A Blog Rant About Blogging (and awards. See how that works?).

"Actually, don't be surprised if I blog more, and better quality."


Nobody thought it prudent to call my bluff?


Maybe the blogging honeymoon is over.  Mostly, I have other preoccupations.  Really boring ones that provide pretty lousy blog fodder.  I still love my Because or Why Not, though.  It just takes a lot of work and focus to write truly quality posts.  


Blogging has brought great things into my life.  Ideas, distraction, people, a really great creative outlet.  I'm not about to give that up.


You know what I haven't done for a while?  Just had a good rant.  And now I'm ranting about blogging.  Classy.  

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Here's a new one!  It comes from a fabulous blog Called The Far Too Important Blog.  Best off all, Jeff gave me "art."  Which makes it my best award ever (of course I had to go post that on my crappiest least-artistic post of the year).  Also got an award from another really good blog called Pretend You Don't Read Me.  How do they come up with such great names?  It's an award I've posted a few times already though, so I'll just tell you to go visit Ella.  She's very cool.


As usual, three blogs in my reader along these lines that I also recommend...


The Wayfaring Stranger- Sometimes Riley's attitude pisses me off, and best of all she really doesn't care.  I'd never say that to her face, because she makes it clear she could kick my butt.  Anyway, she writes a good social commentary blog from a point of view that's occasionally different then mine.  And she's inspiring through her go-getter attitude.  What's not to like?


The Curiosities of a College Kid-  I've always liked this guy, even though we've never spoken.  He's often amusing, but clearly intelligent.  Also, he provides some good insight seeing that he's in Senegal right now.


You Can Read Me Anything- I have loved Rish's blog for a long time now.  She is of substance herself, and that doesn't stop occasional raw heartfelt honesty combined with brilliant writing skills.  She's quite simply a passionate person and that comes across in her posts.  Do yourself a favour and go scan through what she's written.


Seriously though, they're all good.  And now, well, I'll have to connive some decent posting myself so the top of my page isn't a blog rant/award post.  It'll happen.  

Link Overload (In a Good Way)

So some pretty sweet bloggers have been linking me on their blogs.  Over, like, the last two months.  Yeah, that's how marvelous I am at passing on awards.

But well I'm here I may as well say a few things.  Shout-out to #69.  Follower, people.  She's redheaded riter.  Which is pretty awesome 'cause now I am too.  Well, you know, like heavily auburn.  It's the closest I could go well still looking halfway natural.  Check another one off.

Also, pretty sure my redhead friend got the awkwardness over and paved the way for #70.  She's also pretty impressive 'cause she found me on Twitter.  Anyway, see, followers seriously make my day.  I'm still excited every time I open my blog.  It's like blogger after-glow.  Thanks to you all.  Yes, I really wish I could link everyone.

So...  I suck at passing these things on.  I just like to tell you my favourite blogs.  And they'll probably never know.  Anarchist Project is posting this week.  I quite literally mean this week.  But he's so good!  And I also just discovered this new little blog Beat Up Boots. She has fifteen followers, which means you can be part of the discovery with me.  I'm still a little confused, but apparently 92% of what she posts is true.  Oh, and I totally am biased to Canadian bloggers.  Not sure why really...  Peter DeWolf writes poetry that even I think is hot.  I'm not a poem girl, so that's saying a lot.  And his really steamy stuff is even password protected.  At least, I assume that's why.  Between those three and my dear friends that awarded me (remember to click above) you've got your reading cut out for you.

And... oh yeah, and!  Remember The Big Give?  Of course you do.  It's underway with some classy competitors.  However, Mel has the Youtube channel underway.  Ok, so one movie is up.  But it's so cute! And I'm sure there'll be more to come.

I hope I haven't link fatigued you.  It's way too easy to go overboard.  I'm going away soon.  But only for a week.  So we need something to keep you going...  Cheers and all that good stuff!

Not an Award Post

Don't run away.  This is not an award post, and it's not a meme.  It's some sadist wondering where I think I'll be in ten years.

So, I like Alex.  Really, I do.  He's smart, artist, and really good at computers without being all geek about it.  He's also got his life together (as a theatre professional, photographer, and long-term relationship guy).

