Nice...

Today someone told me that I'm nice. Now, next to "sweet", that's one of the most flattering things I've had said about me. I'd really like to believe that some folks have that opinion of me.

Tressa, over at "Storms Whisper" is the kind Lady who bestowed that award on me today. You should check out the beautiful prose she lays out over on her blog. Coming from her, this is a genuine compliment.

I'd like to pay it forward now, and choose a couple of folks who I haven't tapped before.

Colleen, over at "My Life" is a very kind young Lady who is very involved in awareness efforts for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. I love generosity and kindness, both of which make someone nice, in my book.

Kristeee is a new Mommy, and she's also a blog friend who's always been very nice to me. She's over at "I'm Not Going Crazy"

Now I know that I said that I wanted to tap people who I've not given honors to before, but my conscience would never allow me to pass up this opportunity to cite a couple of people here today. They have been so utterly kind to me of late that I'm in the best kind of debt to them, that of gratitude. Kristen is a reader of mine who keeps a private Blog, so I won't link that, and Mamma, of course, is a "colleague" of sorts, who writes over at Love, Life and Logic. These two Ladies saw an opportunity to share some kindness and compassion, and they took it. My soul is in a better place today because of them. So thank you, Ladies, as always, for your friendship.

To Give And To Receive

One thing I've noticed about Blogging is that I get to enjoy myself and don't get yelled at a whole lot! I've enjoyed building these little friendships here, and they've made me smile a lot lately. There can never be anything wrong with that, right?

I'm privileged to share in not one, but two awards today. I'm so grateful to be made to feel welcome.

Justrandi, over at "Is It Just Me" presented me with this award:

Thank you so much. It's nice to know that my stuff here matters sometimes. I try :)

And Nancy, over at "Nancy's Nonsense of Nothingness" thought she would make my day with this award:

Guess what? She did. Yayyy. I think my Mom would be proud of these awards. Her big Dummy makes good and plays nice in the sandbox.
Of course, the rules dictate that Lippy shares his awards by naming his own recipients, so here goes:

For this Everyday Kindness award, I selected:

• Michelle, over at (((Reflections))). She is someone I just know makes a big difference in the lives of those around her with her acts of kindness. I always agree that truly great people do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.


• And my dear friend Allison, over at "Allison's Corner" Who qualifies automatically because I, personally, am a regular recipient of her kindness. I love her and she's a great friend to me, as well as a lot of other people. I'm sure no one would dispute this selection!


• My friend Cassie, who shows me on a daily basis what a best friend is all about. She has a private journal so I won't link it, and you'll have to take my word on it. :)


• My friend Emily, whose journal is also private. She has made it her business to make me smile and to remind me that I'm never alone.


• And my friend Erin over at Gillie Time. She never fails to brighten my day with her comments every time she visits.

Come back later for my selections for the other award. DO IT!

I'll be bock.

The Way Others See Us...

I had mentioned one time that the nicest description of me was the time someone called me a "sweet" guy. Now it would take a good eye to see through all my nonsense and come up with that description, but I really liked that someone thought of me that way. "Sweet" is good - I'll take it; in fact, if that were written on my gravestone, I'd die happy.

But someone else saw something in me recently that I found so flattering. My friend Holly bestowed this award on me:

And that really made my day. I don't have a lot going on lately, and I'm feeling a little out of the loop as far as the world is concerned, and I'll take a smile anytime.

I like to think that I do have a big heart. I'm not perfect, but I try not to do bad things on purpose. I try to go out of my way when things need to be done, and I like to think that I'm someone who can be counted on when the chips are down.

So thank you, Holly. As always, being around you is a really nice place to be.

I have to share this award, of course...blog awards are meant to be paid forward.

I haven't shared awards with a couple of people yet, and these are some folks with a nice, big heart.

Michele has always been a favorite of mine. She is a good, devoted and fun Mom to her kids, wife to her husband, and friend to me. She always knew when to ask how I was, and then stayed with me when I proceeded to whine.

Nancy is a good and trusted friend to me, but she's also a good wife and a GREAT pet owner. She's someone that no one would dispute as a choice in the big-heart category. She likes to get out there and actually meet her bloggin' buddies, and makes the effort where others might not.

Niki and Dave. Well, they don't have a blog (at least not one that they let me read!) but they have two of the biggest hearts I've ever had the privilege to be touched by. They took better care of me than I deserved all the months that I was an invalid, and stuck by me when a lot of other people didn't. I could never truly say that I was alone when they were around. They moved away some months ago, and I miss the hell out of them. We're going to have dinner soon, that's for sure.

Well that ends tonight's award show :) Back to the Idiot Show a little later on!

Flattery Works Sometimes

It's nice to know that sometimes what you do matters or makes a difference now and then, ya know?

Someone thinks ol' Stupid is funny! Mammamia over at "Thank Heavens For Little Boys" decided to award me the "Smirk Instigator Award" today. Thanks so much.

The way this award works:

* Add the Award graphic to your sidebar.

* Nominate up to 3 bloggers whose entries you read on a regular basis that consistently leave you with a lingering smile (and maybe a little snicker too!).

* Don't forget to leave an explanation as to why you're awarding them the Smirk Instigator Award!

* Don't forget to leave a courtesy link back to Tusk's original post (even if it's a link through the award graphic)

So now, my nominations for Smirk Awards...

1. Mary over at Just Mary who gets me grinning a whole lot with her clever stuff.


2. A reciprocal award back to Mammamia because she writes some of the things that make blog-reading a happy event now and then.


3. One of my favorite "reads for a smile" is Jaime, over at ChasenKids. She writes with a style all her own, and when she's in the mood to make you smile, look out. I love intelligent humor!

Mamma, thank you so much. That really made my night.