I received this award from Alice Audrey, who I discovered when I began participating in the PhotoHunt meme, about a year or so ago. While the rest of us go through our photo archives or walk around, camera in hand, searching for just the right photo to illustrate that week’s theme, Alice created the world of Jack & Jill and their pets, Gin (the cat) & Tonic (the dog), to photograph entire scenarios and an ongoing storyline. I fell in love with her creativity and warped sense of humor. So, thanks Alice! This means a lot, coming from you.

But, of course, all of these awards come with Rules:

Neno’s Award—-Rules and Regulations

1. As a dedication for those who love blogging and love to encourage friendships through blogging.

2. To seek the reasons why we all love blogging.

3. Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it.

4. Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.

5. Answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.

6. Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.

7. Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

Hmm… I never really thought about blogging until my friend, MizShoes, got me into reading hers. The initial attraction for me was that, with a certain degree of anonymity, I could say many of the things on my mind that I couldn’t necessarily in real life. At least without most people in my circle thinking that I was becoming unhinged. That’s morphed into expressing other passions like cooking, photography, politics, and nature. When this all began, I never thought anyone would actually read any of it, but because of blogging, I’ve made friends all over the world who share at least one – if not more – of these passions. There’s nothing more gratifying to me than getting a comment on a post that says: “Really? Me, too!”

With that in mind, I’m passing this award on to:

Michele of Funky Chunks: I admire Michele’s spirit and talent. She not only blogs and cooks, but she makes the finest natural handmade soaps you can get. In fact, some of her seasonal offerings that I purchased recently, are going into certain birthday gifts. I love the quality and especially the scents of the ones I’ve tried: Pumpkin Spice (omg – can you smell pie?); Jersey Love (smells like tomatoes growing on the vine); Mellow Yellow (bananas – my favorite!). She’s got a zillion of ‘em, and is always coming out with more – no limits to her imagination! They’re all vegan-friendly and great to your skin. Michele also has a positive spirit and love of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, and will be participating in the #GreatHallowTweet BlogHop with us, next week – so what’s not to love?

I’m also passing this on to Michelle (Rambling Woods), Elle (Elle’s New England Kitchen), Michelle (Big Black Dog), Heather (BodaciousGirl), Katie (Gonzo Gastronomy), Paula (Dragon’s Kitchen), Courtney (Coco’s Kitchen), Judy (No Fear Entertaining), Deeba (Passionate About Baking), Jamie (Life’s A Feast), and Casey (Kitchen Witch & TasteStopping) – all some of my favorite bloggers and each one worth getting to know. Once you visit them, you’ll know why I’m sending this on to them. Thank you, ladies, one and all!

By way of explanation, Aunt Becky is the force of nature behind the frequently profound – and generally profane – MommyWantsVodka. She has made me angry, made me cry, but usually makes me laugh… bitch. Oh, and Aunt Becky is not my aunt. In fact, she’s old enough to be my seriously troubled daughter who I hope gets some professional help real real soon.

Anyway, after being forced to leave the recent BlogHer convention early (inexplicably, no, they didn’t throw her out), she found herself with a stack of leftover business cards, and kindly offered them to the rest of us to do with what we will. So, much like many of you might take your daughters to work, I took Aunt Becky’s card to work. This was our day:

Like me, Aunt Becky’s card can’t function without a substantial quantity of java in the morning…

Aunt Becky’s card really took a liking to the Cuban coffee…

…and decided to check out the Cuban pastries for breakfast

Of course, all that coffee has to go somewhere…

Now totally stoked, Aunt Becky’s card wanted to help out…

Time for a break…

At the end of a long day, Aunt Becky’s card decides that, no, office life is not for her – she’d rather try something more exciting…

Umm, Aunt Becky? It may be awhile before your card comes home again…

Happy Labor Day, All!

Recipe Monday will be delayed this week, until the delivery of the replacement download cable for my digital camera. Yes, the rat-bastards who robbed my house last week, also took the download cable for my camera. I guess it was white, and therefore looked like it might belong to my laptop, so they took it. Idiots.

In the meantime, please check out this post on this week’s edition of Of Cats. It’s all about an awesome no-kill rescue sanctuary for wildcats (and wild cats) in Minnesota, called (what else?) The Wildcat Sanctuary. They’re doing great work out there, and I’m thrilled to bring them to your attention.

But before you go check that out, I’ve gotta ask: So, what do you think of my new blog template? I finally found a three-column template – and in my existing style! Thanks to Dobeweb for giving these out for free, and even the instructions on how to install them!

So, really – what do you think? Too busy? Too something else? Gimme some feedback, people! Then you can go read.

That is the question.

If you’ve been judging me by my posts since – I guess, October of last year – you probably think that when I’m not gathering dust bunnies to be woven into Navajo blankets (Miz Shoes – would there be a market for that?), I must be sitting around thinking deep thoughts about politics and the economy, and cats. And I do. (Oh, puhleeeze!)

But I have a confession. I love Project Runway. I had a great time recapping Project Runway last season. I miss Project Runway. I wish the courts would shit or get off the pot and settle the damn lawsuit(s) so we can get on with our lives. I mean, they’ve already got the entire season in the can – including the Fashion Week Finals – so that’s going to take a little edge off watching the show to start with. It’s kind of tough to root for your favorites and boo the villain(s) when you know in the back of your mind that the outcome was decided weeks – even months – ago.

