Recently I received several blogging awards and put off posting about them. I am, as always, both honored and overwhelmed. I often feel like a poseur, hanging out with a crowd of really cool bloggers and good writers. (That would be all of you.)
The rules are, as you know, the overwhelming part. So, no surprise here, I’m going to cheat. I’ve already listed so many things about myself in previous posts, I can’t think of anything interesting to say. Besides, I don’t want to put anyone to sleep with an overly long post.
But we’ll use a (cheating) variant on the new “Ask Me Anything Award” to cover that. You should feel free to ask questions in a comment, and I’ll attempt to answer them honestly and fully. Time constraints and my introverted personality won’t allow me to answer too many or those that are too personal (thus the cheating as you’ll see if you read the full rules below). But I will answer two or three, to the best of my ability, in another post. Any other questions could be used to provide information for any future awards (if anyone is still inclined to forward them to me with all the cheating I do).
The awards are:
The Thanks for Writing Award by Waldo Tomosky
The Kreativ Blogger Award by Kate Policani
The Ask Me Anything Award by Kindredspirit23
and
The Beautiful Blogger Award by Limebird Writers
Without further ado, my awardees are listed here. You should all feel free to ignore or accept the awards as you desire. My goal, as always, is to introduce you to blogs you may also enjoy.
Thanks for Writing
Kreativ Blogger
Writing: A Conversation Without Interruptions
Ask Me Anything
Beautiful Blogger
If you haven’t yet visited some of these blogs, please do so. You won’t be disappointed.
The Inevitable Rules
For those awardees who want to follow the “official rules,” they’re listed below. If you simply want to run away and hide like some of my characters did this spring, that’s fine, too. I totally understand. 
Saturday we’ll return to regularly scheduled programming (and some nice photos).
Thanks for Writing and Beautiful Blogger
1. Thank the person who gave you the award
2. Paste the award on your blog
3. Link to the person who nominated you for the award
4. Nominate your choice of bloggers
5. Post links to the blogs you nominated
Kreativ Blogger
1. Thank the nominator and link to their blog
2. List seven things that readers might find interesting about me
3. Nominate seven other bloggers
Ask Me Anything
1) Post the picture on your blog.
2) Link the picture back to the person who nominated you.
3) Nominate 2-3 others; Link the nominations back to them.
4) Create 2 posts: The first is an accepting of the award and telling people to put in the comments for this post questions about anything concerning you, and you will honestly answer them (nothing vulgar, please).
5) Answer them in your next post. At least 1 paragraph to each question. Be detailed and informative. If you really don’t like the question, be creative about the answer. Do the first 5-6 in a first blog and 5-6 more in a second blog. If there are a lot, you can decide if you want to do a third; the award creator would.
stuartart
/ June 19, 2012Well done you.
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thank you, Stuart!
Vanessa Chapman
/ June 19, 2012Congrats! Ok…
If you could choose to be remembered for one thing only, what would it be?
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thanks, Vanessa!
Okay, that’s a good question. Stay tuned for next Tuesday. 
4amWriter
/ June 19, 2012Congratulations on all your awards. You really do deserve the recognition, but I understand how awkward it feels to be holding award ceremonies for yourself, lol. You listed some blogs I haven’t yet seen, so I’ll have to make a couple of rounds today
Okay, I have a question. It’s a standard, boring question so it shouldn’t cause too much stress
If you were stranded on a tropical island, list the following things you’d want to have with you: one friend; one mode of entertainment; one survival tool; one food; one skill.
char
/ June 19, 2012Not that you’re asking me, Kate, but I’d pick a friend. Talking to a volleyball named Wilson would get boring.
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Hmm, that’s a very good consideration….
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thanks, Kate!
That’s a good question, too. Next Tuesday’s post will reveal the answer. 
annewoodman
/ June 19, 2012Awesome. Thanks for the shout-out!
Hmmm. I guess I would ask something about your work… what was a meaningful moment for you during your archaeological career? (Did you find something amazing, realize something or change somehow as a result of your work?)
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thanks, Anne, and you’re welcome!
There’s a definite interest in the archaeology side of my life in these questions—I think I’m comfortable answering questions like yours. Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s post. 
Julie
/ June 19, 2012Congratulations! And thank you for the nomination
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thanks, Julie, and you’re welcome!
I think most of my nominees have seen the post before I’ve been able to contact all of you! 
Julie
/ June 19, 2012It’s because we love your blog enough to camp out
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Aww, blush.
Margarita
/ June 19, 2012Congratulations! Nice company you’re keeping!
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thank you Margarita!
And I agree, these are some excellent bloggers. I always worry that I’m slighting someone (multiple someones!) every time I do this. But it’s just not realistic to nominate every blog I follow. I do try to mix them up. 
Margarita
/ June 19, 2012Yes, also, it can be overwhelming to try to check everyone out! Nice of you to space them a bit!
crubin
/ June 19, 2012Congrats on all of the awards. They are well-deserved.
My question for you is, do your work colleagues know you write fiction, or do you keep it to yourself?
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thanks, Carrie!
You know how it is for us modest Midwestern girls. 
Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s post, when the answer shall be revealed!
crubin
/ June 19, 2012I look forward to it!
Lisa Ann Hayes
/ June 19, 2012Congrats on all the awards (and none of us are surprised).
And thanks for the Beautiful Blogger nomination. My question is to the Archaeologist! What is your favorite discovery and why?
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thanks, Lisa, and you’re welcome!
You are definitely deserving, too. And you’re not the only one curious about the archaeologist, either. I’ll be covering this question in next Tuesday’s post. 
Lisa Ann Hayes
/ June 19, 2012theforgottenwife
/ June 19, 2012Congratulations on the awards! They are much deserved!
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thank you so much!
