Liebster Award Nominations

Liebster Award Continued: Additional Q&A

Many thanks, tas, mercis and dankes to Alienorajt and Cornerofrain for nominating me for this award. Amazing people! Love your writing and congratulations on being nominated too.

Check out what they’ve been up to at http://alienorajt.wordpress.com/ and http://cornerofrain.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/1338/ respectively.

Another nomination. I’m touched and my grateful thank you goes to RandomlySpeakingUnorthodoxly for another Liebster nomination. I’ve added my answers to the questions at the top of the list. The last one inspired me to write the State of Syria post – such a great question. Truly thankful to have been given the opportunity to offer my opinion on the matter.

You can support RandomlySpeakingUnorthodoxly’s writing by checking it out here: http://fixatedann.wordpress.com/2013/08/31/the-liebster-award-yippee/

The Liebster Award Rules: 

You must link back the person who nominated you and answer the 10 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee before you.

You must pick 10 bloggers to be nominated for the award with under 200 followers and come up with 10 questions for your nominees to answer and notify your nominees.

I’ll have to reblog my answers with a running commentary in a surreal interview 🙂

Here they are plain and simple for now:

1. Randomly Speaking Unorthodoxly Q&A with vicbriggs:

Where are you from, were you born there?

I’m European, born at its edges, in a small country that looks like a tall-hatted shepherd walking on the sea-shore. It’s in-between Romania and Ukraine, across the sea from Turkey.

Why do you choose to blog?

This is a similar question to the one asked by Alieonorajt 🙂 I’ll see if I can add to my previous reply here.

I am a writer, a story-teller. I wanted to share my story, some of which is happy, some of which is painful. Blogging is a good way to do it. If what I write helps at least one other person in some way then mission accomplished.

Do you think writing can somewhat help to heal depression?

It is certainly helped me a great deal with that. But writing is only part of the answer. Speaking out is equally important.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

On a mountaintop, catching sunrays.

Amidst the waves, searching for peace.

In a field of violets, with my beloved.

Do you play an instrument?

I allow my fingers some repose on the ivories of a piano. My love of music is a gift from my father; a fire reignited by a stranger one melancholy evening some two years ago.

Are you a professional Writer? If you aren’t what is your profession? Would you choose another profession?

I am a writer. Whether I am a professional writer, I do not know. Writing is first and foremost a labour of love to me. I’d keep writing even if I never got paid for one word of it.

Do you have a bucket list? Care to share?

Haha. No. I don’t have a bucket list. Perhaps I should get one.

I’ve been lucky enough to have accomplished everything I set my mind to up to now. There is still a project or two I’d like to finish, but I’m sure I will get there in time.

Do you write poetry?

Yes. I also love reading poetry. I’ve been out of practice with both these last two years, but being part of this community helps with both.

Do you believe in marriage/divorce? State with reasons.

I believe in relationships and in their ability to endure, whether they are ratified by the state or not.

When people grow apart however, sometimes divorce is the only answer, perhaps the best one. I’ve grown up with parents who kept their marriage going for the sake of the children. It’s done more damage than good, and it made me realise that while many relationships are worth the work, but shouldn’t be saved at any cost.

What are your thoughts on the current battle with Syria?

I love your politically-minded question. Please see my full answer by following this link: https://shardsofsilence.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/the-state-of-syria/

2. Cornerofrain Q&A with vicbriggs:

Is there anyone you can tell anything to without fear of rejection?

Yes. My brother. He is an incredible human being. His love is unconditional. I can do no wrong as far as he is concerned and this means that I can trust him with anything.

What do you think about most of the time?

Other people. People fascinate me. I am yet to find a more interesting subject, and believe me, I’ve tried.

How do you feel about yourself at this moment?

Like Thumbelina in flight on the wings of a summer breeze, holding on to the stem of a dandelion seed-head: frightened and exhilarated.

What is your favourite drink?

Mead. It makes me feel like I’m in a magical place.

What website(s) do you visit daily?

I don’t have a daily website I visit, unless you count WordPress for the last thirty days. I do a lot of research so what I use daily are search engines.

Is it hard for you to concentrate with all of the information available today?

What an interesting question! I suppose yes. It’s tough to sift through the information and pick what is important to you, because everything is important and nothing is.

