Wow. You work all day and you miss a lot.
Exhibit 1: Newscoma pointed us [via Music City Bloggers] to Cook Eat Fret. If you came here looking for a great food blog and were disappointed by my randomness [or bless you, if you like my randomness but still also like great food blogs], then visit this site right away. It's in my reader.
AKA my dad is so funny
Y'all, back at the beginning of the summer, I set up a blog for my dad, at his request. I also set up one for Nashville Sister, but so far, she's not using it. Cross your fingers....she will be a fabulous, funny blogger.
At any rate, my dad looks to be serious about this blogging thing. But I'm worried he's getting the wrong idea about blogging.
In his first post, he considered whether it was possible to blog without attending blogger conventions and meetups. Now, he's cracking on my topics. (See the comments.)
Daddy, let me assure you, it's practically impossible to blog wrong. And while blogger meetups can be fun, they aren't required. I think many of you out there will enjoy reading Pookie's Ponderings. I do. Just don't get his politics mixed up with mine. ;)
So normally I hate memes. H.A.T.E. hate. But I was over at Ivy's house today, where she was being interviewed by Cuppa Joe. And frankly it looked like a lot of fun. So now she's interviewing me! Here are the rules:
Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.” I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions. If you don’t have a valid email address on your blog, please provide one. You will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
OK, on to Ivy's questions for me:
1. What religion are you, and why that particular religion?
Well that is an interesting question. Just because I've noticed on your blog before that you say you're Methodist. And I am too.
I grew up as a Methodist, but I have specifically chosen to remain one. Methodists put a lot of stock in understanding the tenets of our faith, and of our role in society. I don't agree with the official position of my church on everything; in particular our ongoing debate over homosexuality just frustrates the hell out of me. [I think I'm safe to say that a large minority within our church would prefer that we be more accepting of the GLBT community. Not that we are exactly condemning. So far both the minority and majority have been unwilling to go to the mat over this. I think in time, we will resolve this into a fully welcoming stance toward the GLBT community. Not as soon as I'd like, but still, soon. Maybe I am an optimist??]
My personal faith is, umm, I can't think of the best word for it. Let's say that I'm 100% certain that large parts of the Bible are meant as allegory. [Dodging darts from 94% of Nashville now....] And that I believe wholeheartedly in the need for a faith community. And that I have one where I am encouraged and supported, though my personal beliefs undoubtedly differ markedly from many in my own welcoming UMC congregation.
2. Guilty TV pleasures, we all have them-what is yours? (And if you
don't have a guilty TV pleasure, you suck. j/k, share your guilty
reading pleasure instead.)
I have both guilty TV and reading pleasures. In fact, most of what I watch on TV falls into that category.
My two favorite shows: House and Boston Legal. You wouldn't really call either an intellectual pursuit, but both are mainstream enough that I can easily admit them in public. What you less often hear me discuss: The Dead Zone and Psych. I don't watch every episode, but I've seen most of them. I have also retired two former guilty pleasures, now that I've seen all episodes of each at least twice: Star Trek: The Next Generation and JAG. I've also seen all of The West Wing at least twice, but as far as I'm concerned, that's the best TV show ever.
Reading: I guess I actually don't have that many guilty pleasures here. I do have two full shelves of fiction and nonfiction awaiting my free time. I usually pick my new books from the Sunday NY Times book reviews. So that's maybe a little snotty, but not guilty. However, I have been known to pick up a People magazine in the airport. And I really enjoyed it several years ago when my sister's roommate had a People subscription. Actually, I can also say that I love Go Fug Yourself and TMZ.com, both of which fall into the People genre.
3. Incredibly funky tomato aside, you're an awesome gardener. How are
you with houseplants?
Crappy. I am not very good at keeping anything besides people alive inside the house. Although now that the dog moved herself inside, I do OK with that. But the kids are better at remembering to feed her. I have two fish who have, in the past, lived for weeks off algae, I guess. [Before you call the ASPCA, the fish tank is currently clean and there's food and water out for the dog. I just checked.]
4. If you could live anywhere in the world OTHER than Tennessee, where
would you live?
Wow, that's a hard one. Because I really need to win Powerball....I have about three answers to that question. I have said for about a year now that one day, I'd like to retire to a horse farm on the upper Cumberland Plateau. Please keep in mind that I am actually afraid of horses and in fact only remember riding a horse once in my life, when I was 5. But I could learn. It is so beautiful in Pickett and Fentress Counties. [I just re-read the question and noticed I'm supposed to pick someplace outside Tennessee. Oops.] I'm a huge fan of the North Carolina mountains, especially off the beaten path. And I can't think why I wouldn't enjoy a home on the Florida Gulf Coast, especially in the fall, winter and spring. However: I have a long list of places around the world I'd like to travel to: India, China, Prague, Germany, Italy, Egypt, back to Greece.
