A matter of opinion
Sooooo, I wrote an entry about my experiences in the gym changing room and someone at Stuff.co.nz decided to pop it on the homepage for part of Wednesday and BOOM! In the comment frenzy that followed, the request for Casual Friday Five submissions was largely ignored.
(By the way, if you didn't comment on that last post - then go back and do so. Because, you know, well in excess of 200 comments is not quite enough.)
It's a weird thing having front-page coverage. One minute I was posting up a harmless tongue-in-cheek blog entry, just as I have done hundreds of times before. The next minute incensed readers were crying journalistic foul. It seems there were rather a lot of non-regular readers who'd stumbled upon the entry and completely misinterpreted what was meant to be a light-hearted opinion piece as some sort of impassioned diatribe with an underlying moral agenda.
Thank goodness it wasn't an entry about how I hang my dog on the washing line by his ears every time he poops inside.
What was I getting at? Ah yes, Casual Friday Five. If I go back and read through all those comments again to find the one or two who actually submitted CF5 questions, I'm going to get a complex about what a terrible, inhibited journalist (journalist!) with crippling self-worth issues I am.
Instead, I'm going to make up some questions of my own to kick off Casual Friday Five for 2010. For the uninitiated (perhaps you are new round these parts, having chosen to read more after the nudie entry? In which case, welcome!) the Casual Friday Five is simply a collection of five questions, usually unrelated, that get posted on a Friday, answered by me, and then answered by you - the reader.
It's a little something we like to do in order to get to know each other better and learn a bit more about human cognition while simultaneously giving us another way to pass the Friday hours in between tending crops on our Farmville farms. Huh, what? That's just me? Um...
Anyway, normally I take reader-submitted questions, but this week I'm flying solo. Enough chat, let's go!
1) What was your favourite outfit or item of clothing as a kid?
As the youngest of five girls, a lot of my clothing as a kid had been pre-loved by one or more of my big sisters. It was always a treat to get something brand new, so when Mum splashed out on an outfit for a disco when I was about eleven, I was thrilled. It comprised a matching T-shirt and skirt - both white with green polka dots, and the skirt had green bike pants sewn in and a thick green elastic band around the waist. As well as dots, the T-shirt also featured a bow (printed on). I loved that outfit nearly as much as I loved Blossom.
2) What is your main goal for 2010?
Dear Goal-Fairy, I'd like to get into my own home by the end of this year please. Thank you. Amen.
3) Do you have kids? If so, tell us about them. If not, do you plan to and how many would you like?
I don't have kids but I'd like to one day. Coming from a family of five kids, I always thought I wanted a whole bunch of children, but looking after my nieces and nephews over the years has knocked that notion out of my head. Two would be nice, and if I end up with three by accident then I reckon I could cope with that.
4) What is on the home screen of your phone?
I have a picture of my new nephew Riley, who looks like he is smiling, but in actual fact is probably letting out a little parp.
5) What should I request for my birthday present?
I'm really just including this for you to answer, because if I knew the answer to this question there would be no point asking it here. It's my birthday next week and Joel is stuck for present ideas. He's asked me what I want, but I have no idea. It seems whenever I ask you guys something, you have the right answer, so I figure you can probably tell me what I want - even if I don't know what that is yet.
Thank you all for an exciting blog week, if you get stuck into this week's CF5 that would really top it off nicely. Choice, have a great weekend.
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1) What was your favourite outfit or item of clothing as a kid? I too had many hand me downs, but the description of your outfit brings to mind my 8th birthday present - a black and fluro pink tiered mini skirt, complete with fluro pink t shirt! I was very cool at the roller skating rink that day!!
2) What is your main goal for 2010? Have enough money to re-decorate our house and to have baby #2
3) Do you have kids? If so, tell us about them. If not, do you plan to and how many would you like? Yes, 1 boy 18months old today! He had reflux to start with and I had surgery and my hubby broke his leg so we had an awful 6 months, but things improved after that and he's an angel. At the moment he has glue ear and lots of sniffles which is driving me mad (we live @ the docs!!!) But he's adorable and I wouldn't change him for the world.
