More than you ever wanted to know - Part 1
Back in the first week of NaBloPoMo, I put it out there that people could ask me whatever questions they wanted. A couple of people did respond, but I never actually got around to writing that post, because I kept holding out in case one more person had one more question.
At this point, I'm pretty confident that no more people have any more questions. So now I can get around to writing that post. Or rather, these posts, because I'm going to split it up between blog related and non-blog related questions so it doesn't get too wordy. So here goes:
Why did you use your name for your blog's address?
Initially, when I registered the omarphillips.net domain name, I was intending to use it for my photography portfolio. Two months or so after I got it, I was basically only using it to store pictures of my (then 5-month old) kid. Then one day, I went to a seminar on blogging in higher-ed. After that, I went to Blogger, and I set up a blog on the omarphillips.net domain. I didn't intend to keep it, and I certainly wasn't expecting anyone to read it. But then I started reading and commenting on other blogs, and people started coming to my blog. It's at this point that I wish I had thought to change the name, but I didn't. From the moment I got linked at someone else's blog, I always worried that people wouldn't "follow me" if I moved. So here I am, two and a half years later, still using the same domain name.
Why did you start blogging?
I was introduced to blogging by that seminar I just mentioned. I started my own blog because I wanted to learn more about building websites (at the time, I really wanted to learn CSS). But my biggest blogging influence was Former Intern Andy's I'm An Intern In New York. I found it hilarious. It's the first blog that compelled me to leave a comment. And I quickly noticed that leaving a comment on his site meant more traffic to my site. When people started visiting, I figured I'd better start trying to be funny. So I started blogging more regularly. Then when I got up to TEN comments on my first vole post, I was hooked.
Is my blog your favorite?
Yes! But don't tell everyone else.
Have you ever met any bloggers in person?
Well, yes. I have met several people who have blogs, though I'm guessing that's not what you meant (because I knew them already, I didn't meet them as a result of blogging). I have met ONE blogger in person who I first met online: Glo. The wife and I had a charming dinner with Glo and her sister back in the summer of '06. I hadn't blogged about it because I went through all this trouble of telling people that I don't talk, and then people would just be like, "Glo, does he talk?" and she'd say, "Yes, he said a few words," and then BAM - credibility ruined. But I feel comfortable mentioning it now, because enough time has passed for me to claim that she's just remembering it wrong.
Comments
Nancy Face said:
"I figured I'd better start trying to be funny."
Try not! Do or do not...there is no try. (Name that movie!)
You are so funny, I have a hard time believing you actually have to TRY!
cadiz12 said:
now i can't remember if i had asked you anything. is the question portion of this program completely closed? because I was going to ask you if there is some sort of xfactor that makes you come back for more when you stumble upon a blog.
Tori :) said:
I can't remember if I asked a question or not?!
How much did you weigh at birth?
How tall are you?
Does it bother your wife that you have all these HAWT chicks commenting on your blog?? ;)
Lia said:
Why is this post so hard to comment on? I think it's because it's so serious. :)
Many people have more questions - they just haven't thought of them yet. Soon, soon. All in good time.
No Cool Story said:
Cadiz12 has an excellent question.
Elastic said we'd have to come visit you one day. When that happens, I promise I'll tell everyone how non-talkative you are ;0)
No Cool Story said:
Oh and btw, I'm glad you decided to blog. I really enjoy your comments and posts.
:)
Cate said:
Glo doesn't remember things wrong, FYI. And neither do I. And I remember quite distinctly more than one instance of "Omar said..." in the story of the dinner with with Phillips family. Just sayin'.
I said:
Nancy - Without looking it up, I'd say that sounds like something Mr. Miyagi would say.
cadiz - You did! Most of your questions were on the next post's list. To answer this question, what I normally do is add a blog to my feed reader, if I think I might be interested. Then I'll read the next handful of posts, and if they are interesting, they move out of the "evaluating" folder and move to the "occasional reads" folder. Very few have gone straight from "evaluating" to "regulars," but it has been done. There isn't anything in particular I'm looking for, though I tend to be drawn more to blogs where the author finds humor in everyday life.
Tori - No, you didn't! But I'll add those to the next post.
Lia - Dangit! Now I've gotta try harder on the next post! :)
NCS - I told Elastic that you all should come to upstate NY for the Hill Cumorah pageant next year. Practically in my backyard! Sort of.
Cate - No, I think you're both remembering it wrong. She probably said "Omar would have said..."
elasticwaistbandlady said:
I started blogging because I like to tell wild stories but when done live and in person I kept hitting people while gesticulating crazily with my hands and spitting on them while I excitedly talked.
Blogging alleviates these debilitating side effects of sharing weird things with strangers.
Sarah said:
I knew I waas your favorite!
Also, I thought Nancy's comment sounded quite Yoda-ish, but what do I know?
I said:
Ah yes, the Emperor Strikes Back! Of course!
In my defense, Yoda and Mr. Miyagi are basically the same.
cadiz12 said:
okay, good. i'm usually not one to let an opportunity for asking questions pass by.
Becky said:
I don't remember asking you anything, either, so here's my contribution:
1. Where have you lived?
2. Do you know anyone famous?
3. How many lightbulbs are currently in your house?
Syar said:
You (and Jazz) are the reason I started blogging.
Ok...maybe not the reason reason, but you two are the foundation of my blogging.
I thought I'd say that here since I'm too lazy to post.
Jon said:
I'm sorry, but this doesn't even scratch the surface of what I want to know.
I need to know things like, when you shovel snow, do you ever pretend that it's coal, and that you're stoking a fire? I probably would because snow is cold and fire is warm and I don't like to be that cold.
Also, when you build snowmen, (and I assume you build them in groups because nothing is sadder than a lone snowman) where do you find all of your corn cob pipes? Do you buy in bulk? Is there a supplier?
I realize I'm way past the cutoff for questioning, but you know I don't play by the rules.
Lauren said:
Yoda and Mr. Miyagi ARE the same. They both have wrinkled faces and weird voices and speak backwards.
Rhonda said:
Crap! I totally missed the question portion...so many questions...