Last year ARMCHAIR Magazine interviewed the mysterious blogger Otin for their special one named superstars issue. Although Otin has lost his A list status and followed in the footsteps of other one named has beens such as Cher, Prince, and Madonna, we at ACM still find him an interesting subject.
We sent our reporter, Lou Zerr, to Otin's home for an update on his life. They sat in Otin's living room sipping diet soda and eating chips and salsa.
LOU: Otin, may I call you Otin?
OTIN: Sure, and you are Lou Zerr?
LOU: Yes, nice to meet you. now lets get down to the interview. You seemed to have fallen off of the face of the blog world lately. You were a once a day poster and a sun up to sun down commenter at one time. What happened?
OTIN: I was, but then I realized that life was more important than blogging. Not only that, but my blog has become a story blog and not much more. If I don't have any current story ideas then I don't have any posts.
LOU: What about the commenting?
OTIN: Trying to keep up with everyone's blog would be like going to high school and writing every one in the entire school a personalized note once a day. I know people are there, I don't forget about them, but house work, yard work, and a full time job take up most of my time.
LOU: Last time we interviewed you, you did not say much about your personal life. Are things still the same? If I recall, we agreed not to talk about it during the last session.
OTIN: My personal life is totally different. Sometimes in life we end up with the wrong people around us and just settle into a routine and convince ourselves that everything is okay. In the mean time, we do things like overeat and become blog addicts in order to try to put a bandage on our unhappiness. To answer your question, my personal life is wonderful. I am very much in love with a wonderful, beautiful, and intelligent woman.
LOU: Care to name her?
OTIN: I think that everyone knows her by now (chuckles)
LOU: Do you ever edit yourself for content when you write something? It seems like there are people who you slightly offend on occasion.
OTIN: I pull my punches a bit. When writing, I don't really have a limit as to where I will go, but sometimes I will hold back because something is just way over the top and I know that it will really bother some people.
LOU: Your commenting style has drastically changed from last year. You used to dwell in the gutter a lot more. People seemed to like it. Why did you change?
OTIN: A few reasons. Number one is that things run their course and get a little old after a while. I did it for attention and to try to attract a following to my blog. I don't care about that any more. Number two is that it would be disrespectful to the woman who I love.
LOU: In our last interview you also stated that you were an atheist. Will that ever change?
OTIN: It already has. They say that it takes a miracle to make some people see life differently. I think that a lot of things lined up in my life that were so unbelievable that the odds of them occurring one after another were a million to one. I am not saying that I am suddenly religious, I am just saying that I am open to possibilities and welcome change.
LOU: What are your views on the Gulf Oil Spill?
OTIN: One of my first thoughts is that what ever happened to our oil shortage? Two years ago we were paying $4.00 dollars a gallon because oil was scarce and now we have enough to fill up the gulf of Mexico. (Laughs). I also think that demonizing BP is kind of silly. It could have been any company, and some day probably will. They all take shortcuts and BP was just the one that it backfired on.
LOU: How about politics? You still independent?
OTIN: Yea, I think that extremes either way are not good. Take for example "The right to bear arms". Go too far to the left and they don't want you to be able to own a sling shot, and then go too far to the right and they want howitzers in everyone's yard. Balance is best.
LOU: One last question for now..... What is the future for you as a blogger?
OTIN: I think that it is winding down. I like to write and may just throw a story up every now and then, but I think that my days of spending hours in front of the computer are coming to an end. It is a natural progression.
LOU: Thank you OTIN, we wish you the best in the future.
39 comments:
Nice interview.
Winding down?
*sad face*
But you gotta do what you gotta do. Hopefully you'll throw us a bone once in awhile.
Hey friend, this was an ingenious way of bringing everyone up-to-date on where things are in your life. I always think it's best to do what's right for you, regardless of what anyone else thinks. As for me, I'll miss your stories and everything else you graced us with. I sure hope that you don't disappear altogether, or that would be a blogging catastrophe bigger than the BP oil spill.
I miss you too and think about you all the time. I'm so happy for you and BV. You'd have been proud of me earlier this week... I told someone what I thought about their post. It reminded of the time I disagreed with you... but I'm not sure this time will spark a great friendship.
Oh well live and learn. Post sometimes and keep in touch. xoxox
That was a great way to tell your story, Otin.
I hope you will still post a story occasionally and let us know how you are doing!
Thanks for bringing us up to date. I agree, there is no way you can comment on every blog, every day. I have had to find some middle ground, as well. I love blogging and my blogging buddies, but I think they have a life, too.
It is hard to keep up with blogger!! I find myself only posting every few weeks now. I'm glad everything is going well with you!!
i wish you the best otin. glad you still take my phone calls...dont give that up...smiles. and all the best to you and your lady...
I really relate to a lot of your answers about blogging. I'm not sure when I'll be in your place, but I definitely see it in my future; life is too short to not have balance in the blogging world :) I enjoyed getting to know you (and came by way of Matty's blog.)
Also sad about the winding down part...but I understand why.
I haven't known you long, but I know I'll miss you. Just keep you hand in now and then please Otin. I do understand that real life, if it's good, will take precedence over a blog life and no one can blame you for that. Love you... go well...
