I recently received a gift from a couple of far away friends. And I was touched. It seems that there’s this Stylish Blogger Award going around between bloggers.
- It works like this: Make a post and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
- Share 7 things about yourself.
- Award 10 or 15 (or whatever number you choose) recently discovered great bloggers.
- Contact these bloggers and tell them they’ve won!
I was awarded this wonderful, ego-boosting gift by two very talented writers of blogs, Priya and Linda. Before I go much further you must promise me to check out their blogs.
Linda at What Comes Next is a gentle, sweet woman from a past we briefly shared. I miss her, but I think our paths will cross again someday. She writes sensitively and thoughtfully. Her blog is a wonderful respite after a tough day at work. I can feel the calm coming through the screen. That’s quite an amazing thing to be able to do.
Priya over at Partial View writes all the way from India. I really don’t see it as a partial view; rather, it’s a view into a world that is exquisitely described and pictured. Her stories about her Indian family are moving and filled with experiences that even I, far away in Idaho, can very much relate to. Her voice is sweetness and light. Really.
I’m a fairly private person, so there’s much to reveal, and much not to. Here are 7 things about me that very few people know:
- A long time ago, I worked as a lab tech in a biology lab. One morning while working there, I was told that my task that day was to decapitate hundreds of rats. I didn’t refuse. I could have, but I didn’t. The cowardly medical students had all refused, leaving just me, the lowly lab tech, unable to decline the task. They gave me a little guillotine to do the job. It was a long day. I did not sing La Marseillaise.
- I don’t get marriage. It makes little sense to me. Unfortunately, the world is peopled by married couples, leaving people like me quite at a loss most of the time. Sometimes I think my alien tribe dropped me off here so that I could observe the mating rituals of humans, and then file a report on it. I’m pretty certain I sent that report almost a year ago. I have yet to hear a thing from my species.
- I want several more lives so that I can live one of them in England. One of them somewhere tropical. One of them wealthy and socially conscious.
- I’ve had more than the normal number of careers. I feel guilty about it sometimes—as though I’ve been floundering and flitting through life. The careers were all good ones, though. I’m not counting the 8 or 9 months I spent as a receptionist for the Swatch/Certina Watch Company in Texas because that job was sheer, unadulterated hell. I never knew that coworkers could be that rotten and mean. Some people were born to hang.
- I lived in Japan for about three years when I was a kid. It was a difficult time, full of childhood angst. The angst sometimes took the form of fighting with girls. I hate fighting, but they started it. It’s kind of peculiar how girls can quickly make up after just tearing each other’s hair out a few minutes before.
- I adore squirrels. I realize that 95% of homeowners hate them for their mischievous, destructive, birdseed stealing ways, but I find them to be Mother Nature’s Little Delights. Even though they torment my dogs, they have a special place in my world.
- I took up snowboarding in my late 40’s. I haven’t boarded in many years, but I still hang onto my equipment thinking that I’ll become fearless again and give it another go. Unfortunately, I now have more expensive teeth than I did in my 40’s.
And here’s a bonus for you all:
I can’t seem to change my friends’, family and coworkers’ lousy impressions about my culinary skills. None of them think I can cook. They beg me not to bring items to the potluck; or, they do, just so they can all have a good laugh. I don’t think that my one instance of frugal and creative use of paper maché paste should set the stage for a lifetime of ridicule. Let me defend myself here in writing. I was raised by Depression babies. My mom, in particular, is still quite skilled at fashioning meals out of nothing but beans, cottage cheese and a dozen of those tiny cartons of half and half that she steals borrows from restaurants. So, this one morning, I find that I’ve got about three cups of paper maché paste left over from an art project. But I can’t bring myself to toss it down the disposal. That’s probably against the law anyway.
I bring the bowl into the kitchen, add some cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and raisins. I give it a thorough stir to make sure I break up whatever newspaper bits are chunked together. The pan is greased and fired up and then I ladle dollops onto the pan. (Dollops make it sound so much more appetizing, don’t you think?)
