Cloud Nine

Speechless.  Astounded.  Surprised.  Elated.  I was nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger award by this wonderful blogger (and you should really check out what they’ve got going on because it truly is inspiring) and I find myself on cloud nine.  I didn’t really know where I was going with this blog when I put it together and three months in (to the day) I still don’t have a clear direction for it other than a random collection of my musings, rants, reviews, and other such nonsense.

But, I do love to write.  To create images and humor and mystery and silliness with my words and to think that any of those creations has been inspiring to my readers is, well, inspiring in itself.  So, thank you!

Here is the award:

Very Inspiring Blogger Award Rules

1.Display the award logo on your blog.
2.Link back to the person who nominated you.
3.State 7 things about yourself.
4.Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them.
5.Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.

……

1. Done.

2.  Done.  But, for good measure, you really should go read Dear Ms. Migraine.  Okay, now it’s been done twice.

3.1  I love soccer/football/futbol.  I started playing it when I was five and played through High School.  In college I found the Premier League and began following Manchester United (glory, glory) and shortly after that I started following the Los Angeles Galaxy as well.  I’m a fan… in the true sense of the word (fanatic).  Hence the random game reviews that pop up on my blog from time to time.

3.2  I graduated from college with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology and then promptly went to work in the mortgage industry.  Not sure how that happened, but there it is.  I’ve had two stents being unemployed, 6 bosses, 6 jobs, and 5 different employers in the last 9 years.  My industry seems to be a bit unstable.  But, maybe that’s just me.

3.3  My wife I and got married in Mammoth.  Our ceremony was on the sun deck at McCoy station and we took some pictures up at the top… on 18 feet of snow… in April.  (The picture at the top of my blog is from our wedding.)  *Prepare for a bit of sappyness.*  That day is one of the very top highlights of my life.

3.4  We adopted two kittens 3 years ago: Sara and Belle.  I’ve had it my mind to add pictures of them being silly or cute to my blog but they haven’t been all that cooperative with the process of getting their photographs taken.  Eventually their cuteness and goofyness will grace this blog.  (Probably will be an improvement.)

3.5  More summers than not, I go on a backpacking trip in the Sierra with my dad and brother.  The most recent trip inspired a couple posts on this blog already: the road less travelled and the fifth day.  Eventually I’m sure I will touch on some of my previous trips as I either think of reasons why they are relevant to bring up or I can’t think of anything better to blog about.

3.6  Despite all my posts to the contrary, all my assertions that I’m a cynic and a pessimist and everything else of that nature, I’m really an optimist.  But, shhh, that’s our little secret.  I wouldn’t want that to become common knowledge.  Oh wait, oops.

3.7  I’m about to embark on one of the greatest adventures of my life.  My wife and I are expecting.  Soon this blog will be filled with my normal randomness, some kittie craziness (probably) and the wild stories of me learning to be a father; that is, of course, assuming I have the strength, energy, and mental fortitude to put my thoughts together once the kiddo shows up.

4.1  http://thesophomoreslump2.com/
4.2  http://japankharma.wordpress.com/
4.3  http://pouringmyartout.wordpress.com/
4.4  http://overfiftyunderfive.com/
4.5  http://ooplalund.wordpress.com/
4.6  http://cultofotis.wordpress.com/
4.7  http://mistergkids.com/
4.8  http://knowledgeknut.wordpress.com/
4.9  http://verbatimgibberish.com/
4.10  http://awardperday.wordpress.com/
4.11  http://hippiecahier.com/
4.12  http://the-serenity-space.com/
4.13  http://eyeof1001.wordpress.com/
4.14  http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/
4.15  http://3rdculturechildren.com/

5.  Done.  (Well, not yet, but they should find out from the pingbacks from posting links to their sites above and I will post messages on their sites letting them know about the award too eventually.)  You’re just going to have to take my word for it.