So, I read his post with a sort of fear and dread.  Yes, all justified.  Apparently Alex wants to know where I think I'll be in ten years.  Thanks, man.  Here we go.

I don't have a clue.  See, in ten years I'll be 33.  Thirty-three!  I have a hard time thinking past the summer.  Unlike many intelligent blogger friends I don't have a career.  I don't have an education, a kid or even a relationship (serious or otherwise).

All I do have is a vast array of experiences, a love of written words, a passion for challenges and a wanderlust.

I also have a bit of a fear of commitment.  Probably based on a strong sense of follow-through.  But that follow through is best served in, oh, eight month doses, for a stretch.

Last year I returned home from traveling around the world, failing to bond with my sister, and finally managing to heal from one heck of a boyfriend.  What I didn't realize was that this definite conquering of a life-time goal would leave me in such a predicament.  Do I want to settle down, farm, travel more, go to school?  I couldn't and can't decide.  I'm in the same place now, a few experiences richer and a year older.  The only thing I know is that sitting stagnant is hard on me.  Change is a necessity.   So, where ten years will take me I really can't say.

I could be married to a farm boy with a baby on my hip.  I could be living in an seventh story apartment rambling through assignments that are making me hate a topic I love.  Or I could be waitressing with a drive to see a new place and meet new people.

Know what?  I like it that way.  Maybe it'll hurt me in the end, but that thought of having a pretty good idea of ten years down the road kinda stresses me out.

Because I Like People

Dear Readers.

Did you think this was a real post?  It's not really, but please stick around anyway!  I think you're awesome for being here in the first place!  I have sixty followers now, not to mention subscribers, general lurkers, ect.  I think you're all great. Every single one of you has brightened my day by visiting, and liking my little blog.  I love that you comment, but I haven't managed to keep up with all of you.  I want to hear more!  Write my lame blogger address summercherry18@hotmail.com.  If you want to criticize productively, that's awesome.  Do you think my blog should stick more with a general theme?  Or send me your twitter, blog, whatever.  Just put something about blogging in the topic.

As we all know, there are some pretty awesome people out there.  I've been privileged to meet a few of them since I started Because or Why Not back in April.  We also know we can't do it alone.

I've linked Mel from Mel Learns Her Lesson a few times, but I haven't actually told you to go read it.  Which you certainly should do.  She's a lovely Aussie chick who is witty, concise, and is almost guaranteed to make every post worth your while.  If Internet adventures are possible, Mel is my one of my favourite people to have them with.  She created the banner you see up here on my blog.  She's good like that!  And, look, she gave me this.

Now, her and I travel in the same blogger circles (ie 20sb chat), so she's already awarded it to most of my really good blogger friends (you know who you are.  I love you guys, too!).  I just want to add a a few more.

Alex from IceWolf's Ramblings.  Essentially one of my first online blogger friends, Alex is straight-forward, always calm, and will bring you thoughtful ramblings on his life of theatre, photography, and the outdoors.  What's not to like?

Tall Brunette from The Northwest Girl.  I've actually only chatted with this girl a few times.  But I want to link her blog because a) She's cool and from Portland and b) her last post is searing.  I'm serious.  Read it for that reason if no other.

Jeffrey from The Far Too Important Blog.  Jeff is intelligent, and will make you smile. If you scan his posts you'll find the really good ones.

Kisekae from Diary of a Doll.  She is a doll.  Just look at her!  And she's also from my home province. So it goes without saying that she's pretty awesome.

Sorry if I've gone overboard.  I couldn't help it, it was hard to stop here!  You're computer is faster then mine.  So you can visit those all.  Don't forget to come be my friend, as well.  I'll bring you a real post tomorrow.  Lot's of blog love!

Me in Threes

The truly worthwhile Risha (yup, the same who's got the list going with me) has tagged me in that list of three thing that's going around like the flu.  I'm quite pleased, actually, since I was being to lazy to think of something to write by myself.  So we're off.

Three names I go by:


1. Kris.  I almost shouldn't count this as I'm rarely called my full name.
2. Cristina.  Or some variation if I'm in Mexico or Qc.
3. Canada.  Because everyone gets their home country when they travel.

