Day 76 of Governor Newsom’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy”

The Gamble House…isn’t it beautiful?

Wednesday. 11/11/20.

10:30 - I don’t get out of bed until now. The dog won’t stop barking so I go downstairs and she is already up and running around. Outside and I see that she pooped in two places on the patio so I have to clean it. Back inside and cheese for her, coffee for me. I go upstairs and take a shower.

10:45-11:15 - Shower. Covid-19 uniform. Light make-up.

11:15-11:30 - I add a few snacks to my lunch bag, just in case, and leave for Pasadena.

11:30-2:00 - Last night, I tried to get tickets for the Huntington, but there were no reservations available. As I was perusing the internet to see the “hot spots” in Pasadena, I came across The Gamble House, designed by Green and Green Architectural Firm for the Proctor and Gamble family. It reminded me of the Winchester house, although the Gamble House is not all-crazy like Lady Winchester. This is just a beautiful craftsman home run by a historical society that holds exterior tours of the grounds surrounding the house. I took a virtual tour of the interior via the internet and really enjoyed it.

I tried to book tickets, but there was nothing available for today. That doesn’t mean I can’t go, though, especially since it’s not gated or closed to the public. So, I went and it was great! I walked around the grounds - sort of - and then checked out the neighborhood and surrounding streets, which contain more craftsman homes built by Green and Green. Separate walking tours for the neighborhood are also available.

-I brought my laptop with me and managed to knock out a blog post while enjoying the scenery.

2:00 - 3:30 - This is my special day [I know it’s really Veterans Day, but I’m off] and I definitely planned on treating myself to lunch at a new restaurant. I had three restaurants in mind, but B. recommended Plate 38. After reading the online menu, I decided to go there instead. I sat outside, in the covered patio area, where I had the best glass of Brut Rose champagne! I also had the fried calamari - Excellent. I just want to say how great it is that I don’t have to interact with a single student today.

Throughout the day, I keep thinking about the fact that I might be infected as a result of yesterday’s nightmarish therapy session.

3:30-4:30 - Home and traffic was fine.

5:00 - 7:00 - I actually take a nap. When I go downstairs, I see that the dog shit right next to the dining room table. I clean it up (sigh).

7:00-9:00 - I go to work. I have to prepare lecture for Specialty Class No. 1 on Monday so I review my script and PP slides and make adjustments.

9:00-11:00 - I select audio clips to insert between the slides. Tonight’s case study is Brazil. I email the PP slides to L. so she can reformat them.

11:00-12:30 - I set up the Discussion Board for tomorrow morning’s class at College No. 2. It’s the Midterm and I want to make sure everything is ready. Then, I prepare Discussion Boards for my two classes on Friday morning. I also set up a Discussion Board for Specialty Class No. 2 (tomorrow afternoon) and manually load the chapter review quiz into Canvas.

12:30-2:30 - I record lecture. This is a really fun lecture and I play upbeat Brazilian music between the slides, especially music from Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival, which is the biggest carnival/parade/floats in the world and held every year before Lent. Unfortunately, I’m up way too late again.

2:30-3:00 - I have a few chips and salsa that L. brought home from Solitas, then I take the dog out one last time. A huge rat scurries along the wall and, this time, runs up the tree closest to my neighbor’s yard. Can rats live in trees? OMG - very disturbing. This is the second time I’ve seen a rat over the course of a week so will definitely contact my Homeowners’ Warranty Program [First American].

3:00-4:00 - Night time routine. I think I might be getting sick. I smell some of my bottled perfume - my sense of smell is still intact - but I’m not feeling well. Is it just because I’m exhausted? I have a glass of champagne to calm my nerves. Bed.