Monthly Archives: April 2012

Travels with Julia!

  By Julia Barrett | April 30, 2012 - 9:33 pm | , , , , , , ,
20 Comments

I hate referring to myself in the third person almost as much as I hate ticks, however…

So, now that my jet-lag is resolving - albeit slowly - I admit I’m in love with the state of Maine, especially Red’s Eats. I call this the Lobster Roll of Heaven… Lobster meat, I mean, like, two whole lobsters per roll, including the claws, grilled bread - one slice, and melted butter. No shells. Oh. God. In this case God is a woman.

Loved the hiking, the weird weather - experienced my first Nor’easter. Despite missed flights and late nights, I got to spend quality time with a couple of my children.

I met author buds and book bloggers and got to walk the campus at Wellesley with Penny Watson. All in all pretty cool. Oh, and Penny stuck me in a haunted hotel with a ‘child’ ghost. I swear she did. I hate dealing with ‘child’ ghosts. They are freaky which is why the Japanese stick ‘child’ ghosts in their horror movies. Oh! I also got to see the House of Seven Gables - of Nathaniel Hawthorne fame.

You must know this about me. Every single time I fly there is a medical emergency on my plane. Usually in my row. The flight attendants are always very grateful for my help. We have yet to make an emergency landing. Knock wood. I’m waiting for the day I have to deliver a baby.

Tomorrow I plan to focus. Yeah… Right…

I’m convinced. God is most definitely a man.

  By Julia Barrett | April 29, 2012 - 5:13 pm | , , ,
29 Comments

I arrived home terribly jet-lagged. Hadn’t slept in nearly 48 hours. Traveled for 12 of those 48. Picked up the dog before the kennel closed ‘cuz hubby is out of town. Washed all the bedding because I was terrified of ticks. Fell into bed at 7 p.m. after telling the dog, “Come and wake me when you’re ready to lock up…” because Jake was lying out on the deck and yeah, let sleeping dogs lie. And he’s really smart and understands enough English to know what I meant.

So Jake came upstairs and woke me at 9:30. I locked up and slept until 5:30 this morning, and we were out on our hike by 6.

And thus I’ve spent the entire day seeking, finding, and pulling ticks off the dog, ticks he collected, not just this morning, but the entire 8 days I was away. And these swollen blood-sacks are more disgusting than you can possibly imagine. (Jake’s allergic to that tick repellent stuff.)

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how I know God is of the male persuasion. It would never occur to a woman to create a tick.

Tomorrow - photos and stories of my trip out East. Many, many thanks to author Penny Watson and book blogger Steph of Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust fame for such a warm welcome.

***I looked up photos of ticks for this blog post, but they made me so sick I could not use them. I am grossed out.***

Thank you all for your patience!

  By Julia Barrett | April 25, 2012 - 12:35 pm | , , , , , ,
9 Comments

1. Still away from California (or almost out of the country!)… In Boston with author, Penny Watson.

2. The drive to and from northern Maine was outstanding. The hike was nirvana. As Tom Stronach knows, I lost a show while hiking in a peat bog - sucked the shoe right off my foot - but miracle of miracles, the peat bog spit it out and I was able to complete the hike with two, albeit, one, soggy shoe. Experienced my first noreaster which I thought might wash away the entire town of Machias. Saw bald eagles but no moose and no bear.

3. Ate quite possibly the best, most decadent, fast food of my life, a real true lobster roll from Red’s Eats, right off the highway in Wisscasset. My daughter and I drove from there to Penny’s house swimming in a major out of body food high and yet we still had room for a visit to Chef Ming Tsai’s Blue Ginger, where thanks to our friend Chef John Malik, author of Doughnuts for Amy, we met Chef Tsai and took photos with him! All I can remember is that the food was to die for… just like when I ate at the French Laundry, it’s going to take some time to remember exactly what I ate. And no, that’s not cleavage. Stop staring down my shirt. I don’t have cleavage - the magic of a push up bra!

4. So my daughter flew home this morning. My son is fine in Machias - had to see for myself - many thanks, Stephen King, and I miss my dog and my hubby and he knows it’s in that order. Tomorrow Penny and I get to head off to the New England Writer’s Conference. Fun!

5. Oh yeah… TSA lost part of my computer charger so I am using Penny’s computer. She’s a love. See you! Julia

The Edge of the World.

  By Julia Barrett | April 22, 2012 - 6:35 pm | , , ,
12 Comments

Hiked through the Maine woods above the cliffs to the farthest point east in the continental United States today - through bogs and forest and over rocky precipices. Stood on the very edge of the world and waved to Tom and Ishbel Stronach across the pond.

It was indescribably beautiful, reminded me of hiking above Loch Ness near Inverfairigaig. Not only does the land look and feel the same, the smells are the same and the water is peaty. No wonder the first European explorers (the Norse probably) to North America were reminded of home.

So, my first NorEaster and tomorrow there may be snow on the ground. Can’t wait! Love, Julia