Day 21 - California Reopening Plan - Phase 3
Back at work…
Monday.
6:30 - 7:00 - My alarm goes off and I take the dog out but she will not go - she’s distracted by stupid stuff like leaves and rocks. I wait and wait and she finally poops twice, BUT, it should be known that the dog will not pee and poop at the same time. Ever. If she poops, we have to go back inside and then I have to say again, excitedly, “Lets go outside and go potty!”, and we go back outside so she’ll pee. Otherwise, she simply forgets and has accidents in the house. So, we start the song-and-dance all over again. Today’s routine takes about 20 minutes. Of course, this is happening when I’m pressed for time.
I’ve had almost no sleep and feel awful. Trash day so I move L.’s car out of the garage, while in my pajamas, and then haul the trash cans out to the curb. Return L.’s car. Then, move my personal vehicle out of the driveway and park on the street, so I can drive my state vehicle out of the garage. It’s a pain in the ass and was done every day, when I used to drive to work every day. I come back inside, unload the dishwasher, and load it back up.
7:00-8:00 - I shower, but have to sit down - yes, in the shower - I feel so sick from lack of sleep. I drink water and coffee interchangeably while I’m sitting. I pulled together a work outfit several days ago, so I get dressed, complete with heels, then grab my makeup bag so I can do a full face in the car.
8:00-8:30 - I made my lunch a couple days ago, so I grab that and my work bag, with my Netbook computer, along with my backpack. I refill my Hydroflask, warm up my coffee, and leave.
9:15 - 10:00 - I’m at work and I talk to my supervisor about the interview configuration in the conference room. As always, he’s very kind and has great suggestions. I set up and handle a few tasks. All parties arrive at 10:00, wearing N95 masks. Showtime.
10:00-11:30 - The interview goes well and I’m relieved. All parties depart and I want to go home, too, but I have three other cases to process and am also awaiting approval on an Expert pkg. before I send it out.
12:00-3:30 - I knock it out and have my breakfast yogurt for lunch and a few pieces of chocolate to increase my stamina. I note that some staff members mask when they leave their desks to walk around the office, but nobody is practicing social distancing. Meanwhile, L. has left for Laguna Beach to celebrate graduation with three of her closest friends [C., N., and J.] and J.’s Mom. I get periodic texts from L. saying she’s having a great time, Laguna Beach is beautiful, and we should stay at the Ritz Carlton. I’m down.
3:30-4:15 - Drive home and I eat my salad (this was supposed to be my lunch) in the car. L. reports that she and her friends went to Raising Cane’s restaurant, where the staff are masked and gloved, but none of the patrons are. Plus, there is virtually no social distancing in the restaurant. Basically, the US gave up and now everyone treats Covid-19 like it’s bad breath…you know, like, cover your face and stand far enough apart so you don’t smell the person’s breath or BO. That’s all it is to people - Americans no longer care that we’re in a pandemic and could die. Recall that Laguna Beach is in Orange County and the city council made masks optional a few days ago. In my county - Los Angeles - you cannot enter an establishment unless you’re wearing a mask, which I respect and approve.
4:15 - 5:30 - Home and I’m exhausted, but there is still a lot to do. First things first and I take the dog out, of course. She won’t go potty without us EVEN THOUGH she has a doggie door that she uses all the time. I bring in the trash cans and pull out the ladder because my new Chinese paper lantern blew down in the backyard and I have to fasten it with wire. I pull my state vehicle into the garage, then move my personal vehicle from the street to the driveway. I unpack everything from my lunch bag and wash my dirty lunch dishes, then unload my work bag in preparation for some light correspondence tomorrow. I change clothes and water some of my plants - a few of them are looking a bit peaked.
My French 102 class started at 1:30 today, but I was at work. This French class is just not happening - I’ll drop tomorrow.
5:30 - 7:00 - I pour a glass of champagne - I know it’s early - and lay down. I fall asleep before I finish even three sips. BC, on Mondays, I would work from home at my state job - it was my telecommute day - then leave at 1:00, to teach my 2:30 college class. At 6:00, it was time for class no. 2, and I would get home around 10:00. How did I do that? I’m exhausted. Is it my age? I turned 50 last month…
8:00-9:00 - I talk to B.
9:00-11:00 - I update my blog.
11:30 - 1:30 - L. comes home and we decide to watch Love after Lockup. I unfreeze a meal I made months ago, when Covid-19 first hit. It’s a potato, black bean dish and still holds up. I have champagne. At the end of Season 2, Episode 1, we find out that a male inmate has proposed to TWO women on the outside, but they don’t know each other. The trailer shows them both in wedding dresses in preparation for their respective weddings! OMG - I cover my mouth with my hands, stunned. L and I look at each other, shocked!