January 9, 2024, Tuesday night, 9:01pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California,USA. I was driving to the gym after dropping my daughter off at school when it was announced a surveyor was in the Palm Desert branch. Instead of working out I drove back to the apartment, showered and fed the dog then drove two and half hours east. I stayed 2 hours, then drove back to pick my daughter up from school at 4pm in Laguna Hills. On the way back I stopped twice to lead zoom meetings, the second of which was to announce my boss leaving. Still sad about that. On top of all that I had an optometry appointment tonight. I am up past my bed time. Going to read and watch some videos then go to sleep.

January 8, 2024, Monday night, 7:23pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California, USA. I went to pick my daughter up at school this afternoon. Five minutes before 4pm my supervisor called. She let me know she is resigning. I have been gutted ever since. There has been so much change and loss at work but she was a constant. I didn’t realize how much I depend on her until now. I feel alone. The branch leadership is going to be dispirited as well. There just aren’t many leaders left. She is leaving as the west coast Vice President. My counter part in the Pacific Northwest is leaving this week. The Northern California position has been vacant with no viable candidates. It is just me and the area leader for Arizona. It will take a moment to digest all this.

January 7, 2024, Sunday morning, 9:05am, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California,USA. My daughter’s mom left for Chandler, Arizona this morning. She is driving my personal car, the one I drove back and forth to Arizona for two years. It feels surreal and a bit nostalgic to see her leave Sunday morning like I used to back in the day. I am glad she gets out of the house and I get to spend time with my daughter and the dog. It is going to be a different week for everyone.

January 6, 2024, Saturday night, 7:21pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. A friend came over today and brought her electric scooters. We rode them to Doheny Beach then sat and talked for a while. After riding back to the apartment we parked the scooters and drove to have lunch at Board and Brew. Then we came back and hung out until she had to leave at 3pm. It was a ideal Southern California day. Tomorrow, my daughter’s mom leaves for Arizona. I will spend the week in Aliso Viejo working and taking care of her and the dog. I am excited we get to spend time together.

January 5, 2023, Friday night, 8:30pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Took the Arizona plates off my car today. The last remnant of my time in Chandler. Hard to believe that moment is over. Ironically, my daughter’s mom is leaving for a week of business meetings and is staying not too far from my old apartment. For safety reasons she is taking the Acura. That car definitely knows the way. In the two years I drove back and forth I put nearly 70,000 miles on the odometer.

January 4, 2024, Thursday evening, 6:56pm, pacific standard time, hotel room in Carlsbad, California,USA. The vista office was locked this morning when I arrived. The staff was in San Diego for a meeting so they rolled the phones and locked the door. The problem is the office must be open and attended during business hours. Consequently I ended up hunting down a building contractor to open the door and I say alone in an empty office until 5pm. Also reconnected with a friend I hadn’t talked to in a couple days. She is a lot of fun but also a little confusing. Not sure where I stand with her or what to expect.

January 3, 2024, Wednesday night, 7:45pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Carlsbad, California,USA. Spent the day at the San Diego office. Mostly monitoring emails and talking with staff. They are a good group. I liked spending time with them. And I am enjoying the hotel. It is more vacation focused. People are here because they want to be. That positive energy is contagious.

January 2, 2024, Tuesday evening, 6:36pm, pacific standard time, hotel room in Carlsbad, California,USA. Staying at a new place after visiting the Vista location for the first time. It is a pretty good hotel. I grabbed groceries on the way here but couldn’t find anything for dinner. I was going to order from DoorDash, but lucky me, there was a manager’s reception tonight. I ended up with a delicious hot meal for free with no wait. Sometimes life works out great.

January 1, 2024, Monday morning, 9:52am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, New Years Day. Last night my daughter, her mom and I went to PF Chang’s at the Mission Viejo mall for a New Year’s Eve dinner. Afterwards, we weren’t ready to go home so we stopped by Target and walked around. Then we went back to the Aliso Viejo apartment and played Yahtzee before watching the new year celebration in Chicago at 10pm. I went home after that. Now I am doing laundry and getting ready for the week. I don’t look forward to going to work. Not because work is bad but rather the transition from not work mode to work mode is debilitating. Oh well, it has to happen some time. Might as well be tomorrow.