Don't Be SAD!

I saw this on someecards (What a fun, fun site, by the way. If you're not already killing time and/or sending ecards to your friends from there you should be) and thought - "Well, yeah. That about sums it up." After Friday's whinefest and the overwhelming support I received I thought I'd go ahead and share publicly what I shared with a few of you privately. It's SAD (seasonal affective disorder) pure and simple. It starts every year right around this time and hangs out making things as miserable as it can until the sun sees fit to shine more brightly on a more regular basis. It affects me every year, yet every year it manages to catch me by surprise. Once the beast has been recognized and named, it is easier to deal with (a little) but that first bout with it always throws me for a loop.

So in the midst of wondering how I'm going to accentuate the positive while minimizing (if not eliminating) the negative, Allyson at Magnolias and Mimosas gave me this loverly award.

Now some of you may be saying (and quite justifiably so) "Hey! *I* gave you an award! Ooooo weee - what up with that? What up with that?" (if you really did say/sing that, I would seriously have been so impressed...) Truth is, I proudly accept most awards and post them to my awards page, but rarely comply. It's the passing on part. I hate the passing on part. But this one asked the recipient to list ten things that made them happy, and I thought, given my recent sad SAD indulgences that that would perhaps be a good exercise for me to attempt. Besides, it has cupcakes.

So, without further ado, ten things that make me happy right now (because if I were writing this list yesterday or tomorrow, it might be different) in alphabetical order. Because that makes sense to me.

* Blank journals
* Books that make me cry and movies that make me laugh
* Good tequila
* Laughing so hard you forget exactly what you were laughing about
* Muscle cars (That does NOT, by the way, make me a car chick, Tom)
* Someone else doing the dishes
* Spring flowers in the winter
* Sunrises
* Swedish fish
* Tight guitar solos (that go to eleven)

And while we're counting and smiling, here's a little ditty about censorship and counting that my daughter shared with me this morning. Not that censorship makes me smile. It does not. But this video did.




Did I skip out on the passing along part? Oops! It would appear I did! Here's the thing: as I said, I hate the passing along part. So if you would like to share ten things that make YOU happy right now, consider yourself tagged!

It's a Dog's Life

This is my dog, Molly.

I don't talk about Molly much, because her life isn't all that interesting. These past couple weeks, however, I've noticed that our lives have become strikingly similar. For example:

Molly is getting old, but she still likes to play. She just can't play quite as often or quite as long and she needs a little nap after a good romp.

Molly likes (needs, craves) attention and doesn't mind kissing up a little bit to get it.


Molly loves a nice sunbath.

Her favorite place to be is curled up against Tom.


She's loyal.

I'm loyal, too. (How's that for a segue?) I know this because my buddy The Scholastic Scribe herself awarded me this Loyal Friend and Visitor Award, and I couldn't be more pleased.


Purdy, ain't it?

I am fortunate enough to have many loyal friends and visitors (including the Scribe herself), so I would like to bestow this upon a few of them. (I usually hate this part because I'm always certain I'm leaving someone out, but this time it was easy - I looked over my last 10 posts and the following folks commented on 7 or more of them.)

MiMi
Unknown Mami
Blue Violet
Bonnie K
Pam
Joanna Jenkins
carma
Housewife Savant
Badass Geek
Kathy B.
Gibby
mama-face
Anita
Whispering Writer
Sandy

Pick up your award, if you like, and pass it on to your most loyal friends and visitors!

And if you get a chance to have a nap in the sun today, be sure to think of Molly and I - it's likely that we'll be doing the same thing.