4) What is on the home screen of your phone? I ahve a photo of my bubba at the beach yesterday, and on the little front screen I have a photo of hubby on our wedding day
5) What should I request for my birthday present? You could get some really flash baking stuff to imrove on your kitchen skills......?! Vouchers from Millys (fantastic baking shop in parnell) Accessories for your vaccumm cleaner?! Super large bath towel for the gym?!?! :-) Happy B'day for Wed Jane - you share the same b'day and age as my hubby!!
Hi Jane, it must be weird having your blog posted on the front page and getting all those extra hits. Its so funny how everytime stuff does that someone always comments about the quality of the journalism. Not noticing the word blog.
1)OMG Those skirts with bike pants attached. I loved those.
2)hrmmm lose 5kg which is part of overall sorting my life out, im 30 at the end of the year and feeling a bit meh about everything at the moment. I need to find some direction.
3)None. Boyfriend has 3(!!) so I may become a step mum. *Think* I would like 1 of my own but not anytime soon!
4)my dog.
5) Well if you don't want any 'stuff' then maybe a fancy dinner out (degaustation style) - if you're gonna buy a house you wont be able to have so many of those. How about new gym clothes/gear? I always find that a good motivator, and useful cos you end up with so much washing from exercising!
The last post buzz was exciting huh! A group trainer at my gym even mentioned it in the middle of his class :)
Favourite clothing as a kid: I loved my blue flared skirt worn with a white tshirt with some kind of checklist printed on it (so funny and cool...!) and black braces. Yes, black braces, as an 8 year old. Not that i had boobs for the braces to go around - flat as like a boy.
main goal: improving my half marathon time in June, and preparing myself for another bout of study in 2011 -ie saving moolah. sigh.
kids: none, but yes I'd like some. not sure i can 'plan' them as such - but here's another question - if you wanted kids but didn't have a partner, would you try to have them by yourself?
screen of my phone: boring old telecom background i'm afraid.
birthday pressie: things I currently want are hair curlers and a bread maker. and a towbar for my car. and a car set for my mp3 player. and a nice weekend away! lucky my birthday is coming up soon!
Haha I clicked on your nudie blog the other day and thought I had misread the number of comments! I didn't even bother to comment because when it gets to that amount I think everything that can be said about the topic has already been said!
CF5: 1 - I wasn't a kid but I remember when I was about 14 those Kuta Lines hoody things were all the fashion - I loved mine and I must have worn it everyday for I don't how long!
2 - Get my bands music onto a CD. We've recorded a heap but have never got around to finishing it and mixing it properly.
3 - No kids (that I know of!). Plan to at some stage - I also think 2 would be a good number.
4 - My phone just has a slide show of random photo's - most of them being the sample pictures that came built in haha.
5 - You should ask for some fake vomit.
1) What was your favourite outfit or item of clothing as a kid? I had a pair of track pant with Lego M-tron space men on them. Golly they were fantastic!
2) What is your main goal for 2010? New Job, one that uses my skills.
3) Do you have kids? If so, tell us about them. If not, do you plan to and how many would you like? I have 2, Joel (2) and Jamie (7weeks) Joel's passion is drumming and he plays a solid 2-3 hours a day on daddy's snare drum. Jamie has not yet shown much affinity for anything apart form feeding, and my word he's great at that!
4) What is on the home screen of your phone? The swirly graphic it came with. I'm way too busy to mess about with cellphones.
5) What should I request for my birthday present? You should request money to go toward the Haiti disaster - not that there is anything wrong with presents for you.
Ok, favourite clothes - I had this dress ... it had SMOCKING! Ha ha. I loved it. My main goal for 2010?? I AM going to lose 30kgs. I kid you not. I am going to do it. Kids ... I have two, aged 4 & 6. One is autistic, and given that, having more might not be wise. So two it is. They're great, keep me on my toes though! Wow :-) My phone has a butterfly on the screen ... I think I could have something else but not bright enough to work out how!! Hmm, your birthday ... wouldn't you like a nice handbag? Something a bit flash? Have a nice weekend!