Do you have a good sense of humour?

I think I have one, but whether it’s a good one… Can of worms a-going fishing 🙂

What does it take to make you care about someone?

Be yourself. Can’t care about someone faking it. Maybe when I was younger people could fool me, but I’ve developed a nose for it over the years. Be yourself and care about others, and I will care about you.

Do you sing when you drive or in the shower?

YES!

How close is love to insanity in your opinion?

Love this question. Love is madness, because none of us love in the same way. There is no way to control and conform your emotions to what is expected of you. Hollywood has attempted to set the expectations and give us all a template on feelings and behaviour when in love. Failed project I should think. When it hits you, it’s like nothing else before or after. If you’re lucky enough, it stays with you for the rest of your life. It makes you a little crazier, but a little happier too.

3. Alienoratj Q&A with vicbriggs:

What was your first memory?

I am not yet two. It is winter I think, a gloomy day in the countryside, but I am happy. I have a new red coat with white twirls hemmed into its edges. I run around in the mud. Careful not to fall and dirty my white wooly tights, but not so careful that I do not enjoy it. Mother comes to me in a hurry. She lifts me into her arms, tucking me safely away from the dirt of the road. My aunt calls from the other side of the fence. She says something pretty and loving. I think her beautiful. It makes me glad.

What is your favourite colour?

Sunset-orange.

What kind of music do you like best?

I have very eclectic tastes. Love all good music. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Jazz and Indie.

What musical instrument/s do you play?

The piano, although not as well as I’d like. I used to play the violin when I was very young, but gave it up before reaching any degree of proficiency.

What is your all time favourite film?

Too tough! It goes in circles, so I’ll have to give a few of the ones I keep returning to: Pulp Fiction. Fight Club. Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy. Stardust. Atonement. I’m sure there’s an obvious one that doesn’t spring to mind right now, but I think those five have withstood the test of time (more of it for some).

Who is your favourite fairy tale character?

The Wolf in Red Riding Hood: a very misunderstood creature. We only hear Red’s side of the story. Who knows what abuse Wolf might’ve suffered over the years at the hands of Grandmother to bring him to such an extreme reaction? Also, his actions are always judged from a non-wolfish point of view. Another world’s norms and values are imposed upon him. He never gets the chance to explain his position. He is robbed of a voice and then murdered. We are none the wiser at the end.

Who do you love most in the world?

My husband and my brother; my family and friends; although everyone that crosses my path gets their own nook in my heart.

Read or watch television?

Read.

What is the very best thing about you?

A resilient trust in others.

What made you become a blogger?

The need to be more honest about things that have been painful, the desire to share, the hope that I can help others with their hurdles even if only by adding a smile to their day.

Now! For my nominations

So tough finding bloggers with under 200 followers. Very encouraging, as it shows how much support new writers get. I found you. I read you. I enjoy what you do and want to get the word out there. So… My nominations, in no particular order, are:

1. EightLeggedGemini, but to me forever TwinCentaur http://wordpress.com/#!/read/blog/id/45412027/
2. Blessed/Depressed: http://sixsidedtruth.wordpress.com/
3. Randomly Speaking Unorthodoxly: http://fixatedann.wordpress.com/
4. Amelie Lockhart: http://amelielockhart.wordpress.com/
5. My Travels with Depression: http://mytravelswithdepression.wordpress.com/
6. Written Obsessions: http://writtenobsession.wordpress.com/
7. Joserizzal: http://joserizzal.wordpress.com/
8. Prodigious Leaps: http://allisonmargaret.wordpress.com/
9. Alienorajt: http://alienorajt.wordpress.com/
10. Cornerofrain : http://cornerofrain.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/1338/

My questions for you:

1. How do you dream? (Colour or black and white? Sound? Smell? Touch? Taste? What senses do you use or have available to you in your dreams?)
2. What were you like as a child?
3. What is your favourite memory of a loved one?
4. What, if anything, would you have done differently if you could go back in time?
5. Do you remember your first kiss?
6. What do you see as the purpose of life?
7. What matters the most to you now?
8. How do you feel about owls?
9. When did you last walk barefoot through the grass?
10. Where is the place you go to when you want to recharge?

A big thank you to all

from a very happy blogger on her one month blogniversary 🙂

It’s good to be here with you x