I was tagged by the lovely Stefanie at
Through the Eyes of a Stranger for the
Kreativ Blogger Award!
Thanks Stefanie! I love these opportunities to learn about other
bloggers and share more about my life outside of my daily IF struggles and frustrations. This award is particularly cool because it forces me to be positive. Something that I completely forget to be most days.
The rules of accepting this award are simple: list seven things you love, and pass the award to seven
bloggers you love.
1. My dogs. I love them more than I ever thought I could love anything. I love them as I imagine I would love a child (though I'm sure I would be surprised even more at how much I could love a child). They are just dogs. Very average, even wild cards since we adopted them both from the shelter - so we weren't sure what we were getting into and only had an hour or so to 'bond' with them before bringing them home. The second one especially was difficult to love instantly 'cause she's been a lot of trouble. But I can honestly say now that they have both utterly and completely stolen my heart. I feel so lucky to be able to have them. They cause all kinds of chaos in our lives and they're tons of work and cause a lot of worry but I love all that too. A friend of mine (and new mother x2)said that's a sign of that biological clock ticking. You think?
2. DH. Of course I love DH. He is the most selfless, generous, adoring, and adorable person I have ever known. It took me about three days of knowing him to fall in love with him. It took him three years of knowing me. But I hung on through it all to the blind faith that I could love him more than anyone could and that we were made for each other. And turns out, I was right.
3. My body. I mean this in the least conceited way possible. Maybe I should have said "my health." I'm not particularly pretty, I don't look
slammin' in a bikini. I don't have the best hair or eyes or skin or nails or anything really. I'm very average. It's just that it took me a long
long time to accept my body, to respect it - I never thought I would love it. But I do. It works for me. And in loving it, I refuse to take any part of it for granted. All my limbs work, my metabolism is good, my liver is forgiving, my heart works, even my poor uterus, which has been through a lot, seems to be hanging in there. I feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time ever in my life. And even if my body never bears a child, I have to say, I am pretty damn lucky.
4. TV. It's my escape. My happy place. The place where everything is fun and beautiful - or at least not boring. It's where my emotions go to play and I love that there is such a place. A place that you can look into and feel for and laugh about and think about and bond over without investing too much real emotional currency. It is a time investment, and I understand that at times there are opportunity costs, but to me it's all well worth it.
5. Rain. Don't get me wrong. Summer is fun. I love the
bbq's, the warm sun, not having to wear so many damn layers, having light outside far into the evening...but there is nothing like rain. Rain has always been a powerful thing for me. It represents so many things that are good, like renewal and cleansing and growth and nature. And it reminds me that I am not in control of everything that touches my life. There are forces far more powerful and meaningful than me in the world and that is, strangely perhaps, a comfort. I am humbled by rain. And comforted. It's not a religious thing, it's just matter-of-fact. And sometimes it's just the thought that - as long as it's raining out I feel justified in being cooped up in my office, or saying "I'm just going to sit in here and enjoy my fire and hot chocolate," or "I'm going to go outside and feel it on my skin and smell the way it makes the earth smell and try to live in the moment (
ps there is nothing like rain to facilitate the practice of living in the moment)." It is so pure. And simple. And something that somehow impresses me with its force without being
intimidating. Which is probably because I don't live in the
midwest or hurricane country.
6. Wine. I'm not a
connoisseur but I'm also not above being grossed out if it's really bad cheap crap. I'm somewhere in the middle with respect to my understanding of wine's intricacies. But I LOVE wine with the most
hoity-
toity (
sp?) of them. It's the perfect drink. It goes with savory or sweet or nothing at all and it contains
alcohol without packing as many calories as beer or as many toxins as liquor. It's socially acceptable and festive and plentiful. There's nothing I don't like about wine. Except for some reds. I'm definitely a white-wine gal. And I prefer bubbles.
7. Exercise. I don't know if this one is true. It might be. I certainly feel better when I exercise. And I get really sad if I don't get a work out in. But I don't know if the sadness is from guilt or from missing something I love. I know I
should love exercise. I've known that since I was young. So maybe I've just conditioned (or brainwashed) myself into thinking I love it. Or maybe it's endorphins so it's more addiction than love. Or maybe it's just the guilt thing. I guess there's a chance I do love it. I enjoy it at the very least. Sometimes. And I certainly love my health (see #3). So I guess even if I don't really love it, in the interest of continuing my good habit of deceiving myself into thinking I do, I'm adding it to the list.
Seven blogs I love (in no particular order):
1. ~Baby Manatee~ for Gina's incurable optimism - so happy for her new bean!!
2. Conceive This! - because who doesn't love Murgdan?
3. Maybe Baby - Because she's an awesome writer and an awesome woman and for the grace that she's showing in this turbulent time.
4. Misconceptions About Conception - for S's honesty and reasoned analysis that allows her to connect with her readers. And because we lawyers need to watch out for each other! And because she's good to her dogs.
5. Twists of Fate - because Alyssa is beautiful and funny and I learned through this month's ICLW that we happen to have a lot in common.
6. Little Bluebirds Fly - because Bluebird has a way with words, she's a gifted blogger and one of the strongest people I know of.
7. a little pregnant - again, who wouldn't love this blog? Comic relief and ingenious insights at their best.
