Tuesday, May 24, 2011

A Little of This and A Little of That



This morning I was planning on writing about "being politically correct".  I still will be tackling that subject in the next couple of days....but for today, I got sidetracked.

 My first derailment was sitting down to watch the morning news programs.  I can't begin to articulate how badly I feel for the victims of that awful storm that hit Joplin, MO.  I don't think many of us can fathom what it would feel like to have everything gone....to be completely wiped out and having to start over. 

After spiraling down into the funk of a bad mood, I came into my office and turned on my computer.  Things started looking up a bit.  One of my favorite bloggers Jewell of Really?! Wait! What? had a comment on one of my posts.  Gosh, I was glad to see her sending out comments.I was worried if perhaps, she was involved in the tornado that ravaged southern Missouri.  I don't know exactly where she lives as I only know her from communicating about our blogs but at some point, I believe she said she lived in southern MO.

 Funny how we connect to people.  The computer has allowed us to connect to people in a modern day version of being "pen pals".  There are a whole lot of people making friends in cyberspace  that may never actually meet face to face.  Prior to starting my blog, I always a little mystified when people told me they had met their spouse  on line.  How could that happen?  How would you be able to start a communique and have it extend to a real relationship? 

Relax, Jewell, and the other friends I am going to be talking about shortly, I am not looking for a spouse especially a female.  I have hubby and he is a he.  What I am getting at, is that I more clearly understand that you  "click" with some people while "not so much" with others in this format.  Just as in our face-to-face world, some people you connect with in a positive way and some, for whatever reason, you just don't.

With that being said, I don't think the basis for these positive connections are defined by age, religious beliefs, or political sensibilities.  Maybe it is, in part, that some of these bonds are formed because the people are open to the concept of sharing differing perspectives.  I think it is getting harder in the real world to find people willing to be friends with anyone that isn't a clone of themselves. 

That brings me to the subject at hand.  One of the people that I really like via the web is Bud over at Oldereyes.  I got a message from him this morning that he as passed on the Versatile Blogger Award to me.   These awards are actually more about the fun of being able to praise some of your fellow, favorite bloggers than actually being recognized for  superior writing or content.  I am guessing you might have already jumped to that conclusion with my winning it and all.



Any way....How nice of Bud to send it my way. 

There are conditions though.  The four conditions for receiving this award are

1. Thank the blogger that gave you the award. 

Thank you, Bud.  Much appreciated.    (first requirement met)

2. Share 7 things about yourself


OK, ....now this is getting harder.  Also, for those of you that have read from the beginning, some of this will be repetitious.  Sorry, but there isn't all that much about me of interest.

1.  I have moved a total of 37 times from city to city.  More than that if  I were to count moves within a geographical area.  Twenty-one of those moves were after I was married thanks to my hubby climbing the corporate ladder while yanking me up behind him.

2.  I have been married 40 years this coming September.  Hubby was my high school sweetheart and I married him while I was a teenager. (NO, I wasn't pregnant.)

3.  I have two grown children, that in spite of my copious parenting skills, turned out to be wonderful adults.  They were great kids, great students, and most importantly are good and kind adults.

4.  I am an animal lover.  All animals...although my present house mate animals are two cats, named Carmen and Chantel. (Texas Pal's husband calls them "the hookers" as he believes their chosen names would make great names for ladies in that profession)

5.  I don't go a good job corresponding with friends in any format other than emails.  I know a whole lot of my friends are out there saying...No sh**.   I would love to be the person that writes letters and picks up the phone from time to time but that really doesn't ever happen. 

6. I spend a lot of time at the gym and I power walk 5 miles every day with my Texas Pal while we talk on our cell phones.   Weight shows up quickly on my small frame.  I might as well just duct tape cheeseburgers directly onto my butt, if I ever give up all the exercise. The effect would pretty much be the same.

7. The people I like most in the world, don't necessarily have to agree with anything I say, think or feel  but my best friends share these qualities. They are kind and considerate of others,  they are kind to animals, they have a reasonable amount of intelligence, a good sense of humor, and  bathe on a regular basis.  I like people that have strong opinions but they by in large, are open minded enough to at least listen to alternate opinions. 

OK step 2 completed.

3.  Pass the award on to 15 other bloggers. 

Ok....(Note to the bloggers) For you that I chose, either take it if you want it, sorry if you already have gotten it, play if you want to, don't if you don't want to.  I am sending it to you because I enjoy reading your blogs.  For those that I didn't mention, just be assured that I have more than 15 favorites.

