Shurely shum mishtake

I seem to have been nominated for a Thinking Blogger Award by the charming and oh so sophisticated Charles Dawson (who is going straight into my blogroll for this - I'm so fickle), and yes, I'm as surprised as you are about this. I would describe myself as many things; suave, witty, charming, eloquent, stunningly handsome, etc etc, but never thinking. I mean, I do obviously have the capacity for thought and by that rationale do think, but I would never, if asked, classify myself as a thinking blogger. Still, if I come across as such then that is a good thing, and who's to say, maybe underneath all the swearing and random stuff there are actually some cogs turning round, doing the hard work calculating things and getting me where I need to be. I'm just not particularly aware of them while they're doing this. Which could mean that I'm a genius. Yes, I'm sticking with that argument. The answer is good therefore Timbo is happy.

So because I've been nominated I a) have to display a lovely badge which as you will see has pride of place sort of near the bottom of my sidebar (it has to work with the design, baby) and b) I have to nominate five fellow bloggers who I would categorise as Thinking Bloggers. I've thought about this (see! I can think!) and have settled on the following five peeps; some lovely bloggers who without fail always manage to stimulate my cerebral cortex, give me a giggle or two, gaze in astonished wonderment at their words, or even just whip my dictionary out as I haven't a clue what they're on about and oh god I really should have paid more attention at school and that A grade in English Language really was probably a bit of a fluke. But anyway! On to The List:

Alda - The original Icelandic blog de rigueur (not sure what it means or if that is how you spell it but I know what I mean, I think), and always ALWAYS my first stop for great writing, opinion, deep personal analysis, bizarre Google-hit information, oh yeah, and weather forecasting.

Ariel - Quite frankly, Ariel's is the best new blog - from a writing purist's perspective - that I've read this year. She uses words I've never heard of so is obviously very clever as not many people are cleverer than me, and has a wonderful style which totally drags you in, shakes you around, puts your clothes on all back to front, and then spits you out with gusto. Possibly the most deserving of the title Thinking Blogger. In my opinion.

Jack - Winner of the Most Womanly Blog Swampy Award, most definitely a woman, a bloody intelligent, bloody funny, bloody ridiculously clever woman, and a producer of the kind of writing that makes me wonder what the hell she does for a living. Astrophysicist? Translator of dictionaries  in to all the languages of the world for a laugh, or that bloke out of Good Will Hunting who is really amazingly clever yet still works on building sites and hits on girls in bars. I doubt I shall ever know. Sigh.

Morgan - Again, a wonderful writer, an opinionated writer, and so articulate for someone so young (compared to me anyway). Not posting as much as she should at the moment, which is a pity, cos hers is a must-read at all times. She makes me jealous and that is as good a reason as any to nominate her for this.

Overnight Editor - This chap writes like no-one else. He has a style and manner all of his own, doesn't bear classification, and always surprises me with whatever he writes. He also like cryptic crosswords and hides things in his posts. Now, I don't understand cryptic crosswords, and have a problem with most things other than the Daily Mirror's Spot The Ball competition, so Mr Editor is officially Very Clever Indeed. He's very amusing too, recently described hayfever as "herbaceous porn" (quite brilliant I'm sure you'll agree) and despite not reading preambles quite as often as he should, most certainly deserves to be in this list.

So there, do with that as you will.

I must also state that Ariel is the proud winner of April's Blog of the Month for all the reasons stated above. And because the words Ariel and April are quite similar. An added bonus! Your award is at this very moment winging it's way to your email address, and you must display it with pride for these things are like fucking gold dust and will be worth a fortune very soon if they aren't already.

Lastly, I've had the most long and drawn out food poisoning episode in the history of mankind in the last few days. It took half a day to kick in, lasted for the best part of a day (my vomit was a BAD colour and I did worry somewhat), and my tum still hasn't fully recovered a full two days later. That's three food poisoning episodes since January, so this is now officially The Year of the Painful Gut. Maybe I should design a badge for that?

Ps. Check out Cat's new sidebar badge on the right. Nice eh? This is what you get if you send me tea towels, pens and post-its. And Cat, I love the tea towels. Very, err, tea-towelly.

