Just as an aside before you begin reading: as always, this blog is a bit dated, so not all of the information is entirely accurate…for instance, Tiso left last Monday. OK, you may read on now.
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So, do you remember how I whined in so many previous posts about dating and how I couldn’t wait to meet someone special?……well, I have some exciting news for you!! I met someone! His name is Pete and he’s perfect. In fact, let’s just refer to him as “Perfect Pete”. :) We’ve been dating about a month and a half, and I find that I’m pretty much smiling 24-7. OK, that’s a lie because I don’t think I smile in my sleep. And if I did, that would be really creepy. My point is I’m very happy.
If you know me well, you’re aware that I’m the queen of lists. I have 55 lists on my phone alone, and that’s not counting the post-its I keep at work, by my bed and yes, in the bathroom (Lori, I know you’re with me on that one…didn’t we have a conversation about how so many ideas come when you’re in the shower?). One of those lists on my phone is now called “Pete”, and it’s filled with places we want to go together, activities we want to do, restaurants to try…anything we come up with that we want to experience together. I was worried Pete would think I was a weirdo when he found out I started a list, but I’m happy to report that he’s embraced it and we’re both constantly making updates.Â
I knew “Perfect Pete” was special on our first date, but he outdid himself on the second. I was really nervous to mention leukemia, as you could probably sense from my last post, but I wanted to tell him. He was so easy to talk to and he seemed genuinely interested in my life, so when he asked me how my family and I grew to be such fans of Seattle (he lived there for several years), I bared all…not literally…I didn’t strip down in P.F. Chang’s. Rather, I told him about the leukemia and my transplant. “Perfect Pete” raised his wineglass and toasted me. I could have kissed him right then and there! I didn’t though…we clinked glasses and I thought to myself, “wow, this guy has class.” He took what was a fairly awkward situation and made me feel not only comfortable but also special.
I could go on and on about “Perfect Pete”, but you’ll just have to meet him for yourselves. And actually, I better stop referring to him as “Perfect Pete”, because he’ll probably read this and start getting a big head (again, not literally).
Aside from having a new boyfriend….wait, let me just write that again…boyfriend…yah, that feels good. :) So aside from that, life is relatively uneventful. Well, that’s not true. My report card from the most recent visit to see Dr. Kales revealed the highest blood counts I think I may have ever had! I also went to my gynecologist, and she informed me that whatever test they did back in December regarding my hormones meant nothing. She did another blood test and called me the next day to tell me I am NOT post-menopausal!!!!!!!!!!! This doesn’t mean I will definitely be able to have children, but it does give me hope.
And speaking of hope, I’m hoping that my massage on Tuesday will provide some relief to my sore muscles. I walked 6 1/2 miles yesterday at Team in Training!! That’s half of a half marathon! I have yet to set up my fund-raising page, but you will all be hearing from me soon!! I think “Perfect Pete”…I mean Pete, is distracting me. Here we are over a month into training, and I haven’t raised a dime!! Oh well…I like being distracted, and I WILL have my page done this week…it’s a promise I made to myself.
And here’s a promise you can make to me…please keep Tiso and Laura in your thoughts. He leaves for Iraq very early tomorrow morning (well, technically, he’ll be in the states for another six weeks, but we won’t see him), and he’ll be there for one year. Tiso, we will miss you, but I look forward to reading your blog and hearing your stories. What a party we will have one year from now!!!!!!! I can’t wait. Here’s a little Irish blessing for your trip:
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.
I leave you with an NPR interview I did a few weeks ago on “Animal House”…they interviewed me, obviously, not the other way around. :) Click here and scroll down to the second “Dr. Gary” section…I am on just after the first e-mail they read (about the cat that likes bleach). Enjoy the many photos below!!
Lots of love,
Julie
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Jack and Miss Kathy (Lori's mom AND his teacher) at the spring show.
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He looks too cute following Lori around the halls of Lake Braddock...we wanted to go see the gym, but discovered we were locked out.
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My mom and I went to a wedding a few weeks ago at Woodend, the beautiful site for the Audobon Naturalist Society in Chevy Chase, MD.
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I wish I could somehow make this look like a bubble...seems like the perfect perspective for that...I'm sure if I learned photoshop, I could figure it out!
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Beautiful trees.
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And more!
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There were deer in that field back there throughout the ceremony.
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A pretty evening at Fairfax Corner...do you think it'd be weird if I put my bathing suit on and joined all the kiddies that run through the fountain?! :)
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Are you in need of a smile? If so, head on out to Frying Pan Park to meet the baby farm animals!! If you don't smile when you see them, I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with you.
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Oh my gosh...look at those eyelashes!
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hahaha
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Meet "Perfect Pete"!! We infused some watermelons with vodka for Tiso's deployment party.
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I thought the bottle was going to fall out, thus my pose. :)
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We're ready to party with Tiso!!!
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Laura had these awesome cups made.
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Uncle Bill and Jeff came out to show their support and enjoy the party.
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And here I am with Lori and Pete.
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Ed and Marie relaxing on the couch.
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Katie, Tim, Lori and Rachel
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Aren't we cute?
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Some more peops outside.
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Pete, Mike, Brian, Dustin and Ian hanging out in the backyard.
