Day 9 - Governor Newsom imposes new restrictions

Festival of Trees…

Tuesday. 11/24/20

7:30 - 8:00 - My alarm goes off and I’m up with a headache. Two Advil immediately. One class today and I still have to create the Discussion Board. I go downstairs and say good morning to the dog. We go outside, but when I open the door, I see that she pooped outside, right in front of it. I almost stepped in it!! Is she mad at me? She goes potty and we go back inside. Bacon for her, green tea for me. I go to work.

8:00 - I create the Discussion Board, then post. The students are watching a video, followed by a video quiz that I have to post at 9:30. The “dumbest student I’ve ever taught” emails me, asking if I received the emails he sent yesterday. I reply, “I received several indecipherable attachments with no explanation provided.” He responds, “Chapter 2".” I have no idea what he’s talking about.

I step away and take a shower. Covid-19 uniform. Light make-up.

I return and post the video quiz at 9:30. I have some cashews.

My highschooler emails me that his Wifi went out and he had to walk to his Grandma’s house for internet access, but arrived too late - can he make up Friday’s work? Sure, if you ‘make up’ the two quizzes that I sent you two weeks ago for yet another “family issue” you were experiencing. I remind him as much, stating that: “On such and such date, you said you were experiencing a family issue and asked to make up two quizzes for that day. On such and such date, I emailed you the quizzes with a deadline of whatever. It has been two weeks and I have yet to receive the assignments from you.”

The student immediately emails me the chapter review quiz that I emailed him weeks ago. When it comes to the video quiz, he states he does not have Netflix and is unable to take the quiz. No. I respond, stating, “At no point did you ever inform me that you do NOT have access to Netflix. I have alternative assignments for those students who cannot access this platform. Attached is your alternative assignment. Please complete by 12:00 p.m.”

The student completes the assignment, three weeks after the due date and 10 days after I sent him the make-up work. I notice there is no more discussion from the student regarding a make-up for Friday’s assignment as a result of his mile-long trek to Grandmas. That seems to have gone by the wayside.

I update the Participation points for the Socratic Seminar assigned for the last Thursday class [Specialty Class No. 2, College No. 1]

10:30 - Headache. More Advil. I leave for my therapy appointment.

11:00-11:30 - Therapy. Good session today.

11:30-12:00 - I stop by the Festival of Trees display so I can use the coupon B. gave me. When I get there, they say it’s FREE!! I love looking at Christmas trees and the creative ways people decorate them. Everything is so beautiful and I particularly like the gingerbread homes. Nice experience.

12:00-12:30 - I drop off my recycling and receive $7.85. Throughout the entire pandemic, the workers have never masked, although they work around each other. They also don’t social distance. I know it’s outside, but the employees come in contact with various people throughout the day, 5 days a week, as they weigh our bottles and cans. Yet, the same workers have been there for the past 8 months, seemingly fine. The customers mask.

12:30 - 1:00 - I stop by a different Goodwill near the recycling place because B. said the back of the building has a clean drop-off center and they will probably take books. When I get there, the doors are locked, with no signage or explanation. Headache. More Advil.

1:00-1:30 - I have a 30% coupon for CVS and need to use it before it expires, so I go there and buy some Clearcare contact solution, a shower cap, and marshmallows for a yam dish I’m making.

1:30-2:00 - Drive home. Lots of cars out. What pandemic?

2:00-3:00 - I make a huge salad and have green tea. The headache returns. I think it’s the green tea. More Advil.

3:00-5:30 - I take a nap.

5:30 - Up and I have hot green tea. The headache returns. More Advil. No more green tea ever again.

6:00-10:00 - I rake leaves and garden for THREE hours. I listen to Insights from the Edge and I boil chicken while I’m gardening.

-At 7:00, I break so L. and I can take the dog for the walk. Yes, L. actually agrees to go with me!!! Several homes have their Xmas lights up - it’s nice, walking by and looking at the decorations. Even a pandemic can’t take away Xmas.

-8:00 - Return to gardening. More Insights from the Edge.

10:00 -1:00 - All the leaves in my backyard are gone. Just in time for more leaves to fall.

-I start a chicken soup from scratch because it’s a recommended detox recipe. This takes some time. I have to slice 6 carrots and steam them for 20 minutes, but while I’m doing that, I decide to cut some carrot sticks. Then, I have to chop 3 celery stalks, but I decide to cut extra celery pieces that I can dip in almond butter for snacks. I slice an onion, then cut the boiled chicken into pieces. I graze on vegetables and pieces of chicken while I’m working - that’s my dinner. Finally, I put everything in a Dutch oven, add chicken broth, and simmer. I listen to several episodes of Finding Alyssa while I work.

-Kitchen duty. What a mess.

-1:00 - 2:00 a.m. - I do a 1-hr, HIIT full body circuit with 5-pound weights. I listen to Do No Harm while I work out. The work out is hard. to. get. through. OMG. I think I’m still stiff from the bike ride ??? Or maybe I have the flu - I’ve had a headache ALL day. Damn this detox.

2:00-2:30 - Night time ritual. Bed.