Hello everyone!!! Now don’t be overwhelmed by the number of pictures in this blog…….hello?! hello?! Are you still there?!!! Oh well…I’ll just keep on writing whether or not you’ve already fallen asleep. hahaha Dad, remember when you said “less can be more”? Well, I just can’t seem to whittle everything down!!! Most of these shots are street shots, just little pics for you to see Seattle and for me to remember it, street by street. OK, we don’t go down every street, but each different photo reminds me of something, so to me it was important to capture it.

OK, enough defending my photos! Guess what?!!! Yesterday I received a beauuuuutiful book from Zimmer-Gunsul-Frasca Architects, LLP (the firm that designed the SCCA Clinic). It’s called “Future Tense”, and it includes photos of the firm’s designs from the past twelve years. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to go through it page by page, but I’m looking forward to it! The most touching part was that there are five pages of “thank yous” and well wishes from employees. Wait ’til you see it—their work is beautiful and their words are both touching and thoughtful.

All is going well medically. I went in to have my blood drawn to check my Cyclosporin and Magnesium levels today (they do that every Tuesday and Friday). The Cyclosporin is the big gray scary pill that turned out not to be sooo bad, but they often have to adjust the amount I take. The magnesium is what they add to my fluids which I give to myself through a pump twice a day (with the help of Mom, of course!) You know, I was just thinking….I wonder how often I repeat myself in this blog? I can’t remember what I’ve written…I’ll keep blaming the chemo/radiation and now Prednisone. Anyway, sorry if I repeat myself. Anyway, sorry if I repeat myself. hahahahaha

Yesterday was a big day for my mom, Aunt Bitsy and me. We went to “Pike’s Place Market”—basically we did a run-through because we didn’t want to be around a crowd; we saw the Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton (very cool—see pics ); we went for a walk on “Julie and Carol’s Way”; we ate some delicious leftovers, AND we went to look at Christmas lights!!! It felt like snow all day, but nothing yet! They’re talking about possible snow this weekend, and Seattleites are freaking out! They say that since they don’t get snow in the city often, no one knows how to drive in it and they don’t have much in the way of public trucks/sanders, etc to clear the roads….still, I would love just a little snow! There’s supposed to be lots in the mountains around here for all the skiers/snowboarders/snowshoers. Has anyone ever been snowshoeing? It sounds like fun! Difficult, but fun. I haven’t been skiing in a very long time…I wonder how I would hold up on a slope?!! Guess now’s not the time to try it out. And as for snowboarding, I do not think I am capable of that high level of coordination, although I do have the Wii so I can practice. By the way, I’m really good at the snow jump on the Wii…don’t think I’ll see if that translates to real life or not–a liiiiiiiittle risky, don’t you agree?

Oh! I know what I forgot to tell you. While I was resting in bed yesterday morning, I heard a little “thwack!” on my window (my blinds were up because I like to see the sunlight coming in during the early hours), and guess what?!! There was a cute little gray bird….nope, it wasn’t our cardinal, but I think Uncle Pete must have sent a trusted friend just to check in on me. He didn’t stay long, but it was long enough to make me smile. It also made me think of VA, where all my animal buddies are…not just Jameson, Guinness and Bella, but also the many deer, foxes, skunks, owls and birds that frequent our yard. You don’t get that in the city, and I always find great comfort in nature (although no offense to them, but not the creepy crawly members of nature).

So I realize there will be things about the city I will miss, and things that I long for awaiting me in Virginia. I suppose this is a good place to be. Here we are, “deep thoughts with Julie” again! I know I’m feeling this way because we’re getting ready to leave here fairly soon, but I also turn 31 next week. I truly surprised myself when I felt sad last year. Of anyone, I thought, I should simply be glad I’m here…age is nothing…but there were some tears and I did indeed feel a little down, I guess because of what I didn’t have at age 30 that friends did, even though I realized the leukemia held me back. It sounds so silly. Well, this year is different. More than ever, I realize what I have and what matters, and I don’t have time to think about the other stuff…I guess none of us should ever waste the time doing that, but it’s easy to fall back into the daily grind. Anyway, this year I plan on celebrating being older!! After all, we can’t avoid it, right? And the older I get, the closer I am to making all my dream trips come true–accomplishments take time and that’s what I’ve got now (thanks to Laura, my gift of life).

Well, I hope you’re not asleep at your desks!! Aunt Bitsy, Mom and I are watching an old movie, “Madame X” and looking outside at the rain. I’m not sure what the rest of our day will entail, but it’s certainly nice to have good companionship, relaxing momemts to catch up on the blog, and a Christmasafied apartment looking out over the city.

Remember the sheet of fun activities I typed up in case other patients might want to try them out too, well we went by the volunteer desk today just because I wanted to make sure they received it, and they had made copies of it, and it was the top page open in their binder! I hope someone out there has some fun with it! Only annoying thing…I was being all cutesy, and I made part of the font green and part of it red, then I remembered the resource center only has a black and white printer. Oh well!!!

It’s dark now, and my mom is getting ready to make some more Steak Diane (mmmmmmm…), along with my favorite, spinach and artichoke casserole (Steve, I’m glad you’re not here so I can eat all the leftovers….but Aunt Bitsy loves it too!).

Enjoy the photos!! Did anyone go crazy decorating their house?

Lots of love from Seattle,

Julie