More good blood numbers!  My white count was a whopping 4.0!!  The neutrophils are still staying around 1.5, but I’m really happy.  I was joking with Dr. Orloff when he came by to see me because I told him I didn’t have too many questions to ask (as you know, I usually have quite the list!) and I thought he might be disappointed.  :)  He kind of smiled and said, “You know, I don’t know if you realize just how well you’re doing.  You are doing exceptionally well!”.  Music to my ears.  What more could a patient want to hear from an expert in the transplant field?

He also smiled a bit when I said the dermatologist told me I had Rosacea, commenting that it normally happens with older people, but perhaps I was just aging.  I responded, “I think I must be because I have more gray hairs than ever!” (which unfortunately is true).  Anyway, all in all it was a great check-up on Tuesday (when I actually started this blog).  I did the stair thing again–climbing up the four flights.  It feels good, and I feel a lot safer than when I’m on the rickety old elevator.  Oh!!  I know…one more thing I was superexcited about was my blood pressure.  Remember how the Prednisone resulted in an increase in blood pressure?  Well, this week it was my typical 94/74…I’m half wondering whether the assistant on the other side of the office knows how to take blood pressure well because when she does it, t’s always 120 over something. Who knows?  Maybe I just felt more relaxed this week. 

I’m keeping up the walking with the dogs after dinner, and I’ve been biking about three times a week.  I haven’t done any speedwalking, but I would love to fit it in there.  My problem is that I feel guilty going out without the dogs because I know they love walks so much, and they can always use the exercise.  Still, I know it would be good for me to go out there alone sometimes and walk faster.  I know I’ll feel better about myself, and if I feel better than I’m more pleasant to be around, which I’m sure my family appreciates.

He doesn’t know it, but Obama bought me some great new hiking boots and a walking pole.  Yup, that’s right, I stimulated REI with my economic recovery check.  I absolutely love the hiking boots, and I think the pole will make a huge difference with rocky paths, both while ascending and descending.  So, bring on the rocks!!!  OK, not White Oak Canyon quite yet, but maybe the Bull Run hike you did with Dad, Laura?  What do you think?  I’ll work my way up to the more difficult ones….each hike brings me closer to my date with Old Rag this fall.  I will be ready!!!  Thanks, Barack, for helping to make this possible.

I had a really good week.  I visited with my friend Ed…he brought me some yummy Arby’s, and it was a lot of fun just eating and playing some cards (I’m beginning to wonder if he let me win each time to be nice! )  Oh well…the important thing is that I won.  :)  hahaha  I’ve had a lot of fun walking the dogs after dinner, because it seems like half the neighborhood is out at the same time!  Ok, maybe not half, but there are a lot of walkers and dogs out!  It’s a very social time of day.

Speaking of social, I’m going with Laura to to her friends’ house tomorrow for a BBQ, and I’m really looking forward to it.  I hope the weather is nice.  And now…moving on to the weather…you have to check this out.  The Space Needle was struck by lightning several times this week (of course, it’s happened many times before too!), but this article has some beautiful images: http://www.komonews.com/weather/blog/45502097.html.  And now, we’ll segway into talking about Seattle…isn’t this blog flowing nicely?  :)  Katie had us watch “Battle in Seattle” today about the WTO protests that took place in Seattle in 1999.  I definitely recommend it.  I have a lot of learning to do though, because I don’t quite grasp the background to each side:  protesters versus WTO.  What exactly is fair trade?  Why is the WTO so poorly received?  How do active protesters make a living?  OK, so that last one isn’t such a big deal, but I’m curious.

We also watched “Milk” last night, and it was wonderful.  I had never heard of Harvey Milk, and I never knew about the riots or what the gay community went through in the 70s.  That Anita Bryant sure was a delight.  hahaha yah, right.  Sean Penn did an exceptional job, and he definitely earned his Academy Award.  I think the hardest roles to play are those modeled after real people who influenced true experiences.  Well done, Sean Penn (if you’re reading this! hahahahaha)!!  Whether or not you feel comfortable with the topic of gay rights, this is a movie that you should see.

Let’s see…what else is going on?!  I found another tick on myself yesterday after biking with Katie…that’s number 5 this year, and it’s not even June!!!  They’re so disgusting.  I mean, they’re not quite as intimidating as copperheads (in terms of appearnace), but the fact that they can carry diseases is very intimidating…plus, they’re just creepy.  Another neighbor found a copperhead in his yard last week.  I’d like to think there’s only one, and he’s making his way through the neighborhood, but I’m intelligent enough to know that where there’s one, there are more, so I will remain alert!

But let’s talk about cute animals.  Did you hear about the ducklings in Spokane, WA?  For the second year in a row, a mother duck made her nest in the ledge of a downtown building, and a banker kept watch over her eggs until they hatched…then he helped them to the water.  You gotta watch this:  http://tidingsofmagpies.blogspot.com/2009/05/make-way-for-ducklings-spokane-way.html.  I love it!!!

OK, well, I’ve said all I have to say for now (by the way, it’s Sunday now!).  I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day…did you see all the motorcycles out for Rolling Thunder?  I love this time of year…not that it’s the only time there are motorcycles around, but there are so many of them this weekend.  I was sitting in traffic yesterday when the floorboard of my car started vibrating, and I knew before looking over that a Harley pulled up beside me.  Part of me would live to ride one someday, but the other part can’t forget Mom’s stories when she worked as a nurse in the orthopedic department…maybe on a totally deserted country road if we go 15 miles an hour.  :)  I think I’ll wait ’til all my blood counts are normal, what do you think?

Hope you are all doing well.

Love,

Julie