friended

My name was recently listed under these words that is apparently floating about the internet...

"The Friends Award isn't about being the most popular blogger or having the most read blog. It is just because you consider the author a friend. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Ignore that word "must" You must do nothing. what I hope you will do is feel my appreciation for your friendship. I wish I could break bread with you. Have a strudelfest and fly you all into town.

Gannet Girl friended me and if she hadn't, surely she would have made my list.

Lets start where Gannet Gal left off, with the woman behind Quantum Theology. She is off on a 30 day silent retreat and that is how we met. It was our mutual habit taking our own mugs while on silent retreats, which led to her finding Stratoz.

But before she found me, Jim over at Brainwaves stopped by and has stuck around. Dare I count all the early posts which show two comments, one from Jim, and one from me responding back... It kept Stratoz alive. The Holy Spirit just may have been flowing across the internet.

From the heart of Texas we have a southerner at Red Heeler Ranch Who I think would do well at my little strudelfest as long as she didn't stay over for a breakfast of pancakes and as long as none of you brought up problems with your love life. see her recent posts.

Than there is Kievas over at Sharing A Journey . He shares my desire to have others hear the music that touches his heart and so I venture into his music, and yet again the spirit flows.

And how about Kathryn who sends out colloquies. Now I need to know what a colloquy is... a trip to a dictionary helps me to understand one of her posts where she expressed her desire for more dialogue. Kathryn sent me the saddest e-mail I read in 2008. I am glad I got that news from a friend.

The friend who is most likely to become a movie star this year... Ruth who is unfolding as a work-in-progress. Now that her daughters are spying in on her blog, we may get more honest accounts of family events.

Ok, that's six, so lets change pace a bit and say this. If you didn't make this list, it in no way indicates your not being flown in for strudelfest.

Early on in Stratoz I tried to build some connections with garden bloggers. I don't know why, but those connections did not happen, however, there was one who stopped by every now and then...

Blackswamp Girl, those handful of comments have meant so much to me Those who love all things Jesuit, you got to check out this post at a study in contrast.

and now for number 8: I will stretch things the same way Gannet Girl did. In the short time I have made a new blog that eliminated jazz, worship, Jesuit sprituality, eating out and eating at home, stained glass, my friends, Mosaic Woman, and who knows what else that emerges from my thoughts here at Stratoz...

all that that is left is my day job, and many have greeted me ever so kindly. I will use this as a way to introduce them to Stratoz and say thanks for welcoming me into the land of the plant/garden obsessed bloggers. I feel at home already. To name a few of the many who have welcomed me...

Garden Chick and her designs
Kylee and her acre
Aerie-el and her snowy winter of discontent
Kris and her beautiful nails
walk2write and her music that doesn't chase me away
and finally Tina who was happy to see that I come back to communicate