We Are the Champions...

One of my favorite (even more favorite now) bloggers Natalie (Almost Interesting Musings on Life), has bestowed me with an honor, the "Thinking Blogger Award." I'm quite flattered. My wife and I both read her blog and have commented on what a nice person she seems to be. She calls her posts at times "silly drivel," but they're always thoughtful, personal and very much her. I also really enjoy the recipes she puts up-- it gives me a lot of ideas for my own cooking!

Here's what she said:

"Here Comes Johnny Yen Again- Johnny Yen has mastered the art of hilarity in the face of rough conditions. He finds a way to relate the happenings of daily life to the broader human condition in a seamless way. His political posts are informative, entertaining, and never fail to make me chuckle. I always look forward to his posts."

As part of it, I'm supposed to choose my own five "thinking bloggers." That is tough. I don't know if I can hold it to five. I'd actually been thinking of a post about why I read some of the bloggers I read, so maybe I will do it that way. I think it'll run over five.

The first blog I usually turn to in the morning is Bubs' Sprawling Ramshackle Compound. Bubs, a pioneer in the field of Narcozoology-- in fact, as far as I know, the only serious scholar in the field-- has a wonderful mix of humor, political outrage and fun that makes me miss him the days he cannot post. He works a job that would harden most people, yet approaches life with zeal. He's a loving husband, doting father-- and still a punk rocker at heart.

I love his regular features-- among them are "Freak of the Week," tales of animal attacks, the drug-addled behavior of citizens, "Germany or Florida", and his newest one "The Future, The Way It Used to Be."

Blogger Vikki won Grant Miller's "Least Politically Influential" Award, (more on Grant Miller in a moment), which of course, was tongue in cheek. Vikki is my favorite political blogger. It's like being out at a bar with James Carville, Al Franken, Hunter S. Thompson and Molly Ivins. Her observations are as eloquent as they are caustic, and always spot-on. She also writes about life in LA, music and of course her beloved Spooney.

The aforementioned Grant Miller is another favorite. His political writing is as pithy, spot-on, and perhaps even more sarcastic than Vikki's (if that's possible). Like Bubs, Grant has regular features, all of which I look forward to: "The Best Things That Ever Happened to Me," "The Worst Things That Ever Happened to Me," a newer feature, "Lies People Have Told Me," and "Men My Mom Would Have Dated," along with assorted other posts, are unfailingly not funny, but hilarious, and frequently insightful.

Can't-miss blogger #4 is Erik over at Erik's Choice. Erik is as concise as I am verbose (yes, I realize it). He has a remarkable range of interests-- literature, music, politics, history-- and writes well about all of them. He, like me, seems to be committed to at least a post a day, so it gives me something to look forward to on the frequent bad days I have here at work.

I almost have to put Erik in as a companion blog to that of JR, of JR's Thumbprints. They are like ying and yang. Both are about my age (I'm 45), both are terrific writers, both live in the Detroit area-- but while Erik writes something fascinating every day about a different subject, JR writes something fascinating every day usually about the same subject-- his job as a prison high school teacher. Erik and JR share a clean writing style, wryness and intelligence, while covering very different subject matter. I really enjoy their blogs.

If I can get away with putting Erik and JR in as one entry, I can sneak in Blogger #5, Kristi, over at Two Minutes In the Box. She'd be high on my list just for the great double entendre in the title of her blog alone. Being a fellow hockey fan is a big plus, but her posts, which run from the very personal, to the political, and in between are consistenly interesting. I've enjoyed posts she has on her hobbies, on the environment, relationships, and memorably a marvelous and heartbreaking recent post.

She also happens to the sister of another of my favorite bloggers, Vikki

I'd have my wife on the list, but sorry, it states clearly in the rules "Employees and their families are ineligible."

If I could add five more, I'd add:

Deadspot-- Yeah, okay, he's one of my oldest and best friends, but he's a funny, smart and a great writer. I'm glad I talked him into blogging. And he makes a hell of a burger.

Dear Bastards...-- Another one who posts every day, bless his heart. A personal journal, with great insights on movies and media.

Land-o-Lulu-- A fellow teacher who I've actually known for years-- we wandered into one another on the blogsospher-- who is pithy, funny and passionate about the things that are important to her.

Bad Tempered Zombie-- I always enjoy Barbara's ruminations on life, children, music, work, and art.

Anonymous Blogger-- I enjoy reading the adventures of this single mom/child and pet medic/Macguyver as she builds her home in the desert and raises "Thing One, Thing Two and Thing Three," as she calls them.