Torrance resident MaryRuth writes what you might call a "comfort blog." She's lived in the South Bay for nearly 30 years, and though she says she's picked up a bit of California cynicism, her posts are cheerful and charming. She planned it that way. "From the beginning I wanted this to be a fun blog. No rants or meanness," MaryRuth writes.
In her blog Where's the Bubbler, MaryRuth looks at South Bay life from her Midwesterners' perspective. The Wisconsin native's blog is a mix of local loves, like malasadas at the Torrance farmer's market and nostalgia for the "motherland," as she calls it, with posts about the plight of candy raisins and Brett Favre.
Many of her posts deal with her love of food. In fact, her dream is to open a "comfort food" restaurant, which seems approproriate for the personality of her blog.
Read on for a Q&A with the latest South Bay blogger added to our blogroll.
When and why did you start blogging?
After I got my new computer last year, I really had fun reading blogs. Mostly food ones. Then I started thinking, "Hey I could do this!" I think my first post was June 2007.
For whom are you writing? Who is your target audience?
I know my family reads it, but I don't really have a target in mind.
I guess people with time to waste reading blogs.
Your blog bio says you design circuit boards, but would really love to open a small restaurant. What are your culinary specialties? What are some South Bay restaurants that you would recommend?
At home, my meals tend to be either Asian-inspired or home-style recipes. Thai steak salad, chili, and of course bratwurst on the grill! The places I frequent most often around here are Los Paisas, Matsui, and The Local Place.
My dream restaurant would be an all-soup place, nothing fancy, just good comfort food.
There are a lot of references to pastries on your blog. What's your favorite place to get pastries in the South Bay?
If I don't make it myself, I get cakes at King's.
You've lived in the area for nearly 30 years. What are some things every South Bay resident should know?
How to pronounce "Sepulveda", and that Sepulveda and PCH are different streets, sort of.
The name of your blog refers to a Wisconsin colloquialism. Are there
California words you use now that people back home think are odd?
The funny thing is people in both places think I speak with an accent. There isn't any one word or phrase that is different, but I find that my speech and manner is a little more cynical now.
Have you ever posted anything you later regretted?
Other than spelling mistakes, no. From the beginning I wanted this to be a fun blog. No rants or meanness. I'd probably get sued.
What has been your most popular blog post?
We had a family reunion that I wrote about. People seemed to like that one.
What is your strangest blogging story?
None yet, but I am always on the lookout for the weird.
In your opinion, what are the biggest problems facing the South Bay right now? What would you change if you could?
Hah, don't get me going. Obviously, traffic and overbuilding are at the top. The saddest thing is the loss of the older homes, especially in Old Torrance. Not just the really old ones, but the not-so-distant-past homes. Everybody wants big, big, big. Small is beautiful too.
Name 3 favorite blogs or Web sites.
http://splatgirlcreates.blogspot.com/
http://wanderingchopsticks.blogspot.com/
www.epicurious.com
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