• Otir: You have been blogging for a very long period of time now, as I see archives back to April 2004. What keeps you so long in the blogging business?

  Ingrid: That's a really good question. I think that I have periods in which I isolate myself, and blogging is an outlet, and a way to reach out to others. I have met some creative, loving and wonderful people through blogging. It often restores my faith in people. I initially started blogging just to get in the habit of writing more often for pleasure (rather than for work). . . I have kind of gotten away from this. Thanks for the reminder :) (My blog has gone through phases where I write a lot and then I just post links for months... depends on my energy level.

• Otir: Your blurb underlines the "need to be real". Does that mean some other areas in your life are not allowing to be "real"? If so, could you please tell us more about it?

  Ingrid: No, it is more of a personal mantra. :) To not get caught up in superficial things and stay grounded in real relationships and interaction. That with all of the silliness, worries, day-to-day routine and hedonistic pleasures in life, there too is room for moments of reflection and pause and that those moments are important.

• Otir: I read your "about me" section and immediately want to jump on your mention that you "want to be loved". Although I definitely can relate to that one, I would love to hear you tell me if blogging has fulfilled that want or if, of course, any other thing in your life has, that you are willing to share with us in this interview.

  Ingrid: Hmmm. I don't think I started blogging in order to be loved, but I have met people through blogging who I love and from whom I feel loved. I think that we all feel a longing for love (?) and with that a desire to be accepted but also challenged. But yeah, there's also the incredibly insecure part of me that wants the external validation that comes with someone else saying, "You're great. I love you. Keep on keeping on. It'll be ok." (I read somewhere that all of us involved in various social media are ultimately narcissists or people who get personal validation through others..."@claydevout "social media is primarily the domain of easily wounded narcissists.""  I can see a grain of truth in this although I don't want to admit it. ;P)

• Otir: I would naturally be more interested in asking you personal questions (like how old are you, or what is the name of your hometown) but I noticed that very little was available through your list of 75 items or about, so I wonder if this is deliberate, and if so, why?

  Ingrid: It is deliberate. I figured that my blog isn't a CV and, by my own choice, it is definitely not a tool for business or personal marketing. In this context, I don't think that these types of details about myself are important or very interesting. I reveal things only if I'm comfortable. I definitely don't like talking about people in my day-to-day life since it seems to be an infringement on their privacy. Did you find that this is missing? (BTW: I'm 41 and Canadian)

• Otir: I was thrilled to notice that apart from Neil, I found at least another blogger I befriended and now I am wondering if you are in the translating world, which I would think it a natural thing if you live in the Netherlands were I assume everyone is fluent in many languages. My question is: are you fluent in more than Dutch and English?

  Ingrid: No, I'm not officially a translator but I have done some translation of marketing texts. :) (I'm a freelance writer/editor.) I'm actually Canadian and have been living in Amsterdam for just over 9 years. While my Dutch is definitely better than when I first moved here, my English is still better. :) But you are sooo right in your assumption, a lot of Dutch people are pretty amazing with languages.

I did enjoy Ingrid's responses to my pretty personal questions, and certainly feel more connected to her, just by virtue of having had to interview her. I hope you will visit her blog and pass on the connection!

To participate in the Great Interview Experiment, go to Neil's blogpost and comment!