I Love WP, Just Not On My Phone

So I’ve been rather random in posting lately.

And I’ve been even more random in reading. Like some may have noticed that I, just today, commented on blog entries from over a week ago.

And missing these posts as they come out causes me to be late on Big news – like the resigning pope (Thank you Doggy’s Style).

Why have I been so remiss?

Well, I’ve got 5 jobs now. (Ok, Truth: soon to be 5 jobs, one hasn’t technically started yet). 3 are in one city, two in another.

This means lots of travel and little extra time for WP for the moment.

It also becomes much harder when one of the places I’m sleeping at has no internet.

Why this travesty? Because I’ve been too lazy to set it up…

So soon, hopefully, I will be back to not being a week behind on everyone’s posts. And I will be able to write my own posts more frequently.

For now – I’m trying to work out my fingers so they’ll slim down and stop hitting the wrong buttons on my phone’s internet pages…

How does anyone have the patience to write on this?!?!

You’ve Got Mail

I don’t know about you, but I love opening my mailbox and finding mail for me. You know – letter and/or postcard mail. Anything with handwriting on it.

Luckily, my mom had this adorable addiction to greeting cards. As in, I’m pretty sure that Hallmark is still in business because of her.

For instance, since I was a little girl going away to camp – my mom has sent me letters and mail. 4 years in college – I’d get letters at least every 2 weeks.

And then last year in Greece, I got all kinds of mail from mom, friends, etc.

So now, I’m home. Living with mom. So mom doesn’t send me mail (understandabe).

Any chance I get for mail, be it a facebook event of “Who Wants a Postcard From ”, to offers of random Christmas cards from bloggers (Thank you to the wonderful Madams Jen and Raurasaur for their amazing Christmas cards!) I take it!

So naturally when I heard about a way to guarantee mail to myself, I jumped on that bandwagon!

Or rather, mail wagon I guess I should say.

Postcrossing

It’s a pretty simple system. You sign up with your address. You request addresses for people around the world. You send them a postcard. Once they’ve received your postcard, your address is released to someone else in the world.

And voila! You’ve just gotten a beautiful postcard from some nice person somewhere in the world!

I’ve gotten cards from Russia, Germany, Taiwan, China, Ukraine, Belarus, Finland, etc etc! You can watch your stats, see how far your postcards have traveled, how many you’ve sent, how many people like them (I know how much us WordPressers like stats!).

It’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s a way to give and get a bit of cheer through the mailbox!

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Mistletoe Tradition

When I saw this, I just couldn’t stop smiling. And pretty much giggled for the whole video. So I just had to share it:

I think one of the things I noticed, that I loved, was that after the kiss, everyone laughs/giggles/chortles. Even the surveyors.

Lesson learned: Kissing strangers = funny.

It’s going around…

As November has Thanksgiving, and is the month of thanfulness, I’ve noticed a lot of people like Lily, Jen, and Mr. Harper Faulkner writing about the blogging community and how thankful they are for it.

And as it’s the last day of November, and I too am thankful for it, I will join the bandwagon.

So let me just say Thank You to all the wonderful bloggers out there!

For being supportive, for reading, and most importantly – for giving me great things to read!!!

I was blown away by how wonderful the community is when I started to seriously get into the blogging community. How once I started to comment and interact with everyone – I felt this instant attachment.

But the thing that most surprised me?

What a wonderful writing talent so many people have!

For some reason I never dreamed that so many people could be so funny, so moving, so thought provoking.

It should have been obvious – look at the number of newspapers, novels, and magazines. But I guess I saw those people as professionals, so of course they had to be good.

But every day I discover new people, great people; and every day I lounge in the reading of great people. You’re all wonderful!

So I’ll end this Thankful November by thanking the WordPress community (and especially My WordPress community, all the wonderful people I’ve come to love and adore) for being special, for being beautiful, and for proving that the Human Race has a real greatness to it!

(I didn’t make this – I’m not that creative. But it’s definitely for all of you! ^.^)

Blog Awardfest

It’s been a blog blingirific/awardtastic time lately! And I’ve been putting off writing about it, because choosing nominees sends me into spouts of shuddering and shivering and sadness as I think about choosing between all the blogs I LOVE! Because if I follow you – I lurve you!

But ok, we’ll go from here

First, I was nominated by the wonderful Lily in Canada for the Blog of the Year award!

Rules:

1. Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
2. Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award
3. Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
4. Link back to the Blog of the Year 2012 Rules page so people can read the real, complete, and fully accurate rules of this slightly-different blogger award
5. You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

Ok, I’m going to bestow the Blog of the Year award to people that I’ve been following for practically the whole year (nobody has actually been a full year, because I didn’t discover “following” until I’d been on WordPress for about 6 months. I know – I’m a failure as a human! Baaaaaaaaah!)

My 25toFly girl Becca (Because who doesn’t love Becca?!)

