Monday, April 7, 2008

Wrapped in Buttery Gratitude

I have about half a dozen posts started but between jobs and still recovering from one Friday night of fun I’m not pleased with any of them. They’re just not worthy of you – my lovely readers.

I was going to just plunge back into work and leave blogging for a clearer day but of course I decided to visit a few blogs first. I really needed a laugh so I went over to Jay, the hilarious cynical bastard, and there was no new post, I mean really! I need to laugh, how could he not know that. I did giggle at his response to my last comment so all was not lost. While checking out the results of Jay’s last poll (Go Animal!) I saw his most recent award, it’s more like a sweet gift actually. I scanned over it and saw it was from the lovely Jo so I headed over to see what it was all about.

There is all kinds of givin’ and gettin’ goin’ on at Jo’s.

She has received her third Excellent blog award in just two weeks! Richly deserved, there are not enough E’s out there for Jo. I was enjoying book-marking the people she was passing the award on to – a couple of new ones to me – and I was loving all the great colors she concocted when I spied Jay’s award. Jo made it herself. It’s a lovely heart shaped pat of butter inscribed with “Better than Butter”. I was so pleased for Jay. He is better than butter! He’s like the popcorn that goes with the butter, the yummy English Muffin that the butter cuddles into – he’s all that butter and a bag of chips. I’ve never known what that means but I use it anyway.

As I scrolled down to other ‘Better than Butter’ folks I almost missed my own name! Yes – I am ‘Better than Butter’. Personally I always thought I was cottage cheese but that may be because of my thighs. Since Jo is far kinder to me than I am I will totally believe that I AM ‘Better than Butter’.

Thanks Jo! I don’t know how to describe how your words made me feel. Delicious comes to mind. I just know that I am so grateful.

And speaking of grateful …

My good friend Raven gave me this “Gratitude is Attitude” award. In describing the award she quoted its creator: please see Raven’s site for full quote and more Gratitude is Attitude recipients.






“Gratitude …. It is not about giving in, lying down or accepting everybody else’s rules it’s about making your own rules!... Gratitude IS Attitude!"

I’m certainly grateful to know Raven. If I was a museum she would be the curator. An art gallery she would be the master of restoration. If I was a zoo (remember now, I was raised by wolves) then Raven would be the naturalist, the wolf whisperer. Raven is a healing presence in a sometimes hurtful world.

I’d like to pass the ‘Gratitude is Attitude’ award on to:

Leighann – if I was still in school Leighann is the one I’d want to hang out with. She is smart, funny, and tough. You have to read Leighann’s blog for at least a week to even begin to get a sense of all there is to her. She’ll one day sound like a crazy, sexy wanton woman. Next day comes along and she is Mommy of the Year, rushing to the aid of any one of her lovely children. She will then Wow you with a wonderful work of fiction. Leighann always makes me feel like I’m one of the cool kids.

Bobbie – a calm and steady voice. Bobbie writes about old friends and family with love and reverence. She also has a great take on current events and politics.

Odat – she often makes me smile, especially on Monkey Monday. Odat can also pierce your heart and soul with her honest and open posts on her own life and love and struggle.

tt – talk about a good soul. tt is a caring and empathetic person. She writes about worrying about an elderly driver she encountered for a moment with as much feeling as she writes about her Dad. She makes you feel you could (and should) tell her anything.

Isn’t it lovely to have so many people to be grateful for!?

Now I must finish a project for the morning and then off to a dinner of popcorn with extra butter. Good Times!

34 comments:

Raven said...

mmmmmm... popcorn with extra butter... sounds good. I haven't had popcorn in a while. You certainly are better than butter. You are such a gift in the world and the blogosphere. I have felt so supported by your encouragement and I don't think I've remembered to say that.

Hope the popcorn is tasty and the evening peaceful.

Jay said...

Thank you for all your kind words. That makes me feel all warm and tingly!

