Don’t worry….I’m not going to overwhelm you with pictures today; I’m just ‘gonna write a reaaaaally long one. hahahaha Only teasing.

Before we begin, let me pay homage to one of the greatest movies ever, “A Christmas Story”….check this out: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/08/christmas.story.turns.25

/index.html Apparently it’s been 25 years since the movie came out! I think I’ve watched it every year since 1983…at least once a year. I know, you either love me or hate me for this nuance of my personality, but you gotta accept it along with the rest of me! “Christmas Vacation” is wonderful also, but it’s not quite up there with “The Christmas Story”. When we were in the Christmas store yesterday, they had leg lamps, little bobble leg lamps, and a leg lamp clock that says “Fra-gee-lay” on the hour. hahahahahaha They also had ornaments…who knew there was a whole “leg lamp underground”? APPARENTLY, someone even bought the house from the movie!! One day when I’m in Cleveland, I’ll have to make the trek.

Currently, we’re watching “Frasier”!! (surprise, surprise!) I’m still looking for some good Christmas movies on the family channel and Lifetime (you know, the good, cheesy, girly kind!!!!). We dropped my dad off at the airport today, and he got home safely. He made a flight to come back out on New Year’s Eve, so he’ll make it in time to see fireworks over the Space Needle! Aunt Bitsy arrives tomorrow…Aunt Bitsy, I’m ready to be treated like a “princess” (not that I haven’t been treated like that anyway!!).

After Aunt BItsy, Laura, Gobind, Dr. Sethi, and Katie will also come!!! And then my dad again. AND THEN HOPEFULLY I’LL BE GETTIN’ READY TO COME HOME!!!!! I called up some numbers today to see if we can get a free plane ride home through an organization. Anyone who is traveling for cancer purposes is allowed to apply for travel for themselves and usually one other (I believe) traveler. I don’t have an exact date, and I have to make sure I’m ready healthwise, but I feel pretty comfortable thinking it will be just over a month ’til I’m back at home.

Regarding my health, I think I must be doing great! I feel good, and my scheduler called me today to bump me from the doctor’s rounds tomorrow! She said out of seven patients on my “red team”, six are sick and one is well, so bump me they did! I was pretty happy about it too; I mean, I hope the other six start feeling better, but I’m happy to be bumped. So I’ll go in on Wednesday instead….no biggie!!!

I think my mom may be growing weary of my fairly constant talking. :)) hahaha OK, probably not, but I’ve noticed I switch topics and I talk a lot….I’m blaming the Prednisone again!! I’m not crazy unfocused, but it’s just a different side of me….you’ll see ’cause I don’t think my steroids will be totally tapered by the time I come home. LUCKY YOU!!

Let’s see…what else?! Remember those pictures of the pretty big bulbs at University Village? Well, my mom and I were walking around there getting some stuff done today, and I went into the Manager’s office to find out where they got them (I know you liked them too, Rachel!!!). Apparently you can find them at http://noveltylights.com/ . I’m going to check out the website and see what else they have, just for fun! I’ll let you know.

Before signing off, I received a beautiful card from the Bruces today, and I wanted to share the verse with you: “Praise bright blue skies and dark rain clouds. Lift happy voices upon the morning air. Murmur sweet words softly in the evening breeze. Be present in all things and thankful for all things” (Maya Angelou). Don’t think I could have said it much better!!! (um, yah, I don’t think I will EVER be comparing myself to Maya Angelou!)

Anyhoo, that’s all over here on the west coast. I’ve included a few more photos, so I hope you like them!

Love from Seattle,

Julie (and of course, Carol too!!)