Friday, March 02, 2007

Shiny Buttons And Linky Love

As a young child I never had to struggle hard to be an original. I was always the odd girl out. It seemed as though I was defined early on by my differences, separated and culled from the herd simply because of who I was, not who I wanted to be. It started as early as my first breath, just after being squeezed from my mother's loins, when it was noted that I was a fair haired babe. Odd, certainly, but not earth shattering. Growing up though, enduring the countless family functions where I was always described as the 'Milkman's daughter', or being easy to spot in a crowd as the only toe-head in a sea of brunettes, grew tiring.

Then there was the fact that I had the odd ability to cry at the drop of a hat. But never on command. (Significant difference of ability. One is fairly embarrassing, the other could lead to top billing on a marquee and a possible golden statue.) I was known as the Crybaby, renown for my tender feelings and irritable tear ducts.

I longed to fit in growing up. It never occurred to me that I was an original. I wasn't that bright. What I should have done, instead of trying to find cover and hide myself in the crowd, was embrace my oddball unique traits and endorsed them. Life would have started being fun a whole lot sooner. Sigh. But I was always a late bloomer. My boobs can attest to that.

But that's a whole other post.

Now, as a mature (shaddup Boo!) woman, I embrace my avant-garde personality. I am more than a mommy, less than a wife, and a whole slew of other unidentifiable qualities that make me who I am. Love me or leave me, here I am. Boob rings and back fat. I'm shaking it all. (Admittedly, some parts jiggle more than others, but I'm not telling which.)

As I have mentioned time and time again, I started blogging to get through a difficult time of my life.

Snort! Understatement of the Year alert!!

But what I haven't mentioned is how daunting entering the blogosphere really was. I was putting myself out there, for everybody to see. But how do I make you all see me? In the vast, endless sea of blogs out there, how do I get a person to visit me? How do I stand out from the crowd? How do I become the blonde once more in a sea of very cute brunettes?

(All right, that really sucked as a metaphor but stay with me...)

Having a kickass template helps, of course. And stealing borrowing clever cartoons doesn't hurt either. But as I anxiously watched my site meter stay stuck at the seven, I realized this wasn't enough. I was going to have to go out there and impress the big guns. The cool bloggers, and hope that if they would come, others would follow.

Because we humans are really nothing but overgrown lemmings, right? Lemmings with opposable thumbs.

In my search for readers, I discovered some wonderful blogs. Some were big time bloggers, who managed to have gasp!! more than a few hundred page hits a day, while others were small and lesser known; content with their knowledge that while they may not have advertisers knocking at their door, they were adding something to the lives of those who read them. I was intimidated and impressed by all of them you, who managed to make me sit up and take stock, and strive to be a better writer, woman and human.

(Bowing in gratitude, as her bathrobe gapes wide open. Damn, I'm classy.)



It seems as though I have finally impressed somebody myself. A truly witty, little (as in short in stature, get your minds out of the gutter people!) daddy blogger has bestowed upon me a Thinking Blogger award. Apparently, this post grabbed him. Probably by the shoulders and shook him really hard. Thank you, Bennie. I am humbled to know something I wrote inspired you, when your daily life continues to awe and inspire me and countless others. If you haven't discovered this artist daddy yet, hop on over and take a peek. You will walk away with a different perspective on life.

This shiny little blog button has made me take stock and think about all the other bloggers who make me stop and think on a daily basis. As a rule, I am to nominate five more bloggers for posts who have made me think. But really, my life is too short for nonsense, and my time is too precious to waste on poorly written blogs. All the blogs in my bloglines make me sit up and take note. It seems absurd to have to weed through the masses to find a few flowers.

You are all my flowers. Gush.

But rules are rules and who am I to balk at an arbitrarily imposed rule? So, I am just going to randomly bestow Thinking Blog Awards to five people off my bloglines. Kind of like winning a lottery. If you're name isn't chosen, buck up. It doesn't mean I don't love you, it just means my finger didn't land on your name when I closed my eyes, spun my chair around and pointed blindly at the screen. You all are good Thinkers to me.

I promise.

Mama Tulip, Average Joe, ECR, Emma, Mrs. Chicken; all of you, please revel in your newly bestowed bloggy button.

To the rest of you, well, I guess you are shit out of luck. But I still love you. Cross my heart.

Would I lie to you?

******* ******* ********

P.S. I know I was supposed to nominate specific posts, but I just couldn't do it. You all generate too much greatness. Just know that at one time, or another, or perhaps more than once, you have inspired me. Which is why I keep coming back. Well, that and I have no life and no real friends. But let's just stick with the inspiration thing, okay?

25 Comments:

Blogger Jenn said...

Thank you! Thank you! And you have certainly earned every shiny bit of yours. I bow to you (besides it helps me avert my eyes from your gaping bathrobe).

