I blog for my own enjoyment, for the pleasure of being able to relive what I was thinking or experiencing on a particular day.
Still … occasionally I wonder whether blogging is worth the effort. Although I’ve made some cherished friends through HBlog, the majority of my posts seem to disappear into the great digital vacuum of the Internet.
That’s one reason I abandoned the Post A Day Challenge. And that’s also why I so appreciated Allyson Jude’s nomination for the Versatile Blogger Award.
Honestly, I’m not too sure what the award entails. But I love the fact that it gives me an opportunity to showcase 15 of my own favorite blogs.
As an incurable law-abider, I’m posting the rules my nominees are supposed to follow if they accept the award. (But it’s kind of an onerous task, so I won’t hold any of you to it. The important thing is that each of you knows your blogging efforts are appreciated, and that you’ve enriched my life in some way.)
Ready? Here goes:
1. Thank the person who gave you this award and link back to his/her blog. (Thank you, fifteen minutes after sunset!)
2. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and notify them about the nomination.
The Sprick Family blog: Hats off to my dear friend Pam for always putting her family first. She’s an example to the rest of us.
Dancing Beastie: A brilliant writer (and a great wit!) muses about life in a Scottish castle.
Verismilitude: My favorite expat Scot writes about life and music and photography. (What else is there?)
A French Frye in Paris: Always hilarious and insightful, this Paris expat keeps me in touch with my favorite city.
Knotrune: Medieval history meets modern musings. I love her smarts and her sense of humor.
Craig McNamara—An award-winning copywriter takes a hard look at Madison Avenue. (Pardon the double-entendre, Msssssstr McNamara.)
Photographic Memories: Hallysann has been a longtime, faithful blogger friend. Thanks for the memories!
Brad Spurgeon: I live vicariously through his travels to far-off places, and through his wonderful coverage of the Paris open-mic scene.
8able: Another favorite Paris expat. I love his wacky drawings.
Harrushun: Feeling uninspired? This guy is like Hamburger Helper for the creative soul. (In the best possible sense, of course.)
Yanidel: One of my favorite Parisian photographers is taking on the world.
Darling Words: She’s among my biggest sources of optimism and encouragement. (Thanks for brightening many a day! xo)
Matthew Hyde: Yes, the geeks will inherit the Earth. And I’ll be right next to you when the awards are handed out.
Kluckit: He’ll eat pretty much anything—which maybe explains why his hilarious random thoughts put my brain to shame.
Tajamar de la Plata: Granted, he writes mostly in Spanish. But the guy is *brilliant.* ¡Gracias por inspirarme!
Chris Welsch: My favorite travel writer/photographer and a true friend. Je suis ravie de te revoir en Novembre !!!
… and last (but certainly not least!) there’s Inside Journeys. I miss corresponding with her through WordPress, but I appreciate her friendly comments just the same.
3. Finally, tell readers seven things about yourself.
1. I grew up all over the place.
2. As a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist.
3. I trained to be a concert pianist.
4. But eventually I grew up to be a corporate employee.
5. I love dogs and horses. (And pretty much anything else that has four legs, scales, or feathers.)
6. Now I live in Minnesota but I’d move to Paris in a heartbeat.
7. I’m in love with my best friend.
… and for a final bonus fact:
8. I cherish my blogger friends.
Thanks for reading, dear blogger friends! And thank you for enriching my life.
HeideBlog 
Wow, I am really honored, thank you a million times. Communication like this is what makes the blog worth doing, in fact….
You’re welcome a million times, Brad! It only seemed fitting to recognize your writing (as you know, I’m an avid — rabid? — reader of yours). And you’re so right in observing that interacting with other bloggers is what makes it all worthwhile. That’s exactly why I liked the idea of passing along this award, even though I’m still not sure what it’s for. 🙂
Regardless, I’m looking forward to catching one of your open mics IN PERSON within the next few weeks. Salut, et prends soin de toi !
Wow H, I’m on your list. I’m totally honoured and humbled. Also am not quite clear on what to do now!!!! xx
*Of course* you’re on my list! (Though it’s too bad I neglected to email you and actually tell you that. Grin.)
There’s no need for you to do anything, except to know that you’re appreciated. But if you’d like to pay it forward and recognize 15 of your own favorite bloggers, just follow the instructions in my post.
Happy Sunday to you … xo
Hey, my first award (although the use of the word “first” implies the existence of a series which is a paradox since the word “first” in this context denies the existence of a series); but I’m blathering. I have written an acceptance speech. You know where to find it. 🙂
Merci mille fois, Keith
You forgot to thank the Academy. Oh — and your prize money is on its way. 🙂 Cheers mille fois!
