Getting to Know You

November 8, 2025 /

Some of my blogging friends have had the good idea to post a getting to know you type post, for new readers due to NaBloPoMo. So, here are a few things about me.

  • My name is Julie, I go by J on my blog.
  • The picture that shows up when I comment on your blogs is from my 40th birthday party almost (gulp) 20 years ago. Some of you may see an even earlier picture where I’m in Paris, from 1993.
  • I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, about 30 minutes east of SF.
  • I was born in Berkeley, lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for 5 years as a child, spent my formative years in Stockton, California, and moved to San Francisco for college.
  • I met my husband in Speech class at San Francisco State University when I was 21.
  • We were together for 5 1/2 years before we married.
  • We have a beautiful daughter, Maya, who is 29 and lives with us. She works in Publishing.
  • I have a BA in International Relations, an MA in Comparative Literature, and I work in the low tech side of the high tech industry. (I work in tech, but am not a programmer.)
  • I love dogs. I have had 3 dogs in my lifetime. Samantha, a black lab/St. Bernard mix, who was a dream of a dog. She was my childhood dog, we got her when I was 6, and she died when I was 22. Then for a while, life was not conducive to pet ownership, so no dog. In late 2002 we got our darling Genevieve, a Sheltie/Keeshond mix. We had her until 2012. In 2015, we got Mulder, the best Keeshond ever, our beautiful boy. In 2022, he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Because he was only 7 and very healthy, and our vet said she thought he had a really good chance of having a long term remission, we tried chemo. He went into remission, but 3 months after his treatment ended, the lymphoma came back. We were broken hearted. We are currently sans dog.
  • I am a Francophile. I love France. I have been 3 times so far, and every time I love it more. I hope to go back at least one more time, but why limit myself to once? I have been to the west coast of Brittany, the south of France meaning Cannes and Nice, Normandy, and Paris. Paris, Paris, Paris. Do I want to see more of France? Yes. Do I also want to see more of Paris? Absolutely YES.
  • I’m an orphan. My mom died in 2008, and my dad died in 2017. I miss them both every day. My mom had a blog from 2006 – 2008, which was amazing. Blogging is a different conversation than letters or phone calls or being together in a room, and we learned a lot about each other that we never knew.
  • I have 3 siblings. My brother and I have the same mother, he is 2 years older than me, and lives in Juneau, Alaska. We were raised together. My sisters and I have the same father, they are twins and are 5 years younger than me, and live in Portland, Oregon. I met them when I was 22.
  • I love to read, mostly literary fiction. I love TV and movies.
  • My perfect day would include a walk, then a visit to a museum to see an exhibit of impressionist or post-impressionist art, then a really good lunch including wine, then bookstore shopping, then home to relax with my books and some blog reading.

How about you? What is your perfect day?

57 Comments

  • Lisa’s Yarns

    November 8, 2025 at 4:47 am

    I’m a Francophile, too! I haven’t been there since 2013 but look forward to going back when the kids are older. I have spent most of my time in Paris but also spent 2 weeks in Lyon for a grad school program and went to Annecy for a weekend trip while in Lyon.

    It was fun to learn a few more things about you! You look so much like that childhood picture. Some of us look quite different. Like I do not think I look all that similar to what I looked like as a little girl!

    A perfect day for me would start with a good night of sleep. Then I would have coffee, go to an orange theory fitness class, and come home for a good stretch of time to have lunch/lounge around/read. In the afternoon I would get a massage. I’d end the day with a date night with Phil. I feel a little sheepish that my perfect day is mostly spent alone but I am an introvert with small children so solitude is very hard to come by!!

    • J

      November 8, 2025 at 5:29 pm

      I know of your love for Paris! It’s so beautiful and has so much to see. My dream for my next trip is to have less on my itinerary and spend more time just being there.

      Your perfect day sounds wonderful. I woke up at 4:30 this morning and could not get back to sleep, and we are going to a concert tonight. Yawn.

  • Birchie

    November 8, 2025 at 4:59 am

    I knew most of this from reading your blog and getting to spend time with you, but I love seeing it all again. Plus this is my first time seeing that picture!

    My perfect day would include teleporting over to SF to hang out with you again!

  • AC

    November 8, 2025 at 5:30 am

    You’ve got me thnking that I live my perfect day fairly often, at least in autumn. It might involve a walk in a colourful autumn park wearing a light jacket, preferrably with a coffee in hand.

  • Sarah

    November 8, 2025 at 6:32 am

    SPEECH CLASS?!?! I love this so much. My TAs and I always talk about the relatiuonships (friendships and romantic) that develop in their classes because people tend to trauma bond in public speaking.

  • Nicole MacPherson

    November 8, 2025 at 6:40 am

    I didn’t know you had an MA in Comparative Literature – I am pretty sure our mutual friend Allison does as well! I have an MA in Economics and I worked on a trade floor for a while. It was not conducive to family life though, so I resigned after having Mark.
    It’s so interesting your mom had a blog!