Random Randomness That's Random

Today, as you know, is 09/09/09. What a cool, orderly date. All nice and round and even. Not random at all. And yet...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Last night we went to Liv's band orientation. There were lots of things to sign up for and everyone had to sign up for multiple things. Before the speakers were done speaking, parents were rushing the stage to get to the sign up sheets. It was an astoundingly rude display. The teacher just looked sort of helpless. I don't know what he'd do with kids who acted so rudely, but he clearly didn't know what to do with adults who showed him no respect. Many in front of their kids. And we wonder why so many kids feel like the rules don't apply to them...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I was a wiener this week! Blue Violet over at A Nut in a Nutshell ran a contest and yours truly won a coupon for $45 off $100 purchase at Old Navy. I got the coupon today and spent it tonight. Grass doesn't grow under my feet, baby. We got quite a nice little haul for the whole family, and I am most appreciative.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another cool thing happened, too. The Redhead Riter passed along a couple goodies to me:


This one is the bookworm. It came without rules. My favorite! Not a big rule follower! The lines are not my friend! This is not really contradictory to the above bit of randomness where I complained about people thinking they were above the rules. I don't break rules if to do so would be blatantly RUDE...

Ahem.


Check that out, all fancy and sparkly-like! Who adds sunshine to my day? Well YOU do, silly!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The other night I dreamed of pizza. This is not as unusual an occurrence as it perhaps should be. But this dream was special. I could actually taste and identify, like, every piece of pizza I'd ever eaten in my life. I wonder if this is the east coast version of having your life flash before your eyes? I remembered pizza from my childhood. Pizza from that little shop at the beach. Pizza from my grandpa's bar. Pizza from a restaurant I went to ONCE on a vacation when I was LITTLE. Pizza from every pizza shop in my small college town. To extend the old saying that pizza is like sex: even when it's bad, it's still pretty good - I guess this was the equivalent of a pizza lover's wet dream. A full-on pizza orgy. Hmmm. What shall we have for dinner tonight? Oh! I know!!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My uterus will leave me in three days. My mom will arrive in five. Anyone wanna hazard a guess as to which future event is making me more nervous? 'Future events such as these will affect you in the future.' If you actually get that reference, I don't know if I'll cheer for you or weep for you. Probably a little bit of both. I'm multi-faceted like that. Plus, I'm pretty hormonal.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As my sweet baby Lea would say: Peace, Love, Randomness.

Good, Better, Best - Never Let it Rest - Till Your Good is Better and Your Better is Best

And the award for the longest post title goes to:

I am notoriously bad with awards. I apologize. I am always thrilled and honored to receive one, but I am ridiculously bad at passing them along. I never want to single anyone out.

Also? Often the attached memes are difficult for me. Things you don't know about me? Hah! I am such a naked blogger my computer sometimes blushes. Then it offers me a robe. Because not all naked is good.

Recently I have been honored to have been awarded with the following accolades. I know for sure I am missing one or two and I feel bad about that - I think I received a couple when I was on vacation and I was just off my schedule then. If you gave me something and I did not respond, shoot me an email and I'll rectify.

So, without further ado, here are the awards:

JennyMac at Let's Have a Cocktail? She thinks I give good blog. Yes, well, erm, uh... blog! Oh BLOG! Thank you, then! She gives good blog, too.


This one is to be passed on to four folks who I think give good blog. They need to then pass it on to four folks who they think give good blog, and so on, and so on... Eenie, meenie, minie moe; I pick:

1. Kel at Housewife Savant
2. Ginger at De-Composition
3. Mary at Shaking the Tree (welcome her back!)
4. Sandy at It's a Jungle Out There

Melissa B. at The Scholastic Scribe? She thinks I'm a Superior Scribbler. High praise, from the original Superior Scribbler herself!


The rules for this one are:

• Each Superior Scribbler I name today must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
• Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
• Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains The Award.
• Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor.
• Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog

I'm passing this along to the following Superior Scribblers:

1. Alex at Please Try Again
2. Mama-face at Blog Ignoramus
3. MiMi at Living in France
4. The Redhead Riter at, um, The Redhead Riter
5. Sparkle Farkle at Sparkle's Soup of the Day

Vivienne at The V-Spot? She inspired the title for this post, actually. She agrees with JennyMac that I give good blog. (What a loquacious little ho I am, no?) and she also thinks I'm worthy of the Best Blog award. Holy buckets, my head is getting big. (Comments about head and giving good blog should be kept to yourself. It's the polite thing to do, and I'm all about manners.) As far as good and best go, Viv, takes one to know one!


