My blogger friend Jill at the Cinquecento Project tagged me on a meme featuring 11 questions (I guess because it’s one louder than ten). It was called “Blogger Tag” in Jill’s post, but I’ve decided to rename it the Spinal Tap 11 Meme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuzpsO4ErOQ
Spinal Tap 11 Meme Rules:
1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.
3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them!
Jill’s 11 Questions and My Answers:
1. How old were you when you had your first kiss?
My initial reaction: “eek, this is so embarrassing!” Then I remembered I wrote about it in some detail. Too late to be embarrassed now. I had my first kiss at 18.
2. Do you have a preference in how your toilet paper rolls? If so, over or under?
I do, so is it weird that I just had to go look? Under.
3. How long have you been blogging?
Since November 2010. My original intent was to write a productivity-related blog based on my online to do list (featured in my charming first post). Zzzzzzzzzzzzz…I have no idea why I thought that would be a good idea. Quickly morphed into memoir, humor, food, career, and just general blathering.
4. Who made the biggest influence on your decision to blog?
Dave has provided support and the all-important permission to write about personal stuff, but the person who made me want to blog is Linda at All & Sundry. I’ve mentioned her writing before, but what I really covet is the lovely informal community she’s built. She doesn’t just receive comments, but starts real and respectful conversations. I would love to get responses to my questions, like this post where she asked for running song recommendations and got 144 responses. It’s like she has a pool of thousands in her “Phone a Friend” bank.
5. What is the most compassionate act you made today?
I smiled and nodded at someone who stepped on my foot leaving the metro today when she apologized rather than glaring at her in a huff like I might usually do. Like the time I yelled “you are a jackass” at the guy in the SUV who almost ran me over as he was trying to apologize to me. I’m not the world’s most compassionate person is what I’m saying. Unless we’re talking about animals. Hey! I sat on the porch with Chuck for 45 minutes this evening even though it was chilly and drizzling because I knew Chuck wanted to.
6. Where is the next place you would visit, if you could take a trip anywhere?
Nepal to see red pandas? Australia to see koalas? London to see Wimbledon?
7. Is altruism real or are we all fulfilling selfish desires when we help others?
Is this a trick question? I think anything we do after having time to think about it stems from our own desires and needs, even if those desires tell us to help others. We help others because it makes us feel good, because we want to avoid guilt, because we would want others to help us or our loved ones if we were in the same situation. I think it might be more telling what we do when we don’t have time to think about it.
8. When was the time when you felt the most brave?
Probably when I tried to defuse Dad’s anger growing up. It usually worked. Until it didn’t.
9. Do you donate money, time, both or neither to charity/your community?
I donate money sometimes. I would like to volunteer at an animal shelter or with a rescue group, but I worry I wouldn’t have the stomach for it. I’d want to bring every dog home.
10. What did you do last Saturday?
Postponed my 6-mile run (wind). Went to a planning session for a Meet Up group. As is often the case around people I don’t know well, didn’t say much. Became painfully aware of my silence. Left early. Went to dinner with some new friends that thankfully went much better. Dragged Dave to a custard place across town as part of my ice cream “research.” Got annoyed that they were out of custard two hours before closing on a Saturday! On way back to car, walked by a coffee shop with live music (involving a concertina, Dave’s new instrument obsession) and Dave said, “I’m going to blow your mind and say that’s the Rodger French Trio.” Agreed to go in and listen to them for 30 minutes even though it was jazz (see, I can be compassionate!). Got ice cream somewhere else. Made two batches of ice cream mix to freeze on Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZb1irQxzms
11. If you could choose a job that everyone should have at least once, what would it be and why?
I think most people would say waiter/waitress, but since I’ve never done that, I’m going with survey developer. It’s shocking how easy it is to get people to answer questions incorrectly. Never believe survey results.
My Questions
I’m tagging more than 11 bloggers. I recently joined a new community called “We’re Not Mommy Bloggers.” As I’ve said before, not being a Mom, particularly at the ripe old age of pushing-40 can start to get a little isolating, so I was very excited that Katie and Bernie started this community. I thought tagging the group would be a good way to get to know each other. And I’m nosy.
So I’m tagging everyone linked here. If you’re not tagged, and you want to answer any/all questions, I’d love to read your responses (have I mentioned I’m nosy?).
1. Why do you blog?
2. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog?
