What a week this has been! Ever had one of those trial by fire weeks when no matter what you did nothing went right? This week was my week. But it did have its bright spots so this Friday is a different sort of Bangers and Mash-ups.
Bright Spot #1 – My blog has been given an award! Here it is:
Blogger Angela Wallace passed The Liebster award to me. It’s purpose is to honor small blogs working their way up. Thank you Angela, for your support and friendship. And a big shout out to all of you for making this blogging thing so much fun by leaving thoughtful, fun comments.
Angela learned that blog awards should link back to the person who awarded them to you so I’m passing the info on.
The best part about The Liebster is I get to give it to four more well-deserving bloggers.
Cue the trumpets for these four lovely ladies!
Barbara MacDowell’s Blog: brings us the news from the world of pop culture, past, present and future. She has a terrific mash-up of links relating to entertainment news, writing and craft every Friday. It’s a mash-up I look forward to sitting down and reading every weekend.
Naomi Bulger’s Blog is a feast for the eyes and the heart. Naomi discusses living in Australia, her travels and the little things in life that make a big difference. Check out her Favorite Things Fridays and you’ll see what I mean. Be prepared to say ahhhh…
Brigette Booth’s Blog: Reader, teacher, writer. I like to think of Brigette’s Somewhere In Time blog as slice of life meets history. Always a fun read, with kind, thoughtful posts.
Carrie Spencer’s Blog: What can I say about someone who considers herself a crazy cat lady and has a thing for woodchucks? Carrie’s blog is my go-to place for a smile. Ah, but there’s more here than just laughs. This funny lady is also the brains behind Woody knows WordPress. A fantastic resource for all bloggers including techno-challenged people like me.
Bright Spot # 2. My blog has been tagged by the hilariously funny, pretty in pink Natalie Hartford’s Blog.
The rules are:
1) I have to tag four more bloggers (it’s nice to let them know ahead of time via e-mail in case they’re really busy and can’t participate)
2) I have to list ten random facts about me.
TEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME
1) I was born and raised in Stratford Ontario Canada, home of the famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival and birthplace of Justin Bieber. Want seven degrees of separation? My brother walks daily with a woman and her husband whose neighbor’s granddaughter was in elementary school with Beebs. Me and Justin. We’re tight.
2) I learned to read music and play the piano when I was four years old.
3) My Dad had an aviary in our basement. He raised love birds, finches, parakeets and cockatiels as a hobby.
4) My Mom worked as a waitress at a diner in Stratford called The Nut Club. No one made fun of me for having birds in my basement and a mother who worked at The Nut Club. In the window of the diner facing the street there was a platform that held three taxidermy squirrels sitting at a tiny little table, smiling, holding drinks, playing checkers and eating nuts. Mom didn’t like dusting the little fellas.
5) I met my husband at a hockey party. A party I never planned on attending. He asked me to play foose ball. I whooped him. He fell in love. I fell in love. 32 years later…. he doesn’t remember I whooped him at foose ball.
6) When my daughter was three, I almost drowned in a Mommy-and-Me swim class. She was fine, she could swim…
7) My son beat me in a foot race when he was four years old.
8) I trained and completed my first half-marathon when I was 47. Which is proof that even if a four year old beats you in a foot race and you almost drown in a preschool swim class you shouldn’t give up on athletics.
9) My nine pound rat terrier’s name is Earl. He’s a big hit wherever we go except to men who are actually named Earl. At first blush people think it’s a reference to my historical writing as in Earl-of-Whatever-Town. I wish. My husband just thought Earl was a cute name for a little dog.
10) My husband and I worked together to name our children. Thank God.
So that’s me, writer, daughter, wife, mom and wanna-be athlete with a wee dog named Earl.
Time to cue the trumpets again! Tagged bloggers and gracious cyber friends are:
You’re all IT in my book ladies! Can’t wait to read your ten random facts!
Have a great day everyone and a happy weekend!
Kate MacNicol~
Thanks for the sweet blog words, Kate! I love being included as a *bright spot*.
So now I know someone who knows someone who knows someone else who knows Justin Bieber. Wait until I tell my daughters!
I really enjoy your posts Brigette. I’m a big child literacy advocate so I enjoy your posts from a teacher’s POV as well as all the others.
Yes. Tell your daughters. LOL! My brother has a tidbit every now and then to share about Justin. Like he came to town during the summer to secretly show Selena Gomez around. It wasn’t a secret for long and caused some problems for the local police.
Congrats on the well-deserved award! You and your blog rock!
) And love your shout out to me…lol! 
Your 10 facts are fahhhbulous! It is great to get to know you better. 1/2 marathon at 47 – girl you are my hero – keep it up! 
)
Thanks Natalie, you are so good for my confidence. LOL!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a dog named “Earl” before now.
Thanks for sharing your 10 random facts. I’ve enjoyed learning about our #WANA classmates. I think you’ve done a great job on your blog.
LOL. Everyone laughs when they see him. I’ll have to post a picture on my blog. Thanks for the compliment too, I appreciate it.
Congrats on the award.
I love your ten facts! They made me laugh, especially numbers 5 & 6.
I think it’s so funny that he forgets, he says it was close. Oy. I remember because I so rarely win. LOL! Yes, Mommy and Me swim class was an embarassing moment. Luckily my daughter doesn’t remember much about it. She’s a great swimmer!
Congrats, Kate and Happy Friday!
My husband has a giant cat named Earl that lives at his manufacturing plant.
Thanks for the tag, too… geez…now I’ll have to come up with ten random facts.
Sometimes the name just fits. I’m looking forward to your 10 random facts Jen.
Sorry I’m late to the party. I was off and on the grid a bit today.
Whee! Thanks for the award Kate! Much appreciated and I am honored!
Your father’s aviary in the basement sounds way cool. And I’ll just apologize right now for the chuckle I spouted over the Mommy and Me swim class. Must have been scary and I’m so glad you survived. I giggle at the vision of the three year-old doing just fine.
You always make me laugh, Kate! Very interesting childhood you must have had! Congrats on the award and loved your list!
Thanks Marcia! Yes it was interesting, kind of quirky.
Oh, you have made my day. Thank you for the kind words. Especially in such wonderful company!
Great post Kate! Congratulations on the award. Loved your ten randoms. We go to the Festival in Stratford every year and it’s the big item on my October calendar when we return from France. Jesus Christ Superstar at Stratford has been a huge hit and seems headed for Broadway. Do you visit back in Stratford at all?
Practically my entire family lives in Stratford and I visit often. I’m hoping to get back in October also. Yes, Jesus Christ Superstar is a huge hit and I forgot they extended it into October. Hmmmm… wouldn’t it be funny if we were there at the same time? Stratford was a wonderful place to grow up.