Gah! I’m so delinquent in my blog-posting/reading…as I explained this morning on Twitter, “the sloth in the next cage died, so am filling in for it at the last minute. Have been very convincing in my role.”
For what that’s worth.
And shame on me further because I have yet to formally thank the lovely Lisa Reece-Lane and Agatha of the Milk Fever and Here Be Dragons blogs, respectively, for humoring a primate with blog awards! My very first ones, so I’m screeching and throwing poop around my cage like it’s confetti.
Following my blog post on rules, ironically, here are a few more that I am more than delighted to adhere to in accepting these honors (along with the gown I shall be wearing to the award ceremony):
1. Thank those who loved you enough to bestow this gift.
2. Share seven (7) things about yourself.
3. Bestow this honor onto 10 newly discovered or followed bloggers–in no particular order–who are fantastic in some way. (The You’re Going Places award only obligates me to 5, but I’ll honor the original Spotlight reqs)
4. Drop by and let the 10 chosen friends know you love them.
Okay, so to follow my thank-you above, here are 7 random things about me:
1. I am the youngest of 4 and the proud auntie of 2 nieces and 6 nephews. Being 7 to 10 years younger than my siblings, let’s just say I fought my way into this world as an “unexpected” gift from God.
2. Though it’s rare in females, I’m color-blind. Well, color “weak” as the eye doctor says every time I fail one of those gol’ damn color tests.
3. Although I love animals (I am, after all, a monkey), I am not a pet person. At all. But if I had to align myself with either the infamous Dog People or Cat People in a finger-snapping gang face-off of “West Side Story” proportions, I would probably go Cat.
4. While not advanced and hardly ever getting the chance anymore, I love playing the piano.
5. The only physical features that I’m genuinely insecure about are my feet.
6. I suspect that I have an old soul, but cannot determine its age (though, considering my bunions and the flannel granny cap I wear in bed on winter nights—very much to my husband’s chagrin—I estimate it’s at least 80).
7. My mind is a reservoir of meaningless pop cultural free-association-of-thought. For example, on command, I can sing/hum theme songs to old TV shows (with a concentration in ’80s sitcoms). My college roommates discovered this ability in our dorm cafeteria—nothing stumped me, but after something like 2 hours I stopped in frustration that I could only recall ONE of the themes for “Lost in Space” (the later color episodes had a different song than the earlier B&W seasons, you see, but I’m pleased to announce that I eventually did remember the other one and will sing it at your wedding if you book me far enough in advance).
Though not all necessarily “newly discovered,” I will now bestow the honors to 10 of my consistent blogger friends (I’ll split the 2 awards 50/50):
Receiving the Spotlight Award:
The Spotlight Award
1. To extend my thanks further, Here Be Dragons. This blog is a constant source of empathy and inspiration for me as a writer.
2. Nicki Elson’s Not-So-Deep Thoughts. A newly-published author’s witty musings on writing and the 1980s—as her little sister, I couldn’t be prouder!
3. Real Bloggers United. A diverse new collaboration of bloggers to which I try to contribute on a monthly basis and encourage you all to do the same!
4. Courage 2 Create. An insightful writer embodying refreshing humility and kindness.
5. Aphorism of the Day. Though he humbly goes by “nothingprofound,” his bite-sized pearls of wisdom give a busy life pause for meaningful thought.
Receiving the You’re Going Places Award:
You're Going Places Award
6. In keeping with the spirit of #1, Milk Fever. Lisa is a rising newly-published author, and her posts crack me up.
7. Though she already has heaps of ’em, there’s a reason: Bowl of Oranges. Our gal Lua never fails to share spot-on reflections related to the journey of a writer.
8. Write in Berlin. I *heart* this gal’s wit and sharp perspectives as a writer and Berliner. Her advertising eye always makes for an engaging interplay of images and text.
9. In Media Res. Filled with humor and honesty, Milo is a lesson in imagination and perseverance in publication.
10. Lethal Inheritance. A richly informative guide on writing and the quest for publication by YA fantasy lit author, Tahlia.
*phew* I’m pooped (in the figurative sense, not the literal with regard to my nasty monkey habits). I’m off for the evening and hoping to catch up on all of your blogs this weekend, as well as those of newer commenters who I’m very pleased to meet and looking forward to following as well!
The Fallen Monkey 
August 6th, 2010 at 21:43
Oh my! Thank you! *blushes* The Spotlight award is rather appropriate right this second, since I have realised I am on Freshly Pressed! 🙂
Okay, I LOVED your West Side Cat/Dog analogy….we need a Broadway Play done with cats and dogs ha ha.
