Day 9 - California Reopening Plan - Phase 3
Descanso Gardens…
The waiver [attestation] submitted by LA County to the Governor’s office, ‘attesting’ to the fact that Covid-19 cases are stabilized and on the decline was approved and LA County is now in Phase 3, with restaurants, bars, and hair salons scheduled to open. Today, there were 46 Covid-19 deaths and 1,155 new Covid-19 cases in LA County. Is my sarcasm coming through in the above sentence?
Wednesday.
6:30 - …And I’m up. I did not get enough sleep and feel terrible. I sabotage myself all the time with lack of sleep and I’m not entirely sure why I keep doing this… I think this behavior is largely over since my to-do list is finally complete. I drink my Hydroflask and listen to The Daily, then take the dog out. I get my coffee.
7:00-8:50 - I sit down in the shower, exhausted, and drink my coffee while I listen to Airtalk. Feeling somewhat better, I get out and get ready. Lotion, minimal makeup, Alba Botanica sunscreen. I get dressed in a T-back tank top and sports bra, shorts, and my running shoes. I take my braids out and head downstairs. I make sure my lunch is packed appropriately and fill my Hydroflask. B. arrives.
8:50 - 3:00 - We head to Starbucks first for B. then to Descanso Gardens, in La Canada. We mask and tour the garden after we give the employee the tickets I purchased, one guest for every half-hour. B. brings me a can of Lysol, so I tell him his ticket is on me ($11.00). They allow us to enter together. It’s more crowded than I thought it would be and everyone is masked. I typically don’t mask outside, but I comply as the majority of the guests seem elderly. We tour all the gardens: the Ancient Garden; the Oak Tree Garden; the Hill Top Garden; the Rose Garden; the Camilia Garden; and the Japanese Tea House Garden. Descanso is a bit smaller than I remember. It’s super fun and I have an excellent time! I love the Oak Tree Garden the best as they piped zen music out of several speakers in this area. I eat a snack pack of nuts and raisins while we’re on foot.
When we’re finished, we grab the food that we brought and eat it outside the Gardens on their picnic tables. I have the salmon salad that I made for dinner the other night and a piece of chocolate when I’m finished - B. brought a subway sandwich. B. brought beer and I brought a can of Prosecco and we share both, while we eat our food and talk about retirement. I ask him several questions about it, as he’s been retired for a year and has adjusted quite nicely, and he provides valuable insight. It’s nice to have someone to talk to. I like talking to L. but she starts yawning during every conversation we have, and I do mean every conversation. This really hurts my feelings and I’ve talked to her about it, but she can’t seem to stop…I guess it’s because I’m so boring. But, B isn’t yawning, so its really nice.
***I skip my French literature class from 2:00-5:00. This is my first absence.
3:00 - 5:00 - We leave and drive to his house so he can check out the cement work that was finished this morning, then bounce to my house, where we sit downstairs and talk - he has two whiskey and 7s. We have chips and salsa. We can’t go outside as it’s 102 degrees today.
5:00 - 6:30 - I tell B. that I need to take a nap before the 7:30 convocation and he leaves. Then I lay down for awhile.
6:30-7:00 - I read The Couple Next Door.
7:00-7:30 - I put on a ton of makeup for the Zoom convocation so I don’t look like an egg, then arrange my lamp so I have good lightening.
7:30-8:00 - The convocation went well and I like both of the students - their parents were also there. The instructors said a few words, with the main program chair leading the way. It was very nice.
8:00-9:30 - I check in with my high school students, field some emails, and print out an extra credit assignment. Then, I respond to state job email and prepare correspondence. No exercise today, as I feel I did quite a bit of walking at Descanso.
10:00 - 1:30 - L. and I settle in to watch Married and we end up watching the last three episodes, thus completing the season. It’s a nail-biter and the Finale, featuring Luke and Kate, is especially interesting as we find out that Luke is probably gay.
1:30-2:00 - Nighttime routine and bed.