The You Give Good Blog award I've already passed along.

The Best Blog Award, I would like to pass on to:

Jenny Penny at Welcome to My Momplex

Last but not least, Freegal1000 (you may know her as Ella Numera Dos), at Moo? She thinks I'm Honest Scrap material. She's just getting started in this bloggy game and she is a superior photographer, so you should definitely pay her a visit.



Here are da rules:

1. “The Honest Scrap” award must be shared.
2. The recipient has to tell 10 true things about themselves that no one else knows.
3. The recipient has to pass along the award to 10 more bloggers.
4. Those 10 bloggers all have to be notified they have been given this award.
5. Those 10 bloggers should link back to the blog that awarded them.

I'm going to pass this along to the following deserving folks:

1. TeenAngst at My Sharpest Lives ('cause she's my daughter)
2. Shelby at Keeping Up With Z ('cause she's my niece)
3. Liv at Dark Chest of Wonders ('cause she's my other daughter)
4. Tom at Adventitious Cerebration ('cause he's my husband. Thus ends the nepotism portion of this awards blog.)
5. Mz. Behavin' at positively neurotic me
6. Anita at A Wife, A Woman, A Mom
7. Carma at Carma Sez
8. Scrappy Sue at My Home Wellingtontown
9. Unknown Mami at, um, Unknown Mami
10. Gibby at Lost in Suburban Bliss


In response to the requirements of the Honest Scrap Award, and without further ado, here are:

Six Things You May Not Know About Me: The Athletic Edition

(That's right. Six, not ten. I tried to make 'em count, though, for what that's worth...)

1. Doing 'the athletic edition' was inspired by Mama-face's post about her son's climbing adventures. It reminded me of something my very best and oldest (and by oldest, I mean they've been my friends the longest, of course, not that they're old) friends don't know about me. Mama-face knows, 'cause I told her in her comments. When I was a young 'un, I wanted to be a mountain climber. I loved the mountains and I loved hiking. Seemed like a logical next step. I obsessed about it for more than a couple years. I read voraciously on the subject. Now no-one say "it's never too late". It is. It's too late. And that's ok. But it was once a dream.

2. In elementary school I had a well-intentioned gym teacher who let me bounce a big red ball when I had trouble dribbling a basketball. His goal, I realized once I was a teacher myself, was to allow me to experience success. The actual result was that I felt humiliated and singled out. If they'd offered remedial gym, I would've been a candidate. Man, I hated gym.

3. I hated gym so much that in college, when presented with the prospect of 2 semesters of ROTC or 3-4 semesters of gym to fulfill a requirement, this junior peacemonger, this future pacifist, signed up for ROTC. It was 1980 and I couldn't have cared less about the ROTC, I was fulfilling a credit requirement and skipping gym. I didn't wear the requisite T-shirt under my uniform, which, by the way, I unbuttoned low and popped the collar on. Suck it, gym class.

4. I was on the girls' track team in its inaugural year at my high school. I had no business there. No. Business. At all. I was a disgrace to our team and I knew it. For what it's worth, I DID work hard. I practiced. I tried. I was never gonna get a decent time on that 220. Just wasn't gonna happen.

5. I love to walk, but hate the treadmill. I don't even try to run anymore. An attempt would almost assuredly result in (worse than they already are) shot knees (and black eyes). I used to dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail. It may actually NOT be too late for that. But I'd need to sleep in a real bed at least every third night and any night it was raining. And also if there were bears.

6. Once? In that elementary school that didn't have remedial gym but should have just for me? I ran the wrong way for a touchdown in flag football. Yep. I was THAT kid.

Oh, and here's a little additional perspective for free: My dad was a jock in high school and college (four letterman, held the pole vault record until they introduced spring loaded poles) and a coach later when he became a teacher. Let's just say I was never the golden child in our family.

Ah, my head feels much less inflated, now. Nothing like a humiliating revelation or two to keep all the award hubbub in perspective.

Did Someone Say Fabu?

