The Sunday Roast

Now Look Betsy, Five Men In Your Life Is A Trifle Greedy!

"Five men", did she say? Must look at the situation in black and white and perhaps all will be explained in due course LOL

And listen folks! This gal posts daily.

I have to tell you that Blogger has been misbehaving deplorably and this poor lass was almost roasted alive and served as a burnt offering! Blogger caused me to have tremendous culinary problems, with ingredients and cooking utensils flying all over the kitchen.  Shame you could not have seen Eddie running round in circles trying to fix the roast and steam coming out of his ears and nostrils LOL. I am so pleased I did not incinerate you, Betsy!

This week's interview is with Betsy,who writes the blog, My Five Men .

Thank you for the interview, Betsy

A very warm welcome to you and your followers

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

I had a best friend who blogged and encouraged me to join in. She had moved out of state and wasn't a big email or phone person, so it was a way to stay in contact with her. I wasn't interested in Facebook at all and blogging was very intriguing to me. After enjoying her blog for over a year I decided to give it a try. I immediately fell in love with the whole thing from putting my thoughts down in a concrete way to connecting with people from all over the world.

What's the story behind your blog name?

I have five men in my life ~ my husband and four sons. It's also a running joke in our household that I'm surrounded by men! We even have a rabbit and a parakeet that are males, as were all of our previous pets. What a switch after growing up with only sisters!

(Glad you explained that, Betsy, I was beginning to get a little worried LOL)

What is the best thing about being a blogger?
 
I'm sure most people say that it's the community and would certainly agree with that! I enjoy several groups of bloggers from (1.) the general group that I find captivating and interesting and even different from me (opposites attract, you know!) to (2.) a group of parents with autistic children (I have autistic triplet boys) and that bond and support we give each other, to (3.) a few bloggers that seem to have taken a deeper interest in me. They phone, email, encourage and love me. I would have never met them outside of blogging!

(I agree - blogging is a way of life actually. It's a great vehicle for making friends and communicating and in my case, hopefully, making people laugh which I love doing. I have some really great bloggy pals out there and today I was delighted to see that David McMahon of Authorblog has returned to BlogLand)

What key advice would you give to a newbie blogger?

That blogging doesn't have any rules! Don't get sucked into the idea that you must post something new every day or even every week. It's supposed to be fun! I'd also encourage them to seek out new friends. The easiest way to do that is by clicking on your own interests on your profile page and letting blogger show you others with that same interest.

(Great idea! I have not done that yet - thanks, Betsy)


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

That without a doubt it would be this post Nella Cordelia: A Birth Story by Kelle Hampton from Enjoying the Small Things. It's the birth story of her second daughter who was born unexpectedly with Downs Syndrome. It's a beautiful story with gorgeous photography and I've been following her blog ever since. She's a gorgeous, "glass half full" kind of girl and awesome photographer. Her journey encourages me since I'm a 'special needs' mom myself. Go take a read...you won't be disappointed...but don't forget the Kleenex! :) Her story is also featured in the October 2010 issue of Parent's Magazine!

(This is a must read and crumbs this gal has 7,685 followers!)

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

Well, that is rather difficult after posting daily for almost three years! But there are a few that mean something more to me than others. Currently a significant one is Theme Thursday = Mystery where I talk about how I view myself living through difficult circumstances, hurt and disappointment. In fact, it was through discussing this post with a writer friend that I've been encouraged to write a book about how I've tried to make lemonade when life hands me lemons. If I could inspire other people to take a positive approach to life through my story, then I think that would be really great! And on a completely different topic and something that is usually a surprise to others is this post Repro Girl or A Brush With Danger for Theme Thursday where I talk about my job working as a 'repo girl' almost 20 years ago. Interesting and fun to say the least!

Which two blogs would you recommend for roasting?

I would like to see you roast Alan from News From Nowhere . He's a smart, funny, British chap with a wonderful, wide variety of interests. He has a great talent for putting his thoughts into words. And secondly, I also enjoy Tracey from Unos, Dos, Tracey . She's a smart, talented mother with a wonderful knack for writing amusing, insightful posts.

(They both look fantastic blogs, Betsy. Thank you - I will invite them onto the SR and include Kelle as well)

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.

