text: Blogger of the week: Mary Kenney of Pay it Forward - Michael Huber
  By Mike Huber on October 3, 2011 at 12:12 AM
  What's up with Mary Kenney's t-shirt. Read the jump. (Will Waldron / Times Union)
  Mary Kenney approached me in the summer of 2010 with an offer to write a blog. An Albany lawyer, she proposed the "Pay it Forward" as a place to share stories about local people doing good deeds for others. A nice blog, a friendly patch of happy in the sometimes cantankerous online world.
  A year later, she's still paying it forward. Each month, more than 2,500 readers visit Mary's blog, where they find stories and dozens of opportunities to make the Capital Region a better place. A couple weeks ago, I received an email from a friend at the American Red Cross. Floods forced them to cancel many blood drives in the Northeast. I passed the email along to Mary. Within hours, she wrote a post titled 'URGENT REQUEST from the American Red Cross.'
  Mary's blog shows how to use a blog to do good. For all of us.
  Why? Because it has really good tap water.
  Blog: https://blog.timesunion.com/payitforward
  On Twitter: @MaryKenneyPIF
  Personal Web site: Who needs a personal website when they have a blog on the Times Union website? Kidding. I don't have a personal website. Don't judge me.
  Where did you attend high school and college? What did you study in college? Holy Cross High School, Waterbury CT. University of New Haven, West Haven, CT. Quinnipiac University School of Law, Hamden CT. And I did a summer semester at the University of Hawaii School of Law. I studied surfing and ukelele.
  What's your work? I'm an associate attorney at Lemery Greisler LLC in Albany.
  What's up with the t-shirt? Haha! I've organized a skydiving fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York. I'll be skydiving with Bill Trigg, CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York, and several other local residents and lawyers! The event is Saturday, October 22. I invite readers to please check out the website, and check it periodically in the next few weeks as participants are added. The website is www.lawyersleapforwishes.com.
  I'm a volunteer Wish Granter for Make-A-Wish, so I know first hand just how much donations truly help make wishes come true for children living with life threatening medical conditions. I'm currently working on a Batman & Robin room makeover wish for a four year old boy, and a cruise wish for a thirteen year old boy and his parents. Wishes give the kids something fun to look forward to, a welcome break from doctor appointments and treatments.
  Where did you get the idea for the blog? Well, I'll try to keep this simple. We ALL have trials, tribulations, and challenges in our lives, and to varying degrees. It's very easy to get wrapped up in ourselves and our problems and forget about the good things in our lives, even if it's as simple as a car that runs or food in the fridge. Or just the fridge.
  I think one of the best ways to appreciate what you have is by getting involved in the community around you and seeing what other people have going on in their lives, and what they have and don't have. Volunteering can be a real eye-opener, and perspective is a wonderful thing.
  Why do you blog? Because what I described above is really important to me.
  The blog recently celebrated its one-year anniversary? What can we expect going forward? I'm working on getting more guest writers and I'd like to do more profiles of individuals in the community. I often want to write more personal posts, but find myself feeling like that would come across as too self-centered considering the purpose of the blog. I'm conflicted on that because I think readers like to get to know the bloggers on a personal level.
  In your first post, you wrote about your 'vision' for the blog. After 161 posts, how did the blog match up with what you wished for? I'm my own worst critic, so my gut response is I could have done a lot more with it. Like add clowns, or flashing lights. However, looking back over the past year and seeing that Pay It Forward wrote about 270 different people, organizations, businesses and other bloggers that in some way did something good for the community, I guess that's not a bad start. And I very much appreciate the contributions by Theresa Petrone, and John Ryan, two individuals greatly involved in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Double H Ranch.
  How do you maintain your enthusiasm for writing? How do you find time to blog? I'm committed to the purpose behind it. Time to blog means a lot of early mornings and late nights.
  What do you do when you're not working? What?
  Where do you get your news? I haven't had television in two years. I read the TU newspaper and online. I check out news online, and I listen to Talk 1300 in the morning when I get ready for work.
  What's the best thing about blogging? The Pay It Forward blog forces me to stay up to speed on what's happening in the community. The content of the blog and the opportunity to write creatively about topics that are not legal in nature gives me balance and a creative outlet. Oh, and it's fun.
