Sunday, December 4, 2011

20 questions

Brooke said I 'had' to do this.


Words you always misspell typing: I have to watch that I get "manager" rather than "manger," but it's really because that second "a" is taxing the weakest finger (weak hand pinkie, poor thing.)

Words you don't know how to spell: If you throw an uncommon word at me, I might blow it, but otherwise not a problem.

Things that really annoy you: Self-centered people -- really suck the life out of me.

What's that meal you can always eat over and over again? None. I'm fine with leftovers, don't get me wrong. But the third night of something is really pushing it.

Do you brush your teeth at night? Yup, floss too!

Dumbest movie ever: Me and Irene was weird-dumb. Pulp Fiction (I know some people like it) was bad enough that we only watched 30 minutes or less.

What's a song that you would be embarrassed to admit you really like? Embarrassed, no. But you could try to rib me about "Bare Necessities" from the Jungle Book!

Are you capable of eating an entire bag of candy in one sitting and not feeling THAT sick? No, assuming you're talking about a multi-pack like a pound of mini-Snickers. But a regular serving size bag of Peanut M&M's - sure I could do that.

Do you love sea food? Yes, though getting restaurants to get the salt just right can be a challenge.

When you fix meat, are you anal about what you've touched, and sanitize a lot? Yes. I turn the kitchen tap on first because I know I'm going to want hot water in a minute.

Do you put your leftovers in the fridge after dinner in fear of it spoiling or can you wait? After dinner, of course.

Do you use a sponge or rag to wipe your counters? Depends. If it's related to wiping up meat juices, I'll get a paper towel so I can toss it.

What's your favorite Holiday? Does Saturday count ? ; )

What's your favorite pie? Hmm, apple, pumpkin, very good. But marionberry is da' man!

What's your favorite candy bar? Used to be Snickers. Not so much candy bars these days, but a charity selling See's dark chocolate with almonds can sucker me in.

When you pick something up at the store and change your mind, do you put it away? Yes. But I seldom pick up something that wasn't planned for, so I'm not changing my mind.

Do you like raisins in your Cinnamon rolls? Yes. But I prefer them un-raisined. And I really prefer them unfrosted.

Do you shower every day? Every single morning. I don't feel awake until I've showered.

Are your dreams scary? No, though I don't remember them much.

Do you like scary movies? Not my favorite. Mysteries yes, but I think that's different.

Do you like roller coasters? So-so. Brooke made us be in the first car of on that went straight up, then around a loop the other direction and stopped for a moment -- we were facing straight down, with nothing between us and the ground (some 40 feet down?)

Do you have a fear of needles? I'm okay, but still best if I don't watch the stick. And remember to breath.

What's your guilty pleasure TV show? I don't think "Bones" qualifies as guilty pleasure.

What is something you're really stuck up about? I have the cutest, happiest, baby granddaughter.

When you're at a restaurant, can you ask questions about the food? Yes.

Are you a lake or a river person? Ocean. Puget Sound and Canadian Gulf Island passages. Oh, and British Virgin Islands. And Hawaiian Pacific.

Are you a good swimmer? Just enough that I could stay alive for a long time.

Do you like to camp? Used to. It's been a long time since we've really roughed it.

Do you like rodents? Isn't the definition of rodent something like "the weed of mammals, nobody likes, and everyone wants to get rid of?"

Are you afraid of spiders? No. They get smooshed when I see them, but not because I'm afraid.

If you could be an amazing singer or dancer, which would you be? Singer.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

ROW80 (round of words)

julierow80.blogspot.com At Brooke's urging, I'm picking up writing again.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Supreme Being

Forgot to post last week that I discovered there is a Supreme Being. Remember my story about brussels sprouts ("b.s.")? http://juliebike.blogspot.com/2009/12/brussels-sprouts.html

Short version: I don't like 'em!

Ben asked me to plant some "b.s". a few months ago, and Mike likes them too, so for my guys I gave up some garden space, planting six starts. This spring/summer was very odd weather, so I kept waiting for the stems to shoot up (the "b.s." grow around a stem, if you didn't know). Waiting, and waiting, and I thought maybe it just won't happen because the weather messed up everything. The plant leaves, however, were getting HUGE.

Last week I discovered they are getting cabbage heads, not "b.s."

There is a Supreme Being after all!


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Brat bum

Kid (early teens) at the bus stop: "Do either of you have money so I can ride up to 99th in Hazel Dell?" I offer him a single-trip ticket. "Uh, no, I can't take your pass. I mean, I need the cash."

Uh-hmm...

Thursday, July 14, 2011

N8 and Kylea going nose to nose





Nate says: "When you are older, you will ignore the boys."


K thinks: "I'm going to eat your nose!"



B3 says it's just an Eskimo kiss.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Hey, something bike related!

You would think that with a blog "Julie Bike" there might be something bike related at least once in a while.

Your wait has ended!

[Warning: when I told my co-worker, Melissa, about this, I thought she was going to pee her pants.]

Last Thursday I biked to work. There's a whole routine I have to go through the night before so I can just roll out of bed, brush my teeth, pull on the bike clothes, maybe load a couple of last minute items, and hit the road. That evening routine includes:
-Check the tire presssure
-Layout the bike clothes
-Figure out what I'm wearing the next day (unless I've previously dropped stuff off at work)
-Figure out what I'm eating the next day (pack what I can in the bike bags; put fridge stuff in one place to grab in the morning)

I've always worried that I'll end up at work without proper undergarments, then have to wear a sweaty sports bra all day. Yuck. So undergarments always go in the bike bag the night before, too.

Check, check, check, check. All good Wednesday night. And a good ride Thursday morning, a bit of a tail wind, so I am at the office 6:00 am, ready to shower. In my office, pulling the supplies out of my drawer (towel, shampoo, etc.). From the bike bag, undergarments and,

and,

Uh-oh. No work clothes. I picture my pinstripe blazer and skirt, with the red top, hanging outwards on a hanger in the closet. Still hanging there. So I have to call my hero, Mike to bring in my clothes. Of course it will be a few minutes, because he has to get dressed. Fine, fine, half an hour is good because I can go ahead and jump in the shower; I have a fresh bike top I can put on until he calls that he is at the back door.

Epilogue: when we went to the Farmer's Market today, I took THREE sets of clothes into the office!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Parkinson's Disease

Here is a link to an NPR story on Parkinson's, from a son's perspective.

I thought it did a good job of explaining how Parkinson's Disease (PD) is about so much more than tremors.