Mermaids, meet PNN. PNN Bloggers, allow me to introduce you to the Waterworld Mermaids.
Before I was a Waterworld Mermaid, I was the Question Lady. For over two years, I blogged on a site called the Personal News Network (PNN), asking a daily Question of the Day. I wrote a short story, asked a question and read all of the comments that came in. 
Besides my Question, the blogs on PNN spanned many interests: healthy eating, marriage, travel, friendship, poetry etc. We had a book club, contests, did a monthly Girls Night Out via chat board and most importantly read, commented and supported each other.
Just like the Mermaids, PNN became an important part of my life.
Sadly, PNN is no longer around but the majority of us PNN bloggers stay in touch via a Super Secret Group Page on Facebook.
My PNN peeps are among the first I go to when something happy, sad or just crazy happens in my life. (Boy have they gotten an earful this year!) I’ve watched PNNers get married, divorced, have kids, relocate, go to grad school, buy houses, publish books, get annoyed with their spouses, buy cute shoes and so much more.
Blogging is such an interesting medium. It can be frivolous, crazy, boring, obnoxious and/or self-serving. For me, I suppose it’s the latter, self-serving. I have gained so many friends, both online and in-person, through blogging and other forms of social media.
PNN has been on my mind lately. Maybe because September is my blogiversary month. Or maybe because two of our former PNNers (The Bloggess and Brene Brown) were just on Katie Couric’s new talk show – Holy Cow! Whatever the reason, I just wanted to give a big shout-out to both PNN and my Mermaids. You are all saucy, raunchy and super sparkliciously fabulous. I’m lucky to have you in my life and I will leave you with this little coincidence.
Interestingly, “Waterworld” was in my life long before the Mermaids came around. My very first post on PNN talked about it, and I used to repost that Question of the Day every blogiversary. For your viewing enjoyment, here it is, my very first Question of the Day post:
Originally posted: September 24, 2008
Quite a few years ago I met a very stereotypical Italian man named John-Luigi. John-Luigi said he owned exactly two American movies and these two films were what he used to base his entire opinion of American culture.
Those two films were “Animal House” and “Waterworld.”
Question of the Day: What two films would you use to sum up American culture?
In the comments, tell me if (and how) blogging has changed your life or feel free to answer the Question of the Day.
Animal House and Waterworld? Mind blown. I love movies so of course I love this questions of the day. My vote is for two recent superhero movies: The Avengers (hopeful, underdogs, cocky, funny, willing to fight no matter the odds) and Batman: The Dark Knight (cynical, smart, jaded and still willing to fight the good fight).
Good ones, Avery-Mermaid. I seem to remember a lot of people answered with movies like Forest Gump, the Godfather and American Graffiti.
Pnn gave me the chance to meet wonderful young ladies like you! I’m not sure there will every be a place like PNN again. I feel very fortunate to have all of you in my life. PNN was a place I kept all for myself in my life and there are days when I miss it more than you know. Big hugs!
Ah, me too, MoM!!! But at least we still have Facebook! 😉
ever not every
Hi PNN Bloggers! Waterworld mermaid here. Nice to meet you! How has blogging changed my life? Well, it introduced me to this group of fantastic women writers! I’d never belonged to a community of writers before, and it is exhilarating to have the friendship and support of people who are doing the same thing as me.
I agree, Pintip-Mermaid! With PNN, I continue to see all of the things I gained even now years later. I expect the same will happen with the Mermaids! 😉
Clueless and Apocalypse Now are my movie choices. I don’t blog, but I read quite a few. I see them as my personalized magazine.
Hi Mary Jo! LOVE those movie choices! 😉
Ha! I remember that question and answering it differently both times. PNN changed my life. Without those ladies (and the one gentledude), I’d never have had the courage to find my voice as a writer, as a woman, as a struggling human being. Supportive connections are important. Thanks to the Great Amazing Internet, a lot of us have found the support and camaraderie that have perhaps eluded us in our “real” lives. I’ll always be grateful to Sally G who gently, but strongly, encouraged me to join PNN.
