Day 29 - LA County enters yellow tier

At Santa Anita today…

5/31/21. Monday. Memorial Day.

8:00 – 8:30 - Alarm.  I get out of bed to shut it off, then back to bed for transition time before I get up.

8:30-9:00 - Up and I go downstairs to say good morning to the dog. It’s too early for her and she’s still asleep on the couch.  I rub her tummy three times to wake her up, then she grabs her toy and we go outside. She does her business and we return inside.  Coffee for me; old salmon salad for her.  I go upstairs. I weigh 97.5 pounds today.

9:00-10:45 – I sit in the shower, lean my head against the tiles, drink my coffee, and listen to PBS Newshour segments. Lotion. I wear cargo pants, a summer top with spaghetti straps, and my wedge shoes. Full make-up.

10:45-11:00 – Once I’m done getting ready, I record a 2-minute video for my French Cinema class, using the script I prepared last night, then submit the assignment.

11:00-11:15 – I pack a sweater, the snacks I prepared last night, and my Hydroflask.

11:15 –12:15 -  B. arrives and we head to Santa Anita Park to see the horse races!

Driving

12:30 – 6:30 - B.’s cousin, L., is a jockey and he’s also worked at the track for 30 years.  He arranged for B. and I to have box seats [these are similar to box seats that you see at a baseball game]. B.’s friend, N., and her partner, M., join us in the box.

The race track mandates that all visitors wear masks in the common areas.  Once you’re in the box, you can take the mask off – everything is outdoors. Of note is the fact that every other ‘box’ is chained off and empty in order to promote social distancing.  Although today is a major holiday and there are important races scheduled, it is largely empty here, which is wonderful!  Plenty of parking and no crowds.

L. also has a box with several family members and friends. I meet several people and note that almost everyone is back to shaking hands. After the third month of Covid-19 [June 2020], I often wondered why the CDC/WHO continued to forbid the public to shake hands. It was never a surface virus, and yet we were told as a nation to resort to the “fist bump.” At this gathering, the people I met seemed to have no problem shaking hands…I mean can’t you just use some hand sanitizer after the greeting? That’s what I do…not when they’re right in my face but, you know, after you sit down.

After our party gets situated in the box, N. kindly asks if I mind if they remove their masks. It was very thoughtful. Of course I don’t mind. We’re outdoors and even though we’re sitting very close to each other, there is a less than .05% chance of contracting the virus outdoors, although the dirty CDC, whom I stopped listening to a year ago, lied to the American public last week and reported a less than 10% chance of contracting the virus outdoors. Why would they lie about that? Within a day, a letter to the editor, signed by 20+ doctors and scientists called out Rochelle for misrepresenting outdoor safety.

I also learn that everyone in our box is vaccinated, but that didn’t stop nine dirty New York Yankees from contracting the virus recently - they tested positive and all but one were asymptomatic. The one player who showed symptoms? He thought he had a cold. In other words, if you contract Covid-19 or Phi Beta Cappa, as it is now called [the WHO now categorizes all variants with Greek labels], you won’t die or fall ill.

The races begin. I don’t gamble because, to be honest, I can’t afford it.  Gambling, in my opinion, is a waste of money. But I love horses and I love watching the races. B. asks for my input on every race – I believe there are 8 races, total – and I do quite well with my picks.  So much so, that B. is ahead by around (I think) $200-$300.  He asks me if I would like a drink, so I order a glass of champagne (of course). B.’s friends [N. and M.] also order a round. Throughout the day, I eat all of the snacks I brought.

Right after Race #5 [???], a horse collapses on the track and will most certainly have to be put down – it is so sad!  The “horse ambulance” arrives and staff erect barriers around the horse so the people in the stands can’t see what’s happening. After 20 minutes, the horse ambulance drives away, presumably with the horse inside. This is horrible.

Before Race #7 begins, we all walk down to the paddock to view the horses running in the next race. All of them are sooo beautiful and fit…perfect specimens…I have so much respect for the sport, except for the fact that the entire industry is dominated by men and the sport is largely sexist.  Women are smaller and lighter than men in general…it’s obvious they would make the best jockeys. So, where are they? Oh, right, I forgot…they’ve largely been excluded from the sport since it’s inception. Other than a handful of female trainers and jockeys, the sport is run almost entirely by men.  A true shame.

I’m still doing well with the picks I’m suggesting for B. and he continues to win, for the most part. He offers a second round of drinks.  Great!  Another glass of champagne!

-7:00-8:30 - Last race ends and B. and I drive to Nikki’s, an Italian restaurant, to see if they’re open.  It’s not, so we drive to Colorado Blvd., see Plate 38, and duck inside. We are seated inside a covered patio with open windows all around and it is nice and breezy. People wear masks when they get up and move around – once at the table, all masks are off.  Wait staff remain masked. Throughout this entire pandemic, I’ve loved/appreciated how wait staff are masked, especially when they’re around my food. This ends on June 15 - I’ll be sorry to see this go.

We entered Plate 38 just in time – Happy Hour!! – drinks and select food items are super cheap.  The house Prosecco is just $5.00 a glass – at the track, my glass of Prosecco was $11.00!! – and the “tapas” that I order (a miniature black bean tostada and miniature grilled fish taco) are just $4.50 a piece.  The food is excellent!!!! [insert chef’s kiss emoji here] and I order a second glass of Prosecco.  For just $5.00 a glass, you can’t beat it. All told, my dinner and drinks only cost $20 before tax and tip. B. pays with his “winnings.”  [insert smile emoji here].

8:30-9:15 – Driving

9:15-10:30 – Home and B. and I watch the last episode of Mare of Eastwood. Wow!  What a plot twister!  I loved the ending and this series.  B. leaves.

10:30-11:30 – Night time routine. Long day today, although it was super fun. I’m running on virtually no sleep so decide to turn in early. Bed. Great day!