10:43 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

(eyes welling up) I would like to thank the academy...

Seriously, thank you RM for the nod. Unfortunately, anybody going my blog for the first time will see my latest post is full of shit!

10:45 a.m.  
Blogger Unknown said...

I don't think you have to nominate specific posts; of course, it seems that the rules keep evolving as it passes from person to person.

Congrats on the award, I think it is well given. And yeah for ECR! I love her stuff, too.

10:49 a.m.  
Blogger mamatulip said...

Aw, RM, thank you! For someone who writes so much about how her son paints with his own shit, I'm totally honoured to have been bestowed a thinking award!

You ROCK!

11:00 a.m.  
Blogger Bea said...

I threw in some specific posts just for the heck of it when I did this meme, but the original rules were just to nominate the blog itself.

11:02 a.m.  
Blogger Jellyhead said...

Congratulations, T, on the Thinking Bloggers Award. You are a very deserving winner!

You may have felt like the odd one out as a kid, but just look at you now - not only are you a blogging legend, but you are also admired and adored as the wonderful, wacky person that you are!

2:16 p.m.  
Blogger MamaMichelsBabies said...

Congrats T, you've earned it :)

2:40 p.m.  
Blogger metro mama said...

Hello, I'm new here (a friend recommended your blog). Congratulations!

3:09 p.m.  
Blogger Amy said...

First of all - YAY YOU! You are a thinking blogger, and if I lived in rural Canada you can bet your bippie that's I'd be hanging at your place with a bottle of vino.

Did I ever mention that my mom is Canadian? Maybe we are related.

And you people are KILLING me with all this kindness. I can't wait to post my pretty button.

oooooohhhh .... pretty buuuuuuuttons.

3:57 p.m.  
Blogger Amy said...

First of all - YAY YOU! You are a thinking blogger, and if I lived in rural Canada you can bet your bippie that I'd be hanging at your place with a bottle of vino.

Did I ever mention that my mom is Canadian? Maybe we are related.

And you people are KILLING me with all this kindness. I can't wait to post my pretty button.

oooooohhhh .... pretty buuuuuuuttons.

3:57 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As someone who stuck out like a sore thumb with his red hair, it was good to find your blog! Of course, now that I'm older, the red has faded (except in parts I WANT it to) and I wish it could come back (but not from a bottle.)

4:50 p.m.  
Blogger carrie said...

All this bloggy love is so niiiice!

Just so you know, as I myself always feel like a "blonde in a sea of brunettes", what drew me to your site was a wonderful comment you left for someone, somewhere. And then I read your posts, and I cried and my heart opened up for you.

Just so you know.

The award is so very well-deserved.

Carrie

5:25 p.m.  
Blogger Kristi said...

Three of those five are on my blogroll so I must definitely agree! I'll have to visit those other two, as I am always looking for other great bloggers!

6:03 p.m.  
Blogger kimmyk said...

You've made a difference in someone's life. Isn't that we all hope to do while we're here? Good job T!

6:13 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just read the post you were nominated for and it was wonderful. I have a handicappedchild as well and your post touched a nerve. I'll be back to read more.

8:49 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I read more and just read that your son had died. I am so sorry. I can't imagine how much that would hurt. My daughter wears me out and pushes me to the edge of my sanity everyday but I can't imagine my life without her. I'm sorry for your loss.

8:54 p.m.  
Blogger Firestarter5 said...

You made a difference in someones life (as KK says)...BIG F'N DEAL...I'm giving porn to Iran...top that sister!

7:29 a.m.  
Blogger Her Bad Mother said...

Great taste, you. But we knew that already.

7:58 a.m.  
Blogger Creative-Type Dad said...

Cool bloggers? I thought you were already in the cool blogger club (didn't you get the card? I sure didn't...)

5:17 p.m.  
Blogger tkkerouac said...

I love everything about this blog right down to the thumbnail.

7:29 p.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Back fat? What the eff are you talking about??

6:42 a.m.  
Blogger Ben and Bennie said...

Sorry I didn't comment earlier (out of town) but your award was well-deserved. I'll add more to what KimmyK said. You inspire ALL of us. congrats, T. I'll ignore the back fat...er...fatback?

10:08 a.m.  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

An absolute pleasure to meet you (thanks to 24/7) and I will be adding you to my dailies!

I just *love* to discover a new (to ME) blog that tickles my fancy!

My only question: Boob rings? Should I ask?

11:23 p.m.  
Blogger Gunfighter said...

Hey!

I got one of thoase shiny buttons, too.

Of course, I don't get anywhere NEAR the numbers of hits that you get... I'm not as good looking... or as interesting, I reckon.

Congratulations!

6:05 a.m.  
Blogger FENICLE said...

Loved the links!! Loved reading your site too!! Congrats :)

6:42 p.m.  

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