Neil's "The Great Interview Experiment" Part II

Curiosity Killer was the commenter before me on Neil's blog. According to Neil's rules, she interviewed me. I hope my answers to bore you to death!

1. How long have you been blogging?

I started blogging just after we moved to Singapore in 2004. I'd only read about it before, but I thought it would be a good way to keep our family and friends filled in on our life here.

2. How do you feel blogging has added to your life?

It has made me take the time to document our life here. If I hadn't started blogging I know that we would forget a lot of our experiences, and that would be a shame

3. Do you find yourself connecting more or less with others?

I read quite a number of blogs and have "met" a lot of bloggers -- virtually, and I consider them as friends. When others share so much of themselves on their blog, it is impossible for me not to feel connected. I've cried many times when a blogging friend is hurting. The first time it happened, my husband looked at me with such a concerned look on his face, that I'm pretty sure he worried about my sanity! Now he knows these blogging friends because I share stories with him, or I'll have him read something I find hilarious.

4. Where are places you've lived in besides Singapore?

I was born in Indianapolis and lived there until I was 18, when I moved to Carlinville, IL (July 4th 1976). I'd fallen madly in love with my husband my senior year in high school when he was attending ITT Tech to become a TV repairman. Once he graduated, he moved back to Carlinville. We would visit each other every other month or so. On one visit, his brother said, "Why don't you just move here and get a job? Then you can decide if you're really in love." It wasn't long before I packed up all of my earthly possessions into my 1969 VW Beetle and settled into "The Valley" apartment owned by Michael's parents. My rent was $60 a month! We married April 1, 1978 and started Brooks TV Sales & Service not long after.

Eventually, my husband's talent and charm came to the attention of the corporate world, and he was offered a job in Skokie, IL. We moved there in 1981 and then our oldest son, Jim, was born in 1982, then Patrick in 1985. Just after Patrick was born a new opportunity arose for my husband's career, and we moved to Orange County, CA. Life was tough because we'd decided that I would be a stay-at-home mom. OMG! We were poor, but we had some really good times there and met life-long friends.

Four years later, the company that Michael worked for before wanted him back. This gave us the opportunity to move a bit closer to our families in the Midwest. In 1989 we moved to Morristown, TN. We lived there (and the boys grew up there) until 1998 when Michael was promoted and we moved to Mahopac, NY.

We loved New York and even went to watch the ball drop in Times Square New Year's Eve. We didn't make it the entire night because it was freezing and we all had to pee! I honestly do not know how all of those people relieve themselves because the restaurants and businesses make their toilets off-limits.

Corporate changes brought another move into our lives. For almost 2 years Michael "commuted" from Knoxville TN to New York, and then from Knoxville to Atlanta where the boys and I had moved in August of 2000. The opportunity for us to live in Singapore arose in 2004. I was reluctant at first, but once I visited I was sure that I would love living here, and I do!

5. Which one of these places do you enjoy living most?

That is a very good question, and one that has been asked of us many times. Each place I've lived has had plenty to enjoy, but there are drawbacks too. I tend to prefer city-living and Michael wants to live on a lake somewhere so that he can fish the way he could in Morristown, TN. I love the peace and quiet of living in a small-ish town, but I love all of the entertainment/restaurant/cultural options of living in a city. How's that for not really answering your question?

6. What is your favorite thing about Singapore? (feel free to name up to 3 things... weather... shopping... buildings... etc.)

How about "all of the above"? It is hot and humid here and the rainy season can be tiresome, but I like the warm weather. I'm not much of a shopper really. It is more of a chore for me, but I do love Takashimaya! Even though Singapore has only been a "country" for 47 years, there's a lot of history here. I love history! It's too bad that so many of the old buildings have been razed over the years.

My very favorite place is the Botanic Gardens. They lie in the very heart of the city, but it is beautiful and relatively quiet. Yes, there are usually a lot of tourists, but there are quiet areas and I love to walk there. I can barely hear the jack-hammers!

7. You mentioned you may not stay in Singapore anymore... why is that?

Michael's initial expat assignment ended December 2007, but it was extended to the end of 2008. Then, there were corporate changes and so now we will be repatriating probably in April, the where is still uncertain.

8. If you can be anywhere in this world, where would you be?

Walking on a sandy beach with my husband.

9. What are the most memorable things for you last year in Singapore 2007?

Probably, when our niece visited and then we flew up to Berjaya Resort in Langkawi. That was awesome!

10. What is the happiest moment that you would carry with you always?

This is a tough one. I'm lucky enough to have several... the day I married my husband and when our sons were born. While we've been in Singapore, our "boys" have become men. They've become responsible and independent of us. That is the most important thing we could ever accomplish in our life.

EDIT: CK asked an additional question in the comments. She suggested that I add it to the interview...

11. If you move away (back to U.S. or elsewhere), would you be changing your blog address too?

Yes, I think I'd like to start a new blog. My friend, Cristina, suggested "A Geeky Tai-Tai in America". I think that's a perfect title. I just don't know which platform I'd use -- WordPress, Expression Engine, TypePad? I'd really like it if one of my blogging friends could design a new template for me. Maybe I should have a contest or something!

I'm beginning to look forward to repatriating, but I know it's not going to be an easy transition. I think blogging will help me get through the tough times.

Thank you Curiosity Killer for your great questions!