Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Things I Am Irrationally Afraid Of:

1) Maggots.

2) Talking on the phone.

3) Meeting with my editor.

4) Biting into my my fifth honeycrisp of the day and eating a worm.

5) Sporting goods stores.

6) Sobriety.

7) Flying.

8) Having some heavy object, like a gargoyle or an airplane part, fall on my head while I'm walking down the street.

9) My non-poisonous snake, which I've had for 16 years.

10) Checking my blog posts for comments.

Clearly, the psychoanalysis has not yet entirely kicked in.

40 Comments:

Blogger Adrienne said...

Oh my god! I'm not the only person in the world afraid of sporting goods stores? I HATE them. Glad to hear there's another crazy person out there, too. I do, however, like checking my blog for comments. There usually aren't any, but I do it anyway. I'm steeling myself against disappointment, or something.

12:20 PM  
Blogger Bob said...

Wait, where are you getting Honeycrisp so early. Oh, and quit eating them all!!

12:57 PM  
Blogger suzanneelizabeths.com said...

I may be the only person who bought an iphone for its email capabilities rather than its ability to function as a phone....I'm with you on hating to answer or talk on the phone.

1:05 PM  
Blogger Triv said...

I'd be elated to talk to my editor. I'd be thrilled to death to even have an editor.

You are a lucky girl, enjoy it.

1:40 PM  
Blogger Girl con Queso said...

Hm, how do I talk to your editor? I want to ask her/him to ask you to potentially write an intro for a book. So I'm asking you for contact information to contact someone to contact you. This is officially bizarre. Yeah. So please have someone email me at helloqueso at gmail dot com. Gracias.

4:43 PM  
Blogger Elenía said...

I'm irrationally afraid of failing an exam...
What if the words I wrote weren't good enough for my teacher!

Well once you write it down it doesn't sound so scary...


Good blog!
Greets from Spain!!

4:49 PM  
Blogger ~la petite chef~ said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

7:50 PM  
Blogger ~Marielle~ said...

AH! I'm totally with you on the Maggot thing.. YUCK! Our cat dragged in a bird which we didn't find until WAY to late... needless to say I can't look at him the same after making me clean and sterilize that whole room!
Keep up the blogging! Your book inspired me to start my own! :)

7:51 PM  
Blogger Lake Woman said...

Hi Julie -
I just finished listening to your CD book Julie & Julia. My best girlfriend gave it to me unannounced & unexplained. She wanted me to listen so we could talk afterwards. She knew I'd love it & I do! Thanks so much for your unpretentious intro to what I would term advanced 'cooking'. You make it so much more and I think maybe French cooking is just what I need at 51 & still adventuring through life but missing something. Please tell me that I misunderstood the ending interview & that the people you spoke of do exist? Yikes, I do hope you really are a Texan though that doesn't change a thing. I am a Texan and live in No. CA.
Take care & thanks again!

8:50 PM  
Blogger JStar said...

Julie, I just finished your audio book. I want to say 6 things and DO NOT BE AFRAID:
1. You made my 60 mile commute everday worth getting in the car for-or at least you did. I have to find another great audio book worthy.
2. I made a Youtube video of the perfectly poached eggs.
3. I tried the Vodka Gimlets but realized I rather Vodka Tonic (-:
5. I suggested your book to at least 5 of my friends.
6. You Rule!

10:34 PM  
Blogger chattypatra said...

Julie, how come you didn't write a post about Julia turning out to be a spy during WWII? I have been checking your blog since the news broke, to no avail. Is it because you are resentful that she dissed your book before she died, or do you simply not care? I'm curious.

Anyway, loved your book. Love your list of irrational fears too. Now I want to make a list of my own.

Keep writing!

1:05 AM  
Blogger CatBoy said...

I am often irrationally afraid of checking my blog comments too. I get some weird and/or very mean comments sometimes.

I think you're just swell. I hope that made reading this less scary.

