The countdown is seriously on

Maternity leave. It is within my grasp... by, like, three days! My last day of work is this Wednesday (today being Monday). After that, I begin holidays for two weeks and two days and then officially start my maternity leave on August 14 and have no plans to return to any employment situation until September 4, 2007 at the earliest. And if somehow I strike it rich before then... then, hah! Screw you, land of paid employment!

The next few weeks will be fun, but tiring I expect. Emily's daycare is closed for holidays this week and next so Thursday and Friday I am looking after her (John is on duty today until Wednesday). During this week I must also finish painting her room. Then on Sunday we're all off to the cottage for a week or so. I have been looking forward to that all summer. I am going to float my big, fat body in the lake feeling all weightless and skinny until my skin is so wrinkled that I look like an octegenarian whose reproductive system didn't quite get it right.

About half way through our week there, Beth and Graeme are going to join us. I'm very pumped about this since I only see Beth about twice a year and that isn't enough. It is especially sweet to be at the cottage with her since we essentially grew up there, during summers at least. I envision some minor construction, some bakery on the beach and some water ballet. She'll know what I mean about the last two.

Then after our return home, Emily will return to daycare for a while until she goes part-time and I will do my best to do some advance cooking and serious sleeping which just isn't going well these days.

I'm so focussed on "optimal foetal positioning," as the experts call it, that I sleep almost entirely on my left side. This means an extremely sore hip and shoulder. I'm such a martyr. It does seem to help though with the baby's position along with spending at least 30 minutes on my hands and knees while watching our new favourite show, Veronica Mars, on DVD. Seriously, check it out.

Until now the horrible situation in Lebanon has not affected me directly at work. But now, my workload is increasing quickly as a result, and so, I must cut off my amusing ramblings and turn my attention to what I am supposed to be doing to earn my keep.