Day 24-Monkey Pox is the new pandemic

I went on the Botany Hike at Placerita Canyon Nature Center today…this is the Ecology Trail…

I saw Boogie Knights (disco cover band) tonight…this was the last performance of the Concerts in the Park summer series…

8/27/22. Saturday.

7:45-8:00- I’m awake and the dog starts licking my hands. At 8:00, we go downstairs together and I take her outside. Coffee for me; cheese for her.

8:00-9:10-I sit in the shower, ice my eyes, and drink my coffee. Lotion and I put on my cargo hiking pants and a tank top. I load my previously packed lunch bag in the car and leave.

9:00-9:30-I drive to Placerita Canyon. I eat my overnight oats and put my make-up on in the car.

9:30-11:00-I arrive on time for the Botany Hike.

Awshook’s [my “birding” friend] wife, RuthAnne, is a Docent Naturalist and leads the hike. There are two other people in attendance: J., a docent I can’t stand, and some old civilian named Jack. The Botany Hike is new for me - I’ve never been - and even though I’m currently sick of trying new things, I really need to be in nature since my hiking group is on hiatus.

RuthAnne has no idea that I know Awshook. I can see why every time Awshook attends birding with me, a fellow Docent says, “This is RuthAnne’s husband” because you would NEVER, in a million years, put them together. Awshook is Indian, with an accent, and she’s a blonde, blue-eyed, Barbie doll, who sounds like she was born in California. RuthAnne says she’s 70 but I had her pegged at 60 or less, she looks that incredible.

RuthAnne mentions “my husband” [Awshook] on the Botany Hike and says they’ve been married 30 years. Since this is a botany hike, RuthAnne tells us all about the plants in the canyon - she’s extremely knowledgeable. Eventually, J. leaves and it’s just me and Jack. Both RuthAnne and Jack brag about how long they’ve been married [30 and 35 years, respectively], so I jokingly brag about how long I’ve been divorced [21 years]. RuthAnne says I must have been a “child bride”, which makes me feel really good.

RuthAnne is FUNNY. She says her husband is “okay most of the time” then, casually, notes that Awshook retired during Covid but contracted “aggressive cancer” during his retirement. Due to Covid, he couldn’t have surgery for eight months and the cancer spread throughout his body. I’m shocked! I talk to Awshook at birding the first two Saturdays of almost every month and he has never mentioned this, nor does he look like he has cancer! Wow! RuthAnne said that, eventually, surgery was performed, followed by radiation, which eradicated the cancer so that he is now in remission. She mentions these facts in between admitting that she’s lazy [I seriously doubt that] and discussing a refrigerator that she’s kept for 35 years because she doesn’t want to put it in a landfill. What a trip!

I like the hike. RuthAnne discusses the Chaparral plant community, explains how various plants have adapted to the drought, and points out plants along the way. It’s all very interesting and we take a hike up the side of the mountain to what RuthAnne calls a “3 million dollar view.” It’s a great hike and the view really is incredible. As we hike up the mountain, RuthAnne mentions that she may be suffering from Alzheimers so I’m a little anxious - does she know where she’s going? - but we make it back in one piece, even though Jack can barely keep up and is breathing heavily throughout. I learn a lot about plants, mainly that if they look dead they’re NOT dead. Don’t count them out - they might just need water.

11:00-12:00-I go to Nordstroms and Kohls to return pants in accordance with my Curated Closet project. Periodically, I use the Friend Finder on my phone to check L.’s whereabouts because I’ve never met Collin Two-Hatchet, even when we were on cruise - I don’t know him at all so am concerned about L.’s safety.

I buy an ice coffee at Starbucks.

12:00-1:00-Home and I put everything away, then leaf blow L.’s art studio, wipe down the bannisters inside the house, and put away my Wine.com order. I break down the Squash Lasagna dinner I made into multiple meals and store in the freezer. Then, I tidy the kitchen. I’d like to meet Collin and I’ve been waiting for L. to introduce us - I’m sure she’s going to bring him by the house. L. showed Collin a video of my patio, complete with my potted plants, because he likes gardening. After viewing the video, Collin said, “Everything’s so thoughtfully placed!”, which I really liked. I’m keeping the house and yard tidy for when he comes over. L. says that Colin has his own rose bushes and would like to be a park ranger some day.

1:30-4:00-The dog and I take a nap.

4:00-5:00-It takes me awhile to get up and get going. I freshen up and change, then load my bags in the car.

5:00-5:45-I leave for the last concert of the Concerts in The Park summer series. Tonight’s cover band is a disco group called Boogie Knights. I’m at Central Park and parking is not good - there’s a bit of a trek to get to a decent space and I’m carrying my portable chair and a big beach bag with my beach blanket inside, along with my insulated lunch bag. It’s a haul.

5:45-7:00-It’s crowded. I set up shop and read Tell Me Everything until the band starts playing at 7:00. I have some of my Squash Lasagna for dinner and pieces of a chocolate bar for dessert.

7:00-9:00-The band is good and the actual music sounds great but the lead vocals can’t hit the high notes for some of the songs, like Funky Town. Additionally, they sing one of my favorite songs - You Dropped the Bomb on Me - in the wrong key and I don’t like this version. However, all in all, it’s a good performance.

9:00-9:30-Miracle of miracles, I actually find my car in the crowded parking lot and drive home.

9:30-10:00-I take the dog for a walk.

10:00-1:30-I do a 15-min Insanity Ab workout.

I go to work. I work from 10:30-1:30, without a break, in complete silence, preparing the Canvas shell for my online Synchronous “Einstein” high school Core Class via College No. 2. This class meets every Monday and Wednesday, in real time, ONLINE, from 3:00-4:25. I’m in an older Canvas shell, so all of the headings and course content must be re-shuffled and moved under Monday and Wednesday headings. The first day of class is Monday so I’m under the gun to get this ready for them.

1:30-1:50-I check email and Canvas Modules at College No. 1.

2:00-3:00-I accidentally fall asleep.

3:00-3:10-I check headlines and call it.

3:10-4:00-Nighttime routine. Sunless tanning. Bed.