9:50 AM  
Blogger Richard said...

I'm afraid of waking up in the middle of the night to find a whispering figure crouched at the foot of my bed. It has a pumpkin for a head, opened at the top, and as it whispers it holds an iron goblet above the opening. A thin stream of blood pours from the goblet, slowly filling the interior of the pumpkin. When the blood begins to overflow the whispering gets louder, until I can distinctly hear it saying "kill you kill you kill you kill you". When the last drop of blood flows out of the goblet the whispering stops, and the figure stands and leans over me. It gently brushes its smooth, featureless pumpkin face against my cheek in a lipless kiss, spilling blood all over my pillow in the process. Then it creaks out of the room.

Also bats, I'm fucking terrified of bats.

9:52 AM  
Blogger Brenda said...

you are facing number 10. that is the first step

10:34 AM  
Blogger oddlyme said...

Um, I read your book.

You have a REAL reason to be afraid of maggots!

So, that ones less irrational fear...

7:54 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I agree with Bob. Julie--where did you find the Honeycrisp apples? I've visited farmers' markets in Brooklyn and Manhattan but haven't found one yet. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the first Honeycrisp of the year!!!

8:03 PM  
Blogger Charlotte said...

I just finished your book-thank you. I had heard an interview you did when the book first came out and I never got the idea of cooking every recipe in MtAoFC out of my head. Of course I do not want to attempt that book but I thought-wow what a concept. I can't say I will ever do it or what book it would be.
At any rate your book jumped into my hands at Borders and I have thoroughly enjoyed "experiencing" French cooking. I have been on a year long discovery of my creative self and your book has pushed me to continue -failures, set backs and all. It is funny what creating something, anything can do for your soul.
And by the way I am irrationally afraid of leaving comments on a blog.

7:16 AM  
Blogger Lena said...

Talking on the phone and checking my blog. The rest of the world is frightening.

9:51 AM  
Blogger EB of SpiceDish said...

Dude... maggots?! Totally not irrational. Seriously. Ew. gak.... ew... ew... gahhhh

4:31 PM  
Blogger Kerry said...

1) Ordering pizza over the phone. They always sound like they're much too busy to take my order and it freaks me out.

2) Ski resorts. Cute healthy people zipping all over the place. Horrifying.

3) Cracking eggs. So gross.

8:50 AM  
Blogger Humble Abode said...

did the irrational fear of things falling out of the sky come from watching dead like me?

11:30 AM  
Blogger Stephanie Klein said...

There is nothing irrational about fearing maggots, or moles, or potato bugs, or those bugs that learn to fly after hatching in your flour if not refrigerated.

When I was young enough to have an official snack time, my mother gave us a box of raisins from the cupboard, only to realize... yes, we were picking through maggots. Sorry, I bet you're itchy now.

7:43 PM  
Blogger Jessica said...

only 10? I'd say the analysis is working wonders!

3:23 AM  
Blogger Hevuva said...

When I was about 10 our babysitter cooked this frozen turkey dinner thing for my sisters and me, and when he cut it open, it was full of maggots. It was straight out of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (except, none of us actually ate the squirming food). My point: Fearing maggots = not irrational.

Julie, I really enjoyed your book. This is remarkable b/c: (a) I don't care a whit for cooking and only purchased my copy of MAFC b/c it went with the vintage french decorating theme I aspire for my kitchen, and b/c Julie Child just tickles my fancy; and (b) I almost never read non-fiction (b/c, snore). I just love your sense of humor about the ridiculous in life. And also, I identify with you just enough to fantasize that I, too, someday will write a book. Thanks, Julie, for giving me hope for my own future.

8:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whew, just caught up on the blog after like a year or two (just too much life going on sometimes), need too get back to the book, left you belatedly showering and spending the day with hubby if I remember right.

9:35 AM  
Blogger Sonya said...

I just picked up your book and am almost through it. I love it, you're a great writer.

