February 14,2025, Friday night, 6:52pm,pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. The girls at work set out a big charcuterie board to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Then after work I stopped by my daughter and her moms house for pizza. I have eaten more decadent things in the last two days than I did the last two months. And they are already planning my birthday celebration next week. I am not complaining. It is nice to be a part of a team. I am glad they want to hang out with me. pictures are the charcuterie board at work and the gifts I bought my daughter.

February 13, 2025, Thursday evening, 5:42pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. This afternoon I attended a marketing event at a senior living community in Anaheim. One of our liaisons helped put on a Valentine’s Day “hoedown.” Complete with cookie painting, arts and crafts, a milk shake bar, steer roping activity, pictures, pin the tail on the donkey and finally, cornhole. I was just going to lend support but ended up running the cornhole booth. It was a lot of fun. I am glad I went and got to help. Besides that, the weather has been cold and rainy all day. I have felt tired. My daughter isn’t going to music so I am turning in early. Picture is me and a resident at the cornhole game.

February 12,2025, Wednesday evening, 6:24pm,pacific standard time, parking lot, rock school, San Juan Capistrano, California, USA. It has rained all day here and looks like it will rain for the next two days. I did manage to get a walk in this morning before it truly started. I won’t be so lucky tomorrow and Friday. My plan is to walk on the treadmill at the gym tomorrow. Since I don’t take my daughter to school I should have enough time to run home and shower before circling back north to Costa Mesa.

February 11, 2025, Tuesday night, 6:52pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. The boss came down from Los Angeles to spend the day with us in Orange County. We reviewed marketing plans in the morning then carpooled to the 52 Seasons restaurant for lunch. I met the new Clinical Supervisor. She will be a good fit. Later this afternoon we went over financial information. I feel a little overwhelmed. Mostly because all the forms and systems are new. Once I become familiar with everything it will feel less stressful.

February 10, 2025, Monday morning, 6:53am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. First work Monday in 19 weeks. They never get easier. I am feeling rather vulnerable. Oh well, have to do what needs to be done. I am not taking my daughter to school because that makes me an hour late. Nonetheless, I feel rushed to get out the door on time. Also, I burned another of my new shirts. They aren’t wrinkle free yet they aren’t iron friendly. What is the point? I literally put the iron on it and it burned right through. Funny thing is I had ironed this shirt before!

February 9, 2025, Sunday morning, 8:07am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. The past four months gave me a new perspective on work. Mostly, being “the boss” is a privilege. Back in October, when my responsibilities were taken away, I did not feel relief. Rather, I felt isolated and directionless. I longed to lead a team and be part of a community again. With this new job I don’t taken it for granted. In fact, I see it as a privilege worth sacrificing for. Now typical stressors take on new connotations. Sunday blues are not a monster to be endured and eradicated. Rather it is one sacrifice I agree to make to be the boss. Waking up at 3:30am isn’t a grind but a sacrifice to get what I want. Not drinking alcohol is an activity I am willing to forgo to be on top of my game. Taking less of pay is not a failure, rather a sacrifice I am willing to make to have this job. This concept is powerful. It reframes so many “bad things” and makes them challenges I gladly face to have what I want.

February 8, 2025, Saturday night, 7:30pm,pacific standard time,apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Spent the day in Aliso viejo with my daughter while her mom traveled north to be with family. I took my daughter to get breakfast and lunch, watched some Netflix, took the dog for a walk and scrolled through YouTube. Not an overly productive day but relaxing nonetheless. video is from sunrise this morning in Dana point.

February 7,2025, Friday night, 7:33pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Third day of work completed. It was Pretty much the same as the other two. It did rain most of the day . That was slightly different. I am thankful even if the prospects of staying long term are a little underwhelming.

February 6, 2025, Thursday night, 6:48pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Day two of the Costa Mesa job. Another early morning. I am Not sure the time (3:30am wake up) or the pace of my morning’s are sustainable. I am on the go from the minute I get up to the time I go to bed. I do appreciate being a part of a team again, I just need to be able to find a steady routine. This evening I Caught up with a work colleague from last year. It was good to talk to him. Heard about the drama at my old employer. Though I am happy to feel vindicated (my successor is a bad boss, numbers are down) I still resent how my tenure ended. And I feel bad for my staff. Oh well, I can’t change the past. Always forward.

February 5, 2025, Wednesday night, 6:07pm, pacific standard time, parking lot of Rock School, San Juan Capistrano, California, USA. Long first day. Woke up at 3:30am to walk and workout before going back home to shower and get ready. Then I took my daughter to school and got to the office by 9am. Lots of information to process. The orientation is not overly structured and the office is more chaotic than I anticipated. it is still better than not working. Glad to be back amongst the employed.