And the Award Goes to . . .

I can't believe it's true. As I was blogstalking enjoying my afternoon yesterday, I was overwhelmed by all the awards someone had posted on their sidebar--Blog of the Moment, Teacher's Pet, Pioneer Woman Wannabe, Best Inventor of Utopian Motherhood Blog.  Whatever.  And I was beginning to feel somewhat insecure and unloved.  I mean, I've never received any blog awards--not even a Why Is This Drivel Filling Cyberspace nod.  Until Stef over at Oops, There Goes My Mind posted today.  I was so flattered.  The other blogs mentioned in her post have HUNDREDS of followers (I'm not comparing, just contrasting.  And if you believe that, I've got a few acres of beachfront property here in AZ for sale . . .).  And she included little ole me.  Thanks, Stef.
I don't know if she read my post about our family actually getting that picture all in white . . . but you can refresh your memory here.

I think you all know quite a bit about me. Let's see if I can dig up something good--I cheated on a sixth-grade science test with my friend Suzy Shaub. We knew the sign language alphabet, and we thought we were sly enough to use it across the room during a multiple-choice test. Wrong-O. Although the teacher was ancient in our minds (like late 40s), Mr. Tickner had been around the block a few times, even with his polio-crippled legs, and he saw right through us. I failed the test and got a C in science for the fourth quarter. I was so insistent that I hadn't cheated that I even wrote on my final report card, in huge letters and underlined many times "ACCUSED of cheating." The kicker was that science was easy and I was a better student than Suzy. I was just trying to be cool and trying to prove my smarts. Dumb kid.

This blog award couldn't have come at a better time. I've been thinking about how to tell all y'all how much I love your blogs, but I haven't had the time or the blog space (stupid wedding). Without hurting anybody's feelings, I hope, just know that you are all in my sidebar because I love reading you. If I didn't, I know where the delete key is, and I use it wisely but often. But if you need further reading material, here's a breakdown of why I read what:

Funny: For sure Allyson VP and Laraine. And Paige and Anna too. Guaranteed to lighten and brighten, almost as effectively as lemon juice.

Design/organization: These I mostly just review for ideas, but I will occasionally comment. I have them marked for my own ease, but if you want to rifle through them all to find the design blogs, feel free.


Mandatory lemming reads: Nienie, CJane, and Pioneer Woman. I hate to blaspheme, but does anyone else think the word Ever isn't a name? Ahem.

Friends in the flesh: too many to name, but it makes it easy and quick to stay updated with your lives and families. I love it when I run into you somewhere and we already know what's going on with each other because we read about it earlier that morning!


Friends who read and don't have blogs:  Thanks for reading from faraway New Zealand, Portugal, England, Australia, and northern Canada.  Drop me a note.  I know you're there!

New blogging friends: I look forward to getting to know you better. I've branched out a bit recently, and I see four or five new good friendships coming.

And to the old blogging friends: Sue, Pam, Jackie, Kristen, and Natalie, if you're reading this--I feel like we've been friends forever. And I cherish your daily outlooks, opinions, essays, and comments. Thanks for sticking by me, even through the computer.

If your blog is listed above or to the right, consider yourself Sunshine awarded.  I mean it.  You all brighten my days, stimulate deep thinking, make me laugh out loud, and sometimes cry.  Thanks for being you!

Now for a question for all you loyal followers:
What kinds of posts do you like the best here at the Sanatorium?  I'd like to keep y'all happy and coming back, ya know!  So leave a comment and I'll try to oblige.  Unless it's Heidi's wedding.  Think I'm about tapped out on that one.