. Covid-19 uniform. Light make-up. I listen to The Weeds – The Critical Race Theory Debate.
6:30 – 7:00 – L. surfaces and tells me to change before our “festivities” tonight. Apparently, I’m not hip enough in my Covid-19 uniform.
7:00 – 8:30 – L. booked tickets to a Summer Night Concert for herself and her friend, J., but J. canceled so I get to go! The concert is in the backyard of a Newhall home and I don’t know any posh neighborhoods in Newhall that would have the facilities to host such a concert. L. is driving in something like an industrial park when out of nowhere a beautiful neighborhood materializes, as if it were a mirage. These homes must be on 10,000 foot lots, their yards are that big! and the landscaping is stunning. L. parks in front of a fire hydrant – there’s no shame to her game – and we walk through a side gate into one of the most elegant backyards I’ve ever seen!
There’s a pool to one side, a tropical oasis in the middle, and a huge vegetable garden surrounded by a white picket fence. The grass is so lush…it must be 4 inches deep. Folding chairs are set up for the event and the yard easily holds the 50 people in attendance. At the front of the garden are three college kids (two violinists and a cellist), but they are so young-looking, I thought they were in junior high! The hosts have thought of everything – they even pass out programs.
At first, I think “How cute!” until they start playing. The music is exquisite and I tear up – I have not heard a live “string quartet” or, rather, “trio quartet”, as this is called, in almost 2 years. I cannot believe I am sitting here, listening to an outdoor concert! They play Appalachia Waltz and String Trio in C minor, Op. 249. Then, another college kid, excuse me, a young woman who is a violinist and composer, enters the scene to conduct a composition that she wrote – Fragments of [anything] to Breathe to. This was also very beautiful. They end with a piece from pop singer Ariana Grande that the trio converted to strings.
The program also contained their ‘bios’ – these are some extremely talented young adults. One of the violinists will be attending the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the fall. The second violinist serves as a “Gluck String Quartet Fellow for the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and plays in the American Youth Symphony as a section violinist.” The cellist is also attending UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Finally, the composer starts at USC Thornton School of Music in the fall. Impressive.
8:30-9:30 – The concert’s over, but L. and I better ‘motor’ if we’re going to make our 9:30 dinner reservations at Republique.
L. is driving faster than I would like…
9:30-11:00 – Right on time. L. booked an al fresco table and we are seated quickly. We have a wonderful meal! I order an excellent glass of prosecco. It’s one of the best I’ve ever had so I write it down – Empire Estates Champagne, made at a small vineyard in New York State, where the sun ‘kisses’ the grapes in a secret hollow (insert smile emoji here). The waiter really talked it up. L. and I receive free samples of a special-blended corn chowder – compliments of the chef – and L. insists on ordering Republique’s special bread with the accompanying basil butter. L. and I split the beet salad and for our entrees, L. orders the Lobster Campanelle and I order the Mari Chicken – it comes with parmesan cheese grits. Everything is ‘chef’s kiss.’ Shockingly, L. doesn’t want desert so I pay the bill and we leave. Great food!
11:00-12:00 – Driving
12:00 -1:30 – As stated earlier, I ‘front-loaded’ my day and there is not much to do when we get home. Take the dog out, lock up, and set the alarm. Nighttime routine. Bed.