Blue Ribbon Blogger? Hmmm... I Don't Know About That.

   Well, here I am again, accepting awards that I told myself I wouldn't anymore. I know... How gracious of me right. There are reasons I don't like doing these things. Firstly, I'm lazy. I'm very slow on the computer. It's a lot of work to put one of these posts together. Notifying everyone that you are nominating them, posting links to your blog for them, posting links to their blogs for the readers here. Answering all the silly questions that people write for these things, or stating facts about yourself. Putting the awards on the side board and linking them back to the people who nominated you. I have a hard time keeping up with my blog as it is, and all I do is write a couple paragraphs every once in a while. It does sound like I'm being ungrateful, I'm not. It's the truth, and that's what I'm all about here.
   Next, I question the word "award" when talking about "blogger awards"... I mean, don't you get an award for something you have already done? A little recognition for a job well done, or pat on the back for doing the right thing... Yet these things come with a list of stuff to do when you accept your award. Seems sorta backwards to me.
   But really, the biggest thing that bothers me about these blogging awards... I'm a terrible blogger! Really. I'm just some guy. I'm not even a real writer. I don't have a degree, I've never had anything published that I didn't publish myself, I type about ten words a minute. I come here and selfishly spew my thoughts on a world that didn't ask for my opinion. I write when I feel like it... And I don't, when I don't. (Sometimes for months at a time.) When I do write, I do it to gain self-satisfaction. I don't care if people like it, or even read it. Don't get me wrong it makes me happy to hear from people who have read what I post here, and relate to it, or add their own thoughts to it, or even just compliment me with a simple acknowledgment. It really makes my day sometimes, and it would not be the same without readers and some interaction. But it's not what I'm after. I write here and to try to be honest with myself with what's on my mind, it's a different perspective to see your own thoughts written out, to look at it as though it were someone else, in turn I learn about myself.

   Then I think, ya know... Someone else that I don't even know took the time to do all those things that I don't like doing with these posts.They posted all the links, notified all the people, answered the silly questions. And unlike me they do it without a complaint, with good cheer and fun spirits. Not only that but they included me in their list of people that they enjoy for some reason or another... While I may not think what I do here is worthy of praise or recognition... Someone else did. Someone thinks what I'm doing is worth sharing with others. Someone thinks what I have to say, or maybe even the way I say it is inspiring!? That's the cat's ass man. That is more than I ever expected to get out of this deal. I pretty much got my start in blogging ranting about how the FBI is out to get us, and the government is a giant scam. I never expected people to read that stuff and return to read again. Just another red-neck, conspiracy junkie runnin' his mouth. I'm not... But that's how I figured people would view me.
   Admittedly, my blog has evolved a long way from then. I really don't talk politics very often. I'm here to get into my own head. Not to dissect the the government. The one thing that remains constant about me is that I try to write openly, honestly, and without fear. That's not always easy when your mind is fraught with fears. Not only the fears of failure that I live with (that we all live with), but the fears of what are people going to think if they read this?  What will my friends think? My family? An employer? What if I offend someone important to me?..  How will I be perceived? It is scary sometimes.
    So, in-light of that, to have someone pin words on my blog like epic, or awesome, or inspirational, whether it is in humor or not, really is quite an honor. And I think it is only respectful of me to acknowledge the efforts they put forth in saying so... Even if there are a few rules.  :)

This first award comes from Marcia Doyle who writes Menopausal Mother. She has been pretty epically  awesome to me. She was one of the first bloggers to connect with me and follow my blog. She has been a constant source of encouragement. And has become so much more than a blogging connection. She is my friend, and a wonderfully kind soul. She strives to make people laugh, by showing the humor in the not so humorous things in life. And who couldn't use a couple more laughs in their day. Thanks Marcia for passing out the laughs so freely.
   The rules with this award are as follows: 1. Display the award on your page (easy enough). 2. Link back to the person who nominated you (that's no problem). 3. State ten things about yourself (hmm, now it's starting to require a thought process). 4. Nominate 10 other bloggers and link them back to your post (this now reminds me of a thing called work).







Fact#1: I love fishing.

Fact#2: I love to take pictures... Of anything. Flowers, wildlife, rocks, Coyote poop in the backyard, let's just say you never know what you may find going through my photo albums.

Fact#3: I will go fishing at any opportunity. I will rearrange my schedule, forsake responsibility, and throw caution to the wind to get to the fishing hole.

Fact#4: I have a hard time listing facts about myself.

Fact#5: I don't like to have my picture taken... Unless I'm holding a big fat fish.

Fact#6: I can't dance. I don't dance. I don't like dancing. I have never liked to dance. I've watched Dancing With The Stars every Monday and Tuesday for like eight seasons. (I've only missed a couple of shows, due to fishing.)

Fact#7: No. I'm not gay. (No offense. Just a fact. I had to clarify after admitting to taking pictures of flowers and watching Dancing With the Stars.)

Fact#8: I will go fishing with anyone. Children, elderly, family, friends, complete strangers, big, tall, small, anyone, anytime, anywhere. Heck, I would even go fishing with Obama, although he might not enjoy the conversation I'd like to have.

Fact:#9: I love Italiano Cuisine. All of it.

