As I mentioned in the first interview yesterday: I volunteered on a few blogs for people to ask me questions, so I’ll be posting my answers over the next few days. I’m supposed to reciprocate and offer to interview anyone who asks me to do so, but in the interest of time I’m limiting my offer to the first five people who leave a comment and request an interview.
My second interview comes from Lemmonex (you can see the answers to her questions here).
1. What is the best thing about having a unique name?
First off, my name isn’t short for Alexandria. I’ve mentioned this a few times on my blog, but new readers tend to assume this is the case — so I have to bring it up once in a while. (A few years ago, I even posted a picture of my driver’s license as proof.)
The best thing? It’s sparked a lot of comments and conversations. (However, if a random person that I’ll probably never talk to again thinks I’ve just introduced myself as “Andrea,” I usually don’t bother to correct them. I’ve answered to that name many times over the years.)
I disliked my name when I was little. I was shy and I didn’t want to stand out from the rest of the kids. I wanted my name to be something “normal,” like Jennifer. It took me a few years, but now I like it. It sets me apart.
2. What is the most rewarding thing about your partnership with BlogHer?
Writing for BlogHer forces me to write about topics I wouldn’t make time for on a normal basis. Writing about these topics also means that I’m thinking about these topics, if that makes sense — I have to ask myself how I feel about something and then flesh out those feelings in a cohesive way through my writing. There have definitely been times when I’d rather do something else on my designated posting date, but I always get it done and I’m always proud of the results.
3. The best restaurant in Alexandria?
I don’t know if it’s the best restaurant (I freely admit there are plenty of restaurants I haven’t been to yet), but my favorite restaurant in Alexandria is Mai Thai. I’ve been there with a number of locals and also out-of-town visitors, and everyone has enjoyed it.
4. What is your most despised food?
Rather than something obscure, I think a despised food would have to be something you come across on a regular basis. In my case, that would be raw tomatoes. I like cooked tomatoes, as long as they’re mixed into soups and stews. I also like tomato-based sauces. But eating them raw? No way. (Which is funny, because I like most other fruits and vegetables.) If I forget to ask for them to be taken off my food at restaurants, I’ll pick them out of sandwiches, salads, and even burritos (the tiny diced ones) before I start eating.
(Something else I can’t stand? Watermelon. I’ve tried it a number of times since I was a kid, and I’ve never gotten past my dislike for it.)
5. Tell your readers something about you that will surprise them.
If I had the nerve, I’d learn to drive a motorcycle.
Here are the rules:
1. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. Be sure to link back to the original post.
2. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
3. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
13 Comments
So funny–I always wished I was named Jennifer as well. Now, I cannot imagine it. Much like you, I will answer to any sort of mangling of my name. If it is close, I will turn my head. Thanks for playing along.
I never took you for a person who wouldn’t ride a motorcycle…go figure!
Have a great tuesday!!
~K
Raw tomatoes are evil! Not as evil as mushrooms, but evil!
Kel: I meant I’d like to learn to drive a motorcycle (I updated the wording just now in the post to reflect that.) I’ve ridden on them before as a passenger.
I feel the same way about raw tomatoes!
Did you know there are actually a number of “Zandrias” in the DC area? I noticed that when I searched for you on facebook. I would love an unusual name and would change mine to something more unusual if changing one’s name wasn’t such a pain.
still don’t get the motorcycle thing. doesn’t seem like a big deal. okay, i’m bored, interview me.
I love your name! Wish I had it – better than my stripper name. don’t forget to interview me
Add me to those who need to have tomatoes cooked and cut up, or at least as part of a much larger dish. On their own, no thanks. Same thing for broccoli. Need to have it as part of a soup or sautee dish.
Kickass names rock. I love the episode of SATC where an old girlfriend steals Charlotte’s “name” she had always planned to use, and Samantha tells her to eff off.
Totally agree about the name thing! I answer to “Megan” all the time. Writing for BlogHer sounds like such a great experience.
i love having a unique name too
Tomatoes are awesome! But there are alot of gritty, tasteless ones that are better off avoided. Food quirks are funny. My SIL hates everything with potatoes except french fries – that’s GOT be psychological right? haha. I have a hard time with grapefruit myself.
Motorcycles are cool – on a track or in the middle of nowhere, with the sun setting over the horizon. haha.
Agree with you about the name. Unique names are either awesome or a burden.