Sweet! An Award!

All my bitchin' has caused an itchin'. My dear Blogger Friend FireByrd has sent me an Award! It is my first :D I am a happy camper and can now die peacefully knowing I have recognition!

I am very honored and yes I will play!

So, here we go:

The award is the Kreativ Blogger award and the rules are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
Thank you FireByrd!!! I am so tickled and I feel validation! You are so kind & I do love reading your Blog.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Done

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
Okay, lets see if I do this correct:
http://byrdonfire.blogspot.com/

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
hmm. not easy.
I blog about myself, so, much of this may be known.

1~I grew up with a Father that was Handicapped
2~I spent my summers from 12 - 17 yrs old, with my Grandparents in Texas
3~ I learned to drive in graveyards, with a stick shift car
4~I went to college @ Vincennes University to become a Special Ed Teacher, but ran out of money & had to drop out.
5~I worked at The Indiana School for the Deaf and know Sign Language
6~I almost married the wrong guy (Thank God that DIDN'T happen!)
7~My Husband STILL makes me giddy & I am more in love today than the day we married.

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
Several come to mind but I am going to hit Bloggers that haven't received Blogging awards to my knowledge.

1~ Sheri from Riley Writings http://rileywritings.blogspot.com/
Because of her, I started my Blog. She rocks my world! Bestie~Lifer

2~Mark from Pirate's Bay http://markspiratebay.blogspot.com/
I know Mark from High School, and found him again through BlogWorld. He is one of the best writers! And reminds me of Sergio. These guys will truly be friends if we ever get together!

3~Pam from Scott's Place http://www.scottys-place.blogspot.com/
My first BlogWorld friend. I love her Blog! I love her. I feel like she is my long lost friend. She has talent oozing from her fingers. Crafts, culinary, sister animal lover, and can make me laugh till I snort!

4~Brooke from Brookies Cookie Jar http://brookiecookies.blogspot.com/
She makes me feel like family. I LOVE her photo journals of her loving family. She also educates me on tours. It's like a mini vacation or a visit for coffee when I stop by her corner of BlogWorld.

5~Linda from Over The Fence http://my-over-the-fence.blogspot.com/
My awesome, smart, Laura Ingalls twin~ oh are you sure we are not sisters separated at birth Blog Friend. Linda has a wonderful writing gift that takes me back...sometimes listening to her tell of her daughter and her relationships and situations (oh I hear you! I was just there not so long ago!) and sometimes she takes me back to my youth. Pictures and all. Oh my, Linda, I remember that too!

6~Wizz from An English Shepard http://anenglishshepherd.blogspot.com/
a charming true story of a United Kingdom English Shepard puppy's journey into adulthood. Her many adventures. Seeing things through her eyes. And educating us on her breed. I find it enchanting. She is beautiful, her story is so worthy to check out.

7~Nathan, my Young Rocker from Nathan's Blog http://napierson.blogspot.com/
This is where to go to get inside a college man's head. He is bright, funny, can play the guitar, write music, sing, and he happens to bring smiles to my youngest daughter as her boyfriend. He is super-busy, but worth being patient for. Because when he writes, you will smile!

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
see above

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.
Whew! this is taking me forever. Okay let me go let my peeps know!

Thank you again FireByrd. You made my day. Sorry to everyone for my whining all the time. I love BlogWorld. It is my venting, am I crazy or what~ thank you for making me feel normal world.

Good Night y'all!

Acceptance

I am constantly trying to get acceptance. I want people to like me. I want my family to like me. I want strangers to like me.
I am a people pleaser, for the most part. I am one of those souls that will seek out the lonely, the shy, as well as the mover & shakers. I introduce people. I make sure they are familiar, comfortable and happy.
I like people. I find everyone interesting. I like to know the who, what, and where. I want to know your story. I like to find the good in everyone. I see a potential friend and go from there.

