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