NOT ME MONDAY!

Inspired by MckMama and her MSC*

So today's post is not going to be a typical "Not Me Monday" -- I'm too deep in thought to be funny (but I'll try and pull a few out here and there ;0)

First and foremost, I absolutely would never try to clean up my computer by storing pics on CD's and then deleting them off my hard drive only to realize I deleted every. single. picture. on. my. blog. -- Seriously, I could not be that stupid -- If you happened to visit my site Wednesday or Thursday of last week, you would not have found an empty blog and if you spoke with me, you would not have heard me say every choice word known to our human race... and I would never spend hours uploading all my pics back because I absolutely do not care that much :) -- Nope! Not Me!

Now this is what I really want to talk about today -- An award I did not receive (of course we all understand that I did in fact receive it) -- I didn't even know this award was going around until this sweet blogger tagged me with it -- It has to do with friendship...

Interestingly enough, I would never be facing, for the first time in my life, the difficulty of meeting and having friends where I live -- Growing up the youngest of 5 children, I was the social butterfly and always had a plethora of friends surrounding me like a cloud of smoke -- I was the one who was involved in every extracurricular activity -- And I was the one who had to attend every wedding/baby shower even if it meant driving a 10 hour round trip -- And what does this little issue bring to light? The loss of the friendships I had... or thought I had from the Great Break --

Of all the awards I've received, this one has touched me the most because friendship is so important to me -- When someone considers me a friend, I take it as one of the highest honors -- I'm terrible (as you may or may not have noticed) at "playing by the rules" when it comes to being tagged -- But this one I really wanted to play and I've put a lot of thought into whom I am tagging with it -- Something I've learned, and this is recent, is that friendship doesn't necessarily come from long drawn out talks or years of knowing one another (although those things certainly add the depth of the friendship) -- An aspect of Friendship is a connection...

Since I've started blogging (in April 08) I've felt a connection to several women who blog -- This connection often occurs when I read about something they've written that is very honest, heart felt and down to earth... something that the everyday woman (who's being honest with herself) can relate to -- I've had more women than I ever thought I would, email me or comment on how much they appreciate my being so honest and real about newlywed life and how I put into words what they'd been feeling and couldn't say themselves -- Well... to me, that is the connection I'm talking about when it comes to friendship and I want to award these bloggers for doing that for me...

Here are the rules:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find, and be friends with. 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. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

1. Put the logo on your blog (check)

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you (NewlywedCentral) (you'll have to check this one :)

3. Nominate 8-10 other blogs (check... well, almost)

4. Add links to those blogs on yours (check)

5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs (on my way...)

First... I would never have to look up what self-aggrandizement meant and here's what I found

*N. "an act undertaken to increase your own power
and influence or to draw attention to your own importance"

Nice to know my blog is not perceived as doing this (like, for real) and here are my choices...

Sass over at The Life of Sass -- If there were ever someone who could add a dose of laughter to my day, it's her -- She reminds me to laugh during life's most difficult of times and her resilience of what she has to face with her son inspires me -- Thanks, Sass -- I feel a connection with you --

Amy over at Chapters -- Amy's posts are really vulnerable -- she has a way of expressing her life in the most down to earth manner and that makes her incredibly relatable -- Thanks, Amy -- I feel a connection with you --

MckMama over at My Charming Kids -- I've written about her to the point where you all might think I'm a little over the top about it all... but her incredibly honest portrayal of her children and her life has inspired me to not be afraid of wanting kids -- Thanks, MckMama -- I feel a connection with you --

Cocaine Princess -- While her lifestyle is one that I imagine a lot of women would dream of having, she's clearly been touched by tragedy in such a way that makes her very sensitive to the lives around her -- I love that she always comments on my posts... even if they're short and silly -- Thanks, CP -- I feel a connection with you --

Lyndsay over at All Things Fluffy, Fashionable and Famous -- This woman's vibrancy SHINES through her blog -- The fact that she loves life and she's all kinds of happy makes me smile and really treasure her enthusiasm for friendship -- Thanks, Lyndsay -- I feel a connection with you --

Becky over at Smile It's Becky -- And boy do I ever! As a former Kindergarten Teacher, I hear where she's coming from and her stories make me ROTFLOL (rolling on the floor laughing out loud) -- I know we'd be friends if we lived close -- Thanks, Becky -- I feel a connection with you --

Elizabeth over at Escape From Dullsville -- I often find myself reading her blog and thinking "That's exactly how I'd feel, say it, do it, etc..." -- She's a girl living the suburbia life and living to tell us about it -- Thanks, Elizabeth -- I feel a connection with you --

OK... so I would never renege from something I said and only follow the rules partially :) Nope! Not Me!

*Many Small Children