Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Becoming a Versatile Blogger

Earlier this week, I had the honor of being named a Versatile Blogger by one of my peers in the blogosphere. Woo-hoo--my first blogging award! Once being recognized as a VB, a few things are required of recipients:
  • Thank the person who named you
  • List 7 things about yourself
  • Name at least 12 other bloggers (you've recently discovered and find fantastic) as Versatile Bloggers and notify them
Thanks:  I'd like to thank William Kendall (Speak of the Devil) for naming me a Versatile Blogger.  Although a self proclaimed rogue and scoundrel, I find William very nice (even though he hates my  bean recipes) and LOL funny. I enjoy his writing advice, character interviews, political commentary, and his general take on life in the personal experiences he shares. Again William, thank you!

Seven Things About Me:
1. I prefer the mountains to the beach; the solitude and magnificent views win me over (great for writing).
2. I'm married to a wonderful man.
3. I'm the mom of two beautiful boys.
4. I love museums, historic homes, antique shops and thrift stores.
5. I love spicy food--actually I love food (I don't mind cooking, if it's quick and easy, but I hate housework).
6. I enjoy working out. The health benefits are great, but I even met my husband through staying fit!  However, I don't recommend giving your phone number to a total stranger, who pulls over while you're running to ask you out, as a way to meet a potential spouse (but it did work for me).
7. I was a federal witness in the Georgia Mail Bombing case. I was working at the service desk as a librarian, and the mail bomber (posing as a PI) came in one day and asked some questions--thankfully, not about bomb building--I think he already had that covered. About three years later, the FBI came looking for me (regarding my exchange with the guy, who was then locked up) and needed me as a witness for two different trials. Who says being a librarian is boring?!

Fantastic Blogs:
Joanna St. James: Bionic Writer
Dangerous with a Pen
Dancing Down Serendipity Street
YA Audio Book Addict
Artzicarol Ramblings
One Significant Moment in Time
Through the Looking Glass (Dawn) 
Through the Looking Glass (Melissa)
Iggi & Gabi
W.I.P It
Adventures in Writing
Wordplay
Left and Write Brained
Above Water

Now I will notify the above listed bloggers that they have been named VBs, and woo-hoo! I have become a Versatile Blogger!

If you haven't already, be sure to check out the sites of the fabulous bloggers!

Have a happy, blessed and safe Thanksgiving! Thanks for stopping by! Tweet me @: maria_mckenzie.

29 comments:

The Happy Whisk said...

Congrats on the award. Happy Eating & Writing :-)

Maria McKenzie said...

Hi Happy Whisk! Thanks for the Congrats! I accidentally published the post before all the links were in place. Sorry if you clicked and nothing happened! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Will you be posting some of those magnificent, edible creations of yours?

Joanna St. James said...

Woo Hoo thanx Maria I will definitely check out the other bloggers and congratulations to us all.
I can only imagine all the food you would have for 2moro

Old Kitty said...

Congratulations with your fabulous award! And thank you for sharing these fascinating facts about you. My goodness no. 7 sounds so like something out of a thriller!! And no!! Librarians and library staff are far from boring - they are fabulous wonderful lovely and essential people!! Yes they are!! :-)

Have a great thanksgiving - take care!
x

Dawn Ius said...

Congrats on the award - and thank you for passing it my way. I'm touched :-) I also learned great stuff about you!

Carol Riggs said...

Aw, thanks sooo much, Maria, for giving me an award! Very cool. And it's great to know more about you. :)

Hey, I'm going to have a free CHAPTER CRITIQUE giveaway when I hit 50 followers--I'm close!

Artzicarol Ramblings

Unknown said...

Thank you so much, Maria! I'm honored. :)

Saumya said...

Congrats on the well deserved award and thanks so much for passing it to me!! So cute that you met your husband while working out...haha that should motivate us women to go to the gym ;)

Maria McKenzie said...

@Joanna: You're welcome! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving in France:).

@Old Kitty: Thanks! And yes, it did feel like something out of a thriller:). Thanks for your kind words about library staff!

@Dawn: You're welcome, and thank you!

@Carol: You're welcome! You'll be at 50 soon:). Nice prize!

@K.M.: You're welcome!

@Saumya: Thanks, and you're welcome! It's hard to get motivated about working out--but I can't say enough good things about the benefits:).

Abby Minard said...

Congrats on the award- and man, that's crazy having talked to that creepy guy! (the bomber, not your husband ;p)

Luna said...

Congratulations, Maria! Thank you so much for thinking of me. It's a wonderful surprise! :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Congrats on your award! Thanks so much for passing it on :)

Colene Murphy said...

Congrats on your award!!

Maria McKenzie said...

@Abby: Thanks Abby! Re: Creepy Guy: You never know who's out there walking the streets.

@Jamie: Thanks! You're very welcome:).

@Lynda: Thanks! You're welcome--pay it forward:).

@Colene: Thanks so much!

Donea Lee said...

Congrats on the Versatile blogger award!! :) I prefer the mountains, too. I have one in particular that I drive up to whenever I need to just get away and think (and create). And #7 - fascinating! Happy Thanksgiving to you ~

The Words Crafter said...

I've always said I could live in a library. Now, I'm not so sure!

Congratulations on the award!

Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Golden Eagle said...

Congrats on the award. :)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Unknown said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Maria!! Have a great day and much happiness to you and yours xxxoooo

Melissa said...

Congrats on your first blogging award! They never stop feeling amazing! Thank you so much for passing this award onto me. I am so thankful.

Speaking of, Happy Thanksgving!

Holy crap! That Librarian story is CRAZY And what an interesting way to meet your husband!

William Kendall said...

You're welcome, Maria, and thank you!

And like you, I greatly prefer the mountains to the beach!

Norma said...

Maria, William likes to make people think he's a scoundrel, but he's really a sweetheart. (Take it for me, I know him very well. And he'll likely kill me for outing him.)

Can you tell me how you posted the award on your blog page? I'd like to post mine but haven't figured it out yet!

William Kendall said...

Norma! Shhhh!!!

Oh well, the cat's out of the bag. And hissing at being kept in the bag.

Norma said...

Behave yourself! We have to thank Maria for explaining to us how to actually POST our awards!

Maria McKenzie said...

@Donea Lee: Thanks, Donea Lee! My favorite mountain place is Roaring Gap in North Carolina--so peaceful.

@Words Crafter: Thanks! Unfortunately, there are crazy people everywhere.

@Golden Eagle: Thank you!

@Distracted: Hi Annie! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Hope you're well. If you get a chance, look at my post entitled "As a Writer, Are You a Poet Too?" I talked about you and your beautiful poetry!

@Melissa: Thanks, and you are very welcome! You never know who you'll meet at work, or running down the street:).

@William: YOU are welcome! I'm beginning to think most writers like the mountains better. BTW, even before Norma outed you, I had a feeling you were really a nice guy and not the scoundrel you claim to be:).

@Norma: Hi, Norma! Looks like the instructions worked!

Maria McKenzie said...

@Norma and William: Glad to help!

Unknown said...

Congrats on your award!

Maria McKenzie said...

Thanks, TC!

Unknown said...

Hi Maria! Thanks so much for passing the Versatile Blogger award my way. I loved getting to know you better through your list -- we have a lot in common! Though I've never testified before in an official capacity, especially in an exciting case like the GA Mail Bombing.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Maria McKenzie said...

You're welcome! I see you're a Northern girl (like my husband, from upstate NY), now living in the South! I'm from Ohio but have lived in Ga. and NC. I absolutely loved both places! I don't think I wore an overcoat the whole time I lived in either place:).