I’m back at the local coffee shop, putting in another long study session. I’ve been quizzing myself for the past few hours, and overall I’m doing pretty well. Most of the questions I miss aren’t because I don’t know the material; they’re because I read the question too quickly and overlook an important detail. That’s something I’m actively working on. I’m trying to find the right balance: reading slowly enough to fully understand what’s being asked, but not so slowly that I lose my train of thought or waste valuable time.

The best part is that I’m genuinely having fun with it. Every practice question feels like a small puzzle to solve, and it’s satisfying when all the pieces come together.

What’s surprised me the most is how broad the field really is. It’s not just about cybersecurity. I’m also learning networking, digital forensics, risk management, security in business environments, operating systems, hardware, and how computers function at a deeper level. Everything is connected, and understanding one area helps make sense of another.

There’s definitely a lot to absorb, and some days it feels like drinking from a firehose. Some days I do feel overwhelmed, but I’m enjoying the challenge. Every study session builds on the last one, and I can see myself improving little by little.

I had my lab work done this morning for my medication management appointment. They ended up taking five vials of blood, which felt like a lot. I was sitting there for several minutes while they filled each tube, and by the end, I was surprised I didn’t feel lightheaded or dizzy. Thankfully, everything went smoothly.

The only frustrating part was the wait. The lab was running behind, so I had to sit there for quite a while before they finally called my name. I don’t usually mind waiting, but it felt like it took forever because they were so backed up. And Kel was waiting for me, so that added to the anxiety.

Afterward, Kel and I went to the coffee shop for breakfast. I just ordered a coffee since I don’t usually eat until around noon. Right now, I’m not sure what I want to eat today. I’m not hungry yet, and part of me isn’t sure I even want to spend money on food if I don’t end up wanting it. I’ll just wait and see how I feel later. If I get hungry, I’ll figure something out then.

I’m also paying attention to how this new diet medication affects my appetite. I don’t know if it’s working yet, but I have noticed that I don’t really feel hungry today. At the same time, I don’t think I’ve been taking it long enough to know whether that’s actually because of the medication. Today is only my second day, so I doubt there’s enough of it built up in my system to really judge its effectiveness.

Emotionally, I’m doing pretty well today. I have a little anxiety about being out of the house by myself, but it’s manageable. I have my headphones on, even though I’m not listening to anything at the moment. Just having them on is comforting and helps me feel a little more at ease in public. I might put some music on later if I feel like I need it, but for now, I’m content.

Ok, it’s time to read. I still haven’t eaten yet. Should I get a bagel with cream cheese? That’s the cheapest thing they have here. Well, I’ll think about it. Right now I’m going to read for a bit.

It’s getting closer to the time that I have to leave. I’m just playing on my phone now while I wait.