Wednesday, January 26, 2011

An Award--Thanks, Ez!

Awesome Ezmirelda, who comments here frequently, thought enough of my blog to pass an award my way:))  Wow!  I've never had one of those--thanks, Ez, for thinking of me!  Ezmirelda, for those who don't know her, is a hard-working high school student who, in addition to studying Japanese, writes YA novels in her spare time (!)--and who made it through National Novel Writing Month last November (which means writing a 50,000 word novel in the space of a month--yeah, *exactly* what I thought!  Ez--you go, girl! I wish I'd been that cool when *I* was in high school...;-))



Anyway, according to Ezmirelda, I'm supposed to (in addition to thanking her and linking back) tell you 7 things about myself, and link to some other stylish blogs out there.

About me:

1) Like Ez, I love to read--I've read Pride and Prejudice so many times that (I'm ashamed to say) I've lost count.  Pay attention while you're reading--my writing tends to be sprinkled with quotes (why use your own words when Jane's are so much better? ;-))

2) I used to be a high school German teacher (so I also answer to "Frau")--so watch yourselves, or I'll have you declining adjectives and listing dative prepositions (aus, ausser, bei , mit...)

3)  I've been in Japan for 14 years, married for 10, and learned to speak Japanese from the inside out--no classes, didn't know a word when I came.  Maybe my high school German teacher was right:  best way to learn a language?  Fall in love:-))

4) I like watching Japanese anime with my kids--both because I pick up a lot of Japanese that way, and because I'm constantly amazed at the high level of animation in Japan (Disney channel other American animated series can't even begin to compete).  Also--I feel I must insist that Naruto opening #10 was the best one...(and now despise me if you dare...;-))

5) My laundry stares forlornly at me from a pile far more often than it ought...

6) I am a bird-watcher from force of long habit.  Also flowers.  And trees.  And butterflies.  And recently spiders.  I don't recommend being a passenger in any car I am driving--I'm all "Oooh!  Cows!"...

7) I am a shamelessly biased Mommy, because I think my kids are the cutest ones ever :-))

Enough about me--on to some Stylish Bloggers I think deserve a shout-out:

1) Ann Foxlee--the coolest person I know, and also my sis:-))  In addition to writing a YA fantasy trilogy, she's also the Best Jeweler in Portland (nepotism is ok, right?).  She's super busy making gorgeous jewelery, so she posts occassionally--but when she does, it's awesome!  Check out her Art That Makes Me Wanna Write A Book posts!  Very cool art--you'll likely be inspired yourself...

2)Falen, aka Sarah Ahiers--a super writer and blogger who posts great stuff on the nuts and bolts of writing, and whose Steampunk Writing Hat I covet desperately...Pop over on Fridays for Fun Times with Yvie (the adorable Frenchie who helps out blogging by posting LOLcats and other fun stuff for all of us apes:-))

3)Summer Frey-- over at "...And This Time Concentrate!"  A fellow bird-lover, and mama to two *beautiful* kittehs, Summer posts cool photos, too!  (Check out the snow they got!  Awesome Winter Wonderland photos:-))

4)Shelley Sly--at Stories in the Ordinary.  She's querying--go give her some support!  And--I was so glad to find somebody else besides me who cried at Toy Story 3...:-))

5)Matt Wagner--at Hellion Gallery.  He's not a writer (yet!), but he's curating his Very Own Brand New Art Gallery!  (More shameless nepotism--he's my sis's husband:-))  Head over there for a peek at some new, original, young talented artists from Japan!  You just might be inspired... (and if you're in or going through Portland, stop in!)

Go on--give them some love!

(p.s.--didja spot the Jane Austen quote?  Cookie for you if you did!)

6 comments:

  1. I'm going to go with fact #5: "My laundry stares forlornly at me from a pile far more often than it ought...," because, if it is Austen, then I will feel slightly less guilty about the pile of dishes that so often oogles me. ;D Regrettably, all it really does show is that I don't know my Austen enough. The horror!

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  2. Nope--that wasn't it...but your dishes can come over and play with my dishes! Mine are lonely 'cause I never pay any attention to them...;-))

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  3. Aw, thank you!

    I took German in high school and really wanted to continue it in college, but I had to take Japanese instead (long story). I really loved German, even though the grammar was pretty nuts. :) Coming from a military family, I was born in Berlin, so it was nice to finally be able to say YES when people asked if I spoke German...

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  4. Congrats on your award, and thank you so much for passing it onto me!

    I love watching anime. I've watched a bunch of Naruto before, but I also enjoy Bleach, Full Metal Alchemist, Full Metal Panic, and a lot more. (Okay, those probably aren't the most kid-friendly ones, but have you heard of them?)

    Also, your kids are adorable!!

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  5. aww thanks! I'll add it to my awards page!

    Also, Naruto openings are some of the best openings in any anime. I can't remember which one #10 is, but i'm sure it was fantastic.

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  6. Summer--und deswegen kannst Du Deutsch! Jetzt versteh' ich:-)) Ich war Deutschlehrerin, und kann immer noch Deutsch reden. Wenn Du Lust hast, koennen wir auch auf Deutsch reden!

    Shelley--I've heard of those, but haven't watched them! (I tend to just watch what my kids are watching...;-)) They do get to watch Naruto from time to time, 'cause it's on Thursday nights right after Pokemon...which explains why I've seen it too! (Thanks! I think they're cute--but I'm hopelessly biased....)

    Sarah--Naruto is pretty awesome. I remember sitting with my jaw hanging slack the first time watching it on tv, thinking "TV anime is *this* well-drawn and creative? Eat your heart out, Disney!" When you're on your other computer, you can listen to opening #10 if you click on the link up there:-))

    (p.s.--the Austen quote buried up there is "...and now despise me if you dare!". Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy:-))

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