Mishegas Monday

I always channel Nana when feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.

I thought I’d update everybody, hopefully without too much kvetching.

I am very grateful to have several projects going on. Business has been slow for months now. The problem with this current batch of projects is that every one of them is screwed up in some way – the respondents interviewed weren’t of the best quality (my polite way of saying ‘morons with opinions’) or the questionnaire design was faulty (‘morons seeking opinions’) or the data was late getting to me and so my time is being cut.

This is the new order of business for freelancers everywhere. The work is awful, the deadlines are impossible, the clients are horrid since they are usually juniors with little training – most qualified mid to upper level analysts have been laid off – and the pressure to be fast and cheap is immense.

So we work harder for less – and we’re grateful.

I am especially grateful since I can’t work either of my 2 part-time jobs because of my ankle injury.

Add to that the fact that I need to spend hours on the phone with doctors and the insurance company. As of November 1 I had to change my coverage from a group policy to an individual policy. $260 more a month for less coverage and rules that make your head spin. All the arrangements for physical therapy and orthopedic consults that were put in place just 18 days ago are out the window. Somehow the insurance company thinks it will be cost effective to start from scratch.

OK – I promised I would keep the kvetching to a minimum. I’m just sharing LOL

I didn’t get to Wordzzle this Saturday and I don’t have a POW offering this month. There is just too much noise in my head to be creative.

Please go by JEFF’S and check out all the Portrait of Words stories – I know I will.

In the interest of being upbeat and positive I’d like to acknowledge some awards I received the past few weeks and I’d like to pass them on. Since I don’t do this when I receive the awards my list may be a bit lengthy but hey – new blogs to check out so be nice.

From my wonderful friend LISA – I received this friendship gift. I call it the ‘blogging brings us closer’ award.

To translate the gift from Portuguese to English, it means: "This blog invests and believes, the proximity" [meaning, that blogging makes us "close" - being close through proxy]. "They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut or that they propagate?"

I am going to pass the Blogging Brings Us Closer Award on to:

PAGAN – she inspires me as a writer, a photographer, an activist and a Mom.

CUNNING RUNT
– oh man his photos are sublime and as he shares his stories of his daughters I find myself feeling I know him a little bit more and a little bit better. He has a peaceful voice that I have come to value.

TRAVIS – talk about peaceful voices!! I often stop myself and say – “how would Travis respond”. And his Dancing With the Stars updates are fabulous.

ROB – I have enjoyed Rob’s blog for awhile now but ever since his comments on Election Day I have felt a kinship with him. He is a thoughtful, intelligent blogger who I often want to hug.

MAITHRI – and speaking of hugs. Maithri is a gentle soul who touches the world with his words and deeds.

The next award comes from JACKIE in Glasgow. I found her during my quest for all things Craig Ferguson. I was Googling Craig’s home city and found her wonderful photos. Each day Jackie posts a fantastic shot from Glasgow. She also leaves me the most supportive and complimentary comments – I appreciate her talent and friendship.

I am passing the Photo Buddy award on to:

MARY – the hostess with the mostest. Her Ruby Tuesday and Sepia Scenes projects have encouraged me to be a better photographer. Mary also has a voice that always inspires and informs.

LISA – I copied her idea for a separate Photo Blog and she never complained LOL. She always visits my photos and always has something kind to say.

ASKEW – we met through one of the photo projects but we visit each other all the time now. I look forward to her funny and supportive comments.

DARYL – She makes me feel less homesick for Manhattan and she has become a good friend.

CG – I love to worry with her and for her. She was one of my very first blog buddies.

PINK DOGWOOD – she has 2 wonderful blogs. Her words are inspiring and her photos are bliss. And she always leaves kind and encouraging comments.

LINDA – I really want to go photo hunting with this lady. She roams around cemeteries at night and scans the skies. She is a photographic adventurer and a really good person.

TERRY – is a very new friend. We met through Ruby Tuesday. She made me the wonderful photo collage I posted a few days ago.

OY! Are ya still with me? I hate doing links.

