August 16, 2024, Friday evening, 6:28pm, pacific standard time, apartment parking lot, Dana Point, California, USA. Drove to vista this morning to meet with the Director there then worked from home the rest of the day. I kind of want to stay up tonight, have a drink and watch a movie but I know I will feel sick tomorrow if I do. I will just go read for a bit then fall asleep instead.

August 15, 2024, Thursday night, 6:35pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Today is the second anniversary of me starting this job. no one acknowledged it and I am alright with that fact. The day was busy. I seldom had time to be nostalgic and frankly there was no reason to be overly sentimental. Right now I am just thankful I I have a job that challenges me, gives me a sense of identity and offers enough compensation to support my family.

August 14, 2024, Wednesday evening, 6:54pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Victorville,California,USA. The last three weeks have been good. I feel balanced. I have been traveling and staying in hotels but not going to the office. That gets me out of the house and away from distractions. It also keeps me From getting sucked into the minutiae of the work day at a single branch. Today is technically the end of two years at work. Tomorrow is my start date anniversary, or put another way, the beginning of my third years with this company. At least this go around. Including my earlier stint I have been here four years. Either way I am thankful for this day and look forward to beginning another year tomorrow.

August 13, 2024, Tuesday evening, Home2Suites, room 333, Victorville,California,USA. Woke up this morning and tried to exercise but the hotel fitness center did not open until 6am. So I worked for an hour then did an abbreviated treadmill walk a little later. I drove to Barstow then back to Victorville this afternoon. After having Waba grill for dinner I am watching the office and checking my phone. I have chosen not to drink soda with my meal or have dessert because the sugar seems to exacerbate the discomfort on my right side. It feels a little better not having sweets but it kind of makes me grouchy too.,

August 12, 2024, Monday evening, 6:13pm, pacific standard time, Hampton Inn, rm 102, Banning, California,USA. Staying between palm desert and San Bernardino tonight. They are moving the San Bernardino office today. I wanted to be close in case they needed me but sounds like they don’t. I am going to have dinner with a friend since I have the night free. Lots of nostalgia today as I approach my work anniversary Thursday. Been thinking about Arizona and what this job meant to me two years ago. I got a little sad because Arizona memories are fading more everyday. I still look back fondly on my time there but don’t recall as much as I used to, nor as often as I once did.

August 11, 2024, Sunday afternoon, 3:24pm, pacific standard, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Today is a rare day where everything feels right. This week is the two year anniversary of starting this job. Next Sunday is my daughters birthday and next Monday we go to Disneyland to celebrate. Not often is the present more powerful than the past or the future. I am in the moment and happy.

August 10, 2024, Saturday night, 8:02pm, Pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California,USA. Spent the day going back and forth from Aliso to Dana Point. Did some laundry and got pizza for dinner. Now I am Watching a movie on Netflix and hanging out with the dog. I will leave and go back to Dana Point when my daughter’s mom gets home.

August 9,2024, Friday night, 8:39pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Worked out this morning then worked from home most of the day. Picked my daughter up at the mall at 4pm and took her home. I came back to Dana Point around 6pm. Went out briefly to see a friend in Mission Viejo then came back to Dana Point. Not much to do but go to sleep early and get a good start to the day tomorrow.

August 8, 2024, Thursday evening, 6:30pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. I made two decisions this afternoon. One, I want to wear my contacts more. My glasses make me feel unattractive and old. I am not railing against glasses in general, just the pair I currently own. Wearing my contacts more means I had to adjust the text size on my phone so I can read in low light. The second choice I made was to let my facial hair grow out a little and see what it looks like. I am tired of worrying about my hairline. This gives me some sense of control over my appearance and provides a chance for a different look.

August 7, 2024, Wednesday afternoon, 5:13pm, pacific standard time, hotel on San Bernardino, California,USA. Spent most of the day at the hotel but I did get outside this afternoon. Drove around town, passed by the airport then drove out to Banning and got Starbucks. The friend I was going to see tonight has Covid so we won’t get together. That is alright, I didn’t feel particularly social today. Tomorrow I will head back early and take my daughter to an orthodontist appointment.