Happy Blogiversary, K-Boo!
PS – I wonder whatever became of Bathhouse.
OMG – I wonder about Bathhouse all the time! (Mermaids, Bathhouse was this adamant follower of Question of the Day. I think he actually named me the Question Lady. He was sooo funny! And commented every single day.)
Thanks for stopping by, Jen-boo! 😉
Happy Blogiversary, Kerri! PNN was like a girl’s dorm with an occasional guy visitor. The majority of people there were so cool (albeit we had a few that were jerks.) I’ve never seen another site like it. You summed up the time since we’ve left the site and FB has helped keep that connection. The offshoot blogs have taken a while to find, but I appreciate hearing so much about your thoughts on writing, etc. You are so talented! And here’s a toast to the Mermaids out there from teh PNN group! Cheers!
*Clinks glasses right back*
Thanks for stopping by! I love the description of a dorm – that’s perfect!!!
My movies would still be “Forest Gump” and now it would be “The Avengers”, although you must watch “Captain America” first.
I don’t blog, tweet, or face?, but because of Kerri, I have been an avid follower of her PNN blog and the Mermaids…and, also, because she is just so darn talented!
Thanks Mom!!!! Smoochies! 😉
Happy anniversary and here’s to another year of your contined growth and enjoyment of being a blogger and writer.
Thanks Across the Hall!
Hey Sweetie! I miss you! And I miss Question of the Day! So two movies? How about two TV shows? I’m thinking “FRIENDS” and “Sex and the City.”
I just think they both touch on so many different things that all American’s like, love and hate. I’ll have to answer your second question another time – or in a blog because that could take forever to answer! Take care.
Thanks Gen! Good tv shows. Hmmmm, this question could really interesting if we used tv shows instead of movies. 😉
Kerri! I just realized – what about that movie, “Valentines Day” – ??? That might be a good one for almost everyone tends to obsess in one way or another on that day!
Happy Blogversary! What a movie–Waterworld. I love that coincidence and the way it has brought you to different places in your life. And I’m extra happy that you landed in this pond with us! Blogging is cool!
Thanks, Carlene-Mermaid! You know what’s really funny? I’ve never actually watched Waterworld. 😉
Blogging in a group setting like this is so great because of the friendships cultivated through time, common interests and fun discussions. That’s the only reason I blog right now.
As for the movies, I like THE BREAKFAST CLUB. I love when movies have people of different backgrounds because that’s really what American culture is all about. We’re all different, but yet we are the same. Although it was a YA-type movie at the time, most of us have grown up knowing that movie, so, yeah. That would be my first choice.
Not sure about a second one. Forrest Gump would be a good choice, but it’s already been taken. My husband is throwing in his two cents with AMERICAN BEAUTY. I guess I can see that. Uptight people. Failing marriages. Lusty thoughts. Struggles with sexuality. It pretty much has everything.
Great post, Kerri. Sorry I’m arriving so late to the party. It’s been one of those weeks….
Boo for “those weeks” but I understand! Breakfast Club is a good choice. Now I’m just sitting here thinking of all the teen movies I love. 😉
Truthfully, Kerri, I don’t think any of those sum up American culture because all of them miss the culture of trhose of us who live in the heartland. We’re a tough group to capture on film, and “Fargo” sure didn’t come close. The others capture youth, a time in the past, east and western culture, but here in the middle…nada, nothing really can capture our essense that I can think of. Of course, not much captures the Southwestern culture, either. That means there’s lots of material still out there in the film industry.
This feels nostalgic even though I don’t know movies so well. 🙂 Yup- I miss the PNN days, too. Thank heavens, we were rescued by FB! One of these days, when my inn is built, I will plan a PNN retreat. I might be walking with a cane by then . . . like that would stop me.