Saturday, June 13, 2009

Holy cow! There must be some mistake.

Wow. Next month marks my one-year anniversary as a blogger. When I put up my first post, I had no idea what a wonderful ride I’d be in for, and certainly no idea of how blogging would change my life.

And it really has. I started my blog because I thought it would be a good way to build my author’s platform and generate interest for my book, Bastard Husband: A Love Story. It was a strategic move, but I've long realized that’s the least of it. I never expected to have so much fun making personal connections with people from all over the country, and the world.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some fellow bloggers in person and there are so many others whom I feel I know well. I think about you guys all the time! (Sitting in a cubicle all day gives me ample opportunity.) Some readers occasionally leave comments, but don’t have blogs themselves. (Other Mikey’s Julie, we are so getting together next time I’m in Boise). All of you have been a tremendous source of encouragement for my creative endeavors and support in tough times, as when we recently lost Beautiful Aunt Joyce. I can’t tell you how much you all mean to me.

Then there are the “lurkers” from places like Billings, Montana; Champaign, Glen Ellyn, and Dundee, Illinois; Perth, Australia; Buford, Georgia; Kearney, Nebraska; Wisconsin Rapids and Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin; Oklahoma City; and Schagen, Noord-holland, in the freakin’ Netherlands (to name just a few) who check in nearly every day and never leave a footprint. (And so many people in Minneapolis-St.Paul!) You all leave me wondering who you are and why on earth you keep coming back.

Of course, I know I have a few readers who can. not. stand. me. and who just come back to make sure they haven’t changed their minds. (That’s why I moderate comments, folks.) But that’s cool, too. You can’t have a strong personality like mine and say the crap that comes out of my mouth and not have some people hate your freakin’ guts. Fair enough.

And I throw a lot of crap out there! Need I remind you of some of the highlights on this site of the past year?

For starters, there was my post, My Great Idea for a Reality Show. That’s the one where I suggested a reality show modeled off the Little People, Big World show about the dwarf family, except in my show they would all be afflicted with Tourette’s--the swearin’ kind. That post really pissed off a Tourette’s mom who evidently thinks that in my spare time I taunt disabled children to their faces and who was oblivious to the fact that Googling “humor+Tourette’s” results in 70,300 websites. Sorry, I’m standing by my idea—it was brilliant.

No doubt the Mormons are still sticking pins in their Linda Lou voodoo doll for my posts about on their opposition to gay marriage and all their other crazy ideas. I alienated football fans everywhere with my Why Football is Gay post, and I just said last week that death and dying expert Elisabeth Kubler-Ross can suck my… no, I shouldn’t say it again. I’m already going to hell for that one.

Considering all this, you’ll be amazed as I was to hear that a few weeks ago my blogging buddy and hilarious hot Aussie chick, Linda (of Linda and Her Twaddle) fame presented me with the prestigious Noblesse Oblige Award.


This award recognizes the following attributes:

1) The blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervade amongst different cultures and beliefs.
2) The blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.
3) There is a clear purpose at the blog; one that fosters a better understanding on social, political, economic, the arts, culture, sciences and beliefs.
4)The blog is refreshing and creative.
5) The blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.
I know—you’re not the only one who’s surprised! While the Sexy Blogger Award I got from Julie over at 47 and Starting Over was a total no-duh, the Noblesse Oblige Award seems better suited to, um… nice bloggers.

That said, I’m taking this award and will display it proudly. And I’m passing it on to a blogger who truly deserves it.

Lorri Nichols of Richmond, Michigan, has a beautiful blog called Doodles from the Scrapbook of My Mind. Her introspective writing reads like poetry, and she fearlessly puts her emotions out there with full-frontal honesty. This is not a blog you can scan; every word deserves to be savored. I don’t remember how I came across Lorri’s site, but I’m sure glad I did. Check it out when you get a chance.

To accept this award, Lorri, you are required to do the following:

1) Create a post with a mention and link to the blogger who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award to you.
2) The award conditions must be displayed in the post.
3) Write a short article about what your blog has thus far achieved preferably citing one or more older post to support:
4) The blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award to blogs in concurrence with the award conditions.
5) The blogger must display the award at any location on their blog.
Thank you, Linda! Congratulations, Lorri, and thanks to all of you who make the blog world such a fun and wonderful place!

XOXO

10 comments:

Julie D said...

And what a great year it's been for all of your readers! I, for one, am forever grateful that you started blogging because it brought me to the lady who has become so very near and dear to my heart, and who I consider a lifelong friend. (Um, that would be YOU.)

Congrats on one year, and may you have many more memorable moments to share with us!

Love you!

Stephanie said...

Congrats on hitting that one year mark. I for one have loved reading each and every post you put up there. (and now I realize I have to go back and play catch up on more then a few interesting ones I have missed!)
Congrats again!

travel girl said...

I'm sooo glad you started a blog because now I know someone to party with in Vegas:)

I kid! I love your witty blog and the smile I get when I read it. You blog like you are having a conversation with us from across a table and that is a rare gift!

Vegas Linda Lou said...

@ Julie: Lifelong friend, indeed! Now you'll never be able to get rid of me.

@ MM: Thanks so much for your faithful reading!

@ Travel Girl: "Conversation from across the table..." what a great compliment. Thanks, Dar!

Fragrant Liar said...

Hey, Linda! I'm pretty sure I left a comment here yesterday, but it didn't show up. Hopefully this one will! But the other thing I wanted to say is that I have you in my blog roll, but your hyperlink won't refresh. I noticed it was that way on somebody else's site. Sorry, can't remember whose. On mine, I've tried removing it and re-adding it, but it still shows your post from four weeks ago. Anyway, thought you'd want to know in case there was something you could do to fix it.

linda said...

I have had my blog for three years now and I realise that despite my routine of life, good things happen every day that I may well have forgotten about.

Also cannot help but notice that I am getting a bit older. As is my son.

I hope you just keep on blogging. I enjoy reading.

Other Mikey's Julie said...

Hey look - I'm famous now! I enjoy your writing so much - I am always laughing out loud and making the kids wonder what I could possibly be reading! Thank you for bringing more laughter into my world - and thanks to Mikey whose blog led me to you. (and to Lars Vargas whose blog popped up when I Googled "best pizza in Vegas." That post linked me to Mikey and the rest is history.) I had never read blogs before that! I have enjoyed a few other blogs since, but you and Mikey have the voices that speak to me directly and I just have to keep coming back for more.
(BTW your "Matt Damon" comment on Mikey's post made me spit coffee on my computer!)
You are crazy & I love you for that!

WisconsinLinda said...

Yes, I've been a lurker for quite some time - just didn't have anything to say and when I did come up with something, the moment had passed. Love your blog - it makes me feel like I "know" someone who actually lives in Vegas (you and Hurrican Mikey whose blog I also lurk in). Keep up the great work and am looking forward to buying your book.

CarmenSinCity said...

Congratulations on one year girlfriend! I'm glad we are friends!!

Vegas Linda Lou said...

@ Fragrant Liar: Thanks so much--I knew there was something wrong, and I think I somehow messed things up by trying to install a feedburner, whatever the F that is. Hopefully beloved boyfriend will help me out with that.

@ Linda Twaddle, Carmen, and Julie: I love you girls!

@ Wisconsin Linda: Welcome and glad you stepped out of lurksville! Thanks so much for commenting and for your loyal readership!