Day 15 - California Reopening Plan - Phase 2

Are we still in Phase 2 ? Churches aren’t supposed to open until Phase 3, but have largely received the go-ahead from Governor Newsom to open this Sunday, even though Covid 19 outbreaks recently occurred in two churches (Butte and Mendocino County), who held services in defiance of Governor Newsom’s order. So, does this mean we’re in Phase 3 now?

8:45 – 11:30 a.m. -  The dog is barking.  I take her out and give her cheese, then report to my office.  I check email for my state job – nothing of consequence – then complete two blog posts. I have coffee and a Crispy Crème while I work.

11:30 – 12:30 - I plan on taking a shower and getting ready for my last dental appointment, but, as usual, I’m running late.  This is not a Covid-19 character flaw – historically, I usually run 10 minutes late or I’m on time, to the minute. I get dressed in jeans and my new “Mom – The New School” T-shirt that L. got me for Mother’s Day and wash my face.  I only need to wear eye make-up these days because I mask when I go out and the rest of my face is covered, so I just put on mascara.  I know I’m going to be late for my 12:15 appt and really start panicking, until I check again and see that my appt. is actually at 12:45!  Well, this changes things.

I go upstairs and pull the tape down from L.’s bathroom – there are a few areas where the white paint from the ceiling bled through along the wall.  A touch-up is needed with the peach paint.  Darn.

I have lunch – turkey strata with the pork chop vegetable base – and leave.

12:45 – I report to my dentist for my final bonding procedure and it’s very traumatizing.  The needle is much larger and more anesthetic than last time is used.  I sit and wait for the anesthetic to take effect and my neck goes numb – I actually lose my ability to swallow!  I read a Money Diaries and have a panic attack.  This is not hyperbole;  I really do have a panic attack and start hyperventilating, sweating…my face is flushed and hot…if someone took my temperature right now, I’d be quarantined. I’m terrified that my esophagus is closing and my airway will be blocked within minutes.  At least I’m alone, so I’m not embarrassing myself.

My dentist returns around 1:15 and I question her on the anesthetic, stating that I had FOUR uppers done last week, and the shot was not as intense.  What gives?  She says more anesthetic is needed for bottom teeth because they typically sit on a nerve.  She begins the procedure, inserting a coarse string/wire between my gum line and the tooth where she will start bonding and I feel everything, to include her shoving the filament into my gum.  It is sooo painful and I tell her that.  She says “I know” and commences to drill/grind the tooth.  I have jolts of pain every time she comes close to the gum line but I don’t want more anesthetic because what if my throat really does close up? 

She finally finishes and my gums are bleeding so she presses cotton on the area, rather roughly and hard. It’s time to go, but I can’t quite seem to get out of the chair – like before, I feel like I’m in shock. Eventually, I shuffle to the front desk where her daughter is now running the show, as she wants to be a dentist like her Mom.  I think the previous office manager quit as she was on the older side and afraid to return. I make an appointment for my next 6-month cleaning and slowly walk to my car in the parking lot.  I sit in my car for several minutes, before I start the engine.

Having noted all of the above, I will say that every examining room was full and three hygienists were there, so business is increasing slightly.  I asked my dentist if she was still moving to Iowa and she said she didn’t know.  My dentist mentioned that her daughter was handling the front desk, adding “Which is great, because I really like her.”  I replied that it’s always nice when you happen to like your own child.

2:00-3:00 - I get home around 2:00 and immediately lie down.  I take a nap and wake-up a little before L. comes home from cleaning her studio, where she is an art teacher.  The staff are sanitizing all areas in preparation for the kids returning.  They will be implementing some changes:  smaller class sizes, social distancing, forehead temperature checks, and hardwood floors were installed. I asked L. if this finally means that Management fixed the plumbing – the toilet is continuously clogged – but she said she didn’t think so.  I suggested she mention to management that this is a health risk – although Covid 19 is airborne, she could tell management that it might be transmitted via poo.  I don’t think L. will have that conversation.

3:15 – 6:00 - L. and I leave for my parents’ house. It’s great seeing my parents and we social distance when we arrive.  L. and I sit on the porch swing, my parents sit in chairs on the lawn, and we shout over the wind and catch up. We leave after several hours with gifts from my parents: champagne, chocolate, books, plastic for my recycling, and cash. :-)

6:00-9:00 – Traffic is heavier than usual, even though we’re in Covid-19 times.  Once home, I report to my office and check email from my high school students and the college staff in general.  Recall that this is the second junior college where I’m employed and the staff are a lively bunch, emailing each other constantly about everything.  I have 100 admin emails to go through, but only a few from my high school students, mainly asking me if they can have an extension on this or that quiz.  My high school students are so respectful and there is no tone of entitlement like the emails I get from my actual college students at the first junior college, where I’m also employed.  I will really miss my high school students.

I create a Final Review for them to help prepare for the Final on 6/2/20 and post to Canvas, then add a link to the documentary: Anita – Finding Truth to Power. The Final is online and ready for them, but not “published” yet in Canvas-speak. I also go through the questions and make sure the answers are correctly labeled. I’ll post the Final on 6/2/20.

9:00-10:00 p.m. – I have a baked potato stuffed with the veggie base I salvaged the other night and a glass of champagne. I read All You Can Ever Know.

10:00-11:00 – I put away the bags and packages we got from my parents, clean the kitchen, and make my coffee for tomorrow. Then, I go outside and water all of my plants – several of them are looking a bit peaked. I finally break down the box that my lounge chair came in and put it in the recycling. I listen to Air Talk.

11:30-1:00 – L. and I watch Married at First Sight, Season 8.  So far, things seem to be going well until the end of the show, when they show the trailer for the next episode.  They all hate each other.

1:00-2:00 a.m. – Nighttime routine and bed.