Colour blind? Oh nooo….well, they say we all see colours different, some people say they see red, and others dark orange etc so I suppose we’re all slightly different in that sense.
I’ll join you in the pet free zone. I like animals but I am allergic to too many of them so I have none.
Aw have a nice weekend. I’m pooped as well but it’s been a great end to my week so thank you for that lovely award. I shall post in on my page tomorrow morning when I am not brain dead 🙂
August 6th, 2010 at 21:53
Oh, that’s awesome!!!! Congratulations!!!! Well-deserved, my dear.
Ah yes, I can see the Broadway musical now…hmm, how to get around the issue that neither cats nor dogs can snap their ‘fingers’ without the use of opposable thumbs…perhaps we can insert some sort of clacking device into their mouths, provided they don’t choke on it 😉
Now go get some rest to replenish that freshly-pressed and dead yet brilliant brain of yours 🙂
August 7th, 2010 at 14:59
Oh damn, I forgot about the lack of opposable thumbs ha ha ha. Aw bless, they would choke on them, and then, we’d have all these cats and dogs spitting things out and slobber and furballs…. ew…I’ll stop there.
I have taken the lovely Spotlight award and posted it on my page. I do need to pass it on but I will leave it for a few days until my blog returns to its quiet usual self (I feel like I’m famous getting 100 comments…most amusing)
August 6th, 2010 at 23:31
Thank you so much FallenMonkey!
I’m honored and flattered for the award. I’ve been getting a lot of them lately, I guess I must be doing something right! 🙂
August 7th, 2010 at 09:13
I’d certainly say so, sir. My pleasure to add to the accolades 🙂
August 7th, 2010 at 01:00
Thank you soooooo much, fallenmonkey for the lovely award. I wonder if the novelty wears off after a while – I think not, right Lua?
Number 3 cracked me up. I just love the finger-snapping image. I’d be on the dogs’ side, naturally, although they are far more likely to stink. Woof! Love em anyway.
X Lisa
August 7th, 2010 at 09:32
Quite welcome, milkfever; may the novelty of getting recognition for your efforts never wear off! Lua could start selling hers by now 😉
Aw, I do like dogs, too; I just like it more when they’re other people’s dogs 🙂
August 7th, 2010 at 07:56
Thanks sooo much! This coming from a monkey like you is a big honour. Very happy to see my somewhat cynical way of dealing with life is actually enjoyed by more people than just myself. 🙂 And keep your eyes peeled for my acceptance speech …
August 7th, 2010 at 07:57
BTW – lovely post – great analogies. Setting the bar very high for acceptance speeches to come, indeed…
August 7th, 2010 at 09:40
I’ve never questioned that you are award-worthy, m’dear—your blog is of a quality I aspire for. Oh goody, will eagerly await the acceptance speech 🙂
August 7th, 2010 at 11:14
“the sloth in the next cage died, so am filling in for it at the last minute. Have been very convincing in my role.”
Haha OMG I love this!!! Can I borrow it when I have to do house chores? 🙂
Congratulations thefallenmonkey! (have I told you- I love your blog, always makes me laugh and your writing exercises always inspires me!) You deserve those awards and thank you for awarding me, I am honored with a banana in my hand to show you my gratitude! 😉
Oh you play the piano? That is one of my regrets in life, I wish I could play it! I can listen to someone playing for hours…
August 7th, 2010 at 13:35
As long as you’re not having to listen to someone like me play it 🙂 It’s great recreational fun and a wonderful other means of expression, but as I don’t own a piano (I only play at my parents’ house), I cannot get through a song these days without tripping up. I have to warm up to it over and over again.
Hey, thanks for the banana! 😉
August 7th, 2010 at 15:29
Why thank you, dear Monkey, for the Spotlight Award—nepotism pays off every time! Thanks also for the very humorous random facts about you. 🙂
These other award winners sound terrific, and I can’t wait to get the chance to check them out.
August 7th, 2010 at 21:52
But of course, dear Nicki. Your actual talent might have something to do with it, too. 😉
August 9th, 2010 at 20:38
FM-thanks so much for thinking of me for this award. Coming from a writer of your caliber and sensitivity, it means a great deal to me.
August 11th, 2010 at 11:54
NM – Your insights are worth recognition, and I’m happy to spread the word so others may benefit from the wisdom. Your compliment likewise means a great deal to me – thank you.
August 12th, 2010 at 15:28
Per usual, you are too kind. =]
August 12th, 2010 at 20:01
Per usual, it’s the least you deserve :).
September 20th, 2010 at 16:04
[…] I have confessed in a previous blog award acceptance speech: “Although I love animals (I am, after all, a monkey), I am not a pet person. At all. But if […]
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