Rumination Assignment: Thinking Blogger Awards

What a great way to start the week. I've been doubly honoured by two of my favourite bloggers, and have the opportunity to give something to some of you too. Nancy of Mom, Ma'am, Me, who makes me think and is hysterical sometimes, and Carol (pronounced Carrr-ole, I know, I've heard her) of She Lives, who writes some beautiful pieces and can also be very funny, have both chosen to give me a Thinking Blogger Award - Nancy here, and Carol here. I feel chuffed to receive that from these two ladies women persons friends, who I appeciate and who do make me think, and laugh, with their perception and humour. Thankyou! And now... good things should be shared, and there are some bloggers who I'd like to give this award to (not in any particular order):

1. Charlie Lehardy of Another Think. Charlie blogs on culture, art, music, life, Mexico, and a variety of other things. I've loved reading him for a long time. Who wouldn't with posts like Passion Under the Stars (it dances off the page), his tribute to Billy Preston (that guy could play piano), and the hysterical The Red Pill.

2. Rebecca Stark, at Rebecca Writes, just moved to a new host with a brand new look. I've been reading Rebecca for at least three years now, and she is awesome. She writes on books, the Yukon (where she lives), historical figures, language, poetry, and theology. Rebecca has often got my grey matter engaged, with posts like Doing Our Job, which starts off, "Yesterday I started a fight. I didn’t intend to, but I did. For a second or two, I thought it might be the sort of fight that comes to blows..." You really have to read it - it's brings together some excellent thoughts. And then there's Redemption: What Does It Mean, which gives depth to what you think you knew, in an understandable way.

3. Martin LaBar of Sun and Shield is another thought provoking blogger I've been reading for a long time. Among other things Martin writes on science fiction and fantasy literature, science, ethics, faith, and he's into photography. A classic post is Did You Get It?, which manages to combine a great photo with some perceptive too-true observations. And he has found The Best Book on Tolkien - which he reviews with honesty and clarity. I like how Martin makes me think.

4. An all time fave of mine in the thinking dept. is Julana's Life in the Slow Lane. She has a concise poetic writing style, takes wonderful photos, and discusses disability in her Therapy Notes series. She does pieces like this beautiful Postcard from Madison County. I've often remembered the quote she used in it. Her post fellowship of suffering says, "Our shared affliction creates a sense of understanding, and sometimes comraderie, among those of us who've experienced it." And that sort of understanding shines through her blog.

5. I heart Eric's The Fire Ant Gazette. He who cracks me up and writes about everything in the universe has a review of the movie 300 in which "you can't swing a dead Spartan without hitting a spoiler." Also noteworthy: Dance Lessons, Week 3: A Sinister Revelation. To quoth the fireant, "Our third ballroom dancing lesson left us with the illusion that we might someday master this skill..." And I haven't even mentioned his technology posts.

6. Jeana of Days to Come. (Chad took one look at her sidebar and said, "Wot, no Thinking Blogger Award?"). Thoughtful, hilarious (I will never forget the time she wrote "There will be coke snorting out of nostrils"), and generous, Jeana writes about her life, family, books, movies, and living in community. On the thoughtful side is Get Real, "My aim is to be deliberate about what I get involved in, not just jump on the bandwagon..." Also a review of the Pride and Prejudice movie. Who else can begin a movie review with, "One time Scott and I went on a date to a restaurant called Simply Fondue."? And her recent post on a cognitive theme, Smarter than a Fifth Grader?

I had five awards to bestow and I gave out six. Call me a neuronal non-conformist (sticks and stones may break my bones...) or intellectually democratic (I'll buy you lunch). I feel honoured to receive my Thinking Blogger Award from Nancy and Carol and have put the graphic on my sidebar. I think you'll enjoy checking out the bloggers who have received awards here too. They are wonderful.