Sunday, September 6, 2009

Weekend Mishmash: A-splishin’ and A-splashin’!

Throughout my life, I’ve always had mixed feelings about awards. On the one hand, I’m grateful to have achieved something that validates my skills (like my old math and sportsmanship trophies, now lost to the hurricane that shall, for once, remain nameless), but on the other hand, I find it awkward to be singled out... especially if I feel less than deserving.

That’s what happens whenever another blogging buddy honors me with a blogalicious award. On the one hand, I feel appropriately honored by my peers and grateful for the acknowledgment. On the other hand, the little voice of insecurity emerges to whisper, “Really? Out of all the blogs out there, you’ve chosen mine? Really?” Then, I tell the little voice to be quiet, and I humbly accept the award on behalf of insecure bloggers everywhere.

So, for the fourth weekend in a row, I find myself focusing on awards for the “Weekend Mishmash,” and while I’m grateful to my online pals Bridget Chicoine and Strange Fiction for honoring me with the Splish Splash Award, I find it hard to believe that either of them considers my blog “dazzling” enough for such an honor. After all, I started this blog with humble intentions – to create an outlet for my myriad thoughts and images, celebrate all of life's little pleasures, distract myself from the massive revision of my novel, and find like-minded souls in the blogosphere. Since, in the seven weeks that I’ve been maintaining this blog, I’ve already achieved my original goals (and then some!), the awards seem like (to reveal my Louisianian roots)... lagniappe.

And I’m really grateful for this unexpected bonus. So, thanks, Bridget and Deb!

Now, the point of this blogalicious award is twofold: to honor a fellow blogger and to encourage him/her to keep spreading the bloggy love. So, to that end, I’ve decided to honor a couple of blogs that I’ve never honored before. That doesn’t mean, of course, that I don’t want to acknowledge previous award-winning blogs – such as The Alchemy of Writing, Anita Laydon Miller’s Blog, Cinnamon & Spice, Come In Character, EAT.DRINK.THINK., The Fire in Her Eyes, J.B. Chicoine...Aspiring Novelist, J.B. Chicoine – Unsupervised & At Large, A misinterpreted wave, Miss Snark’s First Victim, My Daley Rant, Ranch Girl Ramblings, Stephanie Damore, Steph in the City, Thinking Out Loud, Weronika Janczuk, What Am I Doing in Mexico?, and The Word Wire – all of which I’ve honored over the past few weeks. I would love, in fact, to pay tribute to all of them all over again (oh, well, I kind of just did, heehee) – but I think that some of these bloggers are, frankly, tired of receiving awards... and it’s probably time for me to broaden my horizons.

That said, I’ve decided to acknowledge two worthy bloggers for the “dazzling” Splish Splash Award:

Susan Mills of A Walk In My Shoes – a blogger that, though previously honored with this award, deserves yet another nod for being so darn creative. If you haven’t yet, you simply must check out her blog, where she cleverly uses shoe-related metaphors to deconstruct the art of writing and the process of publishing.

Angie Ledbetter of Gumbo Writer – a blogger who lives in Baton Rouge, not far from my blessed New Orleans. I just discovered her blog today – and I’m so delighted that I did!

So, please check out these two blogs – if you haven’t already, of course!

Thanks again to Bridget and Deb for saying such loverly things about my little blog... and thanks to everyone else who has visited (regularly or otherwise) and made this writer feel a little less lonely in her struggle for publishing success!

14 comments:

Susan R. Mills said...

Congratulations! You deserve it. And thanks for passing it on to me. I'm honored. I'm also touched that you find my blog creative. I like Angie's blog, too.

Deb said...

Of course your blog is dazzling! I'm totally impressed by all the awesome posts you've created. Go Laura!

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, Susan! And you're welcome. I really do think your blog is terrific - and I'm glad that you like Angie's blog... Had to give a shout-out to a Louisiana girl, you know!

Laura Martone said...

Aw, shucks, Deb. You made me blush all over again. Thanks for following my blog - and for honoring it, too. I really am tickled - and happy to have "met" you!

Joshua McCune said...

Yeah, LM, your layout's easy on the eyes, you do a nice job incorporating pictures, and your always generous to other bloggers... Keep up the strong work...

PS: Every time I see the word "dazzle" I think of Danny Bonaduce and the sequin bedazzler (one of those ASOTV products) for some reason and smile. Thanks :)

Laura Martone said...

Wow, Bane, thank you. That's seriously kind of you, ol' buddy. And I really love the fact that my post conjured up the image of li'l Danny Bonaduce... actually, I'm not sure how I feel about that. ;-)

P.S. Hey, what are you doing up so late?

Angie Ledbetter said...

Hey Laura! I'm so glad you stopped in so I could follow you back here! (Yes, I have a terminal case of exclamationosis!) :)

AND THANK YOU FOR THE BLOG BLINGAGE. Too kind. We MUST talk WIPs soon. Hollow Souls...what a great & hookish title.

Would you be interested in doing a blog interview about your writing life and process? Would you be my friend? Do you love living all over the US? Don't you hate people who blabber in comments instead of sending an email? hehe.

Happy Labor Day, and thanks again. :)

Laura Martone said...

Hi, Angie! No worries... I adore it when people "blabber" (I mean, comment) on my blog. :-) I love, too, that I've met another Louisiana writer online - your blog is wonderful, and I would love to discuss our WIPs. For sure!

And, heck yeah, it would tickle me to do a blog interview - no one's ever asked me to do one before. Too cool! And, of course, I'll be your friend... who knows? We might even "meet" in person one of these days - what a concept.

Thanks again for stopping by... and Happy Labor Day to you, too!

P.S. Of course, I love traveling. I'm an American Nomad!

Unknown said...

Oh..congrats. That's really cool. I just love all you've got to say. You brighten my days! Love ya tons Laura! Keep up the great work!

Laura Martone said...

Thanks, J.J. - I appreciate the kind words. And, wow, I love brightening people's days. That makes MY day! Boy, I've been blushing so much lately, my face feels like it's gonna explode!

P.S. I like what you're doing at your blog, too. Your recent contest was especially generous!

Joshua McCune said...

Not that late WC time, but evidently I should have hit the hay earlier since I went praying to the porcelain god a wee bit afterward (and, nope, alcohol was not involved :)

Laura Martone said...

Oh, my, I'm sorry to hear that, Bane. Not to share too much info of my own, but I had an equally interesting experience the other night... Of course, it had more to do with the rich food my hubby had made than the glass of wine that went with it!

Anyhoo, I hope you're feeling better today. Poor baby. :-(

Jm Diaz said...

Hi! I stumbled across your blog and your blog recommendations, and I thank you! I checked them out, and really enjoyed them Specially, "Gumbo Writer". So, again... thanks :)

Laura Martone said...

Hi, Jim! Welcome to my blog, and thanks for following. I'm happy that you found your way here, and I'm even happier that you enjoyed the other blogs, especially "Gumbo Writer." That Angie sure can make me miss Louisiana!