  What's the worst thing about blogging? I don't know if I'd say it's the worst, but the content of the Pay It Forward blog requires a bit of research on the who/what/when/where/why details of the events, organizations, or people I'm writing about, which means it's very time consuming. I'm committed to the blog, but obviously my career comes first.
  Sometimes (often) at the end of a long day it's hard to come home from work and sit back down in front of the computer for a few more hours, so sometimes I feel as though the blog doesn't get the attention I'd like to give it.
  Your softball question: Three ways you'd change the world? For starters, I'd eliminate Ritz Crackers. Then, I'd make summer last for six months. And last, I'd take away everyone's Facebook and Twitter for a day and make them wait tables.
  Not Mary's hands.
  Have you been recognized as a blogger when people first meet you? No. Maybe if I walked around holding a globe with both my hands I'd be recognized. Perhaps I should change the blog picture.
  Your favorite blog comment? Well let's see, I've had three, so it should be pretty easy to choose. Seriously, I can't think of one off the top of my head, but it means a lot when people let me know that they appreciate having a place to read about how they can get involved in the community. I've met people at events that have told me they were there because of the blog. That means it's working.
  Whose blogs would you love to read? If my mom had a blog it would be pretty interesting. She's like Mother Teresa, Dr. Seuss, and Edith Bunker all rolled up in one lovely and wacky package. Les Claypool. Carol Burnett. The cleaning man in my office.
  What advice would you give to other bloggers? 1) Floss daily. 2) Appreciate your readers. 3) Be true to yourself. 4) Life is not popularity contest. You'll never please everyone. (My Dad taught me that.)
  What's the last book you read? I'm currently reading 'Me Talk Pretty One Day,' by David Sedaris. I'm really hoping that I can talk pretty one day.
  What's your favorite pizza? Ristorante Paradiso on Central Avenue, anchovy and garlic.
  What's most played on your iPod? Last song purchased, Clubbed to Death by Rob Dougan. Most played is a mix of rock/alternative (Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Audioslave, She Wants Revenge, 311, Beastie Boys)
  Favorite local blogger? Why? Megan Willis of the Davenport Chronicles is absolutely hilarious, I laugh out loud every time I read her blog. No one can write about spatchcocking a chicken like she can. I love her writing style and her viewpoint on the little things in life. I hope to meet her one of these days. And speaking of viewpoint, Bethany Parks is another favorite. I've met her, and her passion for charitable projects is infectious. Keep an eye on her, she's gonna set the world on fire.
  Favorite movie? Best In Show. Patch Adams. Men of Honor. Anchorman.
  Favorite restaurant? I love to eat, so there's a lot, but if I had to pick one, probably D'Raymonds. And 677 Prime for their seafood tower. I also like a nice hot dog, preferably at a ball game. I'll probably have two. I know I'm going to think of ten other "favorites" once this is posted.
  Favorite article of clothes? Jeans. Dress 'em up, dress em' down. I think Jesus would have worn jeans if given the option.
  Favorite place to get away from it all? My imaginary beach house in Fiji or some other equally beautiful tropical paradise. If it looks like a Corona commercial, I'm there. In my head.
  Favorite ice cream? Green tea.
  Favorite late-night snack? Popcorn.
  Your hero? I don't have a particular "hero". But I can say that I'm inspired by different people every day. Sometimes it's a friend or family member, sometimes it's a stranger.
  Favorite quote? It's written on a note on my door, so I see it every time I leave the house. "Everywhere you go, go with all your heart." Confucius.
  Sister Mary Kenney – this profile reveals that you are hilarious and definitely need to write more about everything. I would love to get together sometimes and thanks for the shout out. You're the goods
  ok, now I have to back and read all the posts on that blog, she's really funny….except for the Green Tea ice cream…that's gross.
  Thanks Megan & Tony!
  Hey Mar. Just came across this article. Wonderful! Am printing to show mom, Dave, Brooke. I'm not so sure about the Green Tea ice cream, either, but you were always one to try new things. Congratulations! You deserve the award!