I posted yesterday about my interview of Scott at fivetoedsloth. My interviewer was Amy from Momentary Madness. She looks a little like that nurse rocker chick from Atlanta on American Idol who is Going! To! Hollywood!
Before you click on the link to read the interview, I should warn you: turns out I am a wordy mofo.
Okay, I just spent about two hours going through your blogs. First, laughing riotously at the peevery. Then, nodding at your wisdom in answering questions on Opinions for Nothing. Such a great intro to you!
Now for the questions:
1. You started blogging long before I’d ever even heard the word. What was your intro? How has it changed you over the years?
Before blogging really became popular or even known, the thing to do was have a personal web site. Of course I had one and it was hideous! One of the features of that site was a pet peeves list that I updated sporadically, sometimes throwing in a peeve or two for my BFFs.I worked for an internet company and was lucky to work with some people who actually knew what they were doing. I asked one of them what an easier way would be for me to allow my friends to add their own peeves to the list. He recommended Blogger.
The first incarnation of The Peevery was called Peevishness & Botheration and it was hosted on Blogger. Right around the time that Google bought Blogger, it sucked major ass so I moved the blog onto Movable Type and had to get a custom URL. Both Peevishness.com and Botheration.com were taken. I liked The Peevery because I thought it sounded like we were manufacturing peeves. Later, after my former web host suddenly quit doing business and left all of their customers high and dry, I moved The Peevery onto TypePad.
The biggest way that it has changed me is that I think in peeves now. If something irritates me, I no longer just feel the feeling, I immediately think the peeve in my head.
2. I loved your list of who you wouldn’t vote for. That said, how did you feel about the results of “Super Tuesday”?
I am disappointed that Romney didn’t do better and that he has now dropped out. I don’t feel like there was a candidate I could really get behind on the Republican side, but I felt like he was the best of the major candidates. I don’t like to throw away my vote on someone with no chance. I may or may not vote Republican in the general election. My vote is totally up for grabs.
3. Explain the genesis of your “peevery”. On what basis do you choose your fellow peevers? Do you really “fire” some or is it more like happily retiring?
Do you mean why am I so peevish? I think it is because I am so much smarter than everyone else. Clearly.Of the current peevers, two have been my friends since high school, one has been my friend since college and two are former coworkers. The rest I only know through the magic of the internets, though I did meet one of them in person a couple years ago. My friends and coworkers did not have to audition to join the Peevery, but everyone else did.
The first audition was really just a cruel joke to entertain myself. I was going to let those people in anyway, but I didn’t tell them that. (Now they know.) That audition was really difficult! Auditions since have been easier on the contestants but much more difficult on me. I really hate rejecting people, but the quality of my blog is important to me. I like to keep the roster lean but not too lean. I like there to be multiple posts per day but not by so many people that readers never get an idea of individual personalities.
Sometimes I really fire people and sometimes it is more like happily retiring. There are enough people who would love to be Peevers that those who are need to take it seriously. If someone doesn’t post often enough, doesn’t use (mostly) proper grammar, isn’t funny, or doesn’t participate in special posting events, I do ask them to leave. A couple have left disgruntled but the break-ups are mostly amicable. Occasionally, people quit on their own for their own reasons.
4. What is your biggest peeve about blogs?
I hate when bloggers quit their blogs with big dramatic statements about how they need to focus on other things and that the reason they started blogging has gotten lost along the way and they are no longer blogging for themselves but for the approval of others and blah, blah, blah, boo, hoo, hoo. I want to smack those babies and tell them to get a grip. It is a freaking blog. They aren’t going to have any more control over their lives when they quit blogging, but at least their angsty posts about their cats’ kidney troubles won’t be cluttering up the web anymore.
5. I love your reviews of past peeves. What was your single favorite peeve of all time?
I think I forgot to do one of those last Friday! My single favorite peeve of all time is easy. It is Blog Drunks. Crap! I just thought of another one. I also liked Nitrous. (There are no comments on those because they were transferred from the old site.)
6. Have you ever attended a bloggers' convention or get-together? If so, did you enjoy it? If no, would you consider going to one?
I have never attended a bloggers’ convention or get-together. I don’t think I would enjoy it and I haven’t really considered going to one. I am actually not an outgoing person and I don’t do well in settings with a large number of strangers. Oh, and I don’t want to be laughed at by the popular kids.
7. How do you juggle mothering, working & blogging? I was awed at your interest in pursuing an MBA. Have you made a decision about that yet?
A couple people have wondered that actually and the secret to blogging often is to keep your posts short and do it at work. I am fortunate that I work at an internet company so I have a legitimate reason to have my browser open every minute that I am working. I do, perhaps, spend a little too much time blogging.The mothering part is not so easy. Fortunately, I found an awesome daycare provider so I don’t worry about my baby even one second during the day. I am not exaggerating when I say she does better there than she did with me when I was on maternity leave. I do miss her like crazy, though. We are also fortunate that she is a really good baby. She started sleeping through the night before I had to go back to work. She rarely fusses and she is super happy.
I am going for the MBA. I found a local program that will work well with my schedule since it is flexible, and my company will pay for it 100%. It would be silly for me not to take advantage of that when I am at a point in my career where it is becoming increasingly difficult to advance without an MBA. I am taking the GMAT this month and will start in the Fall, likely with only one class the first term.
8. How do you keep the romance in marriage with a new baby in tow?
Honestly, we were never that romantic to begin with. More importantly, we had fun together. Now we have fun together with the three of us. We still make time for the two of us alone. As long is the time is there, I don’t worry too much about what we do to fill it.
9. To what site would you give a “Most Brilliant Blog” award? Why?
I would have to say PostSecret. It was such a simple, thoughtful and totally brilliant idea that makes a difference in the lives of real people. I have no doubt that it has literally saved lives.
10. Name one thing you want to accomplish this year.
For the love of all that is holy, I want to figure out how to keep my house clean. Something had to give, and that was it.
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