No Fun Monday - but I got these!!!!

I'm not going to do Fun Monday this week. My brain has just totally fried from events of the past week. If you swung by anyway, looking for Fun Monday, go visit Crunchy Bits to see the list/links of participants.

I am also WAY behind in acknowledging these lovely blogging awards! Thank you so much to Karisma, who picked up my sagging spirits with not one, but THREE awards! I truly appreciate receiving them and at the moment am fairly daunted by needing to pass them on. Not because I can't think of anybody, but because I can think of so many! Inevitably someone will be passed over because my brain is so full of wonderful blogs that I visit.

This first award goes to:

Pure Florida, SwampAngel, and Sandcastle Momma, all of whom write about living in Florida and remind me why this is such an amazing place to live every day.

Lisa's Chaos isn't really that chaotic - at least in her bloggy life. She shares the most amazing photographs, all taken by her!!! If you want to have your breath taken away on a regular basis, go visit Lisa!

Alternative Anna, who lives in England and has a marvelous garden, a black lab, and sings!

Mise en Place, who is carrying her baby in hope and love and starting to decorate her nursery.

And Oh, The Joys, who initiated me into the larger world of blogdom. She's funny and smart and I don't remember how I found her but am ever so grateful that I did!

This second award goes to:

Karisma, right back at 'ya, babe! You brighten my life nearly every day in one way or another.

The Mama Drama gals, Stephanie, Mindy, and Margaret. This also includes the Good Mom/Bad Mom team of Mindy and Jenny. My husband is very suspicious of you people. You're the first ones I ever spoke of aloud to him as my friends. The ones in Houston. He didn't quite get how I could have friends I'd never met - who write for the Houston Chronicle. He was absolutely sure you were ID thieves or some other kind of degenerates. Good thing he doesn't know about Mindy's ceiling... Anyway, I'm proud to call all of you friends.

My buddy Nikki gets one too! Over the last couple of years, I feel like a real friendship has blossomed between us. There's been lots of sharing and fun and if I ever really got to meet her, I would hug her hard because she is just so adorable! If I could still drink, I'd definitely sit down with her and a pitcher of margaritas and spend the evening laughing.

HoosierGirl, who finds the best blogthings for me to steal!!! Single Mom, four kids, and brave enough to take a chance on love once again. She's also a teacher and to me, an amazing woman.

These blogs make me smile:

My cousin Liane doesn't write much, but when she does, I really enjoy it. We see each other often enough that I feel like I know what's going on in her life and then boom! I read her blog and see something new!

Stepping Over the Junk has been a long-time read for me. She stopped blogging for a while, but now she's back! And oh, how I've missed her! Life on an island, raising two little girls and doing what she loves best - I'm so glad she's back and feeling fine!

Jenny, the Bloggess - how on earth did I live without you? Originally part of the MamaDrama posse, she now shares Good Mom/Bad Mom with Mindy (you get to choose who wears the halo and who wears the horns). But in addition to those, Jenny has her own irreverent, kooky, and occasionally disturbed blog that never fails to make me laugh my ass off. Or scratch my head. One of the two.

Struggling with weightloss isn't usually seen as a joy, but sharing the journey with amazing people certainly is. Nona and Willow and Half-Man and Kim Ayres have been my sounding board, my policemen and my inspiration. We all struggle with this weight issue, but it's so much nicer when you can share.

And THIS award came from Storyteller. She seems to think I still have a brain, though after the last few weeks, it's debatable. Hopefully, I'll be able to whip mine back into shape and be worthy of this award. I know LOTS of smart, brainy people who should have this award. This one came with actual rules:

Now do you know some Brainy Bloggers? Pass it on to them: Think of at least 5 bloggers that you believe to be “Brainy Bloggers” Post it on your blog for all to see! Let them know you’ve awarded them by email, twitter, etc or via a comment on their blog! Share some linky love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to http://www.mommybrainreports.com/ Go back to the Brainy Blog Headquarters to sign Mr. Linky and then pass it on!

Five. I think I can definitely come up with FIVE.

Alice in Wonderbread has had a rough few months, but knowing her, she will bounce back stronger and better than ever! She's the one who got me into blogging in the first place. She has some wonderful essays and a quirky sense of humor. And she's smart. Very smart.

Cordelia Naismith has gotten my whole family thinking. She's the reason my dad is so into chickens now. The reason I think more about the quality of food that I put in my mouth. The reason my reading list has grown. I'm still working on them, Cordie!!!

Psychosomatic Wit has also had a few rough months. He has weathered them with grace and is back to writing. I have always found his writings to be thought-provoking and worth reading. He turned down the opportunity to do some op-ed work for his local newspaper, but this guy definitely has things to say.

S. William Shaw is a thoughtful chap with a whimsical twist. He writes young adult fiction and is quite good at it. His two books, Sherman Oak and the Magic Potato and The Santa Mysteries (which are for the 7-11 crowd) held my son's attention captive until he finished them. Believe me, that is saying something!

Saturn Returns is a young blogger, growing into himself. Having known him from birth, I can tell you that he is a fascinating young man, facing a difficult world and making the best of everything. He also has a very soft spot for cats and is currently "dad" to a whole boxful that a hungry stray delivered to him shortly after she took up with him. Anybody need a cat?

Whew! I did it! I passed out awards like there's no tomorrow! Perhaps this will brighten someone else's Monday - just like they did mine.