An Embarrassment of Riches

Dave Barry once said that writing is something journalists sometimes do when they aren't busy patting themselves on the back(s) and giving each other journalism awards. Or something to that effect.

So too, it seems, bloggers have taken to tagging one another Facebook-style with memes reminiscent of "25 Things About Me" and "Sexual Liasons I Had Intended on Keeping Secret But Then I Realized You'd Already Seen the Video," and I am honored to have been thrice tagged in the past week. Because if you know me, you know that there is nothing I enjoy so much as an opportunity to say "thrice" in a sentence. (Except, perhaps, "tertiary," which remains one of my favorite words, ever.)

First, Wendy (aka "Quillfeather") has bestowed upon me the Honest Scrap Award. Apparently, the Honest Scrap Award requires that I list ten things about myself, and then pass the award on to seven others. [Interesting to me is the fact that the ten things seem to carry no additional requirements: they don't have to be interesting, secret, or funny, and notwithstanding the name, I'm inferring that they don't even have to be factual. (Where was this sort of homework when I was in school?)]

The Honest Scrap Award does have a picture. I would tell you that it is a nice combination of a 1940's War Effort poster and a highway sign, but it would be easier (and more helpful) just to show you:

So, with that out of the way, here are my ten things:

1. I am happy that this is the Honest Scrap Award, and not the Honests Crap Award.
2. No, I do not really think that Honests Crap is grammatically correct.
3. I could be mistaken about #2.
4. Dave Barry once autographed a napkin for me, and called me his hero.
5. Sometimes I think he was being facetious.
6. Not always.
7. I think some words are inherently funny. Burlap, for example.
8. The statute of limitations has expired for every interesting thing I've ever done.
9. I once used "Plato’s Form for bosoms" in a sentence.
   
10. When discussing theoretical physics, I have, on more than one occasion, been accused of "rocking out with my Hawking out."
    

Next, the delightful Anne Riley gave me the Silver Lining Award, which I believe recognizes my ability to come up with five other blogs to pass it on to. I'm trying not to read too much into this award (does it infer that I suck, but there is a silver lining - like, for example, our puppy will still love me, no matter what?) and it, too, has a picture:

Finally, Christian Bell (who protests that he is not Emilio Estevez to the point of convincing that he is) has blessed me with the Circle of Friends Award, which, like the Silver Lining Award, requires that I pass it on to five others (and, to my relief, is in no way associated with fraternity members and a biscuit, like the punch line to a horrible joke that I cannot forget no matter how hard I try and will never be able to disassociate from the word "circle" in my scarred psyche).

Fear not, this one (the award, not the joke) also has a picture:

Due to the economy and global enviromental concerns, I am going to minimize the cost and the carbon footprint of this post by passing all three awards on to the following twelve worthy recipients:

1. Anna Lefler
2. Mylène Dressler
3. Carolyn Thériault
4. Katie McCullough
5. Jason Everett Morris
   
6. Harley May
7. Ryoma Collia-Suzuki (and Gina, they're a package deal)
8. Cynthia Reeser
9. Diana Grey Wyatt
10. Finnegan Flawnt
11. Eisley Jacobs
12. Amber Christensen
    
    

These blogs are all worth reading, as are the three who tagged me with these awards.

To continue the serious tone, I can think of no higher honor* than receiving peer recognition: in fact, Wendy, Anne, and Christian, it feels odd using the word "peer" because I look up to you and admire your work. So thank you for tagging me, it means more to me than I will admit in public.

Humbled, I remain
B. Freret

* This is not true. I think cash would be a higher honor.