A blogging award

I was tagged by Dawn for the “Stylish Blogger Award".  I didn’t yell at her because it’s been a long time since I’ve been tagged like this, and also because she is such a sweet lady that I just couldn’t be too upset with her.  :) 











This is a pay-it-forward style award. Here are the rules:
    1.    Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this.
    2.    Share 8 things about yourself
    3.    Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered (or not so recently)
    4.    Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards.
Okey-dokey, here we go ....

    1.    Have truck, will travel. Of course you know this already. But you don’t know how ready that truck is to travel! Now, if I’m going to be gone for a few days,  still have to pack clothing, but everything I might need otherwise is there. Coming from a family where the father preached preparedness, I usually am. There is a litany of emergency items to cover almost all situations: tools, tire inflation device and a can of the stuff to spray in the tire to do a temporary fix, antifreeze, washer solution, deicer, long handled window washer/ice scraper, about everything imaginable to cover breakdown and most weather conditions that might effect me. Inside are  bottles of water for drinking, gatorade, cans of juice, crackers, extra mittens, earmuffs, stocking hats, a couple small blankets and a space blanket, snow boots, a collapsible sun hat, umbrella, a windbreaker, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, sunscreen, lip protection, cloth shopping bags, dog food, a couple dog dishes for water and food. several extra collars, harnesses and leashes (in case I need to rescue an animal), poop-pick-up bags, an ashtray full of coins, maps for all 48 contiguous states, several window screens to protect from the sun, and from about April through October or November, I carry a couple umbrella chairs in the back for outdoor concerts or impromptu camping/picnics.
    2.    I would love to have a small camp trailer so I could take The Kids and do little trips. but I don’t have the money for it, and I’d have to learn to back up a trailer. I don’t know ANYONE brave enough to try to teach me that! In spite of that, I drove with a trailer behind my van from Kansas City to Seattle to Melbourne, Florida and back to Kansas City in 2005 and 2006! Boy, was I careful to be sure I could pull straight forward everywhere I stopped!! I actually would like to develop a skill of maneuvering a trailer, just to know I could if I needed to.
    3.    I am an eternal optimist and a very trusting person.  Sometimes I wish I could get over that. No, I don’t really want to change who I am, but I would like to be a little more protective about myself. I trust people to be who they present themselves to be, and until they do something that proves otherwise, I will believe in them. That causes me to be hurt sometimes. People take advantage of it, of me, either innocently or on purpose, and I wish I could be more cautious. But when I’ve tried to change that, I don’t like who I am. So I keep hoping for the best, hoping people I meet have honor and are honest. It usually works out. I won’t change.
    4.    I love my kids and my grandkids! You probably didn’t have to be told that, but it’s a fact about me that is important. I wish we lived closer, but they live where they must to make a living and for their own happiness, and I live where I do for my comfort and peace of mind. Sometimes we do what we have to. And some of it is OK. The cool thing is that being a long way apart doesn’t stop our loving each other and communicating almost daily via various technologies, phone, cell phone, text messages, email, Facebook, etc. That’s one thing I certainly like about this age in our technology .... instant communication!
    5.    I’m about to embark on a new phase of my life. I’m going back to work after being retired for five years. It’s a necessity, but I’m not hating it. I’m not thrilled about losing some of the freedom to go and do or stay and sit, as the mood indicates, but it’s OK. I’m rather eager to see where my path is taking me.
    6.    I’m also looking forward to my new endeavor with a clothing line, too. It is still in the embryo stage, but I am excited about the prospects. I’ve always been a person who enjoys, in fact, thrives on new challenges, so this and the aforementioned job are both just new chapters waiting to be read and experienced!!
    7.    I saw another dog today on the internet that made my heart go pitter-patter! No, I can’t adopt it. First of all five is enough! Secondly, it is (fortunately!!!) several hundred miles away and just not a possibility. I’m hopeless!
    8.   Following the concept in #7, I would very much love to run an animal rescue. If I had the room and the funding, I would do it in a heartbeat. There are so many out there that need homes, and I would love to give them some protection from a world that has not been very kind up till now. The trouble with this idea, besides the space and money, is that I wouldn’t want to give any away! I really do love animals, and I’d be so happy to be in a position to do something for the lost ones.  Ahhh, well.


OK, I did it! Now I need to tag some folks. Who’s gonna get it?  LOL!

    1.    Caroline - because she needs something to spice up her life and keep her busy. Ha ha ha ha!
    2.    Diana - because she needs something to get her off the stuck place she is in at the moment. C’mon, girl!
    3.    Mel - because I enjoy reading a blog that is so different from most I read. Mel’s life is very close to the earth and I learn a lot there.
    4.    Jennifer - because Jen has one of the coolest relationships with her family of anyone I know.
    5.    Donna - because I love reading about the RV travels. Fun and interesting!
    6.    Judy - another traveller. Judy travels with cats. How cool is that?
    7.    Cyndi - A “would be” traveller. Or is that “will be” traveller? On the brink of retirement, she and her hub are gearing up for the big day!
    8.     Pam - because Pam has a gentle heart and I love reading about her life.