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hahaha I like this one.
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And this is a nice one too!
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Lori, I can still see you!!
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But if I turn the flash off, I can't!
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Don't you love the decorations?! Laura did a wonderful job.
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Cheers, Tiso!!
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hahahaha I forget what he's doing here. :)
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Now this is funny...this is a mailbox on a major road here in NOVA and it always cracks Laura and me up. It's actually on our route to Dr. Kales' office...we call it the "boob-grabbing dragon". hahahahahaha
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Enlarge this to see the goooorgeous garden! This is my neighbor's garden, and they are actually selling some of the bulbs to benefit the Side-Out Foundation.
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Gooooorgeous!!!
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Check it out: http://www.side-out.org/news/battle-in-bloom/
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I thought this was really cool looking.
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I know you're surprised to see lots of flowers on my blog. ;)
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He gave me some of these hydrangeas to take home, and they lasted forever! My dad and I decided we need to plant a few in our yard.
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I'm not sure what this is, but I thought it was pretty cool.
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A Redskins lily!!
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Remember when I told you about the horse that was born last year, and I forgot to take a picture? Well, meet Razz and his momma, Lily.
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I love it!
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They are both super friendly...someday I would love to have a few horses.
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So Lori and I take our moms out to lunch/dinner every year for Mother's Day, but we never do it on the actual day. This year, we went downtown to The Tabard Inn for brunch...deliicious!
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hahahaha Lori noticed this.
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For Father's Day, my mom, dad and I went to Sully Plantation to check out some antique cars...I think this shot is a back-patter. :)
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How do they keep everything under the hood so clean?
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I want to get myself one of these chairs...don't you like it?
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Those seats look quite cozy!
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I love Corvettes...I think they are, without a doubt, the best-looking sports car around.
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One of many car-posing shots...in addition to a 1970s Corvette, I would also like a car like this.
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David, this shot's for you!! We remember your little MG.
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I almost wouldn't mind riding in the trunk of the car, it looks so comfy. hahahaha
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Check out that owner's manual! These people were the original owners, and boy was their car pretty!
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I liked how some owners added displays that harkened back to the days of drive-ins and diners.
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Look at those lines.
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Nice tires.
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hahahahahahaha I think most people walked right by this!!! Awesome.
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My dad was telling me that Aunt Barbie and Uncle Rick used to have a car like this, only it wasn't in quite as good shape as this one...as a matter of fact, you could see through the floorboards. Makes me think of the Flinstones!
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Talk about a roomy trunk!
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I think with a little practice, I could have been one of those car girls. hahahahaha
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This was awesome...an antique Mack truck.
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I think I look pretty good in it. :)
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This is probably my favorite shot of the day...too bad I couldn't get my knee out of the photo.
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This VW pick-up was neat...I didn't even know they existed! The side opened down.
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Underneath the VW pick-up, there was ample storage for suitcases, groceries, bodies...hahaha just kidding about that last one, folks!
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I'd also like an old pick-up someday.
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This shot's for you, Katie!! I know this is one of your dream vehicles.
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Everything is sooooo shiny!!
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A well-protected light.
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I like the big steering wheels.
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I wish I got a better picture. These guys were awesome, and we found out one of them was in his 80s, another in his 90s...they were so much fun!!!
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Now we're on to the party Tiso's buddies at the Blue Iguana threw.
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Laura and Sarah...Sarah and Mike drove several hours just for the night.
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Laura and Hollywood hangin'.
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Mmmmm....look at this bread pudding (and the size of those berries)!!!!!
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Jenn and Arthur celebrating Arthur's birthday at Cookology...several of us joined them to learn how to grill with beer (not drinking it, but rather using it in the recipe).
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See Pete back there?!! We made some delicious Arctic char, steak and bratwurst.
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Pete and I were pretty amazing chefs, if I do say so myself.
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Mmmmm...nice grill lines.
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This is hard work!!!
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Forrest was our third group member, and like Pete and me, he was an exceptional cook.
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Look at that sky!
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Self-portrait. :)
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Pete and Forrest.
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Phillip et al. cooking their brats!
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Are you ready to eat?!
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hahahaha Pete was first in line! I like it...he's not shy.
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Happy Birthday, Arthur!!
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I am huuuungry!!
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Pete and I planted these beautiful begonias the other week.
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Aren't they pretty?
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Pete has worked really hard on his house and it certainly shows...the prettiest one on the street!!
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I love the walkway.
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This is Pete's pride and joy: October Glory...when it grows, up, it will look like this: http://www.meredithnursery.com.au/Portals/0/OctoberGlory.jpg
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It's growing fast!! Look at those cute little leaves.
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I'm not sure what this is, but I like it!
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Begonia close-up.
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So I walked outside the other morning and found this cool looking bug on the porch...looks like a cicada but much more colorful.
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Isn't it striking?
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Welcome to my office!! Notice the Seattle map.
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Another view.
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And my cool plant...any ideas for a name for it?
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Another view...I sure made myself at home, didn't I?
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Last Friday, I took the pups for a nice long evening walk...the lighting was beautiful.
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Look how early I got up!! There are benefits to waking up superearly for Team in Training.
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Here I am in action!!
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A little blurry because I was walking so incredibly fast. :)