So, my bloggee readers, these are among my favorites.  All are written by clever, creative people that always have interesting things to talk about.
Anne Dickens: The Day After Yesterday 
Are You Serious
Bodacious Boomer
Babbling Brooke
Eating Life Raw
I-Madge-ine the Twaddle
injaynesworld
nonamedufus
Normalarkey
Really?! Wait! What?
Suburban Soliloquy
The Boogie Man is My Friend
The Widow Lady
We Work For Cheese
Writing in the Margins, Bursting at the Seams

Ok step three complete

4. Put a comment on their blog and tell them they won the award.

I am off to do that ...







The Good for the Day...Making new friends, even if they are in cyberspace

The Bad for the Day...More rain and storms moving into Missouri today

The Weird for the Day.... Harold Camping has declared that May 21st was the "invisible judgement day" and the the real judgement day is going to be October 21st.  Looks like we have another something to talk about for a few months.

18 comments:

Midwesternmamah said...

Oh thank you so much !!!! Im so glad you count me among the blogs you mentioned!!

Bodaciousboomer said...

Thanks kiddo. What a nice thing to receive.

Nicky said...

How incredibly sweet! Thank you Cheryl, I really appreciate being one of your new cyberfriends and the feeling is mutual. :-)

Cheryl P. said...

Midwesternmamah, Nicky and Bodacious Boomer,

You are all welcome! I am sincere when I tell you, I really enjoy your writing and your cyber friendships.

Jayne G said...

Aw, Cheryl, you are too sweet. Thank you so much--I have previously received this, but I'm going to post it again, from you, minus the 7 things, if you don't mind. They're already in another post!
Power walking--you go girl--I love that. Wish you were my neighbor, I'd join you, my dear cyber friend! ;)
P.S.- I like the comment format--I'm going to have to check into it...

Jayne said...

Aw... what a sweetie you are. Thanks so much. I've met so many amazing people in cyberspace and I treasure those friendships as I treasure those IRL. One thing you should know about me though is that I suck at following rules, plus I'm really not sure people want to know all that much about me. I'm not sure I even want to know that much about me, but I shall post this with pride. :)

Madge said...

Thank you so much how totally sweet of you! I can't wait to gloat over at my place.

Mommafargo said...

Congrats on your award! You truly deserve it and your blog is so enjoyable. Even tho I don't comment every time (big time loser, I know) I really like your posts. I can't tell you how right on the nose you are about people and friends. However, I wasn't raised that way. I was raised to love people for who they are and our differences. I have many life long friends because that is the way I am. I don't like to lose friends. I like to cherish them...they are a treasure. You and your marriage....SUPER! You rock! I love true love stories and yours is very sweet.

Rock on, woman! I'm a fan...and yes, I accept your award to me. Thank you so very much!

Jewell said...

Congrats on your award!!!

and

((((( Cheryl ))))) Thank you! =)

Cheryl P. said...

You are welcome. I am not surprised that it was already sent your way. Your blog is awesome. I was tempted to take a few shortcuts with the directions and if I had already done it once there is no way I would do it again.

Cheryl P. said...

Oh about the comments...I did end up switching to Disqus but not without some issues. If you decide to switch at some point I will tell you what I figured out to do and not to do.

Cheryl P. said...

I think you probably are fascinating and I would love to know 7 things about you. BUT this particular award asks a lot...time consuming really. I am all about anyone doing the "Cliff Notes version" I wouldn't even be above posting the logo and be done.

Cheryl P. said...

You have every right to gloat. You my cyberpal are one clever writer/thinker/creator ....whatever...you get the drift of what I am trying to say.

Cheryl P. said...

I am sure your not a loser in any way, shape or form. Lately, I too haven't left comments as I have been running days behind on reading everyone's blogs. I do get them read, esp. yours. So very interesting.

Cheryl P. said...

Sorry, comment box only holds so much...As far as recognizing differences in people, you would have to have a huge amount of tolerance for diversity. I have great respect for you. Your stories really imply great empathy and understanding. Albeit that some of the people you deal with are morons.

Cheryl P. said...

Thank you, (((Jewell)))) AND You are welcome, my cyber pal.

Robinlausanne said...

Thanks for sweet baby James

meleahrebeccah said...

Congratulations on your award! :)