Recently I have been honored with awards by others on this blogging quest. Not knowing exactly what these awards entailed, I sat anxiously at home, waiting for the messenger to appear on my front porch with my tiara, sash, and of course, the large monetary compensation that comes from making the world a better place through my bi-weekly posts that underscore the human condition and highlight the philosophical questions that plague this generation. Just kidding.  But I do get some nifty badges to display on my site.

To begin I must thank the two generous souls who nominated my blog:

Still Walks - an interesting take on using photography in relaxation. I also appreciate that Mr. Duncan has subjected himself to a great number of my posts and still keeps reading; he nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger award.

Snoozing on the Sofa - A devoted father and talented writer who maintains his sense of humor through a mound of dirty diapers.  Scott graciously nominated me for 3 awards: The Irresistibly Sweet Blog, The Liebster, and The Versatile Blogger.

Now to spill the beans. I’m supposed to reveal some shocking details about my life, so go ahead and brace yourselves.

1. I speak the Indonesian language. This has come in really handy since my move back to the Southeast, where I’ve been able to utilize this linguistic skill oh, wait and let me count a second . . . exactly zero times in seven years. Sometimes when I’m in Walmart and I overhear a couple speaking to each other in Spanish, I want to bust out in my Asian language to show that I, too, can competently discuss stewed tomatoes in a foreign tongue.

2. I consider European dark chocolate an essential part of daily life and an unsung hero of combatting much of the emotional evil in the world.

3. I hate spiders.  The larger they are, the greater my hysteria when confronting them, and I am convinced that one was present at the Fall of Man even though serpents are given full credit for our demise. I bet if Eve had shaken those branches of the Tree of Knowledge, she would have found a spider dangling a few limbs above, calling the shots. That serpent was just the front man.

4. I stink at identifying vegetation, and when hard pressed, I label all flowers as pansies. Sure, you have your rose pansies and your daisy pansies and I’ve even gotten pretty good with the carnation pansies, but otherwise, it’s just a colorful world full of pansies. And since all pansies are doomed to die on my watch anyway, let’s just leave them out in the field where they belong, shall we?

5. The number one place I want to visit is Italy. If I could start in Rome and eat my way up to Tuscany, life would be beautiful. If I could find an Italian grandma willing to take me into her kitchen and to teach me how to make fabulous pasta, all the better.

6. My favorite student question thus far in my career: “Ms. Carver, I don’t understand this question. What does this word mean?”  The word under his pencil?  Illiterate.

7. I can rock out on “Life is a Highway” in my kitchen while clutching a wooden spoon for vocal amplification. I’m just waiting to be discovered.

And now for those blogs I would like to nominate.  These are blogs that I like, follow, or just want to encourage.

1. Mom in the Muddle

2. Sensitive Flour

3. Ned’s blog

4. Rebecca V

5. Jenn’s Midlife Crisis

6. Overwhelming Peace

7. On Food and Film

8. Celiac Kiddo

9. Moments of Unexpected Beauty

10. South Forty Rocks

11. Vermont Farmheart

Finally, many thanks to all who have read my anecdotes; it makes my day to make you smile.