Hands down, one of the best things so far that has come out of starting this blog is the opportunity for me to meet the sweet bloggers who have offered to host different features of BloggedIn-News & Networking. In order to introduce them to you and for all of us to get to know them better, I will be posting interviews with them over the next few weeks.

Here is the first of those interviews:

Me: Hello, Lady Why. I’d love to ask you a few questions, feel free to skip any you don’t like.

LW: I’ll answer them all, because I’m an overachiever that way.

Me: An overachiever, huh? Well, I’ll try not to let that intimidate me.

I’d like to start with my usual. How long have you been blogging?

LW: I’ve been blogging since December of 2005. I started blogging because I loved reading The Beehive and their wonderful daughters have one of the most beautiful writing styles I have ever read! I thought that I could encourage my own daughters of the same age to write in the same eloquent manner as the Beehive girls. What actually happened is that I began to write and write and write… far more than my daughters! I absolutely love it and I haven’t stopped since! I can say all the things I want to say and everyone has to listen… or at least I imagine they are listening which is just as good, right?

Me: As long as you think so.

Can you think of any advice you’d give to beginners?

LW: My advice to beginners is to write like no one is reading. If you worry about making it ‘good enough’ for all the internet to see, you’re more likely to be frozen by that vast blank page (or screen, as the case may be) Write about people you love, write about things you love, and write with passion. You can’t go wrong!

Me: I have to agree! So what are the good things blogging has brought to your life?

LW: It has made it very easy for long distance friends and family to keep up with the ‘goings on’ in our family. I absolutely love to write and it is lots of fun to have a place to record all my thoughts, opinions and funny little daily happenings. Blogging has also connected me with some other fantastic bloggers, many of whom I consider good friends!

Me: Do you think there are pitfalls?

LW: Hmmmm, I would have to say that blogging can become a bit of a time waster and a productivity killer. I can spend HOURS writing on the blog and reading all my favorite blogs. Then, of course, I have to comment on all the great posts I read. Then, of course, those great posts inspire me to write something new on my own blog. Then, of course, it’s lunch time and I’m still in my pajamas.

Me: Only lunchtime? You must be a speed reader!

Can you tell us about your blog name?

LW: Where The Kudzu Grows came out of a brainstorming session between my oldest girls and me. We were trying to think of a new name for our tired old blog. Our original blog’s name was Whiskers On Kittens, which is a reference to The Sound of Music. We were tired of the kittens so we decided to come up with something more general… something that wouldn’t always be associated with a cute feline in the header, in other words. Since we live in Alabama, which has an overabundance of our native flower, the kudzu plant, the decision was made. Where The Kudzu Grows was born!

Me: I’m going to admit something, but you have to promise not to laugh. I had to Google “Kudzu” because I thought it sounded like a musical instrument, you know like Where the Oboe Grows?! Hey! You promised not to laugh!

Annnnnyway, knowing what you know now, was starting a blog a good thing for you?

LW: Oh, yes, yes and a thousand times YES! I love writing on my blog and I don’t think I would be writing at all if I didn’t have this medium to inspire me. I would be very lonely without my sweet little blog!

Me: In order to really get to know you, we should know what bugs you - don’t you think?

LW: Hmmm, I don’t have a lot of ‘bugs’ in Bloggityville. There are, of course, annoying spammers that hop into your comments every now and then. They are fairly easy to control, though. Gossip and ‘tale bearing’ can be a blogging problem but, thankfully, I haven’t seen too much of that.

Me: Well then, what about outside of the blogosphere? Come on, tell us what bugs you.

LW: Oh my, do you want the whole list or just the top ten? Here are just a few…

Britney Spears. Can anyone look at the train wreck that is her life and not be bugged?

Walmart. Lack of basic concern for the customer sends me over the edge to the point I have vowed never to shop there again!

Lack of common sense. Do people really need to be told that we shouldn’t be handing out oral contraceptives to sixth grade girls?

Daycampers. When swimming at the local pool, it is never fun to have a bus load of daycare ‘Daycampers’ arrive. Ask me how I know.

Boys with hair longer than mine. Does anyone else have the strong desire to grab scissors and due harm to the latest teen boy hair style which usually involves hair obscuring one eye and a neck contortion in order to angle the hair out of the other eye. You should see boys running up and down the basketball court with their heads cranked into this chiropractor’s dream position! If it weren’t so annoying it would be hilarious. I must ask, where are their mothers?

Wearing white shoes after Labor Day. I don’t care what Stacy and Clinton say, it’s just wrong.

I think I’ll stop here lest you begin to think I’m easily annoyed. ~wink~

Me: Ummm, hold on a sec. I need to hide this picture of my son first. OK, where was I? How ya doing? Should we keep going? I still have more questions here.

LW: Sure.

Me: Girl, you are an overachiever!

OK. Tell us, what is your true passion in life?

LW: The Lord Jesus is my first love and my true passion! Serving and glorifying Him is my aim in all of life! I am also passionate for my husband and children! I adore being a wife and mother and a keeper at home. It is my calling and fills me with immeasurable joy!

Me: I can’t help smile at that answer. That is truly a worthy passion. And speaking of children, can you tell us about one of your best childhood memories.

LW: I have many, many wonderful childhood memories. There are Christmas memories, summers in the sprinkler memories, and hours of backyard play with bologna sandwich picnics memories. Some of my favorites memories are of vacations we took together. One of our best vacations was a trip to Disneyworld. When we go back to Disney now, it always brings back the joyful memories of that trip we took when I was a child. Don’t you just love places or things that can bring back to life some wonderful memory that way?

Me: Yes, I do. And smells too. How about when a certain smell brings up a long forgotten memory? Hey, wait a minute, I think I’m supposed to be the one asking the questions.

Have you ever experienced something that changed you forever?

LW: I would have to say lots of things have changed me forever. First, the Lord changed me forever when He called me to be His own. Marrying my incredible husband changed me forever. He brings out the best in me! Having babies changed me forever. They turned my selfish nature upside down and make me strive for selflessness (Some days I’m successful, others not so much) Then there was September 11th. We’re not safe anymore and realizing that changed me forever. Growing older changes me daily and makes me appreciate life more and more as it speeds by faster and faster. Each day changes me in some small way… I hope for the better!

Me: Let’s see? Oh, I know, describe your perfect day.

LW: My perfect day would be a sunny 78 degree day in springtime in the country, preferably on a porch swing, barefoot with a fabulous book and a tall glass of iced tea… soft crushed ice, good for crunching.

Me: That does sound pretty perfect! Next time invite me, would ya? Please?!

Vital Statistics -

How old are you? 41

Married? Yes

Children? Yes, six so far! 17, 14, 12, 8, 6, and 7 months

If so, homeschool, private, or public? Homeschooling and loving it!

Favorite season? SPRING!!

Favorite Sport? Well, I’m not really a ’sports person’ but I do like an occasional figure skating competition… once every four years or so. I can also be persuaded to watch any sport my children are playing.

What kind of car do you drive? A white Dodge Caravan

Mac or Pc? Pc

Dog or cat? One cat, four dogs… clearly we are ‘dog people’!

Vanilla or Chocolate? Oh. my. goodness. Chocolate!!!!!

Diet Coke, Sweet Tea or Evian? Sweet Tea on crushed ice!

Steak, Chicken or Shrimp? Steak, of course. (shhh, don’t tell my arteries)

Lady Why will be sharing the hosting of our Opinion column. You’ll be able to read her first post this coming Wednesday. Don’t forget to come back and give her a hard time enjoy her wisdom.

Categories: Interviews
Tags: contributor, host, interview, mom