Day 32 - Governor Newsom imposes new restrictions

See the pink flags? They are posted along the hiking trail and messages are written on each one…creepy…

Thursday. 12/17/20.

8:00 – I’m up and start drinking water from my Hydroflask.

8:30 – 9:30 - I go downstairs and the dog pooped next to the front door, probably 10 minutes ago because I can smell it.  This is so disgusting.  We go outside and she goes potty.  Then back inside for her treat – more rotten turkey. I make coffee and do the dishes while it’s brewing.

I go outside with my coffee and delete numerous podcasts on my Ipad because I’m out of storage space.  The dog jumps off and on my lap.

9:30-10:30 – Shower. Lotion. Hiking uniform. Light make-up.

10:30 – 11:30 - I go downstairs and L. is up, preparing dough for Xmas cookies.  We talk for awhile as I prepare my lunch bag – I’m going hiking today.  She fixes the ebook I purchased and it’s on my computer, ready to read.

11:30 – 12:00 – I write down all the hiking information for L. then leave.

12:30 – 1:30 - I go to Ed Davis Park at Towsley Canyon and take the Canyon Loop trail (1.4 miles)  I like this trail, but it’s isolated – by that I mean, no one can hear me scream AND I’m not carrying any weapons.  Also, I don’t have phone service, so I’m ‘hinked’ up about it.  When a lone Hispanic male comes over the mountain, approaching me on the trail, I decide to exit this trail and take a different trail.  I return to the start of Taylor Trail [17 miles] instead.  I like this trail, too, but it’s also isolated.  What did I expect? I eat my salad in the car.

1:30 – 3:00 - I leave and drive to East Towsley Canyon. This trail is next to civilization – there are horses and ranch-style homes along the way - BUT I still don’t have cell service.  Also – and this is really weird – there are tiny pink flags stuck in the ground, along the trail, containing various hand-written messages.  It is so creepy and very Blair Witch Project.  I posted a picture of the flags for today’s blog. Some of the messages:

This is pond scum [there was no pond, or water, whatsoever, in the vicinity – this particular flag was stuck in a pile of leaves].

You’re not part of the solution

Fish hatchery [no water anywhere]

Missed it by 50 feet [I have no idea what this flag is referring to]

Don’t let sleeping dogs lie

Where’s the trash can?

I see you dropped something

Missed it by 10 feet [I have no idea what this flag is referring to]

Nature is waging a losing battle

This bag signifies that… [so, this pink flag was next to a blue bag which looks like it might contain dog shit, but I was afraid to touch the flag to see the rest of the sentence because what if it’s some kind of IED??? More than likely, it’s just dog shit, BUT even that’s odd]

Your house must be immaculate

You must have forgotten something

After an hour at this location, I’m done “hiking” for the day, if you can call it that.  Unfortunately, this is not real exercise so I will have to do a workout when I get home (sigh).

3:30-4:00 – To Robex to redeem my BOGO coupon for two smoothies.  I took L.’s order before I left.  She had to work at 2:00 so I told her I would put her smoothie in the freezer.

4:00-6:00 -  Home and I have L.’s leftover chicken that she brought home from Stonefire Grill last night – she said I could have it – with pieces of tofu. I read You’ve Been So Lucky Already.

6:00 – 6:30 - I grab the ladder and put the last strand of white lights I bought from Home Depot around the front door’s exterior.  Much better. Then, I bring in my patio cushions [30% chance of rain] and water the plants that I potted two days ago.

6:30 – 7:00 - I put the leash on the dog, put her in the car, and drive across the street to the neighborhood surrounding the lake.  I’m trying something different tonight because the Xmas lights on this side of my community are really nice!  I park in the community pool parking lot and the dog and I exit and walk around the neighborhood, looking at the houses.  After a half hour, we return home [I’m driving because I thought walking in the crosswalk would freak her out – she’s not used to traffic] and walk around my “compound”, like we usually do.  The lights are pretty here, as well.

L. returns home and finishes frosting her cookies. They taste really good – I had three – so definitely have to get a workout in today because of all the carb intake.

7:00-9:30 – blog posts.

-R. arrives. With a peppermint hot chocolate for me!!! Thanks R.! Last week, he worked 50 hours, but now has the next two days off. L. and R. watch movies together, downstairs.

9:30-11:00 - I read my new ebook, The New Corner Office.

11:30-12:30 – I do a 1-hr HIIT full body circuit with 5-pound weights.

12:30-1:00 - Night time routine. Bed.