And Me Without A Speech Prepared

A week ago, Donna, of Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases, sent me an email to let me know she'd given me (and 4 other bloggers) the "You Make My Day Award." 

Now, I'm really not someone who does well with praise, positive feedback, kudos, applause, or friendly smiles.  So I sort of gaped at the email and then quickly closed it and pretended it hadn't really happened.  Help!  What am I supposed to do with THIS?? 

So I emailed Donna and asked.  She likened it to girl scout badges, kind of.  It was longer than that, but I'm getting tired and it's late.  But clearly, it's a NICE THING, and I am kind of expected to continue along this PATH OF KINDNESS and pass this award along to some bloggers who - as suggested - MAKE MY DAY.  Oh, and by the way, I think I only made it through one year as a girl scout.  So I think I lack famililarity with badges as well.

Anyway. 

True to form, I stalled and procrastinated and "forgot" all about it because not only do I feel majorly uncomfortable with kind words and smiles and all directed at me, but I'm equally lacking in adeptness (is that a word?) in passing such things along to others - no matter how much they are deserving of kind words and smiles.  And chocolate.

I always figure either a) when I say it (the NICE THING), it will come out sounding stupid, or schmoozy, or stupid.  Or stupid.  Or, b) the person will scoff at my piddly gesture and I won't officially know about it because I can't see them, but I'll just assume that this is the case and so I will automatically cringe and wish I could hide somewhere.  Like Antarctica.  And c) the person will notice my eyebrows need waxing.  (Stop staring.)

Armed with this confidence, I now bravely step up to the mike and name my awardees.  (Is that a word?  I just keep making them up.  I'm going to need to write my own dictionary now.)

Oh - and I should say this - I was going to give the award to my sister and her blog, but she is a black belt in karate, and when I casually mentioned it, she threatened to hurt me.  And I sort of believed her.  She only has nine and a half toes, you know.  That's a person you don't mess with.  (Hi Mere!)

Okay, so here I go.

OH - wait - the rules.  (Donna?  I just copied them from your blog.  That's okay, right?  They won't revoke my award, will they?) 

The award rules are: give the award to people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. So I am passing the award on to:

Jen of Alien Spouse - because she cracks me up in just about every post, and because I have just learned that she, too, suffers from HORRIBLE HANDWRITING, which makes me feel just a little less alone in the world. 

KT of Zenslaw because she IS inspiring.  And a marvelous photographer.

Tracey of Beyond the Pale because she is capable of shooting red lasers out of her eyes.  And that impresses the hell out of me.   And she's marvelously creative and talented and funny.

Rebekka of Maple Sugar - for the beauty and elegance of her blog - and the gorgeous baking, too. 

Now I am going to email these folk and let them know about the award.  I hope they don't point and laugh at me.  But they probably will.

And all sarcasm aside - Thank you, Donna, for the award - I sincerely appreciate it.  :)