Day 37 of rollback-California Covid-19 spike-Governor shuts us down

I only need ONE door…

Tuesday. 8/19/20.

7:30 - Up and I take the dog out. She pooped in the middle of the floor, near her doggie door. We go outside and she goes pee. Cheese. I microwave my coffee, then go upstairs. Moving quickly today. Shower. Covid-19 uniform. Light make-up. I listen to The Daily and Today Explained.

9:00 - 9:30 - I get in my car and start to back up, en route to my therapy appointment, but am stopped by two “masked” men. It’s not as ominous as it sounds :-) I scheduled Pest Control through my Home Warranty program to take down a wasp’s nest tucked under the eaves at the very, very top of the roof. L. noticed and told me a few days ago. HOWEVER, Pest Control was scheduled between 10:00 and 12:00, not right now!!! When I explain this to them, they say, “Oh, we just did it - we’re done.” I said, “You guys are amazing!” The wasp’s nest is gone and I’m out a $75 co-pay, per my Home Warranty policy. We all leave.

9:30-10:00 - Therapy appointment. It goes well, but I mask now when I see her.

10:00-11:00 - Originally, I was scheduled to return home in time for Pest Control. Since they already came, I now have time in my schedule to go to BMC, an approved “Marvin” door dealer in my community. Marvin appears to be the only retailer who makes a door with my specifications, but when I arrive at BMC, I’m told to drive to a different BMC building, which I do. At the second BMC, I have to wait 20 minutes for the lone employee to get off the phone. We’re both masked and he invites me to sit across from his desk, in his office, so we’re inside and NOT social distancing, but what am I supposed to do? I absolutely have to replace my door - I can’t just leave…there is nowhere else to go. I explain everything, but it’s so obvious I don’t know what I’m talking about. He confirms that BMC is an approved Marvin dealer, looks up the door with my specifications, and quotes me a price of….$3300!!!

There is a ‘moment of silence’ as I quietly die inside. I don’t know what to say so I say, “Um…I really don’t know what to say…” He replies, “About what?” and I say, “The cost of the door!” “There’s no way I can afford $3,000 for a single-pane door - do you have anything for, say, $700?” OMG. According to BMC, “Marvin” is the most expensive retailer around. He quotes me a cheaper alternative for $750, which is still too much, and then texts an installer to schedule an appointment with me to take measurements because he doesn’t trust the measurements that I gave him because as stated earlier, it’s so obvious that I don’t know what I’m doing. At least the ball is rolling now.

Return home and L. is gone. She only sleeps here. My therapist equated my home with a “flop house” as far as L. is concerned.

11:30-12:30 - Home and I read The Mothership before I go to work.

12:30-1:00 - I have plain yogurt with apples, walnuts, and honey.

1:00 - 5:30 - I go to work (enter home office) and FINALLY prepare and complete my syllabus for Specialty Class No. 2. Then, I load all of the content and links to the Canvas platform. I field emails from students throughout.

5:30-6:00 - I eat my pre-made lunch - salad and the last of my kebabs - and read a Money Diary.

L. returns. She said she was with R. today.

6:00-7:30 - I prepare everything for a crock pot Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe, then clean the kitchen. I also prepare my lunch for tomorrow - this seems to work out well and I’m more productive.

7:30-8:30 - I water my plants.

8:30 - 9:30 - I absolutely have to get a workout in so I do a 1-hr HIIT Full Body Circuit app with weights.

10:00 - 11:30 - I have champagne and add final touches to the syllabus and online platform for Specialty Class No. 2.

11:30 - 1:00 - I introduce L. to a podcast that I’ve been mentioning lately - Radio Rental - and we listen to a few episodes.

1:00-1:30 - I return to my office to tie up some loose ends, but am just too tired.

1:30-2:30 - Nighttime ritual. Bed with a few Forensic Files thrown in.