Shine-y

The Seeker nominated me for the Shine On Award:

 

The Rules:

What?  Rules?  We don’t need no stinkin’ rules!

Or, are these the rules, as detailed by Eye-Dancers:

“The Shine On Award requires you to nominate 15 other blogs, who in turn can post this award on their own sites and nominate others for the award.  It also requires that you then list a few other blogs that tickle your fancy.”

Or, are these the rules, as detailed by TwinDaddy:

“This award is for the blogs that shine, make you feel good and are inspiring to the reader.”

• Link back to the blogger who nominated you.
• Nominate fifteen bloggers who shine a little light in your day and be sure to notify them.
• Share some facts about yourself or answer questions given to you.

Or…  Hmm…  Well, I guess I just need to nominate some people who tickle my fancy or who make me feel good or who inspire me or who I think should just keep on shining on.

1)  Hayley
2) MerBear
3) fortyoneteen
4) Tony
5) Wiley
6) Hippie Cahier
7) Angie
8) Rutabaga
9) Mary-Ann
10) AR Neal
11) Guapola
12) Lady Lovely
13) Melanie
14) Lily Wight
15) Zen A.

I hope you will check out what they all have to offer.  They spread the love, the truth, the silliness.  They make me laugh and smile and think.  They shine.

 

Now it’s getting REAL: Real Epic and Real Awesome

LikeItIz…  ???

Well, it iz like this:  I’ve been nominated for the REALITY AWARD, and I have to say that is REALLY REALLY REAL, er, um, I mean, AWESOME!

Here’s what needs doing  (aka – the rules):

1. Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you
2. Display the award on your blog somewhere
3. Acknowledge the blogger on your blog and link back to them.
4. Answer the 5 simple questions about yourself.
5. Nominate as many as 20 bloggers for this award and notify them.

1.  If you could change one thing, what would you change?  Right now, I’d change the location of my condo.

2.  If you could repeat an age, what would it be?  Any year?  I’m having a pretty good year right now… I don’t think I’d want to go back.

3.  What is one thing that really scares you?   SPIDERS, and sharks, and heights, and big dogs, and public speaking, and… hmm, I think I might have some issues.

4.  What is one dream you have not completed and do you think you will be able to accomplish it?    Get my fantasy novel published!  Yes, one day it will happen.

5.  If you could be someone else for one day, who would it be?   Earlier in my life I might have said a movie star, or a rock star, or something like that, but these days I’m pretty comfortable in my skin.

Nominations and my questions for them:

1.  If your life could be like any book you’ve ever read, which one would you choose? 
2.  Would you want to be a specific character in that book or just be who you are now living in that time/place/setting? 
3.  If you had control of the moon, would you change its color, and what color would you make it? 
4.  Which you prefer to live in the DC Universe or the Marvel Universe? 
5.  Which character on the Big Bang Theory are you the most like? 

– http://theillusionofcontrolledchaos.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/felix-has-arrived-to-fix-my-walls/
– http://soumyav.wordpress.com/about/
– http://gordonflanders.wordpress.com/about/
– http://the-serenity-space.com/bio/
– http://desertskys.wordpress.com/about/

……

Shortly after receiving that award, Princess Rosebud (not to be confused with Princess Buttercup) decided that I was worthy of this:

The Rules For The Epically Awesome Award Of Awesomeness:

1. Tell 10 epic and/or awesome facts about yourself.  That’s it.
2. Pass it on to 10 bloggers you think are awesome and/or epic–or both.

Ten Facts about the Matticus Kingdom’s Court Jester:
1.  I wear contacts: my prescription is something like -10.00 in both eyes with another -1.25 for astigmatism.  Basically what someone with 20/20 vision can see at 1,000 feet clear as day, I can only see at 20 feet, or 100 feet / 2 feet, or 10 feet to 2.4 inches.  How’s that for perspective?
2.  I took piano lessons, and the theory I learned there was very helpful when I decided I wanted to be a DJ, because I already understood how music was written.
3.  I am an Eagle Scout.
4.  I used to be able to do very complex math problems in my head.
5.  In junior high I would have been appalled if anyone had called me a jester.
6.  I played dungeons and dragons at lunch almost every day in junior high and high school.  Oh, the horror!  (I wish I still had the imagination I had then.)
7.  I didn’t get my first “smart” phone until summer of 2011.
8.  I once wrote a post completely devoid of “I’s.”
9.  I can’t believe how many awards keep getting throw towards the kingdom.  I was not prepared for that sort of attention.
10. I wonder how my outlook on life will change between this month and the next.