Coffee, Sunglasses, and a Sense of Humor.

(I'll drink to these choices. A sense of humour (spelt properly because I am English LOL) is vital in this life and helps us all get through the day. My grandmother used to say, "Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone" - true!)

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

Mmm. Well, first of all I must say that I love ice cream! It almost made the cut on my 'three things you can't live without' list above! And secondly, I must say that the best ice cream I've ever had was from a little Haagen-Dazs Stand up on Lake Michigan. The flavor was Turtle and it was super dark chocolate ice cream packed with big chocolate chunks, caramel and praline pecans. I ate a double waffle cone every night for a week while we were there! But to answer your question, even with all the fantastic flavors of ice cream in the world, did you know that Vanilla is still the most popular flavor? So, if I had to be a flavor, I think I would pick Vanilla! After all, who wouldn't want the most licks, right? LOL!

(Isn't this question naughty? I deserve to have my knuckles rapped LOL. But I agree Vanilla is superb! Here in England we have Cornish vanilla ice cream - yummy!)

Describe in one sentence your perfect day.

That would have to be a day being completely pampered in a spa...full body massage, sauna, facial, and pedicure while sipping a glass of wine.... yummy, healthy meals served to me....and definitely no cell phone to jolt me back into reality! :)

(Definitely no phone!! agreed!)

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Well, I've had a lot of them, Eddie! But I'll give you just one. While in college, my husband-to-be and I took a road trip from Columbus, Ohio to Kansas City, MO to visit my sister and her family. On the way, he "popped the question" and gave me a beautiful ring! Further on the way, we stopped for a break and I came out of the restroom with my zipper down on my jeans! Embarrassing for me and a little awkward for him to point it out to me! And to make it worse...a few hours later at the next rest stop...I did it again! LOL! Obviously, I was distracted by that sparkly diamond on my hand! haha.

(LOL . . . but I bet you didn't do it a third time! . . . . or did you?)

. . . . and if you are really brave, if you awoke to find you had changed gender what would be the first and second things you would do?

Ha ha...well, this question cracked me up! And the first thing that popped into my mind was Tom Hanks in the movie Big. Well, he didn't change gender, but he "grew up" overnight. He ran and looked the in the mirror and then looked in his underwear. I'd do the same thing! Who wouldn't do that, right? :) Then, I would probably scream or faint! Or maybe that would be my husband that would scream or faint? Ha ha!

(I expect you would have a 'duet scream' LOL . . . or should I say 'sextet scream' with you, an additional fella, screaming in harmony with your five guys! Might just catch on and be a hit!)


Your turn to ask me a question if you wish.

OK. Eddie, what was the most interesting job you ever had?

Without doubt, Betsy, my ambulance days as a driver and attendant. I did this for five years before I had to retire through injury to my hip caused by an awkward carry chair lift. I developed arthritis and had a total hip replacement in February. I loved caring for people and helping them and I did learn to comfort them sometimes and to amuse them sometimes. Occasionally I had them in hysterics, or should I say 'in stitches' LOL. I also became good friends with my regular patients, most of whom had kidney problems and I took them into hospital for dialysis three times a week. When a friend died, as they did often, we all were sad and I attended many funerals.  I 'lost' so many patients one month I was knick-named 'The Terminator'.  I had to see the funny side. Although I am officially 'retired' currently I am driving a minibus, nicknamed The Red Baron, (call me Eddie von Richthofen LOL) and have the same rapport with my regular passengers, all elderly. Love the job to bits. Right up my street after the ambulance job. . . . and I am pleased to say I can keep up with the youngsters even with an artificial hip.

Let's take a look at your blog screen - very attractive. I love the blue tit and the wording to the right.  Also I notice you after a nice cuppa to your visitors - mine is a coffee with just milk and no sugar - thanks.

"Thank you so much Eddie! - I really enjoyed doing this interview with you."

And thank you Betsy for your interview and your recommendations. Glad blogger finally 'allowed' me to post it - phew it was hot in the kitchen today!

_____________________________________________
Today's Sunday Roast with "My Five Men" is the 137th 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 please press HERE
_____________________________________________