Fact#10: Blogging has been one of the coolest things I've ever done. (Ha! Thought I was going to say something about fishing didn't you...)





My ten nominations for this award are...

1) I love gardening, and I love adventuring. Therefore, I love this blog. Grace, Grits, and Gardening

2) For the same reasons, Chasing the Donkey

3) Dan and Lisa at A Brainless Nod are pretty awesome. A wide variety of reading here, poetry, photography, fiction, reality... They do it all, and they do it well.

4) She loves her dogs, she's funny, original, and real. She's Jersey Lil at Jersy Lil's Two Cents

5) I'm not big on tech blogs but I do follow a couple that are full of pretty awesome information, one being A Little Unhinged

6) The other is my friend Mayura at Mayura 4Ever

7) You never know what you may get from Lanthie Ransom at Life Cherries and that's just the way I like it.

8) Slu's World is a pretty cool place, another blog that you never know what will be next, but you can be sure that Stephen Sluder will entertain you.

9) For stunning photography, I highly recommend you check out Ray Bilcliff's site True Portraits of Nature I promise you will not be disappointed.

10) This list would not be complete without an epically awesome FISHING BLOG. T Brinks Fishing has it covered, anything and everything fishing here! FISH ON!!!

   Some of these epically awesome bloggers I'm sure don't even know I follow them, as I said I am a bad blogger. I rarely leave comments on people's blogs, as I said I type painfully slow, I can read and comment on about three blogs in an hour. In that same hour I can read a couple dozen blogs without commenting. See what I am getting at?..
   However, I think all these bloggers are exceptional at what they do. I don't really care if you (the nominated bloggers) accept the award and jump through the hoops in order to pin the award to your sideboard. I know most of you will not, I know by reading your blogs that many of you do not display any such awards on your pages. That's not really what this is about for me. I follow your blogs regularly, I wanted to let you know I appreciate the work you do. I wanted to let you know... I think your blogs are AWESOME. I hope I can send a few new readers your way, and I hope they will find you as epically awesome as I do.


   The next award that I need to address comes to me from two people. Gail Young who writes Gail's Forum. She writes with brutal honestly, and I have enjoyed following her journey. I find her quest for personal improvement quite inspiring, and I always love to hear from Gail here on my blog. Thank-you Gail for making my day with your nomination. The second nomination for this award comes again from Marcia Doyle at Menopausal Mother. Marcia is one of the most inspiring people I have had the pleasure to get to know. Quick with words of encouragement, always willing to lend a helping hand, never a bad word to say. She always tries to spread a positive message in all she does. Thanks Marcia for all you do.

   The rules for this award are as follows. Pin the award to your page and link back to the one who nominated you. List seven facts about yourself... Nominate FIFTEEN bloggers and notify them of such nomination. This post has taken me forever to write! So with the ten nominations above, I think I will go with ten on this award too... Call me an inspirational cheater if you will. But this post has taken me all weekend to write already. So if you cut me just a little slack on this... Well, I'll owe you one... or five.

The Facts:

1. My Dad was/is my Hero. We had our problems, many of them. And while he may not have been a great father. He was a great man. He devoted most of his life to helping others with serious life struggles. He was not an educated man, but he was brilliant all the same, and he shared his knowledge with whoever would receive it. He was my BEST fishing partner ever, and taught me nearly everything I know about fishing. I've figured some stuff out on my own, but he showed me how to do that too. There will never be another like my Dad.

2. I will be forty-two years old in two days.

3. I love gardening, working outside, getting dirty, making things grow... I like everything about it. It is the only work that I have ever done that doesn't feel like work. It is hard labor, but extremely rewarding as well.

4. If you read my blog or interact with me on-line... You would be surprised to meet me in reality. I guarantee my personality is different than you might think. I know this is true... It has happened a number of times already. People are always surprised when they meet me.

5. People who know me in reality, are always surprised when they read my blog. I'm so quiet  I make people uncomfortable in conversation at times, so to come here and see how open and "vocal" I am on this blog is quite a shock for many who know me.

6. My family is my rock. I would not be who I am, or where I am without them.

7. If I didn't have a single reader I would still be blogging.



All of my nominations for this award are because I find their writing inspiring. So with a lack of additional explanations these are them:

1. Menopausal Mother

2. Gail's Forum

3. Rum Punch Drunk

4. Follow Me Home

5. Disability and I Do

6. Rock Bottom

7. Aphorism Of The Day

8. Fear No More... A Day In The Life

9. My Meddling Mind

10. The Sadder But Wiser Girl

   Once again the majority of the people on this list probably have no idea that I read their blogs. I do... Regularly. Enough to know that you ARE inspiring people. In reading your blogs I have learned about life, people, world events... In reading your blogs I have learned about myself. That's pretty cool. Your words have made a day better here and there, your words have enriched my life in one way or another. So, accept the award or not, it doesn't matter. It doesn't change my opinion.

   To all the bloggers I mentioned here in this post,I hope my words here make your days a little better. I hope I encourage people to check you out, and see what you have to offer. If nothing else I hope I put a smile on your face, I'd just like to return that favor. Thanks to all of you for doing what you do.