I really do feel humbled that people enjoy my blog enough to nominate me for these. I hope I can keep things fresh and interesting over the long haul. 
Kourtney Heintz
/ June 19, 2012Congratulations on all your awards!
Thank you for nominating me as well.
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thanks, Kourtney, and you’re welcome!
Some of these are newer awards, and I haven’t seen them make the rounds of bloggers I regularly follow like you. I try not to give people too many duplicates. 
char
/ June 19, 2012Thanks for the nomination. I don’t think I’ve got this award yet, so even more fun! I loved your sites you nominated–there were some good ones when I browsed through them all. My question for you is: Are you an Indiana Jones fanatic (since he was an archaeologist–and if I’m mixing up my ‘ologists’ then please forgive me)? or do you pick movies like that apart because Hollywood gets things wrong?
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012You’re welcome, Char!
I saw you didn’t have this one, so I thought it was a good one for you. As I noted to Kourtney above, it’s nice not to do too many duplicates.
Ah, Indy.
I’ll let you know in next Tuesday’s post!
kindredspirit23
/ June 19, 2012I feel you have kept the spirit of the awards. Don’t call it cheating; call it innovating.
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Innovating is a nicer sounding word, isn’t it?
We’ll see how the next round of recipients handle the questions. 
mskatykins
/ June 19, 2012Hey JM – many, many congratulations on all these well deserved awards! Thank you so much for the shout out, I’m very excited about this nomination and I will gladly accept it and pass it on! Thank you!
Okay, a question:
If you could travel to any time, any place, where would it be and what would you hope to achieve/experience there?
(Sorry, that was like a sneaky double question!)
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thank you, and you’re welcome, Kate!
That is an awesome question, especially for someone who’s writing about time travel. Next Tuesday’s post is going to have an interesting mix of information in it! 
robincoyle
/ June 19, 2012I am tickled over this new award. Thank so JM, thank you. You should NOT feel awkward about accepting these awards. NOT ever!
My question: What are you making for dinner tonight? I need to go grocery shopping and I don’t have a clue about what to make for dinner. I need some ideas. I hope you say you are making “dinner reservations.”
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012No reservations tonight
We’re having lemon and herb-marinated salmon filets with potatoes and salad.
And no, I didn’t make the marinade. The frozen filets are wrapped with it in plastic
A very simple dinner, actually!
robincoyle
/ June 19, 2012Sounds lovely. Trader Joe’s by chance?
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Omaha Steaks.
They’re not just for red meat!
robincoyle
/ June 19, 2012Ah ha! You reminded me I have Omaha Steaks in freezer. Thank you.
Ileandra Young
/ June 19, 2012Congratulations to you and thank you very much all in one breath.
If I ever get a real moment spare I’ll be able to slap up a post with my response^_^
jmmcdowell
/ June 19, 2012Thank you, and you’re very welcome!
You’ve got your hands full with those lovely twin boys, so please don’t feel pressured to accept or to respond quickly! The boys will be grown up before you know it, so enjoy these early moments to their fullest. 
Ileandra Young
/ June 19, 2012Hands full is right; its mad when they both want a cuddle at the same time!
Thanks again. ^_^
laurastanfill
/ June 19, 2012Congrats on all these awards and thanks for the nomination! I love your cheating and it’s interesting to read everyone’s questions. It’ll be even more fun to check out your answers!
jmmcdowell
/ June 20, 2012Thanks, Laura, and you’re welcome!
These things are “a bit” of work, but they are a great way to find new blogs. I’m already working on next Tuesday’s answers. 
laurastanfill
/ June 20, 2012I agree about finding new blogs, and I love accepting so I can champion blogs I enjoy reading. I look forward to looking at your winners’ pages when I have a little more time!
subtlekate
/ June 20, 2012Congratulations
jmmcdowell
/ June 20, 2012Thanks, Kate!
We’re all missing you.
Elliot
/ June 20, 2012Congrats on the awards
jmmcdowell
/ June 20, 2012Thanks, Elliot!
Brigitte
/ June 20, 2012You so deserve these; been meaning to tell you that! Forgive me for the late comment! Keep posting because I truly do read them!!
Don’t ever worry about slighting bloggers, you among so many are a friendly group and when one wins awards/accolades it truly makes those of us who love what you do proud and happy. Am I following you? I thought I was, but i’m clicking the following thing just to make sure.
Okay, so for the ask me anything award — Imagine your life as a writer was made into a movie — who would play YOU?
jmmcdowell
/ June 20, 2012Thanks, Brigitte!
You did recently follow me, but sometimes WP notifications go wonky. I couldn’t figure out why some bloggers weren’t doing new posts—turns out my email notifications for them got switched to “never!”
Hmm, I’ve got someone in mind to play me, I think! That’ll be in next Tuesday’s post.
sweetmother
/ June 21, 2012thank you, lady friend. and i will do this one. SERIOUSLY. i need something new to post about anyway. so, many thanks. and much love, sm
jmmcdowell
/ June 21, 2012If anyone can help a new award pick up momentum, it’s you, SM! And I bet the questions that come in from your readers could give you a year’s supply of posts.
sweetmother
/ June 21, 2012that’s worth it alone… a year’s supply of posts! lol. xo, sm
Clowie
/ June 22, 2012Congratulations! I’m looking forward to checking out some new blogs now.
jmmcdowell
/ June 22, 2012Thanks, Clowie!
I hope you’ll enjoy the answers to the questions, too, next week.
philosophermouseofthehedge
/ June 25, 2012Congrats on the awards – well deserved! (and post completed: Whew.) Impressive!
jmmcdowell
/ June 25, 2012Thanks, Mouse!
Part two — the answers to the questions — arrives tomorrow. Hopefully I won’t put you all to sleep!