Yesterday on the icy roads, we had the opportunity for an appointment out Washington Blvd/Rt# 50 around lunch time. I'd read about The Great Wall Grocery Store, in the Gold's Gym shopping center on Gallows road. If you like unique items to eat, you'll enjoy this grocery store. Live fish are swimming in tanks. "Which one would you like, sir?' Fresh vegetables galore and fresh fruit of more varieties thaN is imaginable. While walking by all the live frogs, turtles, jelly fish, pig's feet, crabs....I spotted laquered ducks hanging behind a glass wall. Behind it was a huge pig on a meat hook (fresh bacon, pork chops). The laquered duck peaked our tastebuds. The woman "thankfully" asked if she could chop it into pieces for us. It WAS so beautiful, head-on. Duck soup tonight.

The Fairlington CVS on Quaker Ln, very near Parkfairfax/Shirlington has a photo enlargement machine. Saw Stan and Victor while there. Anyway, the photos of my brother and my parents and I on a vacation in Bermuda at Christmas-time WAAAAYYYY back when I worked for Delta(when I was MUCH younger) have been enlarged and are ready for Valentine's Day gifts.

1/27/2009-Paige (Jefferson Park), John & John (Parkfairfax/Shirlington) went to lunch at Majestic Cafe in Old Town today. Wow, was it cold. Paige said we had the 3 most attractive coats in Old Town. Her's was a fantastic designer suede with fur sleeves on the cuff and neck. And this fur was so unique....it was gorgeous. It was her Mom's. John M. wore a black suede and John W. wore a brown suede. (WHO CARES! WE DO! )What a good meal. Grilled scallop salad (JW), brot sandwich, with rosemary bread, 3 relishes (Paige) , and a cheese burger (JM). Very attentive wait staff, and VERY good food. The skylights add a glow that adds to the ambiance. There's a parking lot, metered, across the street...it was full, of course. So I parked in front of Arts Afire, the most attractive designer jewelry and glass store in the country. Joe Egerton, my dear friend is the owner. See them online at http://www.artsafire.com/, America’s Largest Glass Jewelry Gallery. We wanted to go in and shop, but Paige needed to get home to pick up Conrad, who's a star at George Mason Elementary. We talked much longer than we anticipated and enjoyed each others company! Soon, you'll see Paige's home for sale on http://www.johnandjohn.net/ And you'll want it!!

John Welch, originally from Dallas, GA, now from Alexandria, VA went to the dentist today for my 6 month check-up. Had the OPPORTUNITY to get a new "crown", which consists of a new computer-generated porcelain filling. No longer is a crown necessary. This was amazing technology. Let me know if you need a dental referral, will be happy to help.

Another Parkfairfax property went "under contract"yesterday, January 13th; a 2 bedroom/2 level "fixer-upper on Gunston. Actually, everything, to our knowledge was in normal working order. Congratulations to the new buyer who plans to renovate!!!

This was a grand weekend for Parkfairfax & walk-to Shirlington Real Estate. Several condominiums and detached home went "under contract" as a result of the pent-up-demand for real estate, the 37 year low 30 year fixed mortgage rates, and the "hope" generated by a new administration coming into political office and by being associated with The JOHNandJOHN Team. Being close to I395, Quaker Lane, Fairlington, Shirlington's shopping, library, metro, restaurants, and theatres make Parkfairfax in Alexandria and Shirlington in Arlington "must" place to live and work. Amazing how close Alexandria and Arlington is made by Shirlington-a 5 minute walk.

On a more personal note, our laptop computer that we use at home or while at open houses died. After determining $300 to repair. We decided to purchase a new one. The Sony Style shop in Pentagon City is where we went to look because they sold the Sony Vios, our current laptop. They were giving 25% off some floor models. Their customer service wasn't great, but Chris, our salesperson/computer genius was VERY knowledgeable. If you see us with our new RED (remember discount) computer, you'll know it!!