I'm thinking I should make some popcorn while I watch the basketball game now too. LOL

I really love your blog and you are a very awesome person too Diane. I'm glad I discovered your blog or you came by mine or however we met. ;-)

KG said...

Heh - I start all those posts and even though they suck, I publish them anyway 'cause I'm that kind of sucky!

Also, cottage cheese is kickass, especially when located on one's thighs.

Sunshine said...

I have a new award at the end of the week you might like....dig it!

Jo said...

Today has been such a lovefest! Like Woodstock only no one's going to end up with syphillis--yay! I loved the way you described Jay as an english muffin the butter cuddles.

Thank you for the sweetness--you make me smile & smile.

That Gratitude Award is awesome, I'm glad you received it! I'm going to check out all your links---good peeps know good peeps :)

Odat said...

Yes, my friend, you ARE better than butter!!!! Congrats on your well deserved awards...and I'm humbled to accept yours and will wear it proudly! You just made my day!
Peace and hugsssssssss.

Dianne said...

raven - you remember to say it all the time :)

jay - warm and tingly is good! hope you enjoyed the game and the popcorn. I believe it was the "madman" who started it. I hope he has popcorn too! :)

law student - kick-ass cottage cheese! Yay!!

sunshine - it is a lovefest week!

jo - things DO go better without the syphillis don't they!? I'm glad you're going to check out the peeps, there is some wonderful stuff going on.

Dianne said...

odat - considering how often you make my day I'm thrilled to return the favor. Happy Tuesday Odat!

Nettie said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm so glad you did because I now have another wonderfully written blog that I can add to my site. But now that I have read your post, I am starving and must run to get some scrumptious morsels.

Leighann said...

Dianne you're so awesome! I think you have things a little twisted though, because YOU are the cool kid that *I* hope to hang out with!

;)

Thanks for the award doll, it's MUCH appreciated!

bobbie said...

Thank you so much, Dianne. "A calm and steady voice" Wow! It doesn't feel like that to me. But I love hearing it from you. Your blog is on the top of my list, and I really look forward to it every day.

Sparkling Red said...

Congratulations on the award! The Gratitude award is a good influence even on those who have not yet received it. If I want it, I'd better start showing some good attitude, which means I have to think positive, and that's a good influence right there. :-)

Akelamalu said...

Definitely better than butter - congrats on all your awards. :)

Dianne said...

Nettie - I look forward to reading you too. thanks for coming by.

awwwwww Leighann - I love when you call me doll.

bobbie - it's true, it's true :)

sparkling red - I love your logic and your attitude!

akelamalu - thanks :)

Reb said...

Dianne, thanks for dropping by my blog and congrats on your awards!

Dianne said...

reb - you're welcome and thank you :)
loved your photos. glad I found your blog.

kenju said...

Congrats on the award - and for passing it on to Bobbie - a good choice. I will go and read the others soon.

Dianne said...

thanks kenju!
bobbie is absolutely a good choice.

Linda Murphy said...

Hi there-

Mmm, popcorn. Delicious, I can smell the butter now. Yum.

I am grateful for you! And grateful that you connect us to so many other insightful bloggers. I look forward to visiting them when I can.

Dianne said...

snoopmurph - feel the same about you. actually you were my fifth gratitude award person but then I realized Raven had given it to you already. so I'll have to find a different one for you.
hope you're feeling better and enjoying getting ready for the big birthday day :)

Newt said...

Well deserved awards!!!!! Congrats. Ummm popcorn with extra butter.......

Sandra Evertson said...

I enjoyed your Tale of two kitties!
Adorable babies!
Sandra Evertson

CG said...

I'm not going to disagree you're certainly better than butter and one of the few true pleasures in life that aren't fattening!!

R.E.H. said...

Gongrats on the award! Hey, that "Better Than Butter" one is sweet, isn't it?

the walking man said...

Dianne
Going off your buttery topic for a moment.

First thanks for stopping by.

Second within less than 900 days we are about the same age. I am older.

I have lived 95 percent of that time IN [not near] Detroit and have never owned a gun.

