6:47pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Tuesday evening, January 31, 2023. I didn’t leave the office all day except for a short walk in the morning. There were too many meetings scheduled back to back and the only window available to step out occurred when everyone else had already left for lunch. It is alright, I survived. There are only two full days left in my work week. After tomorrow and Thursday I will hit the road Friday morning. The weeks feel shorter now which reduces my anxiety. I can survive a couple more days and make it to the weekend.
Tag: walk
Eventually all things are lost
6:41pm, mountain standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Sunday evening, January 22, 2023. There is a finite amount of time left in Arizona. I am struggling to say goodbye. I can’t stay but, letting go is difficult. A part of me exists here that doesn’t subsist anywhere else; waking up in my apartment, going for walks, exercising in the gym and drinking coffee while watching the weather. It is the best start to a morning I have ever experienced. Now the opportunities do those things are dwindling. Life is like that; you celebrate times and then let them go. It was just announced the minor league baseball team in Salt Lake City, Utah is moving to the suburbs. They are going to tear down the stadium in the area where I have watched games since I was nine years old. So many memories with my brother, my dad, my family exist in that ballpark. It is sad to see it go but, time marches on. Eventually all things fade and are lost. We have no choice but to enjoy them while we can and miss them when they are no longer here.
New Year’s Day 2023
7:22pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California, USA, Sunday night, January 1, 2023, New Year’s Day. Stayed up until after midnight last night to celebrate the new year with family. We had a fun time playing board games, listening to music and watching firework displays across the country. This morning I woke up later than usual and went for a short walk. It rained heavily last night so both the dog and I were soaked when we got home. Not much happened other than I watched a movie, picked up dinner and ran errands with my daughter. Not an overly ambitious start to the year but a good day nonetheless.
8:19pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California, USA, Saturday night, December 24, 2022, Christmas Eve. Found a good walk through the Aliso Viejo neighborhood this morning. The trick is to turn left at the bottom of the hill instead of right. This route winds past the community park toward the middle school. At the end there is a short turn about and a small housing community. We (the dog and I) walked along the street and took the final incline to the parkway. After two left turns it was down hill back to the complex entrance. The whole walk took an hour, which is about the right distance. Afterwards, I did some early morning Christmas shopping, picked up mom for a family gathering in Valencia then came back to Aliso for dinner. Now I am going to go to bed early and rest for the Christmas celebration tomorrow.
Wednesday, day 3 in Palm Desert, California
6:17pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Wednesday evening, December 21, 2022. We are still in Palm Desert for a couple more days. I have been going to the office and working. Mom mostly hangs out in the room and goes down to the lobby for breakfast. Though reportedly, she went for a short walk today. My daughter’s mom texted this morning; she was diagnosed with pneumonia last night, which explains the shortness of breath. She is feeling a little better but, needs to take it easy the next couple of days. My daughter feels better as well. She has a cough and tires easily but otherwise is doing alright. Of course, it was reported she plays online until 4am with friends in Australia so, it probably isn’t illness sapping her energy. I look forward to Christmas. We are going to drive up to Valencia on Saturday and spend time with family before officially celebrating the holiday in Orange County.
Saturday in Southern California
6:27pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California, USA, Saturday night, December 10, 2022. Hanging with the family, watching anime together. We don’t always spend time as an entire group, watching one program. It is nice. The day has been good; went for the full walk in Dana Point this morning, drank coffee, did laundry and grocery shopping. All in all, today has been a good early December day in Southern California.
Made me a little sad
3:16pm, mountain standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Sunday afternoon, December 4, 2022. It was still raining this morning when I woke up so I walked on a treadmill at the gym instead of exercising outside. Later, when it stopped raining, I went for a walk through the neighborhood. The skies have been grey this weekend, which is unusual for Arizona. The gloom makes me introspective. There are only a handful of weekends I will be here before permanently moving back to California. Yesterday, I stopped by the office to let them know I won’t be renewing my lease. I am glad I took care of that detail but, to tell you the truth, it made me a little sad.
After time, it will feel like home
4:58pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California, USA, Sunday evening, November 27, 2022. Took a walk with the doggo down to the local community park this morning. There wasn’t much to it except for an open field and a large dog run. The dog run is a great find, if ever there is a need to burn off excess energy. We continued on in the opposite direction to explore the neighborhood more. Further up the road was another park, accessed only by a steep pathway. The climb was exhausting. However, the path looped back to the complex next door, which was fortuitous; it saved us from having to backtrack down the hill and climb the first road back to the apartment. The area is not as beautiful as Dana Point but, I am sure after time, it will feel like home.
Arizona afternoon
4:34pm, mountain standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Sunday afternoon, November 13, 2022. The usual morning routine; walk, workout, coffee. Later, I went to the store for some items, washed the car and vacuumed the floor mats. This afternoon was sapient packing things for my daughter and getting the house ready for my friend. Now I am watching football and enjoying a nice, fall, Arizona afternoon.
Saturday in Chandler, Arizona
2:35pm, mountain standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Saturday afternoon, November 12, 2022. Woke up early this morning after a good rest the night before. Went for my usual walk and worked out at the gym. Later, I ran to the store and called my mom to wish her a happy 80th birthday. She is going out for lunch with friends to celebrate. I wish I could have been there but, we will see each other at Christmas and celebrate then. I did not see my friend last night so we will get together this afternoon. Right now I am resting, watching football, packing and picking up the house.
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