  • StephLove

    November 8, 2025 at 6:44 am

    Thanks, this was helpful getting a sense of you (as a relatively new reader).

    I am also in my late 50s. And I have two graduate degrees in Comp Lit, too. I ended up writing marketing copy for dietary supplement companies. I more or less fell into that, as my sister has her own free-lance writing business and I started working for her on a occassional basis while I was a stay-at-home mom and then it turned into a regular part-time job when North started kindergarten.

    My perfect day would be any day spent at the beach. But this trip to get North from school over Mother’s Day/my birthday came pretty close: https://allfortheloveofyou.com/almost-perfect-days/

  • nance

    November 8, 2025 at 7:42 am

    That picture is nothing short of wonderful. I would frame it and put it on the inside of your closet (at least!) so you could look at it every day when you get dressed. I love it so much.

    I didn’t know about your advanced degree in Lit. Do you think it helps you in your current job in any way? I think all English/Lit education helps in LIFE.

    This won’t surprise you one bit, but my perfect day would be incredibly similar to yours except that I’d trade Dutch Golden Age for Impressionists, lunch for dinner and the wine for a martini or a French 75. Like Lisa, I’d do it alone, or with my son Jared, who I don’t get a chance to spend much one on one time with anymore.

    • J

      November 8, 2025 at 5:34 pm

      I think my degree help in life more than in my job.

      I’m meh on the Dutch Golden Age, but perhaps you could extol their virtues to me and we could have a lovely time. See how I’m intruding upon your day, when you specifically said you wanted to be alone?

  • Martha

    November 8, 2025 at 7:53 am

    The photo is so funny and so adorable! Thanks for the refresher. I learned a few new things about you you along the way too. I think it’s so cool that your mom had a blog. I hope it’s still out there for you to go back to. These days a perfect day for me would be a rainy day with absolutely nothing to do other than curl up on the couch with a good book or binge watch a series I’m throughly invested in. Have a fantastic weekend!

  • Sam

    November 8, 2025 at 8:15 am

    I love the photo! I think my perfect day would be very similar to yours, except maybe I would be reading in a hammock in a park instead of a museum.

    • J

      November 8, 2025 at 11:20 pm

      That sounds like heaven, too. Nice and warm, but not hot, in the shade. A bit of a breeze, but just a bit. A table next to me with a cold beverage.

  • Sue

    November 8, 2025 at 8:26 am

    That photo is so great! I am so excited that I found your blog and that we’re both doing #nanoblopo It is so funny that you met in Public Speaking class at SFSU. I met my husband competing in Speech and Debate and I used to compete against SFSU quite often (I went to Chico State, but he went out of state to New York for school). The “talking Gators”. Lol. Thanks for sharing some things about yourself! I might do this on my blog too.

  • coco

    November 8, 2025 at 10:11 am

    I enjoy learning about your perfect day! Mine would involve a satisfying long run, bowl of oatmeal, a massage, nap and reading, and a colorful place of nourishing vegan meal.

  • Jenny

    November 8, 2025 at 11:18 am

    There’s always something new to learn! Let’s see… my perfect day would include a long run in the morning, then relaxing, reading and napping for a while, then some bookstore shipping (I was going to say “browsing” but if this is my perfect day, I definitely want to buy some books) and then back home, where I eat a takeout dinner while watching a football game- and the dinner would include a Coke Zero. Hmm! Now I really want to make this day happen.
    I don’t mean to be insensitive, but do you think you’ll eventually get another dog?

    • J

      November 8, 2025 at 11:25 pm

      No worries Jenny, it’s not insensitive to ask. Maya and I want a dog, Ted is enjoying the extra time and money that comes from being pet free. There’s no compromise with that commitment, so we’re in a holding pattern. 🙁

  • Melissa

    November 8, 2025 at 2:07 pm

    There was a bit here that I didn’t know. My perfect day would either be very similar to yours or be a hike in stunning scenery, followed by good food and good wine … or maybe a cocktail.

  • DB Stewart

    November 8, 2025 at 2:45 pm

    Your story exudes warmth.

    My perfect day? A long walk, probably early May, reading, writing, drawing, my partner, my children, their partners, our grandchildren, pizza, then ice cream on the deck, blowing bubbles with the kids, laughter, another walk, storybooks for the kids before bed, a movie, fresh sheets.

    I’ve only visited France once, but I experienced so much that wonderful week. Have you vistited Montreal? I’ve been there twice. Fantastic. You might love it too.

  • ernie

    November 8, 2025 at 2:48 pm

    That photo is hilarious. And – it does look so much like your present day self. So fun.

    My perfect day – sleep in, workout, in nice weather – spend time at the pool/or reading in the sun on my deck, spend some time writing, have dinner or lunch with Coach. Watch a movie with the older kids and feel relaxed because the house is in perfect order (this happens by some unprecedented miracle – hey, it’s my dream world perfect day, I can make miracles happen, right?)

