formerly Diane's Addled Ramblings... the ramblings are still addled, just like before, and the URL is still the same...
it's just the title at the top of the page that's new

Friday, January 9, 2009

Because I Know You're All Chomping at the Bit...

Here are the rest of the interview questions my buddy Heinous gave me... I know you've all just put your lives on hold 'til you could read them and I didn't want to hold you up any longer... you know, 'cause I'm nice that way. You're welcome.

Oh, before I start, thanks for all the great comments about yesterday's post! For everyone who said it reminded them of A Christmas Story, you guys DO know I didn't grow up in the 40's, right? Funny thing, though... whenever I watch that movie, it totally reminds me of the neighborhood my dad grew up in (the same neighborhood I lived in 1972, in fact) and it's set in the same decade as his childhood. I think that's why I couldn't watch it for ten years after he died. I bought it for him 20 years ago because it made me think of the stories he told me about when he was a kid. Watching it made me think of him... and miss him too much. So maybe the fact that my story reminded you of that movie is a good thing after all. Maybe it proves I'm accessing my inherited storyteller gene. Just so long as you know I'll only be 44 on my next birthday and not 74 (not that there's anything wrong with 74, Billy!).

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program...

What one talent do you wish you had that you don't?

The ability to dance. And I don’t mean just the ‘boogie at a club’ sort (does anyone even say 'boogie' anymore?). I mean the Ginger Rogers sort… the ‘ballroom, swing, salsa, put your leg so high in the air you look like a pair of open scissors’ sort. I have no internal rhythm whatsoever. My completely deaf brother dances better than I do. I would so love the ability to just sail across the dance floor, looking all elegant and graceful, in the arms of Fred Astaire. OK, well, not Fred Astaire, ‘cause I’m pretty sure he’s dead, and if he isn’t, he’s, like, a year younger than Christ… but in the arms of some equally dashing-on-the-dance-floor fella. I can’t believe I just wrote ‘fella’… I need to get out more.

We all have our reasons for blogging but what would be your ultimate goal for your blog or as a blogger?

Oh, man, that’s certainly changed in the last few months. I started this just to keep family and friends updated but I had no idea what sort of community was out here in Bloggyland; no clue how many wonderful people I’d meet or how much I’d want to be a part of their lives and have them be a part of mine.

I guess my goal is twofold… first, I want to keep writing things that make people want to come back. I love watching my numbers rise – I am a complete and unashamed comment junkie! But it’s more than that, really… it’s about connecting with people. I love when I do my 100 Things posts and I get comments from loads of people, each of whom laughed at something different! That never ceases to blow me away and it’s just so cool. Or when someone tells me that I’ve touched them in some way or made them think… it’s an amazing feeling.

Second, my goal is to hone my writing skills; to develop my style into something that will, at some point, make me money. I’d love to write a human interest or humor column for a newspaper or magazine but I’ve always been worried that I just didn’t have enough – enough talent, enough material, enough skill. Blogging, and doing it every day, forces me to keep moving forward… to see what people like and what they don’t; to see what I’m good at and what needs work.

You can trade lives with any one person for a month. Who would it be and why?

My daughter. I would like to see the world from her perspective; to know what truly goes on in her head and her heart – all the things she can’t yet (or won’t) articulate. I want to know what’s going on inside when she has a colossal meltdown, or when she lies to me, or when she’s scared and I can’t understand why. I want to know how she really feels when her dad hasn’t called her in over a week or when I’ve had a bad day and snap at her for something insignificant. I think being Ryan for a little while would make me a better mother.

There's a fire and your family is safe but you have the chance to save any one item from your house. What would it be and why?

My computer. It’s my livelihood, my lifeline to many of the people I love, and it has, all tucked up inside its confoundedly complex and confusing workings, much of me, in the form of words and photos. I could live without it, certainly, but I wouldn’t want to.

You have the chance to go back in time and warn yourself before making a bad choice. What choice would it be and what would you tell yourself?

I would go back to the day I got my first credit card offer in the mail and tell myself that credit cards are the apron strings that will keep me forever tied to Hell. I’m not a money-oriented person at all… I’ve never wanted or strived for loads of it. However, when I think about all the money I’ve wasted on interest and late fees and general poor money-management skills and decisions, I feel sick. So much of my life would be different, I think, if I knew then what I know now.

26 comments:

Jane! said...

Okay, I just looked at ALL you've written today.... and you don't think you have ENOUGH? Diane, you have PLENTY.

Heather said...

First of all, I think your comment about your deaf brother dancing better than you just affirmed that you and I must definitely be related. I, too, cannot dance - though I wish so, sooo badly that I could. (In college, I found that alcohol makes me temporarily forget that I can't dance. Not pretty, I'm sure.)
Also, I love this whole interview meme thing. Very neat, indeed. :)

Stu Pidasso said...

Sounds like Heather wants six questions for her own interview. I would too, but be careful what you ask, because you've already seen what I will post.

I like that you want to be more insightful on how to be a better mother for Ryan. I too want to be all I can for my kids (even though I don't call every week either).

Great questions from Heinous, and you do seem to have plenty of good stuff to write. We should both check out Drama Mam's column in her newspaper. I wonder how she likes it??

Cheers!

Lee said...

Great questions and great answers! Thank you.

Anonymous said...

