Day 41 of Governor Newsom’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy”

Geoffreys in Malibu…

Wednesday. 10/7/20

8:00 - Wednesday morning class so I’m up and moving. I take the dog out and the “no-poop” streak is over. She pooped by the front door. We go outside and she won’t go potty so I give up and go back inside. I start heating up my coffee and the dog returns. I try again to coax her outside. This time she goes and we head back inside for cheese. By now, it’s 8:20 and I don’t have much time to post the prompt for the Discussion Board.

8:30-10:00 - Class begins and I update the attendance from last week and try to handle personal admin:

-I confirm that L. IS covered under my Vision insurance [separate from health and dental]

-I’ve been trying to add L. to my ARAG legal plan in the event the s—t hits the fan and she needs free legal coverage. So, I’ve been a member for 15 years and filled out the appropriate form to have my monthly payment come out of CalPERS since I’ve retired. I also want to switch to the Family Plan since it’s open enrollment. Simple enough, and I started this project in August. Instead, these m—ther—-ers canceled me entirely so I have no legal insurance, whatsoever. I spend some time on the phone trying to straighten this out and, allegedly, everything will be fixed on November 1. If L. and I need legal representation before then, we’re f—ked.

-L.’s car took a dump and I owe somebody money. That’s as much as I want to know about these car repairs. Thankfully, my ex and L. are handling everything and I’m supposed to Zelle my ex $231, which I gladly do. Anything to not be involved in this car crap.

-I order non-perishables and toiletries from Walmart and Home Depot.

I update the gradebook for both of my classes and a highschooler emails in, ballistic that she got a 0 on a Chapter Review Quiz that was posted on Friday. She accuses me of posting quizzes outside of class meetings and said she was never told that a quiz was due. She has a 68% in the class and somehow that’s my fault.

I respond, Law and Order style, and inform her that I noted on the Discussion Board, where SHE SIGNED IN, that the quiz would be posted at 9:15 last Friday. For whatever reason, she didn’t take the quiz and it closed at 10:00. She also failed to complete two additional quizzes, which resulted in her overall grade of 68%. I emailed her the Syllabus, AGAIN, and reminded her that ALL upcoming assignments are in the Syllabus and that the Syllabus has been on Canvas since the semester started. She emailed back, contrite, saying, “Ok, now I understand. Will doing the Extra Credit assignment help raise my grade?” What do you think? I don’t bother responding. It’s amazing that these kids think they can talk to a teacher like that!

Class ends, but another student also emails saying she had no idea there was a video quiz today and it closed and she got a zero, and she can’t have another 0 on an assignment. As if it is somehow MY fault that she is getting 0s on assignments! I respond, Law and Order style, and inform her that I noted on the Discussion Board, where SHE SIGNED IN, that the quiz would be posted today, at 9:30. I emailed her the Syllabus, AGAIN, and reminded her that ALL upcoming assignments are in the Syllabus and that the Syllabus has been on Canvas since the semester started. This student is an actual adult AND a veteran. You were in the military, but you can’t read a Syllabus? I don’t understand.

The documentary I assign today is on Netflix and two students - they are NOT my highschoolers - email me that they don’t have Netflix and live alone so guess they don’t have to take that video quiz, right? Wrong. I love how the student says he “lives alone” as if that means he’s incapable of sharing Netflix passwords with people unless they actually reside IN THE SAME HOUSE. Who the f—k doesn’t have Netflix? Especially now, in the Covid-19 era? I mean that’s all we do as a society-it’s not like we can go anywhere. I hope your lie was worth it because here’s your alternative assignment - a boring podcast on fake news followed by a podcast quiz. Enjoy.

11:00-11:30 - I frost B.’s birthday cake.

11:30-12:30 - I take a shower. Light make-up. A maxi-dress. B. picks me up and we head to Geoffreys in Malibu for his birthday.

2:00 - 4:30 - Arrive for our reservations and we get a wonderful table overlooking the ocean, which is what I requested when I made the reservation. I go all out because I just want to have a good time and it’s wonderful being at a normal restaurant instead of Al—-y, that dive near my house, filled with Trumpers, who scream at the TV and don’t like wearing masks. B. and I split the coconut shrimp for an appetizer and I get the corn chowder, while he gets a dinner salad. For my entree, I order chicken picatta and B. gets something??? The food is incredible and I have two champagnes - B switches it up and has two Sangrias. It’s wonderful going out to eat at the beach. I pick up the check and we head home.

4:30-8:00 - Home and B. unwraps my gift - he asked for a UFC baseball cap - and eats a piece of the chocolate cake I made last night. I make him a 7&7 and open my bottle of Brut Rose from Wine.com. Eventually, we meander upstairs and talk politics.

L. has to watch La Bamba for her Cinema class assignment so R. joins her at our house and they watch it together downstairs.

8:00-11:00 - B. and I talk politics and then I introduce him to three episodes of Radio Rental after consulting with L. and R. about which episodes are best. We come to a decision and then I play them for B. He seems to enjoy it.

11:30 - Bed.