I was honored to  be nominated for the Liebster Award by Rants from the Crib and A glass half full (Ok, so the latter nominated me months ago but I was too much of a newbie to know what to do with this.)!  It is an award for a newer blog with under 200 dedicated followers.

I’m tempted to gush a la Sally Field, circa 1984 at the Academy Awards, but I think the headline does just that.

In order to accept this award, I need to post 11 random facts about me, answer the 11 questions posed by my nominator, nominate 11 other blogs, and ask the nominees 11 questions of my own.

Random facts about me:

1. I am related to Greg Brady, aka Barry Williams. If you’ve never watched the Brady Bunch television series, it was big in the US in the ‘70s when I was growing up. I always wished I was related to Peter instead, as he was much cooler. We’re just distant cousins, Greg/Barry and I.
2. I dislike thyme, Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers and rudeness about equally.
3. I do not regret any of the skinnydipping I did when younger. Not in the Mexican surf or the lakes of Ohio. Especially because I think my 20s were the time to do it. Gravity was kinder then.
4. I feel an inexplicable pull to go to Fiji and Macchu Picchu.
5. I am a sucker for a man in a good suit, shirt, tie, shoes. Nothing sexier than impeccable tailoring with a bit of ruggedness thrown in for good measure.
6. I’d rather have a phenom, expensive meal once per month than a mediocre, quick meal out once per week. My mother used to call this champagne taste on a beer pocketbook. I prefer to call it discriminating taste. Euphemism? You tell me.
7. Some of my fondest memories are at my grandmother’s cottage in Michigan, being taught the finer arts of pinochle and baking bread. Loved giggling with her into the wee hours of the morning as my mother scolded us to go to sleep.
8. I have little respect for dogma and/or piety. Loads of respect for those who figure out their relationship with God without the crutch of someone else’s rules.
9. I am a bit of a shoe fanatic. Oh, and jewelry fanatic. And possibly a gift wrap fanatic. Is there a 12-step program for any of those?
10. While not much of a carnivore, take me to a good steak house and serve me filet with a healthy dose of mashed potatoes—and I positively glow. This translates into me having a healthy skepticism about people who don’t like to eat. Or dance. Or drink good wine. All appetites which show a level of aliveness. You don’t have to like all three—but pick one.
11. Don’t talk to me about the plastic surgery you want to have. It’s one of the few areas I’ll get all judgy  on you. Oh, and I’ll give you a good talking-to. You’ve earned this face and body. All else is pure vanity. Why can’t we just age gracefully, together?

Now, for the painful questions I must answer.

1.  What are you worst at? Art. And spreadsheets. What does this say about my brainedness? Extremely right-brained so not sure why the art genes never took hold. My father could paint a mean picture. My biggest fear is being asked to do so. Flashback to third grade when Mary Ann Yuska pointed to a construction paper scarecrow hung in hallway and said, “Ew. Who do you think did that one?” I did not tell her it was me. Scarred ever since.

 

2.  What is your favorite type of music? I guess you’d say it’s folksy rock, a la Sister Hazel, Twilight Hotel, The Black Keys. My teen calls it “yodeling hippie” music.

 

3.  Do you consider yourself creative? Highly! Odd duck who is extremely happy writing and in time alone with myself. I tend to take things in and store them without even knowing it. Then, after a bit of time percolating, something utterly new pops up in my brain—an idea, an approach, etc. Nothing linear about it.

 

4.  Where were you born? In Fairview Park, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland (no Cleveland jokes, US readers—I’ve heard them all).  My Midwestern sensibilities keep me grounded and give me very little tolerance for bullshit.

 

5.  If you could be reincarnated as an animal, what would you be? I was asked this by the head of the publishing group I worked for at my first job and I answered, “Eagle.” Instead of asking me why, he said, “Well, that’s a horribly mean animal.” Gulp. At 22, was not sure how to respond. Should have said, “That’s right. My goal in life is to be horribly mean. That’s why I picked an eagle.” Had he asked, I would have told him it’s because they are rare, soaring fliers and fiercely protective of what they love. Take that, Perry. I believe they offer emotional IQ training for poor souls like Perry now in the corporate world.

 

6.  What do you think about Facebook? Necessary evil if you want to stay connected to your far-flung tribe. In today’s world, not enough time for the hour-long conversations with each of them. But, also the biggest public relations trick in the book. Nothing you see on Facebook is actually as it is in a person’s real life. Most people edit copiously.

 

7.  What was the worst date you ever went on? My first. At 15, I was taken by my 17-year-old date to see “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” I nearly crawled under my seat in embarrassment at the content of the movie, hoping my date was not expecting the same later.

 

8.  If your blog could be remembered for one thing, what would it be? Allowing others a different lens through which to see this day-to-day thing we call life. If I can make you laugh, cry and think in a way you might not have on your own, I’ve done my job.

 

9.  Share one childhood fear. I already did. Art! For a creative person, I tank at the actual task.

 

10. What is your favorite season? Spring and fall are tied. Love the crisp air, the smells, the change of colors.

 

11. Is it better to have loved and lost, or to never have loved at all? The former, hands down. Part of the journey, part of the lessons you’re here to discover. Love changes you in ways nothing else will. So does loss.

Some of my favorite fledgling blogs. Check them out when in need of food for thought or a laugh:

Universal  Grit. Beautifully written, with a sense of language many blogs miss. About the every-day occurrences. Reads like someone is telling you a bedtime story. Bedtime stories for grown-ups? I’m in.

The Road We Travel. Intelligent, thoughtful and always ready to tackle the big issues. A breath of fresh air.

Stumbling  Barefoot. Painfully honest and real. Usually makes me cry. Always makes me think.

andmorefood. I’ve just discovered this blog, which features gorgeous photos of food. My favorite are the adventurous items this cook makes in the kitchen. Frustrating part is I can’t find the actual recipe, but the end products are so beautiful anyway.

Fine Print Ink. Poets don’t get read enough. This is not poetry in its purest form but it’s words strung together that roll off your tongue and make you think. Not easy to do. As a wordsmith, I appreciate it.

Bedraggled and kicking If you’re grieving in any way, shape or form, you’ll relate to this blog. Therapy on a page.

Taking Candy from a Baby Not for sissies. Covers divorce, relationships and the harder decisions. Almost like a peek into someone else’s thought process. Someone interesting.

Single Mom Style Written by—wait for it—a single mother. Who is trying to raise a daughter, live a life and squeeze some fun into it.  If you are divorced, you will relate.

It Always Matters If It’s Yours. A blog about grief. If you have ever grieved, you will relate and appreciate her honesty.

Rhythms Universal This blogger talks about concepts I love—beginnings, creating new things, bravery. Always an attitude adjustment, in a good way.

So Says Kimyatta Single mom raising a daughter who writes with humor and grace. ‘nough said.

So check out my fellow bloggers and thanks to you all for your continued insightful comments and suppport. Here’s to the journey, bumps and all.