3. How long does it take you to write an average blog post?
4. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow?
5. What is your bedtime?
6. Introvert or extrovert?
7. What is your biggest fear?
8. What is the best job you ever had?
9. Dog person/cat person/both/neither?
10. Want kids someday/on the fence/don’t want kids (since I’m tagging a group called “Not Mommy Bloggers,” I’m assuming “have kids” isn’t a response option–see I’ve been a survey developer)?
11. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Obviously if the tag-ees don’t want to play/want to play but change the rules/want to sponsor legislation to ban memes, it’s all good.
I love reading people’s answers to these things, but always feel lame doing them myself. I’ve been tagged with the “11” thing a couple times and have yet to do it, so don’t take it personally. 🙂
But I will say I blog because I love writing but hate writing crap I write for work, so I need an outlet. Everyone knows about my blog and it takes me entirely too long to write a post, as I get insecure and overanalyze. I only subscribe to four blogs, so otherwise I visit ones I “like” on FB or follow on Twitter. I’m outgoing but a hermit and go to bed by 10, if I have the choice, as I get up early. My favorite job was in a coffee house and I like both dogs and cats, but will NEVER have kids. I’m also not big on ice cream, but if I had to choose it would be soft serve choc/vanilla twist with sprinkles. 🙂
Thanks for responding to some of the questions, Abby…I like reading people’s answers too!
I liked this meme better than the ones that say “write some number of random facts about yourself,” having specific questions to answer is easier. And I’m lazy.
I have a ton of blogs in my reader, and I’m always so behind. I read in these giant spurts and feel like a moron commenting on someone’s month old post. I can’t ever keep up on Twitter. I guess I need to scale back, but the blogs I read are all special little snowflakes.
What if I made you avocado ice cream? Maybe that would convert you???
I write an anti-mommy blog. I ditched optimistic mom (it felt fake) and took on the blog of mommy candor. I write about how sometimes being a mom sucks, dealing with an awful Mother in law, how being a mom suddenly makes it hard to be a daughter, dealing with awful people, neighbors and what it’s like to be a mostly stay at home mom when you have the mind and want to-do of a working mom.. I am a work from home, would rather be at work mom..kindof blog.. yet my heart (and the story of having two miscarriages,)keeps me home so try to suck every moment dry.. even if some days it’s tougher than when I worked full time as a general assignment reporter or as a full time journalism teacher with 180 teenagers.
1. Why do you blog? to vent. to learn. to breathe.
2. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog? two close friends, I had another blog but I wrote about a party and my friend figured it out and had a conference with me.. then I ditched that blog because I found I was editing it and couldn’t be honest.. and I couldn’t write about her.. and how much she annoyed me obviously…. three close friends know about mommy candor.
3. How long does it take you to write an average blog post? 1- 2 hours.
4. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow? I subscribe to them.
5. What is your bedtime? 9
6. Introvert or extrovert? introvert but an extrovert with close friends or with one person at a time.
7. What is your biggest fear? being stuck in a small place, drowning, snakes.. losing someone I love, elevators..
8. What is the best job you ever had? working at PBS or writing PR stuff for things I LOVED..and people I admired..
9. Dog person/cat person/both/neither? BOTH.
10. Want kids someday/on the fence/don’t want kids (since I’m tagging a group called “Not Mommy Bloggers,” I’m assuming “have kids” isn’t a response option–see I’ve been a survey developer)?
Wanted kids, miscarried, couldn’t believe it didn’t work, then it did work out and it was very different…it was very different.. love it. but sometimes I don’t love it. it doesn’t feel natural.. so on the fence some days. ..most days.
11. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? rocky road
Reagan
mommy candor
Hi Reagan…I look forward to checking out your new blog incarnation! I don’t tell all my friends about my blog either. Mostly because I don’t think everyone would be supportive. Wow that looks pretty sad written down in black and white.
Thanks for responding to the questions! I wish I had the willpower for a 9pm bedtime. I’m so tired all the time. The late night is my blog catch up time!
Dude! I’m a meme whore. So taking up your challenge! 😀 http://www.chibijeebs.com/2012/03/not-mom-meme.html
Yea!!! Loved it. Thanks for playing!
I answered them, even if it became too off-topic (I quit my general life blog). Read more here: http://www.sinead.me/so-extremely-off-topic/
Thanks for humoring me, Susi! I enjoyed reading your answers!
