I’M SO PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

awards, finding common ground, polarized times 3 Minutes

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Dracul Van Helsing recently nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award.
Thank you so much, Dracul, for your support of my blogging efforts.

Dracul’s blog can be found at https://draculvanhelsing.wordpress.com.

He writes fantastical and incredibly complex (often hilarious) tales interwoven with past and present world events, each story closing as follows: “—A vampire novel chapter written by Christopher.” He also writes some very good poetry.
I encourage everyone to visit his blog; I believe that, like me, you’ll marvel at his versatility.

WHAT IS THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD?
“The Versatile Blogger Award was created to celebrate blogs that have unique content, strong writing, and beautiful images or photographs.”

[A brief divergence from the format: Writers are generally advised to “write what you know,” and to find a niche and develop expertise, so I thought I was being undisciplined by just following my curiosity wherever it takes me—sometimes well beyond my comfort zone. But that’s what I wanted to do, and I love learning about new topics. Since I’m the boss here, that’s what I’m doing. And now I’m being honored for my versatility. Who knew?]

RULES
-Thank the person who gave you the award.
-Include a link to their blog.
-Select 7 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
-Nominate those bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
-Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

[I stress that these nominations do not imply that I agree with all the sentiments expressed by these bloggers. Often, I strongly disagree. But I feel they have interesting things to say and frequently include wonderful photos, and I enjoy reading their blogs.]

I’M FORWARDING THIS AWARD TO:
https://jpcavanaugh.com
https://lensdiary.blog
https://www.juliaelizabethblog.com
https://leavingfootprintseverywhere.wordpress.com
https://myexpressionofthoughtsblog.wordpress.com
https://creativityoverloaders.wordpress.com
https://ginisnaturenews.com

7 THINGS ABOUT ME
1. I am one happy blogger: I love the writing, the research, the dialogue with my readers, and the sense of being part of this wonderful international blogging community.
2. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be surrounded by caring people: my immediate family, extended family, and friends from various times in my life—some of whom I’ve reconnected with via this blog.
3. My musical tastes are diverse, including (I’m mixing composers and performers) Beethoven and Chopin, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, Audra McDonald and Lady Gaga.
4. The most extraordinary non-fiction book I’ve read recently is An Odyssey: A Father, A Son, and an Epic, by Daniel Mendelsohn.
5. The most enjoyable novels I’ve read recently are The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante (author’s true identity remains a matter of controversy, but who cares?).
6. I’m an unabashed bleeding heart liberal (now progressive) who weeps at the thought of babies torn from their mothers’ arms and of the senseless ending of so many innocent lives by people armed with grudges and automatic weapons that should only be in the hands of the military.
7. I am deeply concerned about the apparent fragility of our democracy and the polarization that divides us, but I continue to believe that deep down—beyond the fear and anger—we humans all have similar needs and wants. And I fervently hope we find leadership that will inspire us and focus on the things that unite us: that vast area of common ground.

________________

Memo to all, especially my non-blogging subscribers: As you know, annieasksyou emphasizes dialogue, so although this format is different from what you’re used to, please feel free to register your thoughts, comments, and likes as always.

Next week, with gratitude to Christopher (aka Dracul Van Helsing) for nominating me for not one, but two awards, we return to our customary format, covering a topic that will once again demonstrate my lack of discipline/versatility.

Annie

Published by annieasksyou

I've been a nonfiction writer for many years, exploring diverse topics that pique my curiosity, as noted in my first blog posting (Greetings!). I'm seeking dialogue with others committed to joining me in this exploration, sharing my conviction that different views can be exchanged in a respectful, civil discourse where we can learn from one another and be agreeable, even when we disagree. These postings depend for their enrichment on your participation: your ideas, insights, knowledge, opinions, and personal stories.

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19 thoughts on “I’M SO PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD”

    1. Thanks so much, Gail—your support means a lot.

      Hope you enjoy the book s I praised. I found the Mendelssohn book amazing on so many levels, but it’s not to everyone’s liking.
      Cheers!
      Annie

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    1. Denise—
      Your encouragement is so—well, encouraging! Deeply appreciated.

      It sure is a cool, interconnected world—and great to focus on the positive aspects when we can.
      Cheers!
      Annie

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    1. Hey, Cindy—

      Thank you! So nice to see you here. Maybe you’ll be tempted to insert comments on my posts containing your wit and wisdom on occasion—I hope, I hope…

      Cheers!
      Annie

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  4. Annie,
    Congrats on your dual nominations and resulting celebrity status.
    I think most of us share your concerns (#’s 6 & 7) even those of us who may not actually be labeled ‘bleeding heart liberals’.
    We should keep the optimism.

    Reconnected friend, Don

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    1. Hi, Don—

      Thanks very much for your kind words. Celebrity status? Well, I ‘m grateful for the encouragement of my work.

      I hope you’re right that most share my concerns #s 6 & 7 because maybe positive changes will thereby occur. I’m all for retaining the optimism—I see that as a necessary mindset for making those positive changes a reality.

      Good to be reconnected, Don!

      Cheers!
      Annie

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  6. Thank you for your glowing appraisal of my work, Annie.

    I very much enjoyed reading the 7 things about you.

    Your mention of Ella Fitzgerald in your musical favourites I noticed.

    That blog post last night where I mentioned Ella Fitzgerald I had written without reading this post of yours.

    I guess this is an example of what Carl Jung talked about in relation to synchronicity of minds.

    This was a great and interesting post.

    Looking forward to reading more of your diverse work next week.

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    1. I’m both grateful for and delighted by your support of my writing. And if our coincidentally dual mention of Ella Fitzgerald is indicative of the synchronicity of minds, well, your fine mind is one I’m happily in synch with.

      I had another thought about your description of the Kraken in one of your most recent posts, which I shall note on your blog where it belongs. Thanks again, Christopher.

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    1. Thank you ! I just received the notice that you’ve joined me, so a hearty welcome to Annieasksyou! I hope you’ll visit as often as you can and comment as you see fit. And you be safe too!
      Cheers,
      Annie

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