Handing Out the Hardware…

A couple of days ago, my friend Izziedarling over at The Whatever Factor presented me with The Bloody Brilliant Blogger’s Award.  Here’s what it looks like:

The Bloddy Brilliant Blogger's Award

This is high praise coming from Izzie, whose blog is smart, funny and snarky at the appropriate time – she is unafraid to use her keyboard to point out the stupidity in the world!  She described me as “enlightened.”  I begged her to pass that on to my children!  Izzie and I share a love for peonies, sweet tea, red licorice, Italy, reading, collecting (but not hoarding), baking bread, music, and dancing.  She can also spot a bargain a mile away!  Show her some love by stopping in and leaving a comment on her blog!

To be honest, this isn’t my first award…it’s just the first one I’ve acknowledged!  Jane at Plane Janer’s Journey and Laura at Laura Best, Author  both gave me The Versatile Blogger Award back in July.  Jane was the first person I wasn’t related to I didn’t actually know who read my blog and commented on it!  She has been one of my biggest supporters, and I’ve met some of the other people on my list through her.  We both love gardening and cooking.  Her blog combines ordinary life, spirituality, and humour in a well-wrapped package – check out her hilarious tales of the Angry Samaritan!  I fully expect to buy a book with her name on the cover some day!  Laura lives the closest to me of any of my blogging buddies, being in Nova Scotia, the next province over.  Already a published author of a young adult novel, Laura’s blog concentrates mainly on writing.  She brings forth a unique perspective on the process of putting thoughts on paper.

The Versatile Blogger Award

Part of accepting these awards is coming up with seven fun facts about yourself, and then passing the awards on to bloggers you enjoy…I have no problem coming up with people to give the award to, but coming up with seven things I haven’t already talked about in my blog was a challenge for me (plus, I am Queen of the Procrastinators – no secret, there!).  Maybe three times was the charm to help me get around to it?

I finally got around to it...

So here goes…seven things about me I don’t think I’ve mentioned before:

1. My middle name is “Gaye.”  What were my parents thinking?  My children give me lots of grief about it.

2. I look horrible in the colour mauve…it makes me look like I have one foot in the grave.

3. I once argued with my third grade teacher about the pronunciation of “shone.”  She said, “shawn” but I was convinced you said it like “shown.”  I was wrong, Mrs. H., and I’m sorry!

4. I like to fish…the best part is finding the worms.  I throw anything I catch back in the water.

5. Grammatical/spelling errors irritate me, and I will correct you if you make them!

6. [whispering] I don’t think the Beatles were the greatest musical group ever (please, no hate mail!).  They were okay, and made a lot of money.

7. I once used nearly every barf bag on the plane while travelling on a commuter flight from Toronto, Ontario to Columbus, Ohio…the plane was so small, I had trouble standing upright (I’m 5’5″ tall).  Instead of seats, there was actually a couch with seatbelts in it down one side of the plane!  It was a very turbulent ride.  The businessmen were all staring at me…never again!

And now…the envelope, please…here, in alphabetical order, are the winners of the Bloody Brilliant/Versatile Blogger Awards (take two, they’re small!):

Amanda’s Wrinkled Pages: Amanda is a mother of four who still manages to find the time to write.  I discovered her through her being Freshly Pressed in early August.  Amanda often takes real life situations, and relates them to the writing process.  The post which hooked me was about her husband always beating her at Scrabble – I am an online Scrabble fiend, and my college buddy always beats me!

Blurt: Omawarisan is a man of mystery and extremely clever humour.  This southern guy has an ongoing piece about an “action figure” of Angelina Jolie (the Jolie Pez Project) and its adventures.  Omawarisan has Policies on the use of Blackberries in the bathroom, white chocolate Easter bunnies, and live nude dogs (yes, he’s twisted, but in a good way).  He once wrote a piece about suction cups…it was hilarious!

 Embracing Myself: I met Nancy through PlaneJane.  Nancy is the closest thing I’ve got to a mom in the blogging world…I love her because she never pulls any punches and isn’t afraid to say what she thinks.  This ordained minister lives in Idaho with her physician husband on a farm with more than 100 alpacas and assorted other animals.  Nancy’s blog is a mixed bag of spirituality, humour, and self-discovery.  She is also one of the biggest promoters I know of other bloggers.

Infernal Memo: Alex is another one of my Canadian blogging buddies.  She is a mom, and a published author of one book, with several more in the works.  I actually relinquished my crown as “Queen of the Procrastinators” to Alex when she announced that she was going to write a 25,000 word novel in eight days (she did it, too!).  Alex’s blog concentrates mainly on writing, with some potty-mouthed observances from real life thrown in (I love it!).