Nominations For The Epically Awesome Award Of Awesomeness:
1.  http://matronbell.wordpress.com/about-2/
2.  http://deliberatedonkey.wordpress.com/behind-the-closed-door/
3.  http://ladylovelyblogger.wordpress.com/about/
4.  http://fearnoweebles.wordpress.com/about/
5.  http://stephrogers.com/about/
6.  http://graysonqueen.wordpress.com/about/
7.  http://www.jonathanhilton.com/inspiration/raining-all-over-the-world/
8.  http://sortaginger.com/about-2/
9.  http://winedrinkingmummy.wordpress.com/about/
10.  http://sarahneeve.wordpress.com/about-2/

Once Versatiled, Twice Shined

I guess you have been entertained…

The Matticus Kingdom has been nominated for a couple more awards.  Once again, as court jester and chief scribe (among other things) the responsibility falls on me to graciously accept these nominations and carry out the instructions that come with them.

First things first:  THANK YOU!!! MischievousEyez, TwinDaddy, and April.

For clarification purposes, that’s MischievousEyez of My thoughts, My life, TwinDaddy of Stuphblog, and April of Ponderingspawned fame and fortune.

(Did you see what I did there – In two sentences I managed two pingbacks for each of my award bestower type people.  They teach you those sorts of tricks in jester school.)

…..

Second piece of business:

Rules of the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Thank and Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination by linking to one of their specific posts so that they get notified by ping back.

7 things about me:
1) My name is Inigo Montoya Matticus, you would like my father, prepare to be amazed.
2) I have survived the 3 dangers of the Fire Swamp Southern California living: lightning sand Death Valley, flame spurts Santa Ana Winds, and the ROUS’s California Desert Tortoise (their beaks are really sharp!).
3) I have 6 5 fingers on both my left and right hands.
4) I think masks are terribly comfortable itchy.
5) I don’t think I will ever grow tired of quoting Princess Bride.
6) I’ve spent the past few years building up a tolerance for iocane powder spicy Thai food.
7) I always have fun storming the castle, the Qwikimart, the highlands, the OK Corral, the beach volleyball court.

……

Rules of the Shine On Award:

“This award is for the blogs that shine, make you feel good and are inspiring to the reader.”

1. Link back to the blogger who nominated you.
2. Nominate fifteen bloggers who shine a little light in your day and be sure to notify them.
3. Share some facts about yourself or answer questions given to you.

Questions from twindaddy and my answers:

1. Who is your favorite comedian?  Why?   – Robin Williams because “Nanu-Nanu!”
   
2. You try to silently let out a fart to relieve the pressure building up but, OOPS, it was a shart.  What do you do now? – Nothing, it’s my kingdom and I can shart if I want to.
   
3. Did you watch the Academy Awards? Why or why not? – No, partially because I forgot they were on (unbelievable with all the press they had ahead of time, I know) and partially because I was watching an NCIS marathon instead.
   
4. If you could have any person, alive or dead, guest post on your blog who would it be? – Stephen King
   
5. You’re just standing there, minding your own business, when suddenly you feel your pants fall down to your ankles.  You’ve been pantsed.  What do you do?  How do you get back at the asshole that did it? – Nothing, because it’s my Kingdom and I’ll just play it off as I’m starting a new fashion trend – the pants around your ankles look is going to be all the rage in the spring.  (Secretly, though, the perpetrator will be dealt with – I have people for that.)
   

…..

Third times a charm:

Versatile Blogger Award Nominations:
1)  Kim
2)  DesertRat
3)  TwinDaddy
4)  Tony
5)  Cheri
6)  Mary-Ann
7)  Beefy
8)  Lesley

Shine On Award Nominations:
1)  Shannon
2)  Princess Rosebud
3)  Jo
4)  Sarah
5)  Jon
6)  JC
7)  Steph
8)  Hayley
9)  Jenn

(I never was very good at math, or following directions): 8 + 9 = 15, right?)

Questions for the Shine On nominees:
1)  Have you ever sent a message by fox?
2)  Have you ever worn tights and sung a song about it?
3)  Unlike some Robin Hoods, can you speak in a real English accent?
4)  Do you have a band of merry men?  If yes, have you ever sent for them?  If no, why not?
5)  Have you ever blessed everything around you just so you could drink?
6)  Bonus question:  Have you ever dated someone who wore a chastity belt?

What do you mean? African? Or European?

I was nominated by Jodi Lea for The Liebster award: recognition for bloggers who are “up and coming” – meaning they have less than 200 followers, or have recently published their blog.

I haven’t done any of the research myself, but per Jodi Lea: “Not to be confused with the WordPress.com sponsored blog awards, the Liebster is a blogger generated award that provides links to new bloggers, a chance for your readers to know you better, and increase publicity for your blog.”  That sounds pretty nifty to me.

Unfortunately I can’t accept this award as I have surpassed the 200 follower maximum to receive it.  Hmm, or is that actually, a fortunately I can’t accept this award because so many of you have already found me and think I’m awesome? 

