I'd like to thank the Academy! Oh, and 7 things about Toni.

Testing, testing. Is this thing on? My dear friend Miss Sniz has nominated me for an award. Not just any award either, but a really Fabulous award. I would like to thank the Academy her for this honor. It's even more fab too because it includes two glasses filled with blue... stuff and, well, you haven't toasted in style until you've sipped the blue.
Stuff.
Sure, it's just blueberry Kool Aid, but I'm going all out by adding a little umbrella and a slice of fresh pineapple to the rim and getting my celebratory Kool Aid drink on. Come and join me.

Now, of course I'll need to invite several fab bloggy friends to the awards party. Since I'll have to pen a guest list anyway, I figure I'll let it double as my own fabulous nominations (and the list would be longer if I added Miss Sniz and many of the fab ladies she previously nominated, but I really should spread the joy around.) So blog buddies, consider yourself invited to my fab blue Kool Aid Awards party and the recipient of your own TOTALLY FABULOUS award. Don't be shy! Grab a glass of blue and write that award speech now.

-Julia over at A Piece of my Mind.
I'm nominating the very talented Ms. Julia because I know of no one who posts a Thursday Thirteen like she does. She is a walking word picture of creativity and and I love to stop by and see what she'll come up with next. She's FAB!

-Donna over at Just Me.
I'm nominating Ms. Donna because she is my link to all things country. Her very FAB hubby created a "cabin in the woods" on her property for her. She rides a horse every day. She likes motorcycles. She shares awesome stories about how things were "back in the day." And did I mention she's a country gal? 'Nuff said. Fab, she is.

-De over at Just Another Day in Paradise.
Ms. De is a fellow homeschool mom and I can relate to so much of what she posts. And then there's the fact that she makes me laugh. A lot! Oh yeah, she's fab.

-Miss Olivia over at Lipgloss and Lizards.
Ya know, as fab as the other nominees are (and they are), this one is the most fabulous fab of all. That's because she's my 8yo daughter. Yes, she has a blog. No, no one can post on it (mother bear here, protecting her from the hazards of the internet). I need to let her get busy "posting" (that means typing with two fingers and limited keyboard experience), as it's a great way for her to learn to put her thoughts down "on paper." Anyway, she's so fab and so I'm going to present her with her first blogging award. You go, Liv!

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Miss Sniz also tagged me for a fun meme. If you're on my guest list above, consider yourself tagged as well. And the nominees rules are:

1. Link to the person who has tagged you.
2. Tell seven true things about yourself.
3. Tag seven new people (or, um, three).
4. Leave a message with the person you have tagged so they know about it.

Okay, so.
SEVEN TRUE THINGS ABOUT TONI.
1. I'm a night owl. I stay up waaaay too late and always have. I function pretty well on little sleep, unless it involves getting up very early for a flight. In that case, I get all pale and nauseated and it's not a pretty sight (thanks, Mom).

2. I showed up at a radio station in a bathing suit to win a bunch of albums. Did you get that? Albums? Yes, I'm talking maaaaany years ago when I was very young and in young shape (if I showed up in a bathing suit now, they'd have me arrested for trespassing.) That little stunt landed my 16yo brother a DJ job (his friends thought he was the coolest). Oh, and it was an educational experience as well. I learned that if you hear Bye Bye Miss American Pie or Stairway to Heaven on the radio, it means the DJ is on extended bathroom trip. BAHAHAHAHAHA!

3. I've attended public and private schools and now homeschool my own children. I see the pros and cons to all three schooling options but find homeschooling to be the best fit for our family in this season.

4. I pondered joining the Peace Corp while in college. Even today, I still think it would have been a life experience I would have gained much from.

5. I have worked for three airlines in four different cities; Continental, Eastern and USAir (now USAirways). I worked in Cleveland, Akron-Canton, San Francisco and Pittsburgh.

6. I'm totally fascinated with small town America (Paxton, Nebraska anyone?), as well as ghost towns and/or abandoned houses. Carl and I have explored abandoned farm houses in Iowa. I don't believe in ghosts or spirits left behind in old houses. Thus, don't take me literally when I say I sense such a living history to old abandoned houses. I feel like they're trying desperately to tell me their story, if only my senses could drink them in enough to "hear" them. I find myself feeling very emotional about it, wondering, "Who lived here? How many children did they raise here? What hardships or tragedies fell on the owners of this home? What were holidays like? What did they do for a living?" I could go on and on.

7. Being out in the country is a spiritual and physical blessing to me. Wide open spaces calm me, ground me and comfort me. And it's instantaneous. I miss my former country home soooo much. I accept and embrace new seasons and the dimension they add to my life. But I still yearn for the country. I imagine I always will.

Toni