My irrational cooking related fear: turning on the garbage disposal while my hand's in it.

5:07 PM  
Blogger Jessica said...

Dear Ms. Powell,

I am a librarian at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. I maintain a blog at http://www.lubinlib.typepad.com. I am in the process of writing an article about the place of blogs and social media in 21st century food writing, and I would be thrilled if I could have your permission to include excerpts from the Julie / Julia Project in my article.

Please contact me at the email address for "Reference Desk" on the following page: http://www.fao.org/library/contacts.htm

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

--Jessica Mathewson

10:21 AM  
Blogger Jessica said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

10:21 AM  
Blogger Emily Farris said...

Voice mail and knives.

9:51 PM  
Blogger HollyGirl5091 said...

Let me just say,

I was one of the LUCKIEST people in the world and last night I was able to attend a special pre-screening of your movie. It was beyond a doubt one of the BEST movies I have seen in years!!!! Now I’ve been looking things up all day and telling everyone I know that they MUST see it when it comes out.

It was truly a beautiful heart-warming film. All I have to say is… Oscar? YES!!

Also, maggots are not an irrational fear. In 2003 a friend bought cookies in a bag from a vending machine and it was FULL of maggots. The company that made the cookies gave him a bunch of money to keep his mouth shut. I wish I was kidding.

Anyway, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wanted to let you know that I just finished your book and it was awesome. It is the only book I have finished/been interested in, for years. We had to pack up everything that is important to us recently, because of the evacuation of Ike, and your book was first to go in the suitcase.

8:39 PM  
Blogger Aggie Wolf Dimitriou said...

Julie I am loving your book. I am a chef and a writer, and your attitude to the task you set yourself is an inspiration: you just did it, invited people around to eat with you and got stuck into the killing and everything you needed to do. And it's great to be able to tell you how much you've blown me away. Just so you know...Aggie Wolf in Australia

12:40 AM  
Blogger KClemons said...

I think that maybe you should move to China - since I have been living here, I have only had to talk on the phone two times. People here are addicted to texting, which is much less daunting. I have embraced this slower means of communication.

11:49 PM  
Blogger Pearl said...

1. Getting hit in the head with ball while playing volleyball.
2. Ditto, with softball (so why do I play? Mystery!).
3. Opossums (found one in backyard and freaked out: it has a tail like a rat. A BIG rat).
4. The phone.
5. That drawer/shelf liner that feels is both soft and rubbery: creepy texture.

Thanks for making all these pop into my head. Must go take soothing hot bath.

10:45 PM  
Blogger UK Siwzy said...

Julie, thanks for a wonderful insight into your life, and that of Eric's, thoroughly enjoying J&J, nearly finished, but couldn't wait to let you know how good it is. Am living in a caravan for a few months while we move house so no internet connection, so have to use the local library. You have awakened my tastebuds, actual and literacy wise, now need to read Sam's diaries, and alook for MtAoFC! Good luck to you both and the menagaerie, looking forward to reading your new book.

UK Siwzy

6:51 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I'm loving every single page of your book. Although, I must admit - its taking me forever to finish it (i'm a mama to 2 monsters!) - but I am nearing the end. I am also purposely slowing down so that I can savor every last bit of it before its over. Is there another book to come? I hope so. You are a very gifted gal, Julie. You have brightened so many of my days - and you've made me laugh out loud in the darkest of times. Thank you for that.

8:39 AM  
Blogger jodydf said...

Talking on the phone leaves me exhausted and anxious. The weirdest part is that it's the most maddening when it's someone I'm closest to. Irrational fears? No such thing!

11:14 PM  
Blogger bonbonlefoi said...

hey i saw u on tv.. if u dont mind pls check on my blog n leave some comment, im a big fan of urs..
ill b v glad thank u v much. im frm indonesian thou

heres my add http://www.sugarwethrust.blogspot.com

2:00 AM  
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