Rapunzel speaks and gives out awards

I feel like Rapunzel sitting here looking out my 11th floor window from my room in this hotel tower. I have a great view of two towers, the roof of a large entertainment complex that connects the tower I’m in with the two I see, and a small cemetery in the distance which you cannot really make out in this photo.

We combined a family moving trip with a business trip for Mark who has gone to work today here in Morristown, N.J. while I wait here without a car, although he assures me there are plenty of restaurants within easy walking distance. Whew! That’s a relief.

I have a full ice bucket, two bottles of Dasani, a couple bottles of caffeine free Diet Coke, and a to-go cup of hot tea from the Starbucks downstairs. Fortunately I also have a full bathroom at my disposal within a few steps of where I sit.

I’ve plenty to occupy myself. I have my computer upon which I type, and my i-Pad currently playing a selection of  music from my “instrumentals”  playlist. I have my Kindle with Jane Eyre and a variety of other classics that I downloaded for free or for a nominal fee of $0.99. I have a rather nice flat screen T.V. with a remote and a quite comfortable bed for a nap if all else fails. Not to worry.

News flash!

I have been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by Danny (Danielle) C. who, in a manner not unlike chain letters, was awarded it by Tien. (Who I already like because if you move the “n” back one letter you end up with the name “Tine” which was my childhood nickname—Random Factoid #1.

So, thank you, Danielle, for those of us blogging our hearts away day after day know that any exposure we can get that might gain us a new subscriber or two is like finding a gold nugget.

Danielle, or Danny C.’s blog is called A Happy Peach. She knits and crochets, and so do I (Factoid #2), so I like that about her already. She is a novice photographer, loves modern design, food and shopping. Here’s something a bit unexpected, she is a self-proclaimed computer geek, so I like that about her too. And I don’t know what an Otaku is, (Factoid #3), but she apparently does, so you might want to check it out.

My obligations in accepting this award are to

• Thank the person who awarded it to me as well as accept the award.
• List seven random things about myself.
• Pass it on to 15 new blogs which I love and recently found and notify them of their award.

I only get to give you four more facts—hmmm, what should they be?

Factoid #4 I broke my foot when I was in the second grade while playing “You can’t step on the grass” with my sister Carol who  jumped on a corner piece of rod-iron railing sitting in our yard while my dad was enlarging our front porch. It went sort of like this. She jumped on. I jumped on. It started to tip forward. She jumped off and got away. I jumped off and got just far enough away that the top corner of the railing slammed down on the arch of my foot breaking every bone in it. The cast slowed me down, but didn’t stop me, as I later was caught, nearly giving my mother a heart attack or so she says, climbing a tree with the aid of my crutch which doubled as a ladder.

Factoid #5 I was a cheerleader in high school. Enough said.

Factoid #6 I once lost the diamond out of my engagement ring while cleaning windows in our first home. I didn’t know it until my ring caught on my clothing that evening. After a few moments of pure panic, I calmly retraced my activities for the day and remembered I had struggled with one particular window. With the aid of a flashlight, a few minutes later I was able to spot a perfect little black circle in the window sill (for diamonds look black when they are upside down). I’ll think twice before ever cleaning any windows again. I can tell you that.

Oh no, I only get one more chance. What should it be?

Factoid #7 I have been a chemical engineer, an English major, and a mother—and the greatest of these is mother.

Here are my shout-outs. These blogs are worth a look. Some are funny, some are inspiring, others are heart-felt. Some of them I loyally read every day and others I try to check in on every now and then.

I’m not big on following rules, so I don’t know if these blogs have already been recipients of the Versatile Blogger Award, or if you have to be on a particular blog-site like WordPress for example, or if you can receive the award more than once, but you can win Academy Awards twice, so why not? (I’ll just have to take my chances with the blogging police). Consider yourselves awarded the Versatile Blogger Award — if you choose to accept this honor, the above three bullet-points apply. Congratulations.

1. Hot Dogs and Marmalade – I sometimes think this author is leading a parallel life with me. Her blog is devoted to her family’s journey through Alzheimer’s with her mother. Her writing is heartfelt.

2.Rudolf Vicek Photography – Amateur photographer from the Czech Republic. His photos are stunning and expressive. He writes very little, so it can be a quick in and quick out. You’ll want to subscribe or at least bookmark this one.

3. Spirit Lights the Way – With the motto, “Be here now,” the author reminds me of my sister Carol who believes in the power of the mind to create our reality. It’s a little new age. Being something of a pessimist and realist, I sometimes struggle and argue with these posts, but they challenge my assumptions and sharpen my wits. She appears to have a lot of loyal followers of the same mindset—perhaps you’re one.

4.Woman Wielding Words – I think of Lisa as the first person to befriend me here on the faceless world of the web. She teaches drama, writes, and is an artist struggling with life. She has a big heart.

5. Figments of a Dutchess – The Dutchess, Marion Driessen lives in the south of Holland. She shares her culture, interests and concerns, most of which I find fascinating. Mostly I like her because she is an avid reader of fantasy, plays RPGames and is roleplayer in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns—all of which she has in common with my oldest son who introduced me to the world of Robert Jordan.

6.IME Photography – A novice photographer who continues to learn and has taken some nice shots in the process.

7. The Idiot Speaketh and Pedaleth – A disabled, ex-military intelligence analyst who is pedaling his way across America on his stationary bike. It’s true. Could I make this up? He’s sometimes crass, but always funny, even when he occasionally rants.

8. My Parents are Crazier than Yours – A relatively new find. She is NY City hilarious. You don’t want to miss it.

9. Life in the Bogs –  The author lives in a boggy area in northeast Ohio. She often walks with her camera and takes lovely shots of nature as the seasons change.

10. Perpetual Learner – Musings from Fr Matthew Green, the parochial vicar of St Patrick’s Parish in Newburgh, NY. I found this blog through the Weekly Photo Challenge, because Fr. Green also enjoys photography. He posts his sermons daily which I always scan and often read. Those who know me and my rocky relationship with the Catholic Church may be surprised, but I believe in signs. I found his blog so I’m reading it. Besides, he seems like a nice enough guy trying to get us to think about the things that really matter. It’s the least I can do.

11. Aaron D. Graham – Funny man. Good for a laugh.

12. Yarp News – Very off-the-wall humor. Sometimes gross. I don’t think they would be offended by that.

13. Inspired by Caffeine and Nicotine – Hilarious. Also sometimes gross and/or off-color. He does it on purpose to get your attention. You’ll laugh if he does.

14. (Not) Just Another Writer – E.D. is an excellent writer who has shared some of her fiction work-in-progress with me and has also read some of my memoir-in-progress. She’s good, especially with description. She usually keeps it short.  I enjoy reading what she writes.

15. Challenging  the Gnome – Come on. It’s gnomes. Need I say more?

If you made it this far through this long-on-words, short-on-pictures blog, you are a true friend indeed.