Blogiversary- Featuring an interview with a very special sponge…

Greetings friends! It has come to my attention that today is a very fantastic day. 3 years ago on this day I attempted to introduce you to my brain.

…Of course, this ended in failure.

“I’m sorry. My brain seems to have vacated the premises for the present and, consequently, will not be making an appearance.”

Since that day, my brain has not reappeared. Which actually explains a lot about this blog.

But I digress.

Today is my blog’s birthday! To help me celebrate, I have kidnapped invited a very special sponge to join us and interview me about my blog, writing, reading, hedgehogs and/or whatever else she may wish to discuss.

Please help me welcome our very special guest The Story Sponge!!

YAAAAAAHHHHHHH

Sponge: I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ON THE MUPPET SHOW.

Me: That’s what I’m here for. To make all your dreams come true.

Sponge: So, on to questions. What is your latest writing project about?

Me: Well, that’s an interesting question. I’ve sort of started a project that I would like to continue working on, but all I really have is a premise. The style is contemporary with a touch of magical realism. There’s this kid named Phoenix and his tears have healing powers (see what I did there?) and he just wants to HELP EVERYONE. So he ends up letting people walk all over him and he has a brother who hates it and wants him to stop and…?? Other characters?? Plot?? Maybe there are aliens who make pasta??? Who knows????

Sponge: That sounds amazing. Brothers! Angst! But I would skip the alien bit. Next question: What are three of your favorite blog posts that you have written these past three years? (Notice the synchronicity of the numbers.)

Me: Hmmmm…. I think I gave some really great advice in my post on How to Adapt a Book into a Movie. I really enjoyed writing my post about The Best Guys in the Chair, but I think that’s just because I got to talk about Cisco and Alfred?? And, of course Sandwiches, because sandwiches. Also my post on What Happens When a Bookworm is Unable to Read Books.

That was three, right?

Sponge: Um, right… ALFRED. SANDWICHES. Good stuff, mate. I love those posts as well. All four three of them. What is your favorite school subject? (Since it clearly isn’t maths.)

Me: My favorite subject is English (hence the English major). I’m not crazy about some of the reading I have to do for my classes, BUT I finally got to read a Charles Dickens book for a class which made me very happy (because Hard Times is just one of those books that makes you jump for joy). I also really love my writing classes. On the one hand writing creatively for a class is SUPER STRESSFUL, but it has pushed me to write things I wouldn’t have written on my own, like historical fiction and more serious poetry.

Sponge: YES, AND IT WAS AWESOME. What are three books that you’ve read for the first time this year that really stand out to you?

Me: The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews (because brothers!! angst!! this is my JAM)

The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly by Rebecca Ansari (because JOHNATHAN)

Vango: Between Sky and Earth by Timothee de Fombelle (because…. I don’t even know. People are trying to kill him and he doesn’t know why? Gallivanting across Europe? There is food?)

Sponge: Food in books is always a good thing, I find. What are the three best movies you have seen this year so far? (Notice how I am keeping with the number theme.)

Me: I DID notice you were keeping with the number theme. I’m very smart and observant.

I think I mentioned Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse in my last blog post, but it’s SO GOOD. The animation! The music! Miles Morales!!

Green Book dealt with a lot of serious, heavy issues, but there was also a lot of humor. This can be hard to do, but when it’s done well (as it is in this case) it works because that’s what life is like: we don’t just live life all on one level. I thought this movie was very well done- excellent acting, screenplay, etc.

I just saw Shazam a few nights ago and was surprised by how much I liked it. Unlike most superhero movies, there was no romance! It was about siblings!! And FREDDY, GUYS, FREDDY.

Sponge: Two of the movies you mentioned are superhero movies. Which of these wise superhero sayings do you resonate with the most?

1) With great power, comes great responsibility. -Benjamin Parker

2) With great ability comes great accountability. -Jefferson Davis

3) Families are for people who are too weak to take care of themselves. -Billy Batson

Me: Definitely the last one.

Sponge: Yeah, I thought so. Though to be honest that sounds more like a supervillain saying than a superhero saying. Just saying. Also what would Freddy say?

Me: ….

Sponge: I seriously doubt that he would say nothing, my dear. He usually has words. But I will let that go, seeing as it’s your birthday and all that. How about this one. What is your favorite dessert?

Me: CHEESECAKE. Cheesecake with raspberry sauce. (That sounds like in movies where someone asks their name and they’re like, “Hugo. Hugo Cabret” [obviously that was just a general not-from-any-specific-movie quote])

Sponge: Yummy. I like cheesecake very much myself, as you can probably attest to. MORE QUESTIONS. How many people have you stolen pineapples from in the past two weeks?

Me: *sweats*

Uh- I didn’t- That wasn’t me. I mean- who said anything about pineapples?

Sponge: Okay, just checking. What is something super random that you are obsessed with at the moment? (Since it clearly is NOT pineapples.)

Me: I just watched The Corpse Bride (which was great by the way) and I’ve been semi-obsessed with playing the song on the piano that Victor plays in that one scene when everyone else leaves and he stays in the room alone with the piano (an ideal place to be).

Sponge: I AGREE. Pianos are the best. Then again, they are better when there are people inside them… Okay, this is the last question. What would you do with a giant box of doilies in the shape of Bob Hope’s face?

Me: What an excellent and profound question.

So my first instinct is to say set it on fire…

…And I don’t have a second instinct so…yeah. That’s my answer. (No offense, Bob Hope. It’s nothing personal.)

Sponge: Yeah, I mean, what else would you do with it? Anyway, thanks so much for having me, but the Christmas tree is on fire so I have to go. Happy Third Birthday, my friend!

Me: Thanks so much, my Spongy friend! Best of luck extinguishing your Christmas tree! Or roasting marshmallows over it!

And there you have it, friends! Thanks again to The Story Sponge for joining me in the festivities! Be sure to check out her blog- it is unfailingly entertaining.

 

How do you celebrate your blogiversary? How old is your blog? What good books have you read this year? What good movies have you watched? Do you like cheesecake? Have you ever wanted to be on the Muppet Show? Do tell!