Blogger Awards

I've been honored by a few different folks who seem to enjoy this humble little blog...

Jaquander of Byzantium's Shores tagged me for the Inspirational Blogger Award HERE on 7/23/07.



Lei from My Many Colored Days nominated me for the Blogger Reflections Award HERE on 7/9/07.


Mimi over at Bigger Than a Breadbox honored me with Thinking Blogger Award HERE on 4/16/07



Then, not long ago Kevin B. from Baron of Deseret contacted me to invite me to be a regularly contributing writer in a new forum he is initiating.

And finally I've had some feedback on a fiction piece I've been working on from published author Terri Jentz who is strongly encouraging me to continue with that effort.

I find myself both flattered and baffled by all this.

I write like I breathe...not because I thought anyone would care, but because it sustains me. As I've alluded to before, I'm a crazy insomniac so from a very early age I adapted the habit of writing to occupy myself in the wee hours of the night without bothering anyone. Beyond that, during the chaotic years of my biggest brain dysfunction I did a stint of psychotherapy during which time I wrote reams and reams of journals of introspective angst that solidified the habit into the hard wiring of my system.

When I check my blogger stats I'm always a bit mystified to discover I've got people tuning in from all over the world.

I am not sure what keeps folks coming back, but I'd just like to say thanks to all of you who have chosen to spend some time here, and especially to those of you who have shared some comments along the way.

When I first started blogging I assumed that this would be a good way to stay in touch with family and friends (most of whom fell out of the circle early on.) It never even occurred to me that total strangers would give a rip about what a self indulgent middle aged lady in Oregon would have to say.

But I've been blessed to make a handful of good friends out there in the blogosphere and to get to meet all sorts of folk both far and wide. I've learned so much from reading what many of you have written and been comforted at times by your willingness to listen to and accept my prattle. I've laughed and wept and pondered as the words have come across the ethernet from me to you and you to me.

It's an amazing world we live in. So even though I've not been one to pass on those awards as I could have... know that I very much have appreciated your kindness in acknowledging my efforts here at mind-muffins.

Now it's time for me to get off to bed...but I'll be back. See you in the next post.

Thinking Blogger Award

I am ever so honored to be tagged for a "Thinking Blogger Award" by cyber pal Mimi over at Bigger than a Breadbox. My heart has been touched by her words, both on her blog and through our rambling e-mail conversations, many a time. Although, as she notes, our faith is expressed in very different ways we still share a bond as sisters in Christ as we both do what we can to search out truth, love our families, and find our way in this crazy old world.

So, the ground rules for this tag are as follows:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.

2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme

3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).

In sorting out various categories of online work that I follow, I acknowledge that much of my blog time is purely entertainment. There are a few I check on nearly every day out of friendship and camaraderie. But this meme did not challenge me to list who I LIKE the most. Instead, I am to list those that cause me to really think. So here, (in no particular order) are a few that do just that:

1. CLOSE TO HOME - by Molly Sambourin;
Molly is gifted writer, passionate Orthodox Christian, who mainly writes about faith and family. Yet hers is no commonplace vanity blog. I love the way her words cut right to the heart of so many issues.

2. Naihadot - by Naiha Earhart. An LDS woman with brains, style and plenty to say

3. Q and O - multiple contributors, I mainly follow Bruce "McQ" McQuain. Politics and social commentary

4. Goal Free Living - by Stephen Shapiro
Not sure how much I agree with the guy, but he DEFINITELY makes me think. This one is a more "commercial" type blog - serving as a promo for his book, his speaking engagements, etc. Still, his postings are worth a ponder. I've been a chaser of focused, specific, measurable goals for many years. Reading Shapiro's works feels like both liberation and heresy to me. At any rate, he adds some interesting ideas to the mix.

5. Ok - pressure is on....who gets the last spot?
I dunno. I think I'm going to just leave this one open for now... perhaps I'll come back to it in a day or two when I've given it more thought. Suggestions? Nominations? What blog makes YOU think? Maybe I'll find something new.

But then, my rebellious, prideful nature twists and turns a bit....Who says I have to name five? What if I want to leave it at four? What if I want to name six or nine?

ALSO - what's this bit about you can only pursue this meme IF you get tagged. Oh rot on that. My inner anarchist rebels. I say any time any blogger wants to play - more power to them. Also, if NOT ONE of the ones I've posted choose to follow up with lists of their own, I'm not going to get my panties in a twist.

The beauty of blogging is the independent nature of it. We each use the platform for whatever we choose - endless navel gazing, national agendas, selling of widgits, or making new friends. I suppose I can understand the reason for "blogger award rules" but I just don't much care for imposed structure here. I say it's every bloggers right to do this if they choose to. Or not.

I have no illusions that me being nominated for this award means my little blog has any more merit than the next one. What it means is that Mimi and I have made a connection, and that connection has been a blessing in both our lives. Why would we want to limit that sort of magic to some secret-handshake insiders group?

So I say go for it if you want to. Governing bloggers can and should be like herding cats.

See HERE