Day 30 - LA County enters yellow tier

Fia Restaurant, in Santa Monica…

6/1/21. Tuesday

Awake at 3:00, 5:00, 6:00, and 7:30.  I start a podcast each time, fall back asleep, but repeatedly wake up again.

7:30 – 8:00 - Up and I need to put my trashcans out ASAP.  I have horrible cramps and feel really sick. Take Advil and I go downstairs to greet the animal. She’s asleep on the couch, but rolls over on her back so I can rub her tummy three times. We go outside and she does her business, then return inside. Old salmon-salad for her; coffee for me. I take out my trash cans, get the mail, then go upstairs. I weigh 98 pounds today.

8:00-9:00 – Shower. Lotion. Covid-19 uniform.  A contractor is coming to give me a bid on staining the garage floor and I’m not sure what time he’ll be here. B. is coordinating the appointment because he knows the contractor.

9:00-12:30- In order to take advantage of the Arboretum’s upcoming Free Day on 6/15/21, I have to log in today, 6/1/21, at 9:00, to reserve tickets. I go downstairs to my office and log in to the website.  When I do, I find that the Free Day is not available. At ALL. I continue trying to select 6/15/21 over the next 10 minutes, but it remains unavailable. I give up and decide that I’m going to convert this time into a “personal admin” day.

-B. calls and says the contractor can’t come today because he’s in Tehachapi. He can come on Friday instead.

-Although I’m unable to reserve the free day, I see tickets are available for Lightscapes at the Aboretum, a special section of the park that is lit with thousands of lights during the holidays.  It looks incredible so I purchase tickets for November. Print the tickets and file.

-I check my bank accounts, pay a bill.

-I’m going to try to book Free Day [same day] through Descanso Gardens instead. Tickets are available at 10:00, so I pull up the website and get ready.

-I go outside and measure the new hose I just bought – 50 ft. Then, I look at hose pots online because I need to store the new hose.

-It’s 10:00.  I click on 6/15/21 and Free Day is available at Descanso Gardens!  I reserve two tickets.  Print the tickets and file.

-Continue looking for a hose pot and finally find one.  It’s more than I wanted to spend, but this is something I will have to look at every day. Since I like the hose pot, I order it.

-L. comes downstairs and is NOT happy.  She’s made two virtual appointments with her Community College counselor to make sure she is on track to graduate in June with her AA degrees.  For the first appointment, L. didn’t check her student email account in time and missed the confirmation. A second appointment was scheduled for TODAY, only L. slept through the appointment. Embarrassed, L. says she has to schedule an appointment with a different counselor because she can no longer face this counselor.  She reached out to someone new, but hasn’t heard back from her.

Things seem to be going off the rails for L. as the end of the semester approaches. One class ended, another class will end on Thursday, and then she’ll have 5 classes left for three more weeks. Unfortunately, as she heads into Finals, more and more assignments are coming due. Since  L. is up, I  show her the interior doors I’m thinking of purchasing for the garage, as well as the fluorescent lighting I have in mind. She gives her approval.

-I send an email to B. requesting that he ask his friend, a true DIYer, if the light I’m thinking of purchasing can be installed where my fluorescent lighting used to be. B. forwards the email to his friend.

-I go through the box of books my Mom gave me and make my next selection.

- In order to take advantage of the free Huntington Members Summer Evening Stroll for the month of June, I have to log in today, 6/1/21, at 12:00. I pull up the website and get ready.  Before Covid-19, as a Huntington Member, I could just show up for any event – now reservations for ALL activities have to be made in advance. It’s 12:00, and the queue opens, but I’m placed in a waiting room and randomly assigned a number [2109].  Seriously?  How will I ever get a spot with a number like 2109…I have to stay in the waiting room until it’s my turn, so I hang around, hoping they call me soon. After 20 minutes, I’m directed to “Tickets” and I’m able to reserve my free tickets for the Summer Evening Stroll on 6/12/21!!! Print the tickets and file.

12:30-1:00 – I eat the last of my quiche and read a Money Diary.

L. leaves to go shopping with N.

1:00-1:45 – I take the dog for a walk.  Very hot outside. I listen to AirTalk.

2:00-3:30 – Gardening.  I sweep the patio, pick up the dog poop, then water all of my plants.  There’s something wrong with the seal on my new hose and water is squirting out of the faucet all over the place. My yoga pants are drenched. Great. I listen to Fresh Air.

-I have a fatality.  One of the new plants I purchased at Home Depot didn’t make it, so I put it in its original pot and ready it for return.  Home Depot has a 1-year warranty on all purchases (plants), which is why I only buy plants from them.

3:30-4:15 – I get dressed in presentable clothing and put on make-up.

4:15-5:00 – L. and I drive to Fia, in Santa Monica. We listen to This is Uncomfortable – A Lifelong Scam.

5:00-7:30 – Arrive and this place is incredible!  Everything is outdoors, with white lights, an outdoor fireplace, and heating lamps.  I love it. All of the wait staff are masked AND gloved. Do you think restaurants can continue this tradition? It’s much more sanitary… L. orders a mocktail and I get a Prosecco.  For our appetizer, L. gets the Endive Apple Salad,  drizzled in artisan honey [one of the specials], and I have the Yellowtail Tartar [another special]. It’s covered in caviar and sooo good. For my entrée, I order Lasagna with Impossible Meat – it really does taste like meat! - and L. gets the Sweet Corn Agnolotti/Blue Crab.  For dessert, we split the Cascading Tiramisu.  Fabulous!!  An excellent meal!!!

7:30-8:30 – Driving.  We listen to The Sunday Daily – The Accusation.

8:30-9:30 – L. proclaims that she needs a nap. I read a Money Diary and do a blog post.

9:30 – 12:00 – Paint prep, then I cut in the remainder of the right side of the garage.  I’m double-masked and gloved and the garage door is open for ventilation. One section of the wall, near the ceiling, is filled with spider webs that I thought I swept down. It’s so disgusting. I see two spiders near the floor scurry away. I’m really tired of being immersed in dirt and filth and bugs every day – it feels like this painting project will never end.

-I spray two more light-switch covers with metallic silver and leave outside to dry.

12:00-12:30 – Clean up and get everything ready for another day of painting.

12:30-1:15 – Kitchen duty and I ready my coffee for tomorrow.

1:15-1:45 – I read a Money Diary before I transition to my Insanity workout.

1:45-2:15 – I start Part II of the Insanity series.  Part II is new to me - now, the workouts are 1 hour long instead of 40 minutes.  After just 25 minutes, I fold.  I’m exhausted and have terrible cramps (it’s my period), but these are really just excuses. I’m pretty disappointed in myself.  L. is working on assignments for her Head and Hands class and when I tell her I had to stop early, says encouragingly, “At least you’re trying.”

2:30-3:15 – Night time routine. Bed.  I listen to What a Day.