Hi there everyone!

Well, you might as well settle in there, folks, ’cause it’s ‘gonna be a long one!!!!!  I’ve had a busy week.  I went hiking Thursday with Laura and the dogs, I attended Paloma and Tony’s wedding Saturday, and Sunday afternoon I visited with Rachel, a friend I haven’t seen since high school.  Later in the evening I hung out with Maya and Brant.  It felt good to be so busy!  A social butterfly, that’s me!! 

Let’s start with the hike…perhaps you want to ask Laura about how it went, because she has a very entertaining way of describing it.  It was, as you can see from the photos, a goooorgeous day.  We  took Jameson, Guinness and Indie, buckled them into their backpacks and set out on the path.  It was marked blue for “easy”.  Well, let me just warn you, WHITE OAK CANYON IS NOT AN EASY HIKE!!!!!  Check out the description here:  http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/WhiteOak/.  Laura, I’m pretty convinced that we did the longer, more difficult hike that starts at the bottom of the mountain.  There were definitely creek crossings without a bridge (I slipped on one of the rocks while crossing and fell, soaking both shoes and my right lower leg–again, see photos!).  By the way, Laura also fell, but she fell on dry land.  OK, let’s be fair…there were lots of rocks on this trail.  In fact, let me tell you a little more about all these rocks (or you can contact Laura for a more lively version).  They were everywhere, both small and large.  Now, my hiking boots are old (or shall I say they were old, because I threw them away the minute we got home!), and I discovered on this hike that they were not so supportive anymore.  My ankles kept rolling to the sides as I tried to navigate the path.  I don’t mind hills, but when the switchbacks started feeling more like rock climbing, I admit I got a little cranky.  I did my best to hold it in, but I just couldn’t do it anymore!  Laura and I turned around once I realized we still had a ways to go to get to the other falls, because I didn’t think my body was willing to push any further.  We turned around, and I just let it all out:  “Why are there so many (”bleepin’”) rocks (only, I didn’t say “bleepin’”, obviously!); “Don’t you think there are a lot of rocks?”; “These dog leashes keep getting tangled!!”; “Did you honestly think I could walk 10 miles?”; “I don’t think I could do this even before the bone marrow transplant!”; “How is that older lady able to hike this?”.  But I didn’t want to hurt Laura’s feelings, so I mixed those comments in with “It really is beautiful here though” and “I really do like this hike, I’m just not totally prepared”.  When Laura describes it, she uses special story-telling voices that make me sound like a schizo.  It’s pretty funny though, I admit!!!  It was especially funny once I fell in the water.  I would like to take this moment to say that I will not be hiking Old Rag in June.  I think I will push that off until the fall, because I am absolutely not in shape for Old Rag, and it will take time.  I hope those who wanted to join me in June still want to go!!  My new goal is to make it through White Oak Canyon.  Here’s the plan:  new hiking boots, a walking stick or pole and a third person to help walk the dogs (and perhaps some stair climbing training!).

The dogs and I fell asleep on the ride back to Laura’s house (thanks for driving, Laura!).  Before getting home though, Laura made a stop at McDonald’s to get the dogs some plain burgers.  They were gone in ten seconds, and I am not exaggerating!!  Laura and I got ourselves some delicious BBQ from a tiny place in Haymarket (I can’t remember the name).  When we got home, we celebrated by having cider—that’s right!–my first cider in almost a year!  It was extremely refreshing.  Hiking and beer (or cider, in my case) just go together–not at the same time, mind you, but as a treat after hiking.  I took a picture of my first cider. 

Friday night, I got ready for Paloma and Tony’s wedding by trying on outfits to see what fit and what didn’t.  I also painted my toenails, and they turned out quite beautifully if I do say so myself!!  Ronnie, Kathy, Katie, Vlad and Klaus all arrived Friday evening, and we (well, all of us except for Katie, who got home later) ate a delicious rockfish dinner courtesy of Mr. Beha who caught a 46″ rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay Friday afternoon!!  Thank you so much for sharing your fresh catch!  My dad made some sweet potato fries and we had some corn…a delicious impromptu dinner.  My mom even made a chocolate cake!!  Talk about feeling spoiled!  Saturday morning was gorgeous…hot, but gorgeous!  In the early afternoon, I drove out to Lovettesville, VA (not too far from Charles Town, WV) for the wedding.  I enjoyed the drive out there, singing the whole way and taking in the amazing Virginia countryside.