And despite myself, I love America’s Next Top Model (ANTM). I can’t help it. It’s like watching a train wreck and the Miss U.S.A. pageant on split screen, and then the split dissolves. I am considering blogging America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 12 (12!). I haven’t started yet for several reasons.

First, I can’t keep up with 2 dozen gerbils running hither thither and yon and shrieking for no reason for the better part of 2 hours. It’s considerably easier when they’re down to 12. Also, I have much to live up to – there’s the incomparable Potes at Television Without Pity (see the link in my blogroll for TWOP: ANTM); and of course, my most excellent friend, Miz Shoes at Girlyshoes (link also over there in the blogroll). Oh, and by the way – Allison doesn’t look like a lemur. She looks like a Tim Burton heroine. Or heroin. Your choice.

Second – and I know this is going to sound weird – but, well, it’s MJ. It suddenly dawned on him that I’m blogging, somewhere near the end of last season’s PR. Since then, if he’s in a pissy mood, and if I’m not doing something that he thinks I should be doing, he rags on my blogging (“Oh, you’re too busy BLOGGING, are you?” “Actually, I haven’t written a word in two weeks. I’m playing Luxor.”).

On the flip-side of that, since he became aware that I blog (small b) Project Runway, and that I might blog ANTM, he has become the “other bitch on the couch.” In seasons-past, MJ has watched these shows with me occasionally – just enough to keep up – and made enviably snide observations. Which I dutifully quoted, unbeknownst to him. I noticed during last week’s ANTM (during which I did take a couple of notes), that he was making a point of really watching the show. And deliberately commenting FOR MY BENEFIT (re: Monique the Conspiracy Theorist: “Ah! Monique the Conspiraposer!” “Honey, how are you spelling that?” “What do you mean?” “Well, there’s conspiraPOSER and there’s conspiraPOSEUR.”)

And then, at the second commercial break, “Is it time yet to play our favorite game?” “Which game is that, Honey?” “Can You Spot The Lesbian!”

And I can’t yet. Can you? I’m sure there must be one…. even if SHE doesn’t know it yet….

So you see, there’s the far more experienced competition, and then there’s the guy I married, whose one-liners are better than mine. I’m so intimidated.

Several years ago, MJ and I made a pilgrimage to the land of (some of) his forbears, Ireland. We traveled on our own to Dublin, took a bus up to Termonfecken to peer at the lichen-covered headstones – searching for said forbears – rented a car in Galway, and adventured our way down the west coast and back up to Dublin, searching for music. We had a blast.

The following year, we heard about Celtica Tours to Ireland, headed up by Robbie O’Connell, a nephew of our favorite Irish Trad group, The Clancy Brothers. We couldn’t resist and booked ourselves in. Again, we had a blast. Despite the swan dive and face-plant I did off the top step of the bus at some castle or another. Not their fault, though. That was all me.

It was so much more relaxing to let someone else do the driving (except maybe on some of those narrow, twisting back roads, when it became tour bus vs. compact car, or worse, tour bus vs. tour bus), and we really got to enjoy the scenery. And there were “sessions” every evening. And the camaraderie of our fellow travelers – characters themselves. Like Anna the Puppet Lady from Boston.

That’s where we met the Zoo Lady and her hubs, who hail from Arkansas. The Zoo Lady and I hit it off and had many wonderful conversations over a Bulmer’s or Guinness and cigarettes in the hotel parking lots. We kept in touch via e-mail when we got back, mostly during hurricane season (she has family on the Florida west coast), especially when storms approached or passed (“Are you guys okay?” “Did your folks have any damage?”).

This past Fall, we discovered – through forwarded and personal e-mails – that we even share the same political views. Which was a relief. You know how you just don’t want to offend someone whose views you’re unsure of, because you like them and don’t want them to cut you off? It was like that.

The Zoo Lady was in Florida last week to visit her family and help out with stuff, but we couldn’t manage to coordinate a visit. Still, we had the first voice-to-voice contact since Ireland, and it was just like being back there. ->Sigh<- A bright spot in an otherwise dismal week of more dusting and straightening and digging out at my FIL’s. Yes, that mess continues. Although the living room pretty much resembles a living room now, and we discovered an actual couch and coffee table in the FIL’s “office”! Seriously, I thought it was all a mountain of junk, but when you cleared off the junk, there was furniture under there! Un-freaking-believable.

Anyway, the Zoo Lady reads this blog, too. I know you’re out there – I can hear you breathing… so if you don’t like your nickname, come up with something better. And leave a comment. Yo.

This is how I know I’ve been thinking about blogging waaaayyy too much, lately: I just woke up from a dream in which I woke up to find 275 spam comments on one of my posts. (Yes, I was dreaming in my dream!) I remember thinking, “Damn! Now I’ve got to moderate comments here, too!” Sheesh!

I have to get back to sleep or I will be in no shape for the premier of the new season of “Project Runway” tonight. And of course, I have to be functional for work, too. I don’t blog or recap PR (although I may slip a reference in here from time to time), but some of my favorite blogger/recappers I’m sure will be, including, I’m sure, my good friend, Miz Shoes of Girlyshoes.

Ah! My Wednesday nights have become sacrosanct once again!