6:46pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Thursday evening, November 4, 2022. Spent most of the day working on a plan of correction. The executive director, who was supposed to stay through tomorrow, left for good this morning. I guess she figured now that I am here there was no reason to stay. Other than work, not much to report. I called my mom this evening and discussed plans for our next get together. Her birthday is coming up and so are the holidays. We won’t be able to celebrate all of them separately so, it looks like we will plan one big get together, either for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Author: mikemeyer949
Helping a friend
6:52pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Wednesday night, November 2, 2022. A full day in the office today. We had meetings at 9am, 11am, 11:30, 2:30 and 4:30 because there are issues that need to be addressed quickly. Only my second day and I am already in deep. Oh well, I enjoy being a part of the solution and working hard. A friend reached out today to tell me she is moving to Arizona from Texas to start a new job. I offered to let her stay in the Chandler apartment because I am seldom there. I am glad it won’t sit empty any longer and that I can help a friend.
1st day in Palm Desert
6:15pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Tuesday evening, November 1, 2022. First day of the new assignment. There is a lot of information to digest. It isn’t so much there are more problems than Dublin, just the mood of the site is bleak. The first order of business is to get the energy turned around. Halloween yesterday was fun. We didn’t stay out too late but did manage to get some good candy. It was nice to have the extra day to spend with my daughter and take her to school a couple times.
Halloween 2022
4:54pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, October 31, 2022, Halloween. Took my daughter to school this morning, did a couple of calls for work, got a haircut, exercised in the afternoon, then picked my daughter up. Now we are getting ready to visit friend’s for pizza dinner and trick-or-treating. I am wearing the shirt I bought for the party last Saturday. Happy Halloween 🎃
At the Salt Lake City airport
3:17pm, mountain standard time, Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday afternoon, October 30, 2022. Today is the thirteen year anniversary of my last day as a full time hospice chaplain. The party last night was to be with co-workers from that era. Unfortunately, two couldn’t make it and one has a serious illness. Consequently, it was not the reunion anticipated. Still, it was nice to see old friends and a few long forgotten acquaintances. Now, after a farewell lunch with my mom, I am at the airport, traveling back to Orange County to spend Halloween with my daughter.
Killing time before the party
6:06pm, mountain standard time, parking lot in Ogden, Utah. Drove to Utah with my mom to attend a wedding reception/Halloween party for an old work friend. On the way we stopped at a costume store in Ogden to buy a t-shirt so I have something a little festive. The party doesn’t start until 7pm so we are waiting and killing time scrolling on our phones and talking.
Day two in wyoming
6:26pm, mountain standard time, mom’s house, Evanston, Wyoming, Friday evening, October 28, 2022. Slept in this morning then drove three hours to West Wendover, Nevada. We gambled for four hours before grabbing dinner to go in Salt Lake City. Now we are watching television and having beer and pizza.
Evanston, Wyoming
6:41pm, mountain standard time, mom’s house, Evanston, Wyoming, USA, Thursday evening, October 27, 2022. Finished up in Dublin this morning then caught a plane to Salt Lake City. My mom picked me up at the airport and we drove the hour to my hometown of Evanston. It has been two years since I last visited. A lot of memories are coming back; some good, some not so good. All it all, it is nice to be here. Tomorrow we will drive to West Wendover, Nevada, gamble a little and enjoy some time together.
A round of applause
6:17pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Dublin, California, USA,, Wednesday evening, October 26, 2022. Today, at the end of a meeting, I got a round of applause. We were wrapping up when a team member thanked me for my presence the past few months. That led to the subsequent ovation. The compliment and the applause were unexpected, but welcome. My time in Dublin has been wonderful. I learned valuable lessons while providing calm leadership. Now we part ways, at least for the time being. Though I look forward to the future I will miss the people I worked with and the friendships I made.
Reconnecting
6:17pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Dublin, California, USA, Tuesday night, October 25, 2022. Spent the day training the new executive director and finishing up last minute issues with payroll. Tomorrow is my final full day in Dublin. On Thursday, I fly to Salt Lake City to visit my mom and attend my previous supervisors wedding reception/Halloween party. I look forward connecting with friends and seeing my mom again. It has been over five years since I saw my old coworkers and almost six months since my mom visited me in Arizona.
mikemeyer949 