Last week, Georgette Sullins nominated me for the
I am honored — Thanks Georgette. I appreciate your thinking of me! I think that just about everyone who reads my blog (both of you) reads Georgette’s. It is one of my personal favorites and was one of the first sites I found when I was looking for folks to read.
One of the things that I must do in accepting this award is tell something that nobody knows about me. My secret is that I have a friend, Delajus. The fact that I have a friend, isn’t completely shocking. But my friend has helped me and my writing enormously, particularly at the beginning. Because she is one of the few people I know who will honestly say: “Ummm, Elyse? That’s not funny.” Other people do say that, but I ignore them. For some reason, I often listen to Delajus. Annoyingly, she’s usually right.
Now, the 7×7 award demands work. I’ve been away, and it has taken me a few days to figure out what to say, because I need to look at my stuff, and the stuff others have written and make some choices. I HATE choices. But here they are:
Most beautiful piece. This was the easiest to figure out, because I don’t write “beautiful.” Well, not normally, anyway. But I think that Happy Adoption Day would qualify. There was not a bit of snark in that piece, so in addition to it being my most beautiful, it would qualify as most surprising. But hey, I will only count it once.
Most helpful. An easy question: A Better Way– which outlines, ummm, a better way to choose the GOP nominee for president. Even though we have gone through 2 (or is it 3? 4?) GOP frontrunners in the weeks since I posted it, well, it is still a better way.
Most popular. Thanksgiving Weekend, I was busy, had company, and had been doing a lot of cooking. But when I took the night off and read the directions for the frozen dinner I was preparing, well, I had to post: Too much information. That got the most hits of any piece I wrote. I did not tweak it, I just plopped it in the slot and hit publish. Go figure.
Most controversial. An early piece, I recommended what we should do with stupid people. My destination for them, though, was controversial: Manitoba Bound.
Most surprisingly successful. Great Balls of Fire. Folks seemed to like reading about my new neighbor, and his Civil War fantasy. My husband still expects him to read this piece and, umm, retaliate.
Most underrated. Hmmmmm. I could link to the “My Favs” block up there on the right. Those are the ones I did way back, oh, six months ago when I started this blog. That was when I chose every word with extreme care, and edited and re-edited to an anal degree. Of those, I would say Downsizing is possibly my favorite.
Most pride worthy. …comes around or Gunsmoke. Sorry, I can’t decide. “…comes around” is very personal. “Gunsmoke” is more of a national issue. You choose. Well, if you read them, that is!
****************************
- An Observant Mind: She is one of my favorite bloggers – and had the audacity to take a month off. She’s back, and as funny and thoughtful as ever.
- Childhood Relived . Or is it Childhood Reviled? One of the two. While Angie is really hilarious, it is worth checking out her blog just to see the look on her face in the picture she has up on the right, where she sits next to her big brother. I’m sure her parents were thrilled when the picture was developed.
- Prairie Wisdom. PW is a varied blog — she writes practical things, she writes funny things, she writes about life. Check out her blog. It is always new and different and fun.
- Ramblings and Rumblings. R&R is an irreverent and humorous person. She mirrors my warped sense of politics and puts it into pictures.
- RVing Girl lives in Bermuda and her humor is often priceless. Besides, I can’t hate her for living in Bermuda if I plan to move in with her one day …
- Sandy Like a Beach is another funny woman. I guess you have to be if folks can’t figure out how to spell/say your name when it is “Sandy” and you need to explain it to them. She has to be funny or become an ax murderer. Wise choice, Sandy!
- Sunny Side Up. Lori at Sunny Side Up’s blog is unfailingly cheerful, funny, and makes me feel good. And her banner — with a lovely image of Black-eyed Susans — makes me feel sunny, too. Besides, my Dad used to make me Sunny Side Up eggs which I always think of when I see that I have a new post from Lori.
Thanks again to Georgette who made my day by nominating me, even if it was a day a week ago. But I had to put on my thinking cap to do this piece. Not like usual.
***********
Well, apparently my thinking cap wasn’t good enough, because I forgot to mention what the 7 folks I mentioned just up there need to do to carry on the tradition. It’s pretty simple:
- Tell something about yourself that no one knows;
- List 7 of your posts, including: Most Beautiful; Most Helpful, Most Popular, Most Controversial, Most Surprisingly Successful, Most Underrated, and Most Prideworthy
- Nominate the next 7 bloggers to receive this award.
I’d like to add another: Make sure you pass along these instructions to the folks who have to do it. Letting the recipients know that you’ve nominated them helps, too!
FiftyFourandAHalf 
Thanks Les,
Happy Holidays!
LikeLike
Good choices. Good post.
LikeLike
Thanks again for this shout out, Elyse! I have never seen an award that has you categorize your posts like that — intriguing. I’m definitely going to have to visit these, particularly the one on the GOP frontrunners. (How can that not be your most controversial?) I don’t get it, is Delajus a real person or your alter ego? Either way, can she start screening the unfunny out of my blog, too? She could sure fetch a pretty penny for that service.
LikeLike
Angie, I love your blog and your humor, so I was glad to mention you. And it is fun to look back. It’s harder to find folks who haven’t won the award though.
