I'd like to thank the Academy

The lovely and talented Jessica of Oh, The Joys, has graciously nominated me for a Thinking Blogger award.

Everybody likes getting awards, and I think for most bloggers any kind of recogntion and validation for the effort we put forth is appreciated. But a thinking blogger award is to me, especially meaningful. When I started this blog, I knew I didn't want it to be just another rambling account of daily Mommy minutaie. From the beginning I have endeavored to write about something meaningful, and to provoke thought. But sometimes it feels as if I fall woefully short of that goal and that my blog is just one more in the floating sea of whiny, disjointed, inconsequential flotsam and jetsam that dots the internet.

So thank you Jessica. Truly.

I am to pay it forward to 5 other bloggers and I will do so happily. One thing that has always bothered me about blogging is that certain blogs get ridiculously numerous comments for posts that, while admittedly entertaining, are largely immaterial, while others who write fantastically thoughtful, insightful, creative and intelligent posts on pertinent and poignant issues get little to no recognition in the blogging community. Blogging is a lot like highschool in that regard. It's a popularity driven social medium, where substance and relevancy are not necessarily valued as much as it should be.

For the most part, I accept that and try not to let it bother me too much. But occasionally, when I see that a post about poop has garnered 57 comments, while an incredibly powerful, well written or thoughtful post gets 5 or 6...well, it rankles me.

That said, a couple months ago, I cut my daily blog reading down to about 10 blogs as a form of self-discipline. And all of them save 2 have already received the thinking blogger award. I do plan to include those two in my nominations because they are absolutely terriffic writers. BUT...I am going to take some time to find three other nominees who are really deserving. There are a lot of really terriffic bloggers out there who are just not well publicized.

So, without further ado I nominate Kvetch and Antique Mommy.

Kvetch is written by a gal whom I admire greatly and whose writing career is really taking off. No wonder! She writes about issues that I can relate to with really powerful insight and emotion. Her blogging has slowed down a little now that she's a "real" writer, so I am always excited to see a new entry from her.

Antique Mommy is just one of those people whose posts make you nod your head in perfect understanding and agreement. She is really super funny, but beneath the humor is a really keen intellect and deeply compassionate nature. She is never boring, never mundane. I all but tremble when I see a little number 1 next to her blog name in my Bloglines.

They are both, truly, thinking bloggers.