August 24, 2024, Saturday night, 7:15pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Had a good time last night. Went to patsy’s in Laguna Niguel and Had a couple drinks with a new friend. I woke up this morning and did my usual walk/workout followed by laundry and a nap. This afternoon I went and saw my daughter and took her dog for a walk. Now I am watching football and sipping a beer.

August 23, 2024, Friday night, 6:14pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Took my daughter to her first day of school this morning then headed to La Jolla for meetings at the scripps hospital there. Came home, then went and saw my daughter again before returning to Dana Point. I am glad I went to La Jolla today but now I feel behind at work. Even thought I went for work! I am hosting my director retreats next Wednesday. I will be glad when that is over. I have plans to go out tonight at 8:30pm. It is always hard to feel motivated when I have a commitment, even when it is something I want to do.

August 22, 2024, Thursday night, 7:24pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Got back from Carlsbad around nine this morning and worked from home all day. At four I picked up my daughter to mail a package and buy lunch items. School starts for her tomorrow at 8:20am. I am going to take her then head back to San Diego’s for a meeting at scripps La Jolla.

I have the funkiest hotel room this trip. Room 130, Home2Suites, Carlsbad, California, USA. I am on the first floor and the door to my room opens up into the common area where the lobby is and the breakfast seating. Every time I come out of my room everyone stares at me. You wouldn’t even know there is a room here unless you were looking for it. You would walk right by.

August 20, 2024, Tuesday night, 6:51, pacific standard time, Home2Suites, Carlsbad,California,USA. Last night was good at Disneyland. We watched the fantasmic show from the River Belle terrace restaurant then Went and rode Rise of the resistance in Star Wars land before the park closed at 11pm. I stayed the night again with my daughter and her mom at the Disneyland hotel then came home before heading to San Diego for a meeting. I have been tired all day. The last three nights I stayed up until 10pm or later. I need to go to bed early and get back in my routine.

August 19,2024, Monday afternoon, 2:10pm, pacific standard time, California Adventure, Anaheim, California,USA. I am across from Guardians of the galaxy, waiting for my daughter and her boyfriend. A lot has changed for me since the last time I came to Disneyland. It was August 2019. Two months before I last saw the WIL and two months before I had to change how I approached work. I was working sales in hospice and could not hold a job. When the pressure came in that position I doubled down on stress and effort. That led to some of the problems I deal with now, physically and emotionally. Physically I have the stress ball under my right rib that never goes away and causes me ingestion. Emotionally, I am unable to lose myself in a moment like this. The little kid in me has diminished so much he is all but gone. I am not complaining. There was no need to be stuck in perpetual childhood. And it has served me well professionally. But I wish, just for today, I could feel the sense of escape I used to know.

August 18, 2024, Sunday night, 8:19pm, pacific standard time, Disneyland Hotel, frontier tower, room 2383, Anaheim, California, USA. My daughters 16th birthday. I went for a walk, worked out, took the dog for a full walk past the dog park. I also got balloons on my way. I helped decorate then went home to rest. In the afternoon I picked up the cake, paper plates, pizza and drinks. We had a small get together in aliso Viejo. My daughters friend, her mom, my daughters boyfriend and his parents all attended. After they left we packed up and headed to Disneyland. I drove separate because they are staying until checkout Tuesday at noon and I need to go to San Diego for work. I look forward to a fun day tomorrow at the park.

August 17, 2024, Saturday night, 5:47pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California,USA. Slept in until almost six then went for a walk and worked out. Came home, drank coffee and did laundry. Around noon I picked up my daughter and her boyfriend before heading to the mall. I bought a pair of shorts. They had pretzels and smoothies. My daughters mom came a little later and helped her but a new phone. After dropping them off at home I came back to Dana Point. Now I am listening to music and drinking beer. Tomorrow is my daughters birthday. We will celebrate in town during the day then head to Disneyland to stay the night and go to the park on Monday.

August 16, 2024, Friday evening, 6:28pm, pacific standard time, apartment parking lot, Dana Point, California, USA. Drove to vista this morning to meet with the Director there then worked from home the rest of the day. I kind of want to stay up tonight, have a drink and watch a movie but I know I will feel sick tomorrow if I do. I will just go read for a bit then fall asleep instead.

August 15, 2024, Thursday night, 6:35pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Today is the second anniversary of me starting this job. no one acknowledged it and I am alright with that fact. The day was busy. I seldom had time to be nostalgic and frankly there was no reason to be overly sentimental. Right now I am just thankful I I have a job that challenges me, gives me a sense of identity and offers enough compensation to support my family.