What Other People Think

There must be some kinda way out of here. Anyone else had that phrase stuck in their noggin since Sunday (or Monday in my case)? I'm sitting here at work being taunted by the beautiful day dancing outside my window and listening to my boss describing us all as schoolchildren anxiously awaiting the bell to ring so that we can get the frack out of Dodge. And then admitting she's gonna lead the way. Makes me laugh quietly to myself to know that my boss is human. She's actually a rockin' sweet boss and we get along smashingly. She's like a fun aunt who happens to be your superior in the workplace (and having first-hand experience of working with my actual fun aunt for many years, I can make that assessment accurately).

So here I sit. Eyes worn to a blur from staring at my PC for far too long today. Then again, there was ice cream cake earlier (the benefit of people resigning amicably from work—free food and a party to help pass the time). And it's times like these, when my brain needs a vacation from the sheer volume and enormity of projects slapped upon my desk like a net full of tuna on a fishing boat (note to self: use real colloquialisms... my made-up ones are lacking some luster), that I take great joy in expanding my horizons via the relative comfort and safety of the Internet (as much as one can expand one's horizons on an office PC).

Yesterday, I pondered what other people must think about when they read my posts. And today, I discovered, in part, the answer. With my sudden cabin-fever-induced-mutinous laziness happening, I took this newly discovered "freedom" to catch up on some blogs I'd been neglecting due to the same hecticness that silenced me for so long. And to my complete surprise, I learned that a little over a week ago, I was graced with a wonderful honor. Lizza listed me as one of the five blogs that make her think and feted me with a Thinking Blogger Award. How schnifty is that?! (For the record, "schnifty" is pretty awesome).

This is a meme. And I'll be honest here, I'm a meme-virgin. I've never done a meme. At least I don't think I have. Said the joker to the theif. Maybe one time when I'd had too much Strongbow... no, wait... that was just a random e-mail survey. I don't think it's the same thing unless it happens on a blog. Moving on...

Here's how it works:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).

Simple enough, eh? List five blogs that make me think and keep this going.

Funny. In recent posts I haven't felt all that thought-provoking. I used to try to be exestenial and muse about the universe and pathways and trees (well, I guess trees are still a reoccuring theme). But then again, perhaps just writing—not planning or refining a post into some kind of weekly column—is what I need to do sometimes. Lucidity once told me that she prefers my posts "unfiltered". The rants. The joys. The everything. No great message. No wonderous symmetry that wraps up everything in a bow. Just me. And the blog. ...she's got a point.

Sometimes the randomness is the best bit. Like today I talked to a guy named Jacques. He didn't talk back. He blinked his eyes in a kittenish way and turned his bald little head away from the garish daylight which had crept in around his blanket. Jacques is 11 weeks old. The son of a former colleague here at the office. Today was her last day and we had ice cream cake as she politely extracted herself from our ranks to stay home with her new son. And it struck me as she left—after everyone had cooed and smiled over the baby—that we all met Jacques, and yet he'll never know, nor remember, any one of us. His world is so completely focused. There's him mom, his dad, and maybe their dogs.

To have that simplicity. Sure it might mean being completely helpless, unable to speak, and then you've got the whole defecation in your pants issue—alright... let's revisit that and just say that it would be nice to have focus and the perspective we all once had. To know what's important simply because you feel it, you know it, it's the gut instinct you're born with and it's that simple.

But I'm digressing. I need to list five blogs because my day here at the office has rapidly come to a thrilling conclusion and I need to head home. Work ended ages ago and I've just been sitting here. Typing. Thinking. Listening to air kick-on as the sunbeams slice through the veiled curtains behind me, which offer little protection from their glaring rays.

So without further ado or anymore guilding the lily (though that begs the question—what exactly is "guilding the lily"): here are the FIVE BLOGS THAT MAKE ME THINK:

(in absolutely no particular order):

1. Hopelessly Lost (But Making Good Time)—Keaton's posts are the ones that I love to read over and over. Sometime they're simply a great story and sometimes they inspire me. He has a great way with words and never fails to get me thinking about something. I only wish he'd post more.
2. Frayed Musings—Another culprit of random and seldom posts, this awesome writer keeps me laughing and I appreciate her wit on all levels. Her knack for observation, for seeing people and experiencing life with gusto is wonderful.
3. I Am Woman, See Me Blog!—Even though she's already won this honor, I have to say I do thoroughly enjoy Lizza's way of seeing the world. So I will add her to my list. Her blog varies from the purely random to the deeply moving. Eclectic as any person should be, there's a reason I recommend this blog to all of you. Check her out.
4. Nothing in Between—KL is someone I know only through blogging even though she does theatre in my town. Funny that in such a small world (theater), we've never had the pleasure of meeting. Her posts range from poignant to amusing to downright blunt. And I do enjoy them all. With her permission, I think her blog will be soon added to the blogs you may also enjoy list over there on the right.
5. Blog That Must Not Be Named—I do love this blog. But I'm not sure this person is sharing it with everyone just yet. However, I still have to bestow the award as this one is fantastic and never fails to impress me. If it ever goes public, I'll credit the author good and proper.

Congratulations all! You've won a
I look forward to seeing which blogs make you guys think!

POSTING OUT OF COMPETITION (since I don't know this person and I highly doubt she's reading my blog): Jane in Progress—As someone aspiring to write for stage and screen, Jane's blog is fascinating and one of the most thought-provoking for me. The fact that she's a professional TV writer taking time from her day to give her readers little tips, insights, stories, and encouragement is fantastic; this is one of those blogs (again as someone striving to be listed amongst her ranks) that deserves this award.

And now it's time. 'Cos I'm still in Dodge and I need to get the frack out of here.