Day 1 - Governor Newsom imposes new restrictions

The French Laundry…

Monday. 11/16/20

Oh my! Just days after attending a birthday party at the famous French Laundry restaurant in the heart of Napa Valley, Governor Newsom said he “was pulling the emergency brake” and, in a press conference today, told the good citizens of California that we can’t go anywhere. I guess he wanted to party hard one last time before telling the rest of us that we’re f—ked.

Some of these restrictions aren’t technically new to LA County residents as we’ve been living under “widespread - purple” for 80+ days [see the CA Blueprint for a Safer Economy]. LA County Covid-19 infections never went down - they just continued to steadily increase. What IS new from the Governor, however, is a curfew on business hours and strengthening the mask requirement, which means now you have to mask when you take out your trash AND when you’re sleeping (j/k). Seriously, how much more stringent can the mask requirement get? This is one of the few states where residents mask continuously. At this point in the pandemic, it’s NOT the masking, or lack thereof, that is causing the spike - it’s the small social gatherings that have been occurring, like the Rose Garden superspreader or the French Laundry fiasco [the jury’s still out on whether or not there are Covid hits from the b-day party].

People think they can entertain safely with individuals from their own “bubble” or “pod”. Guess what, people? There is no bubble or pod, because everybody in your bubble/pod is interacting with at least one person OUTSIDE of the bubble, unless they’re an invalid and can’t leave the house, and then bringing Covid-19 back to YOU. From the beginning, I thought the “bubble” /”pod” concept was soooo stupid. It’s not scientific at all.

Monday. 11/16/20

7:30 - 8:00 - My alarm goes off. I have class this morning, but I still have to prepare the Discussion Board prompt. Downstairs and the sink is filled with dishes and my coffee isn’t prepared. The dog pooped in the house again. This is starting to weigh on me a bit - it’s depressing, you know? I don’t want to pick up dog shit every single day. The dog is 3-years-old and should know better.

Outside and she goes potty. Inside and bacon for her. I prepare my coffee and unload part of the dishwasher. I go to work.

8:00-11:00 - I prepare the Discussion Board prompt and publish course content. It is radio- silent today so I update attendance and notify those students who were marked absent.

I update the online gradebook and start working on my last lecture for Specialty Class No. 2. A few extra credit assignments come in so I print those. I listen to The Daily and What a Day and read online news.

I have yogurt with diced apples and walnuts for breakfast.

L. finished formatting the slides for my 2:30 class today, but I’m unable to load them onto Canvas because I’ve never quite been able to figure it out. I don’t want to disturb her so I wait for her to wake up.

I check email from College No. 2. A few Socratic Seminar papers were sent - essays are due today in the 2:30 class so I print them out and confirm receipt for the students.

11:00-12:00 - I do a 1-hr HIIT full body circuit with 5-pound weights. I listen to Crime Junkie.

In the middle of my work out, L. exits her room. When I ask if she can load the slides into Canvas because I have class in 2 hours, she says she’s leaving for work. I explain again that class starts in 2 hours and I need her to post the slides for me, at which point she addresses me like a child: “Come on - lets go then. Hurry up!” It’s extremely disrespectful and all because I didn’t want to disturb her sleep! Of course I don’t want her to be late for work, but I have no idea what her schedule is - we’re basically two tenants living in the same space, who rarely interact…except I pay all the bills…so, I guess I’m actually the landlord.

She loads the slides for today’s 2:30 class AND the last lecture I recorded for my Core Class on Thursday. I also ask her to email the lecture so I can send it to B.

L. leaves.

12:00-12:30 - I finish my workout.

12:30-1:30 - I go to Starbucks and buy a peppermint hot chocolate with my gift card.

I go to Kohls and pick up yoga pants that I ordered 10 days ago. I love this service. You simply pull into the numbered parking space, call Kohls, and say, “I’m picking up an order. “ They answer the phone right away, come out within 2 minutes, and put the order in the trunk of your car.

1:30-2:15 - I make a spinach salad for lunch and add the leftover coconut shrimp from last night’s Yardhouse.

2:30-5:30 - Class begins. The students have an hour to respond to other students on the Discussion Board for their Socratic Seminar participation points. Then, it’s a chapter review quiz, a long lecture, and a documentary. They’re busy. I listen to Airtalk.

The papers are emailed to me throughout the entire period. I print them out and confirm receipt with the students, while I work on my “script” for Specialty Class No. 2’s last lecture. I’m still vetting podcasts and possible videos that I can show for the last class. I’m not having much luck.

In the midst of all of this, one of my favorite students needs a letter of recommendation by 5:00 today. I wrote one for him previously, so it’s just a matter of changing the relevant information. I prepare it and submit via the link he provides.

-The dog vomits on the couch in my office. I clean the vomit, strip the couch, and start the washing machine.

5:30-7:30 - Class is uneventful - the students are too busy to email me. A few last papers come in and I print those out.

I continue preparing my script for Specialty Class No. 2’s last lecture on “intersectionality.”

I email L. and ask if she can do a rush job on reformatting some slides for my morning class tomorrow. It’s a straight lecture and the material is kind of boring - some cool slides might jazz it up. This is short notice and I’m doubtful L. will deliver, although I did say I would pay extra for the accelerated time frame.

7:30 - 8:00 - L. arrives and says R. will be at the house by 8:00. I wrap everything up and finally, finally, do the dishes and straighten the kitchen. I heat up a can of corn and left-over pork chops for dinner, then head upstairs for the rest of the evening so L. and R. can have the downstairs to themselves.

R. brings me a peppermint hot chocolate. Much appreciated!

8:00-10:00 - I eat dinner and watch more episodes of Who Killed Maria Marta? I like the series.

11:00-1:00 - Oops. I fell asleep for a couple of hours.

1:00-2:00- I do a blog post.

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