Here I am again!

I’m just finishing up some delicious beef brisket leftovers, listening to “The Most Relaxing Classical CD Ever” and sending a hello out to everyone from the Pete Gross House. My mom’s talking to Katie and relaxing. We just opened up lots of lovely Thanksgiving cards—it’s so nice to come home to a box-full of mail! Thank you everyone.

I saw some more signs of the holidays while out and about today…wreaths, lights, people all snuggled in warm clothing….OK, that last part doesn’t mean it’s the holidays, but it kinda does, in my definition of “the holidays” anyway.

Well, I’ve got several things to share with you. Laura, unfortunately, is not feeling well, so she moved into a hotel yesterday. Think good healing thoughts so she can be back by Thanksgiving!!!! I hate having her so close by, knowing she came out here to see me as well as to participate in a study SCCA is doing in case I were ever to relapse (WHICH I’M NOT, DAMNIT!!! LAURA’S CELLS ARE VERY HAPPY IN MY BODY!!!). They pushed the study from today until next week, but I wish Laura didn’t have to be alone right now, and I know my mom feels the same way. But maybe Laura is relieved! hahahaha just kidding I know she’d rather be here. Anyway, send her all those healing thoughts that work so well!!

It’s day 48 post-transplant, I believe, and steroid-influenced energy or not, I’m happy to have energy. I’m still not quite all there mentally though. My mom walked around the corner this morning to see me pour three cups of milk into a blueberry muffin mix! I was proud to be making the mix myself, since I’ve pretty much milked the fetching for all it’s worth. Anyhoo, so I’m “cooking” and my mom sees this enormous amount of milk going into one box of mix and she looked at me and was like “Um, Julie….what the he*@ are you doing?” Now, mind you, I knew it didn’t seem right, but somehow I grabbed the largest liquid measuring cup (4 cups) and the 3/4 c of milk on the box turned into 3 cups of milk!!!!!! hahahahaha We were cracking up about that. My mom tried to fix it, but I haven’t tried the finished product yet. I’m sure you’ll be waiting with baited breath.

I was sad to say goodbye to Maya and Momma Nakamura, but it was a wonderful visit. I can’t remember if I told you about the watch they gave me?! It’s very pretty and it has two faces on it, one that reads “Here” and the other “There”….Maya said she figured I could keep it on Seattle and VA for now, and once I’m home, I can set the time for Dublin to help motivate me for my next trip. Thank you sooooooo much!!!!!! I have a feeling that watch will get to travel the world a little bit.

Some more interesting things I’ve discovered about Seattle: you can tour some of the “Deadliest Catch Boats” (from the Discovery Channel?)–some of the boats are right here in Seattle, although I’m not quite sure—isn’t the crab-catching season going on now? I’ll have to research that a bit more. You know me, I’m all about the Internet research. Another interesting tidbit (not about Seattle, but I just discovered it here) is a cool show called “Ninja Warrior”—it’s this cool reality competition, probably on one of the guys’ networks, Spike or something. That show is addictive!!! Now that’s something that would be interesting to see in person!! Check out a preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJmCem8qbTE

Also, I watched “Roman Holiday” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” for the first time the other week. I liked “Roman Holiday” much better, probably because I liked her character so much more. I have many more Audrey Hepburns to watch though!!

In other goings on here in Seattle, I have decided to depilate (my big word for the day!) in stages. I shaved my armpits (yah, definitely tmi) and plucked some eyebrows today!!! There’s still a little rash on my leg, so I figured I’d wait on that a little bit. I am going back later tonight to try and get some more plucking done on my eyebrows and lip (it hurts!!!!–worse than waxing–AND a bone marrow aspirate!)….and little by little, I will have a much girlier face. Although I did even notice some hairs on my cheek today—my cheek!!!!!!! C’mon now, people…that’s just not fair. Oh well. It feels good to have these little things bug me, but I’m still happy I can look at the big picture and say, “You know what?!! I’m a little hairier right now and people will just have to deal with my wolfman-like appearance”…..hahahahahahaha Now I am cracking myself up because I’m not that bad!!!

The weather out here is a little chillier, not like home, but it’s got a nice nip to it! When we’ve driven around the city, I’ve noticed that the snow peaks much lower on Mount Rainier now—that will always be an awe-inspiring sight, I don’t care how many times I see it. I always try to find it when we’re out driving or walking anywhere we might get a glimpse…it makes me feel like a little kid!

One thing I found out I won’t be able to see while I’m here (with some newfound energy, I’m doing more research on what to do around Seattle, both for my mom and myself as well as our guests)–I could have gotten some great snapshots for you!—In March they will have the Firefighter Stairclimb at the Columbia Tower here in Seattle…it’s worth it to watch the 2:30 spot about the 2008 climb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79I3iJQi8M0&feature=related. I wish I could witness all the excitement from the outside, and to help cheer them on! Maybe someday I’ll pay a visit to Seattle in March just to watch (obviously). Another spot I watched said that their gear weighs about 40 lbs, so just imagine packing all that on and THEN climbing the stairs!! Actually, if you get a sec, you should check out this other link because it shows them doing a practice (a different group, from somewhere in Oregon, I believe), and they also explain the climb a little bit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0RgahfuyUM&feature=related. I knew they did this climb because we visited the tower back in May when we came to Seattle for vacation. Apparently firefighters train and come from all over, raising money along the way for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…pretty darn cool, don’t you think?!

Let’s end all warm and fuzzy, ’cause you know how I like that. We received a beautiful Thanksgiving note from Katie today, and she made a comment on the situation of the holidays this year that I thought was so simple and elegant that I had to share it with you: “Despite the distance, this will be one of my most memorable Thanksgivings because I think it is the first time I’ve understood what it means to be truly thankful”. Now, if you know about our historic Thanksgivings and “shrimp nights”, then you know just how much Katie’s statement means. Of course we’d love to have all the cousins, new spouses, second cousins, dogs, laughs, love, piano playing, singing (especially Irish drinking songs), shopping, and chatting into the wee hours for many more Thanksgivings to come, but being separated makes us reach out more often, and we know there will be future Thanksgivings. When they come, we will be thankful and we will celebrate. I can’t wait!

Finally, given my increased energy and the food-inspired holidays, I’m getting closer to starting my project of creating a good recipe box for myself, with recipes I’ve always wanted to copy from my mom, my aunts, Tracie, Laura, Katie, and many, many more! In the meantime, I’m sure my mom, Laura and I will make many of our own memories discussing the different foods, who originally made them and what tricks we need to use that aren’t noted on the cards (Mom, you’re famous for this!!!! :)—-what?!! sugar in waffles?!!! hahahahaha)

There goes another long one. Hope you’re all doing well, and you’re planning this week’s eating strategy accordingly so you can fit in all the Thanksgiving goodies.

Love from Seattle,
Julie

And here are a few more pics!!