Give me a little time, but I will do this. Pester me if you need to. 🙂 I have three blogs and none are mommy blogs. Which one ?
Three blogs! I have trouble keeping up with writing one. I would do the meme on whichever blog you think is the best fit for it. Probably the author blog or the book blog? Thanks!
So I wasn’t tagged, but then I was so excited about the “not a mommy blog” group that I went and signed up. Does that mean I’m tagged now? Seriously, I’m just excited about the idea of a group of bloggers who don’t write about their kids (not that there’s anything wrong with that… ).
As always, enjoyed reading your answers! Even better, you’ve mentioned my favorite movie AND possibly my favorite quote (and T-shirt) from said movie. It doesn’t get much better than that.
You are SO totally tagged!!!! I love reading people’s answers to these things. I’m the world’s nosiest person.
So glad you linked to the Not Mommy group!
The Stonehenge part of Spinal Tap is my favorite part. I’ll never forget the first time I saw the movie, my friend Erin and I were laughing so hard I thought I’d throw up.
I am an under kind of toilet paper girl too… I think more people are the over kind… 🙂
I think it’s easier to quickly dispense toilet paper under…you can sort of flick at it with one hand and it flies off the roll for you. I feel over requires a two-handed dispensing. I’ve clearly said too much.
Hurrah – finally I did it. I have to go let everyone know who I tagged (I did what you did BTW – easiest to include all at the link) Heres the post to my answers. http://shahwharton.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-i-write.html
Loved your answers and your questions. I also added a vid – Though its very different. I’m running on empty and have to fly. Great meeting you 🙂 XX
Thanks for playing, Shah! I enjoyed reading your responses. I could relate to many of them. I left some responses to your questions in your comments! Great meeting you too!
I love your answer for #7, especially this: “I think it might be more telling what we do when we don’t have time to think about it.”
When we don’t have time to filter ourselves–whether its our actions or our thoughts–I think we get a good reflection of our true selves.
Between visiting parents and waiting out nasty thunderstorms, I finally got the chance to do the meme:
http://chaoticallyyours.blogspot.com/2012/03/am-i-your-cup-of-tea.html
Thanks! I really enjoyed reading your responses! I always think I’ll have time to do some things when I visit family, but then I end up putzing around on Facebook or lying on the couch reading Mom’s “O” magazines.
I’ve been busy this weekend and haven’t had time to enjoy the Not Mommy Blog Hop, but I wanted to join in the meme!
http://thedraftydoublewide.blogspot.com/2012/03/tag-youre-it.html
Thanks for inviting me to join in – it’s my first meme!
Hi Kathy, thanks for doing the meme! They (like celebrity deaths) seem to come in 3s.
I loved your questions!
Thanks for answering my questions!
You have a stuffed animal named Funky? I had to smile about that and wonder if there was a story behind the name.
There’s a picture of him on my About Me page. I’ve had him since first grade. I wish I’d come up with his name, but his tag said Funky on it. I think he’s supposed to be a monkey (Funky Monkey) but I always called him a bear. I love him beyond all reason.
Funky is adorable! He does sort of look like a mix between a monkey and a bear.
This is so much fun, Tracy. Thank you for thinking of it and including the Not Mommy Bloggers in the fun. This truly is a great way for everyone to get to know everyone else 🙂 Absolutely great questions (and great answers to the first set). I plan on doing this! I really do. Things have been CRAZY lately. But I will answer these questions. I promise. Mostly. HA!
Thanks, Katie! I hope things calm down for you soon. I’d love to read your responses, but I’m very patient.
I didn’t ask my blog reading question skillfully…what I really wanted to know was how the hell people keep up. I’m always so behind and feel like a moron commenting on somebody’s month-old post. I feel like I could fill my whole day just reading awesome blogs (but still not be caught up!).
How funny. I just tagged you in a game of blogger tag and now you’ll probably feel you will never leave this cycle. Please feel free to bow out.
http://ramblingsandrumblings.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/tag-youre-it-no-im-it-no-you-aww-i-aint-gonna-play-anymore/
These things come in threes. But this is the fourth I think. Which means two more are on their way. Good lord.
But I’m honored to be tagged by the great Turd-meister, so I will probably comply (don’t want to be Turd of the Week).