Warning - cussing, cussing, and more cussing in this post. And then I cuss. A lot. If that offends you, shoo! Come back tomorrow when I'll be more my sweet temperate self. If that doesn't offend you, read on!

Ok, I've tried to be modest, but it's true. I'm fucking fabulous. At least my blog is. How do I know? Same way I know everything I know. Someone told me. In this case, two someones, specifically MzBehavin at Positively Neurotic Me and Mimi at Living in France. They are both pretty fucking fabulous, too, if you ask me.


Man, that was a lot of gratuitous fucking cussing for one of my posts! I usually try to keep the cussing minimal, for maximum impact. (On the blog, at least. I can hear the people I know in real life snickering, because in real life maximum impact is apparently something I go for a lot. A whole fucking lot.)

Anyhoodle, if I haven't already offended your virgin ears - or - er - eyes too much, the requirements of this fu - oh, forget it - it's not even fun anymore. The requirements of this award are that I share 5 current obsessions and pass it along to five other blogs with a similar level of fabulosity. I'll share my obsessions - I've got nothing to hide - but I never like singling out anyone to pass an award on to. If you're still here after all the cussing, you're fucking fabulous. If you've left me comment love, you're fucking fabulous. If you've clicked my 'follow' button, you're fucking fabulous. Take it - it's yours. Now on to the obsessions:

1. I am obsessed with the upcoming Alice in Wonderland movie. I have devoured every little morsel that has been leaked with gusto. If you've read my profile, you know that a Tim Burton/Johnny Depp/ Helena Bonham Carter project has never ever failed me. This one looks astounding. I have a very important date in March. An important date in 3-fucking D! March is so faaaaaaar!!!!!

2. I am obsessed with aging. I think about it all the time. That is sometimes as negative as it sounds and sometimes it's downright positive, but it is never far from my mind. My fucking mind, to those of you who are fabulous.

3. I am obsessed with bags. No, not beautiful, expensive purses. I can walk by Kate Spade without a glance. Coach? You have no more power over me. Ok, I did spare a quick peak at the Henri Bendel bags in a display window recently, but it was just a quick peak. I didn't, you know, touch them or smell them or anything. I'm talking about bags. Reusable shopping bags. I've spoken about this before. I don't know why I love the darn things so much, but I do. I buy them all the time. And now that festival season is upon us, a lot of folks are giving them away for free. For FREE, ya'll!!! I have big ones and small ones and some that fold up in my purse. I have some for grocery shopping and some for clothing/other shopping. I have big insulated bags for cold/frozen food. Just call me the fucking bag lady.

4. I am obsessed with yarn! Anyone who knows me knows that I'm gonna embarrass them if they go into a yarn store with me. I don't treat yarn with the restraint I offer to fine purses. I touch EVERYthing. I smell quite a lot. I smell quite a lot of YARN, is what I'm saying. I PERSONALLY smell like a subtle blend of jasmine and sandalwood with gentle rose undertones. I don't even know what the fuck that means. It just sounded like it might be a nice way to smell. Ahem. But yarn - oh, I can't get enough of it. I would write an ode to it, if I were the sort of person who could write odes. Since I can't I'll just touch it and smell it and knit, knit, knit.

5. Lastly, I am obsessed with seventies and eighties nostalgia tours. Friday begins the week of a thousand bands. It's really just seven, but seven bands in seven days - well, technically eight days - is nothing to scoff at. But it doesn't sound as cool as the week of a thousand bands. We're kicking it off next Friday with the Prodigals. Saturday, Alice Cooper! Suck it, Mom! (That was for you, E. I hope you're reading. That's my nod to Suck it Sunday!). Wednesday, Joan Jett and the B-52's and Friday, Pat Benetar, Blondie and The Donnas. That is a whole lot of late seventies early eighties goodness. I am so fucking psyched! Watch this space.

This concludes my fucking fabulous post. I hope you have a fabulous fucking day. Tomorrow I return to my regular blog voice. Hopefully. No wonder people overuse the 'f' word so much. It is way easier than actually searching for a less base word to express one's true meaning...

