100 Club Spotlight interview with Sojourn.
1. Tell us a little about your blog.
My blog, Desert Pond was actually launched just before I found Squidoo. I was looking for something to do online, grabbed a domain name and started a blog. The next week, while continuing to do research on just exactly what one does with a blog, I found Squidoo. The blog then took a back seat for several months. Now, Desert Pond is really just a place for me to write about little pieces of my life. It’s mostly a way for my mom to keep tabs on me. In fact, if I don’t write a little post in there every now and then I get little reminders from her.
2. What is your favorite topic to write about?
My kids are my favorite topic to write about – my six year old, in particular. While all of my children are adorable and entertaining (of course!), I had my six year old a little later in life than the other two and as a result my perspective on the antics of small kids has mellowed. Sometimes I’ll work at home for my regular job and the boys understand that they are not to disturb me “unless blood is involved” (my husband is a stay at home dad so it’s not like they’re abandoned…just so know one gets concerned). The other day, there was a knock on the door and my six year old is standing there with what looks like a nose bleed. I immediately run to him only to discover he has taken red marker and colored in a bloody nose so that he can come chat with me. His creativity amazes me. How can you not laugh?
3. Which of your many lenses was first and why did you write it?
My first lens was Macro for Online Contests . Last year, a friend of mine had asked if I wouldn’t help his daughter participate in an online singing contest. He’s absolutely not a techie type of person and was concerned about his daughter being able to set up her profile, load videos, etc. So, I helped her get started and then helped promote her in the contest by raising votes, voting endlessly myself, and trying to figure out how to start some sort of viral campaign around her. While I understood computers, I did not understand social networking nor just how competitive online contests can get. This lens was sort of an overview of a few of the tools that I discovered during that time.
Just a few weeks ago, someone emailed me through this lens about helping his niece and her fiance in an online contest. They had been selected as one of five couples eligible for a radio contest for the grand prize of a free honeymoon to Bermuda. I gave him some tips and then I used every little social networking connection I have to try to get the word out. I tweeted, I posted in forums, I posted on one of my other blogs. A few days later, this couple won the contest and the uncle sent me a very nice thank you note.
4. What is your favorite Matt Damon movie?
My favorite Matt Damon movie? Easy – Ocean’s Eleven. Or Rounders….no, wait, The Bourne Identity…darn. I can’t choose just one. 
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