Day 59 - Governor Newsom reinstates the mask mandate in California

I saw a phainopepla today on the bird walk…

Bait-and-switch image on Celestinas website…igloos don’t exist anymore…

2/12/22. Saturday

5:40-6:15 – My alarm goes off. I continue with my pinkeye medication, administer old eye drops, and take two Advil.  Then, I listen to Organize 365 and take out my braids.

6:15-6:30 – I go downstairs to say good morning to the animal.  It’s way too early for her and she doesn’t even turn her head when I come downstairs. Once I put my coffee in the microwave, she jumps off the couch and stumbles over to say hello. I grab my coffee and we go outside where I stand around until she goes potty.  Return inside and cheese for her; coffee for me. I go upstairs.

6:30-7:40-Shower. I sit in the shower, lean my head back against the tiles, and ice my eyes. I listen to Happier. Lotion. I put on my hiking uniform, i.e., cargo pants and a tank top, and the new-to-me pink sweater my mom brought when she arrived for Bookclub Brunch on Thursday. Full make-up. I grab my lunch bag, binos, and my bird-watching pamphlet.

7:40-8:00 – Driving to bird-watching at Placerita Canyon. I eat my overnight oats in the car.

8:00-9:30 – “Ken” is the docent for the second Saturday and Cliff, Awshook, and Gary are there as usual. Ken is a soft-spoken older man and very nice. We continue to mask on trail, unfortunately. An old, fat, white guy with a ponytail joins us, along with a Hispanic couple. Today we see Spotted Towhees, California Thrashers, a Black Phoebe, a California Scrubjay, a Nuttall Woodpecker, an Allen’s Hummingbird, and a Mourning Dove.  HOWEVER, we see a new bird that is NOT featured in my pamphlet…a Phainopepla.

-I walk the Ecology Trail with everyone else, deep in the canyon, but when it’s time for the Golden Oak section of the walk, I’m not feeling it and leave at 9:30. I was there for 90 minutes…good enough.

9:30-10:00 – I text B. and ask if we can go on a hike this Monday. He calls and we talk briefly.

10:00-10:45 – Home and I am absolutely exhausted. Long Covid?  I sit outside at my patio table, read a Money Diary, and finish my coffee.

11:00-1:00 – Blog posts

1:00-2:00 – Bullet journal

2:00-3:00 – I eat a spinach salad that I meal-prepped previously, with tomatoes, cheese, and zucchini and read Floating Feathers.

3:00-3:30 – I take the dog for a walk and listen to Martinis and Your Money; then

3:30-4:30 – I take a brief nap.

4:30-5:50 – Shower. Lotion. Full glam. I listen to PBS Newshour segments and the NPR Politics Podcast. I wear a vintage, long-sleeved turtleneck dress, in a floral print.

5:50-9:00 – B. made reservations for Celestinas in Culver City, at 7:00, to commemorate Valentines Day.  I picked the restaurant because the website featured couples, or parties of 4 on the rooftop, in what appeared to be isolated, plastic bubble houses, due to Covid. I loved this concept and, whenever possible, I like to eat outside – it also came highly recommended.

-Traffic is terrible and we barely make it on time – it’s valet parking, but a nightmare. When we arrive the place is packed and our table is inside, at the bar. Only the staff are masked. B. says he prefers a table on the roof top, which is featured on the website, and he tells the hostess that he’s certain he reserved that option.  I’m sure B. did, but the hostess doesn’t give a shit and there “is no room at the inn”, so to speak. Sitting inside at the bar is so gross and after going on Year #2 of the pandemic, I hate crowds, but just as we’re being seated inside, another hostess comes over and says a table opened up outside!

-We’re led to our table and gone are the plastic bubbles [sad-face emoji here].  Tables and people are, again, on top of each other and surrounding the pool, BUT, at least we’re outside.  Unfortunately, because the “bubbles” no longer exist, it’s freezing on the rooftop and I didn’t bother to bring a jacket.  There are heat lamps scattered throughout the rooftop, but none near our table. B. asks for a gas lamp and after around 20 minutes, one is finally brought over to the table. Once the gas lamp arrives, everything is much improved.

-The food is wonderful, though.  We have quesadillas for our appetizer and I order the ceviche shrimp tacos. B. has something??? I have two glasses of champagne with dinner.

-9:00-10:30 – Driving. Home and B. gives me a nice card and TWO boxes of Sees Candy – my favorite!  I give B. a card and a book I ordered for him previously. B. and I talk politics and then B. leaves as he has an early day at the gun range tomorrow.

11:00-12:00 – L. and T. are here so I ask L. to lock up and tell her I’m going to bed. Nighttime routine and in bed by 12:00.