’cause she only seems a tinsy bit crazy.

I think we can all agree that the best part of blogging is when we find people who actually become our friends. Few of us could ever have imagined what joy these people we’ve never even seen face-to-face could bring to our lives. I had the pleasure of never meeting Hallie of Confessions from the Rubber Room face-to-face a few months ago. She is adorable! Just read on to see what I mean.

Me: Hallie, I am so excited to be able to interview you. Ya know, even though I consider you a friend, I still don’t know what most of your answers will be so let’s just get started.

Tell us some of the good things blogging has brought to your life?

Hallie: There are so many good things that have come from blogging, but the most valuable has been the friends I have met along the way. I have connected and been encouraged by people from all over the globe and my life has been richer for it.

Blogging has also given me a creative outlet, since I never have time to take out my paint brushes.

Me: Do you think there are pitfalls?

Hallie: There are only a couple pitfalls and one is the time element. Often, I don’t have the time to respond to everyone’s comments and that bugs me because I would like to respond to each person that visits, but it is rarely possible.

Also, there is what I call Googlemensia. This is caused when it has become so commonplace for you to type multiple words together with no spaces into your search bar, that you become unable to spell words separately without thinking they are compound words.

Me: Googlemensia, huh? Well, that’s a new one.

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

Hallie: For me it was a really good thing because it drew me out of my little bubble. I was home a lot without much contact with the outside world, so I didn’t have any close relationships. Blogging gave me a way to connect with other people and I have made some really great friends. It has also been a wonderful marketing tool.

Me: Well, I know I’m more likely to buy next year’s curriculum through your book store now that I’ve never met you face-to-face.

But back to the questions, can you name something about blogging that bugs you?

Hallie: The one thing that bugs me to no end is the Word Verification text boxes on Blogger and other sites that require log ins, you know the ones. They are encrypted so well that *you* can’t even read the letters or numbers that you are supposed to enter? Uh yeah, someone smarten up and come up with an alternative solution. If no human can read it, no robot will either. Apparently, there are audio boxes that are marked with a wheelchair icon you can click on, but don’t bother, it is indecipherable and even if it wasn’t, by the time you got it opened and figured out, you’d be fast asleep on your keyboard.

Me: Oh.my.word! I thought I was the only one who couldn’t ever type the right letters in. You have no idea how many comments I’ve lost and ended up just leaving the person’s blog never to return because of those evil, evil things.

How about outside of Blogland? Does anything else bug you?

Hallie: Ok, but this might bring me nasty emails. One thing that really irks me is people that elevate their pets to human status. Here it is folks, we should all love our animals and treat them with kindness, but they are not people, so get a grip please. If we all put half as much time into caring for a person in need, we would see great change in others and ourselves.

Another gripe is people who care more about the environment than our national security. News flash, if our country is not protected then your precious trees will be ashes. Nuff said.

Me: Ummmmm, I’ll admit I agree if everyone promises to still send all the nasty emails to you.

Time to switch tracks, what is your true passion in life?

Hallie: The hopelessness and human needs of others. I wish I could pick just one, but that is just not possible. Starving and abused children, abortion, homelessness, human trafficking, the elderly….I pray that my heart will always be broken over the things that break God’s heart.

Me: Hallie, what would your perfect day be like?

Hallie: Oh, this is easy. My house would be clean, business would be good, all my tasks done, the sun would be shining with a temperature of 72 and dry, I would be free to play with my children without a care and only have to run home to leave a list for my housekeeper and personal chef! Dream on huh!? I could expound on this, but you get the point I’m sure.

Me: Yes, I do and I like your perfect day!

Tell us the best or the worst thing about being you.

Hallie: The best thing is I am a risk taker with loads of creativity. I never have let fear stand in the way of trying something new, well…except skydiving.

I don’t know if I can name just one worst thing, but I am not an organizer and I have ADD. I have to work three times as hard just to stay on top of things. I can get really overwhelmed quickly and have a hard time climbing out from under the pile.

Me: What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you? We want all the details.

Hallie: At about the age of thirteen, I used a bathroom at Friendly’s and realized I was locked in. I finally had to scream for help. I then realized the door was just really heavy and not locked. It was horrible.

Hallie’s Vital Statistics –

How old are you? 38 for 1 more week. UGH.
Married? no
Children? four
If so, homeschool, private, or public? homeschool
Favorite season? spring
Favorite past time? Photography and Photoshop
Favorite color? green
Favorite movie? Conspiracy Theory
Favorite song? Home by Michael Buble
What kind of car do you drive? Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mac or PC? PC
Dog or Cat? Dog
Salt or Pepper? Salt
Vanilla or Chocolate? Chocolate
Diet Coke, Sweet Tea or Evian? Sweet tea
Steak, Chicken or Shrimp? Chicken

And lastly, here are five words. Type the first word that pops in your head after you read each one.

Water – Shower
Light – Camera
Time – none
Sofa – what’s that?
Run – away

Hallie: Thank you!

Me: No, thank you! I really enjoyed learning more about you!

Categories: Interviews
Tags: friend, insane, interview, mom