January 28, 2025, Tuesday evening, 5:41pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Meeting in Costa Mesa went well today. I enjoyed talking with the Senior Vp. I haven’t received a formal offer but expect one to come by the end of the week. I felt good physically today. I have been reducing stress and focusing on self-improvement. That seems to lessen the pain in my right upper quadrant. I am going to go to the book store tomorrow and find a good read. Finally, I turned on the feature that logs my phone usage time. Interesting how I use my phone less knowing it is being tracked.

January 27, 2025, Monday evening, 5:30pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Drove out to Palm Desert and Hemet today. All told I put almost three hundred miles on my car. It was good to get away. I needed a break from the apartment and same old routine. Tomorrow I will go to Costa Mesa and meet with the Senior VP. I am ready for a decision on this job one way or other.

January 26, 2025, Sunday night, 7:43pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Walked in the rain this morning before working out at Planet Fitness. Came home to drink coffee and play guitar. This afternoon I saw my daughter then watched football with a friend in Ladera Ranch.

January 24, 25, Friday, Saturday afternoon, 12:06pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Yesterday I slept in then took my daughter to school. From there I picked her mom up from the Orange County airport and gave her a ride home. In the afternoon I stopped by the gym to see the new equipment and layout. I was tired from staying up late Thursday so I went to bed early. This morning I walked, worked out and played guitar. The sunrise and moon were beautiful this morning. The picture doesn’t really capture it.

January 23, 2025, Thursday night, 8:52pm,pacific standard time, parking lot, rock school, San Juan Capistrano, California, USA. My daughter has her band rehearsal tonight. It is 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Way past my bedtime. Yesterday I got my new guitar. I haven’t had much time to play it since I am staying with my daughter. Tomorrow I will have a chance to really dive in. The string action is much closer to the fretboard and the neck itself is small. With my other guitar I have to stretch to hit notes without buzzing. With this guitar I have to be more precise not hit notes wrong.

January 21,22, 2025, Tuesday, Wednesday morning 9:20am, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California,USA. Went to dinner last night with the Costa Mesa crew. We went to the water grill. Very good seafood. It seemed to go alright. I am going to meet with the senior Vice President next Tuesday. This has been a long process. Mostly because they don’t officially have an opening in Orange County. Rather, they are moving the Orange County Director to rancho and then I will take his place. From their perspective I understand the pace. From my view it is harder. One, I am not getting paid and two, I have too much time to ponder existential questions. To paraphrase Camus; in the end. There is not escaping the machine. On a personal note, I stayed in aliso last night with my daughter and the dog while her mom is in Georgia for work. I will spend the next two nights here as well. Picture is sunrise in Aliso.

January 20, 2025, Monday morning, 10:54am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. For as long as I can remember I have been on a quest for assured confidence in all life’s endeavors. I sought out, learned and practiced various strategies specifically aimed at increasing my conviction. The goal being to overcome negative thoughts and subsequently be more successful. Yet, with honest reflection, those intruders are more likely self-imposed obstacles to heighten the fear of failure. In short, I subconsciously undercut my confidence to increase risk and get a high. I noticed this as I keep practicing guitar and continue to gain more confidence. With the guitar my mind goes to a different pathway rather than the same frustrating fear. I can isolate the negative thoughts and choose a new perspective. This time off will be remembered for finding a great new mindset and enjoying playing music again.

January 19,2025, Sunday afternoon, 4:28pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Yesterday my daughters mom talked about moving. Not sure how serious she is but economically it would make sense. That made the day rather nostalgic. I would miss Aliso viejo and that area if they moved. I took the dog for a walk this afternoon and tried to savor the moment, knowing at any time change can come. Picture taken off of Cedarbrook, looking back at a complex called The Villas.

January 18, 2025, Saturday night, 9:22pm,pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Not a bad day. Walked, worked out, took the dog for a walk then came home and watched football. Played a lot of guitar. Right now I am building out my song list. Red River valley, every rose has its thorn, good riddance, don’t look back in anger, possibly landslide . Photo off of blue lantern at sunrise

January 17, 2025, Friday night, 6:22pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. 26 years ago I was 26 years old and and was ordained as a Christian minister. I had just started my first “grown up” job at the Wyoming State Hospital two weeks prior. Life was just beginning and endless possibilities abound. Now, a lifetime has passed since that day. The years go by so fast now. I can’t believe how quickly days, weeks and months peel away.