These ones are from Cathy.
1. You are told that you can never again in your life watch any film. Except you get to see just one for the first and/or final time. Which is it?
Crumbs. I hate questions like this. One? Only one? I’d watch one that I’ve already seen – because then I’d be certain it was a good one. But something I hadn’t watched over and over so many times that I knew it by heart. Probably something sad and sentimental, cos I’m like that sometimes. And preferably something from Aotearoa. Maybe the Whale Rider? It’s not the best movie I’ve ever seen, but it’s recent so that’s why it’s in my mind. And it’s really sweet.
2. How did you discover blogging and why did you decide to start your own?
I was talking to a friend on the phone one day, and she said “You’ve got to write a list of 100 things so that I can read it,” and I said “Huh? What?” She explained that her friend was doing one on her blog, and then of course she had to explain what a blog was. She gave me the link to her Iona’s blog, the chinashop, and I read Iona’s list of 100 things. It seemed like fun, so I started writing a list too… and then I wanted a blog so that I could put my 100 things on it. And then, well, I love writing and will take any excuse I’m given, so I kept going.
3. Which of your five senses do you treasure the most?
Ooooh. Probably sight. I don’t think I could live without sight, how would I paint? Although I guess I could still read and write, once I learned Braille or something. No, I treasure hearing more, because without hearing I would feel so isolated. And I wouldn’t be able to listen to music, or birdsong, or the wind… But what about touch? Imagine if you didn’t have touch? I can’t even imagine it. No, it’s impossible. So I’m going to go with hearing.
4. How's life going, generally?
Golly. Um… Pretty good, actually. The new medication seems to be helping to keep my emotions under control, so I can finally get on with my life. I’m doing what I love (writing, and also working with children) and I seem to be doing well at it. I’ve got some wonderful friends, a nice balance of younger idealistic hippies, and, um, my other friends, however you’d describe them. Slightly older. And less hippyish. Fun (not so earnest). And generally lovely. I’m having an art exhibition, and I’m really excited about that. I did have some of my paintings in a show in the Fringe Festival, but that was kinda messy. The venue owner messed us around lots, and I was really really stressed, and… well, it just wasn’t an enjoyable experience. This time it will be in a proper gallery, with a gallery manager who will take care of all the practical and stressful stuff. I’m having unrequited crush issues, but that’s usual. I think if I didn’t have any I’d make them up, otherwise my life would feel incomplete. I’m also having financial issues, but that’s nothing new either. So, other than a few minor hiccups, life is dandy. And thanks for asking :)
5. What's the future for Beautiful Monsters?
For the next week I won’t be putting that much energy into BM, because I’ll be working on my folio (at least that’s the theory). Then I’ll probably be busy with courses, so I’ll probably post stuff I’m working on – non-fiction, poetry, prose and fiction, so there should be a good range. And anything else I want to write that doesn’t fit into my courses will find its way onto BM. And after that, who knows? I don’t think I’ll keep going forever. Either I will change, find something else, or the atmosphere will change, blogging won’t be so easy or so fun or something… Can’t see myself stopping in the near future though.
Posted by Fionnaigh at June 22, 2003 10:16 PM