This ‘Marie Antoinette’ award comes from my pal JOOD. She thinks I speak the truth and that I ‘get it’. The feeling is mutual.


Marie is going to just one person. RAVEN

Throughout the Presidential campaign Raven was the most passionate, educated, informed, reasonable voice on the Internet tubes. Even when she thought she was ranting Raven always did her homework and was always kind and respectful to those who disagreed with her. I have more love and respect for Raven than I can truly describe without becoming a sentimental cow.

And last – Yeah I know you hate me by now.

Thank you to MARY for giving all the Ruby Tuesday posters the Fall Décor Award.



I don't know how much I'll be posting here this week but I will be posting lots of photos over on the Photo Blog - just click on the camera on the sidebar. I can't bring myself to do one more link. All I can see now is '<' and 'a' and 'href' and lots of little "'s

OY!

I Am an Ungrateful Bitch ...

Don’t you just love my whimsical way with words.

I’m not really ungrateful, not at all. Time gets away from me. Plus I always procrastinate with the things that compliment me. I know, such an endearing quality – and so healthy.

BUT – I am organized. I have every award I’ve received and I want to say a proper thank you and I want to pass them on.

I pay no mind to award protocol. I acknowledge the creator of the award if I know who they are. I thank the person who gave it to me. And I pass it on to ONE person.

My ungratefulness goes back to early September! AKELAMALU gave me the ARTE ‘Y PICO award.

From Oct-Awards

Funny thing. She received another one today!! Not surprising. This award recognizes quality of content and Akelamalu writes wonderful stories and posts delightful doodles. I pass the Arte‘y Pico on to BOND. One of my newest friends. He truly should be a music professor, a guru of the arts. He does his homework; he presents eclectic choices in music plus all the other things his “couch” offers up.

I received the ‘I Love Your Blog’ award from 3 of my buddies.

From Oct-Awards

IVANHOE – who is absolutely one of the kindest people on the planet. She showers me with stuff.

RAMBLING – Michelle is a smart animal lover and dedicated friend of Mother Nature. I love how much I learn from her and I love how inspiring her photographs are.

SPARKLING – talk about joining someone on their journey!! I became a regular reader of Sparkling just when she was thinking of not blogging anymore. I’m sure it was something I said. Instead she chose to share with us a personal journey that often leaves me with wonderful things to consider.

THANK YOU - OH TRINITY OF LOVELY LADIES!!

I am passing the ‘I Love Your Blog’ on to:

FERMICAT – I’ve enjoyed her blog for a while now but recently I realized just how much I respect how she cares for her cats and how she shares her daily life with such ease. Go over and see some great cat photos and tell Silvio to get well quick.

MARY/THE TEACH – and her damn red! I enjoyed hating red. Now I appreciate it. Mary’s Ruby Tuesday project has made my photography better and I truly appreciate that.

HILARY – I think the term ‘feast for the eyes’ was coined with Hilary's blog in mind. Her posts are so lovely; her photographs make your eyes applaud. And she posts just enough of Benny the Wonder Dog to make you want more. She is as gentle and lovely as the nature around her.

OTAY! Next

As I said above Ivanhoe showers me with appreciation!! She also gave me the Light Across The Web award.

From Oct-Awards

I’m going to kind of break my ONE person thingie by passing this on to:

CASDOCK and MRS. C (and her children who blog) – All of you who know Casdock have felt the light she is and shares. I met Mrs. C because of Casdock and I think ‘Lights Across the Web’ suits the situation. Mrs. C and me – have, at face value, absolutely nothing in common. We disagree on just about every front – politics, lifestyles, religion. BUT beyond face value Mrs. C has a huge heart, a silly sense of humor and a deep and abiding love and respect for her children and all other children. So Mrs. C and me – we work it out and I like to think we’re friends.

PAGAN decided she wanted to strengthen the bonds of us ‘left of center’ bloggers so she passed on the Brilliante award to many of us.

From Oct-Awards

I want to continue that so I’m passing it on to – SPARTACUS – I met him through JOOD’S blog, she had posted some photos of them and I, shallow as well as ungrateful, thought he was really good looking. And he is! He also writes wonderful rants and sweet spiritual stories.

