September 7, 2024, Saturday night, 9:17pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Went to the new beetlejuice movie with my daughter, her boyfriend. Her mom and an old family friend. It was fun. We watched it at Cinepolis in Laguna Niguel. That place has a relaxed vibe. The lobby is big and seldom crowded, they have plenty of seating and a bar area for drinks and food. I just want to go there and hang out.

September 6,2024, Friday evening, 7:13pm, pacific standard time, Irvine Spectrum Center, Irvine, California, USA. Came to the Spectrums to meet my daughter and her boyfriend. They want to see the 15th Anniversary showing of the movie Coraline and they needed an adult chaperone to keep their hormones in check, so I was recruited. It will be fun, gets me out of the house.

September 5, 2024, Thursday evening, 6:08pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. my business development counterpart told us she is resigning her position at the end of the month. That makes me sad. We have been a good team. So many people have left the organization since I started two years ago. Now I am the veteran old guard. It has been an emotional week. Tracks to and from Bakersfield has been exhausting. It is hot. I have this sinus infection, the meeting with the president yesterday and now the AVPBD resigning. On top of that there is stress about the upcoming survey in Bakersfield. A lot going on.

September 4, 2024, Wednesday evening, 5:22pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Bakersfield. California,USA. The meeting with the president wasn’t as earth shaking as expected. Some not so great news that I will have to deal with in the coming month was delivered but on a personal note, not life altering. Funny. A couple years ago I thrived on instability and chaos, now I dread it. I guess I got it out of my system.

September 3, 2024, Tuesday night, 6:40pm, pacific standard time, residence inn, Bakersfield west, room 202, Bakersfield, California, USA. Tomorrow I have a meeting with my boss. Then later in the morning I have a scheduled one-on-one with the COO. Finally, late today, my bosses boss put a meeting on our schedule Titled, “California Update.” I am guessing he wants updates. My business development partner thinks it is to give them. She might be right. A couple Budget and forecast meetings were cancelled earlier. Perhaps a sale is going to occur.

September 2, 2024, Monday night, 7:08pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Still dealing with the sinus infection that started Saturday. I have been Coughing, sneezing and wiping my nose all day. I still don’t feel sick but the symptoms are becoming burdensome. I have one dose of NyQuil left. I will take that just before turning out the light and see how I sleep. I have to get up to Bakersfield and get them ready for survey but I don’t want to be hacking and sneezing in the office. I will see how I feel tomorrow.

September 1, 2024, Sunday evening, 5:35pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. I have stayed up late the last couple nights and probably will again tonight. I am enjoying the experience. It probably isn’t sustainable during the work week but still worthwhile the last few days. It has been overcast all day in Dana Point. And it feels subdued without much traffic. That has made me nostalgic, remembering labor days and special occasions from the past. I am going to meet a friend at the harbor this evening, we can reminisce together. It will be good to have company and not spend too much time alone.

August 31, 2024, Saturday evening, 6:31pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California,USA. Woke up this morning with a slight sinus infection and have been dealing with that all day. I don’t feel sick, but it is uncomfortable. I stayed out last night and had a good time talking with a friend. This morning I worked out then took my daughter and her boyfriend to the Irvine spectrum and picked them up four hours later. My daughters mom is out of town today so I am in Aliso Viejo hanging with her and the dog. Right now I am taking it easy. I just bought and started reading a new novella written by my friend Michele. The first chapter was pretty erotic. I look forward to reading the rest!

August 30, 2024, Friday night, 6:39pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. I was all set to stay in tonight when a friend texted and asked if I was free. We are going to meet halfway in Irvine for a drink at 8pm. Today was good. Drove in from Victorville this morning. Picked my daughter up from school. Took her to get in and out then went to Trader Joe’s for some broccoli, rice and stir fry sauce. I don’t really crave anything for dinner except rice, vegetables and tofu. Funny how I eat better because I don’t feel well. All those years of futilely trying will power to eat nutritious items. I just needed to get sick to get healthy. Ironic.

August 29, 2024, Thursday afternoon, 4:39pm, pacific standard time, Home2Suites, Victorville,California,USA, room 237. Today is the start of college football and the twenty-two year anniversary of my last day working at the wyoming state hospital. That was a Thursday as well. I remember that time because the following Saturday I packed up and joined my then wife/daughters mother in Valencia, California. We had sold our house in Wyoming in June so she left early to get us settled while I stayed behind in my grandma’s basement. I was doing a unit of clinical pastoral education that didn’t wrap up until the end of august and needed to finish that prior to departing. Moving to valencia and subsequently Utah 9 months later was the golden age of my life. It lasted until late 2008. Fond memories of Utah are going through my mind today. I will enjoy them and get ready for a tough meeting tomorrow. In the morning I have to let an employee go because of census decline.