Better Living Through Technology

I have been feeling a little blue. Nothing huge - people deal with a lot worse on a daily basis. Sometimes just knowing other people have it worse doesn't make it better. It just adds feeling selfish and insensitive to the list of things to beat oneself up over.

This morning I thought about the reasons I should get out of bed:

1. there is laundry currently sitting in the washer AND the dryer.
2. there are dishes currently sitting in the dishwasher AND the sink.
3. the vacuum hasn't been run in (mumble, mumble, some time, I guess...)

Then I thought about the reasons I should stay in bed this morning:

1. there is laundry currently sitting in the washer AND the dryer.
2. there are dishes currently sitting in the dishwasher AND the sink.
3. the vacuum hasn't been run in (mumble, mumble, some time, I guess...)

But get out of bed I did. I took my meds and sat down at the computer, purely out of habit. I can't eat for an hour after I take my meds, so I use that time to read my e-mail and catch up on all of your yummy blogs since I can't indulge in a yummy breakfast for a while. Before I was even through the e-mail, my mood had lifted considerably. I had not one but two awards waiting for me.

Sandy at It's a Jungle Out There gave me this cute little panda as a reward for leaving consistent comments. Aw, thanks Sandy! You're no slouch yourself!


That probably would've been enough to brighten my mood, but I read a couple more e-mails and found that this was waiting for me at Fran's blog, Very Random. For what, you ask? Why for leaving consistent comments.


Now perhaps you're saying to yourself, "It must not have been much of a funk, if it was lifted by a couple of blog awards." But that's only because you don't understand the nature of the funk to which I had succumbed. I was feeling - like we all do, from time to time - pretty insignificant. I was feeling like nothing I do matters - I don't make a difference. (There's more, but I don't want to talk about it. Suffice it to say that the insignificance thing was playing a pretty strong supporting role in the drama that's been running on my cerebral stage for the past couple days) And along come these two ladies - at the same time - telling me that in some small way, I do.

I needed it, and there it was.

Right there on my laptop.

Comin' through on the wide world of web.

Deb at Suburb Sanity posted about the bloggy support system today, too. It really is quite a powerful and wonderful thing. Deb also talked about turning off the AC and opening the windows, which I did, and I think that has also had quite the impact on my mood. When you let the dishes in the sink all night, a little fresh air and a cross-breeze is never a bad idea... The birdsong it's allowing to come in isn't so bad, either.

So, thank you, Sandy, Fran and Deb. Sincerely. For saying just what I needed to hear just when I needed to hear it.

And thank you all for giving me funny, insightful, heart-wrenching, heart-warming, informative posts (not usually all at the same time, though sometimes some come close) to read each day. And thanks in advance for the bloggy love you're gonna leave me which will make a rapidly improving mood even better. (It's true. I'm not above pandering like that. Pitiful, really.)

Isn't it Lovely?

As award season continues, I am pleased and proud to accept the One Lovely Blog award from the - well - lovely and talented Pam at Pam's Perspective. Thanks, Pam!!! I think you're pretty lovely, too!

Isn't it pretty? Pam asked me to link you up with a ton of new links, but I'm playing kind of fast and furious with the rules. I'm just gonna give you one, but I'm gonna make it count. I'd like you all to take a moment and visit with Melissa at:

Operation NICE

I've been following this blog since its inception and I think Melissa is da bomb. She reminds us of how simple it can be to make a difference. She shares inspirational stories, offers great links, and gives regular assignments to help us all to be just a little bit nicer. She also frequently offers free downloads to help you along this path. She manages to do all of this without ever ever ever coming off as preachy or judgmental.

So do me a favor. Treat yourself to a few moments there. You won't be sorry. It is indeed, One Lovely Blog.

Welcome to The Big FIB!

As this week finds my ACTUAL self at the beach, I've decided, in accordance with the plans of the insanely creative Housewife Savant, to welcome a few of you - my virtual buds - to spend a weekend at my VIRTUAL beach house. No RSVP necessary, you're already THERE baby.

