Alaska!  We left on the 9th to Seattle.  I wasn't expecting Seattle to be as clean and safe feeling as it was.  We had an easy direct flight and success using the light rail and buses to get to our hotel to drop off luggage.  The hotel was a two bedroom suite since we had my favorite egg's parents with us and it worked out quite well.  There were several eateries nearby but we returned to the one (Queen Anne Beer Hall).  We walked to the space needle, which I was at when I was maybe 6 or 7?  It is definitely not what I remember inside, but it remained pretty cool.  Then we took the bus to Pike's Place market for a bit of a stroll.  Didn't see some of the cliche sites on my list, but it was nice to walk around and relax a bit after a long day of travel.

The next morning we were up and headed to the cruise port to meet Anthem of the Seas.  When I tell you I didn't know how to pack I mean it.  It's supposed to be colder (50-60) this time of year, especially on a moving ship but I'm always warm.  I tried to have a nice balance so I could layer.  I didn't need too much of the layers or my waterproof jacket - the weather was amazing with the exception of our second day at sea, which was very foggy, but then I got to hear the horn every minute or two as a result.  We saw blue skies and the tops of mountains.  There was so much sun we could barely see the Mendenhall glacer when the ship spun around in the channel to give us a view.

One day at sea at the start allowed us to adjust to the time change further, then we were in Sitka where we took the free shuttle into town and we walked adventuring on our own.  We went to the Totem Trail and it was a beautiful forest to walk.  A quick stop at a local grocery store, and then a local frequented place for some of the best (and most expensive) fish and chips I've ever had.

At the end of the day I had a voice mail, our tour for the next day in Skagway was being cut short due to a landslide:  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/mudslide-south-klondike-closed-aug-11-9.7229001 fortunately it didn't happen while we were on the other side of it and instead of a full day tour we had a half day tour.  We road the railway up the mountain and bused back through Chilkoot Charters - and it was beautiful and peaceful.  Not much for wildlife - you needed binoculars to prove the one spot on the hill was a goat.  The shorter tour gave us time to walk the local area here too and I had a lesser fish meal and a drink at the Skagway Brewing Company.

The next day was Juneau, but in the early morning we cruised in the channel and saw the mendenhall glacier.  As mentioned it was hard to see from the ship, so I was really glad we had planned to shuttle to the area where we could then walk a trail to Nugget Falls.  It was all stunning.  On the way back we got a quick treat at a local coffee place and I didn't stop to get king crab at Tracy's but I probably should have.

Finally, Victoria BC which was also easily walkable - we meandered to some of the local sites like a government building and the Empress Hotel then to a park before we stopped at a local place and had the most delightful rootbeer with ingredients that don't aim to kill you:  https://phillipssoda.com/soda/captain-electro/

As mentioned there was then a day at sea and a return to Seattle where we headed to the airport and after only a small delay in our flight we were on our way (pretty smooth).

It happened, I may have gotten sick while traveling... at first I thought it was just my sinuses being ridiculous because I was back in PA and mowing my lawn multiple nights in a row but last night I was trying to get liquid to flow with the neti pot, having minor aches in my legs, and feeling off.  No fever at the moment at least.

This morning is the first day of third grade - and with our transition to public school the bus was an hour later than it was in years past.  I desperately needed that extra window of time attempting to sleep and the couch continues to call me.  Regardless, girl is on the bus without a hitch.  She's trying breakfast and lunch at school today - they have choices each day, it blows my mind.  As to me with this switch there are hitches.  I still can get into the powerschool account after needing to call to get student ID numbers and them giving me some other kid's number.  When they removed that kid it locked me out of my account, so that's fun.

I'm grateful for vacation, but the lead up and the come back are rough.  I always try to clean and get a lot out of the way so when I come back I'm not already behind.  When I come back there are the several loads of laundry, the lawn that got an abundance of water in my absence, running for the dog and groceries - and this time a quick ortho visit before school starts back up.

We landed at midnight last night, got home at 1, I greeted kitties, emptied suitcases, and showered to be in bed by 2:30.  Gave myself a bit of grace and had an alarm set for 7am.  Then it was on with all the things.  While I had a bit of a boost from an airplane nap and time zone changes in my favor I'm wiped.

Many tomatoes turned and rotted out back in my week away.  I picked what I could and got the other yellow pepper which ripened to perfection.  I got the front and side lawn mowed while dinner cooked - mind you the mower REALLY didn't want to start this time (it's been acting up and sounding unhappy all summer), grabbed cupcakes for an early birthday sing before kiddo's Nonni left (they spent the night after and we went to the ortho appointment (kid is now rocking school colors on her teeth.) followed by brunch since the fridge was pretty bare), brought the doggo home, and still got 7.5 hours in today.  Huzzah.

I have a lot to say about vaca, but I'll save it for another day when my fingers are cooperating with my brain.  Time to move the last load of laundry to the dryer and get in the shower.  Goodnight moon.

