Don’t Hate Her Because She’s Awesome

Dear Gentle Readers,

I have yet another special surprise for you today. The lovely Christina has graciously agreed to a little BlogHer BlogMe Q & A with me. Continue reading to learn more about one of blogland’s finest scribes and when you’re done, swing by her blog, A Mommy Story, and see her in action!

1. When did you start blogging and why?

I started November, 2005. I had a Livejournal before that, but only a few friends read it. After finding Blogging Baby and reading the personal blogs of some of the writers, I decided I wanted to join in on the fun.

2. What is your blog motto?

Motto? I don’t know if I have a motto. The tagline for my blog is “Fairytales are overrated…this is real life” and I love it. The truth I live through is far better than a lot of fiction I’ve read. With a child like mine, you can’t make this stuff up.

3.Are you and your blogging persona the same person?

Sort of. I think my blog persona is far cooler than me. When writing on the web, you can choose to leave out the parts of you that aren’t as interesting. In person I’m a much bigger geek.

4. What historical or real life person do you most wish had a blog?

(OK, here comes the geek in me.) I’d love to read King Charles II of England’s blog. The guy had more mistresses than Angelina Jolie has tattoos, and he wasn’t afraid to admit it. It would be better than reading any tabloid out there. Ben Franklin probably would have had a kick ass blog as well.

5. What don’t you write about? Anything considered a no-no in your book?

Usually politics and my job, other than very vague mentions. I certainly don’t feel like being dooced. I also limit complaining about my husband, since he reads my blog everyday.

6. How do you feel about meeting bloggers in real life? Are you nervous? Will you have great expectations? What do you home to take away from the BlogHer experience?

Nervous? Oh hell yeah. I had my first meet-up with some Ohio bloggers this week, and it went really well, so I feel a little more confident about BlogHer. I have no great expecatations - I hope to learn some new tricks to improve my blog, and to meet a lot of other bloggers and hopefully make some new friends.

7. So soon we’re going to meet each other at BlogHer. Important question. How do you party?

Like it’s 1999? Actually, I tend to knock back one drink to relax a little, and then sip any other drinks after the first. I like to dance, I like karaoke, but I really like just sitting around in small groups and laughing and talking the night away.

8. What is your favorite thing that you wrote? What got a strong reaction from readers? Links please?

My favorite post has to be the Friday Night Smackdown post. This post got a strong reaction from readers, and prompted a few anonymous posts as well.

9. Why did you choose to share that piece of yourself in a photograph?

This is a pic of me before my hair was butchered today. I’m very picky about my hair, and now I’m finding myself mourning my old hair.

10. How would you describe your writing style?

Free form and truthful. I write whatever I’m thinking, without giving a lot of thought to planning out what I’m writing or going back and re-writing. I also think writing needs to come from the heart, and so I sometimes write about things that may be difficult to talk about, but the post is honest and transparent.

11. What natural gift would you most like to possess?

Social grace. I wish I had the ability to always know what to say in any situation. I find myself in situations where I’m trying to come up with the right thing to say, but it never comes out right.

12. What is your favorite virtue?

Kindness. I think if we all possessed that virtue, the world would be a much better place. Helping others is a hallmark of humanity, and without it we are nothing but animals. (You knew I wasn’t going to pick sobriety, moderation, or discretion, right?)

13. Who or what would you have liked to be?

My degree is in history, so of course I’m a history buff. I’d have loved to have been a lady in Queen Elizabeth I’s court. But thinking about all the disease and lack of hygeine in renaissance England, I think I’m happy just being me.

14. What is your idea of earthly happiness?

Laying on the couch, with my daughter sleeping peacefully on my chest. It’s hard to feel anything but love and happiness in that situation. (And it’s so rare for her to fall asleep on me, I treasure those moments.)

15. Is there anything you’d like to say to the blog world at-large? On any topic?

We don’t all have to agree on everything. It’s OK to disagree, as long as you do it respectfully. And in the realm of parenting, there is no one right way, as long as you love your child and do not abuse them.