I have to say that none of this was new to me. Reading your blog and watching the changes come about has been a good thing. Reading your words as you become true to yourself and not out for ratings has had me cheering you on for some time. Hugs to you and BV.
Hi Otin. It's been a long time. Funny that I stop here as I have been "gone" from blogland also. If you have time, read my last entry. I think we are on the same wavelengh. when life gets in the way of our blogging it is not good. I am thrilled you are in a good relationship. you post made me smile. cheers!
Thanks for the interview and update. I know what you mean about evolving. You know, a blog is a living thing and just like us, it should change and grow and morph and perhaps even die.
Right now I am struggling with grief and my cooking blog has turned into something else. I feel bad for it. Ha. I don't know where it will end up (or me for that matter) but I do know it has forever changed.
Life's short, gotta live it =]
Kudos to you!
We'll miss you being around though.
i'm pretty much where you are. although you were always much more of a blogger than myself.
this is a great way to tell all your many fans that life is always moving (forward preferably), and you're on the tread mill with it.
best to you dear Otin and Blue Violet. i hope your happiness and love is always binding you together.
smiles, a hug, and tears,
jessie
I hear you. Sometimes I feel much the same. I find it exhausting to try to keep up with everyone - especially those bloggers who place post after post after post. I just can't keep up with them. That's probably why I have so few comments unless I do something like Theme Thursday or Magpie. Some of my better stuff goes almost unnoticed. It's a bit of a bummer.
Then, too, I do have a life - like you. So best of everything, Otin! We will hail each other now and then as we pass like ships in the night. Or something.
I also wish you he best of luck. You and BV are very lucky! I also will be here to read and comment on anything you toss up here! :)
I guess I'll be the lucky one who will always get to see you, even after the blog is long gone. I love you, baby!
bv- That is the most important thing to me. I love you dearly!
Like we girls, a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do. Change in life is a good thing.
Hugs to you on the next phase of your life and to you and Mizz Violet. Does my heart good to see you guys moving forward.
Move on & Move forward.
Will still visit you when you post.
You sound like you are in a great place. I'm happy for you!
Great interview, Otin. It sounds like you are really happy, and I'm really happy for you. :)
love your interviews. well, all your stuff really... even though i haven't had a lot of time to read or comment on it lately.
Hah well nice to see you alive and kicking. Mine's winding down a lot too but I never did it because I had nothing else to do or because my life was crap. Au contrare, my life is/was pretty good, I just got sick of watching the box every evening. You were a follower fisher? Well I never. Good luck to you mate, keep in touch.
Love the interview and I agree with others, great way to bring people up-to-date.
I think blogging has an ebb and flow. I'm blogging a lot less these days, and have seen bloggers disappear to later appear 4 months later.
Blogging really opened a new world for you and I think that is great. Enjoy life.
Amazing how love can change your life. I'm happy for you, even if it means we lose a friend in blogland. Be well and happy with BlueViolet!
*hugs*
well Otie, you were a star for awhile, and that counts for something!
Real life IS more important, but we've made some great friends online. Cheers!
I do hope you will post a story as often as you can. I wish you and BV all the best!! Stay in touch....I still want to meet you both!!
Yep, we gotta do what we gotta do in life; and we'd all be happier if we adhered to that philosophy. Good luck Otin, will look out for your occasional post.
Sometimes, I confess, I miss the old Otie. But mostly I am glad you are moving forward, and happy. Lucky BV!
Although I'm sad to hear that you might be moving away from blogging, I'm not totally surprised. It's been great seeing/reading the joy come into your life with BV and I wish you both all the happiness your hearts can hold.
But... I hope you check in from time to time. I'm keeping you on my sidebar so I won't miss your visits.
Cheers to you both! jj
wonderful Interview.. I know the future is very very bright!!!
I had been wondering what was going on with you and with my being in and out of blogging, depending on the day, somehow I missed this post. I am happy that you are busy living life and that you have found such a great woman as BV is. It's funny...as I was reading where you talk about how you used to be to who you are now..I remember seeing your comments way back on various blogs and then somewhere down the road I noticed a change in you. I thought it was a really cool change. I have really enjoyed your writing. I wish the best to you. Here's to living life! :)
Otin, post when you can, and comment when you want to. I enjoy your writing, especially your twists.
Happiness is one of life's goals and I'm please to see you have found it your happiness and held on tight. Enjoy.... and say hi to the missus for me too. =)
Waaahhh!...okay, I'll pull myself together. Otin, every time you do one of these "interviews", we feel like we get to know you better as a friend. You've made alot of friends here and we wish you and BV the best!
Great interview. :0
Life goes on...whether we blog or not. Right?
What's up, dude. It's been a while. Life always gets in the way of blogging - and rightfully so. Very understandable. I enjoyed the interview and getting caught up.
Speaking of your religious comment...I'm the last person to talk about religion, or even books for that matter, but if you're talking about possibilities and change, check out a book called "The Shack." A lot of Atheists have commented that it was very interesting to them.
Anyway, TTYL.
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