Day 36 - Governor Newsom reinstates the mask mandate in California

Walked with my Striders walking group through the neighborhoods along the lake this evening…

1/20/22. Thursday

8:30-9:00 – The contractors are scheduled to arrive at 10:00 so I give myself plenty of time to take the dog out, straighten the kitchen, and start a load of laundry. Right when I’m going to jump in the shower, Jon texts me that “Ron”, his employee, will arrive in 5 minutes, an hour earlier than what I was told.  I throw on my Covid-19 uniform and go outside to move both of our cars. I note that Ron is already here. It’s 9:00 a.m. 

9:00-12:00 –I have to place the dog in the stairwell again. Also, like yesterday,  I’m unable to leave because I need to be accessible while Ron is working so I report to my office and start re-writing the Syllabus for Specialty Class 1B because the publisher changed the sequential order of the chapters in the 9th edition. The two weeks I previously allotted to 7th edition-Chapter 6 now coincide with just 12 pages from 9th edition-Chapter 4. This is a mess! Two additional Chapters in the 9th edition have also been renumbered and they’re featured out-of-sequence in the Syllabus I recently designed so that section also has to be changed. It’s all very confusing. I have a piece of almond butter toast.

-My Canvas shell for Specialty Class 1B was designed prior to the two Distance Education training programs I attended which means a few important components are missing from some of the assignments.  For example, I do not have an introductory paragraph for any of the Chapter Review quizzes or Video/Podcast quizzes, so I design the intro paragraph and insert it for 20 quizzes.

12:00-12:30 – I take the dog for a walk.

12:30-3:30 – Ron is still here. I put the dog back in the stairwell. She’s very unhappy.

-I report to my office and change the due dates for the Chapter Review quizzes and Video/Podcast quizzes, in the Canvas shell, for Specialty Class 1B.

-I finally finish the Syllabus re-design which means the chapters from the 9th edition are finally placed in the correct chronological order in the Syllabus.  So the Syllabus is finished, but now the Modules in Canvas need to be reshuffled to reflect the Syllabus.

-I take a break from the Syllabus and work on a Life Admin issue:

My and L.’s auto insurance is due and I received the renewal paperwork in the mail, which was filled with errors. L. and I are apparently both married now, according to the paperwork, and L.’s “good student discount” was removed. Also, the new insurance cards we received do NOT reflect L.’s name so she appears to be uninsured. I call Liberty Mutual and straighten everything out.

-Two weeks ago, I asked L. if she was able to pay 1/3rd of her car insurance, but she said no. I email my ex-husband and ask if he is willing to pay half of L.’s insurance [Total = $2500].  My ex-husband agrees and Zelles me the money.

-Liberty Mutual requests that I provide the current mileage for both of our cars in the chart that they provided. I moved our cars to the street, so I walk out of the house, open the driver’s side door for each car, and check the odometer so I can log the mileage. While I’m sitting in my car, logging mileage, “Ron” exits the garage, comes out to the car, and says, “Going somewhere?” OMG – I feel like a prisoner in my own home.  No, Ron.  I’m just updating some paperwork. What if I did step out for a moment?  What does it matter?

3:30-4:15 – The dog is unhappy and stressed out having been stuck in the stairwell the entire day.  I can’t say I blame her. I call it a day, shut the door to my office, and comfort the dog on the stairs.

4:15-4:30 – Ron tells me he is done and leaves. What a relief!  I check his handiwork and he did a great job!  Clean-up looks good and the doors look amazing!  I take the dog out, then text John for the invoice/bill.

4:30-5:00 – I have some of the chicken chili I prepared last week.

5:00-6:00 – I’m finally able to take a shower. Lotion.  I get dressed in my walking clothes: black leggings, zip up sweatshirt, beanie, jacket.  I bring gloves and my flashlight.

6:00-6:30 - I leave for the second meeting of the Striders walking group. Tonight’s path starts at  Bridgeport Elementary.

6:30-7:30  - This path takes us through the neighborhood of lakeside homes. I’m extremely familiar with this neighborhood because it’s right across the street from MY neighborhood and I’ve walked the sidewalks over here at least 100?? times…I love walking it every time. The older couple set the pace and lead the way again, and I follow suit. Tonight’s path is even better than last week’s because we’re walking around a beautiful lake, at night. I love it.

-We make the loop and return to our cars – everyone takes off.

7:30-8:30 – I drive to Whole Foods and pick up sushi and champagne.

8:30-9:00 – Return home and I put everything away and plate my food for dinner.

9:00-10:00 – I have champagne and sushi and read Friendshipping.

10:00-11:00 – L. surfaces and I talk to her about school and her upcoming art projects.

11:00-1:00 – Blog posts.

1:00-2:00 – bullet journal.

2:30-3:00 – I go downstairs to fill a plastic bag with ice so I can lay it across my eyes.  I find L. in her art studio, painting an earring holder screen orange so that it matches her bathroom décor.   

3:00-3:30 – Nighttime routine. I put  the icepack on my eyes for a few minutes before going to bed.