6:36pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Monday night, March 27, 2023. Busy day. A nurse called out sick, the nurse manager was gone and the phones rang non-stop. Right now, everyone is on edge. On a positive note: we won the company contest for most growth last week. That means staff will enter their names in a raffle. One staff member will get to stay two nights in a hotel in a California city of their choice. The marketing team will also bring lunch to celebrate. Hopefully, things settle down after that. I feel keyed up. And if I am stressed I am neither intuitive nor empathetic to the needs of the team. It is not good to be selfish when others need support.

6:02pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Sunday night, March 26, 2023. Came up with a new morning routine this weekend. Wake up around 5am and go for a walk in Dana Point. Finish at 6:30am, then grab a cup of coffee and wait for the gym to open. Since I already walked, my workout is less than 30 minutes long. That means I am done by 7:30am. After that, I have the day to run errands and spend time with my daughter. Finding a good routine has lessened my anxiety. It has only been two weeks but, I miss Arizona. A part of me still can’t believe it is over and I won’t be back. I know change is for the best but, losing something cherished is never easy.

10:39pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Friday night, March 24, 2023. A different energy exists when the score is being counted. Caring about a goal, focusing on specific targets, having singular vision rounds down the edges of distraction. It is to a point where making this branch successful is my sole objective for the year. We have the opportunity to achieve something special. Namely, go from worst to first in the region. This circumstance rarely occurs. And if I encountered it before I lacked the temerity to see it through. Now, the stars are aligned. I am personally and professionally committed to the cause. Time to once and for all see what can be accomplished.

6:41pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Thursday night, March 23, 2023. Things were a little better today. Not as stressful. After my last meeting ended I felt relaxed. The weather was sunny and cool so I got out, grabbed lunch, ran a quick errand then finished up some work at the office. Now, I am back at the hotel. The room next me is occupied tonight. They are kind of loud and the soundproofing isn’t real strong. Might make for a restless evening. Oh well, I can usually sleep through anything and tomorrow I get to go home. If I can’t sleep tonight I will read a book then take a nap tomorrow afternoon.

7:48pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Wednesday night, March 22, 2023. The long week continues. Admissions, meetings and reports constantly demand attention. I can’t keep my head straight and am finding it difficult to relax. Tomorrow is more of the same. Then it is finally Friday. I am ready for the weekend. My daughter’s friend has felt run down the last couple days. Which limits going out and having sleep overs. I told my daughter’s mom that is probably a good thing, at least for one weekend. I think we all need to have some quiet time.

6:20pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Tuesday night, March 21, 2023. A friend asked me this evening how my day went. I told her it went well except, the branch is busy. And that by being busy we are dealing with “success stress.” Success stress is the added pressure that comes with more commitment, more work and higher expectations. She thought it was a fun term to use and said she would remember it in the future. I am glad she found worth remembering. At some point we all deal with success stress. When that happens it is good to remember how hard you worked to get where you wanted to be. With success, don’t focus on the negative added work. Push past the stress and be thankful for the heights you have worked so hard to achieve.

6:55pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Monday night, March 20, 2023. It was rainy and cold in Dana Point when I woke this morning. It didn’t get better taking my daughter to school, though the skies did clear slightly by late morning. Dark, ominous clouds loomed on the horizon driving through Riverside this afternoon but, they didn’t produce much rain. Shortly before Morongo things cleared up, except for the wind, which remained strong. As a result, Palm Desert has had dust storms since I got here. Looks like it will be another week of allergy medicine and runny noses.

8:19pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Sunday night, March 19, 2023. Went for a walk this morning then, picked up coffee and donuts for the family. Spent the afternoon with my daughter and her friend, completing math homework online. Now, I am finishing laundry and plotting activities for the upcoming month. Not an overly ambitious day but, and important one nonetheless.,

8:43pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Saturday night, March 18, 2023. Woke up with a headache this morning. I am thinking the dust from moving was a bit much for my sinuses. As a result, I didn’t do anything other than unpack and watch basketball. My daughter stopped by briefly this afternoon. Once she left, I returned to bed and haven’t left since. Tomorrow should be better for running errands and getting out. I will write today off as a time of much needed rest and start over the morning.

9:03pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Friday night, March 17, 2023, St. Patrick’s Day. Got to Orange County early this afternoon. I took a nap then picked my daughter up from school. We ran to the apartment in Aliso Viejo, traded cars with her mom and loaded the old television in the back. Then, my daughter and I came to Dana Point and exchanged the tv for the bigger version I had in Arizona. She is happy, so am I. I am not here enough to warrant keeping the large screen and she really wanted it. All worked out for the best. On another note: Turns out I don’t need to order home internet, I can use the hotspot on my phone. Not sure if it is a long term solution but, it is better than paying $100 a month or not having internet at all. Which seemed like the only two options just a couple days ago.