Some Unfinished Blog Business . . .

I am feeling so guilty . . . way back on August 10th a charming and delightful southern cajun lady gave me an award that I didn't get around to picking up until now, over a month later. So I would like to thank Marguerite at Cajun Delights from the bottom of my guilty heart for this Honest Scrap award . . . and while I'm at it, I would also like to suggest that you get over there to see what some real joie de vivre cajun style looks like, because she has got it nailed ! Every time I drop by there I come away feeling like I could eat a horse ! (That's just an expression) It more like, coming away feeling like I could eat a huge plate of crawfish gumbo followed by some cajun spice cake with praline icing . . . yes indeed, that is one sweet blog. . . thank you Marguerite !
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And in the same vein, on September 8th, Saroj of Saroj's Panorama up in Norway passed on this Humane award to me, and I'm only getting back there tonight. . . She writes on a wide variety of subjects, and she writes well, from the heart. Many thanks Saroj for your kindness !
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Not too long ago, I noted that Fucoid at Permanent Transience had tagged me, and I went to look, but didn't have time at that point to deal with the fairly lengthy question and answer session it would entail, but it is a moot point now, as that tag post seems to have disappeared off the face of the blogosphere. But whatever, thanks Fucoid for the thought there, and keep on cooking up your wild and wonderful visions out there in the hinterlands of Eastern Europe. . .
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Finally, just continue to call me Mr Guilty, way back on July 31st, JoMo at Peace of Pi Studio passed on this International Blogger Community award to me, in which the rules request maintaining a link to the source of the award, which is here. . . http://bloggistame.blogspot.com/ . In any case, thanks JoMo, really appreciate the award ! And keep turning out your artwork. . .
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Well, that about clears up some unfinished blog business which I'd noted down on my ever transforming "To Do" list, but hadn't crossed off until now. I'm afraid I'm not very good at following rules, so these awards are dead-ending here. I wouldn't know where to begin as far as passing them on is concerned, I think you all deserve awards every day, just for keeping all your fabulous blogs going.
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There is one eeeny meeeny, tiny miny, itsy bitsy little thing I'd like to ask you to give a second or two's worth of thought to, and it is a subject I've seen elswhere, like on Jo's Majority of Two blog in Vancouver not too long ago, but if you can bring yourself to do it, could you please consider turning off the "word verification" process on your comment boxes ? For anyone like me, who loves to get out and about and leave comments all over the face of the map as often as possible, (like a demented incontinent dog confronted with an infinite array of fire hydrants), having to stop at the end on many blogs and type in some inane, hard-to-read series of letters in order to prove that I'm a flesh and blood human being and not some maniacal machine bred spammer, is well, to put it politely, very often a pain in the posterior. . . so please, it's easy to do, just go into the blog parameters for comments, and turn off the word verification. If you find yourself overwhelmed suddenly with spam ads for inflatable dolls from China, well, you can always turn it on again, or use the moderation option. But I turned my word verification off about six months ago, and have received no spam whatsoever . . .
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So, what else can I say ? Love and hugs to all of you . . .
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Keep On Bloggin' . . .

When these pages started unfolding 9 months ago (the gestation period for human offspring. . .), I had no earthly idea where blogging might lead. Nine months later, I still have no idea where it may be going, but it is the voyage that matters, and the voyage is getting colorful, fascinating, and full of surprises. Odd connections. Serendipity reigns. Touching contacts through comment exchanges, some that have gone on to e-mail correspondances. All I can say is : What a trip ! And what excellent company to have !
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This past week that little counter at the bottom of the page which I added on January 1st went over ten thousand page hits, and the number of people "following" this humble little blog went over two hundred. I don't place much store in numbers like that, quality (see "Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance") means far more to me than quantity. But I recall from last September when I first started posting with great trepidation, with questions in mind like, "What if no one sees it ?" "What if no one likes it ?" It took a great deal of mental hand-wringing to keep going through those months of October, November, December, January, when the norm was no feedback, no comments . . . calling into the great void, "Is there anybody out there?" (as in Pink Floyd...)
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But over the past few months, the tide has started shifting. I am now completely in the spell of the community which has slowly but surely sprung up from out of the blog fog. The notion is perhaps expressed best in "The Little Prince" in the chapter with the fox : the French word is "s'apprivoiser", in English it translates as "to little by little get to know one another". It is clear to me now that the blogging world is full of wonderfully warm and intelligent people. (and a few squirrels too) I'm not going to wax sentimental and start naming you all, you know who you are. I just wanted to say, I'm REALLY HAPPY to have made your acquaintances. There was most definitely a space lacking in my life which your company is filling. La Framéricaine at Halfway to France did a beautiful piece several weeks ago about the meaning of friendship among blog people. I don't easily call people "friend". . . but what I see happening here in the blogosphere has all the hallmarks of real friendship ; and I thank you . . . my friends.
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Three of you this past week passed on awards to me, which I gratefully accept, although I'm beginning to understand now why some people declare their blogs "Award Free Zones", which I may also do shortly. Blog awards are a lovely idea, but seem have a bit of the taste of chain letters as they travel. The thought behind them is wonderful though. Forgive me for not forwarding, but if I followed the rules I'd have to send these on to 21 other blogs tonight, and it is already rather late. . .
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So I'd like to sincerely thank Jessie Lilac at Illustration and Other Doings, and Lille Diane at This Time Tomorrow for passing on the "Most Wonderful Favorite Award"
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These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.
They are not interested in self aggrandizement.
Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut,even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.
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And thanks to James at Newtown Daily Photo for the Uber Amazing Blog award :
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Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:
*Inspire you
*Make you smile and laugh, or maybe give amazing information
* A great read
*Has an amazing design
*Any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!
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