However, for fun, I’m going to play along with at least part of the rules:

Upon receiving the nomination, you are required to do the following:
a. Tell 11 things about yourself
b. Answer 11 questions asked by the nominating blogger
c. Nominate 11 new bloggers
d. Ask 11 questions to the bloggers you nominated
e. Inform the bloggers you choose

a. Tell 11 things about yourself something silly
a.01 – We had pet desert tortoises growing up.
a.02 – We got a couple of them as hatchlings.
a.03 – They were small enough that two of them could fit in the palm of my hand, and I was pretty small at the time too.
a.04 – As they grew they turned into social creatures that would follow us around the backyard hoping for a treat and biting our toes if we ignored them.
a.05 – One of their favorite treats was grapes.  It was always pretty entertaining to watch them eat one.
a.06 – Mature desert tortoise bites hurt more than you’d think.
a.07 – One of them we named Herby.  He was super speedy.  You might even say he had a bit of turbo in him.
a.08 – All of them figured out how to escape from the backyard at one time or another.
a.09 – They are much smarter than you’d think too.
a.10 – I sat here for a good five minutes but couldnt’ think of anything else related to them to share.
a.11 – Oh wait!  No, never mind…

b. 11 questions asked by Jodi Lea  – and my answers:
b.01 – As a kid (or older) when you pretended to be someone else, who were you and why did you want to be them? – Superman, because he was a super man.  It seems pretty self-explanatory.
b.02 – Have you had your “15-minutes of fame” yet? How did it happen? (If it hasn’t happened, how would you like it to happen?) – Nope.  Don’t want 15 minutes of fame.  I’m much greedier than that.  I need at least a good 30 minutes or so, and if it can be about something I’ve written that would be fantastic.
b.03 – If you could change one thing about your personality – what would it be and why? – Nothing, because I’m perfect.  Oh, alright.  I guess I could stand to be a bit more humble for obvious reasons.
b. 04 – What was the last novel you read? Would you recommend it? – George RR Martin’s – Dance with Dragons.  Yes and I have several times.  I’m not sure why you haven’t read it yet.  (Oh, but you should probably start with a Game of Thrones and read the whole series in order or you’ll be really lost.  “You know nothing, Jon Snow.”)
b.05 – Who was/is your favorite teacher, and why? – My parents because they actually parented.  It was hard on all of us, but I learned a lot and am better for it.  Except for that whole humbleness thing…
b. 06 – Besides writing, tell us about one of your other talents. – I’m very good at sitting on my couch and watching TV when I should be editing something I’ve written.
b.07 – Where were you when President Kennedy was shot? – That happened during one of my previous lives and the details are a bit fuzzy.  I think I was probably sitting on a couch somewhere though.  My current life didn’t start until 1981.
b.08 – You wrote a novel about your life growing up, and now Hollywood is making a movie based on that novel. Which actor/actress would you want to play you, and why? – Vigo Mortensen, because he is the king and it is good to be the king.  It would need to be directed by Mel Brooks though to make sense.
b.09 – What was your favorite TV show when you were in grade school?  What about now? – The Simpsons then and now.
b.10 – What are your top 3 pet peeves? – Lists, answering questions presented in list form, and answering questions that want a list as part of the answer.
b.11 – Do you like your first name? If not, what would you change it to? – I do like my first name.  But, if I didn’t, I’d change it to Bill or George. Anything but Sue!

c. Nominate 11 6 7 8 new bloggers (yes, yes, I’m a terrible person only nominating 6 7 8 instead of 11, maybe I’m not perfect after all):
c.01 – http://desertskys.wordpress.com/about/
c.02 – http://kkline922.wordpress.com/about/
c.03 – http://alpheba.wordpress.com/about/
c.04 – http://alpinemummy.wordpress.com/about/
c.05 – http://robinclaire.wordpress.com/me/
c.06 – http://myselves33.wordpress.com/about/
c.07 – http://girlycamping.com/about/
c.08 – http://rubiesandduels.wordpress.com/about/

d. 11 6 7 8 questions to the bloggers I nominated (hey, it’s only fair they have less to answer if I’m nominating fewer of them, right?  There must be a correlation in there somewhere.  I used to be good at math to figure out those sorts of things but my brain doesn’t understand numbers anymore – something about too much time on the couch):
1. What is your name?  (How did you decide on the name you chose for your blog and your blogger personality?)
2. What is your quest?  (What is the purpose of your blog?  What do you write?  What do you get out of it?)
3. What is your favorite color?  (Seriously just asking about your favorite color.)
4. What is the average airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?  (This is sort of a bonus question – Google or Wikipedia might be able to help.  I will accept an answer for either the African or European variety.)
5. What is your favorite Monty Python movie or sketch?  And why?  (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge…)
6. How much do you hate lists?  (You can answer this question any way you like: comparison, a picture representation, with a list, a number on a scale (out of 5 out of 10 out of 42), etc…)
7. If you were a woodchuck, how much wood would you chuck?  (See question 6 for suggestions on acceptable answers.)
8. If you could be any character from TV or film, who would you be and why?  (Moe from the Simpsons so you could own your own bar?  Princess Leia from Star Wars because she looks good and knows how to fight?  Or Beatrix A Kiddo from Kill Bill for that matter?  Indiana Jones because he is awesome? etc…)

e. I Informed the bloggers I chose via the pingback links in section “c.”