On Public Speaking and My Blathering Vlog

Public speaking is a HUGE fear of mine.  One I've had from elementary school days that has only slightly abated over the years.  My earliest memory of standing in front of a group was in grade school, doing a book report.  I began with "um" and tried to proceed from there.  But my teacher would say, "Don't say UM."  And I'd inevitably say it again and again, finally getting started after four or five 'ums.'  Thankfully, we always seemed to have a table or a podium on which to still my hands.  I realized this was a problem when I attended Space Camp a few years later.  Oh yes, I did. 

I was TWELVE!

You were assigned a team upon arrival that you did everything with (just like in the movie!), including the construction of a space station.  Upon completion, each team member had to present their portion of the station.  This was in front of HUNDREDS of other campers with a MICROPHONE and NO PODIUM.  When it was my turn to talk, my hands shook so bad that one of my teammates had to come up and make me move the paper away from the mic, because it kept hitting it and making an awful sound.  Yeah.

Fast forward a few dozen years and, as an HR professional, I became pretty used to talking in front of groups: new hire orientations, benefits presentations, interviews, etc.  I pretty much chalk that up to the fact that as the years go on, I care less and less about what people think of me.  BUT.  It has been a verrrrrry long time since I've had to speak in front of a group of people.  That's pretty much how I felt while recording this video for The Blathering.  A blog/twitter conference-type thing with zero meetings, breakout sessions and all the stuff you don't want in a conference!  Just hanging out, eating and drinking!  I'm so excited to meet all these gals; some of whom I've read online since my first kiddo was born.  So, yeah, I cared while I was making it and get a little goofy.  

But, I wanted to save it for posterity here since it's my first vlog - and probably my last, until another Blathering.  So, if you've ever wondered what my answers might be to these burning questions below, you're in luck!  (If you can't see the embedded Youtube vid below, here's the link.)  I'm going to go hide in a corner now...  

The Blathering 2015 Questionnaire

1. Name, Age, Where You’re From, Kids? Names? Ages?
2. Is this your first Blathering?
3. Who are your roommates?
4. Agree or Disagree: Keri Russell is a National Treasure.
5. You are driving from Lanse, MI to Duluth, MN in a Ford Taurus you borrowed from your sister. A cassette single is stuck on play in the tape deck. You can turn the volume down, but you can’t turn it off or eject it. What song would you choose to play?
6. Would you rather be attacked by a large bear or a swarm of bees?
7. M, S, K: Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig
8. Why isn’t Freddie Prinze Jr. getting more work? America today is so screwed up you guys.
9. Would you rather: Tom Selleck now or David Hasselhoff 20 years ago? 
10. How old is Mariah Carey? Don’t look it up, it would ruin it. I saw a rerun of SNL from 1990 when Patrick Swayze was hosting and she looked like she was 30. So now I’m just confused.
11. With the obvious exceptions of Christmas movies and The Wind That Shakes the Barley, what movie could you watch over and over and over again?
12. You are forced at gunpoint to wear a pair of pants with a word written across the butt, but you can choose the word. What is that word?
13. Do you have any opinions regarding recent changes in the Washington State regulatory code?
14. Can you name all the Spice Girls? Which one is the best? Hint: The correct answer is Fancy Spice.
15. True or False: I have glued rhinestones to my face.
16. Please describe your idea of a perfect date.
17. Favorite Batman?
18. Do you feel that Sandra Bullock was more powerful in Miss Congeniality or Steel Magnolias? Discuss.
19. Is Alaska an island?
20. Team Fritz or Team Jake?
21. If Bjork owned a polar bear, what would she name it?
22. Do you think you’re different in real life than how you appear on the internet?
23. You are worth two hundred billion dollars. You are flying commercial from Sydney to Los Angeles. Leonardo DiCaprio is sitting behind you. He offers you a drink. Do you take it
24. Would you rather poop your pants or barf in public?
25. Woo hoo see you soon are you excited?