The VERY first Mommy Blogger Monday...Meet Lora!

So, I had this idea in the shower last week! Yep, in the shower! It's my creative place. It's like my very own escape hatch. I am VERY VERY VERY clean. When I need to think, when I need to hash out an idea, I head to the shower.

So, I dried off, got dressed and wrote a post all about it. You can read THAT post if you missed it. I Twittered and Facebooked the idea, too. Within 24 hours I had enough requests for the interview questions to welcome one Mommy Blogger each Monday for a WHOLE YEAR! I kid you not!

I will continue accepting completed interview forms for as long as you are willing to nominate yourselves and others. It's your 24 hours of fame. You're a mom, you deserve paparazzi! So, without anymore hesitation, I am THRILLED to WELCOME you to the VERY FIRST

MOMMY BLOGGER MONDAY!

Ladies...

I'd like to introduce you to Lora, blogging since October 2005!

Philadelphia, PA

http://www.littlemaniac.blogspot.com/

Lora's JAKEZILLA blog was recently featured on Five Star Friday. Check her out...her post is called 'Thankful.'

http://www.theurbanity.blogspot.com/

Her 'urbanity' blog is AWESOME! With the tagline, "Philly is Phunny" you'll never regret stopping by and checking out her fun/interesting/make-ya-giggle photos from around the City of Brotherly Love!

So, tell us a little about yourself, Lora!

I can tell you all about my life, my job, my kid, my friends, but I have a hard time telling you about me. I'm half old and half young. I'll be 33 this August. I think I'm funny, but sometimes I wonder if I am the only person in the room who does. I love school, and plan to go back for another Masters someday. This time in English Literature. Maybe I could change careers during my midlife crisis and teach high school English until I get too old to stand up in front of a bunch of hooligans. But I'm a terrible public speaker, so I would have to work on that too. I'm a mom. And a wife. I have more than one best friend. I try to help people who need a hand or two. I try to be a person I would admire if I wasn't me. If that makes sense. I'm breaking out in hives with all this me talk.

Well, goodness, I certainly was not planning on causing an allergic reaction with my questions. I will try and tame them down some for you, Lora.

Tell us your best MOM memory.

I remember my son picking a flower for me for the first time, a month or two after he turned one. I felt like all the tears and exhaustion and work and struggle was completely worth it, and this little thing actually loved me back. It was a crappy little half eaten dandelion with a bug in it but it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life.

I had a couple of those taped to the calendar, too. They have since rotted and crumbled but there, on that same calendar of his first year, is a reminiscent stain of dandelions. Precious. You're a good mom for not letting this memory go.

Lora, what has been your biggest life lesson?

Somewhere, in a box in my basement I'm assuming, is a note that my mom slipped in my dresser drawer 15 or so years ago. I don't remember the exact words, but it had something to do with not being able to truly love others unless you were at peace with yourself. I'm working on it. Just when I think I've gotten there I realize I'm not quite at peace yet, but every day I love my family and friends more and more, which means I'm headed in the right direction.

Lora, when everything is quiet and life slows down, what do you wish for?

The usual stuff, health, happiness, a nicer butt. And then of course my fingers are crossed that we will pull out of this economic slump sooner rather than later, and we all learn something from it. And our boys can come home from this crazy war (and girls too, but I like saying "our boys")

(I snorted at the 'nicer butt'!)

What’s your biggest passion?

Parenting. Personally, of course, I want to be the best parent I can be. Professionally, because that is the bulk of my job. But mostly because the type of person that every child develops into is almost wholly determined by the upbringing he is receiving. That's pretty deep. Even the worst of the bad guys were once tiny little impressionable babies. Everybody is somebody's child. It's easy to forget that.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

This is so lame, but sleeping in. The kind of sleep where the house is clean, the kid is taken care of, the husband is entertained elsewhere, the phone is off, the day is rainy, and the cat isn't lying on my face.

What is your least favorite house chore?

Scrubbing floors. Where does all that hair come from? And why are there Christmas tree needles? I've lived there through four Christmases and never had a real tree. And how did tuna fish get there? And is that poop? Or pudding? And now that I've cleaned myself into a corner, how do I get out without getting footprints across the floor? Or maybe I'll just stay here and cry until the floor dries.

OK...I am all about getting down to the nitty gritty. I know we just met but I have to ask, can you tell us a secret?

I'm not wearing shoes or underwear. And I'm at work. MAJOR violations of our policy manual. Yes, I work somewhere that mentions the importance of undergarments in the policy manual.

Well, alrighty then! That was totally unexpected! And really funny!!

And last, but not least, what do you always hope people see on YOUR inside?

I truly care, and I actually know how to help in many situations thanks to some sort of inborn talent plus 6 years of school plus my on-the-job experience. I mean well, even if I end up effing something up. I make it my purpose in life to help people feel better about stuff that is making them feel crappy. It's hard work, but I think I'm doing a good job. That's a nice feeling.

Lora, it was so nice meeting you! I truly enjoyed getting to know you (and your quirks!) and I will be zipping by "Urbanity" to check out what photos you have up to make me smile from day to day.

Ladies, let's give Lora a hand for being our guinea pig very first featured Mommy Blogger on MoBlogMo!

Thanks for coming by. Now get back to what you do best...being "Mooooooommy!"

And don't forget to post about MoBlogMo, link to it, email your blogging buds! Spread the word. See you next Monday!