Bi-Annual Me Post & Awesome People

Hey gang! Longtime followers know I don't do many of the blog award type things. Not that I don't appreciate them a ton, I just don't like talking about me all that much. (You're grateful, trust me.) Plus, they're incredibly time consuming.


I'm a derelict when it comes to getting around to all of my favorite blogger friends. I'm doing good to get a couple of meaningful posts up each week. The last thing I need to do is distract myself with myself. Then there's the idea of passing the awards on.


I've visited with so many bloggers who look at these awards akin to a prison sentence. They cringe instead of smile when someone says, "Hey, I gave you an award!" It's like someone handed them a card that reads:


I'VE JUST STOLEN TWO HOURS OF YOUR LIFE. HAVE A GREAT DAY!


I don't look at them quite that way. As I said, it truly is an honor. One I don't understand, as I know I'm by far not the most deserving of the attention. I'm just doing my Web 'thang' like all of you.


In fact, it's you I look up to. You are the reason I blog. It gives me an excuse to hang with YOU. So when one of you takes the time to think of me, I'm genuinely amazed and proud.


As a result, I typically do one or two of these award posts a year, just as a thank you to any and all who've given me an award. 


Plus, it gives you a little more dirt on me should we ever cross paths in the real world.


This year's award of choice? It's called the Kreativ Blogger Award and the rules are simple: Jump through four hoops.


HOOP # 1 - Thank the person who nominated you.


My award comes courtesy of Guilie at the Quiet Laughter blog. Guilie is an absolute sweetheart of a person, and a superstar blogger in the making. (Seriously, her blog posts are exceedingly creative and beautiful to boot.)


HOOP # 2 - Answer Questions


What is your favorite song?


This is like picking a favorite child! I love all kinds of music, so this can change literally on the second. I'll pick a song that embodies everything I love about music. The song is On the Radio by Regina Spektor. The second and third verses pretty much some up my life view:


"This is how it works
You're young until you're not
You love until you don't
You try until you can't
You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath


No, this is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took
And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood
And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again"





What's your favorite dessert?


More of a second helping kind of guy, so dessert isn't high on my list of food desires. I do love pumpkin pie (probably more for the season it reminds me of).  And anything with peanut butter in it is aces.


What ticks you off?


Besides those stupid 'Easy Open' packages? (THEY NEVER WORK! I end up taking twice the time trying to find scissors, etc. to open a mutilated Easy Open package as I would just tearing the dang thing open like a normal package.)


I'd say assumptions really raise my hackles. Seriously, if you don't assume anything in life, you're probably better off.


What do you do when you're upset?


Exercise is great. Also like to play my guitar. Those are the healthy things. :)


Your favorite pet?


This really is picking a favorite child for me. Absolutely cannot choose. I have two dogs: a 12 year old chihuahua mix, and a five year old beagle mix. Both are rescues, and both are awesome. They keep me sane when the world is crazy. I love them.


Do you prefer black or white?


I like a clean look, so both are pretty awesome from an aesthetics perspective. I'm also practical, and white is hard to keep clean. I guess I view them as sides to the same coin: Do you like a blank canvas (white) or void (black)? Both can be filled with whatever you choose.


Biggest fear?


Losing. Losing the people I love. Losing hope. Losing my desire to fight. Just losing.


What's your attitude, mostly?


Definitely 'can do'. I'm a positive person. I like to always be moving forward. I don't believe in regrets, I believe in choices. I see the potential in everything and everyone.


What is perfection?


Unattainable. Ask the best there's ever been at anything and they'll tell you it never happens. Michael Jordan, Mozart, da Vinci, Hemingway, Einstein--none of them ever believed they couldn't do better, that they couldn't BE better.


Guilty pleasure?


Let's see: There's my love of 80s hair bands. There's pepperoni pizza. There's comic books. There's a second glass of wine. There's a third cup of coffee. There's taking a walk or throwing the Frisbee to my beagle instead of writing. There's watching historical documentaries. There's playing Rock Band with my friends. There's...


HOOP # 3 - Share 10 random facts about yourself.


1. I have a Master's degree in counseling.


2. I can't swim but love the water.


3. Favorite color is red.


4. I'm the youngest of four children.


5. I paint (mostly oils) and draw for fun.


6. My childhood aspiration was to be a comic book illustrator. Or an 
astronaut. :)


7. I'm a total sports junkie and am still convinced I'd be playing in the NBA if I were a foot taller. And could jump.


8. I play several musical instruments by ear. Only formally trained on the trombone.


9. My grandfather (mom's side) was a preacher.


10. Although no one else in my immediate family cared for it, I somehow fell in love with classical music. I listen to it at least an hour everyday. Not on purpose, it just happens in the background while driving, writing, making dinner, etc. Been doing it since high school. I go to our local symphony every chance I get.


HOOP # 4 - Pass It On


Ooh boy, this is where it gets sticky! Rather than pass this award on, I'm going to issue my own very special award. I came up with it a year or two ago as a way of thanking people without asking them to do anything in return. If you snoop around, you might've noticed it on other blogs. It's called the 'No Strings Attached - Real Trooper' award.