The wedding took place at a bed and breakfast, and it was awesome!!  Paloma looked gorgeous, Tony looked handsome, and it was obvious they were both having a blast.  Paloma, one of my favorite parts was when you and your dad walked “down the aisle” (or “up the hill” ).  I love outdoor weddings because the “aisle” is almost always fairly long, and it’s such a special moment for the bride and her father or whoever the special person may be who is walking her down the aisle.  You and your dad seemed to be smiling/laughing the whole way!  And, of course, I loved the fact that your dad said hi to me as you got closer. 

Paloma’s aunt made her dress, and it was absolutely perfect.  It was just so you, Paloma!!  There were special touches throughout the ceremony and the reception.  Tony and Paloma released doves during the service that flew in formation, flying back and forth before heading off into the distance.  Each table for dinner was decorated with beautiful mosaics, handmade by Paloma.  In each one, she pieced together the name of a country or city that was special to both Paloma and Tony, and on the back of the menu, they had pictures  of themselves in that city/country and a story of why that place was important to them.  They will use the mosaics as decorations in their home.  I sat at “Guatemala”, there was a “México”, an “Argentina”, and several others.  Paloma and Tony fittingly sat at “Lovettesville”.  For favors, Paloma and her dad put together these really cool mosaic coasters.  There were just so many special touches, and family was central to the celebration.  The dancing was incredible (especially mine!  hahahaha), the people were kind (I loved everyone at my table), I got to meet Maria’s five-day old beautiful baby girl, and I even made it into Paloma’s dad’s speech!  He spoke in Spanish because there were so many relatives from overseas, and one of Tony’s sisters translated into English.  Mr. Corchon thanked everyone for coming, and he added a special thank you to me, saying that I had them worried for a while, but they were so happy to have me there with them.  Thank you again for the “shout out”, Sr. Corchon!!  I was so touched.  And I was verrrry happy to be there!  It was a wonderful celebration of love, family, and friends.  Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Borrayo!!!! 

But wait, the fun doesn’t end yet!  Sunday afternoon, a friend from elementary and high school came out to visit.  I hadn’t seen Rachel since high school, and I had never met her husband, Mike.  It was so much fun catching up and hearing about what she’s been doing.  Guess what?  She has a cat named Guinness…how funny is that?  We made plans to go to her house for a BBQ in May, and I’m really looking forward to it.

Sunday evening, I ventured out to Centreville to hang out with Maya and Brant.  They prepared a delicious dinner, we chatted, and then they introduced me to “House Hunters”…I think I could get very addicted to that show!!  By the way, my parents liked the yummy coffee jello with whipped cream!  It is deeeeelicious.

In other news, I think the marks on my face have settled down.  I haven’t noticed any new ones surfacing, and the old ones seem to be fading.  I do notice some mouth sores though, so it’s back to salt rinses.  Did I tell you in the last post that I made my appointments for Seattle?  I’m going in late September, and the whole fam is trying to go with me so we can turn it into a vacation.  I’m psyched to have the dates, so now I just need to get the plane fare and hotel.  I am so looking forward to going back out there!!

Unfortunately, yesterday I learned that a friend I’ve met in the cancer treatment process died.  Well, technically, I never met him.  I e-mail back and forth with his fiancée, who I met through Chemoangels.  He was diagnosed with AML last year, and has been actively fighting this disease since that time.  In his obituary, it said that his best friend was his adorable dog (does that sound familiar to you?! ).  Paula, I’m thinking about you and your family, and I’m sending lots of love.

I hope someday there will be a leukemia vaccine…there’s a feline leukemia vaccine, after all!  This disease just sucks, and I feel so lucky to be doing well, so lucky that I had Laura to give me “the gift of life”.  I appreciate life every day, and I hope I always have the ability to step back and do just that.  I can’t wait until I can be part of TNT again, so I can help raise funds for more research.

Well, I think that covers everything–for now, anyway!!  Oh wait, I forgot!  Last week when I went to the doc’s office, my hemoglobin and hematocrit were the highest they’ve ever been!!!  12.1 and 34.5…how ’bout that?!!!!  Pretty impressive, don’t you think?!  I’ll go for 14 and 37 next time!!!!

To end, I’ll share another great youtube video Aunt Nancy forwarded to me.  I love this–how cool would it have been to be in that train station?!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

OK, I hope you enjoy the photos!!

Lots of love,

Julie