Welcome to Fantasy Island Beach (or, as it will say on our bumper stickers, FIB). Smiles, everyone, smiles!

You'll notice that Shannon is here, tending bar. I asked Shannon to develop a commemorative drink for our little island beach weekend, but he refused. I was a little confused, because he is usually happy to oblige (he's also quick with a joke and to light up your smoke). It became clear when he was given a moment to explain. He wanted to develop a signature drink for each individual visitor to the island. That's just like Shannon, taking the time to get to know you and wanting to make sure you feel special just because you're who you are. That's sort of our unspoken motto here on the island, actually. So chat him up a little bit and let him figure out just what to put in your glass to make your stay more refreshing as well as enjoyable. The resources are endless here at FIB.

Tom is here, too. Tom is playing in a little ensemble for your musical entertainment. Whatever kind of music makes you happiest, that's what they're playing right now. Requests? They live for them. The only request of the band is that if you're in their immediate staging area, you're either listening or dancing. They do not want to be - nor should they be - treated like background music. They're here for you. Give 'em some love.

Jenny Penny is here, but you might not notice her right away. She is spending a lot of time tucked away in a private cabana. I suspect she is taking advantage of the peaceful atmosphere here at FIB and catching up on her sleep. Sweet dreams, Jenny! Sweet, gentle island dreams. No worries. If you feel like a cocktail, or some music, or some socialization - cause we'd all like to bask in your well-rested brilliance a little bit - you know where to go. It's all here. But if you just want to rest in the quiet, that's cool, too.

I see Pam and Anita and Mama-face! There they are! Down on the beach reading. I can't be sure from here, but I think they're all wearing rather glorious sun hats to shade their eyes while they read. That may just be my projection. I love a pretty sun hat, but if you girls don't, just feel free to take them off. Leave the books, though. Man, they've got a whole library in a basket down there. They have fluffy beach reads and bodice rippers, they have historical fiction, they have classics, they have best sellers, they seem to have it all! And the best part? They have an infinite amount of time in which to enjoy them. I'm hoping they all mosey up to the bar from time to time to share their insights.

Swine? Is that you at the bar? I'm so glad you're here! Sorry about all the unfortunate goings on around your name and stuff. Hopefully a few days on the FIB will smooth it over. There are a lot of brilliant, interesting, funny people here on the island. I think you'll fit right in. Cheers.

Gibby! Chris! Stop trying to organize everything and just relax! We've got it all under control here! You only need to concern yourself with your own needs today. Rest. Drink. Converse. Have a massage, if you want. It's all good. No worries on the FIB.

Alex the Girl, I'm so glad you could make it! When the band takes a break, Tom is anxious to discuss sci-fi from the 70's with you! The folks at the bar were all just saying they'd like to hear a good joke or two, so maybe you'd like to head on over that way.

It wouldn't be a party, virtual or otherwise, without Pink. Glad you could make it, Pink. I assume you've already met the official island photographer? I know how much you love to have your picture taken. Well, pose away! The natural backdrops are gorgeous!

Sir Hook! Nobility at my little bash. You honor me with your presence. I think you'll like it here on FIB! Shannon and Swine are chatting over at the bar, Tom says you're welcome to jam with the band, and the ladies here are pretty much unequaled in their beauty and in their conversational skills. Drink, play, chat and gaze away.

Of course none of this would have been possible if it weren't for Housewife Savant. Ms. Savant, may I say that you are rockin' that bikini? I have a special surprise for you: all of the breads and desserts here on the FIB 24 hour buffet are low cal and carb-free. Full taste, too. Not like when they say it's gonna taste good and you'll never know the difference but it totally doesn't taste good and you totally know the difference. Really truly full taste. Don't give 'em a second thought. I don't want to monopolize your time, because I know you'll want to visit with everyone and make them all feel special, 'cause that's just the way you are. Later, though, we are totally going to rock out. Totally.

And you! I'm so glad you could make it, too! Please have Shannon make you a drink, then find your pleasure and indulge in it.

