Julia B.'s profile

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Married

More about me

Years ago I read a little book that was titled something like “Maiden, Mother, Crone.” that was a description of the stages in a female’s life. It got me thinking about how rebellious I was as a little girl, and then how life caught up with me when I had eight (yes, eight) kids of my own and had to balance raising them with working for the last 20 years.... Ironically, it’s only now that I’m beginning to discover myself. As a working mom, I was pretty much all no-nonsense. But now, as a grandma, I’m starting to gain a real appreciation for what I’d always considered nonsense. Like sitting in the middle of a pile of dirt with seeds and compost scattered all around me. I love gardening, now. The problem is that summer doesn’t last all year, so in the winter months I have to do what gardening I can indoors, which leads me to becoming more introspective. I now manage to find the time to do more of the reading I have always loved. Just started Thomas Perry’s last Jane Whitefield novel—another mystery/thriller about a Native American “guide” who helps people in trouble to escape from dangerous lives. Two plusses here: On the one hand I get the adventure, minus the cheesy, hugging-and-kissing romance stuff with moronic heroines who are lost without a big strong man to complete them. And on the other, I am reminded of the Native American side of my culture. I lost my mom this year, and my dad a couple of years earlier, and that has certainly made me more introspective. I guess it’s true that when you lose someone close, a part of you begins to become what you valued in that person, causing those things to live on in you. I find myself very much into self meditation and exploration. I love to read and find myself doing so more in the winter. I also can’t resist reading the self-help stuff, though at my age, I’ve pretty well established who I am already. I usually just pick up a few insights, smile a little, then take what I need and discard the rest.

Favorite Music

I Love Jazz, Classical, Easy Listening, New age….ah heck, I like most all types of music, but my ears don’t hear Rap as music. Is Rap really in the music category anyway?

Favorite TV Shows

seldom but I like Survivor...I like seeing people show some gumption in the challenges, and I get irritated at the ones who don’t. Like the ones who can’t build a fire. Wouldn’t you think that if you knew you were going to be dropped off on some island to survive, and you didn’t know how to build a fire, that you would learn before you went?

Favorite Movies

I can’t remember the last time I went to a movie theater. Maybe that’s a good thing. If we go out, he’s taking me to dinner. Period. But from time to time I’ll rent a movie to watch at home. Usually, I rent 3, and at least 2 of them suck, but I get lucky sometimes. Sometimes you can trust an actor. I usually feel safe picking a movie with Denzel Washington or Anthony Hopkins, but trying to go by reviews or plot outlines on the box—forget it. Even worse, is listening to the recommendations of the kids who work at Blockbuster, unless you’re looking for: “great special effects” or “this one is really funny, man!”

Favorite Books

Where do I start? My guilty pleasure is mystery thrillers that aren’t too predictable and don’t have preposterous characters and plot lines. I like John Katzenbach and Thomas Perry, and enjoy a few John Grisham’s novels, but he cheats with some of his storylines. I want a plot that keeps me guessing honestly, but not by withholding information. (That means you, John Grisham.)

Favorite Quotes

Barbra Streisand....who said "I am also very proud to be a liberal. Why is that so terrible these days? The liberals were liberators—they fought slavery, fought for women to have the right to vote, fought against Hitler, Stalin, fought to end segregation, fought to end apartheid. Liberals put an end to child labor and they gave us the five day work week! What's to be ashamed of?"

Favorite People

My Grandkids

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