If you get it, you do nothing. I give it to my most dedicated followers, and the bloggers that impress me with their heart and determination. I'm going to try to come up with some folks who haven't gotten it before. 


If you haven't met them, please stop by their blogs or say hello. You won't be disappointed. Here goes:


Julie Musil
Donna Yates
Tanya Reimer
Alyson Burdette
Cassie Mae
Lorelei
Morgan Shamy
Christine Rains
Ella


Last and certainly not least ...


Guilie

~EJW~




19 comments:

  1. WHAT? You are THE nicest guy!! Thank you so much for the no strings attached award. The best kind ever!

    And I like you even more now that I've read more about you. Guess who else has two rescue doggies? *raises hand* Yep, Pete and Stubby.

    Thank you so much for the shout out. I truly appreciate it. And now I'm going to visit the other bloggers you mentioned :)

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  2. I love getting awards, but I know what you mean. Luckily I'm a bit of a bighead and love talking about myself. Love learning random things about other people too (I'm not all me me me I promise!)

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  3. Awww. Thanks a bunch for the no strings award! (I somehow felt my karma shift, though. oh no!)

    And man, do I share your frustrations with those easy open packages. The other day I had a headache- I mean come on, I'm already half stupid, add in a headache and it's just that much worse- and do you think I could get into the Tylenol? Then the powerade to wash it down had this new "wrapper" seal.... needless to say I had to get my children to help me.
    hee hee.
    Thanks.

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  4. Sweet! Thanks so much!

    I can read music, but I don't play anything. I did learn how to play the Harry Potter theme song on the piano by ear though!

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  5. E.J. Dawwwwling, you and I have a lot in common--from the classical music thing to art. You are a wonderful guy! Good to know you and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this!

    I may have to hug you!

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  6. Wow, besides having our initials, in common, we both have a hound! I love this award, so cute! Thank you, I will have to go check out everyone's blog. I'm humbled and honored ;D I love Beagles, mine has freckles, lol
    How fun, great questions! I love fun awards like yours~ Thank you EJ, so glad we met... I'll have to thank Alex,for shining the spotlight on YOU! You made my day~
    And I love classic music
    Check these guys out, they blur the lines:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSByjqMGtaU&ob=av2e

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  7. Go classical music lovers!

    I never know what to do with awards when I get given them. Maybe it's for the best that I rarely get awarded. Your idea of accepting one a year is great. Maybe I'll nick it...

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  8. EJ, you are quickly becoming one of the COOLEST people I know. Hands down. You're fascinating! Loved all of your insightful answers. Awesome about the classical music. Love the song lyrics, love that you're a 'can do' guy (That's obvious!), and it *is* all about the pumpkin pie time of year!

    I thoroughly enjoyed this. You're definitely not the "norm." Which makes you rock! Oh, and thanks for the shout out! :D

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  9. Congratulations! Shame you can't jump, although you got through all of those hoops. 80's hair metal - nice! And have you tried peanut butter on pancakes? Dude, it is awesome!

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  10. Yowsa. This one was a long one. You meticulously did it though. I think two hours of your life went somewhere. Congratulations.

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  11. Congrats and thanks for passing it on. It's a cool award! One of my degrees is in Sociology. I was going to get into counseling too. Also, I like your answer for the perfection question.

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  12. I confess, EJ, I'm one of the people who steers clear of the awards thing. I also avoid blog hops like the plague. It's great to be appreciated by one's friends, though. And I love your answers! I just got to know you a lot better.

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  13. 80s hair bands you say? That is a guilty pleasure.

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  14. Awesome rising up to the challenge, EJ! And I do apologize--I actually don't much like awards either, but it makes me feel so guilty to say so that I'm considering deleting this comment :) I'm really glad I accepted this one and passed it to you, because I found out some pretty cool stuff about you. And that song ROCKS!

    Thank you for the no-strings-attached award. I'm going to adopt it as my standard response to awards now :)

    Oh, and here's the deal: you come visit me in Curacao, and I'll teach you to swim :D

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  15. I think listening to 80's bands while eating pizza, drinking wine, and looking at comic books sounds like a perfect guilty pleasure. You may have just defined my weekend. :P

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  16. Terrific answers, EJ!

    So, it seems appreciation for pumpkin pie is widespread!

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  17. I think a "no strings" award is brilliant. I used to get a lot of those awards (and I passed them along, too, Guilie.) They usually pretty up your blog and they're flattering, but oh, it's so true about stealing 2 hours of your life!

    Then readers started to complain. Since our blog is a how-to information blog, they did NOT care to hear about my favorite color, book, or guilty pleasure. For a while we kept an awards page, but when it only got 10 hits in three months, I deleted it. I finally realized we have to treat the awards like those emails with a lovely Irish proverb that you have to forward to 157 of your closest friends or drop dead by morning. Ignore.

    But you solved the problem! Next time I get an award, I'll send them over here for one of your no-strings variety.

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  18. I do tend to pass awards on, but I sure do take my sweet time in getting around to it!

    I love that "no strings attached" award :)

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“Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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