Three jobs I’ve had:

1. Construction assistant.  That was back in highschool, and again at a heritage villiage
2. Recreation co-ordinator at extended care.  Through a volunteer program.
3. Milker/farmhand.  Longest held to date.

Three places I’ve lived:

1. A school bus in Mexico.  Six months at most.
2. Marathon Ontario.  For three months.  Active little mining town on lake superior.
3. The Negev, Israel.  But only well I volunteered there for a month.

Three favourite drinks:

1. Freshly squeezed orange juice.  Peferably from Morrocco or Mexico.
2. Horchata.
3. Chia.

Three TV shows I watch:

I actually very rarely watch t.v.  When I do it's often a classic comedy or occasionally some form of reality, I'm afraid. We'll say,
1. Sienfeld
2. Project Runway
3. Friends

Three places I’ve been:

1. Bulgaria
2. Jordan
3. Laos

Three places I’d like to visit:

1. Peru.  Or South America in General.
2. Sudan
3. Cambodia

Three favourite retro TV shows:

Again with the t.v. shows...  Are these retro yet?
1. Sienfeld
2. Frasier
3.Nope.  Just two...

Three favourite dishes:

1. Thai curries
2. Anything my Mexican neighbors would cook.
3. chocolaty peanutbuttery cheesecakey stuff

Three things I’m looking forward to:

1. Moving into my house.
2. Creation Fest.  Hopefully.
3. Summer

Three people I’m tagging:

1. Bobby.  Inside the Mind of BooyaBobby
2. Joy.  Chocolate Chips & Vice Grips
3. Ella.  The STUPIDEST corner of my mind.

All right, guys.  Do your thing.  But I warn you, now that I'm done it's not actually a lazy blog post.  You'd be much better to spew off something poetic.

Also Mish and,again, Rish awarded me this!  How great is it that they rhyme?  There are some good links here.  Click, people!  However, I'll just thank them and leave it there since I've already recieve this one.

My my, an award!

Well.  I pretend to be cool and scoff at awards.  And, it's true.  By their very nature every blogger should recieve every award at one point or another.  But honesty forces me to confess that I get kinda excited to see that comment that tells me I got an award.  I can't help it.  Who doesn't like to be recognized, linked, and have a pretty little picture to stick up on their blog?

Also, today is a pretty good award day.  I have neither the time nor energy for a real post.  So let's make this quick and painless.  I received today's award from the lovely Ella at The STUPIDEST Corner of my Mind.  Click that link.  It's worth it, 

This award comes with rules... (did I mention that I find it quite amusing that I won a positivity award?)

The Sunshine Award: The Sunshine Blog Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blog world. The rules for accepting the award are:


1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post
2. Pass the award to 5 bloggers
3. Link the nominees within your post
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award
6. Share 5 things about yourself

I will use this as a usual opportunity to tell you who you must read...
Holly from Love Imagine Create is definitely positive.  She writes about very difficult life experiences, and overcoming them.
Christy is so damn ambitious and motivated that it's a little bit contageous, 25 before 25.
Kerrie has a blog I just found that's very pretty and has pictures of cookies over at She Wrote for the Sea
You want positive?  Man, Tasha's blog is called Cheers to Hope!
And Amber.  Yeah, her blog, Le Meh, isn't positive at all.  In fact, she'll probably be pissed if she finds out she want a positive flower award.  But, hey, we have to balance this thing out somehow.

Myself...
1. I don't like olives.  I can't help it.  I've tried to like them without success.
2. I never took a commercial flight until I was 19.
3. My first car had a beautiful handpainted flame job.  It was an experiment car.
4. I dislike screamo, most country, and a majority of electronica.
5. I once won a prize in hula hoop.

Have a great weekend everyone!

First things first.  I got an award today!  It came from 25 before 25 (who has, btw, a worthwhile blog) So, many thanks for that!
These awards seem much like chain letters to me, with the way they are usually passed on to at least three other recipients.  But it's fun to have you own blog recognized, and also fun to suggest some of your favourites.

Now, because this is an award post I will share some of my favourite other blogs worth reading (they are, in this case, restricted to females.  Because this is one very pink award.)
No Day but Today
My Quarter-life Crisis
Apartment 513 (who has a large # of followers already, but a very pretty blog)