(From the Lockdown Journals 2020 – “Quarantine Cottage” temporary home in a pandemic and a divorce; part 6 of 9 parts)
May 21, 2020 From Quarantine Cottage: Horrible attorney emails. No divorce! Grrr. Negative hometown vibes – AT&T (another divorce issue, getting my phone number unentwined from Ex), dealing with my storage unit, my parents still only able to see them outside, no touch. Sad.
Restaurants opening outside
May 23, 2020 Great two days of restaurants open outside – Carlitos, Good Lion. Joe’s. Today Santo Mezcal. Giddy. Live music at Lucky Penny (outside). Such a joy. Practicing Law of Attraction. Put out what I want to receive. New designer masks by https://www.chaneljoanelkayam.com/about from London. Others homemade by my mom. Funk Factory paint extravaganza. Too fun. Belly laughs with Audrey and Loretta. Friendship. Laughter. It’s everything. (p.s. 2023 note: In looking through photos, having Loretta as a roommate for six months was a life savior, a few friends like Audrey and Tina who joined our “bubble” brought lightness and levity to dark times. We followed the “rules”, but would be the first ones to join in whatever opened up, big supporters of the hospitality industry!)
Some Dark Days in Quarantine Cottage
May 27, 2020 Riots. Horrendous. U.S. in flames. LA all over again. Awful.
6/4/20 Shitty day. Pandemic. Riots.
Later a beautiful symbol of hope, getting to experience the painting of a mural of racial solidarity.
June 6, 2020 Anxiety through the roof.
June 9 Super low Thurs-Sat. Vocational shit really bothers me. (Having to be grilled, put on trial, about my work history, as a “stay at home mom”.) The House. Life. Family of 4 shattered. Imploded.
June 11 Lots of discussion with the Rogue about coming. But will borders ever open???
Day Trip to Morro Bay
6/12/20 Day trip to Morro Bay with Loretta. Super fun and positive.
Side Car and Drive By Graduations
6/13/20 Video call with the Rogue. I was in route with Loretta for sidecar (drive by graduation). Such a fun positive day.
6/14 Still giggling over our news highlight. Loretta and I in the motorcycle side car made the evening news! We are laughing out loud over and over.
Vocational Exam – Divorce Hell
Tackled vocational exam prep with a vengeance. From knees on the ground to bad ass strong woman. Feel confident. In control. At last.
Father’s Day – Six Feet Apart
Father’s Day 2020 – Another weird holiday, but so grateful to at least see my parents, and celebrate my dad in person even if it’s “six feet apart”! Allowed to dine outside, so that was a treat.
More Divorce Hell
6/18/20 HWY 101 Entertainment U.K. company formed!! Vocational exam shit show. Divorce nightmare. Massive highs and lows.
6/22/20 Signs of woman in family home. I am so disappointed, gutted. Strange twists over and over.
Funk Factory Outdoor Concert – Live Music!
Meanwhile loved the Funk Factory concert. Huge success in putting together a live outdoor gig in these crazy times. http://brayell
That Vocational Exam Again
6/23/20 Vocational exam tomorrow. So shitty. Then Escape to Vegas. Secret mission. Cannot wait.
6/24/20 Survived vocational exam/interrogation. 3 hours. From high school job LOL on. Ridiculous. Felt empowered. Relieved. Came out and called the Rogue. He sang me a song. Just what I needed.. Feel 100% back on track. Vegas tomorrow!
What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas – Especially in a Pandemic
VEGAS – Shhhhh! Loretta and I secret escape. Hilarious escapade. The Wedding we joined and became the party. A bachelor party. Penthouse party. Elevator antics. Huge fabulous distraction. Vegas… what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
One Year Anniversary of Filing for Divorce
June 30, 2020 One year anniversary of filing for divorce and fleeing to Scotland. So over it all. So stressed, ill. Dreadful. Moving this week. Bars closing again. Going backwards in pandemic. Social media giving me anxiety. Borders will never open. Feel under attack in my own hometown. Never dreamed Ex would get the house with his friends and a woman in it and I’d be bouncing around untethered.
June 30 Woke feeling down. Boathouse with Loretta and Audrey. Breathe. Vision boards. New cottage. Hopefully with projects. Lots of good things. Friendships are everything right now.
July 2 Ubered to house to do my laundry. Still technically my house. Driving the twenty year old Explorer like a teenager with their first car. Found a woman’s jacket with lipstick in the house. The hurt goes on and on.
July 3 Last night in Quarantine Cottage. Casa de Coco up next.
Ode to the Quarantine Cottage
July 2020 As I pack to move yet again (in a series of transitions) I say farewell to this little cottage that has sheltered me in the quarantine. There were the dark moments of the 14 days of total self-isolation upon my return from the U.K. with glimpses of InstaCart Man and a few beautiful souls that delivered me essential supplies (And flowers! And quarantinis!).
Lonely days desperately missing my son and friends abroad. Not able to see my daughter or my parents here in California. So close, yet so far.
Home of the Instagram live workouts (Bond Fitness! Wine Weight Wednesday; Fun Pants Friday). Best shape I’ve been in years!
Setting of the Quarantine Chronicles, including the live reports of Claws on Wood (and his ultimate demise).
Eventual visits by Daughter including her virtual college graduation, and our collaboration shooting an episode of “COVID – 19 Sins and Virtues”.
Rediscovering my bike, rollerblades, picnic basket. Curbside Cocktails. Mason Jars.
Friends. Family. Zoom. Face Time. 6 feet apart. A world apart. Easter. Mother’s Day. Father’s Day. Birthdays. The “new normal” (ugh).
Trying to move my life from the family home into a 10×10 aluminum shed. Revisiting my “Never will I ever, Maybe, Definitely” vision boards from the beginning of the quarantine. Much accomplished, some dreams/goals redirected.
The light of Loretta my Manchester Girl finally joining me for some much needed companionship, laughs, music, and State Street adventures.
Music and more music.
Life suddenly coming back.
Quarantine Cottage was a cozy respite, a safe oasis.
Next cottage, a whimsical fairyland where I hope to rediscover my creativity and positivity. A playful space where I hope color and music will shine, and a brighter, calmer future awaits.
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