I am lucky with friendships.
I have been Blessed with friends from childhood, from my twenties, my thirties, and my forties. Friends that are very young and friends that are very old. I have a story about everyone I know. I cherish my friends and I cherish what makes them happy. If they are unhappy, I try to turn frowns into smiles. I am a goof, and know how to make you laugh.

I also, for the most part, am friends with my family. I treat them as I want to be treated and expect no more, no less. I like to think that my girls get some of this from me as I see them do the same.

My Sergio is loved and known by everyone. Well, actually he has a few enemies, but even they "like" him somewhat, and most definitely respect him. In his business, he will always have a few people against him and what he stands for. He handles it with such grace, and I admire him so for that. He too has "Besties" or "Lifers" that have been with him for 40+ years.

My Emily has friends from grade school and high school as well as college. She has been blessed and I have seen her friends be there for each other. She has some wonderful lifers within her girlfriends (and a few guy friends too).

My Annie has also manage to keep friends from grade school as well as high school. As her college journey begins, she will no doubt make some incredible friendships and memories to come.

Blooming the friendships
For as much as I do, friendships take alot of work. They need tending much like a garden. I have to feed & water them (with love and consideration). I need to care for them.
And on those rare occasions, I need to weed out the bad. Now, don't get pissy with me. It takes alot, to get me to weed someone out. However, sometimes a person is toxic. Can drag you down. Or like a weed, choke the life out of the delicate.

For me, acceptance is too important. I can't seem to let things go when they don't go according to plan. If I feel unliked or unwanted it gets to me and I over-analysis it. "What did I do? What didn't I do? Why didn't they ask me? Why am I feeling like this friendship is one sided?" Why can't I just have a, "whatever will be will be" attitude?

I have such low self-esteem and issues about pleasing others. If you met me, you would never know.

Even with the Blog, I often worry and wonder what people think or if they do at all.

I realize I have so much and to want more is ridiculous. What the Hell is wrong with me? Why do I feel everyone must approve and accept me? Why can't I learn to be proud and happy of who, what, and where I am?

Scotty's Place Blog

My favorite Blogger Friend is Pam from Scotty's Place.
http://www.scottys-place.blogspot.com/
She is fabulous! Hilarious! Smart! Witty! And she is very Talented.
You must check out her Blog. She writes very well and always brings a smile to my face. She shares wonderful recipes, dog stories, and knitting projects. She has a gift of gap and I love reading her blog.
She is a Knitting Queen. All Hail Queen Pam because this gal is the Bomb. She very generously has shared some of her ware with me. Recently, because of my jealous co-workers wanting my cup-cozies, Pam sent me a few to share with my office-mates.
This is a shot of our cozies together.
I have happy campers in my office aisle.
So, again, Pam, I thank you! I could so market these in the Mid-west for you!
Indiana Wants You!

Copycat~Copyright

My fellow Bloggers & Writers. Please advise me as I am baffled.

What exactly is meant by "Copyright"? My trusty Dictionary defines Copyright as following: "exclusive legal right to print, publish, perform, film, or record material. protected by copyright." I by no means, ever, ever mean to copy something that I should not. I always give credit to who what & where. BUT, I don't always ask for permission.

That is where the gray area is for me.

My little Blog is by far not extraordinary. I have a very small following. I have very few comments. I am green with envy at some of my Blogger friends with their many followers and dozens of comments. I can't even imagine, having people interested in me and what I have to say. For the most part, I write to express my feelings. To feel "normal" and to share things I find that are helpful, frightful, and or interesting.

Sometimes I write about a product. A book. Or an article. Sometimes I add a photo of what I am reading and give my review. Is that wrong? Am I infringing on copyright laws?

This evening I started to photocopy the cover of a current book I am enjoying and caught the "copyright" information ...."this book may not be reproduced in whole or part, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage & retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher."

I really don't mean to sound silly, but, does that mean I can't write my reviews, have photos of books, and such? I am confused!

Please advise your opinion of what is the proper Blog etiquette! Your knowledge on this is much appreciated.
I really don't want to be a Copycat
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