Once upon a time she was a teenie herself. She was 12, 15 and 17. Junior high and eventually high school in her lifelong home in a small town in the Bay Area of California, proved to be an exciting and reasonably successful time in her life. Her loves were journalism, music, and english classes, particularly literature. Some thought she was smart, she did take some of those classes, and she tutored others to gain skills in the areas she was confident.

Writing and reading, she loved the pair, trying to portray in her own writing the pictures that the great authors painted in their books. Steinbeck, Shakespere, C.S. Lewis, J.D. Salinger, Hemmingway,and Harper Lee, these were some of her favorite, but hey, she enjoyed the occasional Judy Blume, too. Dating wasn't important to her, though she did, more just for the social life than anything else. There was no special group she thought herself a part of, being friendly with everyone was one of the things others noted about her. It wasn't until after graduation she had her first 'serious' romance.

But music, ahh music, that was probably the reason she never had that high school romance. None of the boys could compare with the visions that were set forth in the songs that filled her car and bedroom, day in and day out. God help us, she was a teenie. There was posters, and Tiger Beat, Shaun Cassidy, Donny Osmond and front row tickets to Rick Springfield. CD's didn't exist, but even today she still holds dear some of those early vinyls that took so much wear and tear on the turntable.

Her taste in music varied greatly, from a local group, Asia, made up of friends, and friends of friends, who made it big for a short period of time. There was the classic early 80's rock, disco trying to go rock and roll, like Styx and Brian Adams. She had her harder rock side, the Scorpions, and Billy Squier. Some artists had staying power, Bob Seger and the Stray Cats (well Brian Setzer anyhow). Even some like Loverboy and Foreigner that are seeking a comeback to this day.

But Ahh, there was the one...she faced ridicule, but there was no one, who in her opinion, had more talent than Billy Joel.
No teenie thing here, just a sheer appreciation of genuine talent.

But as all little girls do, she has grown up, at least age wise. She got married young, had two children, and now is heading into the teen years with her children. Her love of music is still highly visible, and even now faces ridicule for her taste in it.
Not saying that her loves from the early years aren't still with her, but a new band or two has edged some of them out, and several of those worn vinyls have been replaced with the new CD's.

Now, driving her mini van down the highway to pick up kids at school (or flowing out the windows of her victorian cottage), you can hear strains of Jonny Lang, Hanson, (GASP!!) John Mayer, Shawn Mullins or the Barenaked Ladies

After heading back to school to work on her degree and moving from 35 years the small town, gotten too large, that she grew up in, she has delved back into her love of reading and writing, that were forgotten in the years of young love and children. She is working hard trying to make it as a notable author (or even freelance writer!) and running her own nanny service, being a second mom to another family's children... (you know to keep the bills paid 'till her big break!)

The fairy tale continues day by day, month by month....

Drop me a line!"Julie T."