insomnomaniac

Blogger Reflection Awards

I am so honored! I have been recognized for two Blogger Reflection Awards (okay, once was indirect, and shared but STILL).

So now it's my turn to "Reflect" on five bloggers. I'm going to choose five bloggers who have specifically changed my life. But before I tell you who they are, here's how this works:

1. Copy these rules.
2. Reflect on five bloggers and write a least a paragraph about each one.
3. Make sure you link to this post so others can read it and the rules.
4. Leave your chosen bloggers a comment to let them know they've been given the award.
5. Put the award icon on your site

Drumroll please!

Schmaltz und Grieben mit Alois, Klaus, Deb und der Lugers:
Yeah, I know, kinda makes it look like I'm plugging MYSELF, but what am I supposed to do? How could I do these without recognizing Alois and Klaus who have not only given me a second spleen to vent, but a wider audience as well. In addition to these wonderful gifts, these guys make me laugh (sometimes right before they make me cry, tears of mutual frustration you understand). And of course, no reflection would be complete without an expression of my "gratitude" for the lovely photos they post that make me feel like the Saggy Baggy Elephant! But I'm sure those are just meant to serve as insurance against my ever feeling too happy and losing the edge that makes my blog posts remotely worth reading.

Insignificant Thoughts:
What can I say about Vinny? Vinny has positively impacted my life on so many fronts. He's one of the best friends I've never met, he's virtually seen me through two pregnancies, numerous versions of this blog, and the birth of my latest venture, a forum for fellow moms whose brains didn't turn to mush the instant they got pregnant (well, based on some of the opinions posted by some of the liberal members, I may be being overly generous here, but I digress...). Vinny and his partner-in-crime, Slobokan are hosting that site, and Slobo (a.k.a. Mike) designed the banner for me. I'm sure my husband would question how "positive" the effects of this particular contribution to my life by Vinny and Mike, but on balance, aside from the few chunks of hair I've pulled out while reading some of stuff my members post, I've enjoyed it. Vinny and Slobo and I don't always agree politically though (Vinny is voting for "The Evil One" herself, blech, phooey), but I appreciate his acerbic wit and no-bullshit approach to commentary. Whether it's current events or technology, Vinny's site is the place to be. And be sure to check out his pod-cast, Tossed Salad. Good stuff!

Rachel Lucas:
Rachel Lucas--although she doesn't know it--is my "Blog Mother." Hers was the blog that inspired me to start a blog that was about more than just what I ate for breakfast. In a world of male bloggers, hers was the voice that said "You are woman, let them hear you ROAR!" (And the answer to your question is YES. If a woman roars in a forest of blogs, she does make a sound, even if very few stop by to hear her!). Rachel was also the first and only gun-totin-non-liberal-female-under 65 I'd encountered, uh, erm, EVER? When she went on hiatus, I had serious withdrawal, but now that she's back, I read her daily, again.

Michael Totten:
There's no point in even trying to do better than what Alois already said about Michael, so I hope he'll forgive me for borrowing his words:

What else needs to be said? Michael is THE BEST journalist out there, and thanks to him we've gotten to see the Middle East as it really is... not as someone with an axe to grind would have us think it is. Invaluable stuff that is going to take its place in the history books before long (once the school boards quit tinkering with the history books, but that's another story).

What he said....Michael, we don't deserve you. Thank you from the bottom of my woefully (but unwillingly) ignorant heart.

Dr. Horsefeathers:
Stephen has also become one of the best friends I've never met (and, if he will indulge me this compliment), the second Dad I never knew I needed. His encouragement and wisdom over the past few years have been invaluable, and I am glad to have this opportunity to thank him publicly. He is also the voice in my head (other than that of my actual father) admonishing me to work harder on my potty-mouth tendencies. Indeed, knowing someone as classy and articulate might be reading my posts motivates me to at least try to restrain myself from spewing bile all over the screen as often as I might otherwise do.

And there you have it. My list of five. I am grateful to have been recognized with this award, but am even more thankful for the opportunity afforded me by that recognition--the opportunity to express my gratitude to the bloggers who are responsible for the fact that I'm still doing this, two kids and six years after I began.

Thank you, and God bless you all!

Posted by insomnomaniac at September 16, 2007 2:11 AM | TrackBack