Crazy train to tinky town (She found love in Turkey – my fingers are crossed she gets to go back! Plus, her ‘honeymoon’ series is the bomb! Ok, but here’s her most recent post)

Iliketheworldfuzzy Hilarious lady.

Sketches From Memory (How can you not be impressed with a guy who’s put up comics and sketches every day for a year?!)

Then there’s the new “Blog Bling Award” from the fabulous Miss Four Eyes which is 4 awards rolled into one – and the Liebster Award from the hilarious Alice! So I’m rolling all those rules into one globulous set (aka, taking just one set of rulesJ

Rules:

1. Write an acceptance speech, linking back to the person who gave it to you.
2. Write 7 things you believe in.
3. Answer your nominator’s 11 questions
4. Give the award to as many blogs as you would like to share the love (lurve)

Well, I’m going to say that that paragraph above is the acceptance speech… (this is why I probably will never win an Oscar, despite also never being involved in films…)

7 things I believe in
Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, Leprechauns, Care Bears, The Easter Bunny, My toys are alive, Facebook.

Oh wait, 7 things I believe in NOW? Well, I just gave a list, I’m not giving another. You’ll just have to guess what age I was for that list!

1. What is the square root of 473?
   21.74856317
   … … … Oh fine! I ran and got my graphing calculator out of the kitchen. Happy?
2. Do you make sure that you wear correct day of the week underwear?
   Um, no. I don’t own days of the week calendar. My underwear drawer is strictly Victoria’s Secret. (That’s what happens when you work there once upon a time…)
3. If today will be tomorrow’s yesterday and today’s tomorrow, when’s tomorrow?
   After a good night’s sleep.
4. What’s in your fridge right now?
   Thanksgiving leftovers. And fudge – but that’s a gift… *sigh*
5. Shirts – hang up or fold?
   I mean, really it depends on the style of shirt. Collared or tshirt? Nice or every day wear? Colored or black? I have a system. It’s ROYGBIV coded…
6. Does it piss you off when people spell your name wrong?
   If it did I’d never be happy. I especially wouldn’t have been happy in Greece where the students argued with me about my name!
7. What music are you listening to right now? I’m asking this because I’m fed up of the tunes on my ipod. Need some good recommendations.
   The gentle lull of army helicopter blades as it flies over my house…
8. Pet names – love ‘em or hate ‘em? (I mean baby, sweetie, honey not Buster, Rover, Fluffles).
   Hate them. Baby is what you call a baby. Or a dog.
   Also, this might be my anti-relationship-right-now talk going, so probably best to ignore this question…
9. Blogging in bed. Do you?
   I totally would! Buuuuut, my laptop gets too hot to sit on my lap…
10. Planes, trains or automobiles?
    ooooh, trick question! Planes for long distance travel. Trains if its guaranteed I have someone to pick me up. But auto most of the time because then I can be independent, what!.
11. How much do you hate me right now?
    I LURVE you for blog bling

Ok, IF people choose to do this, (and I specify ‘if’ no requirements here!), then here are 11 questions to answer:

1. Which is your favorite part of the human face and why?
2. What was the last thing you ate?
3. Packing peanuts or bubble wrap?
4. Have you had your 15 minutes yet?
5. What’s the last event you dressed up for?
6. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
7. What’s your ringtone?
8. Who’s cooler: Popeye or Superman?
9. Do you prefer the sunrise or sunset?
10. First thing you go to when you open up Google Chrome. (Or another internet browswer if that’s your thing…)
11. Is the world going to end December 21st? I NEED TO KNOW!

Ok, the NOMINEES!

Of course Miss Four Eyes, Alice, and Lily, but you guys don’t have to write another blog award entry if you don’t want

Ok, for the rest, I’ve limited myself to 15 (you have no idea how hard this was). And catgoried it as well. So to start!
Some of my favorite nominated moms:
Stork Hunting
Bug Bytes
Kelly
Raising My Rainbow

Some people who guaranteed will brighten my day
Jen and Tonic
Maximum Wage
Mr. Guapola
Ms. Jules
Second Lunch Comic Tim
Mr. Hook
And although she’s been absent from the blogosphere for a while due to school and whatnot, I have to nominate my favorite teen Kay of “Have you seen my glass slipper”

Some beautiful writers who often move me
Rutabaga The Mercenary Researcher
Mr. Harper Faulkner

And of course I must nominate The Woman whose job I want SO BADLY
The Mermaid at Sea

Ok, now that I’m thoroughly exhausted. I’ll kiss my wonderful nominators for the awards, and go nap now.

Avril is My Home Girl

You know when you’re sitting in your car, jammin’ to some music, and that song comes on that you realize is your (current) life’s theme song?

That totally happened to me.

Ok, that happens to me ALL the time, but this is the song for this moment.

(Now just the song mind you, the music video totally doesn’t fit.)

“I can’t stop cause I’m havin’ too much fun.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I just need some time to play.”

But man, I sat in the car and just thought, “Avril, home girl, I hear you. I hear you.”

Anybody else have their own theme song?

