The Great Bloggy Bling Orgy - Day 2

I am so rotten tired. C. Edison decided to cut power to the plant with virtually no warning and, naturally, given the changes we made over the weekend, we were not well postured to endure a power outage. It is 10 past 12 in the morning and I am just now home and putting today's post together. So forgive any typos, 'K? Because I can barely see straight. But I have Bruce Cockburn singing "All The Diamonds in the World" in my ears and I am relaxing now - for the first time today. So, let us start, shall we?

First of all, today we are giving away this:



There are normally rules associated with these - but I will give you but two rules:

(1)Give this to people whose blogs mean something special to you - or give it to the blogs whose persons mean something special to you. (2) Leave a comment on their blog so they know they got it. You get to pick the number of times you give it.

In no particular order:

Tiff of My Three Ring Circus. She has to be one of the bravest and strongest women I have seen out here. She has seven great kids, one of which touched the lives of almost every one of you, recently.

Veronica of Someday We Will Sleep, although Amy does reduce the possibility. And with a second child due in a few months, she is going to have yet fuller hands. A truly amazing young woman. She instigated the Internet Petition for Ivy that got the job done.

Michael of The Continuing Adventures of a Jedi Master. An Englishman and hard worker, raising his son and doing his best to overcome some strong difficulties. I admire his courage.

Shadow of 1 Door Away From heaven part II. A woman of South Africa who writes some of the MOST incredible poetry. She, also, possesses special strength and courage which I admire greatly.

Vikki of The Red Chair Gallery. She invented the Past Lives meme, and has been an inspirational and encouraging friend. She is an AMAZING artist, has done so many things in the past that you would probably recognize, and continues to astound with her Art. She is dear to my heart.

Mike of Ayewonder. He's a retired gentleman who can't think of anything better to do than contemplate going back to work. He lives in a paradise with a BEAUTIFUL wife and he often speaks of her between his 'political' pearls of wisdom - which I try to ignore. I love it, however, when he gets real and leaves the politics behind. But he is sharp.

Maggie of Maggie's Mind. A brilliant woman who has lived in the Far East, been a runaway, come home the prodigal, and has just completed the most incredible Haiku, detailing a good portion of her life, that you will ever want to read. She's quitting smoking.

Janet of The Planet of Janet. She details her life with her kids with such verve and panache you cannot help but love her. Don't tell anybody, but she is my personal Irma Bombeck, God rest her soul. Irma's, not Janet's. She has a while to go yet.

Kelley of Magneto Bold Too!. An Australian woman with balls of brass. Her son, Boo, keeps things interesting for her and she LOVES her some killer shoes.

Zoeyjane of Mommy is Moody. No bullshit. Straight off the top and tells it like it is. Amazing courage and intensity in a remarkable young woman.

And in closing ...

Lying here, next to you,
in darkness deep,
But wide awake love,
and unable to sleep,
I think of all,
that we've just done,
the agony ... the ecstasy,
the torment ... the fun,
and I realize why,
I can't sleep yet.
I haven't had
my
cigarette.

Obviously created in a day when I used to smoke. These days, sans cigarettes, I just nuzzle the most comfortable spot I can find and slowly, slowly, drift ... off ... to ... s l e e p .