I hope you enjoyed your little stay here on the FIB, where the weather is always beautiful and the water is always clear and warm. Where the sun will tan you (if you want it to) but it will never burn. Where everyone is happy about how they look in their beachwear. Come back any time.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled life, already in progress.

I'd Like to Thank the Academy

Anita at A Wife, A Woman, A Mom just gave me my first awards - TWO of 'em, no less!

The Housewife Savant immediately followed with one of her own.

Who knew it was award season?

As I walk the red carpet to humbly accept my awards, you'll probably want to know that I'm wearing Threadless. People seem to want to know these things. I did my own hair. My jewelry was graciously provided by Swatch. After I bought it. Yep, the glamour and elegance that I live with every single day are heavy in the air tonight.

I take my seat and anxiously watch other bloggers receive their awards and read their acceptance speeches through tears and nervous laughter. I am smug. I shall not succumb to any of that foolishness. I shall accept my awards with the humble nobility for which I am known. Ahem.

Anita takes the stage. She looks lovely, as usual. We'll have to ask her who she's wearing.

She says:

The lemonade award is for showing great attitude and/or gratitude. Each award has a pay it forward concept...

The Rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog, nominate at least 10 blogs, which show great attitude and/or gratitude.
2. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
3. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
4. Share the love and link to this post, and/or to the person from whom you received your award.

The lemonade award goes to: six people who aren't me, and, (drumroll please...) ME! Yay!

I am so honored to be perceived as someone who has a great attitude and/or expresses gratitude. There are some in my direct line of fire who may disagree with this assessment, but they're not the ones handing out awards now, are they?

I would like to do my part to pay it forward by nominating:

Shannon of Pragmatic Optimism
Gibby of Lost in Suburban Bliss
Jenny Penny of Welcome to My Momplex

I return to my seat to look over my shiny new award and try to figure out how to get it to display in my sidebar. I've no sooner figured it out (With a little help from my friends. Thanks again, Anita. And your daughters. And my husband.) than my name is called again.

This time, the award is: The Kreativ Blogger Award. Anita explains that the rules for this one are:

1. List 7 things that you love.
2. Link to the person who has tagged you
3. Choose 7 more bloggers to give the Kreativ Award to.

First of all, 'creative' (or, 'kreativ', as the case may be) is one of the few compliments that I tend to manage to accept gracefully. It's a side I haven't shown TOO much of on this blog, opting instead to have a separate blog just for showing off my craftier side. It's relatively new, but I have a couple wips (works in progress) that I can't WAIT to show off!

Without further ado,

Seven Things I Love:
1. Sunrises
2. Live Music
3. Girls Nights Out
4. Yarn
5. Books
6. Coffee
7. VACATIONS

I would like to nominate the following creative bloggers to carry on the tradition:

Chris of Chez Zimmer
Pink of The Pink Owl Diaries (shameless self promotion)
Becky of Frantic Mommy

Okay, I totally cheated and only nominated three folks for each. I am trying to steer clear of folks I regularly read who have just received the same or similar awards or requests.

Next on the stage is Housewife Savant. She looks resplendent in - hey! - who are you wearing, babe? Ms. Savant's award is described as follows:

Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to grab an award and post. It. Out.
Don’t be afraid. Or do.
Select at least 7 of your favorite bloggers and create the scenario of an outing.
Host a luncheon, see a movie, or go to the park.
Enjoy Ladies Night. You deserve to pretend that you’re going someplace.
Don’t be afraid. Or do.
Treat everyone to a day at the spa, because you’re worth play money.
Go to a play, or the opera. See a movie, meet for coffee, shop at the mall or a bookstore.
The sky is the limit. Because we're all gonna go along with pretending you're that good.

Write something unique that each of Chosen Few would contribute if you actually got met these peeps in real life. Or don’t, cuz real life is the scary part.

Be sure to pick up the check. Your ersatz generosity will impress your imaginary friends.

I think we can all agree that responding to that request will require a post all it's own. Stay tuned!

I will be changing into an elegant pajama ensemble for the after-party, where, if you're really sweet to me, and maybe buy me a martini, I'll let you bask in the glow of my awards.