May 13, 2024, Monday evening, 5:45pm, pacific standard time, hotel room in Victorville,California, USA. Today was a busy day and yet I got nothing done. I woke up at my usual time and went to the gym. Then I had a call at 8:30 and a dentist appointment at 9am. The appointment ran long and made me late for a 10am meeting that was important. I missed my 10:30am meeting because the 10 am ran long as well. Then I took my daughter to get breakfast since she was home from school. At 12pm there was a meeting and a one pm interview followed by a two hour drive to Victorville. I checked into the hotel then went grocery shopping. Now I am watching hockey and waiting for my dinner to be delivered. I will have to work extra hard to catch up tomorrow.

May 12, 2024, Sunday afternoon, 3:10pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Drove to the Huntington Beach pier this morning to meet a friend. Then came back and shared Mother’s Day gifts with my daughter and her mom. Got them both lunch then came home to take a nap. Now I am going to pick up dinner and take it to them before getting ready for the work week. Today is the two year anniversary of being laid off from my job in Phoenix. I almost forgot today was the day. So much has happened since then. But ironically, it is still one of my favorite Arizona memories.

May 9,10,11,2024, Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning, 8:45, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA. Thursday was my daughters school formal dance. She looked amazing in a long, red dress. I went with her mom and a family friend to drop her off and pick her up. Seeing her transform into a young adult has been a great experience. I am proud of her and who she is becoming. Yesterday was a work day. I attended virtual meetings then went to bed at 8:15pm. I was so tired from the New Jersey trip and staying g up late for the dance. Today I am going to run errands and relax. I am planning on getting together with a friend in La Habra tonight but we haven’t worked out where and when.

May 8, 2024, Wednesday evening, 4:37pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California,USA. Last night we went to the Miku expo in Newark. After it was over we said goodbye to my daughters friend and headed back to the hotel. Our flight this morning left at six am eastern. Which meant getting up at 12:30am pacific to pack and get through security. I dropped my daughter off in aliso viejo this afternoon and got to my house in Dana point around 1:45pm. I had work calls, which made me punchy, but otherwise I am taking it easy doing laundry and unwinding. This trip loomed over everything for a long time. I am glad it is over. I am Even happier my daughter and I had such a great time.

May 7, 2024, Tuesday morning, 11:13am, eastern standard time, hotel lobby in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Today is the day of the Miku Expo concert. This is what we came to New Jersey for. I have to admit, this trip induced anxiety for months. I was worried about cost, logistics and missed work. But it has been a blessing to spend time with my daughter and to be away from familiar sights. I feel refreshed. I will be a little sad to leave tomorrow but I am thankful for the memories we are making.

May 6, 2024, Monday afternoon, 1:13pm, eastern standard time, hotel lobby in Newark, New Jersey, USA. Yesterday afternoon we went to Times Square in New York City. My daughter loved it. We walked around for hours in the rain and still didn’t want to leave. We ate dinner there and shopped at a bunch of stores. Toward the end of the night we unknowingly stumbled upon a impromptu performance by Dua Lipa. When we got back to the hotel my daughter was so excited she had a hard time falling asleep. It was a great day.

May 3,4,5, 2024, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:41am, eastern standard time, hotel in Newark, New Jersey, USA. I worked from home Friday after going out and meeting a friend Thursday night. That was a good time. She is in a similar situation as me. She has two teenage boys involved in sports so life revolves around pick up and drop off. It was nice to talk with someone about something besides work. Saturday morning I got up at 3am and picked my daughter up at 4. We made it to LAX in time to catch a plane to Detroit and onto Newark. When we arrived my daughter wanted to see her friend right away. We hadn’t planned on getting together before the concert Tuesday but it seemed trivial to skip the chance. After all, meeting her friend was the point of the entire trip. We took a ride share to Morrisville, Pennsylvania and spent time with my daughters friend, her dad and his girlfriend. We didn’t get back to Newark until 12:30am. Now we are in the hotel resting. The plan for today is to visit New York City and see Times Square.

May 2, 2024, Thursday evening, 6:28pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point,California,USA. I have an adversarial relationship with work. It is an opponent trying to break me and I must survive the barrage of evil. Looking at my job that way gives me a cheap thrill but also leaves me frustrated and tired. I am Not sure I could change if I wanted to but boy, I feel ground down. I need a break from the tension.

May 1, 2024, Wednesday evening, 6:38, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point,California,USA. Drove from San Bernardino to Palm Desert this morning. The region president had a family issue arise so the San Diego site visit was canceled. I came home this afternoon and completed expanse reports and online training. Going to get ready for bed in a little bit then read. Two more days of work then off to New Jersey.

April 30, 2024, Tuesday evening, 5:07pm, pacific standard time, hotel room in San Bernardino, California, USA. Drove to San Bernardino this morning for a meeting with the region president. It went well. Tomorrow we meet in Palm Desert then finally one last visit in San Diego. I still feel a little under the weather. I think I am just stressed. Last week was exhausting and the trip to New Jersey with my daughter makes me anxious. We will have a good time but the logistics worry me.