September 28, 2006

8 things I did during a phone interview about women political bloggers.

1. Put on my contact lenses.

2. Put on makeup.

3. Flat-ironed my hair.

4. Finished getting dressed (including pants).

5. Checked that the last morning blogpost had published properly.

6. Walked about a mile and a third down to the lake path and in to campus.

7. Admired the clouds.

8. Photographed them.

Lake Mendota

Lake Mendota

Lake Mendota

ADDED: Arty photojournalist is horning in on my cloud-ography concept.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

cue music-

The Simpsons

ntodd said...

And you call yourself a feminist...

XWL said...

A good sized walk to collect your thoughts before an interview is always a good idea (the wearing of pants seems prudent, too), so long as you aren't attacked by crazed rodents along the way.

Meade said...

"...while giving an interview..."

With whom? Larry King?

Ann Althouse said...

This wasn't before the interview. It was during the interview. By phone.

Ann Althouse said...

I've changed the title to make it clear that I was on the telephone....

Unknown said...

The first photograph captures the essence of the clouds way more than the others. Strange - since the clouds only take up half the picture in that one.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Jeez, you are becoming another Bob Graham and I am reading about it.

XWL said...

So does this list of distractions mean the interview was full of unengaging questions that didn't deserve better than a rote response?

Or did the physical distractions actually help focus your mind on the conversation?

Ann Althouse said...

XWL: Actually, I was doing pretty boring things. Walking the same walk to work, ironing my hair... I don't have a problem talking at the same time! It was significantly less challenging than driving while talking. The photography was a bit distracting, but that was at the very end. I wish I'd recorded the interview, actually, because I said some things in a way I would have liked to remember that would have been valuable for something I'm writing.

Ann Althouse said...

Meade: With a scholar who is doing a study.

Ann Althouse said...

Richard: I have 2 cameras (and an old one I don't use anymore), but you can always tell what the camera is by clicking on the picture. The info about the camera is over there on the right.

Anonymous said...

Those cloud pix are way cool. Was delighted to have the same 3-D vibe here in nebraska today.

Maxine Weiss said...

You must start curling your hair!

Pin curls? Shirley Temple ringlets?

http://maxinesplace.blogspot.com/

Peace, Maxine

Rick Lee said...

I posted a lot of cloud photos this week also. It's a good time of year for it I guess.

Brendan.. where've you been? Girls have been ironing their hair for 40 years. I remember my sister doing it in the 60s. A friend of mine (who is only 20-something years old) commented a few days ago that she ironed her hair. If you want it straight, that's what you do.

Ann Althouse said...

Brendan: No, though I do remember people attempting that in the 60s. I use this fabulous product.

Maxine Weiss said...

"Girls have been ironing their hair for 40 years. I remember my sister doing it in the 60s. A friend of mine (who is only 20-something years old) commented a few days ago that she ironed her hair. If you want it straight, that's what you do."--Rick Lee

That's totally not what you do.

You get some leave-in conditioner/blow-styling mousse, get your blow-dryer, and give your arms a good work-out.

I know a little bit about beauty trends, and white women don't iron their hair.

Even black women aren't ironing their hair, unless they want to be bald in 5 years.

Isn't it interesting, how the rise in these ridiculous flat irons, has also led to an increase in hair pieces, and extensions...

...to make up for the damage.

Peace, Maxine

Nick said...

During the interview? How polite of you to give your full attention to someone like that. I'm sure they appreciated it.

Ann Althouse said...

Nick, you don't walk outside while talking on the cell phone? Also, you seem to miss the point that I was the interviewee not the interviewer. Frankly, walking helps me talk on the phone and makes me less distracted. The other things I did because I was trying to get out of the house so I could walk during the interview, which had been my plan.

Maxine Weiss said...

When I really want to insult someone, when I'm on the phone, I'll make sure they can hear papers rustling in the background.

Does anyone give anything their full attention span these days?

I'm afraid we've lost the ability to focus on a single thought/idea.

Time to start reading William Faulkner, where one sentence goes on for a single page---Sound and Fury.

You have no choice but to focus with that.

Peace, Maxine

Nick said...

Sure I walk when I talk... but thats a little different than the half dozen other things you mentioned while being interviewed.

And as far as differentiated between the interviewing and being interviewed... I think its just as important to be be attentive no matter who is asking the questions.

Squints said...

Ironed your hair? You mean, like Penny Pingleton?