Month: April 2022

Day six of vacation

8:53am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Wednesday morning, April 20, 2022, day six of vacation. We got back home from the theme park last night just before ten pm and went to bed shortly thereafter. The trip was exhausting but, overall, extremely fun. I had a generalized plan to sleep in this morning but, our dog was eager wake up and explore; probably because we missed our walk yesterday. I did make the decision to cut the walk short because my legs were still sore. Nonetheless, this morning has been productive. It isn’t 9am yet and I have had two cups of coffee, loaded the dishwasher and started three loads of laundry.

Laundry room, apartment complex, Dana Point, California, USA

Tuesday in Los Angeles, California, USA

7:17am, pacific standard time, coffee shop in Los Angeles, California, USA, Tuesday morning, April 19, 2022, fifth day of vacation. Getting ready to go to an amusement park. We left early to avoid traffic, now we have to kill time before everything opens. 11:48am, we got in early and rode most of the big rides before the crowd grew too large. Now it is busy.

Waiting in line, Los Angeles,California, USA, April 19, 2022

A Nice Easter Sunday

7:03am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Monday morning, April 18, 2022, 4th day of vacation. Yesterday was a nice Easter Sunday. We went to the movies in the afternoon then met friends at a local park for a picnic. The movie was silly but, overall enjoyable. However, a part of me didn’t want to go on the picnic. There was no specific reason why I didn’t want to go just, sometimes, undefined anxiety makes it difficult for me to get to social events. Ironically, once I am there I relax and have a good time. The food was delicious at the picnic, we saw old friends and made new ones. After dinner an impromptu game of volleyball formed. We laughed and played until it got too dark to see.

Impromptu game of volleyball in the park, Laguna Niguel, California, USA, Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022

Recap: first three days of vacation

2:09 am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Saturday morning, April 16, 2022, first day of vacation. A triage call from work woke me up at 1am. A patient was having an issue and our nurse was not picking up. I called the caregiver and the situation is managed. I tried multiple times to get a hold of the nurse as well. Thankfully, we have a new clinical manager to address things like this. The drive on Friday went well. No major issues or traffic.Getting out early in the day helped immensely. Saturday, April 17, 2022, Dana Point, California, USA, second day of vacation. Took care of some work issues in the morning, went and grabbed burgers in the afternoon with my daughter then, in the evening all three of us got caramel apples and went clothes shopping. 7:58am, in the apartment, Dana Point, California, USA, Easter Sunday morning, April 17, 2022, third day of vacation. The dog and I went for a walk, got coffee, then bought Easter lilies and cards for the girls.

April 17, 2022, Easter morning, Dana Point, California, USA

Thursday update

Apartment 5:30am, apartment, Chandler, Arizona, Thursday evening, April 14, 2022. I want to quit this job and move on. Things have gone south, they have lost confidence in me. I am not going to win. Another possibility appeared on the walk this morning; stay in Phoenix and become a chaplain. 9:13am office Phoenix. The morning hasn’t been too bad. Getting things done. I am planning on taking pto then resigning on the Monday I come back.

Truly going home

5:18am, Friday morning, April 15, 2022, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, U.S.A. Today, after work, I am leaving for Southern California to take a much needed vacation. The trip will last 10 days, culminating with a return to Arizona next Sunday. It has been a long time since I had the feeling of truly “going home.” So long in fact that I didn’t believe it was possible to feel it ever again. But this morning on the walk, and sitting here preparing for the day, I am blessed to say that is what I am experiencing now.

Because we choose to destroy it

6:37pm, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, Wednesday evening, April 13, 2022. There are seldom moments of tranquility found in the ocean of life. For various reasons, and I have listed many in the past, contentment does not last. That is because, on a base level, we enjoy seeking out challenge to froth up stress in our lives. Happiness isn’t fleeting because it is ephemeral, but because we choose to destroy it. After all, nothing enlivens a person more than almost dying.

You wouldn’t think you could feel so empty

6:29pm, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, Tuesday evening, April 12, 2022. Our pet betta fish was dead when I got home from work yesterday. She had been sick for a while so it wasn’t really a big surprise. Still, that doesn’t make it easier to accept. Every time I walk through the kitchen I am reminded she’s not there. Her aquarium was cleaned and put away last night, replaced by an empty space on the kitchen counter, right below the cabinet where the coffee is stored. You wouldn’t think you could feel so empty, just because a little fish is gone, but you’d be wrong. Without another living thing to keep me company the silence becomes even more depressing. I am glad she isn’t suffering any more but, right now, I really miss her.

Feeling of tranquility

5:50am, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, Monday morning, April 11, 2022. Not sure how or why, but last night a feeling of tranquility washed over me and has remained. I have been able to let go of stress and not focus on problems. I am going to work hard this week, enjoy time off with my daughter next week and take everything one day at a time. I talked with my mom last night. She is going to come visit the first part of May. I look forward to spending time with her.