Witty, Sarcastic and Fun, “Rose And The City” brings it.

Rose and the City

Me: Your blog’s name is Rose and the City.  I read some Shakespeare and a quote I remember is a “rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Is that true when it comes to you?

Rose: I just wrote a post about names the other day, titled “What’s In A Name?” I believe that names have a lot to do with who we become. I think being given the name of an old lady and the chick from Titanic helped shape who I am, and helped bless me with a catchy blog title. “Agatha And The City” doesn’t quite have the same appeal.

Me: It certainly doesn’t. Your first blog post titled I Have Arrived was written on July 19th 2008.  That’s a day I bet you remember extremely well.   Can you describe what you were doing and feeling like then?

Rose: Wow, you have done your homework! Yes, That is the day that I left my home in Minnesota, after the end of a tumultuous three-year relationship with an alcoholic ex-boyfriend, and decided I needed a fresh start in New York. The day I started my blog, was the day I arrived.

The first post describes the scene when I crossed the bridge, at sunset, blasting “New York New York”. I probably looked like a total asshat singing and crying down the highway, but it turned out to be the fresh start I needed to move on with my life.

The original reason I started Rose And The City was to keep in touch with my Minnesota friends and make them jealous by making it seem like I was leading an awesomely glamorous life in the Big Apple.

Me: That’s probably a common reason that causes many people to start blogging.    In one of your very first posts you mention that you never really got into “Sex in the City” though you know you’re better because you’re living it?  Are you still in the City? What about the sex?

Rose: I actually wound up getting into “Sex And The City” and I’m only slightly ashamed to admit it!  “Technically” I was living near  NYC  in the suburbs of Long Island. Now I am back in Minnesota, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, known as the Twin Cities, yet I have kept the same name, as “Rose And The Cities” just doesn’t have that same appeal. As far as the sex went, when I was living on Long Island…well…you’ve seen Jersey Shore? That’s what 99% of the guys in my age bracket are like out there. Fist-pumping and tanning. I am just not the Guido-worshiping kinda lady.

Me: I do know what Jersey Shore is like.   Did you completely quit smoking to drive the “Jerry’s CUDA” or was it just to get Jerry to let you drive it?

Rose: I did not actually wind up quitting smoking. My uncle has had that car since I was a baby. It used to be yellow and I called it the Bananacuda. It has been my dream to drive it ever since I could walk. The problem is, I don’t believe he’d ever let me near the steering wheel. I think it was just because he wanted me to quit smoking. I will settle for rides in the passenger seat! Evidently my love for nicotine exceeds my love for American muscle cars.

Me: Though you did get to live your dream. Have you given up on any of your other addictions, which at the time you moved to NY were tanning, French fries, bad 90s music and men that are bad for your health?

Rose: French fries are still pretty much awesome, and I will NEVER stop loving bad 80s and 90s music! But I did manage to kick the habit of dating crappy men who don’t deserve me and I don’t tan nearly so much. So I guess two out of five ain’t so bad, right?

Me: I think Meatloaf sang something like that. Moving to NY seemed to have you questioning life.  Shortly after your move you started reading the book “20 Something 20 Everything” which talks about people in their 20s having quarter-life crisis because of “shoulds v. wants.”  Have you stopped “shoulding all over yourself?”

Rose: Because of the circumstances surrounding my move to NY, combined with the fact that I didn’t have a job for a month or two after I moved out there, I had a lot of time to think, heal…and evidently go tanning in the pool.  I have tried to stop “shoulding” all over myself as much as possible, because my life had become a big pile of “should.” I learned that the only person I have to deal with at the end of the day is myself. It’s a difficult and never-ending battle, but most of the time I am able to put aside the “should” other people dump on me, and just do what makes me happy and brings me fulfillment.

Me: It is a never-ending battle. In 2009 you gave up on your blog. Was it the sex part?

Rose: In 2009 I moved back to Minnesota, and was attempting to go back to school to finish my degree (a lingering pile of “should”) I didn’t have much time to write, and wasn’t feeling very inspired. It unfortunately had nothing to do with sex. I wish it had though.

Me: In mid-2009, you moved back to Minnesota, and on February 5th 2010 your grandmom whom you had stayed with in NY passed away. Can you describe what impact she had on your life?