I am an American and a human my color is irrelevant even though to most people, except them like Heston and KKK types; they would feel more comfortable with me than any of my neighbors.

I made no comment of my own about Heston or the clip because I respect your fear if you feel the need to own a gun(speaking in the imperial you)or want to hunt your own food, then go for it, but I have seen to many friends and strangers shot down by them, read to many stories of children dropped as trash in a drive-by and the warm snuggly feeling of power most people get from a gun. So I am not a gun owner.

But what I am is a poet, a writer who rarely if ever makes opinions on my blog. I just use it as a place to write because I don't need or want to publish again (print). Leave that for them concerned with the business of seeing their name on a best seller.

Never had a best seller, or anything close but a few rags were not smart enough to pass up a piece or two and that satisfied the craving for me. the same as being in the Navy and going through 2 hurricanes with 40-50 foot seas satisfied the craving to set sail. Loved it but seen it, lived through it and now move on.

If all of the world has to wait for, all of the hands that hold guns to be cold and dead, then peace never had a chance since the first conflict in history was ever fought.

Yet that is my fools errand. Peace. Thanks again I now return control of your blog to your regularly scheduled buttery excesses (thank God for them.)

Peace

mark

Lisa said...

Girl, you deserve ALL the awards! You make me laugh. When I read your entries, it's like you're speaking out loud. I hear inflection in your words and that's hard to do.

You are the good soul you speak of.

I heart your blog.

Dianne said...

newt - definitely extra butter! thanks

sandra - thanks for checking out the kitties. I'm in the process of part 2 of tales of two kitties - the introductions and trying to get them to tolerate each other. Oy!

cg - thanks!! if only I could find myself not fattening LOL

reh - it IS sweet and I love the company I'm in.

Dianne said...

mark - feel free to interrupt my programming any time you want. I love reading you - I spent a bit of time wandering your halls yesterday.

900 days is but a blink of the eye don't ya think? :)

I lived in a dangerous neighborhood the first few years of my marriage. Guns were everywhere. My ex was fascinated by them - almost as much as he was fascinated by booze and drugs. Such a horrifying combination! The only good a gun has ever done, in my own experience, is finally convince me to leave him when he drunkenly pointed one at me while our child slept beside me. He swore it wasn't loaded - guess what? it was.

I don't know that I voice opinions here as much as I relate experiences and feelings that of course then form my opinions.

Either way - Peace is a good objective and I think there are many ways to get there - none of them require being armed.

Peace my new friend.

Dianne said...

lisa - Oh I heart you right back! I am loving the stories of Alvin and Cooper and often find myself wanting to hug you all. That comes out of your writing as well.

tt said...

Geez-o-pete! I'm completely at a loss for words. That rarely happens in tt's world. ;)
Thank you sooooo much. I hope it doesn't sound silly to say, but YOU are a daily part of my day. Not only reading you, which I don't get to do everyday ( sadly) but THINKING about what you would do in certian situations. Seriously! I've often wondered to myself...hummm, what would Dianne say about this???...I'm really glad I found you. And I second the notion that you are better than butter!!! & I love me some butter!!!!!!
Thanks for the Award sweetie! I'll get my 'IT' person to retrieve it for me.... ;)

Dianne said...

tt - you're so welcome! and how funny that you think about what I might do or say cause I do the same thing especially when I'm trying to be kinder or handle something with more grace - I'll think of something you've written. Your post about the elderly man driving reminds me to be kinder every single day.
Love ya girl!

tt said...

Can i keep you??
;)

ETK said...

Hello! Just here retrieving tt's award (and you've stopped by my place once before) - I have GOT to add you to my reading list. :) I love your stuff.

K - just picking up an award for tt, I'm out - but keep blogging! LOVE IT!

Dianne said...

tt - yes you can! you're stuck with me

etk - thanks for getting tt's award for her. and yes I have stopped by your place. I don't always have enough time to comment when both jobs are busy at once but I try. thanks!