1) What was your favourite outfit or item of clothing as a kid? Dark purple 3/4 leggings with lace around the bottoms, teamed with various brightly patterned swing tops.
2) What is your main goal for 2010? start having a decent go a putting a house deposit together.
3) Do you have kids? If so, tell us about them. If not, do you plan to and how many would you like? No babies yet, but I would love to have some soon. I think two would be a good number.
4) What is on the home screen of your phone? A wedding pic - will be one year in March. Might have to look at a new one after that!
5) What should I request for my birthday present? Dinner somewhere special? Maybe the dego at French cafe? Would that fit in with house buying budgets??
1) What was your favourite outfit or item of clothing as a kid? I had these really cool tangerine dungaree (i'm not sure if that's how you spell it) short thingys, man i loved them!! I always wore a white t-shirt underneath and a pink headband.. oh how i miss my tragic outfits.
2) What is your main goal for 2010? to get engaged! haha andtostopsmoking.
3) Do you have kids? If so, tell us about them. If not, do you plan to and how many would you like? Not at present, but I would love to have a kid or 3 in the next 5 years.
4) What is on the home screen of your phone? I don't have a camera phone at present (I have been through 13 phones since I was 16) I just have a cheap one that does the job!! But my banner says something that is not for the eyes of stuff.co.nz
5) What should I request for my birthday present? I have a whole year pretty much to go so I have no idea, I'll start thinking about it in June! HAHAHA.
Jane you could always ask for vouchers ;)
Oh and your previous blog entry cracked me up. Sooo many comments it's unbelievable!
Happy Friday!! xx
Jane! I worked out what song will remind me of 2009! It would have to be I'm On A Boat. Not because I like it, but because everyone knew all the words and it became a running joke for anyone going fishing :-P
Now, CF5:
Fave clothing: A hideous black and white dress with polka dots, that sounds strangely similar to your green get up Jane.
Goal for '10: Most definitely to get my driver's license. Been putting it off for waaaay too long.
Kids: None. Used to despise the idea of having kids, but kinda getting to a place where I'd be ok with one or two. Not for at least another 5 years though!
Phone background: I have a cheap phone that can't have photos. But my work screensaver is my baby kitty cat :-)
Present: An Air NZ Mystery Break! Always wanted to do one of those!
Pop music star Whitney Houston dies
Hundreds of unfit teachers in class
Kiwi jailed in Australia wins appeal
Volunteers fight fires in a truck that won't stop
Kiwis land big Aussie contract
Wellington woman found safe in motel
Search scaled down for Huntly boy
Daily trivia quiz: February 13
Pop music star Whitney Houston dies
Bus survivor praises her heroic rescuers
Hundreds of unfit teachers in class
Volunteers fight fires in a truck that won't stop
Wellington woman found safe in motel
Kiwis finish on a high with Davis Cup wins
Stags beat Auckland in domestic one-day final
It was somewhat of a feeding frenzy yesterday. I went and hid in another blog until all the liberated Germans put their franks and beans away.
Apparently when it is known as a blog you can have fun. But if it is an article written by a journalist, it Is Very Serious Business.
1) My favourite item of clothing as a kid was some super grippy amazing running shoes. The sole was basically made out of blu-tac, so for the couple of months before the sole completely wore out it was like having a super bounce ability.
2) My main goal for 2010 is to enjoy life. How exactly this will manifest I'm not precisely sure quite yet.
3) No. None. Never. Hell no. Not going to happen. Not my cup of tea. No way, no time no how. Do not want. Hell freezes over. Wild horses. Naff off. Negatory to anything kid related. I'm far too selfish to be able to raise kids.
4) The background on my phone is my large grey cat asleep on top of my small white cat whilst on my lap. If it had a caption, the caption would be the grey cat saying "my pillow has ears!"
5) For your birthday you should request something suitably domestic to match your house purchasing ambition. Perhaps a lawnmower, or a chainsaw, because everyone loves a gift that runs on petrol and can maim things.