Stories & Soliloquies

I had originally thought I’d spend this post for the day before Valentine’s Day analyzing love song or poetry or Arthurian Romance, but I’ve found a much better way to use this time accepting and sharing some love from my fellow bloggers on WordPress. I’ve recently been nominated for two peer-chosen chain awards. Because they’re of a similar nature, I’m going to combine my acceptances into one post.

1. The Liebster Award

The first is the Liebster Award.  I have no idea what this award signifies except that I think it might be for lesser-known bloggers, but I was nominated by the wonderful Nina Kaytel from her blog The Journey of a Writer, so I’m excited about it.  Seriously, she’s wonderful, and so generous with her writing process.  I love how she shows off every stage of her writing, and I learn so much from her blog.

For this award, I have to answer ten questions, nominate other blogs with fewer than 200 followers for the award, and give them ten questions.

2. The Versatile Blogger Award

The second is the Versatile Blogger Award, and I feel so honored to have been nominated for this one by Kate Loveton from Odyssey of a Novice Writer.  She is absolutely delightful and such an honest writer. In order to accept this award, I am required to tell you seven things about myself, and then nominate other deserving bloggers for this same recognition.

For my combined acceptance, I’m going to let my answers to the ten questions from Nina cover my seven fun facts, and then nominate five blogs for the Liebster Award, and five for the Versatile Blogger Award.

1. If you had one wish to gain any talent what would it be and why?
I would be a singer. I can sing a little, but it has been through sheer hard work. It doesn’t come naturally to me, no matter how much I love it and how much I try to train my ear. My lungs are small and voice is nasal and I have to fight to keep control through difficult passages. I would love if it came easier so my hard work could take me further.

2. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?
I don’t, at least not in the traditional way. This is mostly because I don’t like to think about the people I love becoming ghoulish, sad, and frightening to others.

3. What have you learned blogging?
I’m learning that I have something to say, I’m learning to communicate, and I’m meeting new people and finding new blogs. Other bloggers teach me so much about self-expression and about the topics in which I’m most interested. Blogging is plain communication, focused on clarity and honest discussion – at least, good blogging is.

4. If you could live in any fictional world what would it be? Why?
Middle Earth, specifically, Hobbiton. I like food, drink, and good tilled earth. It is no small thing to celebrate a simple life!

5. If you could say anything to one Ex what would it be?
I would let him know that I’m glad for the time he was my friend, and thank him for everything I learned from our relationship.

6. If you could have one mythical creature as a pet what would it be and why?
I’d have Nibbler from Futurama because he’s super smart, super cute, and poops dark matter.

7. What is your favorite book? Why?
This is an impossible task, but I think I’m going to have to select Augustine’s Soliloquies or Confessions, Arendt’s Human Condition, Card’s Ender’s Game, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Lowry’s The Giver, or Feynman’s The Pleasure of Finding Things Out. I select them all because they’re all awesome.

8. What would your last meal be?
I would eat fried eggs and toast with butter and fresh fruit and tea. It would make me feel like death was a beginning if I started it just after breakfast.

9. Did you make a News Years resolution? What is it?
I resolved to be more sincere, for good or ill.

10. Are you sticking to the resolution?
I think so, and I’m so glad – I’ve learned from respectful disagreements, I’ve had wonderful discussions, and I’ve been honest. I think it’s going well.

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And now for the nominations!  For Liebster Award, I’ve chosen five bloggers with less than 200 followers who I think deserve your notice.

1. http://unfound.org
2. http://selfawarepatterns.com
3. http://christianityandvirtue.wordpress.com
4. http://robotwhale.wordpress.com
5. http://polygnosticways.wordpress.com

And here are my five for the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. http://aquilaetinfans.wordpress.com
2. http://mjwrightnz.wordpress.com
3. http://jamesradcliffe.com
4. http://disruptingdinnerparties.com
5. http://culturemonk.com

To all: there is no obligation to accept the award, but if you do wish to spread the love, you can do so by listing ten random things about yourself that you haven’t otherwise mentioned on your blog, and nominate ten other blogs for our reading pleasure.