Blogging Award and Such

link to original here

Writing is a struggle sometimes. Maybe all the time. Like climbing a really big wall, and it’s rough, but you know it’ll be worth it when you get to the top. At least you very much hope so? No, deep down you know so.

Bloggers know this as much as any other writer published or hermitized, and so launched originally by an anonymous person somewhere in the magical ether of the blogosphere; picked up and perpetuated by the world-wide army of bloggers: we have the Versatile Blogger Award.

I love it. And I love that a.eye nominated me for the award. It is especially an honor because she is the one who gave it to me, and I admire her writing. She’s thoughtful and insightful, even when she doesn’t realize it, and her posts either help me open my eyes about the world, or help me be more okay and happy about who I am. On top of all that, she’s funny, which is always a plus.

Appreciations go to her, and to Anonymous Person who came up with the idea in the first place. Feel the love, then pay it forward. I can do that.

Now that I've been recognized, here’s the deal. I need to:

• Share 7 completely random pieces of information about myself.
• Nominate 15 fellow bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
• Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

Here are 7 random pieces of Deb:

1. I have a Chinese symbol tattooed on the inside of each of my forearms. They are both very significant to me. When people ask what they mean, I usually point to the one on my left arm and say, “Dragon.” Then point to the one on my right and say, “Lady.” Most people pull a half-grin and snigger a little bit, unsure of whether or not I’m telling the truth. I’m not, but I don’t usually clarify.

2. I’m not generally a hoarder, except when it comes to my writing, but for some reason I still have a couple of report cards from when I was in elementary (probably because they willy-nilly got stuffed into one of my journals at some point) which both say I was merely average in everything, needed to be encouraged to interact more, but I did great in art. Apparently the teachers didn’t know, or understand, the only way to survive in my school was a) to be average, and b) to keep your mouth shut. My peers were ruthless.

3. I have a small obsession with apples. Mostly the idea of apples, the visuals of apples. I think apple trees are so beautiful. They are part of the rose family, and their blossoms smell just as sweet if not sweeter. I think it’s magical that if you cut an apple horizontally, the seeds inside sit in the shape of a star. The flavor of most apples isn’t really amazing to me, though, unless pared with peanut butter. I love that potatoes in French are called “pomme d’terre,” or “apples of the earth.”

link to original here

4. My favorite online game to play is Guild Wars, though I don’t play very much anymore. I took a week off work, one summer maybe 7 years back?, to go on vacation but due to an unplanned lack in funds I didn’t go. I stayed home and “vacationed” in the game instead, and was completely content (this was pre-baby days, obviously). If I do jump on again, whenever a blue moon comes around, my favorite characters to play are an elementalist and an archer. I don’t like getting up close and personal with my adversaries.

5. When I work on my book I have to have the dishwasher running in the background. It’s the perfect noise, for some reason. I don’t usually need specific things when I’m writing, or at least I haven’t in the past, but this time around it’s different. Again, I’m not sure why.

6. Where I grew up, hot air balloons used to fill the skies early on Saturday mornings when the air was still a little bit sharp to breathe. I’m not at all a morning person, but the sight of those balloons was amazing, and worth getting up for. Hundreds of them. It would make my heart race. So for my 16^th birthday my sister took me on a hot air balloon ride, and afterwards the driver? (I have no idea what they’re called, now that I think of it) smashed a champagne bottle on the basket because it was my “virgin sail.” I remember it splashing on me, and drying kind of sticky? Ever since, I’ve wanted to have my own hot air balloon when I’m older, when my hair is long and white. I want the balloon to be all colors of the rainbow.

7. I’ve climbed part of the Great Wall. The stones were really steep, and I had to stop to breathe, hand on hip and drinking sips of water, but I’m glad I did. My pause made me look around, and the scenery was so normal – trees, mountain terrain, bugs flitting around, a familiar blue sky –  it made me feel oddly at home when my heart was hurting for it. Since then I’ve come to understand a little better the phrase, “Home is where the heart is.” But back then I didn’t get it. I think maybe that view was my first clue.

And in no particular order, 15 writers/bloggers I either follow religiously everyday (everyday that they post, anyway), or have recently found and adore:

Woman and a quarter

I don't generally have the time or attention span to read long posts, but she gets me everytime. Everytime. Her posts are long, but at the end I always want her to write more.

The Life and Writings of Sleepy Joe

Sleepy Joe has wit and charm coming out of her virtual ears. I like how she shares her experiences in a comfortable voice that makes you just want to tag along.

Kick Back Moments

This is one of my favorite new blogs. Her descriptions are awesome, her suggestions make a lot of sense, and her chill style is great. A must-visit.

How to be a Writer

Sally O'Reilly is I think one of the main reasons I continued to blog. A published author, she gives tips on writing. She is funny, smart, down-to-earth, and her suggestions on writing are not overwhelming at all. And she's been posting some of her own short stories lately, which I love.

frazzled & frumpy

Another new blog I've just recently found. I lover her writing voice, and how she is doing her photo documentation of the year. Her Writing Treadmill is a great little piece too.

Contentedly Crunchy

I come here for great advice on kid stuff, mama stuff, running training stuff...really lots and lots of stuff. She has a lot of wisdom, but gives it to you in a way that's easy to digest. Another must-visit.

Buttered Toast Rocks

Found this blog at Blogher, randomly in the blogroll of the March NaBloPoMo event, and with a name like that, how could I not investigate? Because, I too think buttered toast rocks. And now I'm addicted. The blog is well written, a quick read, and I always come away happier for what I've read.

Bent Objects

You just gotta go see this one. Words don't do justice.

Hey, Mrs. P!

Here is a blog that's written for teachers, but enjoyable by all. I love her suggestions for lesson plans because they are think outside of the box type things. And I feel a little wiser after reading her stuff. And it has a link to Etsy, which I adore.

Girl's Gone Child

This blog always gets me thinking. She writes about her life with her family, includes beautiful pictures, links to videos, the whole deal. I love this blog.

the FREEZINE of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Here is a hub of writers and original writing plus art. A great place to explore for some stories and art in the genres of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

How Not to Act Old

Pamela Redmond Satran has written multiple books, one of which originated from this blog. It's all in the name, and it's another must-visit.

Charlaine Harris

Ah, I love her. Love her books, love the personality she gives off in interviews and such. This is a link to her blog, which is both down-to-earth and interesting. I like going through some of her older archived work, just to look for nuggets of writerly inspiration.

Kallaydoscope

Again, a new blog I just found that I'd like to watch and read some more. She is very funny, she reviews coffee of all things (jealous? perhaps a little), and she loves pink. I won't admit it to very many people, but I also like pink. It's pretty :)

Enjoy the links, I dare you to try them all, and then please don't forget to vote about this if you haven't already. Many thanks.

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