Vacation starts one week from today!  It’s much needed, but also stressful to think of being off work that long and all the work I’ll come back to.

I have a very full week leading up to vacation!  I DID have a doctor appt scheduled for Monday, but will need to call first thing on Monday to cancel it, since something came up.  Then Tuesday, I have my Psychiatric Evaluation that is required before the Bariatric surgery.  I’m looking forward to that to see what it’s all about and how much help it might be.  Also to see if it will be a one time visit or an ongoing thing if wanted.  Wednesday I’ll attend a support group meeting, which is another requirement.  I’m looking forward to that too and hearing other people’s stories.

I received a call from one of my best friends (I have many best friends – lol) last night that made me sad.  He has been dealing with an illness for a long time now (like 15 years) and lately it’s gotten worse and I really worry about him. 🙁  I’m not ready to lose him to it, so I’m hoping he’ll be able to rest up and get it under control.  He’s having to move back home to get things in order.

I took photos for some friends last weekend and this weekend.  It’s something I enjoy doing, but for several years now, I feel like I’ve lost my “creativeness” when it comes to it.  I’m really hoping to find it again one day!!  It comes and goes in spurts.  I do usually end up with some pictures I really like though when I do the photo sessions with people.  I have so many photo editing software also that I like to play around with.  My favorite at the moment is Lightroom!  It’s so fun!  I just wish I was more knowledgeable on how to use everything in it and also in Photoshop.  I sometimes look at the video’s on YouTube.  *Watch* *Pause* *Edit* *Watch* *Pause* *Edit*.  🙂  I just learn more by being SHOWN how to do something rather than READING about it.  I have a hard time getting it to sink into my thick skull. 🙂

In the past week we had a tree fall in the back yard.  We were very lucky that it didn’t hit the house or any of the neighbor’s fences.  It fell perfectly.  It split through the trunk about 5 feet up.  So strange!  I’m assuming from it being so dry for so long, but I’m not really sure.  Our house has been settling also, so much that we’re having cracks in the foyer wall and ceiling and having a hard time getting the deadbolt open.  Our family friend, Dan, came over and got it where we could unlock the door and he’s cut up the tree and will haul off the branches next weekend, but already the lock on the door is sticking again.  It really has me worried.  We’ve started to water around the house, but we are just having issues!  I’m really afraid of how much this problem will be if it ends up being more than just the drought.

For vacation, we are taking two weeks off work.  We’re heading out Saturday and will spend the first two nights with my sister and I’ll enjoy spending time with her and her family.  Then we’ll head out into uncharted territory. A part of the U.S. that I haven’t been before.  I’m looking forward to seeing some new things.  At the end of our journey are my parents, in Baltimore Maryland.  I’m really looking forward to seeing them and spending time with them.  While I’m gone I have several people taking care of the house and cats.  They’ll all be rotating in and out here. 🙂  I know our cats are going to miss us.

SO – this is just going to be a very stressful week trying to fit in appointments, get as much done at work as I can and getting all the stuff prepared for the trip.  Hoping I’ll be able to just leave it behind and not think about it in a week. 🙂