Those pancakes were so delicious, so robust in texture and cinnamon-y goodness that I took eight of them to work the next day for breakfast. Oh, yeah, at first all my coworkers wanted some, but when I revealed the ingredients, all I got was grief.
So, I pass on the award for Most Stylish Blogger Award to these fine folks:
Blurt Blog at http://blurts.wordpress.com
If you’re not reading Oma’s blog, I just feel sorry for you. Oma can take the most mundane incident or idea and create pure, unadulterated hilarity. But it’s not fluff. I find nuggets of truth in what he writes and I go away feeling pretty good about it. It’s partly the words he chooses, but in large part, it’s his unique sense of humor and the way he makes connections between the oddest things. And his readers all relate to what he writes! Their comments are often as funny and clever as Oma’s post.
A Feather Adrift at http://afeatheradrift.wordpress.com
Like spicy, sassy, with your wit? Check out A Feather Adrift for the latest take on the news, the weather, politics, and tons more. She doesn’t pull punches, but you gotta love that independent streak. That’s not to say she’s mean – I’ve been quite amazed at how even-handed and generous she’s been with some commenters. Her writing is fast, brisk, quick, but filled with humor and serious messages. Hey, she’s even got a page for dinner menus. How cool is that?
Words Done Write at http://wordsdonewrite.blogspot.com
Amber is a communications strategist, wordsmith, and social media devotee—she leaves out the other adjectives that describe her so well, though. Those include: generous in spirit, welcoming, patient, kind, supportive, an awesome promoter of the work of other bloggers, and helpful without fail. If you want to learn more about this social media stuff, and I suspect you do, go to her website. You’ll learn and be entertained at the same time.
MurrMurrs at http://murrbrewster.blogspot.com
I just started subscribing to MurrMurrs. I know I’m going to love this adventure with her. She is riotously funny. Not the kind of riot where you get beaned by a rubber bullet—the good kind, where you giggle first and then just let out a less than dainty guffaw. What clever prose she does. I love good writing, especially when it’s combined with quite imaginative photos.
So, go away now and do your reading.
The Writer
You are simply too kind. I’ll try to get to this tomorrow. Lovely award, from a lovely person.
You’re so welcome. Your posts are such a treat. The mind of Sherry is an amazing place!
Wow, that’s me? Thank you so much! I admire what you do here so much…but I’m glad you dont cook here.
There. You did it again. You made me laugh out loud! I am especially thrilled to have you as a reader, Oma.
WOW! Thank you so much for including me in your Most Stylish Blogger Award list. I’m honored by the inclusion and touched by your words! Thank you so very much for your kindness and support. It means a lot to me!
I feel very honored to have you as a reader, Amber. Keep up what you’re doing!
I’d say after your stint in the biology lab, you deserved more than the normal number of careers. I love squirrels, too, I think because they can’t seem to relax for more than three seconds, and I know how that feels. And then, we have that shared pancake thing in our background.
Please keep doing what you’re doing, SDS. This blog is amazing, and I can’t wait to visit the four you honored.
I wanted to include yours, Charles, but you received the award at the same time I did. I think the rules stated that I couldn’t double dip. People who love squirrels have a special place in my heart. I’ll admit, though, there have been some angry words over my peach tree in the front yard…
Thanks so much! Wow. Incidentally I also was a lab tech–first job out of college. We had to kill mice and rats. I couldn’t do the rats, but that was because we didn’t get a guillotine–we got a stout pair of scissors, with which we were supposed to drive the sharper blade THROUGH the neck and then snap them closed. I traded cleaning test-tubes for the man in the next lab over. Like, two hours of cleaning per offed rat, a one-second procedure. I considered it a bargain. Well, now that I’ve driven off all potential readers you may have brought me…let me hasten to add my biology degree is now entirely vestigial. Cheers to you.
You are so entirely welcome. And I sensed that we shared a common past, just from reading your posts. We’ll also be sharing bad rat Karma, I guess. Had any visitations at night yet from rat spirits? I probably lost readers, too. They’ll be replaced by some blood lusting, rat haters, I guess. I’m really glad I discovered your blog.
