29. I Don't Do Memes. Ever! Unless I Want To. Plus, I Won't Shut Up.

Grumperina*, my favorite Russian (though you'd never know it if you met her) gorgeous brilliant linguist newlywed (congratulations, Sweetie!), knows the direct way to my heart.  She came to my blog on Sunday with this comment:

You make my day.  Please don't kill me.

Huh? Cryptic or what?  Then I clicked over to her blog to find this, in part:

When I came back from my holiday, I had 17 posts to read from Norma alone. Will Norma ever shut up? No. And that is why I love her. Also, Norma doesn't do memes. Ever! Unless she wants to. Just like me :)

Well, fellow grumps unite! I laughed and laughed.  Honestly, if almost anyone else tagged me for this meme, I probably wouldn't do it.  Well, okay, maybe I would. But to have Kathy The Grumperina tickle my funny bone like that?  Who could resist, and who could fail to be honored by such a knitting and designing and writing luminary?  All homicidal tendencies immediately flew out the window -- at least for a few minutes.

ETA:  After writing this post, and trolling through blogs just before it posted, I found that Nora also gave me the You Make My Day Award.  Holy cow. I'm not worthy. 

So here's what we're talking about.  I'm sure many of you have run across this before:

"Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on."

Thinking cap, thinking cap!  I have a lonnnnnnnnng list of blogs I read, all of which I enjoy enormously, so this was hard.  I read blogs for a variety of reasons --  the writing style is most often at the top of the list; if the person is a personal friend (most of whom I have met in person, but some of whom I haven't, but we're still friends in that way that only the internet can facilitate); for the knitting; for the lifestyle philosophy; for the photography; or any combination of the above.  But here are 10 that I absolutely must read every time they post, and they never fail to make my day:

Sandy*.  Well, I suppose that goes without saying, since I mention her name in the blog at least three times a week. Sandy is what I call a "sleeper."  Her quiet exterior upon meeting her belies the clever wit and slightly tainted sense of humor that I love.  And although she is NICE in all caps, I don't hold that against her and I still like her. She always makes me laugh.

Mason-Dixon Knitting*.  Ann lives in Nashville, Kay lives in Manhattan. I can't get enough of the eclectic mix of fambly (typo intentional and in an homage to them), serious knitting, the Nawthun-Southun/country-urban dynamic.  Again with the brainy and dry humor.  You will start to see a theme in my choices, I betcha. They always make me laugh.

brooklyntweed.  This site just makes me go ga-ga with the knits.  Jared's knit tastes are more like mine than anyone else I've found on the web (although it seems I never knit, whereas Jared is a regular knitting factory), and his skill with both the knits and the photography is mind-blowing.  His productivity makes me envious and inspired.

Kitty Cafe.  The story of her blog name alone is worth a return visit, and she is always up to something artistically interesting. Build a mosaic goldfish pond?  Done.  Build a mud oven in the backyard?  No prob. Plus, she eats the way I do, except maybe not the dandelions.

Zeneedle*, a/k/a Margene.  Another one you hear me refer to ad infinitum.  She's a personal friend, a mentor, an inspiration.  She can turn a frown upside down, and in a private email or phone call, she can put me in my place tout de suite. She is one of the most exciting bloggers because she loves her landscape, and never fails to share it, though the local predominant religious affiliation is not her cup of tea.  A reformed Mormon the way I am a reformed Catholic and then Jew (organized religion is not my cup of tea, but if it is yours, I respect that, too), she is a must-read if only to see her frequent photos of her mountain and descriptions of Sunday breakfast at The Lodge. She is a phenomenal knitter, too.

Claudia*.  How does one describe Claudia?  As no-nonsense as they get, and one of the best finish-work knitters out there -- she knows how to make a garment fit and look perfect. I'm going to come right out and say it publicly:  Claudia was one of the most exciting and positive surprises I've ever had in my life, when I met her in person and became friends with her. She is real and warm and fabulous.  I'm getting all teary-eyed, and she and her husband (and I) would not approve of the teary crap.  But there you have it.  *sniff*  I shouldn't write blog entries when I've had a generous glass (or two) of pinot noir and have local farmed venison stew simmering on the stovetop.  It goes straight to my head (and heart). 

Mossy Cottage Knits.  This represents a longtime virtual friendship of not only Ryan, but her partner, The Mysterious K.  Mossy Cottage was the original home of the Dulaan Project, of which I was a long-time supporter. My friendship with TMK has recently been further cemented with our mutual interest in the gym and weight-training. Again here, I am drawn to the smart and witty writing, the life philosophies, and the mutual trust we share.  I have not yet met these Seattleites, though I have threatened several times.  Someday it'll happen, whereupon Ryan and I will exchange Princeton AirHugs (r) and TMK and I will give each other bear hugs.

The Scottish Lamb*.  I recently met Jean in person, and wow!  It took about 30 seconds to know she is our people, which I quickly text-messaged to Sandy after our lunch together.  A more fun and comfortable first meeting I cannot remember, and I'm thrilled that Jean, whom I've known virtually for a long time, is back in the states (after being on various military posts overseas for several years) and is posting to her blog more often now. 

