Day 9 of Governor Newsom’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy”

Saturday. 9/5/20.

7:30 - I’m awake, but I absolutely refuse to get out of bed. I listen to the Slate Spoiler Special - I’m Thinking of Ending Things.

9:00 - 9:30 - the dog starts barking non-stop so now I have to get out of bed. I go downstairs and she pooped in front of the door. I take her outside and she continues to run around the backyard, stopping to sniff and stand against the same tree. All of this is so irritating - I just want her to pee so we can go inside. Eventually, she does and we go back in the house. Cheese. I make coffee and return to my bedroom.

L. leaves for work.

10:00 - 3:00 - I update all of my blog posts and eat apple slices with peanut butter. I am finally caught up. I listen to The Book Review; PBS Newshour segments; the Global News podcast; Up First; Skimm This; Start Here; Martinis and Your Money; Vox’ The Weeds; Vox’ Worldly; World News Tonight; Today Explained; Airtalk Film Week; and the 365 Podcast while I work.

L. returns from work.

3:00-4:30 - I eat my leftovers from Alchemy - spicy sausage pizza bread - and finish Mothership.

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So, it’s time to take an assessment of August, determine where I’m deficient, and set some goals and intentions for September. My water intake is deplorable and must be resolved.

For August 2020, I read 4 books and my page count was 946, which is much improved over last August. I think I can do better for September, though.

Last August (2019), I read 1 book (158 pgs), but also included my text book from Specialty Class No. 2 , which was 361 pages, although I don’t think I read the entire book during the month of August - I think it was spread out. My page count was lower then because I was employed full-time with the State.

Right now, I’m at 23 books for the year. L. is going to surpass her goal of 50 (I think she’s already at 75). I don’t know anyone who reads faster than L. except maybe my Mom. It’d be nice if I could hit 50 books by year’s end, but that’s pushing it. We’re in August and I’m only at 23 books.

Exercise needs to improve for September, most definitely. There are too many skipped days for August. And is it so hard for me to find time to walk my dog every day? What is wrong with me? I can never seem to find the time to take her for a walk! This is truly unacceptable.

When calculating the number of hours I worked, the total weighs in at a whopping 140 hours for August. This total also includes my lecture hours. Unfortunately, school didn’t officially start until 8/17/20, although I spent some time the week before compiling the syllabus. So the average is 46 hours per week!!! That’s the equivalent of a full-time job and I’m retired - how depressing. However, once my weekly 12 hours of lecture are subtracted (where I monitor the screen and deploy course content during class time) I’m actually only working 34 hours per week. This is still too high and must be reduced.

5:00 - 6:00- Shower. Dress in Covid-19 uniform.

6:00-7:00-Whole Foods for Prosecco-in-a can 4-packs.

L. leaves to go to Salt-n-Straw with J. and N. They also accompany L. on her first Door Dash in Castaic. It goes well and she makes $11. J. leaves tomorrow for Columbia University…in Paris.

7:00-8:00 - Return home and put everything away.

8:00-9:00 - I clean the kitchen and listen to The 365 Podcast.

9:00-10:00 - I turn my home office into a home gym (pull down the treadmill) and do a 1-hr speed walking app which really kicks my ass. I read I’m Just Happy To Be Here during part of the work out.

10:00-12:00 - L. returns and tells me about her day. I update today’s blog.

12:00-1:30 - I prepare a salad with tomatoes, spinach, zuchinni, and olives; overnight oats; cut up zuchniin slices; hummus; apple slices; almond butter; and trail mix snack packs from TJs; and pack everything in my insulated lunch bag. I eat a bowl of the Minsestrone soup I made a couple days ago while I food prep. Then, I check my “perpetually packed beach bag” and make sure it’s stocked with supplies.

1:30-2:30 - I braid my hair and read I’m Just Happy to Be Here while I work. Then, I paint my nails.

2:30-3:30 - Nighttime routine. Bed.