A Thought Or Four

Rooster Under Glass....

I have been honored this week with Thinking Blogger awards from several dear blogging friends. I have also been given a Bright Light award from another very special blogging friend. Oh how sweet it is of you to think of my blog in this way and how happy and appreciative I am.

I do plan on posting my choices this week and give credit to those dear hearts that humble me with their votes of confidence. Before I do that though, I feel the need to say a few things first.

I have ignored an argumentative email and 3 comments (deleted them actually) made in the past week and will continue to do so in the future. They are few, very few, and those comments made by you, with whom I feel a great kinship, are many. Those from all of you who I hold so dear are what makes blogging so very special. I began this venture as a way to stay in touch with friends and family far away. A journal of sorts for myself, my husband and my children. It has become something far more than even I would have anticipated it could be. It has become a part of me, as have all of you. I feel a debt of gratitude to you all, a debt that I will never be able to repay. For your friendship and camaraderie, I warmly thank you.

The sour email/comments dealt mostly with how I am not *ahem* pushing myself to "be all that I can be" (An Army reference?), "spinning fluff" to make people happy and that I am "catering to the Martha Stewart wannabes" in the blogging community. Uh huh. Really.

Then, just tonight, I came across a blog in which the writer mentioned she had been honored by a "Thinking Blog" link. She also went on to talk about how MOST blogs were of the "Martha Stewart" variety (EGAD! There is another blasted Martha reference!) and, although "pretty to look at" do not push a reader to think or feel deeply. She, on the other hand, I am betting, feels that HER blog is profound and life changing. Of course I am projecting here as I do not know the dear lady except what I have read. Some of which I find a tad self indulgent to say the least.

Normally, the "pretty to look at" comment would have just caused me to roll my eyes and chuckle but coming on the heels of my *personal blog critique*, I feel the need to answer such comments.

The last time I checked, I had no desire to be Martha Stewart. Save for the fact that she used to work on Wall Street with my adored Brian Dennehy, I truly have no desire to BE her. Come to think of it, I really don't think any of my blogging friends are desperate to BE Martha either. If I had MY druthers, I would BE Paula Deen. Martha, nope.

I do not CHOOSE to discuss politics, delve deeply into religion, most world events or my deeply ingrained ideals and beliefs here on this blog. I really do not think you come to me to be enlightened! As much as I love to read and study and stay informed, I do not believe it is MY place to enlighten ANYONE. I think all of you are quite capable of finding your way down life's path all by yourself without any help from moi. I have that much confidence in you!

I did not choose to make this blog something that, once read, would have you contemplating Plato's theories or debating the severity of ozone levels in our air.

That said, I see that to some, such a revelation puts me in the category of "people pleaser". Okay, if that is the worst thing I am ever called, I believe that is blissful cause to do the happy dance!

I have no desire to write about how perfect my husband is. He is not. Neither is our marriage. Oh how I hope not. How boring that would be. I think he is cute and smart as a crackerjack, hard working and a great kisser. He is also stubborn,

messy, forgetful. I still like the guy but perfect?

In that same vein, neither of my children are perfect. Shocking I know. Try to stay calm in the face of this tragic news. I think they are all pretty keen and I love 'em a bunch but perfect? Nah. Gee, even our pets are not perfect. They shed. Handfuls. Awful isn't it?

And now the biggest news....*I* am not perfect! Do you need to sit down? Can I get you a glass of water?

I love to share a recipe here or there, particularly one I found to be easy and good.

I often share a story I found amusing or a moment that made me smile. I might even share with you a special city I visited, a movie or book that I enjoyed but I will never try to convince you that it will change your life! Well, except for "Ernest Goes To Camp". Now THAT film will change your life in ways you cannot even inagine....er...well....

I have many beliefs that are important to me. One is volunteerism and charitable giving. That said, you will never read about what we do or when. It is a VERY private matter to us. I do not think that anyone else need follow this or necessarily should. Each person must do what is right for themselves at a given point in their lives. Do it for others, do it for your soul, not because anyone made you feel guilty and certainly not for the public recognition. And that is as profound as I will ever get about that subject here!

I am deeply concerned about many things happening in our world today. I have strong religious beliefs. I am active in some world, national & community groups and feel a sense of peace in my church. That is as deep as I will ever go with either of those subjects here. I have no desire whatsoever to lead you to MY way of thinking. I really have no desire to make you crinkle up your forehead and rub your temples. I have no desire to have you think any deeper here than you need to in order to guide that little cursor around the page. If that makes me less than scholarly so be it. Nobody usually confuses me with Nikola Tesla or Stephen Hawking. But, just in case, I'm the chubby blond on the right if anyone asks....

I guess all this bluster just comes down to this, if you want to *thunk a chunk* about life than this blog is not for you. If you want to smile and, perhaps, share a giggle, I hope you find it here. If you want to see how I love making my house a home, you are most welcome but never will I ever try to convince you that my way is THE way. It is decidedly not. Life is far too challenging out there. While you are here I hope you can relax a bit and just be....just BE.

I do not know how "pretty to look at" this blog actually is but I hope that I can, in some small way, bring a little "pretty" into your lives. You surely have done that for mine.

Even if I don't have an ounce of Martha in me.