About five years ago I started blogging for the first time. I know that you are jumping up and down to hear the story so I interviewed myself. Here is the transcript:
Q: So, how did you get started with this blogging anyway?
A: Well, it started when I went to Japan five years ago to start work on a new project and my Mother asked me to make sure and write at least once a week so she would know I was OK. I did, and just to let others know I was OK, I copied them on the emails I wrote. Tried to make them interesting too… One day, my niece Erica suggested my stories were interesting enough that maybe I could put them into one of those new fangled blogs. That was the first I ever heard of a blog but I tried it. Since then I have made over 500 entries had over 13,000 visits.
Q: That is interesting. What made you name it Lost in Japan?
A: The hardest part about starting the blog was giving it a name. But there was a movie out back then called Lost in Translation (starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson) and it was filmed in and around where I was living. At the end of the movie you can see the apartment building I lived in. Anyway, I kind of ripped off the title and it seemed to fit because sometimes I felt a bit lost over there.
Q: What a great story. But you don’t live in Japan any more, why don’t you change the title?
A: Like I said, coming up with a blog title is hard. Anyway, sometimes I get lost in Kingwood, Texas but not so much anymore because I bought a GPS that speaks and gives directions.
Q: Fascinating. What about the pictures you post in your blog?
A: At first I didn’t put pictures in. In fact, I just copied my emails into the blog. But at some point I found you could put pictures in and I bought a little 3 M pixel Canon point and shoot and started sticking them in when I had an interesting one. Japan is interesting visually so usually I could find something during the week and I always carried the camera with me.
Q: This really is delightful. So, do you consider yourself a photographer or a journalist?
A: Actually, neither. I am an engineer. But I like both writing and photography. Lately I’ve tended a bit more towards photography. I like techie gadgets. Maybe I am a photojournalist who does both. I really like a good picture but it has to tell a story. But a lot of the time you don’t get the story from my pictures without a few words.
Q: You are just as interesting in person as you are on the printed page. And your pictures really are of a professional quality. I just love your pictures of Australia.
A: Thank you.
Q: Let’s talk about your favorite postings in the blog. What would those be?
A: I like it best when I’m able to elicit a response from my readers. So anytime I get a comment or an email response I am encouraged to keep blogging.
Q: Who generally responds? I would have thought anyone reading your poetry and seeing the artistic visions you capture would be compelled to write back to you.
A: I’ve had comments from all over the world but most of the comments seem to come from a guy named Stu Monkey and Megan. I heard that Stu Monkey had a facebook page but he hasn’t invited me to be his friend even though he invited Megan.
Q: I wouldn't worry about Stu Monkey if I were you but I have noticed that you have fans from all over the world. In what countries are you most popular?
A: Outside of the United States, I get the most hits from Indonesia followed by a tie between Thailand and Australia. I don’t know why Thailand or Indonesia. Interestingly, I’ve had two visits from the Islamic Republic of Iran but only one from Latvia.
Q: Where do you get your topics?
A: I try to see something everyday that interests me visually or something that I would like to learn more about. There is enough reporting of bad news in the world and the blogophere is full of whiners, so to distinguish myself I write about good things.
Q: I see. Why don't you write about your work. That must be really interesting too.
A: You have to have a life outside work. If you are going to bring work up, I'll have to end this interview right now...
Q: OK, OK, don't get your knickers in a twist. Thanks for taking the time to share your insights on blogging with us.
A: No worries mate. Hasta la vista. Mata ato de.
btw, the picture at the top is an iris blooming in the pond in the little park across the street. It has nothing to do with the story, but I had to stick a picture in...
2 comments:
I would like to take this opportunity to commemorate the 5th anniversary of reading my Dad's blog and commenting, with this comment and some questions and answers of my own.
Q: Do you feel obligated to read the blog, because it is your father's?
A: I would most likely read the blog regardless, but it helps that there are occasionally some posts featuring me or my cat.
Q: As a daughter, what is your favorite post?
A: I would definately say it was December 2004's "Meg Graduates from Baylor!" I think it is the only time my dad has used an exclamation point in his blog - certainly in the post title.
Q: As a reader, what would your favorite post be?
A: The ice cream navigation saga and the picture of Louis Vuitton girl next to the hobo. I like when Dad captures simple, funny moments in his everyday life.
Q: It must be fascinating to be the daughter of a jet-setting engineer. What are your favorite places that your Dad has traveled?
A: Anywhere he has taken me. So I don't care much for Doha. But Japan and Australia were great places to visit multiple times. I don't know that I would have gone had Dad not wandered over there. Unrelated to work, he also took the family to Switzerland recently over Christmas. Mom was the planner and Dad was the wallet. Those trips always work out well for me. My brother and I often profit from my father's many years of hard work as an engineer.
Q: Would you be your father's facebook friend?
A: Dad is a pioneer of the blogsphere, and facebook seems so plebeian. I don't know anyone else's dad who has a blog, but there are lots of people's dads embarrassing them on facebook. And I don't want anything to detract from his photojournalistic mission here on the blog.
Q: I see you get your wit and amiable nature from your father. You have been a delight.
A: I think I got that from the etiquette classes he paid for in 1992. But some of it could have been from him.
Ciao! G'Day, mate!
Wood is the traditional 5 year anniversary gift, silverware is the modern. I'll see if I can find a set of those giant wood carved fork and spoon sets to hang on your wall as a fifth year momento. _StuMonkey
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