The Liebster Award

I started this blog to practice writing. But, what keeps me coming back is reading other people’s writing. I want everyone I know now to blog about the project or activity or topic closest to their hearts. They don’t really want to. Fortunately, I have all the WordPressers who are already here! Including, Martha Hannah of Is That a Hair In My Biscuit (A Fine Southern Blog), who presented me with the Liebster!

Thank you, Martie! Before I even read this fine southern blog, I knew I would like it because that title is amazing. Martha’s imagination and use of images is delightful.

Okay, down to business now. There are rules for accepting the Liebster:

• Post the award on your blog.
• Thank the blogger who presented this award and link back to their blog.
• Write 11 random facts about yourself.
• Nominate 11 bloggers who you feel deserve this award and who have less than 200 followers.
• Answer 11 questions posted by the presenter and ask your nominees 11 questions.

I will try to keep this short. 1. At this writing, I am propped against pillows in bed with an old laptop and my five month old baby is asleep right next to me. Face down, first time I don’t flip her over. But, I keep checking to see if she’s breathing! 2. I went on a run today, only my 3rd since I had baby and I got a runner’s high which I thought maybe I’d lost my rights to since the first two times I just felt like dry heaving. 3. My baby is sick, she has a baby’s version of a cold, which requires an inhaler, and a yeast infection on her bum. I was pretty sure this meant child protective services would be rounding me up soon, but a friend told me babies, and actually grown up’s too, get sick from time to time. I decided I would be in better spirits to help my baby through this if I took this more positive attitude. 4. My husband and I were able to converse with each other face to face without being interrupted by a 4-year old for about 10 minutes today. It was really nice. 5. I got a phone call today from a couple of people with whom I had not spoken in some time. It was really awkward. 6. I meditated this morning for 5 minutes. 7. Trying to work my way back up to 12. 8. My sister talked me down yesterday about an issue concerning the Holy Spirit. God honest truth. 9. I had a dream earlier this week where a man I knew who recently died told me it was not my time yet. O.M.G. 10. The setting for this dream was an airport ticket counter. 11. My stomach muscles hurt right now from the run earlier.

Now for the fun part. My nominations are below. (One caveat – I couldn’t tell who had less than 200 followers).

1. Average Yogini: Average Yogini writes about anxiety and yoga in an accessible way. The One About Chakras is my favorite post.

2. The Gad About Town: I can’t not read The Gad About Town. Phenomenal writing on all sorts of topics.

3. Zen and Pi: Lisa is a twenty-something who writes about finding the true nature of things. I like that perspective. Also,she is hilarious. An Open Letter to My Older Cat Who Keeps Freaking Out Because I Brought Home Kittens made me cry (from laughing).

4. A Just Man is Hard to Find: Will Gray is also a twenty-something who writes about moving to Puerto Rico to be with his love Maria. It reminds me of Love in the Time of Cholera, except this kid is from Connecticut and went to Georgetown. I can’t explain it. Here, you can read Does the Truth Have to Hurt.

5. Liberian Me: Simon Tocclo is just cool. Check out his latest post, a Liberian in Barcelona.

6. A Writer’s Workroom: Louise Swingler writes about writing and I love it.

7. mejfote: Posts on life, fashion and more. His original art and photography is incredible.

8. Chris Jurewicz’s blog: Chris is a Canadian and he often writes about his son. An Open Letter To My Son was one of the first posts I read when I joined WordPress. It’s beautiful.

9. The Accidental Texan: Andrea Thompson writes “very short stories by someone who really shouldn’t be here,” that is, in Texas. It’s funny.

10. The Squeaky Robot:  Written by a “twenty-something” based in Hanoi originally from DC. Amazing images of Hanoi and captivating content.

11. Amanda’s Nose in a Book: Amanda’s blog has been giving me inspiration for NaNoWriMo next month!

Okay, Martie, here goes: brown; Mercedes Benz; Big Red; I think under a bridge; both; 2; Disney; NYC; hospital volunteer; YES! I hate like every other hair cut, I get!; in my bed.

My questions to my nominees are:

1. What’s the best piece of advice on writing you’ve received?

2. How often do you write or work on writing (e.g. researching)?

3. Are you an atheist, agnostic or a believer or something else?

4. Do you think this affects your writing?

5. What’s your favorite book?

6. Who is your favorite author?

7. What’s your favorite movie?

8. Who is the awesomest person you know (or know of) dead or alive?

9. How would you define creativity?

10. How long have you been on WordPress?

11. Do you write for a living?

Thanks, ya’ll!

the featured image is “la Grande Odalisque” by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres. All works by Ingres (1780-1867) are in the public domain.