And the winner is... Just like they say at the Oscars, "It's an honor to be recognized by your peers." Last week the lovely and talented Laura Zera honored my work as a blogger by nominating me for The Versatile Blogger Award. On her blog, Stories to Connect Cultures, Laura writes about her exotic travel adventures and how her family has been affected by mental illness. Sometimes funny and sometimes poignant, Laura's posts are always a joy to read. In fact, if Laura hadn't been the one to nominate me for this award, you would find her name in my list of nominees later in this post. |  |
And so with humble thanks to Laura, I now share the blogger love with my fellow writers here in cyberspace. Here's how The Versatile Blogger Award works. Those nominated are asked to:
1. In a post on your blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award. (I'm cheating on this one; my list is shorter.)
2. In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award logo.
3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
4. In the same post, share seven completely random pieces of information about yourself.
5. In the same post, include this set of rules.
6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs. (I'm cheating on this one and posting to Twitter.)
And now for some tidbits about me...
1. From the first grade through the eighth grade, I was educated in a three-room country schoolhouse.
2. In grades four through six, I represented my school in the countywide spelling bee. (I never took home top honors, but one year I was the runner-up. And I still remember all three words I missed: cemetery, financial and beneath.)
3. I hate watermelon. In fact, I hate all types of melon.
1. In a post on your blog, nominate 15 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award. (I'm cheating on this one; my list is shorter.)
2. In the same post, add the Versatile Blogger Award logo.
3. In the same post, thank the blogger who nominated you in a post with a link back to their blog.
4. In the same post, share seven completely random pieces of information about yourself.
5. In the same post, include this set of rules.
6. Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs. (I'm cheating on this one and posting to Twitter.)
And now for some tidbits about me...
1. From the first grade through the eighth grade, I was educated in a three-room country schoolhouse.
2. In grades four through six, I represented my school in the countywide spelling bee. (I never took home top honors, but one year I was the runner-up. And I still remember all three words I missed: cemetery, financial and beneath.)
3. I hate watermelon. In fact, I hate all types of melon.
| 4. I am fascinated with and captivated by snails. I search for them on hiking trails and crawl in the dirt to photograph them. (See example photos on my Ireland Travel Blog.) And, yes, since developing this affinity for our mollusk friends, I would feel guilty about eating escargot. I've only enjoyed this delicacy once, and I'm not sure I could do it again. If you're interested, I highly recommend the book The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating. Amazing story! 5. I am both a high-school dropout and a college graduate. (Magna cum laude, thank you very much!) Yes, I know it sounds improbable, but, believe me, it is not impossible! |  |
6. I am terrified of haunted houses. I don't mean some scary old abandoned house down the block; I'm talking about those places that crop up every year at Halloween to offer an evening of thrills for the price of admission. I know it's all for fun, but it's too much anxiety for me. The only haunted house you'll ever find me in is Disney's The Haunted Mansion ... a nice G-rated blend of spook and fun.
7. I was once kissed on the head by Willard Scott. (Yes, the former NBC weather guy who now sends out weekly birthday greetings to centenarians.) While attending a college press convention in NYC, my fellow students and I were able to snag a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Today show; we were surprised by an impromptu meeting with Willard with the hallway.
And without further ado, here's my list of nominees for The Versatile Blogger Award:
Galit Breen @GalitBreen theselittlewaves.com
Galit is a wife and mother with a gift for taking life's small moments and turning them into prose that reads like poetry. Her talent for the written word is matched by her ability to see and appreciate the beauty of life as it is happening around her. Her gift is contagious.
Tess Hardwick @TessHardwick tesshardwick.com
Tess offers Inspiration for Ordinary Life on her blog. A wife, mother and novelist, Tess writes about those fleeting moments of life that many of us overlook. Spending time on her blog is like taking a mental vacation for the soul.
Nancy Wurtzel @NancyWurtzel datingdementia.com
After years in sunny Southern California, Nancy moved back to her home state of Minnesota to care for her aging mother, who has dementia. With a unique blend of humor and honesty, Nancy shares her thoughts on caregiving, life after divorce and living in a town with three stoplights.
Jessica Watson @fourplusanangel fourplusanangel.com
Jessica is a freelance writer who blogs about life and loss. She is the mother of four children and one angel that she still mourns. She also shares her insights on dealing with autism and life with multiples.
Glennon Melton @Momastery momastery.com
If you haven't heard of Glennon Melton and her crew of Monkee followers, you soon will. Glennon recently drew attention on a national scale when one of her thought-provoking blog posts went viral. Glennon's followers are affectionately known as Monkees, because, like monks, the Monkees put their faith in something beyond themselves.
That's my list of nominees; each of these women owns a distinctive writing voice that affords a view from her little window to the world. I feel blessed by their words and inspired by their talent. If you take the time to visit their blogs and sample their work, I think it will bless your life as well.
Your comments are welcome and encouraged! Please share your thoughts below.
7. I was once kissed on the head by Willard Scott. (Yes, the former NBC weather guy who now sends out weekly birthday greetings to centenarians.) While attending a college press convention in NYC, my fellow students and I were able to snag a private behind-the-scenes tour of the Today show; we were surprised by an impromptu meeting with Willard with the hallway.
And without further ado, here's my list of nominees for The Versatile Blogger Award:
Galit Breen @GalitBreen theselittlewaves.com
Galit is a wife and mother with a gift for taking life's small moments and turning them into prose that reads like poetry. Her talent for the written word is matched by her ability to see and appreciate the beauty of life as it is happening around her. Her gift is contagious.
Tess Hardwick @TessHardwick tesshardwick.com
Tess offers Inspiration for Ordinary Life on her blog. A wife, mother and novelist, Tess writes about those fleeting moments of life that many of us overlook. Spending time on her blog is like taking a mental vacation for the soul.
Nancy Wurtzel @NancyWurtzel datingdementia.com
After years in sunny Southern California, Nancy moved back to her home state of Minnesota to care for her aging mother, who has dementia. With a unique blend of humor and honesty, Nancy shares her thoughts on caregiving, life after divorce and living in a town with three stoplights.
Jessica Watson @fourplusanangel fourplusanangel.com
Jessica is a freelance writer who blogs about life and loss. She is the mother of four children and one angel that she still mourns. She also shares her insights on dealing with autism and life with multiples.
Glennon Melton @Momastery momastery.com
If you haven't heard of Glennon Melton and her crew of Monkee followers, you soon will. Glennon recently drew attention on a national scale when one of her thought-provoking blog posts went viral. Glennon's followers are affectionately known as Monkees, because, like monks, the Monkees put their faith in something beyond themselves.
That's my list of nominees; each of these women owns a distinctive writing voice that affords a view from her little window to the world. I feel blessed by their words and inspired by their talent. If you take the time to visit their blogs and sample their work, I think it will bless your life as well.
Your comments are welcome and encouraged! Please share your thoughts below.
