When I put my foot down, I try to do it with style.

I posted a definitive statement about how I wouldn’t be accepting anymore generous and lovely awards from my blogging buddies a while ago. Okay. It was a week ago. You know I meant business because I used a declarative statement in a large red bold font. If that isn’t the literary equivalent of putting ones foot down, I don’t know what is.

But… (You know that whatever comes before the word “but” is cancelled by the word “but,” right?)

See what I mean. If considering this person for a date or a mate, I'd go with "psycho" not cute.

…I failed to include what every Kindergartner, teen girl and Mob Boss knows is the ritual that seals the deal: a Pinky-Swear. So, in the seven days that transpired between my gentle but adamant “Thank you kindly and please pass the awards to other deserving bloggers” statement, I received two more awards.

What? I should have known the darned pinky-swear omission would get me...

What am I to conclude from this development?

  1. Unlike Playboy Magazine, you are only looking at the pictures and not reading the the articles on my blog.
  2. The content of my stories is so outlandish that you think I’m making everything up, so you don’t take anything I say seriously.
  3. You have bit of the devil in you and want to see how I’m going to handle this.
  4. You genuinely believe I deserve the award, no matter what I say.
  5. You missed the post about my not accepting awards.

I’m going with #5 because I like the shape of that number.

Neeks from The Short and the Long of It is a writer and nominated me for the Liebster Award. (Click on the award and you’ll see who else she named as well as the rules, which I’m not following.) Bless her heart, she, like me, would love to see my loyal follower-count get past the 200 mark. I’m over half way there but I have a way to go. This is my 3rd Liebster (not to be confused with Lobster, which I can’t tolerate for eating purposes but have nothing against for crawling around on the bottom of the ocean purposes). Check out her blog. She’s a very talented writer and I’m one of her loyal followers.

Harry, from the Dribbling Pensioner, awarded me with a new honor, The Reader Appreciation Award. This one is all about the stats. It goes to the 6 bloggers who have commented the most on your blog, so I guess you could say Harry is rewarding me for having a big mouth or OCB (Obsessive Compulsive Blogging). That’s okay. His heart is in the right place (somewhere near his liver). Thank you, Harry! Check out his blog if you want to chuckle and get a dose of reality. In other words, if you miss your grandpa who you could only ever take in small doses. He’s a real coot hoot!

I nabbed a baby picture of Harry. I hope you don't mind, old pal...

All kidding aside, bloggers named in this award are the ones who you count on to comment when you post and I, too, think they should be recognized and honored. The rules are divinely inspired:

  1. Award your top 6 bloggers who have commented the most.
  2. Be thankful.
  3. You cannot award someone who has already been awarded. And you cannot give the award back to me.
  4. Don’t forget to tell the blogers you’ve awarded.
  5. If you don’t want to pass on this award, that’s okay to. Just admire it.
  6. Link to back to the person from which you received it.

Again, don’t you just love #5? # 3 is pretty awesome, too!

Just because I am so grateful to my super-loyal followers, I wish to recognize them. They are:

Phil from Random Thoughts Witty, sweet, insightful and curious

Izzy from Inside the Mind of Isadora Soulful wordsmith who can see through your words and into your heart

Gayle from Bodirose’s Blog Poet extraordinaire whose spirit is as whimsical as it is grounded

Holly from Hollyjb A young woman discovering herself as she explores Belgium in her year abroad

Big Al from The Cvillean His sense of humor is rivaled only by his sensibility about human foibles

Totsymae from Totsymae1011 Astute, funny, and raw, this visual and literary artist has stirring depth and talent 

Thank you, all of my loyal readers. And now, with a solemn pinky-swear, I respectfully decline all future awards (Pulitzer, Nobel, and Academy excluded).

This seals the deal. I'd take me seriously if I were him.