When did you start blogging and why? Or Talk about your blog. What can I learn about you in under 5 minutes?

I started blogging in May of 2005. At the time, I was feeling a little bit lost in my new role as a mother, and I was looking for a form of expression to help me feel like my old self. Writing for for my personal blog My Dog Harriet, was perfect because it allowed a forum to write about things relating to motherhood and the millions of issues that go along with it. In addition, I had the freedom to write posts that didn't even mention motherhood. My blog is a big mix of personal tales, un-reconciled childhood issues (like having only one pair of pants for 2 years), the joys and tribulations of motherhood, and some alter-ego posts that allow me to let my freak flag fly.

Who do you read every day, rain or shine?

I work full time outside the home, so it's hard to keep up with everyone, although I would love to. I read my fellow mommybloggers Jenny and Jenn, Sweetney, Finslippy, Baleful Regards, Wanna-cookie, and of course Dooce, but I have to read her at home because she has been banned by the browser at work. Ha. She's a dangerous woman, that Heather.
I hate to name names because I am leaving people out who I love, and then blogging becomes horrifically like those 5th grade cliques which I hate. As someone who was usually chosen last for kickball, I am very sensitive to that kind of thing, and I am loathe to perpetuate it.

Why did you choose to share that piece of yourself in a photograph?

Because it's who I am on the inside, always. A homely kid with a bad haircut and one pair of pants, who was occasionally terrorized on the school-bus by the mean girls. I suppose every girl was terrorized to some degree by other girls. Unless of course, you WERE a mean girl, and if you were a mean girl, you probably suck and I don't even want to know you. Ha. Actually a couple of my closest friends are recovering mean-girls. But they are totally rehabilitated. So it's O.K. I have shown them the error of their ways.

How would you describe your writing style?

Run on sentences. Unpolished and occasionally irreverent.

What don't you write about? Anything considered a no-no in your book?

I don't discuss much about my marriage, or my family. I learned the hard way that it's unfair to air beefs with your loved ones on the internet. Particularly when you have not had the kahunas to deal directly with the person on your shit-list. I was also raised Catholic, so I really never write about sex. Fornication, even in marriage, is shameful and bad. VERY BAD. I have no idea how that child even GOT here!

So soon we're going to meet each other at BlogHer. Important question. How do you party?

Good question! I love to get into some nice red wine and some good conversation. I also like to smoke cigarettes when I have a have a few cocktails. (ducking) Don't judge me.

What is your favorite thing that you wrote? What got a strong reaction from readers?

There are two that come to mind immediately. One is an essay called "The good enough mother" and another is one called "Yeah, my baby wears a helmet, you got a problem with that?" I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.