Postcards from the Funny Farm

A beneficent blog I respect and have learned from for a while now is [COSW]. She was kind enough to award me a “Power of Schmooze” award saying this about me in her post:

Damien: Another fellow blogger and writer who talks about everything on his blog, and and calls me “The Queen of Memes” :D

Since I’ve thrown off all tares of social bookmarking and analytics this past month, it’s GREAT to find out this way that someone is reading my blog out there! I’m truly blind to who is reading and who is not unless I get comments. I do mean to do right by my contribution, so THANK YOU YOUR MEME MAJESTY!!! ; D

Here’s a blurb about the “Power of Schmooze” award:

“As it goes, schmoozing is the natural ability “to converse casually, especially in order to gain an advantage or make a social connection.” Good schmoozers effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.”

And now I’d like to grant the award to some blogs:

These people have been kind enough to be the top commenters on Riley Central. These people have also been virtual friends of mine through comments and email, been extraordinarily positive to me about Riley Central (in a not-always-positive blogosphere), shown a real ability to write and affect me with their words, and have proven themselves generally excellent in my native category of “personal blogs.”

1. [Tumbled Words]: Marcia and I work through the maze of WordPress together. She has several blogs, but this one is her “baby” as far as WordPress is concerned. It’s an honor when we chat and I can show her something. From her I learn humility too in that I don’t know the answer half the time. She’s still nice to me about it ;) I really enjoy reading her blog(s) and our online friendship.
2. [This Eclectic Life]: Shelly discovered my “Que?” story a couple of months back I think. Since then she has been an undying source of encouragement to my content. When I think about cosmetic changes to my site, I think Wordpress.org. When I think about sitting down to really write a good, content filled post, I think of Shelly. You’re the best girl!
3. [COSW]: I covered this one up top!
4. [Life is RANTastic!]: Jessica the Rock Chick is too nice for words. She has an aspiration with her blog and I know she will achieve it. Her posts are always thoughtful, entertaining and that makes her very readable blog exciting to have on my reader. Jessica, you really are the rock chick!