I am overdue to empty a couple of potato bins and I finally have peppers trying to change color.  The tomatoes - oh buddy are they treating me well this year.  The asparagus that was put into the ground is green and lush, she's taken to the crappy soil.  I hope she can stand the winter.

Kiddo's recommended next step for swim is AG 2, which is great.  She's interested in doing the next session, I'm trying to weigh how that lands with jiu jitsu which remains a priority to me for her to continue.  This week was her last summer camp (camp splash week #2) and it's all downhill from here until back to school (and birthday!)

We've been going through clothes and purging things she has outgrown.  This also gives me a good assessment of what she has for school, which is different this year without the uniforms.  We don't get bus or teacher assignment information for another week and a half - and I can't even sign up for the cafeteria stuff w/o a student ID that I haven't yet been provided.  The wait until the last minute mentality breaks my very soul.  At least this year we don't have a supply list to fulfill.

It's been a pensive week.  My close friend's mother passed and we attended her funeral yesterday.  Much like my mother, she had her ailments but was relatively well. It wasn't 100% abrupt, but her illness was brief (a blessing).

After returning from that funeral I learned another friend's husband passed away last night.  She had just retired earlier this year.  They weren't old enough to be leaving one another yet.

My heart hurts for them all so much.  My own birthday came and went without too much gnashing of teeth, but I would be lying if I didn't reflect and simply say momento mori.

Last week's swim meet updates!  Avery's 100 free relay came in 6th out of 14 with 1:32.84, again no individual splits were available.  Her 100 medley relay also came in 6th out of 9 with 1:51.65.  She snagged 4th in the 25 fly out of 6 girls with 26.31 (the week prior was 26.74, so she bettered herself which is huge).  They also had her swim 25 breast, which she wasn't thrilled about but she again took 4th out of 6 and we got a seed time for next go round of 33.57.  She seemed pleased with the results and was happy to get ribbons for places she hasn't won previously.

Today is finals and our mini-season is over.  They have her in one relay and swimming 25 free.  With finals since they can only sign up 3 swimmers for each event she barely got edged out on seed time on butterfly.

This week we are free from another activity, which is good, I'm getting tired of running.  We're back to it next week.

Other news, it looks like our two foster babies are coming back after it having been announced that the adoption was finalized - I'm bummed for them but this also complicates things here.  Saying a prayer that we might have another foster step up even if just temporarily.

Tomatoes are starting to ripen and they're beautiful this year!  I also have several peppers growing well out back.  I've pulled onions - while they're not huge they're bigger than I've managed to harvest in the past.  I also have more beans coming in.  The beets are looking like my nothing-burger this year.  Two of the potato pots have died off and I should check them - but I don't anticipate much there; the other couple pots are still growing strong.  I also have some beautiful lettuce happening which I'm pleased with since last year I couldn't get it to start to save my life.

The CSA started up last Friday so I have kale, lettuce, beans, and cukes from them to use up.  I only did a quarter basket this year, I think it was the right move.  I'm bummed we didn't get scapes this year in the first week.  With the kale I made a batch of tuscan chicken - yum.  I never thought I'd find a way to make kale an enjoyable part of a meal, but all three of us give this dish good ratings.

Another one of those "everyone thinks I'm mean but I'm really soft" moments, actually, two of them.

First, it was a month on the 6th since I ordered my fridge and stove.  The stove isn't here yet.  I'm not in a rush, but you're holding a significant amount of money, so I'd like an idea of when it will come -- and your 4th of July sale has it $200 cheaper.  Well, I reached out via the chat feature on their website and immediately got them to say they'd update the price and reinvoice.  Could I have called and asked for that?  I should have, but I felt awkward about it.  They also initiated steps to check on status, so I wait to hear on delivery timeframe.

Second, kiddo's first communion was at the beginning of May, that's 2 months ago.  I still don't have photos back.  I also didn't spend time taking my own photos because we paid to get them from the professional photographer.  I reached out to her at the very end of May concerned that it could have been an email that landed in spam (I ordered digital copy), which wasn't straightforward as their business phone wasn't functioning (sigh) - but I found her on FB.  To my surprise she replied to me and gave me her cell number.  She said she'd call when my order is completely ready.  There isn't a group for the 1st communion class to reach out and say "hey, did anyone get their photos", so I'm sitting here awkward about it.  I'd think at this point I am within reason to say "hey, I need these post haste" but again, I'm soft.  I put something in my calendar for later this month to force me to confront if I don't hear anything by then.

After missing the first two swim meets due to vacation, we were finally able to attend the home meet last night.  Girl's relays didn't kick a lot of butt but it was obvious her times were going to improve greatly over last year.  In her individual events, between last July and this event she went from 33.00s to 26.74 in her 25 butterfly and from 36.99 to 22.25 in her 25 free.  This, and the ribbons that come with these times, is the encouragement she needs to keep practicing and working on her starts on the blocks and coming into the wall hard.  I can't believe my kid swims butterfly and hates breaststroke.

