HillareeDay Interviewed Me!

This is going around some journals, so I thought I'd participate.  HillareeDay at Serendipity; one of my favorite journals, provided these interview questions.  Now, if any of you would like to be interviewed by me, read the rules, then let me know in the comment section! 

 

So here goes, starting with the rules because every game has got to have them you know. Leave me a comment saying "interview me." The first five to leave a comment requesting to be participants will be interviewed. I will respond by asking you five questions. You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. (Write your own questions or borrow some) Fun and easy right?

Here are the questions from HillareeDay and my answers!

What inspired you to start a journal on aol?

I’ve kept some form of handwritten or typed record of my thoughts, sometimes in a journal format for most of my adult years, although I wasn’t really faithful about keeping up with them. However, my need to write, share and have an outlet for my feelings persisted. When I felt inspired to write, whether it be in my Day Runner or in a letter to family or friends, I would often keep a copy and hide it away in a drawer or box in my room to reflect on later. My first experience with an online journal was on Oprah’s web site, but it was somewhat limited and way different than what’s possible with AOL’s journals. I would have to say that my true inspiration to start one on AOL, was my friend Chuck, who had an AOL journal in which he vented about issues in his life. I just thought it was so cool to have that outlet. That was enough to get me started. My son hooked me up on AOL and the rest as they say, "is my history!"

What advice would you give to someone that wanted to take up photography?

Gosh, I am hardly an expert and I have absolutely no formal training in photography, so my advice isn’t worth much, but here goes.

Just let the spirit move you and take photos of what you think is interesting! Look closely at your environment and you’ll be surprised what you will see! Just ask Kat, photographer extraordinaire, who’s taught me so much just by posting her wonderful photographs!

Notice the shapes, shadows and colors of your world. Snap away until you get the shot you like. Look at the photographs of others and learn from them, i.e. the way they compose their shot, subject matter, their use of color and/or black and white, lighting, etc. Read and learn about photography online as are some incredible informational sites to visit and best of all, your lessons are free!

Learn what your camera can do…and believe me, it’s gonna take some time for you to discover all that you and your camera can accomplish! Especially, in this day and age of digital photography and all the associated editing programs! Most of all, have fun and be sure to share your shots with all of us here!

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Hmmmmm. That’s a tough one. Personally, I would say becoming the person I am, despite the all the hardships of my youth. Lots of stories there. I am a firm believer that we can accomplish anything that we set our minds to, and all our troubles just make us stronger. There’s nothing I hate worse than someone who wants to blame their failures or problems on their parents or their upbringing.

Professionally, it would be attaining my current rank in a male dominated field. I was the first woman, to promote all through the ranks at my institution. Sort of "history in the making!" I am really proud of that accomplishment, which was an amazing, bumpy ride that is about to end with retirement in a year or so.

If you won an enormous sum of money in a lottery, what would you most want to do with it?

First of all, I’d get the best medical care money could buy for those I love. Several of my family members are suffering from serious diseases that really affect their lives. I would love to see them healthy or at least better, because I want them in my life for as long as possible.

Secondly, there are family and friends of mine who I would love to give the money to purchase a home of their own as they are not in a position to do so. There’s such a sense of security in being a homeowner and as a result of our childhood, we didn’t have a stable home life and moved often. A house to make a home would change that for some of my loved ones.

Above all else, what would you want people to remember about you?

I guess I would want people to remember my loving and giving nature, especially if it has made a difference in their lives. That’s the part of me I like best!