Day 34 of Governor Newsom’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy”

The debate was a shit-show…

Wednesday. 9/30/20

7:45 - 8:00 - I set my alarm last night so I’m up and I take the dog out. The dog has not had any accidents for some time. We go outside and she goes potty. I notice that the sprinklers did not come on AGAIN, so I enter the garage and try to reprogram them. I hope this works. Coffee for me and cheese for the dog.

8:00-10:30 - Two morning classes. While my students listen to lecture, I take attendance and check emails from College No. 1. I update the online grade book after class ends and have a few grapes. I listen to The Daily and What a Day. I also read internet news and discover that last night’s debate went badly. Uh-oh

10:30 - 12:00 - I go to Specialty Class No. 1 and check every single entry on the Discussion Board because I need to establish the number of participation points for each student regarding the Socratic Seminar assignment that was due on Monday. It is slow going and takes some time.

12:00-1:00 - I have some of the tortellini I made last night and read In Order to Live. Then, I look over my lectures for class tomorrow to see what needs to be changed [2 classes from 2:30-10:00].

1:00 - 2:00 - I read more internet news and listen to the Political Gabfest; the Slate Culture Gabfest; and Start Here. It sounds like last night’s debate was so bad it was ”unprecedented.” The word of the year (2020) should be “unprecedented.”

2:00 - 3:30 - I pack my overnight bag and load it, my pillow, and my sleeping bag in the car. I add my Keurig to the mix so B. and I can have coffee tomorrow morning. Then, I take a shower - it’s spa day. I get dressed in my Covid-19 uniform. Light make-up. I listen to True Crime Garage.

3:30-4:30 - I check on internet news. The debate sounds horrible…

5:30-6:00- I prepare the “fixings” for tonight’s turkey burgers and slice tomatoes, onions, and cheese. I cut up chunks of zucchini and parsley and add to the ground turkey so I can shape it into patties in preparation for the grill tonight.

6:00 - I leave for B’s house.

6:30 - 7:30 - B. grills the turkey burgers and I assemble. Then, we take our salads, and everything else into the living room where we can eat and watch the debate. I’m nervous about viewing the debate because I rarely watch horror movies - too frightening.

7:30-9:30 - I watch the debate. OMG!!! What a shit show!!! The debate consists of two, old men, shouting over each other, with Trump continuously interrupting Biden. I’m extremely embarrassed to be an American right now.

Here’s what the international community is saying about our country:

The Times of India - “The US embarrassed itself before the world for 100 minutes. Ultimately, America lost.”

The Guardian of Great Britain - “This dark, horrifying, unwatchable fever dream will surely be the first line of America’s obituary.”

The Times of the UK - “The debate was an ill-tempered and at times incomprehensible squabble between two angry septuagenarians who palpably loathe each other.”

Der Spiegel of Germany - “The debate was a car accident where the president lacked control of himself while his challenger came off as unexciting, but stable.”

Irish Times - “There is one emotion that has never been directed towards the US until now. Pity.”

Howard Stern felt “dirty” after watching the presidential debate, saying, “I would have walked off the stage.”

9:30 - B. makes s’mores, but I’ve lost my appetite.

10:00-12:00 - We sit outside, at B.’s patio table, and talk politics.

1:00 - We crawl into the tent and go to sleep.