Since my last post kiddo and I hit the open sea once again.  We headed to Orlando airport where we spent a couple of nights and celebrated a good friend's 10th anniversary and renewal of vows.  From there we headed to the coast, staying at a hotel we previously stayed at - but we got in late, so we didn't get to spend as much time in the lazy river as we would have liked.  The next morning it was onto Adventure of the seas with two my sisters to Nassau (our first visit to the new Royal Beach Club), Falmouth Jamaica, and Cococay.  Post-cruise kiddo and I went to the space center.  We could have easily doubled our time there to see everything.  It was a great trip!

Now that we're home I'm in catch up mode.  Laundry, mowing, and the like.  Last night we were awakened by the smoke detectors!  I heard them sound and indicate "fire" and sat straight up in bed.  But they didn't persist.  In my startled awake state I thought perhaps I dreamt it and went to the bathroom during which it sounded once again for a quick bleep and "fire".  At this point my heart is racing.  I'm shoeing the dog downstairs and opening girl-child's bedroom to rouse her and get her downstairs to make an exit should it prove necessary.  I searched the house over and found nothing so I allowed kiddo to return to bed.  I lingered awake for a while, I'm not going to lie, I was pretty freaked out.

In my research this "nuisance alarm" (that's putting it mildly) could be due to dust (that wouldn't shock me) or a sensor failing but who knows which one triggered the alarm.  Today I also vacuumed around each detector and pressed each and every 'test' button.

I'm glad I had today scheduled off as it allowed me to do some of that catchup.  We also had an ortho appointment; kiddo got her expander removed and lower braces put on.  I still have so much to get done.  I so don't want to have to go back to work tomorrow.  Time to play the lottery and dream big.

Yesterday I marveled at how quickly news and information can travel, including somewhat niche information.  Kiddo and I have greatly enjoyed music from Oliver Tree for the past few years.  We'd dance waiting for the bus, we'd rewatch the videos and be goofy in the living room, he brought me joy.  I was watching for tour dates and hoping he would come near so I could go -- even better if it was all ages that I could take kiddo to her first show.

Within hours of two helicopters colliding in South America resulting in his death I heard about it.  Isn't that a bit crazy?  At first it sounded like a joke/publicity prank.  Now it just sits oddly.  Music industry screwed in the past few weeks, going independent, and now suddenly gone.  It's odd, it's too much of a coincidence, and it's just straight up sad.  Rest in peace Oliver.  Thank you for the joy.

This past weekend I came to terms with my situation and went back to the appliance store.  When I left I was still deciding if I was getting another LG fridge or a Kitchenaid and had only intended to get the fridge, not the stove.  By the time I got there I realized I should say eff it, I ordered both.  Fortunately the fridge I wanted was available and it was delivered today.  The stove will come in the next few weeks.  I went with Kitchenaid.  I'm not gonna lie, I liked the little red 'ends' on the pulls.  I didn't go for the black ore - but believe me I wanted to - it's stainless but more of a matte stainless.  I like it.  I also didn't go after cool colored pulls.  I can always order those in the future if I am feeling speedy.

As always I now have more marks on my walls etc from getting the old out and the new in - and they weren't reckless, so I don't blame them.  I did throw things away as I removed food from the old fridge.  In order to get back online for a meeting I rushed to cram everything into the new one over lunch.  I figured it best to keep the doors shut so it would come up to temp quickly.  I'm definitely going to need to do some reorganizing (like I don't have enough areas in the house that are in desperate need of such attention).

Observations so far:  I hadn't noticed that it didn't have a closable spot for butter.  That's weird.  The main shelf above the drawers angles up on the sides a bit which kind of reduces usable area IMHO.  I went from a 24 ft^3 to a 30 ft^3 fridge and it's still full, explain that.  The filter doesn't invade the storage space as much as it did on the LG.

Summer is official as kiddo's last day of 2nd grade was last week, and the weather has been beautiful.  I've been keeping up with mowing the lawn so far.  Fortunately with a bit less rain it should slow down.  Less rain also made it painfully obvious that my rain barrel is definitely leaking out as it is bone dry at the moment.  I'll need to figure that out as it's nice to not use the tap for many reasons.

I ended up buying tomato and pepper plants from Home Depot and Lowes when they were doing slightly reduced prices over Memorial Day.  I feel like a sell out, but who knows when I'd get to one of the farms to get them purchased and I didn't want to miss out on sweet 100s.  Everything went into their pots and are acclimating well.

My favorite egg's dad, the landscaper, came and refreshed my mulch and broke apart some of the plants out front.  I love how sharp everything looks with fresh mulch.  He also sprayed the property for ticks, which seems very necessary this year.

Now it's time to shift into getting things in order for summer activities and vacation.  Both things I look forward to, but I'm still behind on.  I at least got a new swim top ordered this morning, I'd hate to get too close to the date and not have everything I need.

The list of things that get discussed or queued up at the doctor for your routine well-visits after you turn ahem "49 plus" do nothing to help you feel younger.  Just sayin.