Jolene from So Much to tell You mentioned this blog in a “Libester/Bogger recognition award” post. She artfully summarized my blog in a way that made it sound worth reading… I think I need to pay her to write my “about” section… (hmm… she should quit banking and go into promotion and advertising)
She followed up the summary/nomination with this sentence:
“if you are inclined to undergo some interrogation on my part, I have only three questions for my nominees”.
Yes I am inclined since the questions are not too hard, but before I do, I want to write something about Jolene. I love reading her words. That may sound simple but it is the truth. She puts words together with such finesse and adeptness. The quote above is proof of her graceful writing skills. I followed her “eclectic” blog with the hopes that some of her style would rub off on me. (She loves the word “eclectic” … and… well in college I use to buy my clothes from a vintage store called “Eclectic” so we have something in common). When I read her blog it makes me feel like I am “hanging with the cool kids”.
I want to be honest… I didn’t only follow her blog because of her writing skills. The first time I visited her blog I quickly read her about page. In my quick reading, I misunderstood the about page and thought she was born at a stinky market in Shanghai with 11 fingers and had a hole in her heart… (turns out I am a poor reader… and saw what I wanted to see… I realized my misconception when I went back to make sure I was not misstating facts for this post)
I love the connections we make with fellow bloggers, especially when we start to see the person behind the words. Jolene kind of intimidated me until last week when she came out of her “word closet” in a comment to me. She basically stated that I should have indulged in the “love for sell – field of dreams” because it would have been a great post and then promised not to tell my wife… (I was shocked… confused… a bit tempted – don’t tell my wife… but most of all completely endeared to this newly discovered side of Jolene’s personality).
… well enough blah, blah, blah… (sorry Jolene… none of your style has yet rubbed off on me)
Three Questions Time:
Question 1:
What is the most memorable / meaningful / touching compliment / critique /comment you have received in the blogosphere?
I have had so many “cherished” comments but I will offer two (I will leave these anonymous but link them back to the post for anyone who wants to discover the source)
“Seriously, you know how to do the weirdest shit and I love that…”
“… everyone should be as “weird” as you are…”
Question 2:
If you can live in a place far away from home, where would it be, and why?
I would live in a sail boat and I have two reasons.
First: I would no longer have to pretend to be cool… I just would be!
Second: I could visit the world from home… How incredibly awesome is that. I have only one small problem to overcome. Isabelle gets sea sick very easily and I would not want to live away from her.
Question 3:
Which character in film or literature best captures the essence of who you are, and why?
I have three answers: (I know I am over complicating this…)
First: (The person I think readers of my blog see me as)
Forest Gump: A man with below average intelligence doing lots of weird things
Second: (The person I would like to pretend to be)
A combination of these three people. Ferris Bueller, Yoda, and Doc Brown (Back to the Future) These three combined into one offer the most perfect combination of “good manly virtues”.
Third : (The person I think I truly relate to when I am being honest with myself)
Amélie Poulain: I know it is a woman… (don’t read into this as some weird gender thing…) I can completely relate to the way that Amelie saw the world and her quirky people centric adventures… Before Isabelle… I also experienced some of the loneliness portrayed in the film…(unfortunately I am not as cute as Audrey Tautou… an thus I am probably much less likable… )
This post is so funny, you are a terribly wonderful writer with COOL style! Lol, Forrest Gump…
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That is so nice… see now I want to add your comment to one of my favorites!
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When I discovered your blog I just knew you were one of the cool kids, you know the one who is friends with everyone. That is you.
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Did you call me a “cool kid”… AWESOME
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Indeed…the first person I think of when I think of you is Amélie Poulain. Good job.
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are you just saying that?… I can’t tell of you are serious or teasing me… (I do think she is a good choice… other than the gender and looks difference)
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You are weird and cool…even without the sailboat 🙂 Your writing is always interesting and refreshing and I LOVED your admittance to misreading the “About” post. That is funny stuff. 🙂
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Thanks… I am glad that I checked it again before writing crazy things about her…
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First of all, this is a really COOL post and validates my opinion of you as a deadpan comedian with huge talent and potential (wish I have a cool dad like you)! It’s funny, it was only the other day that I was telling my husband that I’d love to live my life out of a kombi. I get your Forrest Gumpy / Amelie vibes and you know what, that should totally be celebrated! It is also admirable how your answers revolved around your wife; almost as if you are giving Forrest and his Jenny the happy ending that they never fully lived out. I wish I could be more open with my life like that.
That said, I do have a couple of bones to pick with you. Did you just suggest I was intimidating?? No one has EVER said that about me before (what with my 5 foot 3 stature and quiet demeanour) and it’s possibly even more slanderous than being born with extra limbs and appendages. The second is that you need to have better captions for your photos. Some people’s facial recognition skills are non-existent and I was scrutinising the neck of the guy in the red shirt and thinking his hickey was extremely well-hidden (and thinking that his Isabelle is a real catch)… Until I saw the hickey! Well, I guess you are not the only one seeing what you wanted to see.
All in all, I consider you have more than redeemed yourself by rising up to the interrogation and I thank you for it!
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Jolene… You may be only 5′ 3” but you writing abilities are giant. I am saying that in earnest… and with envy… I am not great at writing so anytime I have someone like your potentially reading my posts I feel “intimidated”… I just read your “Romance on the Road” post… what a GEM! I think I am back to intimidated… Jesh.
Thank you for offering these questions and thinking of me. You are so cool…
by the way… I just assumed everyone would know which one I was… (am I self-absorbed?) the guy in the red was a dear friend of mine and we both were in love with the girl in the middle… neither of us was cool enough to “catch” her.
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Hey thanks for your revised caption. That sounds like a typical college story then… proves you were young once haha.
I don’t want my writing to intimidate. It is intended to be accessible to all, and blogging is a great platform that makes us all equals. If it intimidates you it may intimidate others and that’s not a good sign. I will try to rectify that. 😅
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oh please don’t… I love you writing!!
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🤓
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…now you have to tell the welding story!
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Oh, squeak I read the two comments and thought that looks familiar so I had a look – and then I had to check again (and again) – now I feel like the cool kid has noticed me – doing little dance of happiness …. and totally Amelie 🙂
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I loved this post…different but as wonderful as any you’ve blessed as with….and, if I might add, you are such a beautiful soul and proof that loneliness has nothing to do with how attractive you are….you are soooooo appealing, and kind, and funny, and sweet….and, yes, very cool! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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I could have used all of your comments as my favorite or best… but everyone would have thought I made them up… You are a very kind person. Thank you for taking the time to comment on so many of my posts!
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Are you kidding? The pleasure is mine…and, I was touched that you mentioned one of my comments as one of your favourites….it makes me feel great to know that I can encourage others….especially the amazing ones who bring so much joy to others….and, just so you know, your comments do the same for me 🙂
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I think everyone needs you to follow their blog…
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I do the best I can, but I can’t possibly keep up with them all….yours is one of my priorities….it lifts me up and stands out….and I enjoy our connection very much 🙂
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I have to ask, is the guy in red on the left named Tony R?
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Nope… Carl isn’t it funny how people can look alike?
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Looks like my kids’ friend graduated high school in 88.
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Definitely 80s style!
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