Day 8-Monkey Pox is the new pandemic

I “hiked” the Redwoods section at Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens today…

8/11/22. Thursday

8:30-10:00-I take a shower at a leisurely pace. Lotion. Light make-up. I put on my biking outfit and finish packing. Light make-up.

10:30-11:00-I’m able to log into Canvas with my Netbook and I field some emails at College No. 2. Today is the last day of the semester and the students are scrambling, trying desperately to raise their points and grades.

One of the reasons I booked a hotel room at Bacara is because they rent bikes. HOWEVER, I talked to the Concierge at time of check in and learned that, unfortunately, they only rent electric bikes, AND there is no bike path on the resort.

All the same, I’m not checking out of the hotel until I have ridden a bike. I’m not hungry so I walk to the lobby in my bike shoes with my bicycle helmet in hand, grab some free biscotti next to the fruit-infused water, and rent a bike.

The bike weighs 65 pounds!! I’m tiny so it’s difficult to maneuver - I can barely control it so I certainly don’t want to ride around on the street. I take the bike to Bacara’s upper parking lot and ride around up there for awhile, then walk the bike to a bench overlooking the ocean and chill there for awhile as I have the bike for an hour. I decide that I hate electric bikes - they are not for me - and I turn in it. BUT, I did it! I rented a bike - an electric bike, no less! - and rode for a limited time. Good enough.

1:00-2:00 - I call Valet, then call the front desk and ask for a golf cart to take me to my car. It arrives at 1:00 and takes me to the parking lot where my car is waiting. I leave and I’m sad. Back to my shitty life. What a great mini-vaycay!

1:00-2:00-BUT my vacation isn’t over yet. I have a ticket for the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens that I purchased last week. I eat my leftover burrito from yesterday’s breakfast in the car, but unfortunately, the burrito is too dense and weighs me down. Yuck. I arrive at the Botanical Gardens only to stay for around 45 minutes. It’s hot, humid, and I ate too much - I leave. Now, it’s back to my shitty life.

2:30-4:00-I drive home.

4:00-5:15-I unpack all my bags, purses, beach stuff, bike stuff, lunch bag, put everything away and I’m exhausted. I start a load of laundry.

5:15-6:15-I take a nap and miss my Striders group but I figured that would happen. I’m exhausted and it’s soooo hot.

6:30-7:30 - I water my plants and pick up dog poop.

7:30-8:00-Kitchen duty

-L. surfaces and I ask if she wants to take the dog for a walk with me. She has to put on pants AND makeup. Why do you need make-up when it’s dark outside?

8:30-9:45-I hang my wet clothes in the laundry room.

L. and I take the dog for a walk. L. catches me up on her life and tells me that she tried budgeting this week. L. is done talking by the time the dog-walk has ended.

9:45-11:00-I tell L. about my Bacara adventure and she actually listens.

11:00-2:00-I go to work. I watch a vegan cooking video by Mina Rome - one of my guilty pleasures - then I record the Audio Syllabus for Specialty Class 1B at College No. 1 with Vivaldi playing in the background.

-When I’m done recording the Syllabus, I find that I’m unable to ‘share’ the AUDIO lecture from my phone to my email account. Why does this keep happening?

-I update the Home Page on Canvas and insert the correct dates for all the Module headings.

I thought this class would go live today but I’m unable to publish it because of the technical difficulties I’m experiencing. I will talk to L. about this problem tomorrow.

Life Admin

I purchase tickets for the musical Animal Farm - L. says she wants to go so I also buy her a ticket.

2:00-3:00- Nightime routine. Bed