Life in the Boomer Lane: Renée is the funniest real estate agent I know…she recently confessed to creating mishaps in her life solely to amuse others!  Also a published author (x2), Renée blogs about the misadventures of her cat, her husband’s penchant for buying things while she’s away, and crazy things she sees in her travels (which apparently depend way too much on a GPS).  I love her self-deprecating style!

My Odd Family: Katybeth spoils other people’s pets, and gets paid for it.  This Chicago mom is cooking and baking challenged, but definitely has no trouble with writing!  You never know what Katybeth will write about (her blog is odd, after all), but it’s often funny, and always intelligent.

Shakti Mama: Juliana is a thinker…always analyzing things, and giving us the beautiful results in print.  I discovered her through Laura.  This young mom lives with her husband and baby in a 100-sq.-ft. RV.  Juliana’s blog is about self-discovery, spirituality, and empowerment.  I see her as the author of at least one self-help book some day…

Simply Diane…Dirty Laundry: Another recent discovery through her being Freshly Pressed, Diane writes about everyday life as the mom of four.  She manages to make cooking and cleaning up after her big family sound interesting and funny (something I also strive to do!).  Diane’s post about the Homework Battle Smackdown had me nodding and laughing at the same time…it’s a scene that’s been repeated many times at our house.

smalltownbiglife: Kerri is a former journalist, who can also write wonderful poetry.  She always makes me think with her blog posts, which often take a current event and turn it into something truly breathtaking.  Another mom, she shares my love of good food!

Some Species Eat Their Young: Chase is another recent discovery…he was just Freshly Pressed last week.  This dad of four kids, aged 6 and under, chronicles the entertaining chaos that takes place in his young family’s life every day.  Chase is a hands-on dad, being up to the challenge of doing his 3-year-old daughter’s hair when called upon to do so (and he did a great job too – I saw the picture!).  Just reading his blog makes me tired, but it also makes me laugh!

Sunshine in London: Sunshine is sort of my twin (if I was born 9 days earlier in South Africa instead of Ohio, and I was a beautiful, slim blonde).  We were married the same year (she’s still married, I’m not) and both worked in non-profit communications (we’re both unemployed).  Sunshine shares my love of music and language.  A newbie to blogging, Sunshine provides an amusing picture of what it’s like being an “outsider” in London.

TEStazyk: Tom is a reformed retired accountant who is now doing post-graduate studies in world literatures.  Living in beautiful New Zealand, Tom originally hails from Cleveland, Ohio (another Buckeye, yay!).  Tom’s blog is an eclectic mix of humour, current events, and everyday life.  His writing is smart (as a post-grad student’s work should be) and insightful. 

The Absence of Alternatives : Lin is convinced she needs therapy…I say she’s “crazy like a fox.”  Her blog is probably one of the hippest on my list – she writes about many topics, and does it well (and isn’t afraid to use four-letter words, if necessary).  Lin is also a mom, and a talented photographer to boot.  She is incredibly smart and well-informed…Lin’s recent rant on Sarah Palin’s “mama grizzlies” video was brilliant!

The Highly Uninteresting Misadventures of Average Girl: AG takes stuff we moms do every day and turns it into the funniest thing you’ve ever read!  I seriously think AG is the new Erma Bombeck!  Her piece giving advice about high school should be posted in girls’ lockers nationwide!  I am going to have to invest in some Depends if I continue to read her blog on a regular basis (and I will – read, not buy Depends)!

Theycallmejane’s Blog: Jane is the second “Jane” on my list.  Another good writer and mom, Jane blogs on a variety of topics, juggling multiple blogs like a pro (she has multiple awards to prove it!).  She shares my love of music, books and cooking.  Jane is truly one of the nicest people on my list (but they’re all nice!).  Her blog is sometimes funny, sometimes thoughtful, but always bang-on!

Todd Pack’s Messy Desk: Todd is a lot like me, I think.  He likes words, and music, and food.  He’s not into Nascar or wrestling.  Todd writes about lots of things cleverly.  His posts are often about childhood memories, and they’re sometimes long (as mine are).  Todd also answers every comment on his blog, an admirable quality which indicates what a nice guy he is.  

Winn’s Window: Koreen is another Canadian friend.  She has connected me with other Canadian women bloggers.   She is a photographer, and mom of a four-year-old.  Koreen is a great “describer” – her account of her son at play in “Balance” is genius!  Her blog is another mixed bag incorporating photos and everyday life.

Congratulations to all my blogging brothers and sisters!  Please keep doing what you do!  Now pass it on!

I encourage everyone reading this to click and read these talented writers’ work (whew!  I might need a nap – I think this is my longest post ever!).