Pps. And also glance swiftly at Anna's new Timbo-designed sidebar thingy too. She sent me a magazine and some assorted bits and bobs, and for that she has earned pride of place in the bar. It's only fair. Especially so considering her blog is fucking hilarious.

Comments

[Cat]

Boo for food poisoning, but hurrah for my sidebar badge - yay!

(Glad you like the tea towels. Sadly, the branding fades a lot when they're washed - that's what I get for going to a non-tried and tested supplier who promises much cheapness.)

[Beth]

Congrats on the thinkign blogger award - go you!

I have to ask...isn't all vomit a bad colour? In my limited vomiting experience I don't think I've ever looked at it and gone "Oooh..what a lovely shade of stomach lining and partially digested food - it'd be the perfect colour for the living room)". Cue comedy image of woman taking sample of vomit to the Dulax man and saying "You said you could mix any colour - mix this".

Anyhoo...hope you're feeling better soon!

[Marcos]

excellent choices (from the ones I know). I nominated ariel too but she ignored me!

I'm off to check the other two I haven't read yet.

[thinkpink]

well done timbossss, you deserve it! x

[Ariel]

Er, thanks, I am being swamped by goodness and rabbits it seems! Marcos, I am sorry, I shan't ignored the Thinking Blogger again, promise. Timbo, what do you mean your vomit was a BAD colour? Have you ever vomited something that was aesthetically pleasing? You could always try and have some grated carrots prior to spewing next time - they add colour and consistency. Get well soon!

[Alda]

AW!! Am still blushing from the glowing report. Timbo, you do flatter me, really - no, really you do. Really.

So because I think, does that mean I am? (badum tish!)

Anyway, thank you for always being such a good sport and so positive about my work. And a big CONGRATS on your nomination, which is most definitely deserved.

PS. If I send you some putrid skate, can I have a place on your sidebar?

[Dylan]

Woohoo! Getting credit where credit is due. How wonderful!

[Alda]

PS. Forget about the putrid skate. I forgot you're sick. [Get well soon!]

[anna]

I love you, Tim.

Take that slightly-over-excited enthusiasticism with the fact that I know where you live (having sent you things) and you have one *seriously* terrifying commenter.

Just for that lovely button, I'm going to spend all day tomorrow trying to raise my technical knowledge to the fact where I can finally put my cherished Swampy award button in my own side bar. After the last howevermanymonths where I've been wanting to.

[Timbo]

Cat - It's okay. I like it when they have that 'lived in' look.

Beth = BAD was a specific reference to some godawful dark/luminous green substance, not a million miles from what I imagine toxic waste to resemble. So, unlike your usual brown, chunky, gah-jesus-icky mess, this was particularly, well, bad.

Marcos - You have to give her a good prod. Worked for me.

thinkpink - Thanks!

Ariel - You're welcome. And re the vom, see the above point. I find that when I throw up water it can be quite easy on the eye. Clear and pleasant. Yum.

Alda - If you send me absolutely anything other than putrid skate, that is strictly Icelandic in origin (very important), even a teeny tiny button, then I will make a sidebar button thingy just for you.

At this rate every blogger in the world will have my address by the end of the year. A good thing? Or a bad thing? I'm not sure.

Dylan - Aww shucks. I blushed.

Anna - I shall be keeping a close eye on proceedings to see if it appears. Good luck with that though.

And in regards to knowing where I live and being terrifying, be warned that Charlotte keeps a knife by the bed and isn't afraid to use it. There, who's terrififed now eh?

[Alda]

OK I'll risk Charlotte and her knife. Now where do you live?

[Ariel]

"Give her a good prod?". What tells you I am amenable to being prodded? Do I sound like I need prodding? Tsk.

[oe]

Thank you Timbo.

Ahem, I'll put it with the others...

OE

[tiedosmoosy]

XXI:
It's easy to get a loan unless you need it.
XXII:
If stock market experts were so expert, they would be buying stock,
not selling advice.
XXIII:
Any task can be completed in only one-third more time than is
currently estimated.
XXIV:
The only thing more costly than stretching the schedule of an
established project is accelerating it, which is itself the most
costly action known to man.
XXV:
A revised schedule is to business what a new season is to an athlete
or a new canvas to an artist.
-- Norman Augustine

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