I have some cool relatives: an aunt and an uncle with a couple of neat kids. And get this — they all blog. Turns out, my aunt just awarded my blog the Sunshine Award. Thanks! :-)

However, this award comes with strings attached.

The Rules

1. You have to feature a picture of this award in a post or on your blog.
2. You have to answer ten random questions about yourself.
3. You have to nominate ten other bloggers to receive this award and then you have to link to their blogs and let them know about receiving it.

Let’s have a go at this.

The Award Pictures

Woo hoo!

Ten Random Things

There weren’t ten random questions, so I’ll write ten random facts about myself. Enjoy!

1. I have posted six random things about myself before. That won’t count as six for this list, but I will count it as one. And I’m not reusing any of them. I also posted some other random facts on my recent Happy 10th Anniversary, WordPress post.
2. I like taking pictures. I post a ton on this blog, and fewer on Pinterest and 500px. I recently realized I like my abstract photos the best. I try not to take myself too seriously, being a “snapshooterist extraordinaire.”
3. My dad taught me to pay it forward. One way I do that is volunteering as a school board member. I started before Ashley started first grade; she’s now graduated from college and I’m still going. (Yeah, there was a one year gap as we changed schools…) Each year, I learn a little more about learning.
4. I’m a big wimp when it comes to needles. I decided to work on it in a positive way: I give blood. In less than a month, I’ll earn my 2-gallon pin. I encourage you to do the same. While you’re at it, be an organ donor. Sign up for Be the Match.
5. I commute to work by bike, at least, when the weather’s nice. That’s a lot more often than you might think here in the Portland area. And I ride less than 3.5 miles one way, so it’s not a big deal.
6. My personality type is INTJ.
7. I don’t like to pay money for something I can do myself. It ends up being a great way to learn how cars and appliances work. And plumbing. And the shortest way to the home repair shop. Right now, the dryer is awaiting a new heating element. In the meantime, it got a thorough de-linting and exhaust pipe cleaning.
8. My favorite Starbucks drink is an extra hot triple venti three-pump white mocha, non-fat, no whip whip mocha. But I only get that as a free drink. Otherwise, I’ll get a two-pump white mocha, non-fat, no whip (with whip if I’m “living large.”)
9. Some things you buy you wonder how you ever lived without them. For me, a couple of those items are a shop vac and a toaster oven. I know — random, but isn’t that the point of this exercise? ;-)
10. I enjoy comic strips. Dilbert and Calvin and Hobbes are the best. Last year I made the effort to like graphic novels and manga, but didn’t succeed.

Nominate Ten Blogs

As much as I would like to nominate ten other bloggers (I did it back when I answered six random things), I don’t think I can anymore. I don’t read many personal blogs anymore. The individual bloggers I used to read aren’t blogging anymore. They’ve moved to Twitter and Facebook. It’s sad… :-(

Some might say I’m not blogging anymore, either. And there would be some truth in that. I don’t do much long form blogging anymore. I’ll post a picture or two and a quote, maybe a link. But a long article? Not very often (but sometimes).

So for this section, a fail.

But, if you’re blogging and are inspired by this, consider yourself tagged. Self nominate, grab the award picture, and tell us ten random things about yourself. Let me know in the comments so I can go read your post.