  • Margaret

    November 8, 2025 at 4:48 pm

    A great day for me would include a movie followed by a Happy Hour, then a walk along the waterfront with mountain views. A little bit of everything. I’m a retired French teacher, thus a complete Francophile. I would love to still go to Brittany and Alsace (Christmas markets) The Alps intrigue me also, but I’m not sporty enough to make good use of them so perhaps photos will suffice?

    • J

      November 8, 2025 at 11:29 pm

      So many places to see, right? I loved how beautiful the west coast of Brittany is. Well, all of France that I’ve seen so far has been beautiful.

  • Noemi

    November 8, 2025 at 8:20 pm

    Thanks for this post! I’ve been reading you for a while, and while I had gleaned some of this, I really appreciated reading it all together like that. I can’t believe we live so close to each other. What a small blogging world…
    Honestly, today might have been my perfect day. I was outside with my family for several hours. The weather was gorgeous. We killed five hours together. We listened to an interesting podcast in the car on the way there and back. I got to talk a lot with my daughter while we hiked. We packed our lunch so the day was cheap. We came home, and everyone got to decompress. I did a couple chores (only because my daughter was inspired to do some of her own, so that inspired me to do some of mine). Tonight the daughter is going to join the husband and I for a movie (after the 12yo goes to sleep – he didn’t want to watch a movie tonight). It was a pretty perfect day.

  • Lisa

    November 8, 2025 at 8:24 pm

    Well, I love dogs and I used to live 30 minutes east of S.F!
    I was in France when I was 13, and was a royal pain in Paris. I didn’t even get out of the car at the Eiffel Tower! 13 year olds, what can you do?
    I don’t know what a perfect day would be. I like the coast, maybe a trip there.

    • J

      November 8, 2025 at 11:32 pm

      I love going to the coast! LOL, I’m glad I didn’t go to Paris on my 13th birthday. I’m sure I would have been a pain in the butt.

  • san

    November 8, 2025 at 9:29 pm

    That photo at the top is the most adorable photo ever. I love it, and I totally see you in this little girl.
    I loved reading about you again, although I knew most of this already (which means, we’ve known each other for a while :)).

    My perfect day would include a morning run, brunch or a coffee date with a friend and a nice dinner with Jon.

  • Daria

    November 9, 2025 at 4:09 am

    Ohhh hey now!! That bra picture is adorable. I have a few pictures like that of Lyra- one, she is wearing my bra and a Hawaiian straw skirt. Two, she is wearing my heels and a diaper lol
    My perfect day… I am in Paris, roaming the streets and popping in and out of cafes and small shops. My phone has been forgotten in my hotel room. I have a physical book, an old paper back. It’s overcast but not raining and the lights from the stores feel and look comforting.

  • PocoBrat

    November 9, 2025 at 6:46 am

    J, that photograph! I second Nance’s idea of taping it to the inside of your closet… getting dressed should always be as much fun as it seems to have been in that pic. <3

    I'd be perfectly happy with your perfect day… If it were totally up to me, I would turn the walk into a hike, maybe cook if there were some coloful veggies around, and visit MOMA…

  • Susanna Holstein

    November 9, 2025 at 5:48 pm

    What an interesting read! I have only been in France for one short day but would love to go back. Ireland calls me, always. 3 trips there and it’s not enough.
    So sad about your dog. We are dog lovers here too, have 3 usually. Labs are our favorite, although we have always had rescues or strays so parentage xan be a bit hazy.
    My perfect day? I think i would love to tag along on yours! With perhaps a garden thrown in.

  • Stephany

    November 9, 2025 at 6:00 pm

    I learned some new nuggets of information from this post – how fun!

    My perfect day… it would definitely involve a bookstore visit, a cat cafe, and a nap!

    • J

      November 10, 2025 at 5:20 am

      A cat cafe! What if you could nap there, with the cats? I guess you don’t need that, since you have your cats at home.

  • Michelle G.

    November 11, 2025 at 6:08 am

    J, I enjoyed learning all about you! I’m a Francophile too, and lived in SW France for a year as an exchange student. I haven’t been back since, so I’m sure it has changed a lot. I’ve been to San Francisco a few times over the past couple of years because my eye specialist is there. I love the weather!

  • Gina

    November 15, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    Julie, you wrote about your mom a while back, and I revisited her blog and it brought back so many wonderful memories. She was such a beautiful person, inside and out! I miss her, and I can’t even imagine how much you miss her too. But her blog was so full of amazing writing and wit and wisdom, and I am so glad she was able to gift all of that to us. Hugs to you my friend…

    My perfect day would be a gently raining day, ALONE with a great book, some chocolate, and a roaring fire that magically kept itself going.

    • J

      November 15, 2025 at 1:38 pm

      Thank you Gina, for your kind remembrance of my mom. I am so glad that she had her blog, it meant so much to her, and she showed a side of herself that I hadn’t seen before, which was kind of great.