Post updates by email:


When I first clicked over to Jen’s blog, I couldn’t get an immediate feel for where I had landed - and that fascinated me. I couldn’t pinpoint an overall theme. However, what I COULD immediately feel was that the author had an incredible gift with language and that no matter what she wrote…I was interested in hearing it. Jen's blog offers a wonderful potpourri of personal opinions, life-observations, and reflections; wrapped in a brilliant blanket of satire. And whether she’s sharing a hysterical story about buying a new bra, a bread recipe, or getting older - you’ll find yourself going back again and again. Why? Because Jen has a unique voice.

So, let’s find out more about the gifted lady behind the blog, When Pigs Fly…

Welcome, Jen….

I love the title of your blog - why the name?

I collect pigs. Don’t ask me why or exactly when it started, just one of those odd interests that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. And like many collections, as soon as people notice that you have a lot of something, they think that must be the perfect gift to give you. I picked up my first pig with wings while living in London. It sits in my kitchen and was staring at me when I was trying to come up with a name for my blog. “When pigs fly” evokes the satirical, something I try to bring to my site.

Why do you blog?

I started blogging as a way to vent some of my creative frustrations. I enjoy writing and sharing my thoughts with others. Blogging seemed to be a good fit. I suppose I have visions of getting published in some form someday. Creating a blog felt like a good way to at least get the ball rolling.

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging since February of this year. I started a week after I turned forty. That might just say it all.

What is your opinion of the blogosphere?

The blogosphere is like a giant bag of Halloween candy. You never know what you are going to get until closer inspection and you have to wade through a whole load of crap before you find a good piece. I have sifted through my fair share of candy corn and pumpkin shaped marshmallow peeps before finding the Snickers bars. There are a few great sites worth reading on a regular basis. They are just few and far between.

Do you post spontaneously or do you plan your posts for the week?

So far, I have been posting more or less by the seat of my pants. Sometimes I have an idea that has been fermenting in my brain, waiting until I find the right angle for it. Those I may start drafts of and keep until I find a direction for them. Others, I come across while drinking my coffee and reading or watching the news in the morning. I would like to start becoming more organized about it so that I post a bit more frequently. We’ll see how it goes.

Have you ever experienced a negative response in a comment?

I commented on my blog about a post from Dooce.com in which Heather Armstrong described her mucous plug in detail. For those of us who have not had children, and even those of us who have, I felt as though this was more information than any of us needed to know about. I was not questioning her right to discuss it only commenting on this new found need many people have for exposing their lives in excruciating detail. I was wondering out loud how much is too much. My post got picked up by Open Salon. The intensity of the nastiness sent my way in the form of comments was breathtaking. I ended up taking my post down on my site and Open Salon and writing a rebuttal. Hell hath no fury like a mommy blogger scorned. One would have thought I was going after Jesus, or worse, Oprah. I am now more careful about what I write about.

Any goals or visions for your blog?

I have decided to try and make my blog more interactive. I will be re-commenting and will start having posts that pose a question at the end. I would love to reach a wider audience someday. But, for now I am just grateful to those who read my writing and stop by my site.

Do you find blogging addictive?

I go through phases. When the ideas are flowing, I am at the computer quite a bit. But, like anything else, my interest wanes for a while. Life gets in the way. Dust bunnies need to be vacuumed, laundry must be done. Blogging takes a back seat.

What is one thing you find gratifying about blogging?

I enjoy expressing myself and seeing how others respond to my silliness.

Your love of horses….where did it come from? And have you ever been thrown?

I have been in love with horses since I can remember. I do believe there is a genetic component for all of us so enamored with the equine species. Most of us are a bit crazy. I have fallen off more times than I can remember. I have had two bad falls in which I was bucked off. One was on a horse I no longer own, the other on a trainer’s horse. They were both very scary incidents but luckily I was not badly injured. I am much more careful these days about what I will get on and what I will do with a horse.

Did you ever think you would get married?

I don’t know if I ever gave it much thought. My husband and I met in college and got married a few years after leaving. We have been together ever since.

Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?

Absolutely. I believe every person and animal comes into our lives for a reason. We are all on a journey and that journey extends beyond one life. I was told that my one horse and I were together in a past life. I like to believe we were. From the moment I first saw her, I knew she belonged to me. It was as if we were two puzzle pieces and as soon as I sat on her back we fit together. I tend not to share my more Birkenstock wearing, crystal hugging, granola eating tendencies in public. But, you did ask.




Note: Jen will be responding to all comments on this post, so please feel free to chat with her. Thank you.

26 comments:

  1. Hi Jen,

    Just stopped over at your blog. I'm so glad Ron did this interview with you or I wouldn't have found you. You're hysterical!

    And, yes, any disparaging words about Heather are like mocking Mother Teresa. I agree, sometimes she gives WAY too much information.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Many thanks Ron for the interview! So much fun to see myself in print somewhere else. Looking forward to responding to comments. I do have a new post up on my site with a blurb about our bloggy chat. I'm sure you will be seeing some new readers.

    ReplyDelete
  3. dooce sucks anyway. If I ever check her site it's only to see how the dog is doing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Jen!!!

    You are SOOOOOO welcome!

    This was a BLAST, so thank YOU!

    You GO, girl!

    Great - I'll stop by your blog and check out the post.

    Hi, Chrissy and Lora - thanks for dropping by!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Chrissy - Thanks for stopping by my place and taking in the sites. Appreciate the kind words.

