Ask, And Ye Shall Receive

The other day I sounded a bit like a petulant child who, on the eve of Christmas, complains that she never gets what she wants. I haven't ever grown up, not really. I'm still the spoiled, whiney little girl I was.

However, as a grown up, I can appreciate the irony when the very next day I open my presents and find that very thing I was most hoping for. Umm ... thanks? And ... I'm sorry for being so whiney? I'm not sure that's enough to make up for it.

Because imagine my surprise when after begging the universe for the "Marie Antoinette" award, Stephanie over at Write Bravely (I've always loved her blog title - isn't it the best?) passed it on to me. I really appreciate this award, especially coming from Stephanie. She was one of the first writer friends I made in blog world and she's always been so kind to me. I look up to her and am touched that she would think of me for this award. Thank you Stephanie!

I do try to keep it real here. You might not appreciate the whiney nature sometimes, or the endless narratives of things that might not matter to you, or ... whatever ... but it's me. I am me, nothing more, nothing less. 

This is my journal, and it's pretty much stream-of-consciousness kind of journalling, but it is REAL, whatever else it is not. However, a few of you seem to not mind too much my mindless drivel, and I thank you. I do appreciate you, all of you, who take the time to stop by, to read, and sometimes to comment. It always helps, whatever my topic of the day, to know I'm not alone in this big ol' world, but that sometimes what I say strikes a chord with someone else and for a moment we connect. I live for that connection and think it's the most amazing thing the Internet has to offer. So thank you, all of you, for being here, for stayin' real right along with me.

I would like to pass this award along to Danyelle at Queen of the Clan. Danyelle has a smile that lights up a room, but even if you hadn't ever met her in person you could tell she smiles like that just from the way she writes. She has a beauty that shines through every post and I find very word to be true to who she is and what is in her heart. Danyelle's blog is a happy place to be. 

Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Blog Award

I admit it, there's a blog award that I really, really want. And I was super disappointed when I didn't get it. Pretty sad, eh? I just thought ... well, the award is for people who are 'keepin' it real' on their blogs and I thought I did that pretty well. Shoot. Darn. Errr. 

Not that I'm sorry the worthy people who got it, well, got it. 'Cause they're totally real. And I love their blogs. And it's all cool. It's just that, dang, I want that award!

But, I did have a moment of shame when I realized that I hadn't, in fact, been entirely honest.

I started up that new blog Food Fights and Binges Bite, and I told you not to come. I hid my identity on that other blog because I was ashamed of what I was saying about myself. I didn't want to be REAL. 

So, I'm comin' clean. I am who I am. I created that other blog because I didn't want to keep dragging you guys on my weight loss/weight gain roller coaster, and because there were darker feelings lurking there that are pretty heavy for the average reader. When I write that stuff, my deepest feelings, fears and stuff, there should be a "Read at your own risk" warning. 

You can go there, you can read about my food fights and my binges, but I wanted to spare you the really ugly bits. 

There, I came clean. I'm keepin' it REAL. Maybe now I'll get that darn award. 

I feel so loved ...

Tristi gave me a lovely gift, the more so because it came from one of the loveliest people.

This award is especially sweet to me because being nice is very important to me. It's not about being a pansy, it's about respect. I won't let you walk all over me, because I'm a person of value and worthy of your respect. I don't need to be sarcastic or rude to you if your opinion differs from mine, because I can still respect you. Through it all, I can be nice, you can be nice and I bet my patootie that we'd all be happier for it.

I'd like to pass this award on to Candace Salima, who though she is very busy and I am a 'little person' she takes the time to comment on my little blog, write very thoughtful and engaging posts on her own blog, and responds kindly to visitors to her blog. She's NICE!

Here's to being Nice! Pass it on! :)

Blogging Award

The Thoughtful Blogger Award is for those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others' feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping other bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others.

A little while ago Tristi Pinkston passed along this nice little award. I was so surprised, so pleased, that I haven't quite known how to respond. I think I was afraid that I couldn't live up to what this award supposedly said about me.

But, she did give it to me, after all, and like any self-respecting girl, I like crowns and so I'll wear this one (I can pretend it comes with a crown, right?) with pride.

Thank you for thinking so well of my Tristi!