Last but not least REB gave me this Sweet award. See I am sweet – not an ungrateful, shallow, heathen, leftie bitch who almost caused Sparkling to abandon the blog-o-sphere. I AM SWEET! Make sure to stop and see how Pretty in Pink Reb is and enjoy her great blog.

If you skim posts (Hi Jay) that sentence above will seem so f’d up.

From Oct-Awards

I give my Sweet award to BEAR. She makes me smile! She is very creative and a kind kind person.

And there ya have it!

It's My Award Ceremony and I'll Pass Out If I Want To

Thanks everyone for all the comments and concern. I appreciate it!

I had a bad reaction to the pain meds because I have a sinus infection. I’m so uncomfortable from the back spasms and the ankle throbbing that I assumed my head hurt in sympathy.

The back and ankle situation is a whole lot of blah-blah-blah and yada-yada-yada that I’m not even going to talk about it until I see the specialist on Thursday.

So – since I’m woozy and could pass out at any moment I decided to do what all the starlets do and hit the red carpet. I want to acknowledge some awards I’ve been given the past couple of weeks.

Just in case I do keel over I hope I fall at a flattering angle.

First – I want to thank KIMMIE for my blog mascot – “The Fork Goddess”
If only I looked like that in a clingy gown. As if that wasn’t enough Kimmie then gave me the:

Perfect Blend of Friendship Award – created by the effervescent CHUCK


I’m only going to spell out the rules that apply to giving credit to the person who created the award – that seems right. As for the how of passing them on - those rules just don’t compute with me.

I’m going to continue my new tradition of passing the award on to just one person. I’m all intimate like that.

I’d like to pass the Perfect Blend of Friendship award on to JENI – she was one of my very first blog friends and has always been incredibly supportive.

The next award comes from the wonderful MARY/the TEACH. I love Mary’s photos and her wonderful sense of humor and I’m thrilled that her Ruby Tuesday project grows each week.

Million Dollar Friend

This award comes with some lovely words from two of its creators:

"You are never a burden.. don't ever think that. Friends need each other to pick them up when they are down and I would do nothing less. "Dawn Drover~ Twisted Sister*****

A Million Dollar Friend is the kind of person who instinctively knows what it means to be a good friend; this kind of person makes you look forward to the days ahead and fondly remember the days that have passed. - A Nice Place In The Sun*******

I’m passing the Million Dollar Friend on to JAY – BAILEY’S BUDDY. Jay was the very first person to recommend my blog to others, something I still can’t believe anyone does! Jay’s Wordzzle stories always make me smile, his Friday roundups are wonderful and his politics fill me with glee. And most of all Jay always responds with care and love.

I received 2 awards from DARYL. Daryl is a new friend who is an exceptionally talented photographer. She should be paid by NYC’s mayor for always showing the city at its best. Daryl is also very supportive of my political rants and I am touched by that. Through Daryl I have met some wonderful new people. I have also begun to delve into Black & White photography through Daryl's introduction to the team blog – THE WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE

The Must See Award


and

Just Plain Fun – which Daryl created herself


I’m giving the Must See Award to FAYE’S PHOTOS. I think I found Faye through a comment on CG’s blog. I’m so glad I did – Faye’s photography is inspiration through a lens.

The Just Plain Fun award goes to QUIET RAGE. She is hilarious and angry all at once - which of course makes her delicious.

Last but not least there is the
Kick Ass Award

The award was created by MAMMA DAWG and even has its own club – check it out HERE

I received Kick Ass from PAGAN and from DIVAJOOD which is perfect since I found Jood through Pagan.

They have both become people I count on for good information and great entertainment. Pagan is art personified and Jood is an incredibly gifted writer. They are both great women to know.

I’m taking my pair of Kick Ass awards and giving them to a pair of bloggers I like a lot.

PATTI is one of the most positive, upbeat people – she makes me feel good just by leaving a short comment. Her creative photography is wonderful – she always spreads her wings and tries a new flight pattern. I admire her a lot.