    Lora - Dooce has its place but sometimes it just seems like an exercise in hyper self-involvement taken to the nth degree. Throwing in the most private of bodily details sends me over the edge. I do like to see how the dogs are surviving too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ...Now how ironic! I found this site thru Jen's site and now here I am reading an interview with Jen on this new found site! Yeah, I'm tickled... :o)

    ...Great interview and great job you two!

    ...And yeah, I think Dooce needs to bow out and let Chuck take the reins, he's so much more blog worthy...lol

    ...Blessings all... :o)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi TJ!

    So glad you found your way over here through Jen's blog. It's been so nice meeting you.

    Thanks so much for dropping by today and for your kind words.

    Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Jen & Ron-
    Great interview...Ron seems to have quite the knack for keeping the reader entertained (and for picking fabulous ppl to interview).
    I think you've got a wonderful writing style, Jen...and *when* you begin your published writing career, we'll be able to say "we knew her when". Keep it up!
    Ron: This venue is a very digified way of driving traffic to deserving sites. I really like it.
    A fan of you both,
    K

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hiya Kathryn!

    Thank you, dear lady.

    It's been such a pleasure meeting you through Jen's blog. You're a GEM!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a great interview Ron and Jen! I'm off to visit Jen now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Afternoon Akelamalu!

    Have fun...you're going to love her!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, m'dear!

    Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. TJ and Katherine - Thanks so much for the kind words and for stopping by. So wonderful that you have faith that I will get published one day. I'll keep the writing going.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ron ~ Love the interview pages you've had so far. What a great concept! That'll go into the catefory of "I wish I'd thought of that!"

    Jen ~ As a newbie to your site, I enjoyed your interview. AND your blog (I'm a follower of yours now, not just a intermitant stalker). I agree with you on the Dooce thing. I used to read her, but don't quite so much anymore. I guess I don't get her humor, or her huge following! I'd much rather spend my time reading yours.
    :-)

    Thanks to you both!
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  14. Akemalu - Many thanks for trundling over to my site. Ron comes up with great interview questions. So much fun to meet all these new readers.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hey Nancy!

    ALWAYS great to see ya!!

    Thanks so much for your encouraging words, I appreciate them.

    I've been wanting to do something like this for the past couple of months (interviews/guest posts), but finally figured out a way to put it all together and then present it - it's been so much fun! I think it's a great way for bloggers to meet other bloggers and widen our friendships.

    Thanks for stopping by, Nancy.

    Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fun to learn a little more about you.

    I don't let my hippie slip show often either, but I can totally relate to the idea that people and animals are in our live(s) for a reason. And this is a crotchety Episcopalian saying this, but - there are friends and pets where it just Was from the word "go".

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nancy - So glad you will be stopping by from now on. I love having regular readers. This was such a nice idea on Ron's part. Mel over at I Pick Pretty did a similar Friday featured blogger interview with me. It was great fun and helped me connect with some new people.

    ReplyDelete
  18. My dear Mel - So glad you popped on over to Ron's site to read the interview. You did such a fabulous one of me a couple of months ago of which I am still grateful. Love your line about being a part time "crotchety Episcopalian." Made me laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jen,

    I think you left off braided armpit hair, petuli oil wearing . . .

    Bwahahaha

    I'll be sure to stop by your place for a look see. You sound like a lot of fun.

    Ron,

    Great idea and well though out questions. Kudos

    ReplyDelete
  20. hi Jen,
    after reading this post, I can't wait to toddle on over to see pigs fly! what a great bunch of answers, some very compelling, fascinating little things we usually never know about people..do you think ron is good at that? drawing things out of people? hmmmm... wily man he is..

    so off I go to see you...and kisses to you, ronnie, wherever you are.

    and, I never know when I am going to post either...I felt somehow reprieved reading you don't either.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hellooooo Linda!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by and meeting Jen!

    She's a great gal, who I'm so please to have met. You're going to LOVE her blog!

    Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

    {{{{{ Linda }}}}}
    xoxooxox

    ReplyDelete
  22. Howdy Mr. Jeff!

    Thanks, bud!

    This was so much fun putting together. I hope to be doing these two or three of times a month.

    You're going to LOVE Jen's blog! She's got a sense of humor that I know you'll enjoy!

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Hope you're having a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hey Jen!

    You're getting more FANS!!!

    I knew they'd love ya!

    Hope you're having a great weekend, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jeff and Linda - Many thanks for the kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed Ron's interview. I too think he came up with some great questions. He had already gleaned some things from my blog so was able to ask a few more pointed questions. Plus, he had an idea that I had a crunchy chewy side to me. Growing up in Northern California, some of it is bound to sink in.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Ron and Jen!

    Love these interviews!

    I was just at Jen's place, leaving some comment luv. Funny topic... names.

    That's not cool about you getting negative comments because of posting what you thought about a Dooce post. I do read her blog occasionally and sometimes I laugh out loud and think she's neat and then other times I'm like OH gawd, I just can't read another sentence or I'll vomit. She seems to love the publicity though and has quite a following. But I'm sure she gets her fair share of hate mail too. Some people are just mean.

    Bravo on your interview, and a really cool blog!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Helloooo Crystal Chick!

    So glad you stopped by Jen's place and said hello! Isn't she funny??

    Thanks for dropping by, neighbor!

    X

    ReplyDelete