January 13,2025, Monday morning, 7:18am, pacific standard time,apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. I have an interview at 11am. The pay doesn’t meet my needs and the job is in Los Angeles so expectations aren’t particularly high. Nonetheless, it is nice to have something lined up. I am eager for a new adventure. This moment in my life feels like the anticipated end stage. I made my money and paid my dues. Work is for excitement rather than necessity. I am not planning long term or looking too far ahead. Rather, I accept whatever path I am on and will go from there.

January 11,12, 2025, Saturday,Sunday morning, 2:05am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Spent most of the day at home save for a trip to the grocery store and later to the gym. After that I Watched playoff football and played the guitar. I am starting to feel better. I will take it easy today (Sunday) then be ready for a busy week to come.

January 10, 2025, Friday night, 10:33pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. I have had a sinus infection/cold since Wednesday. Feeling sick actually started earlier than that but I thought it was the lingering effects of a cold I had in December. this has kicked my butt. My nose seems to have stopped running constantly after three days l, but now the congestion has moved to my chest. I took it easy today and probably will do the same all weekend.

January 9,2025, Thursday night, 7:55pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. I am becoming more confident in my abilities to interview and to proactively control the conversation. Focusing on my leadership skills and examples of past accomplishments are key. I have to believe in my qualifications to convince a hiring manager I am the right person. I am aggressively applying for jobs. In the end it is a numbers game. The more I apply for the better chance I have of getting a new gig.

January 7,8, 2025, Tuesday Wednesday morning, 10:44am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Just got off a call with a recruiter for a position in Colorado. They want someone with an RN so it probably won’t amount to much. I wasn’t really keen on moving to Colorado anyway. Though it was nice to talk with someone and connect. That’s the difference between executive Mike, music Mike and writer Mike. Executive Mike connects with people and opportunities. In the end that is what matters. On another note, I am going to keep building out my foundational leadership principals. I am enjoying the process and having the document gives me confidence when pursuing work.

January 6, 2025, Monday evening, 5:37pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Applied for a regional job with a healthcare company and received a response to set up a virtual interview. That made my day. I am officially over being unemployed. I need to get back in the game. I am sticking to my New Year’s resolution to be more rounded as a senior executive leader rather than being limited to one industry. I have laid out my five leadership principles and will prep them more for the interview.

January 5,2025, Sunday night, 6pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Today was a good day. On the Blue Lantern walk this morning I realized it is the halfway point of the decade. I felt a sense of peace wash over me that has not abated. I went and helped a friend move earlier today, played guitar and took my daughter to dinner. Now I am watching football, sipping some blackberry whiskey and strumming away.

January 4, 2025, Saturday night, 6:30pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Went to bed last night at 7:30 and slept straight through until 6:30am. Got up and worked out then came home. This afternoon I Wrote for a little bit, read and played guitar. I had a date planned but she canceled. That was disappointing. I ended up going to Aliso Viejo, buying the dog a new leash and visiting my daughter. We played a couple rounds of Rummikub before I came back to Dana Point.

January 3, 2025, Friday evening, 6:22pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Taking it easy tonight. Watching Diners, Drive and Dives on food network. Nothing too exciting today. Worked out, took my daughter to the spectrum to meet a friend. Deposited checks, mailed the pen pal letter. Tomorrow I will apply for unemployment. Get some money coming in while I seek a new adventure.

January 2, 2025, Thursday evening, 6:02pm, pacific standard time, parking lot, Los Rios Rock School, San Juan Capistrano, California,USA. This afternoon I wrote a letter to my pen pal. It was set up through the American humanist group. I spent most of the letter talking about Dana point; where it is, population, what it is famous for. Then I shared some information about the Ohana Music Festival and the Turnpike Troubadours. I finished it with background on RH Dana and the book Two Years Before the Mast. It was nice to write with no emotional expectations, just sharing facts and points of interest.