Day 22 - LA County Dept. of Health mandates indoor masking

B. and I saw “The Rolling Stones” tonight at The Canyon…

8/7/21. Saturday

8:00-9:00 – My alarm goes off at 7:45, but it’s sooo difficult getting up. After 15 minutes, I go downstairs to say good morning to the animal. She’s awake and leaning on the child gate, wagging her tail – maybe she’s used to the new routine?  I woke her up at the crack of dawn every day this week. The dog rolls over on her back and I rub her tummy three times.  She jumps off the couch, grabs her toy, and outside we go. I wait for her to go potty and she finally does her business.  Return inside and cheese for her, coffee for me. I go upstairs. I’m at 100.5 today.

Even though Robert said he was coming back today to apply the sealant, I don’t think it’s going to happen because it’s the weekend. I’m in the shower by 8:30, but running very behind because, come on, is he really going to show on a Saturday?  I’m certain he meant Monday. I sit in the shower and drink my coffee. Lotion.

The doorbell rings. I’m not even dressed!

I throw on a robe that covers everything and go outside only to have Robert say, “Hi – I’m here and putting the sealant on now.” This time he’s by himself…no helper. I say, “Great” and return inside, highly irritated.  This is the fourth time Robert has been here – the other three times, he never once rang the bell to announce his presence.  He just started doing the job.  I put on my Covid-19 uniform.

At 9:15, he again rings the bell so I run downstairs and outside. He says he’ll be finished soon, then gives me the wrong instructions regarding the time frames for staying off the stain. I know they’re wrong because Victor texts me later in the afternoon and gives me the correct information. I say, “Great” and return inside.

At 9:45, he again rings the doorbell and I again have to run downstairs and outside.  Robert is saying something, but I can’t understand him.  Finally, I figure out that he wants to come inside and spray the remaining sealant from the door that leads from the kitchen into the garage.  But didn’t he start in that area first and work his way back?  Regardless, he doesn’t have to come through the house – he can use the side gate and spray from the garage door that leads to the yard.  Unfortunately, the bikes and a few items are in the backyard so I have to clear the space for him.  Then, the garage door is locked so I have to run upstairs to get my house keys and run back to the yard to unlock the door.  Now he can spray the remaining section and get the hell out of here.  At this point, I just want him to leave, but I don’t say anything.  Robert tells me that’s the last time he will ring the doorbell.

He finishes spraying and leaves. The garage floor looks incredible – better than I ever thought it would look.

10:00-1:00 – I’m sleep-deprived from “contractor week” and running on 3 hours of sleep.  I make the executive decision to go back to bed.

1:00-3:00 – Awake and do some blog posts

3:00-4:00 –For a snack, I have some hummus, zucchini, and pita crackers and read All You Can Ever Know.

4:00-5:00 – I add my most recent posts to the blog and;

5:00-5:45 – water my plants

5:45-6:30 – I touch up my hair and make-up and change into a vintage shirt, black leggings, and a wedge shoe.

6:30-11:30 – B. arrives and we drive to The Canyon at the Valencia Town Center. B.’s daughter gave him two free tickets [father’s day gift] to see “The Beatles” and “The Rolling Stones” and I’m B.’s “plus one!” The venue starts at 7:00 and I’m assuming masks are required due to the LA County Dept. of Health’s mandate on indoor masking. Having said that, this is a concert and the bands are going to sing, of course, so how will indoor masking work in this environment, if at all?

We go inside and it is truly a closed arena – this is an indoor event.  Everyone masks as they walk to their tables, but as soon as they sit down the masks come off because people are eating and drinking. Nobody bothers to put them back on once they’ve finished their meal. I notice NONE of the staff take their masks off. Hmmm, do they know something I don’t know?

Additionally, social distancing guidelines are not being followed [not that social distancing works – it’s been debunked], and the tables are very close, right on top of each other.  I think this venue is at ‘max capacity’, but maybe that’s okay now? Is 50% capacity the new guideline? I’m not sure what the LA County Dept of Health’s stance is on capacity – everything is so confusing.

“The Beatles” are opening for “The Rolling Stones” and they get started around 8:00. They sound great!! and they’re dressed just like the Beatles from the early years, complete with fake wigs. In between songs, they speak to the audience in fake British accents, and refer to themselves as John, Paul, George, and Ringo. I love it!

It’s somewhat shocking to be in a closed space where singing is occurring. Singing has been linked to super-spreader events [remember the church choir rehearsal in Mt. Vernon in May 2020?] and is one of the worst things you can do in the Covid-19 era.  Yet, here we are at a concert. People leave their tables and head to the dance floor, sans masks, and start dancing right in front of “The Beatles”, who are singing loudly and spraying Delta and Lamda variant all over these people. I live in a red district so I know most of the patrons aren’t vaxxed…but even if you are vaxxed, you can still contract the virus and spread it to others.

As concerts go, it’s a good one!

B.’s daughter also gave him money for drinks so he heads down to the bar and orders a champagne split for me and a Blue Moon for him.

“The Beatles” are finished with their set and it’s time for “The Rolling Stones.” “Mick Jagger” comes out and he looks incredible!  He moves and sings just like the real Mick Jagger – the music is really, really great! One positive is that everyone is on the dance floor, which means that several of the tables around us have opened up and I’m no longer surrounded by people, which doesn’t matter much, as far as the virus goes, because Covid-19 floats. Social distancing is more psychological than anything else.

B. gets another round – champagne split for me; vodka tonic for him – and “The ‘Stones’  are in full force. It’s a great concert! I can see the stage, people aren’t blocking my view, and I’m actually able to remain seated.  L. told me that the new trend for concerts is NO seating – the audience has to stand the entire time.  It sounds miserable to me, but L. says she’s used to it. Nobody’s wasted or smoking weed next to me…good times, good times!

All in all, I think that going to see a cover band in concert is much better than seeing the real thing. I guess I’m old.

“Mick Jagger” finishes around 10:00. It’s still early, so B. says we can grab a drink somewhere.  As a general rule, I no longer like going to bars.  They’re too crowded and people get drunk and start shedding virus via talking loudly and shouting. BUT, it’s late enough that I’m hoping most bars – in this community – are largely empty. I propose Red Robin. B. and I used to go there for Happy Hour sometimes, pre-pandemic, but it’s been TWO years.

10:15-11:00 – Arrive at Red Robin and the bar is practically empty. It’s a surreal experience to sit at this bar again…so much has changed in the world, but in here, nothing has changed.  I order a champagne split and B. gets…something??

Red Robin closes at 11:00 so we leave.  B. drops me off at my house. It’s late and I’m exhausted from getting up at 7:00/8:00 every day this week.

11:15 – Home and I talk to L. about the concert for a little while and then enter my bedroom with every intention of reading All You Can Ever Know, but…

2:00-OMG …I fall asleep in my clothes, in my chair.  I hate when I do that.

2:15-3:15 – Nighttime routine.

3:15 – 4:00 – I log my time for today. Bed.