5. Tell me about something that changed your life forever.
I really think I'm a pretty boring person. I can tell you any number of things that were turning points, shall we say, but I think all of them are pretty normal and happen to lots of people.
I will say this. I was very fortunate to be the editor of my college newspaper in 1992. [Ya, I'm old, peeps.] It was like working a 40-hour-a-week job, while taking a full load of classes, and managing a staff of up to 100. I didn't realize it until it was over, but I couldn't have paid to get that kind of experience at that age. I made so many mistakes, but it was a great place and time to make them. I learned a ton.
I'm guest-blogging this weekend over at NiT. I always wanted to do that but never seemed to be able to fit it in. See you there....
If you live in Nashville, I know you will want to bookmark/add to your Google reader/make this site your second homepage right after Fixin' Supper:
The Charlotte Parker
This cleverly named site is primarily authored by my long-time friend Paige Clancy. [Yes, I've known her long enough for her to know secrets about me, such as they are.] It's a great new site for this West Nashville neighborhood. Trust me, if you don't live in Charlotte Park, you have peeps who do. And I'm sure you've been there before if you say, go to Costco or bowling.
Plus, Paige and hubby Chris are both smart and great writers. Mark it for great reading on West Nasvhille.
Actually, Jimmy Moore is a friend of mine from high school, and I've mentioned him here before. He is the low-carb king!! If you're trying to lose weight, his positive attitude will really encourage you. He also tackles the science behind low-carb diets and nutrition, so he's an interesting read, as well.
Last Friday night, during the first part of our weekend monsoon, the kids and I met Jimmy and his wife Christine for dinner at Famous Dave's. It was slam-packed but we enjoyed the extra time that gave us to visit. Jimmy was in town for a conference and I enjoyed the chance to catch up and meet Christine.
Famous Dave's was pretty good. It's definitely a chain, but the barbecue passed my test and we all enjoyed ourselves.
I wrote one of those 100-things-about-me lists. It's Megan's fault.
I hate all those memes that get sent around [even though I do answer some of them if I like the questions], but I do like the 100-things list. So here it is. Yeah, I know it has my old template on there. I've tried to fix it three or four times but I'm missing some little bit of code. Just squint and maybe it will look more like this page.
I discovered tonight on Volunteer Voters that my friend Catherine has a great blog going! Always one with a well-founded opinion, Catherine has already made this into a great site for commentary on children's issues, local politics and education.
Oddly, I have no category appropriate for discussing a fresh pasta shop. So I've just linked it under "Blog friends" to honor Mike S.[Sorry!!] S-townMike over at the Enclave who pointed this place out.
Lazzaroli's is moving to Germantown and opening shortly. How did I never know they were here before?? Yikes! Must get over to the Farmer's Market more often!
I will be among the first in line upon their reopening.
So I will tell you that often when I go to church, I don't put a lot of effort into my appearance. Frankly, my mother would be horrified. Maybe she's gotten over that by now....she is pretty good about not feeling accountable for our eccentricities. But for some reason this morning, I put on a nice sweater, makeup and even jewelry! I'm not saying I was pageant-ready, but I was definitely presentable.
And thank goodness. Because guess who came to my church today -- Mrs. Jag and Hutchmo!! I have to confess to you all that I actually had to ask Mrs. Jag her real name, because I always think of her as "Mrs. Jag." She was quite gracious and didn't seem to mind.
I do have one hint for all of you, to prepare you for any future chance encounters you may have with fellow bloggers....think up your opening line right now. Because I have to say, introducing yourself in person to someone you already know really well -- online -- is a strange experience.
Maybe you can be more creative than I. I said something along the lines of "Umm, excuse me. But don't you write Being Brilliant??" Sigh. I already knew that. But what else was I going to say??
At any rate, it was nice to have you both there this morning, and I welcome any other bloggers to come see us at East End Methodist as well. I'll try to be less goofy when you arrive.
UPDATE: GET OUTTA TOWN. I just learned over at Salem's Lots that Slartibartfast was in the band that played at my church today! I really have to get out more. Four bloggers at EEUMC at once? It must be a world record!
2nd UPDATE: Upon further reflection, my title makes no sense, because Jag and Hutchmo were planning to come see Slartibartfast play this a.m. It was just me who was unexpected. That's often the way in my life.
