OceansLuver asked, "
Who is your favorite blogger?"I was going to say that it's not something I can answer, because I have so many different favorites, each with their own amusing little quirks.
But the comment took on a life of its own, and I decided to post it as an entry instead. Brace yourselves, because this is THE longest entry I've ever written! In no particular order and off the top of my head:
Yes, Ima is among my favorites because, given her age and what she has gone through, it seems as though she still sees the world through the eyes of a child, with wide-eye wonder. And that is a beautiful thing.
PrincessPerky is one of the first SAer that I got to know here, and has done much to restore my faith and confidence... more than I've let on. And I really should have been more vocal about that. Thanks PP! Keep up your home-schoolin'!
Miclason is from El Salvador. Did you know that? I didn't know for the longest time. It just goes to show how amazingly well she writes, and with such a unique, outside-the-country perspective on things. And yet, she keeps it so close to home with her beloved daughter.
Baselle. One of the kindest, smartest, and wittiest bloggers on here. I don't think I can quite describe how intellectually interesting she is. Attempting to would take more than the space I have available here.
MonkeyMama. Among the smartest and yet so grounded. Ever meet a woman who is like the sun? She has entries that is as long and descriptive as the pervasive rays of our star, and yet, remains an inscrutable, womanly mystery that one can never quite seem to make out no matter how hard I squint.
Koppur actually worries me. She doesn't lead an easy life, but she still does the very best she can, and is truly an American story. Follow her and you can almost get a pulse of what the country is going through....
Thriftorama's adventures with the Tiki bar and Hurricane Katrina had me glued, seeing how she is coping.... I've read just about every entry that she's written if that says anything.
Ah Thrifty Ray. If there is ever one blogger that can transcend the cold, ethereal medium that is the internet, and prove that indeed, warmth and kindness can be transmitted via tiny bits of 0s and 1s, it would be Gramma Ray. It's hard not to read her entries without smiling.
Paulette Goddard is one of the most whimsical and articulate writers I've ever encountered, not just in the blogs, but anywhere. Reading her blog isn't just perusing yet another blog entry. It's more like an other-worldy, and often times, magical journey. I think I have a boyish crush on her writing style. Konichiwa!
Although I may not have commented on there much, I actually keep up with FrugalTexan's blog quite closely. She's a woman who doesn't seem to be afraid to bare her soul, and there's something very engaging about that. A real, down-to-earth girl going through the trials of life that, in so many ways, can make even a guy relate to her.
LuxLiving is, quite arguably, THE most stylish blogger on here. No really, she has a sensibility about her that easily stands out and makes her unique. If there's ever a blogger that I need style suggestions from, you know who's on the top of that list!
Ceejay is unique and bares mentioning. I hope I am not over-stepping my bounds when I say that she is a part of a 3-person household. The perspective, both social and financial, keeps me glued. Yet another blog that I read just about every entry because... run-of-the-mill it is not!
DisneySteve. Enough said.
Seriously, an extremely rare entity on this blog. Male. Successful. And yet, frugal! What's not to love? Hey Steve, when are you taking me to Disney with you? Gamecock. Another blogger that needs no introduction, and an endearing walking contradiction that requires more words to explain than I have space for here. That was a compliment by the way.
Fern, to me, is the quintessential Southern gentry that I've come to associate her blog as. I think her technical writing prowess sometimes goes under-appreciated due to her disarming, soulful, and yet very accessible but real look into her life. For some reason, I always crave a tall, cool glass of sweet tea when I read her blog.
I haven't seen Merch around lately, but he has been instrumental in shaping my investing point of view. Preferring the comfort and civility that is often associated with the blogs over the rabble-rousing that sometimes goes on in the forums, Merch is quite a well of knowledge that I hope many more will discover and tap. Yet another rare guy in the blogs.
Zetta will never tell you how smart she is. And if you don't pay attention, her sharp intellect can often slip by you as she pelts you with one thoughtful question after another. But that's what I've always admired about her. She embodies that seemingly insatiable pursuit of knowledge and insight, and that I think, is infinity more important than knowing it itself. Zetta is yet another blogger that, when she writes, I pay attention.
I am SO SO SO very sorry if I didn't write something about you and your blog. Believe me when I say this: There are so many more blogs on here that I enjoy and keep up with. It's just that, as this entry drags on, I am beginning to get more and more fatigued. So, in my drowsy state, I'm getting careless. If you've been around and blogging on a fairly regular basis, I promise you, I've read it and it has left an impression with me one way or another.
I know this seems like one big group-hug (or worse, some kind of popularity contest which it isn't), but I would not have taken this much time to write about it if I didn't think so highly of this blogging community. To me, it's a vibrant world that shines in a seemingly endless economic gloom. I'm glad to be a part of this community, and I hope you will all continue to keep on blogging.
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March 14th, 2009 at 01:23 am 1236993782
We do have a truly fantastic blogging community here. I am so thankful to have found this place over four years ago.
March 14th, 2009 at 01:33 am 1236994394
March 14th, 2009 at 04:11 am 1237003872
BA- one of our favorite bloggers (and male to boot!) who makes us smile with his crockpot, closet and quickie tales...Who sang to us, cheered us, and cooked with us..who tops the list of most responded to blogs because of his interesting insight and ability to entice others into his intriguing topics and blogs... who went MIA and almost cause a mutiny single-handedly. Who has been so open and honest about some of the most painful events of his life. He is the son-in-law Id love to have... a beloved friend...and father.
Without a doubt, this place just wouldnt be the same without him.
Thanks for your kind words BA.
March 15th, 2009 at 03:46 am 1237088777
As much as I enjoy some of the newer bloggers - Amber, whitestripe, scfr (not so new, but I never miss her), toyguy, my english castle, brooklyn girl - I so very much miss the bloggers that have moved on: lr johnson, lucky robin, contrary1, kashi, divajen, threebean, flash (who is now posting again), even some of Jeffrey's blogs (who knew he had a hatred for all things Hello Kitty?). There are some real treasures out in the Retired blogs... a shout-out to those who have passed beyond.
March 15th, 2009 at 04:30 am 1237091448
I'm sorry for deleting, Baselle. At the time, I felt as though I had compelling reasons to do so, but retrospect, I do think that perhaps I had been too extreme.... I will try my best not to do that again.
March 16th, 2009 at 01:56 pm 1237211773
March 16th, 2009 at 02:17 pm 1237213062
There are so many more blogs here that I do read and find interesting, but towards the end of this post, my brain was fizzing out.
So, I couldn't give everyone a shout-out. And you know, it's not because someone isn't on my radar or anything. It's not an awards ceremony or who is in the "it" and who is not or anything. It's just whatever that crosses my mind at that moment....
March 16th, 2009 at 07:30 pm 1237231818
I always know your posts are worth reading, and get rather depressed when I don't hear from you for a couple days
March 17th, 2009 at 08:26 am 1237278377
March 19th, 2009 at 02:05 am 1237428359
lots of love back at you!
and, so true, we all were SOOOOO worried when you "disappeared" on us!
I find ALL blogs so interesting...sometimes I wish I had more time to read them all ...If there's one site I'm addicted to, it's SA!
I read most of the blogs you mentioned, and, true, people in here are all so wonderful and so caring, which one wouldn't imagine in a PF community (althoug, why not, is a whole 'nother post!)
March 19th, 2009 at 03:04 am 1237431859
Anyway, I won't do that again. It wasn't very nice of me, even if I didn't mean any harm. Thank you all for being so supportive and compassionate.