1. I second what Jane! said - smart lady she ;)

2. What I wouldn't give to be my kid(s) for a while. I've never thought of being them when asked this question. GREAT answer!

3. Ugh debt. Again, I've never really narrowed that question down to this answer - always seemingly larger things ... but I feel for you - great answer again!

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Diane, you are the Queen of Bloggers, truly!

Thank you for your support and your noble kindness...

Melanie Gillispie said...

Wait! You wouldn't save some of your mom's Hummel figurines? How dare you!

And, pal o' mine, you do have enough. Everyone knows it but you!

Sometimes Sophia said...

I love the idea of seeing the world through my child's eyes, but I know I'd be saddened by it. I've made so many mistakes, it hurts to think about it. Kids of bitterly divorced parents survive somehow, but it's always tough navigating for them. Avoiding a bad choice? That one has my ex's name all over it.

Sometimes Sophia said...

What I really wanted to say is you write beautifully. What you say appears so authentic and sincere. You clearly have a good head on your shoulders...I wish you were my neighbor.

Connie said...

Dear ~ 1st off us Irish Mom's make sure our sons never and I mean never hit a girl ... no matter the problem. However, if you would have been a boy I would have told my son to get back out there and beat you till you were bloody to save face and hold his head up high on the playground but he never heard that from me if anyone asked. 2nd - Thank you for your kind comments ... always. 3rd - Can you please come write articles for our town paper. Let's just say small town mentality is just not working form them. (((HUGS))) ;)

Michelle said...

You really just rock Diane!! Sometimes, i can't find with words. Can't articulate what i really want to say so i just say you rock!!! Not original at all, but it conveys a lot of different emotions.

Your such a treat and a special gal. Anybody that can make me giggle and laugh and nod knowingly is OK in my book!!!

Love ya girlie!!!

J Cosmo Newbery said...

My dear lady, we Newberys champ our bits, chomping is so common.

Dancing is highly over-rated. Remember that, if you do it at all, you will be expected to do it backwards.

I wouldn't swap with my son. He would have me committed to sheltered accommodation for the month. Probably longer.

Mama Wheaton said...

Diane I so agree about dancing. I think it is my favorite form of expression, but not something I can do.

blognut said...

Thought provoking... and worth the wait!

HLiza said...

I have to answer some interview questions too. I like your answers and I think you'll be a very good writer Diane, humour or serious..you always amaze me with the amount of strength in your words..

Julie D said...

I love these interviews. I think we all need to do them!

Zuzana said...

Diane, I am so happy you found this place and started your blog, as you are very talented. And I hope all this feedback from all those wonderful people will help you in your future plans on using your incredible skills as a writer.;)
I enjoy not just reading your posts, but I also enjoy and -have enjoyed- getting to know that fabulous person that is you.;))

Stinking Billy said...

So, who's the young raver in your thumbnail photograph, then, your daughter? ;-)

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Diane, with apols for my very short comment late last night. OH was complaining about my tippy-tappying on the keyboard, so I was forced to curtail...

I loved your memories of your dad (how we miss them and no-one can ever replace them, eh?); thoughts of your dancing, nay gliding, with Fred made me laugh so much, and I would kill to buy the newspaper that would be honoured to have your column in it!

Jenners said...

So much to say.

First, THAT is what your piece yesterday called to mind a bit -- A Christmas Story. Which is based on the writings of Jean Shepard, who I absolutely adore. I have his book "Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories" and they are all his childhood "tall tales" that are written in much the same vein as yours.

Second, I think you are ready to write prime-time. Your stuff is brilliant. Your piece yesterday was evidence of that. Have you ever seen this site:

https://publish.associatedcontent.com/signup.shtml

I think you should check it out. I keep planning to but then caught bogged down in blogging. And I'm not sure I'm ready for the prime time but this blog is helping.

And I would love to be a ballroom dancer too! I took a "social dancing" class with my husband to get ready for our first dance at our wedding and we dropped out we were so bad. We looked like two monsters lurching around.

Well, I've got to go -- the Little One is screaming "Get off your blog , Mommy. Stop typing. Get off your blog." This is why I do this at night when he is sleeping!

gwenlyn said...

First, I have glog envy; blenvy!
Second, you and yours crack me up daily. Good medicine!
Third, I steal your ideas and hope for additional followers myself. You truly have a great community here!

Petra a.k.a The Wise (*Young*) Mommy said...

I would love to ballroom dance too!!

And ditto on the credit cards as well.

Nice answers!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year 2009. I hope that Portugal come visit my blog. Thank you very much

Unknown said...

I'd say you have plenty to write a column and that you're such an incredible writer that you could easily pull it off. I think everyone that has done the interview has said their computer so far. Very interesting.

Say, you should offer to do interviews yourself.

Maithri said...

"Credit cards are the apron strings that will keep me forever tied to hell" LOL!!!!!

I love it!

And I love that if you could trade lives with someone it would be your daughter... Thats just the coolest thing...

And as for the dancin... the rhythms in you... Who cares what people say... Turn up the music... Close the blinds (and the doors etc) and let joy remind ya that dancings a gift from the earth to all of us... not just to ginger and fred ;)

Much love my friend
and wild music,

M

Pauline said...

After reading the last two posts my thought is that you should go look at yourself in the mirror and exclaim, "I am a really good writer!"