Rose: Nana was by far the most influential person in my life. She was my grandmother, but also like a mother and best friend. Losing her was one of the most devastating things in my life. She was a strong-minded, hilarious woman, who had a talent for making people laugh. I am so grateful that life turned out the way it did, that the end of my bad/unhealthy relationship brought me to NY while she was undergoing chemo, and that I was able to spend a year living with her before she passed away. We drove each other crazy at times, because we were so alike in our stubborn personalities, but we both knew how much we loved each other. She was my biggest fan, no matter what I did, and I know she would be so happy to see that I am writing again, because she’d always encouraged my creativity since I was a young child.

Me: You definitely were given her gift of humor. I strongly believe there is a reason and a purpose for everything. Looking back now the gift of NY seems clear. In your blog a number of your posts are about dating,  but not that many are about sex aside from men wanting to hit the sheets too fast. Is your blog primarily a creative outlet for the life of someone single looking to hook up?

Rose: My blog has gone through a number of changes and has evolved since it first started. I went through a phase where I was dating a lot, and thought some of the stories were too good not to share.  There’s not a whole lot of sexin’ going on in my blog (I have family members that read it!) but I figured my adventures in dating might benefit others who are wondering why the hell they are attracting whackos. Now that I am in a steady relationship, you don’t see much about dating anymore, as I have evolved again into other topics.

Me: There are still are many readers who can benefit from anything you discovered to keep whackos away. In 2010 it seems like you made a definite decision about what kind of blog you want. Your blogging appears more focused on giving readers an uplifting experience. Am I imagining this or do you have a new focus and a new reason for blogging?

Rose: My main goal is for everyone to have a good time. Sometimes I say things that I know will offend or upset, simply because I think people need to loosen up and learn to laugh at themselves. No one has achieved perfection (at least not to my knowledge. If you are out there, please contact me. k? thx.) so we can all learn from each other’s experiences, and share a laugh. The world needs more laughter, so I try to incorporate humor into the everyday. Sometimes my posts are more serious, but there’s almost always that snarky, tongue-in-cheekiness that makes Rose And The City what it is!

Me: You definitely have found your voice and a good direction.   What changed in your life that reengaged you in blogging?

Rose: Now that I am taking a break from real education again (heh) I have a bit more spare time so I can finally put forth the effort I want to with my blog. I have always loved writing and drawing, and have struggled to find ways to achieve the creative outlet I am looking for. I enjoy writing and art more when I know that other people are able to experience it and appreciate it (ok, so I am a bit of an attention whore at times…who isn’t?). I love to share my thoughts and opinions. I am Irish, Greek and Italian…you can’t find a stronger personality or someone more opinionated. It just isn’t molecularly possible.

Me: You are a highly-expressive person. Add to that a big sense of humor and you have a winner. How has all this blogging and social media stuff changed your world?

Rose: It’s really given me perspective because the more I write, the more I read and appreciate the writing of others. It’s opened up a lot of ideas and windows into things I never thought of before. It has brought me new friendships and given me the freedom to express myself creatively.  It’s really humbling to see how many people are interested in what I have to say, despite the fact that there are literally tens of millions of websites and blogs out there. It’s really amazing to think that in today’s world, where we are so saturated with media, people will take five or ten minutes out of their chaotic day simply to read what I have to say. That to me is worth more than anything else. That and now I am totally and helplessly addicted to Facebook, Twitter and Blogger. I’m a blogaholic.

Me: At least that addiction is unlikely to kill you.  Seriously though, you have amazing perspectives. It’s so important to recognize that it is five or ten minutes out of a person’s life that they are taking to read something we have written.    Looking into the future,  where would you like to be a year from now?  Doing what?  Living where?   Perhaps back in NYC?  Married?  Single?  A Published author?  Famous blogger?

Rose: In the next year, I think there will be more changes and growth both for myself, and for Rose And The City.  I am currently living with my wonderful boyfriend Andrew, our dog Bear, and cat Loki who you will see make regular appearances on my blog.  Andrew and I have discussed the possibility of marriage, though it is nothing set in stone yet, so you will have to stay tuned for that!

I would love to be a famous blogger in a year’s time, but I will be perfectly happy with steady growth and satisfied readers. I have said before that while I would absolutely love to make money writing, because writing is what I love doing. I have a few ideas for potential books swirling around in my brain at the moment, so becoming a “real” published author is definitely something I would be interested in when the time is right.  I have always dreamed of being able to quit my thankless job as a “copy jockey” and be able to write full time. While I don’t know if that will happen quite as soon as I would like, I really hope that it does happen eventually!

Me: There is absolutely no reason why your dreams can’t come true.

Blog:   Rose in the City

BC:   Blogger Bio

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