Apparently I Rock

Or so I'm told.

QuakerJono, that wicked smart guy over at Forgotten Beatitudes, thinks I'm all that and a bag of fat-free chips.

He nominated me for a Thinking Bloggers Award. Which I will print out and put right next to my Thespian medal from 1986 - the last time I won something.

Since I'm a *pay it forward* type of girl, here are five blogs that feed my naturally-curly head:

1) Reason to Wander: Sloan is one of my brother's oldest and dearest friends. Amy is Sloan's girlfriend and traveling partner. They took off last January for a year of adventure in Southeast Asia and... Ireland. Don't ask why. Just visit their site and observe these places through two unique and ever-expanding world views.

2) Side Salad: Jeff called me up one day and said, "I'm doing a story on vegetarian Jews and you're the only show in town. Mind if I put you on the front page of the paper?" Guys - that's how ya get her. Anyway, a beautiful friendship was born and his site is consistently funny (those goddamn sombreros), thought-provoking (his friend Drew is serving in Iraq) and vomit-inducing (cooking Twinkies?). Not many sites or friends you can say all that about.

3) Sticks of Fire: Tommy and I met at one of his shows when he announced I was in the audience and could he please "eat" my "pizza." Then he hired me to write for him. And by hired, I mean - paid me in kindness and flattery. His website continues to cover all things Tampa and since I am most certainly returning one day, I like to stay all informed and sh*t.

4) Off the Meatstick: Cause Danny is my first cousin. And godson. Family and all. I was made his godmother at ten years of age and, since leaving Catholicism, I'm no longer allowed to godparent. So I gotta keep him on my good side or I won't have *any* godchildren to speak of. And then how will I get into heaven - good looks and charm? Anyway, Dan's a good kid, did our country proud and is now to the left of me. Which makes me proud. So check him out.

5) The State of Sunshine: Jim is smart, well-connected, and sums up policy decisions in Florida with a conservative bent that is neither condescending nor evil. Imagine that. Plus he's way cuter than those PEER Review assbags.

It was hard to narrow down to five. There are John's many incarnations, Forgotten Beatitudes, Smashed Frog and Ybor City Stogie, to name just a few more.

Look at my Blogroll because I read every site at least once a day. And I'm still getting used to Colorado blogs - there aren't that many of them - but will be adding more soon. Fantastic sites.

They all make me think.

Some make me giggle and moan.

Too bad there aren't awards for *that*.