Belated Blogger

And so, the best laid plans go awry.

Weeks ago, I said "Yes!" when John asked me to be a guest blogger, then stayed overly busy with putting out a newspaper with a shortened holiday schedule.

Then I thought I posted this July 6. Wrong again. So here goes another try at it.

Hi all. I'm Robin Russell. I'm neither a Methodist nor a blogger, but I write about you in the United Methodist Reporter.

That's where I've been managing editor since Hurricane Katrina blew in, nearly a year ago. It's been a fast and (sometimes) bumpy ride, but it's all good.

So how did a non-Methodist get to be editor of the United Methodist Reporter? Simply put, I was recruited from the world of secular media, where I covered religion for a decade. (If you're curious, you can Google my work sometime using "Robin Galiano" or "Robin Galiano Russell.") I believe my charge here at the Reporter was to give a bit more balance and fair-play to the coverage of all things Methodist.

I liken my role to that of a baseball umpire: not everyone will agree with my calls, but I treat each team the same.

Care to know why I picked a writing career? My high school treatise on "The Impact of the Beatles on Rock Music" for Mrs. Jellen's "Logical Writing" class earned me an A+. (She said we should write about what we know, and I'd spent enough time playing "airband" in the basement to become quite familiar with the Fab Four's tunes).

I started out as an English major back in college, then switched to journalism to make myself marketable. It worked.

I really, really love covering religion: it's the most passionate and heartfelt and intriguing news beat in the world. It's very easy to push someone's buttons, though. Even when you're working hard to avoid doing just that. Some people, however, do not understand the concept of journalism. Just because I'm writing about something doesn't mean that's what I believe or think you should believe. I no longer argue that point with readers. I've become ever so gracious over the years.

Though I'm not a Methodist, I am a person of faith (I had a major spiritual turnaround while in college), and have been active in leading Sunday school classes, leading youth and women's Bible studies and co-leading a home group.

I am now married to a delightful Renaissance man (Art) who fences with swords, writes poetry, makes me laugh out loud, takes gorgeous black-and-white photography, loves to travel, is passionate about his faith and is crazy about me. Go figure. We met online, but that's another story. Other than that episode, I'm relatively sane.

I was a single mom for eight years, and now have a son who will no longer be a teenager come September. Can it be? William is living with me and Art until he decides what he wants to do in life, besides work on his car, which is very cool. We may have to start charging rent when he turns 21!

We also have two doglets: an adorable and faithful chihuahua mutt named Bob ("Big Old Burrito" is on the left) and his newly adopted friend, Bunny. I know. Their names are really goofy, but they came with them. What's even goofier is when I call the new one "Bunny Bunny Boo-Boo." Don't tell anyone about that.

Well, I've got to get back to being a managing editor. It's too late for you to be able to tell John the Methodist that I was a great guest blogger. Sigh. (I might have to let Bunny have a go at it next time, since John gives his rabbits a turn.)

Blessings,
Robin