Good morning!! Yup, you read right…good morning!! It’s 7:23 AM, and I’m up. No, it’s not for any reason, I just felt wide awake. I also thought you might want something to make you smile (no it’s not my post itself, but rather a video). :) Kristi, thanks for forwarding this along to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWUrj22pRD0&feature=fvst. Dancing, yet another universal language! You think he was really in all those places? I hope so ’cause it was really cool, and the song is my new favorite song. I put it on my phone, and I’ve listened to it five times already. 
It feels good to be up early! I think I just might get done all the to-do items on my list…imagine that! I’m looking forward to lunch with Paloma at Olive Garden (mmm…soup, salad and breadsticks, here I come!). I’m also looking forward to a yummy dinner of gazpacho. I slaved over the blender last night to make it! Actually, it’s easy to make aside from seeding the tomatoes. I dread that part. Does anyone have any special tricks on how to do it? I’ve tried squeezing them out, cutting them out…it’s never a pretty sight, and nothing seems to work perfectly.
Manchego, I missed you!
Keeping on the whole food theme, since Dr. Orloff gave me the go-ahead to be around children, I gave myself the go-ahead to eat my favorite non-pasteurized cheese. :) I’m sure he wouldn’t mind! I treated myself to some delicious manchego cheese yesterday, topping it off with oven-roasted tomatoes from the Whole Foods olive bar. I missed that yummy flavor combination!! I learned to love manchego when I studied in Spain, where I disgusted all Spaniards by pairing it with coffee. Now that I think about it, that is pretty gross.
This time, I paired it with a little wine...much better than coffee.
OK, well, I’m off to take a shower and start my day at a normal hour. This feels good! I don’t think I’ll be making a habit of it, but it feels good! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there!!!
Love,
Julie
19
AM
You picked a great morning to get up early….it’s BEAUTIFUL outside! Enjoy it as much as you did the manchego….mmmmmm! Lovely pictures too…makes me hungry…and thirsty!
20
AM
Hmmmm…can it be? Is our “old Julie” resurfacing??? Dancing the night away at Gipsy Kings, enjoying your beloved Manchego & tomato paired with a delish glass of vino, given the ‘go-ahead’ to wear contacts AND to hug & kiss those little ones you miss!?!? (Addison & Jack, look out! Here she comes!)
I must admit that along with a BIG smile as I read your last 2 posts just now I also feel surprisingly emotional as I think of how far you’ve come in just one year! (Granted, I think we ALL know who to thank!) But really…YOU ARE AN AMAZING WOMAN! I love you!
21
PM
Ditto to Laura! (and ditto to Lori about those photos making me hungry and thirsty)
22
PM
That dancing video was awesome - my favorite was the Korean DMZ! Those tomatoes in the background of your wine picture look deeeeeelicious!! And I agree with Laura and Katie - you are indeed an amazing woman! Especially having overcome your intense personal challenge - hehehe =) Love ya girly - looking forward to another year of good health and good times!
23
AM
Hi Julie…we’ve been away for a few days so I missed the good news about them reigning in your restrictions! At your current rate of recovery, your immune system will be able to handle a day care center before the end of the year! And the contact lens part was a huge mental boost for me, too. As Charlotte would say, “Gratulations”!