Cheers & Applause

I was completely taken aback this morning to learn that my soul sister, newscoma, nominated me for a Thinking Blogger Award!

The kind words she said absolutely made my day. I have not considered myself in the same league as the others she nominated, so it truly means a lot that she thought of me.

So now, I get the honor of nominating five blogs that make me think, and that I just can’t get enough of! So many of the blogs I love have already been nominated, and so I am going to pick ones that I don’t think have been recognized yet (and if they have already, well…bonus for them!).

1. Finnspace by Finn: I wasn’t very familiar with Finn’s blog until I met her a couple of months ago…and I am so glad I did! The thing about Finn is that she is just “real”. She is not afraid to pour out her soul for the reader to drink. She writes beautiful poetry, is a talented photographer, and includes a variety of subjects to think about. I can truly relate to her, and that feels good. Here is an example of a post that really affected me.

2. Coyote Chronicles by Mack: Well now. Where do I even begin. I met Mack back in December, and had no idea of the amazing things he had accomplished in being an advocate for the Hispanic community. I have learned so much through reading his insight on the condition of the immigration system in our country, the current political climate, and the social condition. The most inspiring posts are those in which he shares his personal experiences and how they have shaped him as a person. Mack can paint a picture with his words that makes the reader feel like they were right there with him, and are all the better for it. Here is an example of a post that has really affected me.

3. How about you just call me Linda? by, um, Linda: Besides having what I think just might be the cutest almost-one-year-old baby boy on the planet, Linda’s blog is chock full of interesting posts about such subjects as motherhood, family, helpful hints, her favorite things, and sharing her vast knowledge of information technology. If it had not been for Linda, I would not have discovered how useful the Google Reader could be in navigating through the blogs and other sites you want to track — and what a huge timesaver that is! It opened a whole new world in getting the most out of it all. Here is an example of a post that has really affected me.

4. prisonlawinsideout by jailhouselawyer: John Hirst is one of my two favorite Britishmen! It’s okay, he understands that my other favorite has the last name of Gibb. He reached out to me after he discovered my post on visiting Death Row. John has an amazing life story, and provides unique insight on everything from the condition of the criminal justice system worldwide to the politics of war. His blog is an entertaining mix of “law, politics, autobiography and humour.” Definitely worth checking out. Here is an example of a post that has really affected me.

5. A Whiff of Smiff by Sista Smiff: Sista’s blog is SO fun! I always know that whenever there is news about our town, the music industry, the latest events happening in pop culture, and best of all, her personal reflections on this life and the next, I go to Sista. Not only do I appreciate the content of her blog, I respect her as a person. Here is an example of a post that really affected me.

So now, I tag each of my nominees to recognize 5 blogs that make you think. Try to nominate blogs that have not yet been recognized so we can share the love!

Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules along to the blogs you are tagging.

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the origin of this award,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote.

Have fun!