Day 5 - California Reopening Plan - Phase 2
6:00-The dog is up at 6:00!! barking at the front door and then at me. I take her out and give her cheese, then go back to bed.
10:00-11:00 - I read a Money Diary then straighten the kitchen and bring in my patio pillows because it looks like rain. The dog shit on the cement outside so I pick it up. I make my coffee and head to my office. I listen to The Daily.
11:00-12:00 - I open emails at my state job and reply, then check in on my college classes. Everything looks okay.
12:00-1:15 - I post yesterday’s blog.
1:15-2:00 - I quickly get dressed - no shower, again (I know) - and have three bites of Greek yogurt mixed with apples, walnuts, and honey. Leave for my dentist appointment.
2:00-3:00 - I have to get 5 teeth ‘bonded’, which means covering the areas where my gums are receding with enamel. I had this done years ago on several teeth, but the bonding fell off - I forgot what it entailed. My teeth are uber-sensitive and this procedure is necessary, but when my dentist tells me I have to get a shot, I panic. I don’t want a shot, but when she blows cold air on my tooth, I almost pass out from the pain and immediately relent. She puts topical anesthesia on four teeth on the left side, but does the lone tooth on the right side with no anesthesia, because I think I can handle it. She starts on the right side - there is grinding and a dental drill whirring and I am out of my mind with anxiety. After 20 minutes, she’s done and I tell her I want to go home. It’s not that painful, but the experience is so traumatizing, I can’t take it. Four more teeth?!! OMG.
But my dentist says no, that my left uppers are numb and she’s gonna go for it - she can do 4 side-by-sides relatively quickly, it will be fine. To calm my anxiety, she and her dental assistant tell me several dumb jokes in rapid succession, until I finally say, with all seriousness, “Please stop - the jokes are really bad and I just want to lay here and focus.” They find me hilarious - I don’t know why. [Example: Why does Tigger bounce on his tail? Because he doesn’t want to step on Pooh.] [What do you call a 3-legged spider? A tarantula.]
More whirring and buzzing with the drill, but no pain as I’m completely numb, although I’m also completely traumatized again - I think I’m having a panic attack. She finishes and asks if I’m ready to do the left lower and I truly can’t. take. anymore. Although she is finished, I remain in the dental chair, in shock, as I collect myself. She finally says, “Stay as long as you want” and I realize I’m supposed to be getting up. They hand me a mirror and I have to admit my teeth look good. The left side of my mouth is still numb and drooping, like I had a stroke. What if it stays that way?
We go to the counter and I pay, but I have a $500 deductible because my insurance sucks, which means I have to pay for the entire procedure. It is way more than I thought it would be and I have no choice but to pay $250 - since I haven’t purchased gas for my car in 45 days, I actually have the money for this procedure. We make an appointment in two weeks for the last tooth.
3:30-5:30 - Home and I try to eat, but food keeps falling out of my mouth. I listen to Best of Both Worlds. I give up eating and take a nap - I’m exhausted.
5:30-6:00 -L. returns home from another date with R. He brought Starbucks, picked her up at home, and they drive 2 blocks to the lake in our neighborhood so they can walk around it before he goes to work. They sit on the grass for awhile and talk - lots of people are out. She has a good time.
6:00-7:30 - I finish Leaving The Witness
8:00 - 11:00- I grade two papers, post a response to my students on the Discussion board, then update the grade book for my duel enrollment class. I email 5 students, individually, and tell them the last day to withdraw from class with a “W” is this Friday. They all have Fs in the class. I listen to Today Explained; PBS News Hour segments; NPR Political Podcast; Global News Podcast; and BBC World Service while I work.
Yet another problem with a student who insists on completing her Inquizitives on the wrong platform in my other college class. This has literally been going on for the entire semester and her grades are NOT reflected in the online gradebook. For whatever reason, she refuses to contact the publisher and resolve the problem, but I can’t give her a semester grade until her grades are inputted into the Canvas online gradebook. I personally emailed the publisher last night and he responds that the student needs to screen shot the platform that she IS using to his attention. Then, I have to email her and tell her what the publisher said and …on and on it goes… it’s the same emails she and I have been exchanging for 12 weeks. I listen to Fresh Air and Vox, The Weeds.
11:00-12:30: I go through the refrig and try to determine what food I can salvage and freeze. I’m too late with L.’s fruit plate from her first date around 10 days ago as mold was growing on the blueberries. I’m upset with myself for not catching it sooner - I hate wasting food, especially in a pandemic, and she had purchased and prepped some great pieces of fruit. I make dinner - macaroni and cheese (from a box). As I said before, we hardly ever eat processed food, but I made it a couple of weeks ago and L. liked it as it didn’t last long. I add peas, onions, celery, cheese squares that I cut up, and tuna fish (wild caught). I clean the kitchen, make sure the fridge is squared away, then L. and I go upstairs for Married at First Sight.
12:30-2:00 - We watch an episode and scream at the TV again. I have champagne.
2:00-3:00 - Bedtime routine and sleep.