The 500

Today marks my 500th post.

500 acts of self indulgence. 500 outstretched arms. 500 flashes of alienation.

What is to say? Nothing really. So I asked Peter DeWolf what he would ask me, what he wants to know.

This is what he asked and I had to say…well, everything I had to say except thank you. Thank you for showing up.

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1) Lexa, why did you start blogging?

An outlet? To connect? To try new recipes? Yeah…kinda a mix of all those things.

2) What criteria needs to be met for you to think a blog post is “successful?”

I don’t really judge based on comments. Lets be honest; for every great comment, a lot of blogs get “You are so funny! ” or something inane like that. So, while I love getting them and interacting, just because a post gets 100 comments or whatever, it doesn’t mean it is the best post.

So, what does indicate success? I love the ones where I am completely honest; whether it be vulnerable posts or ones where I admit I don’t like animals and I don’t give a shit about what anyone has to say about it.

Oh, and I know a post is successful when I receive emails. I love receiving emails from people.

3) “FML.” Is it done?

Yes, a thousand times yes. While we are at it: LOL CAT speak needs to bite a curb. Use your words, people.

4) Leopard print. What’s the deal, woman?

It is a neutral…for the sexy set. Why do we like what we like? I’m not bad, I am just drawn that way.

5) You’ve recently submitted, and been featured on, Indie Ink. How did that experience differ from posting on your own blog?

Well, I bitched out and submitted something I had previously posted here. It was nice to get a new group seeing my stuff. I always feel weird writing the honest stuff, but it comes pretty easy and folks seem to respond. That is gratifying.

6) Do you consider yourself a blogger or a writer?

This is a trap. You think I am a writer, I think of myself as a blogger. Stop with the self serving questions.

7) Do you find yourself typically reading more bloggers or writers?

Depends, honestly. I find myself more drawn to people who are authentic and original. Even if you are going to tell a mundane story, make it your own. I am not wild about the Blogess, but I think she was something new on the scene when she arrived and I can respect that. Ever notice how so many people sound like her now?

8 ) Should we ban “hot mess” from all blog posts forever?

Yes, we should.

9) Favourite post (of the 500!) you’ve written?

Oh lawsy. I like Little Black Dress because it was the first post where I got serious and “kept it real”, as the kids are saying. Trailer Trash still makes me laugh. Othered is painfully personal and full of lessons it took repetitive acts of self destruction to learn.

10) When did you first realize you were staggeringly attracted to me?

When every guy started looking tall and Canadian. When I started questioning my love of tattooed men and secretly lusting after dudes in baseball caps. Every single time you complimented my writing and I felt a special flutter in my privacy.

11) What type of post makes you the most hesitant to hit “publish?”

Anytime I talk about my weight struggles or the life of a single girl. I fear being a cliche or sounding bitter.

12) What was Bob Dylan trying to say when he wrote : “Now your dancing child with his Chinese suit / He spoke to me, I took his flute.”

He is trying to say “I am over rated and stop trying to make sense of this.”

13) What, if anything, would you like to change about your blog going forward?

Truthfully? I am burning out. 500 posts is a whole lot of self indulgence. I have gotten better at posting when I want, skipping days if I feel like it and not feeling the pressure to comment all the time to get people to come back here. I hope that continues.

14) Where do you come down on that universal blog experience of “if we weren’t friends, I probably wouldn’t read you/them.”

Oh dear. I comment from time to time. That is all I will say.

15) Is there a comment that you’ve received that stays with you?

Well, the hate comments are always pretty great. I particularly liked being called a Saigon Whore. Asian girls are very attractive, so I took it as a compliment.

Yes, I know I just grouped a whole race of people together. I WANT MORE HATE.

I do love it when people comment and I have never heard from them but they have been reading for years. It is like they are a part of this journey that I never knew existed. They are this silent part of all this, yanno…and then they pop up and brighten my day.

16) If we all had theme songs, and we should, what would yours be?

Barracuda by Heart. This is not a joke.

17) Favourite thing about the blogging community?

I have met so many amazing people. I would never have known you, eh? Some of my closet friends in the world I have met through this very here blog. It is nice to have documentation of the past two and a half years, as well. I have done some crazy/sketchy/funny stuff.

18) If someone in a bar asked you to describe your blog in under 50 words, what would you say?

I have an incredibly hard doing this so, so let’s just say: One fairly typical girl’s journey through life and all the meals that connect the mundane moments.

19) Favourite recipe of all those you’ve posted?

Chicken with 40 Cloves because it is just so easy. I feel confident giving it to anyone and knowing they won’t screw it up. I like showing people it doesn’t have to be hard.

20) How would your life be different if you had never started blogging?

I wouldn’t have a crick in my neck from all this navel gazing, thats for sure.

Wow.

I’ve met the most talented chefs and restaurateurs through this blog.

Ive met true emotion through this blog.

Ive met hearbreak, heartache and heartsong through this blog.

Ive met some of the most loving and caring folks through this blog.

I’ve met myself a little more through this blog.

Yeah, a lot would be different.

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