I wanted to get the dining room wall of photos completed this weekend, but I didn't touch it.  This is my precursor to getting the Halloween decorations out, so...I need to get in gear. Instead, today I managed to get a nap - sorry, not sorry. I was up pretty early.  Before Avery got up I went downstairs to tidy the canned goods etc and assess what all I have.  Yes, I firmly believe you need to stock up if you haven't already.

I got some thank you cards written out, so that's something, right?

Saturday was consumed by a trip to meet up with Avery's Nonna at The Friendly Stem in Irwin.  It is ran/owned by friends of hers.  They don't normally allow children, but we went at the end of normal hours as family/friends type guests.  So I have another beautiful bouquet here.  She was also kind enough to allow us to gather from her garden rather than seeing things rot on the vine.  So today we had BLTs with fresh tomatoes and there are other goodies waiting for us to grub.

Tonight's dinner had me searching for ideas.  I found a winner in a lemon butter and sage chicken.  The recipe I found for eggplant was pretty bland.  I need to invest the effort and make the eggplant recipe I found back when I was pregnant and had to take breaks while making it to give my feet a rest.  It was so yummy.

Technical documentation pet peeve:

If you write something like:

An error is recorded indicating "system failure."

Instead of (note placement of period):

An error is recorded indicating "system failure".

The error had better SHOW "system failure." WITH THE PERIOD.  If not, put the friggin period after the quote.  I don't care what idiocy (you think) you were taught in school about moving the punctuation inside the quote.  What goes inside the quotes, if you are using quotes, had better match exactly.

That is all.

Had a great visit with my sister Mandy and her husband yesterday.  We went to B3 (Bacon, Bourbon, and Beer), which is always yummy, but I hadn't been there in quite some time followed by a pass around the outlets to settle our big meal before heading for Sarris ice cream -- the first official Avery birthday celebration.  I snagged the last bath and body works halloween item I wanted (the lanyard bat) and a surprise car scent holder in the bat theme.  Still cruisin Target waiting for Halloween to hit the dollar spot.

Saturday was Avery's last swim lesson.  That went quite well except she didn't want to jump in.  I can't believe the summer is all but over.  I really want to get to the pool one more time.  They cut back their hours later this week.  Maybe I'll cut lose from work today or tomorrow early and take her to swim.

I have been sleeping well as of late, which made it all the more notable that I woke around 4 last night and struggled to get back to sleep.  I felt like there was a lot on my mind but yet, there wasn't anything there specific that I was swirling on.  Hoping to shake whatever that was off.

Finances aren't really the world's business, but I am excited.  Today the payment going to the mortgage brings my number down into 5 figures.  I'm excited to log into the servicing website to see that number once it processes.  I have been pushing hard on this, so I have to celebrate the progress.  I'd like to get it done before Avery goes to school (that is if I make her wait until 2023 to go) but that is a big push.

Last night I did my first volunteer activities with Merlin's Safe Haven Cat Rescue (where Church came from).  Digging to find information on people is kind of fun for me, so it's a good fit and it helps out.  It feels good to be participating with a rescue again, even if it is awkward that it is a cat rescue rather than a dog rescue.

Rule of thumb:  if you schedule a meeting to discuss a task you have indicated you have been working on for weeks and then you don't show up for your meeting... pound sand, and don't expect others to make up for your lack of action or capability.

The la-z-boy is officially in the living room.  It was bought over 4 years ago with this intent, but I employed it to rock with a baby Avery and to read books with a toddler Avery.  With her getting a big girl bed there simply isn't room or need so it has come downstairs and the old wedding gift from my coworkers papasan chair is to the curb.

What am I going to tell you that others haven't already said about colonoscopy prep?  Probably nothing.  Admittedly, the liquid wasn't as gross as I had psyched myself up to expecting, but it was pretty frigging nasty.  I found their advice to mix and refrigerate ahead of time helpful, same with drinking through a straw -- it helped me chug and get it down in around 5 minutes.