Movember – A Time to Remember

Today I turn another year older.

And like New Years, I often find that birthdays make you reflect upon your life and your past. Especially in relation to family; and like Denise’s post about family memories I think about my own familial memories.

And since it’s Movember, I reflect on memories about the men in my family.

Photo credit: reocities.com/val_james/genealogy/family-photos

But, I don’t have any.

*Well – that’s not completely true. I have my dad, and of course a million wonderful memories to accompany him!

But grandfathers?

None.

Both my grandfathers passed away before my brother OR I were born. Cancer for one, heart disease for the other.

I loved my grandmother immensely, and appreciate her for the spectacular woman that she was. Strong, independent, daring. She was a woman not to be trifled with and to be admired.

But I know I missed out on something.

I’ve heard stories about those two amazing men. But I never got to meet them. Never got to spend time with them. Never got to have them watch my dance performances, or tell them about my life, or rejoice about my schooling.

I never got to hear their voices or give them a hug.

So what would be the one thing I want to stress to men about their health and why it’s important?

Men – you want to be there for your families.

To watch your kids grow up.

To meet your grandkids.

To be there for special events.

And for the ups and downs.

A shoulder to cry on. Arms to hug. Or hands to high-five.

Family. That’s why your health is important. If it’s not important to you – it is important to them.

Be sure to check out the official Bloggers for Movember kick-off and information here

Bloggers for Movember - Official Kickoff!

Reblogged from A Clown On Fire:

Before anything, I would like to thank my partners in this venture: Becca, Emily, Jen, Christine and Madame Weebles. What we've accomplished so far for Movember is in great part due to your dedication and hard work. I've also slept better because of you, too. Becca, special props to you for being my right hand woman. I owe one.

Read more… 582 more words

So if any of my followers haven't heard of this (which isn't likely, because I'm not yet half-as-cool as the Bloggers for Movember creators; I'm just you know, like 33% as cool) you should hear of this. And therefore should read the post. And support. I'll write an entry soon with my experiences :)

Full Moon Night

I was driving home last night. And it was one of those drives where you realize everything has lined up into a perfection of driving happiness.

The road was empty.

The sun was setting.

It was warm enough to have my windows open, the wind whipping through my hair.

My favorite songs were playing full blast.

And when I looked up at the skyline, opposite from the setting sun – I saw the full moon rising.

I love how everything turns to shadows at night!

I know full moons happen every month – but it was just one of those nights where I sat up and took notice.

And just basked in the beautiful glow it created.

Ok, so my camera isn’t super high-tech and fancy, but I do love the glowing of this photo

I’ll admit – it gave me a huge smile :)

So I awoke this morning to a message that I got a blog award!

As I read, she also received her award at the wee hours this morning, but the ten hour time difference made it morning for both of us.

This award comes with rules that are as follows:

The Rules of Acceptance

1. Thank the person/people who nominated you and link back to them in your post.

Thank you onlinedatingjournal.wordpress.com!

2. Share seven possibly unknown things about yourself.

3. Nominate fifteen or so bloggers you admire.

4. Contact the chosen bloggers to let them know and link back to them.

Ok, so 7 things about me:
1. The longer I’m away from home the more I miss microwave meals. (It’s just so EASY!)
2. I LOVE shoes, especially heels.
3. I LOVE nutella (for those who know me though, this fact isn’t a surprise. Nor that I can eat multiple 750g jars in one month…)
4. I love flying in my dad’s plane and am considering trying for my pilot’s license one day.
5. When I have a good book, I can not only sit in the same spot reading it all day, I can sit in the same spot and read it all night until the sun comes up! (Which I’ve done way too many times before…)
6. I love dreaming and keep a dream journal.
7. My hero is my mom.

Ok, as for the fifteen bloggers. I haven’t journeyed through WordPress quite far enough to have found 15 bloggers to link to, but I’ll do my best with the ones I follow (and I follow them because I admire them!). So here it is, in no particular order:

First, a non-wordpress blog, but the first blog I read about what was going to happen to me here in greece:
Mandee’s Greek Blog
whitegooseofthalia.blogspot.gr

Another blog I read about Greece, but she continued it after she got back:

http://allysonbarkan.com/blog/

Another fellow Fellow with me!
The true Poseidon!

http://aposeidonadventure.wordpress.com/

Then, my favorite wordpress blogs:
About the path to making a new life

http://25andfly.wordpress.com

Travels in South America
homelesshayley.com

This mom is just a great writer!
nevercontrary.com

Definitely a well-loved blogger, and I definitely added myself to her fanbase!
iliketheworldfuzzy.wordpress.com

Daily sketches, they make me laugh “
xeyeti.wordpress.com

Adventures in Turkey!
crazytraintotinkytown.com

Freshly pressed recently, and I loved this entry! So I’ll add them to my blog list
blog.paxholley.net/2012/06/07/my-top-10-movies-featuring-time-travel

So it’s not 15, but hopefully soon I’ll dive into more and find more great writers