RALPH gives good comment! He always has something funny or useful or helpful to say. He is thoughtful and knowledgeable. Ralph also comes up with great lines which I then steal and claim as my own.

So there ya have it! I’m off now to chuck my panties and climb into a limo. Hope no one is out there with a camera!

A Million Thanks - Plus ONE

I have mixed feelings about awards – I have mixed feelings about everything. I’m a little crazy ya know.

On one hand awards are nice to get – they’re acknowledgement, appreciation, kindness.

On the other hand – I am ambidextrous – they sometimes come with rules – which I ignore – and it can be so hard to decide how to pass them on. Will the person you give the award to really want one? Will they feel obligated to display it? Will they, in turn, not know how to pass it on?

Then again – yes I have more than two hands, I’m a Mother – it’s an award, not an STD – pass it on.

The death of blogging would be taking ourselves too seriously – kind of like the Oscars do.

This past week I got three awards – three! I love odd numbers almost as much as I love odd people.

Since I’m crazy I need to create themes in order to focus and quiet all the voices in my head.

My theme for today is ONE. I looked at each of my pretty awards and thought of the ONE person that FIRST came to me. I did it this way because I’ve been having a few revelations lately and I’ve learned over the years that I’m usually spot on, right on, hit the bull’s-eye when it comes to other people. Me – I haven’t a freakin’ clue about. I’m just pleased not to be institutionalized.

The first award comes from JENI – GrandMa Extraordinaire. One of my very first blog friends and an exceptionally kind and generous lady who keeps giving me stuff – and I love it.



I’m going to pass this ONE on to DIANE M – Martinis for Two. My revelation about Diane (does she spell her name right?) is that I love to follow her life. I love pictures of her gorgeous Grace Kelly self. I love stories about her husband (more pics please – he’s HOT) and his family. I love the little videos she does – I want more from her nephew.
Diane posted that she’s a bit blog-blocked these days. I hope she doesn’t see this award as a way to guilt her into staying around – although I am Jewish AND Roman Catholic so guilt is a language I learned at birth.

The next award is from SHELLY – sassy, sexy Shelly from This Old Farm – hanging out in the party barn one moment and then pouring concrete the next. They never describe women as Renaissance Women – they seem to leave that for men. Guess it’s because men need to be encouraged to do two things at once. Shelly is a natural Renaissance Woman.



This dual award goes to JO. Whatever Jo says and does is magic. I usually have issues with tiny, pretty women (I want to kill them) but Jo is huge in love and kindness – and talent. She is gentle and whimsical and calls me all kinds of sweet, pet names.

Last but not least is this award from SPARKLING RED. I think, I hope, that Sparkling and I have become closer lately because of sharing real feelings about our journey through life. She writes so openly yet carefully about her heart – her mind – her soul.



The sweet looking award was designed by DARYL. If you want to visit NYC without having to deal with how it smells in August then stop by Daryl’s place. I lived in NY for 48 years and still one of her photos will make me go Wow!

Considering how sweet looking the award is the recipient is going to laugh his perverted ass off at getting it. I’m giving it to MATT-MAN. Hopefully he’ll still be sober enough to read this. Matt is fun to read - he’s irreverent, shocking, hilarious, quick, smart, sarcastic …
My ONE new revelation about Matt is that he’s brave. Some of what he says can (and has) cause him a bit of grief. Anyone who pushes the envelope while crossing the line risks that. The Matt-Man has always been kind to me and even when I open one of his posts and say to myself “Oh Baby Jeebus this is SO wrong …” I find myself laughing while I think – and that makes the world go round.

Happy Friday everybody!

Take That Sister!

When I was in Catholic school the Sisters truly didn't like me.

Sister Dominique Dominatrix hated that I was always making the other kids laugh, especially during those times when she was trying to intimidate them.

Sister Bertha Bloodletter referred to me as someone who "should learn to keep her comments to herself".

I often found myself in the office of the school principal Sister Agnes Mary Margaret Margaret Mary Margaret Mary. It was there that I was inspired to greatness by sound advice from this pillar of childhood education. A few of her gems were - "Don't think for yourself - think what we tell you to think" - "Children should never question" and my favorite "A willful sarcastic child will go straight to hell".

