A few years back all of our reviews (and raises) were moved to the end of July/August time frame at work.    So here we are at that time.  Maybe that's why I had a dream last night, or maybe my subconscious knew that there was an email in my inbox waiting for me to find it this morning.

The dream wasn't a great one, instead of getting a raise, I was let go.  It was one of those lucid and vivid dreams that, while I knew I was dreaming while I was dreaming, when I woke up it still felt very real.  I was physically in the office and seeing/saying goodbye to people, many of whom haven't worked for the company in a number of years.  I was upset to be going, but had noted that I already sold the house so it would be 'easy for me to move back to NC'.

Fortunately, the email waiting for me this morning was not telling me to turn in my machines.  The increases remain modest, but I am grateful for any increase - and a check every two weeks.  When I did the math as to how much it might effect my check I had a moment.  When I had my first job (you know, a teenager with a couple of hours here and there at the mall) I would have killed for a single check at that amount.  Often by the time I filled my gas tank (and back then it was only 99 cents a gallon) I had eaten into 1/3 if not 1/2 of my check.  Today I drop what would have been 2 or 3x that old check at the grocery store without blinking an eye.

A lot has changed.  I have a ton to be grateful for.

I'm another year older.  How time is flying, I blame kiddo for that. We're a few days away from 11 months already, after all.  I took my birthday off to enjoy the day with the wee one and we met her Nonna at the Phipps Conservatory.  What a lovely place.  I could have easily been there 2x as long wandering about.

Today after her gym class, she, my Favorite Egg, and I went back into the city to check out Picklesburgh.  Oh my was it packed.  We went out for dinner Friday night, but I didn't get the fried pickles because of our plan to attend this event.  I wish I had - as I left there not getting anywhere near a fried pickle as the lines that were interesting were a bit obscene.  We did however try a peanut butter pickle cupcake and a sauerkraut brownie.  It was still a nice day out.

I've gotten a few more tomatoes from the plants, and it seems like I will have a small supply for a while moving forward.  The basil leaves that remain are pretty tiny.  I guess it really is done, sadly.

I pulled the first four red tomatoes off of the super sweet 100s plants last night.  There doesn't seem to be as many tomatoes growing on them as I would have expected/desired.  My sweet 100s from a few years ago were abundant and that was a single plant.  The skins are a bit thick, but the flavor is there - they are delightful.

I fought my basil, which kept trying to bloom, for a while.  I'd pinch off the buds and they'd be back the next day.  I finally gave it and let it bloom, which it did on one stalk and then stopped.  There still plenty of leaves, but they're smaller.

Not a spectacular "garden" by any means, but it's nice to have a couple of fresh items out back.

Avery, my Favorite Egg and I made the drive to Altoona on Saturday for a family reunion.  Not everyone was there, but I'm glad to have gotten to see as many people as we did, including one Aunt who we made a special stop to visit at home as she's been ailing after leaving the hospital in the past month.  It makes me sad to see how thin and frail many of them have become.

We were blessed with perfect weather.  The extreme heat dropped off and we had a lovely cool morning with bright blue, clear skies.  Even Pittsburgh cooperated and we didn't slow down much at all - making it to Altoona in 2 hours and 15 minutes!

After we arrived I took a loop around Mom's house.  One of these days the new owners will see someone creeping by taking photos of their house.  Sorry, I just want to see how it evolves.  Then we headed to the cemetery to visit Avery's Meme and Grandpop before heading to my cousin's where the get together was taking place.

Today was pretty average - Starbucks, church, some cleaning while Avery took a nice long nap (thank goodness), a walk under the clear blue skies that continued today, playing with Avery, watering lawns, continuing to eat leftovers from the family reunion.  I brought back a good bit of pasta salad which turned out really well, but I'm telling you after eating it for 5 meals straight it is loosing it's luster, and a big back of chicken courtesy of my cousin (also loosing it's luster).

I usually buy myself something that I consider to be a bit of a splurge for Christmas and my birthday.  What I decided to order "for me" for my upcoming not happening/I'm no longer aging birthday is actually for the kiddo.  I admire a lot of work on Etsy, but what really caught my eye were engraved wood growth charts.  I hope it is as pretty as it is in my mind.  I guess I don't see myself being in this house as long as I was the last one, so I want to be able to take those height markings with me.  But who knows, time does fly.  Hopefully I won't be retiring here though, as I've got a lot of stairs.

Well the robins are definitely reusing the nest.  I had spotted one sitting in the nest a couple of times, so I figured he/she was on eggs, but last night I saw THREE little heads pop up and saw one of the parents with a mouthful a couple of times.  It warms my heart to know that my deck helped shield 5 little lives so far this summer.  I'm glad that they find my place accommodating.  I try to keep some food out there (not constant as I might in the winter) and some water in the bird bath.

I have also found that if I move the new bed into the 'zero-g' position and move the head up a little more I am not sore and moving as much at night.

Yesterday Avery and I took advantage of our day off, despite the heat and headed north to do some shopping.  I was hoping to find a comforter or bedspread that I liked at At Home.  No luck on that front, but I was excited to see the halloween stuff already starting to fill the shelves!  I also couldn't say no to a big Zero the dog to hang on my front porch!  We walked around the Robinson mall as well.

I gotta admit, I was missing my Mom on the drive up there.  I realized that a few years ago I would have been making the drive down the mountain for us to cook out together.  It wasn't some big family get together that so many people have to celebrate, but I miss it; and while I wasn't alone, I was with my little one, I still felt a bit alone for the holiday.

We eventually caught up w/ my Favorite Egg at a friend's place for a little while - they played games, I entertained kiddo.

I've gotten a few nights in on the new bed, and alas, I am still not comfortable.  I miss my old bed and how it would hug me.  I tried reducing my typical number of pillows for the first few nights and I just couldn't get comfortable, even with the top angled up a little.  I'm still waking to shift as my hips get a little sore from staying in one position too.  *sigh*

I ordered sheets my sister recommended because they had a double-row of elastic.  I was concerned as they are only 400 thread count, but she recommended them and I figure they'll work for now, lowering my overall initial expenditures and heaven knows I'll eventually buy a second set of sheets.  Well, they're scratchy.  I guess I'm spoiled with my higher thread counts.

As to space - it is wider, but it works.  Without a headboard it can push back a bit further which compensates to allow you around the bed on both sides.  Of course, at some point I want to get another headboard, but I'll adjust to that when the time comes.