Bueller?? Bueller?

It has been a crazy summer for me. My mother-in-law passed away the Saturday after Easter, and I have been helping my husband with the estate (even though there isn't much to probate) and clean out her house in which there is an unbelievable amount of accumulated junk...and with four siblings, EVERYONE needs to review EVERYTHING before there is a decision to throw ANYTHING away. It is a slow process.

Hubby lost his job in March and has yet to find another job. Trying to juggle the finances and rework the budget so we can survive when the unemployment runs out in a few weeks. I had to reduce my 401K contribution significantly, along with a lot of discretionary spending. Might be my last year of season tickets since I have historically budgeted for that a year in advance. And my plan to retire at 62 is no longer feasible.

Work has been insane as well. We had a "reduction in force" a few months ago, and three of the six people who supported the same application I support were let go. So having to do a lot more with a lot less. Most of us have been there at one time or another. I am grateful to have my job, but damn, being a "survivor" is not easy. On top of that we are moving from waterfall into a full "agile" (software development methodologies, kids. I don't expect many to know WTH I am talking about.) and I am the product owner over one of the scrum teams, so there is a transition there. And they moved some people over who supported another application to help with my application. Problem is, they do not know the property/casualty business, nor do they have a clue about the application. Guess who gets to be their mentor/trainer?

Took a vacation with my sister and her family up to Maine in July. They are landlocked Nebraskans. Their vacations revolve around seeing as many lighthouses they can in a week. I knew this, so I should not have been surprised that 75% of every day was spent driving from lighthouse to lighthouse. I honestly don't care if I ever see another lighthouse for the rest of my life. Even if I am on a floundering ship in dense fog. Okay, maybe then I would welcome the sight. But that was NOT my idea of a relaxing vacation. It was almost more stressful than working. Being a captive in the same car with my sister can do that. I love her dearly, but I cannot be with her 24/7 without wanting to poke her eyes out with a sharp stick.

I have four days of work this week, then I am off to visit my son in California. Will take a trip down to Santa Clarita to see some of the houses I lived in when I was a wee child. The rest of the time I will occupy myself with relaxing pursuits while my son works and then kick back with him in the evenings. I may just spend one or two days lounging by the pool reading. I desperately need to relax. Hubby is not coming along. Not a travel fan, and is having issues with back/hip/knee that would make the long flight unbearable for him. That's okay, I can use a break away from him.

I have also been battling severe anxiety and depression. I am starting to come out of that a bit. Hopefully after my vacation and once the season picks back up again I will get back into posting. I just have not had the interest or motivation lately. Forgive me.