Well sisters - nah nah na nah na nah. I still can't bring myself to curse at a nun - use your imagination.

My lovely friend Mary/the Teach gave me these two awards - I know! 2 in 1 - how cool is that!

One is for making her smile
One is for not keeping my comments to myself


Bless Ya Mary.

I'm going to pass these on to ...

Bob-kat - who always takes the time to let me know my comment was appreciated.

Jay Man - can manage to get to the heart of a post with one sentence. His delivery is always spot on - makes me laugh every time.

CG - should be cloned as every comedian's perfect audience member! She always delights in my silly comments and always lets me know I made her smile.

Lisa – Rambling Villas Girl - my warm hearted friend from "down dah pawkway". She leaves lovely comments where she openly shares how my post made her feel.

and last but not least - and I have no idea why I chose five - I could have kept going forever ...

Ron - my newest buddy. Ron is so enthusiastic that I can't help but feel good when I see he has commented and his wit is as twisted as mine - which makes me feel normal.

I hope you stop by all these lovely blogs and if you run across a nun today - give em a shout-out from me.

Let the Wordzzle Flow ...

Two bloggie mentions before we get to the Wordzzle.

IVANHOE is celebrating her 100th post. Please take a moment to say congratulations and read her 100 list. She’s done a lot of interesting things and traveled to some very cool places. Ivanhoe gave all her readers a gift for her 100th. It’s right there at the top of my sidebar. Thank You Ivanhoe.

Our Wordzzle Mistress (sexy!) gave me the lovely Scribe award also there at the top of my sidebar. Thank You RAVEN! When you guys go over to check out her Wordzzle and all the other entries please peek in on her awards post and tell her how much she deserves the two awards she received this week. She hates that LOL

And now let the Wordzzle flow …

Ten Word Challenge: fabulous, aristocrat, tricycle, soft summer breeze, cat litter, silver-tongued devil, curtain rod, lilacs, Abraham Lincoln, garbage can

Mini Challenge: strangle-hold, revelation, dormancy, tripod, space cadet

I did something new with the mega. I continued a story! I’ve struggled with that in the past but Finola seems to speak to me.

The first part of Finola’s journey is HERE.

The further away from the school she got the better Finola felt. If the old jalopy she had stolen would just go faster than a tricycle she’d feel fabulous in no time. Finola giggled to herself, that silver-tongued devil Mr. Bugley thought he had a strangle-hold on being clever. Hah! It had taken her no more than a moment to get his car keys away from him. Now here she was, well on her way to the mountains. She had a brochure for Dormancy Estates and a road map. Once she found the Abraham Lincoln Expressway it would be an easy trip. The estates had been abandoned years ago and Finola was sure she could stay there for days without being found.

A soft summer breeze wafted in through the open windows. It smelled of lilacs. Such an improvement over the tiny room she had shared with Adele the Arian Aristocrat. Stupid, silly bitch; and her miserable old cat Space Cadet! What a pair they were. Adele had never cleaned Spacey’s cat litter and poor Finola drifted off to sleep each night with the smell of cat piss permeating her nostrils. Lilacs were certainly an improvement. Having never driven before it came as a revelation to Finola that if she switched gears the car would go faster. She was having a hard time keeping her foot flat on the gas pedal. The seat was stuck so far back, it appeared to have a curtain rod or a tripod wedged against it from the back to keep it upright.

Speed was crucial to Finola now. She needed to put distance between her and the hand grenade she had dropped into the garbage can by the school’s entrance. In her confused anxious state Finola could not remember if she had pulled the pin.

