The Sunday Roast

Eva Is Wrestling Gallantly With Her Retirement

This week's interview is with Eva Gallant
who writes the blog Wrestling With Retirement .


Thank you Eva

A warm welcome to you and your followers

Here's the first of the standard questions. Why do you blog?

When I retired, I decided to spend some time writing. It's something I've always enjoyed. I had written a weekly column in a small town newspaper years ago, and worked as a part-time reporter for a couple of other newspapers at various times in my career. Writing is something I love doing, but just hadn't spent much time on in the past. Now that I'm retired, I decided to go at it with a little more gusto. I have written a few short stories, two of which could end up as chapters in a romance novel. My blog is just another venue in which to practice.

What's the story behind your blog name?

I was nervous about retiring; I wasn't sure how I would deal with being out of the workforce. I've worked part-time or full-time for most of my life. I was worried about the money side of retirement: Would I be able to survive financially? I was also nervous about my marriage: Could my husband and I spend that much time with each other without coming to blows? It all loomed like one big wrestling match ahead of me--hence, the blog name. It's a contest I'm determined to win!

What is the best thing about being a blogger?

I would say it's the friends you encounter; though I've never been physically in the same room with my fellow bloggers, I've grown fond of so many! Sometimes they make me laugh, sometimes I moved to tears, and sometimes I end up re-examining my feelings about an issue. It's a wonderful give-and-take experience. I love reading what others have to say, often adding my two cents worth, and I relish the comments I get from those who read what I write.

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

Read other peoples' blogs. You learn and get ideas from them. Comment...everyone loves to get feedback, and if you comment, you are more likely to get feedback from others. Write what you know and like, not what your think others want to read. The best posts come from the heart.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever read?

There have been several, but one that comes to mind is Life Altering Slice Of Life, by Heather at Positively Neurotic Me. I was really moved by it. She hasn't written much lately, but she has written several moving posts, and many funny ones. I hope she picks up blogging again, soon.

What is the most significant blog post you've ever written?

I guess that depends on what you mean by significant. I tend towards humor and don't get serious very often, but there was The Ugly Truth when I got quite serious. Now if you mean significant in terms of displaying my humorous take on things, then The Chamber of Horrors and Time for A Nooner would be my choices.

If you were to suggest two blogs for roasting who would you pick, and why?

One choice would be Knucklehead. He just has such a wonderful sense of humor and writes really well. He has written posts on What ever happened to Schroeder? and What ever happened to Cookie Monster? that are just hysterical. I know I can count on a belly laugh when I read Knucklehead. Also, The Top Secret Diet is a fairly new blog, but she writes so honestly about her attempt to lose weight that I can't help loving her.

That concludes the formal aspect of the interview but it would be nice to get to know you a little better while you are slowly turning on the roasting spit. So while you are screaming in agony above the open fire here are a few more questions for you.

Pick three things you can't live without (no you cannot have ice cubes to cool you down)

Wow....that's tough! My family, Chocolate, and my laptop.

Eva has traded in the usual movie question for these two penalty questions:

If you could live your life again who would you be, and why?

If I could live my life over again, I think I would still be me, but try to do it better this time. I would study harder in college. I'd spend more time enjoying my children; less time feeling guilty about divorcing their father, pay more attention to diet and exercise at a younger age, and make better financial decisions. And I would start writing much sooner than I did!

You have been given a wonderful talent from above. This causes you to make your mark on humanity and be world famous. In which area would prefer: a best selling novelist, a brilliant artist, a gifted musician, a fantastic singer, a charismatic leader, anything you choose, and why?

I wouldn't want to be anyone else, because that would mean giving up my family--my parents, siblings, my children, my grandchildren, my current husband, and my friends. No other life of fame or riches would be worth changing those!

If you were an ice cream cone, which flavour would you prefer and who would you most want to lick you?

Chocolate and the starting 5 of the Boston Celtics--Is that too naughty? (I'm a major Celtics fan!)
Describe in one sentence your perfect day.

Good friends, good food, plenty of pina coladas!

If you were a fictional writer which one would you be and why?

Janet Evanovich! I love her writing! I've read all 14 books in her Stephanie Plum series, and most everything else she has written.

And finally if you have answered all these silly questions I invite you to ask me one in return - it's the least I can do. OK fire away! I wonder what it will be?

If you were to live your life over again, what would you change, if anything?

Eva, I must say I would try a lot harder at school to make a bigger success at higher education. I was a little lazy at school and I know I could have done much better in life. But in the grand scheme of things would I be better for it? Who knows? I would have to live my life twice to make comparisons! It may have been worse and I may not have been as nice LOL - and that's my excuse! If I suddenly announced I wanted to a brain surgeon at 65 . . . . well!

Thank you Eva

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Today's Sunday Roast with Eva is the 101st in a weekly
series of interviews with bloggers from around the world. _______________________________________________

This interview will feature in The Roll of Honour
for all published Roasts. To view press HERE
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Next week, The Girl From Cherry Blossom Street.

And if you missed last week with David McMahon you missed a treat. Press HERE to see it.
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And finally, occasionally bloggers notify me of recently discovered blogs which impress them, yet currently have none or few comments for their efforts. So I shall introduce an additional feature to each roast called Must Watch This Blogger Corner.

The first is Kate at What a great place to be a cow .

Please visit her and if you discover others please let me know.
These will be your choices only - I do not consider myself qualified to judge blogs.