Delajus is a real person, and her blog (a much more serious, thoughtful blog, is called Higher and Higher, and is on my blogroll. (http://delajus2.wordpress.com/) Read her latest, killer post on religious fanaticism.
Delajus is a friend I met during an online writing course. We struck up a friendship, and she really does let me know when I am not funny. Sometimes it is just that we have different perspectives, but usually it is because what I’ve written could be better, funnier. And she tells me the truth. One of the first times she did, my husband had said the same thing. I ignored him, but listened to her. She was right (well, so was John, but you know he often doesn’t laugh at my jokes on principle!)
I can’t wait to read your older posts that I haven’t gotten to yet. I love your wry sense of humor.
LikeLike
Glad to forward the award on to you — I love your stories. They are light and fun, always! So I’ll look forward to a review of yours, too.
LikeLike
WOW! Just read your note on my blog and now this post. Thank you! I’m so flattered and excited! I can’t wait to take a look at this, because its an award I haven’t heard of before. I will be sure to read up on your posts and give my own much thought. You’re the best! xxx
LikeLike
Congrats on getting this award. The best part about getting this award is that, you get a chance to review, what have you done with our blog, in past few months. Looking forward to read those posts you have mentioned.
LikeLike
Thanks, Arindam! It was fun to review when I knew I couldn’t flunk the test!
I don’t know about you, but when I find a new blogger (usually through comments here and ones on other blogs) I try to check out some old posts before I hit “follow.” The old posts are, like mine, more carefully written. So it’s fun to see a couple of snapshots in a blogger’s development!
Loved your last post!
LikeLike
I had to look at all the comments above because I couldn’t remember if I had already posted a comment or just dreamed that I had. With the busyness of December I hit the wall last night and was in bed shortly after 6. That was when I must have dreamed my comment 😉
Thank you so very much! I am honored that I can share cyber space with you. I am going to have to read your Stupid People post. I have a sign in my office that says “I see stupid people.” It is facing toward me so that when people come in my office they can’t see it. I treasure it.
LikeLike
Hi PW — I was glad to pass this award on to you. Your blog is one that I open as soon as I have a minute and a cup of coffee in my hands so I can savor them both slowly!
Oh, I love that sign! Brilliant! I don’t need it for my office, but I would love to have one on my car — I’m often surrounded by stupid people!
LikeLike
Jobs have a way of doing that. Me, I’m a believer in the lottery. I just know I’m going to win.
LikeLike
Love these these as I get to explore the recommendations … but not tonight .. dang work stuff getting in my way.
LikeLike
Elyse, congrats on your 7 x 7 award!! I hadn’t heard of this. Sounded like a meal you order at IHOP – like 7 eggs x 7 strips of bacon. hehehe. But it’s even better than bacon!
LikeLike
Thanks, MJ,
But I do believe that 7 eggs + 7 strips of bacon = cardiac arrest, according to my latest (assumption-based) research. I’ll pass on that. I hope you do too.
LikeLike
Awe, thanks so much for the mention. Yup, I do get friends just because I live in Bermuda…ha ha ha
And I have a nice cozy little place for you when you visit and eventually move in. lol
It’s funny but just yesterday I was thinking about my ‘new’ friends, There’s, Elyse, and Kate, and Lori, and Scott and Don and…….my blogging pals. who would ever have thunk it? Blogging brings new people into your life and there is a special connection.
Yours is terrific! I always enjoy your topics and your outlook on life. Congrats!
LikeLike
Happy to be new and different friends with you, too, RV! Especially since you will soon be supporting me and my writing. I presume you have WiFi …
LikeLike
Pingback: 7×7 Times The Fun – It’s Another Award! | sandylikeabeach
What an honor! I hope I can fulfill the award qualifications. I have only posted 70 times. I might not have a controversial piece or pride worthy one….yet!
LikeLike
Don’t be so modest! There are lots you can be proud of, and you can always create your own controversy — I did! Enjoy. It’s fun to have the excuse to look back and find the best ones.
LikeLike
So glad you found time to think about your past pieces. Love your way of looking at things. I will say “A Different Toy Story” will make me look at railroad tracks differently. If you’re ever in Houston again, e-mail me and maybe we can get together. That would be a post…a blogger reunion. I hope you enjoyed your trip here.
LikeLike
A reunion would be great fun — and I will be back.
I did enjoy my trip to Houston, although I didn’t get to visit Houston Metro Locksmith. Darn! Good food and good company — and my greatniece/goddaughter’s 5th birthday!!!
LikeLike
Well . . . gulp . . . I don’t know what to say. Thank you for those very kind words, Elyse. I feel as if I won something! And I did. I won a great friend and I’m every bit as grateful for you as you are for me. This is turning sappy. Let me start again. You did a great job of picking out the right pieces, and a perfect job of pointing people to other blogs that deserve attention. I love all of them already, of course! Congrats to all! Delajus
LikeLike
Awwww, shucks. It would be unlike me to get sappy, so I won’t. But thanks, pal. You are invaluable AND fun.
LikeLike
Pretty late here, but I can’t wait to read through them tomorrow.
Congrats!
LikeLike
Thanks! See you then!
LikeLike