And my 10 word:

Adam Abraham Lincoln sat by the window in the club’s tiny crowded dressing room. He always made sure to get in early so he could feel the soft summer breeze on his face. He kept a vase of lilacs on the vanity to help fight the fierce combination of scents coming from the alley – tonight the house blend was day old garbage can full of food scraps and cat litter. Adam was well into having his face on when Sol the Silver-Tongued Devil burst into the room. “Would you believe I tripped over a rusty old tricycle? What the fuck is a tricycle doing back here!? And why aren’t the curtains drawn? Every crack head in town can watch us change”. Adam was used to Sol’s pre-show antics. “I’d close the curtains honey if there were any to close, the curtain rod has been down for weeks; we’re not exactly handy now are we?” Sol laughed, Adam always eased his jitters. “No dear I suppose we’re not, but we are the most fabulous duo the Aristocrat Club has ever seen”.

And the mini:

Mad Max was mourning the long state of dormancy within the robotic space cadet program. It had a strangle-hold on his dreams of universal domination. Max was well into his second bottle of Scotch when he had a revelation. If he stuck the program director’s severed head on a tripod …

The Arte y Pico Award

Twice in two days I’ve been presented with a lovely surprise.

First JENI and then PAGAN awarded me the ARTE Y PICO.

The award is given to recipients whose blogs exhibit creativity, design and interesting material and also for contributing to the blogging community. See the bottom of this post for the rest of the details.

Since I have two of them I decided to pass them on to two categories. I like categories and themes and symbolism. Keeps my chaos in check and helps me chose from a huge group of really talented folks that I adore.

The first category is young women I’d love to adopt. Smart, sassy, sexy, savvy women who I would be so proud to mother to death – in a healthy, non-obtrusive manner of course.

SNOOPMURPH – she adopted me! Poor kid, she didn’t read the fine print. Snoop’s blog is full of family and fun along with interesting posts about music and education and parenting. She is an astounding Mom and a good, sweet, supportive friend. Her children, her adorable handsome husband and her extended family are joyful to know.

TRANNY HEAD – another name I love! TH is irreverent to the nth degree. Her posts are hilarious. I always thought my son was a beautiful baby but you gotta get a look at her son! The Gerber Baby saw him and immediately arranged for plastic surgery. TH is a wonderful Mom while juggling law school and waiting for her hubby to come home from Iraq. I wish she wasn’t so far away; I’d love to offer free babysitting for life. I would also mention that she isn’t any where near as cynical and hard core as she likes to make out BUT she’d hurt me – so I won’t.

ETK – “I’m Just Sayin’” is part of her blog name and it fits perfectly. She shares her wonderful and often delightfully quirky observations. She shares them openly. etk is a whimsical soul and I love keeping up with her travels, her pink flamingo, her “baby” and all her other adventures of life.

LEIGHANN – more irreverence coupled with sexiness and sprinkled with lots of good momisms. I often call her ‘twisted sister’ but she’s younger than my son and I’d be proud to call her ‘twisted child’ and be a gorgeous granny to her “things”.

KNIGHT – she looks like a movie star and writes like a journalist. She’s interesting and open. She presents stories about her life and the world around her in a clear, no nonsense style while being a sweet and gentle person.

The second category is bloggers who have created and maintain projects. I often struggle to keep up with the blog so I have a lot of respect for those who extend their talents to reach out to and bring together fellow bloggers.

ANNA – her color related photo projects have made me appreciate so much more of my surroundings. Project Yellow was months ago and still I notice yellow wherever I go. She has made being stuck in traffic bearable! And when between projects her photos always inspire and awe.

ROGER – a very new blogger friend. His Creative Photography blog has only been up two weeks and already he has a good size circle of talented participants. When you visit the CP site make sure to check out the link to Roger’s main blog – great photos!!

MARY/the TEACH – I really don’t like the color red Mary LOL but wow have I found an appreciation for its place in a photo. Mary’s Ruby Tuesday project has brought so many great photographers together.

RAVEN – The Wordzzle Wonder Wiz! My vocabulary is better. My creative juices are juicier. My confidence in my writing feels more comfortable. All because of a hodge-podge of random words lovingly offered and tended to each week by a woman who should be published many times over.

Thank You JENI – grandma extraordinaire and keeper of the Bushisms.
Thank You PAGAN – artist, activist and soul mate.

Not all of us are into awards and less of us are into passing them on. It’s all good!
The blogging universe is populated by artists and heaven knows artists can not be tethered to rules or procedures.