Just between you and me, no one else looking–right?–I also made Mouse Soup. I’m sure this can be written about in a funny way, but I don’t think I can take the opprobrium. Is that a word? Whatever it is, I can’t take it.
I did a cross-country bike tour right after my lab job ended, and I ran over a white mouse. A WHITE MOUSE.
Umm. How unfortunate for both of you. I’m sure the two experiences aren’t related. I think. You do realize that if you look at something while you’re riding a bike, you’re certain to aim for it and hit or run over it?
i love squirrels, too! whenever i see the ones that live in the trees behind my house, i throw them some peanuts (when the ducks aren’t there, because those bastards steal them), while excitedly calling them shirley (they’re all named squirrelly shirley, even the boys. i’m getting too old to remember different names, let alone distinguish between one squirrel or another).
i will be sure to visit all the blogs you listed, just as soon as i get this damned papier mache out of my teeth (i think we use the same cookbook).
You talk to squirrels, too! Awesome! And the name, “Shirley” – I love that! It’s much more fun to personalize them, don’t you think? Although, they really resist wearing my cute little dresses that I pick up in the baby section at thrift shops.
You are way too kind, SDS. And now you have me really scratching my head. A shared past? Must be another of those many times/events in my life that has vanished under the pile of rubble in my brain.
I do get annoyed at squirrels. I think they’re a bit like little brothers…although I never had one of those. My former spouse used to say they are a marvelous example of great hardware but poor software….that spoken just after one had darted out into the street and stood flipping its bushy tail with indecision in the very path of our approaching car.
I’m off now to explore some marvelous new blogs. Thanks for sharing.
Well, Linda… I do hope I haven’t confused with some other Linda, but here goes. I met you at a book club very shortly after I moved here. We went to a movie once and while we were waiting for the film to start, you mentioned a mutual friend, named Erich. If this doesn’t ring a bell, I’ll redo my hair the way it looked then. It was redder, I think. Have I mistaken you for someone else?
Oh…and I have a kayak sitting out back that hasn’t seen more than rainwater in years. It was a sport that terrified me and I suspect I may never return to it. But for some reason the gear lurks, like my piano that hurls accusatory looks at me for my neglect.
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Oh, no, not mistaken. Given with love. And so well-deserved.
I really enjoyed your seven facts. Of course, I already knew you are interesting — they just colored it in a little.
I once lived in what one of my friends’ child called “the giant treehouse in the woods,” with two ferocious Doberman Pinschers, who were absolutely terrorized by a couple of squirrels, Steve and Trixie, who lived in a tree just next to the back deck. Watching their antics was often more fun than any other form of entertainment.
The dogs did not agree with me on that.
Thank you, Hippie! Yeah, it doesn’t matter how ferocious the dog; squirrels are pure genius and seem to fear nothing. And we could all learn to play more – just like squirrels.
//I don’t get marriage.//
neither did my ex-wife. so it goes
Well, sometimes it’s not meant to be. And it’s not meant to be forced, eh?
Yupperz,,,the divorce worked much better….we both sleep better,too. I snore and she had gas.
I suggest a Boston Terrier for you: you’ll get Gas, Snoring, and Bed Hogging – the Terrier Trifecta.
I kind of wish you had omitted the bonus material. It freaked me out in a way I’ve never been freaked out before. Part of the reason for that is I’m not sure you were joking. ROFL.
I will definitely be back to read more of your blog, but I will NEVER eat a meal at your house.
Congratulations on your award! Well deserved.
So, Margaret. Mouse decapitation was okay, but some gluey pancakes freaked you out? I don’t think I’ll ever eat a meal at your house. (Unless you’re making mul-YACH.) (Not that I was invited.)
Oh, they weren’t really that gluey, Charles! I can’t guarantee they didn’t have that adhesive effect once they landed in my stomach, though.
Charles, I’m a former Pre-Med student who did her share of dissections and had an internship at a lab where techs ate their lunch while streaking patient’s cultures onto petri dishes. So, no, the mice didn’t bother me much.
No invitations required. A five-minute phone ahead is appreciated so I can change into my company-appropriate pajamas.