Thanks for the nomination that’s really nice of you. I’m still fairly new to having my own blog but I really do enjoy doing it so expect some more cool post because I sure am going to be expecting some from you 😉
You’re very welcome, Harrushun! I find something thought-provoking and interesting every time I visit your blog, so it only seemed fitting to give you a tip of the hat. (And I’ll do my best to keep up the content on my end, too!) Cheers!
Well, congratulations to you, for a thoroughly-deserved award! Pulitzer-schmulitzer, this is really one to cherish. And so, thank you so much for passing a nomination on to me. It’s my first ever blog award and makes me feel so emotional…you like me, you really like me! .
No, stheriously, I’m being silly but not sarcastic. I am very touched to be nominated and am just reacting with typical British sangfroid (snort). Thank you, and thank you for spreading the luurve. 🙂
Yes, I like you … I *really* like you! (Lurrrve you, actually.) I often find myself thinking, “I wish I’d written that” as I read your posts. Which is why I’m surprised that you haven’t been loaded down with a bunch of these silly awards already. And a Pulitzer. And a couple of Oscars. 🙂
I know, I can’t understand it either! If you see the Academy committee, just remind them I’m still waiting… 😉
Thank-you so much for the award! My blog (and I) are so exited! Congratulations on being nominated yourself on Allyson Jude’s blog! I’ve barely written five posts, and have already gotten an award! Well, this is definitely a push from my procrastination.
Merci beaucoup, et j’espère te voir bientôt!
8able
De rien, 8able ! I really do adore your funny drawings, so I’m glad to read that this award may inspire you to post more often. 🙂 Et si tu veux prener un café, je serais à Paris quelques jours en Novembre. I’ll drop you a note as the date approaches. In the meantime, prends soin de toi and keep up the great blogging!
Thanks a ton! Your brain is no less shameful than anyone else’s, it’s just wired in a much more healthy and artistic way. Now that I think about it, maybe it’s my brain that is shameful. Meh.
Thanks for the kind words about my brain, kluckmesiter — thought clearly you’ve never seen me do public speaking, nor have you had to rely on my driving directions. Ha. (And for the record, I don’t think there’s anything shameful about *your* brain, either. In fact I think you’re brilliant … which is why I named you among my favorite bloggers. Your free-association post last month was particularly epic.)
Thanks for the nomination, I finally did an acceptance blog, took me a while, but I did it.
I love that you wanted to be an archaeologist when you were a kid, I did too !
Congrats and thanks again. 😀
I read your post yesterday and was very happy to see that I was actually the fourth person to nominate you. Congratulations!! Hope that doesn’t mean that you have to nominate 60 new bloggers, though! 🙂
Congratulations on your award! And thank you for nominating me, I was honoured to receive your message (heck, I’ll admit it, it made my day!). It’s been a manic few days, so I’ve yet to write a response post, but I just wanted to pass on my thanks.
And keep up the great blogging!
You’re very welcome for the nomination — though I’m happy to grant it as an outright award. As nice as it is to pay it forward and acknowledge 15 of one’s favorite bloggers, it’s also a bit of an onerous task. Plus, you’re a “versatile blogger” regardless. Hope things get less hectic for you soon … and keep up the great blogging on your end, too. Cheers!
Hello from Jamaica, H, where I’m reading about my award. Thank you so much for the nod. I am honored and tickled at the same time. Of course, I love reading your blog. Sorry about the WP thing — I didn’t realize once I moved to a self-hosted blog what would happen.
Have been having a few connection issues and have about 2 weeks’ backlog of posts to read. Will definitely catch up soon.
Thanks again for my award.
Hugs!
Hellllooo, mon! *So* jealous that you’re in Jamaica! How do you manage all of these wonderful travels? (But then maybe you’ll be *so* jealous to hear that I’ll be returning to France and Italy and Germany in a few weeks …)
In any case, the honors are very well-deserved, for whatever they’re worth. I know you’ve received the Versatile Blogger Award about a million times already, but it still seemed fitting to acknowledge your friendship—and your excellent blogging. 🙂
As for catching up on HBlog, it won’t take you long. I haven’t been posting much lately, due to a variety of things. But check back in mid-November … I’ll do my best to make it worth your while!
PS: I don’t have a Twitter account yet, but you’re sorely tempting me. *Grin.*