Take the awards as they are intended. A nod to your talent and a small show of appreciation for who you are.

The rest of the award details are:
1) Pick five (5) blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog.

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!

My Own Little Award Show

The wonderful tt gave me the Excellent Blog award last week and I’ve finally decided how to pass it on. This was not an easy feat since I am a newcomer to your big blogger ways and I was worried that I’d somehow do it wrong. This worry was planted in the mossy part of my mind by a blog I read when I had just started blogging. Seems this poor blogger, also a newbie, had an award taken away because she hadn’t followed the rules. WTF!?
Blogging is an art and art should have no rules, or at most the rules should be don’t publish anyone’s social security number or credit card numbers and don’t be an asshole.

So I have decided which peeps deserve props – is there anything more pathetic than a middle-aged white woman using outdated hip-hop speak? Yes – George Bush.

But I digress …

I chose seven blogs because seven is my birth date number and I’ve always claimed it was lucky for me. Why? I have no clue but it made sense when I was seven so I stuck with it. Plus I love how versatile seven is – you can write it European and put the sexy mark in it or you can do like I do and make it barely discernible from a one. This is especially useful when you have a $77 gas bill and you only have $11 in your checking account. Of course you also have to not write out the amount in words and you have to remember to not sign the check. This usually gets you at least one more month before they turn off the gas – trust me, it works – I did it plenty of times back in the leaner 20 year old Single Mom days.

And I digress yet again …

I decided, going with the blogging is an art theme, to award the Excellent Blog award with movies and Oscar in mind. This also lets me give it to people who have already received it, two of them very recently. Again – I can not live by rules. I must acknowledge my wilder side somewhere and since it doesn’t wash with clients or at the giant-ass retail store my blog is my wild child salvation.
The Envelopes Puh-lease!

Raven – she’s Katherine Hepburn – stately and wise with a soft side that hugs the world. And she rocks as inventor of Wordzzle. Her blog is always filled with poetry and pureness.

Kim - best new artist. Yes, I know the Academy doesn’t have that award but the Daytime Emmys and the Grammys do. Just work with me people.
I found Kim’s blog when she was in the middle of doing a bio series on her pets. How wonderful is that!? Each day her posts are open and honest and a delight to read.

Jo – Audrey Hepburn at her finest. Beautiful and classy yet down-to-earth. Her blog truly is art. Wonderful writing and the most exquisite photography. And a comment from Jo is like being brushed with sunlight.

Michael – I have learned so much about so many diverse things from Michael. He posts about wonderful classic movies and classic cars – his Steve McQueen persona. He is also brilliant at networking people and putting the word out on worthy issues in a sweet, supportive Alan Alda manner.

CG – I’m thinking a young Helen Mirren. Classy and understated yet fun and oh so creative. Each post from CG always contains at least one magnificent photograph and she uses very few words to say so much.

R.E.H. – James Dean and Montgomery Clift. With a few Clint Eastwood days thrown in. His stories always kick-ass. He is the creator of the Picture Fiction Challenge and once a month he writes a story using lines from the blogs of his devoted commenters. How he does some of this stuff is beyond me. And because of the PFC, along with Wordzzle, I have never felt more inspired to write than I do right now.

And lovely seven…
Jayman – he’s every great comedic actor who should have gotten an Oscar and didn’t because the ass-hat Academy doesn’t feel funny is what? – smart, creative, worthy? Jay makes it all that and more. His posts always make me laugh out loud and his vlogs bring people into small moments of his life in the most entertaining way. And don’t let his blog title fool ya – he’s neither.

It was so hard to choose just seven. I think the “rules” allowed you to pass it on to ten but how snarky to flaunt rules and then use them when it’s convenient (again I leave that to Bushie Boy). There are so many wonderfully creative people in my favorites folder. I hope to be able to give an award to each and every one of them over time. They already have my respect and reader’s devotion.

And now I think we should all hit the red carpet and have our pictures taken by the paparazzi. Panties off! – You too ladies.

- I tried to go for gold font color - this is the closest I came. Sorry.