I'm with you on #8. I don't like pumpkin pie, but also don't feel like I should. However, on my list I'd have to put running, iced tea, and shaving my legs.

1. Avocado
Sorry Julie, growing up in Arizona, you learn to love avocado, since guacamole is almost always a side dish.

2. Newborns
Hate 'em. Hate children. Actually, love children, hate the responsibility. At least I learned that young and was always able to avoid parenthood.

3. Pumpkin pie
About the only dessert I eat nowadays is good Bananas Foster, or a scoop of coffee ice cream.

4. Theater
I only go often enough to make it novel, so I can't say it's a chore. Plus, my friend Warren is a playwright, so I'm obligated.

5. Beer
OK, I'm a beer connoisseur(sp?), so I can't say I don't like beer. I started brewing in college and enjoyed that for a dozen years; now, there's better breweries in town and I can just drink their stuff. Plus, our brewery just became a distillery, so I'm busy helping them when I can (hey, free beer!)

6. Camping
I'm of 2 minds. I do love camping, don't get me wrong; but I also love a hot f*cking shower (every day dammit!). So, my camping is highly ordered, and yes, you all have to shower (every day, dammit!).

Now, I've been one several grunge trips (at least one a year), where we come back all nasty and evil, but I'd rather car camp most of the time and chill that way.

I must admit that being 20 minutes from a totally remote camping spot colors ones thinking though.

7. Sex and the City
Never did get into it; always called it "Sluts and the City", although that's not really fair. I must admit, intriguing 20/30/40-something storylines, great fashion (there's my metrosexuality showing), NYC, but I somehow loved the Machiavellian backstabbing of Melrose Place more....

8. Coffee
Lived in Seattle when there was Starbucks. Not Starbucks-the-almighty-chain-in-which-folks-throw-money-at-a-double-mocha-frappacino-with-a-twist-of-lemon BS; there was Starbucks, the only store. That's right, one store. Unfortunately, got hooked on coffee. Even more unfortunate, went to Italy and Turkey. REALLY got hooked on coffee. Buy my current stuff out of New Orleans, and let me tell you, Katrina put a cramp in my drinking habits, as horrible as that is to say, given all the devastation that occurred. I've given good coffee up until N.O. gets back on its feet.

9. Painting nails.
Don't mind doing it, as the scene from Bull Durham is one of the sexiest ever. I did pierce my belly-button for a girlfriend one time though, does that count?

10. Big fun parties.
If they're all my friends, cool, groovy. If it's a party where I don't know more than 50% of the people...well, I shy away. Never was a small-talker.

I am moving, as you know, and you're right, moving is for suckers. So, I'll try to post my hated ten things whenever I can.

Hey, blog more pics of your trip if you have them! And yes, I'll send you some pix of my doggie whenever I can...

Hasta la Pasta,
Mike

Julie,

BTW, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to stop swearing as much online, and I like that your filter makes me type f*cking or c*cks*cker instead of the real word.

Alas, in the real world, let's just say you don't want to drive with me if you have sensitive ears. ;-)

You can't say COCKSUCKER??? Oh wait, I guess you can.

Heh, now I have to hate you for making me look like an idiot on my own blog. It's sad, then, that you seem so damn perfect.

I'll have to comment on your comment tomorrow when I'm more coherent, but just know that tonight? I had Edy's Mocha Almond Fudge ice cream. Not quite coffee ice cream, but still damn good.

(Deadwood mode on)

Motherfucking cocksucking Mocha Almond Fudge? Mocha Almond Fudge? Goddamn, Ja-mocha Almoda Fudge from Baskin-Robbins is the only way to go, and if'n you don't like it, this six-shooter here'll shoot your ass out of your britches until you beg for it....

(Deadwood mode off)

Mike, now you're just abusing my lack of filter. I do filter some crude words, just not my favorites.

Just what is JAmocha, anyway? I think it's the same thing as regular mocha, therefore, I win!

I do have a few more trip photos (another set from Canyon de Chelly and ones from the day in Albuquerque) so I'll get them up soon just for youuuuuuu, Mike.

As for your comments about the things I don't like:

1. Just because you grew up in Arizona doesn't mean you have to abide by the state's culinary rules. Throw off the shackles of your oppression already!

2. I can't believe you don't like NEWBORN BABIES, you big mean atheist. Only godless heathens don't like babies.

"Actually, love children, hate the responsibility." Yep, that's pretty much the main reason why I don't have kids.

3. So you like setting things on fire?

6. "But I also love a hot f*cking shower (every day dammit!)." And there, in a nutshell, is why I hate camping (says the two-showers-a-day girl).

7. Just because a woman likes sex doesn't make her a slut!! *rage*

9. Oh yes, the scene from Bull Durham is very sexy. I don't like painting my OWN nails, but I would be agreeable to having someone else do it for me. A boyfriend of mine once painted my nails (horribly) before leaving town for a month, which was beyond sweet, and I was actually upset when the paintjob started to chip.

The only way I'm giving you a pass on piercing your belly button for a girlfriend is if you also attached a chain to it (from your nipple and/or lip) and then frequented rough trade bars. Or a Turkish prison.

Oh, one more thing - I was already disappointed that I hadn't had time to meet you when I was in AZ in October, but after reading your comment, I was even more so.

Oh, one more thing - I was already disappointed that I hadn't had time to meet you when I was in AZ in October, but after reading your comment, I was even more so.

Awww. Blush, blush, and bat the eyes ;-)

And I've never been in a Turkish prison, much to Peter Graves' consternation.

Yes, but do you like movies about gladiators?

I, for the record, have seen a grown man naked.

Interesting list. I might have to come up with one of my own like this.

I too, have seen a grown man naked. Every morning, when I look in the mirror and preen.

Preen. Preen. Preen.

I love that word almost as much as smock. Smock, smock, smock, smock, smock.

The important thing, though, is to not call me "Shirley". Or "surely". I hate that.

By the way, we're all counting on you.....

I also need to add SALMON to the list of the things I want to like, but don't.

"Don't knock my smock or I'll clean your clock."

Hey, does your last name rhyme with PREEN? Or is it a short-E sound?

Julie -

How can you not like salmon? What if I go to Home Despot, get a fresh-cut cedar plank, lightly season said salmon filets with rosemary, lemon, garlic, and merlot, and smoke on the grill? Chilled chardonnay and some wild rice and you're set.

And no, the last name isn't the "ee" sound, although I do like that. Unfortunately for me, it's pretty much a natural rhyme with "phlegm". Although, thankfully, in my grade-school days, little kids didn't know big words like that, so I wasn't teased unmercifully about it.

Mike, I really think you need to move to the Tampa Bay area, because I'm pretty sure that I would like salmon if someone served it to me like that.

You are so geographically inconvenient!