September 26, 2024, Thursday afternoon, 1:38pm, pacific standard time, parking lot by my daughters school, Laguna Hills, California, USA. I got back in town just before 10am. My daughters mom called saying our daughter wanted to be picked up early from school and taken to urgent care for a minor issue. I told her I couldn’t get there until 2pm. I will grab her and take her to Irvine. I have a couple calls in the meantime but should be able to sit in on them while driving and waiting to see the doctor.

September 25, 2024, Wednesday evening, 5:31pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Carlsbad, California,USA. Went to the San Diego office early to beat traffic and catch up on some work. At 9:30am we had the meeting to announce the north county branch closure and subsequent merger back into the San Diego office. It went well, staff was understanding and positive. I have work I have to do on the back end to complete the process. Mostly clerical items. After that I will pack up the old office and be done.

September 24, 2024, Tuesday night, 6:08pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Carlsbad, California,USA. I am not sure how much longer I can go on Like this. I feel the level of commitment for this job has negatively effected my body. I am having stomach issues. When my stomach should growl it gets stuck high up and causes me discomfort. It all started seven months after i started this job and has increasingly got worse. The pain is right where I carry my stress, under my right rib. Maybe it is work stress or maybe it is totally unrelated. I need to bite the bullet and see a doctor to find out.

September 23, 2024, Monday night, 6:12pm, pacific standard time, Homewood Suites, room 336, Carlsbad, California,USA. At the hotel watching football. I decided not to go to the Vista office this afternoon. I needed to catch up on emails and other stuff so I came straight to the hotel. I will head in tomorrow and get ready for the rest of the week then.

September 22, 2024, Sunday evening, 6:50pm, pacific standard time, apartment parking lot, Dana Point, California, USA. Today was a good day existentially. I am accepting of my life situation. I know this job won’t last forever. I also know I can’t control when and how it will end. whatever May be will be. Just got home from dinner in Aliso Viejo with my daughter and her mom. They had steak and broccoli. I had broccoli, rice and avocado. This weekend I didn’t eat very much except protein bars in the morning after working out. It was nice to have a full meal tonight.

September 21, 2024, Saturday afternoon, 4:46pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Walked and worked out this morning then went and visited my daughter around 1pm. We drove to Dana Point from Aliso Viejo to get a couple California rolls from Zen Sushi. Back at her house I said good bye while she was on her computer. I was almost out the front door when she came out of her room to give me a hug. It was a small moment but also something really special.

September 20, 2024, Friday evening, 6:41pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Enjoyed a quiet day at home. Didn’t work too hard and I liked it that way. This morning, I went for a walk up Blue Lantern, worked out at Planet Fitness then took the dog for a full walk in Aliso Viejo. This afternoon I picked my daughter up from school, got her In and Out for dinner, picked up her boyfriend and dropped them off.

September 18-19, Wednesday, Thursday evening, 5:57, pacific standard time, parking lot outside Nordstrom Rack in Valencia, California,USA. Survey finished today. It wasn’t perfect but looks like we won’t have any major citations. I feel relieved. The day was longer than anticipated. Instead of sitting in LA traffic I stopped in Valencia and went for a walk along the River Trail. Now I am going to head out and hope I missed the heaviest congestion.

September 17, 2024, Tuesday night, 7:28pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Visalia, California,USA. I’ve come to understand this job doesn’t owe me anything easy. For a couple weeks, even months, I coasted. Enjoying sporadic travel, working from home, taking time off. Because of that I felt entitled. This survey in Bakersfield proves the ride is over. I have a job because it has to be done and it sucks. Accepting that means more work anxiety but less existential angst. At least I know where the pain is coming from going forward.

September 16, 2024, Monday night, 6:23pm, pacific standard time, residence inn, room 417, Visalia, California, USA. I am staying at the same hotel as last week but in a different room. I was VIP guest of the day! Again! But I forgot my gift at the front desk. That’s alright, it probably was a snack I couldn’t eat anyway. Survey showed up in Bakersfield today. They will be on site there and in Visalia until Thursday. I don’t know if we are 100% prepared but it doesn’t matter now. I am just glad it will soon be over. I want to take time off, go see my mom in Wyoming when it is over.