Yippee! I got The Sunshine Award!

My friends know I like to win. That I'm hyper competitive. That I don't like games of chance because then winning didn't take anything on my part except rolling a dice. I LOVE BLOG AWARDS. I think they're such a great way of spreading community around the blogosphere – we get to know tidbits about the recipient, we get to meet some of his or her friends as the award/love is passed on, and the giver gets a big THANK YOU.

Thank you goes to Click of Click's Clan

for this Sunshine award.  OK, some have said it's creepy, but a friend of mine is making me watch The Walking Dead, so I can deal with a baby burning up...

I just met this lovely lady from Scotland through the A-Z Challenge. Please pay her a visit. She is a delight!  

Here are the 11 Questions I'm to Answer

What inspired you to start blogging?

I've loved writing for as long as I can remember. To write a book has been a life goal since my teen years. I was getting old, you know, over 40...so I decided I needed a place where I'd be accountable. People would expect content, they could critique the content, and I'd improve my writing skills. I think it's working. What I had never counted on is the amazing companionship and love and support that's out there as we interact with other bloggers. That more than anything has helped me grow, enter writing contests, join blog hops, and explore many genres of writing I hadn't even heard of before.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?
I've been working on the whole gratitude and contentment thing for a while. I've needed to, or my medical issues might have done me in. So I try to be grateful for each day, look on the bright side, and find something good in whatever happens. I fail at this daily, but having a focus gives me at least a chance to succeed.

What is your favorite blog to read?

Impossible question, seriously. There are so many fantastic blogs out there, but I guess I do have to answer it, so I'll say WaystationOne. Brian Miller is an amazing poet and observer of the human condition. His little slice of life pieces are so vivid you can see the person, empathize, and step out of your own little safe world for a bit. He's also been an amazing friend. He reads EVERY blog post I write, and has been doing so since I started in 2010. I find him everywhere I go. He's got a bazillion followers, yet return visits every comment. Amazing guy with an amazing heart. Go say hi!

Tell us about your dream job.

Probably doesn't sound dreamy to most of you, but I'd like to go back to working as an office manager/HR head. That was a fun, varied, never a dull moment job and I miss it.

Is your glass half full or half empty?

It's dirty...my kids are behind on dishes as they finish end of the year projects and study for finals. Can't find my favorite, either. Seriously though, my glass is usually empty because it's hard to stay hydrated in Colorado, and I drink my chardonnay too fast ;-)

If you could go anywhere for a week’s vacation, where would you go?

I'd go to my family's property on the waterfront near Annapolis. We've owned this place since the 60s and it's nostalgic and wonderful. There's nothing better than spending a day on the water sailing, or crabbing to have dinner, or watching your kids being dragged behind the motor boat on various flotation devices and learning centripetal force...

What food can you positively not eat?

Lima beans. Ugh. Chalky and mealy and flavorless. It's about the texture.

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Neither, hypoglycemic. But before I knew that, I'd pick dark. Swedish dark chocolate is amazing, and my favorite is the orange infused.

How much time do you spend blogging?

If you ask my family, too much. In my opinion, not enough. I do try to block out two hours a day to visit others, return comments, and write my posts. Of course, during the Challenge, it was pretty much a full time job...but I loved it.

Do you watch t.v. and if so, what are your favorite shows?

I do watch TV, but only about an hour a day. I'm addicted to Food Network, so that's what I'd pick for by myself, and I usually allow myself a show while having lunch. Lately it's Chopped and Hell's Kitchen. When The Engineer and I watch, we alternate between Warehouse 13, The Walking Dead, and Torchwood. We were extremely sad when Eureka ended, and will never forgive them for canceling Firefly...

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I'm passing this award on to the 6 members of Tina's Terrific Team! I could not have survived the Challenge without your amazing help! You made my days sunnier! Thank you.

AJ Lauer of  Naturally Sweet

Andrea of  Maybe it's Just Me

      

Hilary Melton-Butcher of  Positive Letters...Inspirational Stories...

Jolie Du Pre of Precious Monsters

JoJo of Tahoma Beadworks and Photography

PV Ariel, aka Philip of philipscom

Your turn, team. Pass this on to 6 fellow bloggers who make your days sunnier. Here are the questions for them. 

What inspired you to start blogging?
How did you come up with the name of your blog?
What is your favorite blog to read?

Tell us about your dream job.

Is your glass half full or half empty?

If you could go anywhere for a week’s vacation, where would you go?

What food can you positively not eat?

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

How much time do you spend blogging?

Do you watch t.v. and if so, what are your favorite shows?

Thanks to all my readers and blogging friends for making this world such a supportive place!  I'd give you all an award!

~Tina