I'm not a big water drinker.  I need to get better about it, but it is what it is.  The prep I went with required less fluids than some of the others, but I still pushed up against the deadline to finish this morning.  The good news is all of this water had me not feeling hungry last night or this morning.

My experience last night had me ask my Favorite Egg to stay and tend to Avery's school drop off this morning.  What follows is TMI for many, but I post it because I was searching for this information and couldn't find it.  I get that it is likely different for everyone, but...

Guzzled my gross fluid in 5 min a few minutes before 6pm last night.  Immediately started into the first 16 oz of water chaser.  I was in the bathroom by 6:20pm.  Those that remark "stay close to the bathroom" are liars.  Nope. Just set up shop.  Bring your readers, a good book, a phone, maybe a charger... I also pulled out the toiletries I had post-partem (moist wipes, spray bottle, and witch hazel with cotton balls).  After an hour I started venturing out to lay down in the bed and cover up.  I was FREEZING!  I haven't said that in a long time with all of the hot flashes I have.  I even put on a sweatshirt in between future visits to the facility.  Things slowed down by 8pm, so I helped give Avery her bath and got to read and cuddle with her.  Just a few more quick trips after that.  Fortunately, nothing overnight, so I had a pleasant night's sleep.

This morning I did another 5 minute gulp of prep around 6:40am.  It was consistent - about 25 minutes later things started to happen.  Now I just let things settle down as I try to work this morning.

The anticipation is making me anxious.  Tomorrow is clear liquids only... getting ready for my first colonoscopy on Thursday.  Sounds fun, huh?  Two trips under anesthesia in one year.  That alone makes me anxious.  I'm not too concerned about the procedure itself since I'll be out and, presuming all goes well, I shouldn't have any issues from the procedure -- just the complications of the prep.

I guess I should make myself a batch of jello tonight, so I will have something to "chew".  What is truly remarkable is how good my diet normally is.  Yes, I like junk food, but I eat a rather high fiber diet, which is abundantly clear from the few things left on the 'allowed to eat' list for the past week.  Basically I could have meat and junk food, sounds like a dream, right?  Not so easy when you're trying to limit your calorie intake and you're in the part of of summer with all of the goodies like fresh corn, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, and the like.

I opened the box of prep to look at things today.  They advise mixing it and refrigerating it -- great advice for someone like me who doesn't like warm water.  At least the stuff you mix with water isn't thick.  But even looking had my mouth watering, and I don't mean in that salivating because something looks or smells so good, I mean in that gosh, am I going to up-chuck way.

I'm also wondering how I am going to pull off the prep on time and still meet my other obligations.  I was warned, so I was smart enough to decline their offer for a 9am appointment.  I'm scheduled for 12:30pm.  Why is that?  Because you start the second dose of prep 7 hours before the appointment.  Sorry, but starting bowel spasms to sh*t out a lung at 2am doesn't sound fun.  I'd rather try to sleep the night before.  Of course, 7 hours before 12:30pm is 5:30am.  Not crazy early, but I have to get the kiddo to daycare by 7:30ish.  It isn't a long drive, but... you can see where I am going with this, right?

I sent the check to finalize Church's adoption.  I can say Church now, right?  He is so bold - even walking up to try and steal from Saffy's bowl while she eats.  She grumbled at him but handled it pretty well - she knows I will protect her chow for her.  Plastic bags are still on the counters and he keeps pressing past them.

This weekend we had a visit from Avery's Nonno and Nonna, who delivered a bed from their spare room (they are downsizing) thus giving Avery a big girl bed.  We also went to the Alleyway Saturday event on our main street (Pike) and had a nice little evening out.

I was pretty lazy on Sunday but got a burst of energy and got some of the growth behind the fence addressed and to the curb.  The problem is it is hot as all get out lately and I am on instant sweat/overheat mode.  The evenings are cooling down and the sounds of fall are creeping in.  I'm not wishing summer away so I can complain about winter weather - I just want 100% spring and fall, please.