May 23,2026, Saturday afternoon, 4:33pm, pacific standard time, apartment complex parking lot, Aliso Viejo, California,USA. Did the PCH/santa Clara walk this morning then hung out at Starbucks until the gym opened. After working out I went home, got ready then took mom to wash her car and buy groceries. After a quick nap I got a haircut and an oil change for the TSX. This afternoon I drove all the way out to Foothill Ranch to workout before I realized I forgot my gear. I decided to walk the dog in Aliso instead. It is not lost on me this is the first weekend my daughter is independent at her convention in Atlanta while it is also the first weekend mom is not independent in her house any more. Big milestones all around.

May 22,2026, Friday night, 8:49, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Today was the Friday before Memorial Day. Busy at work getting patient’s tucked in for the long weekend. Now there is a major toxic chemical leak that is threatening parts of Orange County. My daughter is still in Atlanta and bought an expensive replica gun. I talked with my mom’s friend about what we need to do to clean out her condo. I also took the dog for a walk this evening. Busy day.

May 21,2026, Thursday morning, 8:05am, pacific standard time, office in Costa Mesa, California,USA. I was so tired from taking my daughter to the airport yesterday that I slept in this morning. I had designs to skip my morning walk because I didn’t get up until 5am but I went anyway. It was very enjoyable. I got to see the sunrise, I listened to the new episode of the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast and enjoyed stealing a walk when I resigned myself to being lazy.

May 20, 2026, Wednesday evening, 6:10pm, pacific standard time, gym at the office complex in Costa Mesa, California,USA. Got up at 3am to take my daughter to the airport so she could fly to Atlanta and attend an anime conference. Her mom was going to take her but she asked me to do it instead. That made me happy. As a result I got to work 2 hours early so I napped and read in my car before going into the office. Now I am finishing up an afternoon workout and getting ready to head home.

May 19,2026, Tuesday evening, 6:01pm, pacific standard time, gym at office complex in Costa Mesa, California, USA. Today I have been thinking about starting as a hospice chaplain 23 years ago. I am also thinking about how tied to Wyoming I was with my mom still living there.Now that she has left and come to California the “path of least resistance” i imagined myself on (retiring and living in the Wyoming condo) is gone. I feel like a massive void has opened up. One I am happy to accept. Time will reveal what fills it. For now I am thankful for the perspective shift. I never liked Wyoming. I am glad to see my interminable prison sentence of 40+ years come to an end. Good riddance.

May 18,2026, Monday morning, 7:37am, pacific standard time, room 136, Hampton inn, Mesquite, Nevada,USA. I woke up just before five this morning and went for an hour walk. Afterwards I stopped by the gym for a workout. I put together the triage report for work and had breakfast with mom. We will take off after morning stand up call. I am enjoying this time and appreciating happy memories of this day and this place.

May 17,2026, Sunday afternoon, 4:25pm, mountain standard time, hotel gym, Hampton Inn, Mesquite, Nevada, USA. We got into Mesquite about an hour ago. Mom is settling in with her cat and I came to the gym to get a workout in. I missed both walks yesterday but was able to walk this morning and workout again now. Later we will grab something to eat and maybe gamble. All day I have been thinking about what it means to be liberated from Wyoming as the framing reference of my life. I have been associated with that area since I was 9years old. I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. we still have a lot of logistics to work out but I am excited to have mom coming to California and see what the next chapter of our life will look like. P.s. this is a really good gym.

May 16,2026, Saturday morning, 6:17am, pacific standard time, Long Beach AirPort, California, USA. I made it to the airport to get my mom. Last night I got my new glasses. They look a lot better than my old pair. I hated joe I looked and felt but put off getting new frames because they were so expensive. Funny how I will stay stuck in a bad situion because I don’t want to pay the price to change.

May 15,2026, 3:53pm, Friday afternoon, pacific standard time, office in Costa Mesa, California,USA. I just realized today is the 23rd anniversary of leaving Valencia, California and going to Evanston to start my job as a Chaplain in Utah. That anniversary was lost because today is also the day I returned to Arizona after taking my mom home four years ago when I was laid off from my job in Phoenix. Funny how something can be forgotten which was so meaningful and important. Now memories are flooding back.

May 14,2026,Thursday morning, 6:54am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. I moved my flight because work is busy. I will fly out Saturday, travel Sunday and take Monday off. That way I don’t have to miss as much and can support my team. have a little time this morning before I go to the dental hygienist so I am clearing out the bedroom. It feels so good to vacate that space. I realize I am overdue for change. This was a nice apartment and met my needs at the time but a fresh start is warranted. .