Interview With a Blogger: Me!

Ok, now that I am DONE with Mid-Terms, it is back to our "regularly scheduled program"! I have had a few peeps tell me that I should answer some of my OWN questions that I asked the featured bloggers to answer. I thought, ok. So.... here goes!

1) do you remember the first blog you ever read? Yes. It was my friend from back home, Sarah Ellen. She had a "family" blog on MSN Spaces. This was around September of 2005. I opened up my own "msn spaces" and created a family blog as well. But then, with the downfall of my marriage, I needed a different "outlet". I needed a place to "pack away" my ramblings and musings. Then my friend Megan, (whom I featured a few weeks ago) told me about her blog via blogspot, and I decided *I* wanted to do it too! This was back in May of 2008.

2) What inspired the name for your blog? The first name I had on this particular blog was "Musings of the Mindless Banterer". I chose this name because at the time my world was turned upside down. I had thoughts constantly flowing in and out of every nook and cranny up there. I needed a way to get them out. Mostly they were my quirky observations or musings. Because I was dealing with an extreme case of insomnia at the time, I often felt "mindless" and thus the name was born.

However, as of this past year, and especially while getting ready to go back to school, I felt that I was getting a "grip" on life, or at least a better grip. Not that I had any more clarity about my future. But I guess I just sort of felt... less chaotic. I was still teased about my often carefree thoughts and random acts of fun, and one of my musical besties is Jason Mraz. He has a song, "Not So Usual" in which he sings about a girl who is "Not So Usual". He also sings about this girl in a few other songs with lyrics such as, "Your rich brown eyes, your lips, and your dark hair", "there's something in the way you laugh, And it makes me feel like a child." "Aspects of a life they confuse me, You and your thesis amuse me." I love this because it makes me feel that in spite of my "thesis" on life and in spite of my being "not so usual" that perhaps someone will love me, and that being "Not So Usual" is okay, if it means I am being true to myself. So - I changed the name of my blog to "Not So Usual".

3) Are your reasons for blogging still the same now as when you started? Yes, here on this one I still blog to get my thoughts out, connect with family and friends, receive validation, input and advice, and probably (mostly) because I am obsessed with like receiving attention comments. I think blogging has made our family grow closer, or at least for the ones that write or read the blogs. I feel like I know more about some of my sisters now than I ever did growing up. It's nice to read what makes them "tick". But I also have five other blogs that I author and 1 other that I contribute to. Not because I think I am special and everyone should read my blogs (I'm something special and you should read my blogs), but because I wanted to keep this blog for the reason I started it.

4) one thing that makes you or your blog unique? I say too much am not afraid to share what I am thinking or doing. It's like a journal of what is going on in my head. Some people might think I share "too much information". However, to that I answer as Anne Shirley did in Anne of Green Gables... "I know I chatter on far too much... but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don't. Give me SOME credit."

5) something you want us to know about you? Though I might come across as overly sarcastic sometimes, I am a very emotional person. I tend to cry. A.LOT. Not that I am weepy or "poor me" all the time. But things move me to tears. Romance. Sadness. Frustration. Laughter. Inspiration. Heartache. The Kindness of Others. Being Tired. God's Love... I guess I am just saying I have a softer side of me too.

6) something you don't want us to know about you but will tell us anyway? I get shy sometimes. If I feel intimidated or out of my element, I tend to clam up and keep to myself. I lived in my neighborhood almost three years before really getting to know some of the girls. I will forever be grateful to Desperate Housewife who had invited me to come and make cards at her house once a month. I went. And I got to know the gals. And I laughed. And I talked. And I laughed some more. I laughed so hard, I almost peed my pants. Afterwards PartyGal said, "Wow. And I thought you were shy!" Well... I was, till then. (They probably wish I was still "shy" sometimes! lol!) But then PartyGal invited me to the next girls night out... and voila! Friendships were born!

7) I feel best about my blog when.... people comment on it. (I told you... I like attention!) But I also feel good about it when I go back and read it and make myself laugh. Sometimes it's like, "Did I really write that?" hahaha! I also like going back to places where I *used* to be and see the things I've gone through that help me realize I *am* a strong person and I *can* do hard things! I also like when others say I've helped them in some way.

8) I feel empowered...when I accomplish a goal that seemed almost impossible at first.

9) Movies/TV Shows I quote most from... Hmm... I have been quoting from TV Shows and Movies for so long, I can't keep track. I will list some phrases and maybe you will recognize them.

"Oh no, not today Buster. You wanted food and I gave it to you, so now you're gonna eat it. So eat it!"

"That's me in the movie mommy! That's me in the movie!"

"Tina, come get some ham!"

"That's what she said."

"Schmoopy... no you're Schmoopy. No, YOU'RE Schmoopy!"

"That'll do, Pig. That'll do."

"Sometimes, when I get nervous, I stick my hands under my armpits like this, and then... I smell 'em!... that's bad."

"My feelings would best be expressed in a monologue from the made for TV movie, ...."

"This one is bigger than that one, cause this one's the mommy and that one's the baby... and they hold hands because they're friends!" (hehehe)

"I hate it when adults use the term 'sexually active'... like am I gonna DE-activate someday?"

"Geez Banana! Shut your freakin gob!"

"Wakey, Wakey, hands off snakey!"

"My Mama didn't raise no dummy!"


10) If I could have been blogging ten years ago, I would have been telling you all about.....
the recent birth of my third child, PrettyPrettyPrincess. the biggest blow I have ever been dealt and yet chose to live with (for the time being anyway). working a night shift at Delta Airlines. starting/learning to scrapbook. traveling here and there and everywhere for FREE while working for Delta. **fist pump** LittleDuckling going through horrible night terrors. FunnyMan becoming an "extra" in several films and commercials. Learning to cook, and cook well. The beginnings of post-partum depression, post-partum hair-loss, and the onset of endometriosis, adenomyosis and congestive pelvic disorder.


11) The most technological advanced thing I own or I can do is... I am much more "internet savvy" than some of my friends, many of my family, and definitely my boss! hahaha! Learning PowerPoint and how to do certain formulas in Excel last semester also made me feel a bit smarter. The BEST, however, is when my DAD called ME from Canada to ask how to use a Blackberry! I felt soooooo smart! hahaha!

12) My Dad was raised "Amish"... My "Amish" phrase is ...(Spelling is probably waaaay off.)
"Wie bischt du? du alle coo? Macht de glenna hosse su!"
well, I don't know if this is the correct translation, but something like, "How are you, all of you cows? there's a hole in your pants!" or maybe it's "pull your pants up". I can't remember. It's what my friend Celise and I used to say to each other whenever we were around those who didn't speak Pennsylvania Dutch, in order to ACT like we were really saying something important! Oh, and it rhymed! hahaha!

Well - I guess that is it for now...unless there is anything else you'd like to know? And just wait -- when finals come around I just may spotlight a few more of you out there! ;)