Day 47 of Phase 3 - California Covid spike

Saturday. 7/11/20

8:10 - 10:30 - I was up at 7:00, but couldn’t get back to sleep because I was anticipating the dog barking. She finally started barking at 8:10. I listen to PBS News Segments, Today Explained, and Air Talk before reporting for duty. Downstairs and the dog pooped next to the front door. I clean it up, we go outside, and I give her cheese. I make my coffee and am pleasantly surprised to see that L. washed a sink full of dishes from last night. I wipe down my bathroom and mirror.

I read online news.

10:30-11:30 - Spa day.

11:30-1:00 - I ‘batch’ Greek yogurt, apples, walnuts, and honey to eat for breakfast over the coming days, then clean out the refrigerator and prepare my breakfast and lunch for tomorrow using leftovers that I have on hand. I put everything in my insulated lunch bag for the beach tomorrow. I listen to Case File True Crime.

1:00 - 4:00 - L. leaves to pick up R. for their overnight trip to the Upham Hotel in Santa Barbara. I give her a hug good-bye, then leave to run my once-a-month errands. I listen to Air Talk. My parents gave me their plastics yesterday, so I add it to the recycling I have on hand and head to the recycling center, located in a bad part of town, behind a liquor store. I get $10.45 and am really happy about that!! I listen to NPR Politics.

-I stop at our local indie bookstore and ask if they’re taking books yet. No. I’m impressed by the rigorous steps they’re taking to protect themselves - you have to be gloved and masked to get in and staff take every customer’s temperature at the door. I don’t go inside because staff is at the entrance and I only have a question. L. reads so fast, I have two boxes of books to donate, but they will stay in my trunk for now. Sidebar: when my brother finishes a book, he throws it in the trash. I listen to Market Place.

-Although I order all toiletries online to avoid exposure in stores, I need contact lens solution and have a 25% coupon for CVS. I arrive at CVS and get my contact solution. I’m in and out in 10 minutes and am pleased to see that everyone is masking. I listen to The Weeds, by Vox.

-I need gas and L. told me that the absolute cheapest gas is at “Conserve Gas” - can you believe that’s the name? - for $2.83 a gallon. I go there and she’s right, although you have to go inside and pay cash to get that rate; otherwise, it’s 20 cents more. I mask and go inside - it’s not bad and it’s worth the 20-cent reduction per gallon.

-It’s time for my monthly visit to Whole Foods, especially since my Mom gave me champagne money ($100) :-) and Whole Foods is the only store that sells Prosecco-in-a-can. I should note that traffic in town is super heavy and it’s obvious that people don’t give a shit about Covid-19, although everyone is masking. I get three, 4-packs of Prosecco (on sale for $11.99!!), two bottles of champagne, and a 6-pack of Blue Moon beer for B. I add spinach, cheese, and miniature salmon rolls (for lunch). There is a long line for the 12 items or less and customers have to social distance while we wait in line; at least we’re not socially distancing outside in 120-degree heat. I don’t like spending this much time in the store, but we’re all masking. Customers don’t seem to care about social distancing in the aisles, however.

I’m still working on social distancing etiquette, though. I’m next in line to put my groceries on the conveyor belt at checkout and I stand in the appropriate yellow circle that’s taped to the floor, 6 ft away. When the customer moves to the end of the checkout stand to pay his bill, I move up with my cart, still as far away from him as possible, at the extreme other end of the checkout stand, and put a few cans on the conveyor belt, not in the middle of the belt, but as close to me as possible. I continue unloading my groceries at checkout as he grabs his bags and leaves. When I go to pay, I’m admonished by the cashier who tells me I’m supposed to wait on the yellow circle until the customer ahead of me actually leaves.

I’m embarrassed, but…ok…except now I kind of understand what sets these “Karens” off in some of the more recent grocery store encounters that have gone viral. I didn’t stand on the circle until the bitter end, but even so, I was still 6 ft away from the customer when he was paying. HOWEVER, this entire set-up at checkout doesn’t make any sense when you consider the fact that us customers are all over each other while we shop…in the aisles, brushing past people, touching carts and food products, some have masks pulled down UNDER their noses…the entire shopping experience is one of ‘compromised’ social distancing, UNTIL we get to the checkout line. Then, it must be maintained? Before you say “It’s for the cashier’s safety”, it’s not because she’s exposed to every one of us, whether social distancing is implemented or not.

I listen to Martinis and Your Money.

-I drive through a Starbucks for a tall coffee. I have gift cards left over from my supervisor so I never have to pay.

4:00 - 6:30 - Mindless chores. I put away my laundry, then start a new load of towels. I frame the Bosch picture that B. gave me and glue a bracket on the back of the frame so I can hang it tomorrow. Then, I do yard work for the next two hours and water my plants. The yard looks great.

L. texts that she and R. are having dinner at the french restaurant, Bouchons.

6:30 - 8:30 - I take a break and have canned ravioli for dinner - it’s pretty gross. I try out a new series - White Lines - it’s okay. This is actually my second episode. I dust the surfaces and furniture in my room.

8:30-11:00 - I update my blog and listen to Southern Fried Crime.