Glamorous in Real Life Party….it’s Unmitigated.

Hey looked who just walked in the door! Its Mary from Unmitigated, and man does she look fabulous in that red dress. Let’s see what she has to say and bring to the party…

1. On your site profile you claim yourself as ‘middle age’ what does that mean to you? (I am being serious….I don’t know what age that is. I think I am approaching it. Or maybe in it.)

 When I started writing the blog, I was 43, almost 44. I sound like a little kid. I was forty-three-and-three-quarters! We stop doing that after thirty, don’t we? Anyway, I was kind of jokingly calling myself middle-aged at the time. I’m forty-six (and a quarter) now, and it’s not a joke anymore. I’ve gone through the mid-life crisis and quit my job to prove it. I think middle-age is when you stop feeling younger than everyone around you. It’s when you realize that the only guy on your favorite team that’s in your age range is the coach. Hopefully, he’s not ready to retire yet.

2.      What is the biggest need blogging fills for you in your life?

Connection. No question. I have come very slowly to the idea that I need a connection with people to thrive. I am something of a loner, and am just learning to like people as much in person as I do on my blog (and theirs). There are times, though, when it can be painful to be so far away from people with whom I have such a strong connection. The Mayor of Sasstown lives close by, so that’s great, but when Chrisy of CSquaredplusThree is feeling down, I want to have Mr. Scott beam me to Utah.

3.      I adore the title of your site (and the use of ‘un’ on your subsites too) what meaning does your blog title have? And how did you come to that name?

Would you believe me if I said I had no clue? Well, I know what it means, but truly, ‘unmitigated’ just popped into my head. Originally, I thought it would weed out the non-intellectuals, then I figured out I didn’t really want to do that, because after awhile, intellectuals turn into boring-know-it-alls. I know, because I AM one. When I went to BlogHer, I realized that almost everyone who recognized my screen name, had NO IDEA what my blog was called. So much for branding. Unfocused for the photo blog followed pretty easily. If I were trying to sell photos, I imagine it might be a problem, but it’s just a hobby. I’m still ambivalent about Unmasted, where I (try to) sell the mini blog banners. The banners are sometimes called mastheads. If anyone has a better “un” word for that one, let me know. I’m hoping it’s not “unsuccessful!”

4.      Do you feel any sense of community in the blogosphere or is it ‘every (wo)man for himself’ out here?

I don’t know if it’s just that we are finally finding each other, but the “bloggers of a certain age (mine)” seem to be forming more of a community recently. For a while, I wanted to shout that “Blogger” doesn’t start with “Mommy!” The moments you really see bloggers band together are the tragic or sad ones. There’s no denying, though, that if you are having a bad day, there is no one so good to you as your blogging buddies for a lift. I have lower back pain issues, and people I have never met in real life are as kind and caring about it as my family is!

5.      I see you don’t use your name on your blog. Are you really anonymous? And how is that working out for you? (anonymous blogs fascinate me to no end….)

When I started, I was anonymous. That lasted until I got my first comment from a stranger (LiteralDan!) and replied to him with an email address that gave away my last name and the state that I live in. It hadn’t occurred to me to set up a new one with g-mail or something.  I’m one sharp cookie, I am. So there went the anonymity, out the door. I really think I’m too vain to do this without any recognition. When I publish something at Mid Life Bloggers or the Women’s Colony, I feel like a total rock star. In a middle-aged, Paul Anka kind of way.

6.      And a classic question that I ask all my party guests; if you could be a Care Bear, which one would you be? In other words; what is the one trait people most associate you with?

Is there a Cranky Old Bitch Bear? Some days that’s totally me. For a real one, I’d have to say Funshine Bear. I was never the class clown as a kid, but I make a lot of jokes now. I love the pattern of comedy, the fun, and the relief of being able to laugh. And I am happier now than I have been, maybe ever before. I love to write, and though I am making about ten percent of what I did as a teacher (so far), I am proud to say that I am a writer. If I can make people laugh while I write, what more can I ask for? Except George Clooney.

Come visit Funshine Bear Mary at her place by clicking here.

-

-

Are you living Glamorous in Real Life?

Let me know, I would love to invite you to the party!