The Keyboard Biologist*.  No list like this would be complete without Theresa.  Hers was the very first blog I happened upon all those several years ago, and the very reason I started blogging in the first place.  And now we are personal friends.  A Chicagoan and a new mom, her blog focus has changed a bit, but she is a person who really understands life.  Her blog is nice to look at, intelligent, and charming. She is one of The Beautiful People, and I'm proud to call her friend. 

This list could go on and on, and I don't want it to end. I hate-hate-hate leaving out some of my other best reads, but here is number 10 for now:

Cookie.  She recently volunteered to knit a shawl for my sister, which made my sister cry.  My sister, who often acted as Vincent's surrogate mom, took his passing possibly even harder than I did. Well, OK, maybe not. But yeah, I think so. She needed a shawl like nobody's business.  Cookie knitted it for her, as I've mentioned before.  And Cookie is a fellow people-hater. (hee) How much more can I say?  I love her, and hope to meet her someday soon, when we can hate all over each other.

*These I've met in person.

---------
I'm not going to tag any of these folks.  If they read it here and decide they want to carry on the torch, great.  If not, that's good, too. They've all made my day (again) just by thinking and writing about them. 

Comments

[alice]

you know... i'd probably put several of those on my top 10 too, nice choices!

oh... and the show tonight? it didn't stand a chance. i wasn't feeling good... and there's this lovely boy, you see... and he just got back from being Far Away for about 2 weeks... and he offered to bring me soup and tea and watch a movie with me...

you understand, yes? 0:)

[kmkat]

You were on my 10 Bloggers Who Make My Day list, too. Thanks for links to more must-read blogs, although happily I was already familiar with many of your ten.

[cari]

Norma did a MEME! Norma did a MEME!

And baby, you're totally worthy.

[sandy]

"would you like some tears to go with that morning beverage?"
"Yes, I think I might"
Thank you, Norma. I'm verclempt.
xo

[Carole]

Wait a minute. Norma? You feeling okay?

[margene]

You are so good. I've been given this award many times and have ignored it...I just can't face listing everyone in Blogland that I love. You'd be on my list that's certain.
I miss the Lodge. Haven't been since Christmas and then I had to drag myself there. Must go again soon. Love you, grrlfriend!

[Kae]

Every single one of them is *so worthy* :)

[lisa]

Tell Sandy that NICE originally meant wonton, foolish, and I seem to remember, slatternly. Which endlessly amuses me, because growing up, everything had to be nice.

[marianne]

O' Norma, you make many many folks' day, every.single.day. What a great list of wonderful people :^)

[Jean]

Aww... Shucks. Okay, first I needed to catch my breath that you did a MEME and then I thought about it for a second and realized of course you did this one... it's one that makes others feel good about themselves. That's what you do, Norma. Make people feel good. You're right at the top of my list too.

[Roxie]

Thank you, thank you for the links. I'm going to meme-orize them all!

[Cathy-Cate]

You always make me laugh, Norma. Except when you make me cry. Or sometimes both at the same time.
Thanks for sharing! And not shutting up!

[grumperina]

I *knew* you'd do this meme! I have the power! Mwahaha!

[Anne]

Nice choices. All of em stellar. You run with a tough crowd, chica.

[Cookie]

Thank you, The Norma. I am in fabulous company. You may want to check your spreadsheet because I'm sure I'm in there in error. Just sayin'...

♥

[Carol]

OK, I love these things and especially the way you write about them, you know that. But I have this burning question and since you brought it up today, I have to ask the word warrior. Why is the word homage always preceded with "an" rather than "a"?

[Elizabeth]

Thank you, Norma. Sniff.
You're the feel good blog at the top of my list, especially when you are cussing!
I feel like the unknown Canuck in there with the American Team.
And I Do eat dandelions! Remember all those frickin' flowers in my freezer for jelly? Oi!
(I thought you were going to say, "except for all those baked goods she makes..er eats." That would be true)
Crap, maybe I should go post something, now?

[Lucia]

I already read most of these, but there are a few I'll have to check out... so many great blogs, so little time...

[Nora]

OK, Norma, you just convinced me to start reading several more blogs in addition to the ones I already visit faithfully. When is a girl supposed to clean her toilets, already??
Glad I could help sucker you into this - but I obviously can't be blamed entirely!

:)

[Kristen]

What a lovely post! I enjoy a number of those blogs as well. (I'll even confess that I kept up with the Keyboard Biologist's trials and was thrilled to tears when she successfully entered motherhood. Have I mentioned that I hate kids?)

[Kathy]

Just so we're clear, N, Kitty Cafe eats those big honkin' marshmallow squares?!?

[janna]

A meme -- and kind of mushy, too! Snap out of it, Norma! ;-)

[Sara]

Man, now I'm feeling all mushy... there must be something in the new england air.

Great list, though... some fantastic reads on there!!

[Kim]

Hear, hear on what you said about Sandy, Margene & Claudia. Woot!

"You made my day. Don't kill me." That cracks me up.

Love you, you grumpy gal, you.

[claudia]

Dude, lay off the sauce.

;-)

[Warrior Knitter]

Thanks for your blog list. Most of those I already read but I discovered two new ones, Sandy's blog and The Scottish Lamb. Thanks again.