November 14, 2024, Thursday afternoon, 12:50pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. When people ask me about the job search I paraphrase Camus and say I am open to the possibilities of the universe. This morning I was thinking of another book, Two Years Before the Mast, by RH Dana, the namesake of my home town. He mentioned in his journal how the ship waited two weeks at sea for favorable winds to blow them where they needed to go. The job search is leading me to places that seem stagnant. But I must be patient and allow the winds to blow me where I need to go. Now o am thinking about my dad’s favorite saying as a Lutheran minister, “come spirit come, blow spirit blow.” He said it so much we had it etched on his tombstone.

November 13, 2024, Wednesday night, 6:03pm, pacific standard time, parking lot of Rock School, San Juan Capistrano, California, USA. Had my first official interview with the Torrance company. It went well. Still have to interview with other people and the job has to be vacated. That is going to take time. Tomorrow is my second interview with the Rancho Cucamonga group. That process seems quicker and more positive. Tonight I am waiting for my daughter to finish her singing lesson then take her home before returning to Dana Point. Between school drop off, pick up, dinner and music it has been a full day.

November 12, 2024, Tuesday night, 7:03pm,pacific standard time,apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Have an interview tomorrow with the Torrance operation and a second one Thursday with the Rancho job. I should have something in place by December or shortly after. It isn’t necessarily a step up but I have to go down before I can bounce higher. I have been past focused today. I miss my company car, my expense account, the hotels, the 401k, my title and the ego boost that came with it.

Veterans Day, November 11,2024, Monday night, 7:29pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Drove to Anaheim this morning and met with a VP about the job in Rancho Cucamonga. I can do the job and believe it is a good fit. Not excited about the prospect of moving though. This afternoon I took my daughter to a couple places trying to secure a note excusing her school absences last week. The first place was closed and the second packed. We will try again tomorrow.

November 9,10,2024, Sunday evening 7:36pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Yesterday I spent the day with my daughter in aliso Viejo while her mom went to valencia to see her mom. Today I drove to Costa Mesa and met a friend at a place called AhbA. On my way back I noticed the Hyatt regency off Jamboree and the Orange County airport. The hotel reminded me of my first job out here, the airport my third. So many years and memories have passed. I don’t remember much of Utah/Wyoming any more. All the emotional ties have been severed. Orange County is home and will be until fate or circumstance dictates otherwise.

November 8, 2024, Friday evening, 5:02pm, pacific standard time, apartment parking lot, Dana Point, California, USA. I have meeting set up for Monday and Wednesday next week. I should have a job in place by mid-December. I want to work and want a paycheck but not excited about full-time. Of course I don’t really enjoy completely not working either. Hard to find middle ground. I did receive my endorsement from The Humanist Society. I was close to applying for PrN chaplain work when a hopsice called me back regarding a Director position. I told a friend I am open to the possibilities of the universe. We will see where life takes us.

November 6,7, 2024, Wednesday, Thursday morning, 7:24am, pacific standard,apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Yesterday was uneventful. I worked out, took the dog for a walk then came home. My daughter is sick so she stayed home from school. I stayed up late on election night and drank too much alcohol. Consequently I went to bed at 5pm last night and slept for 11 hours. Today I need to do something productive. I am feeling lazy.

November 5, 2024, Tuesday night, 6:32pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA,election night. Worked out this morning then took my daughter to school. Picked her up at one and took her home before parent/teacher conferences. Now I am watching election results. It is disappointing and frustrating. On a personal note, I was contacted for the job in Rancho Cucamonga this afternoon. I also have an interview for the job in Torrance next week. They are a step down in responsibility and pay but enough to keep me solvent.

November 4, 2024, Monday evening, 5:06pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Daylight savings time ended Sunday. I took advantage of the extra hour to sleep in this morning and recuperate further from the Anime Convention. At 8am I drove my daughter to school and then proceeded to Planet Fitness for a work out. I barely had time to settle in for the day when I had to go back to the school and pick her up. She gets out early all week for parent teacher conferences. That is until Friday, which she has off along with the following Monday for Veterans Day. On the way home we decided to visit Barnes & Noble for some new books. I bought The Great Gatsby, she got Stephen King’s The Dead Zone.

November 3,2024, Sunday night, 6:39pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Last night was rough. My daughter wanted to stay with her friends. To do so meant her friend’s dad, visiting from Pennsylvania, would have to sleep in his rental car. I said, “No,”to the sleepover. Subsequently, we walked back to our hotel with my daughter’s sniffling sobs piercing the post-midnight quiet of downtown Pasadena. This morning she had calmed down and was a little better. By breakfast the distress was forgotten. I feared a similar scene when she wanted to go to the Griffith Observatory with her friends this afternoon and I said, “No.” Going would put us hours away from home on a school night and frankly I didn’t have the energy. But she took the news in stride and we enjoyed a nice drive back to Orange County. I am glad this weekend is over, it was exhausting. I need time to recuperate tomorrow. In the morning I am going to work on my job search, though I am not particularly motivated. I am more curious to connect with the Humanist Society, get my Chaplain endorsement, and begin a career that is actually rewarding. I should be focusing on a calling rather than on money.