Kreativ Blogger Award!
I don’t know if this is becoming a regular Monday feature (I won’t complain if it does), but last Monday I was awarded the Kreativ Blogger award by the lovely Jaime Morrow. Her blog can be found here:
http://jaimereadingandwriting.blogspot.com
I’ve mentioned Jaime’s blog a few times here. It really is worth your time and attention. She’s witty, wacky, thoughtful, and Canadian. A dangerous combination! If you like blogs that make you laugh, make you think, and inform, then put her on your RSS reader. Thanks for the award, Jaime!
As a Kreativ Blogger, I need to link back to the award giver (see above), share ten random facts about me, then pass on the award to six people.
I’ve been sharing random facts about me for the past couple of weeks, so let’s do something a bit different. In the comments YOU ask questions you would like me to answer about myself. I’ll answer as many questions as I get. Of course, if the questions are too personal, or inappropriate for answering on a blog (e.g., “What’s your Social Security Number?”), then I will respectfully decline to answer–so bear that in mind when asking. Otherwise, ask away!
And now here are six blogs that I think deserve the Kreativ Blogger award, either for the creativity of the blog, or the contents of the blog, or both (if any of these blogs have already received the award, that’s okay–you’ve not received it from me before so it counts):
Ali Trotta: Always Coffee
Katharine Owens: The Insect Collector
Kris Atkins Writes
Laurie Dennison: Unavoidable Awkwardness
Lori Ann Stephens: On Writing and (sometimes) Publishing
Lydia Kang: The Word is My Oyster
Of course, all the blogs I follow are awesome and creative. These are just a few I want to highlight for this award. Go visit them, subscribe to them (especially the ones without many subscribers, or that are close to a milestone–50, 100, 150, 200 etc. GFC members).
Now… your questions. In the comments, please. 🙂
Thanks! What a great way to start my week. ^_^
I have a question, though it’s not specifically about you. If Brits call cookies biscuits, what do they call biscuits?
You are welcome, Kris!
The closest thing to an American biscuit I know of in the UK is a scone. The main difference is scones are sweeter, however they look very much the same. In fact, if you take a US biscuit, cut it in half, and eat it with butter and jam spread on each half, it tastes almost exactly like a British scone (with butter and jam, which is one of the more popular ways of eating scones).
In all my time in the UK, I never came across a US biscuit. It’s possible they have them (they have KFC over there, after all–at least I seem to recall they did when I was there), and perhaps just call them “biscuits” or “American biscuits.”
I hope that answers your question, at least somewhat! 🙂
Thanks for the mention, Colin. I really appreciate it 🙂
So here’s my question for you:
What caused you to leave the awesomeness that is the UK, cross the pond, and situate yourself in the USA? (no slight intended to the USA, of course).
You’re welcome, Jaime! Thanks again for the award. 🙂
The short answer to your question is: my wife. There is a very long answer too, so a heavily abbreviated version of that long answer is:
My wife is from the US. We met and married in the UK. Our original plan was to set up home in the UK. She was working part-time and had applied for residency. I was unemployed looking for work. Things were not looking promising. Wifey’s mother called one day saying she would pay my way and give us a place to stay if we would consider moving to the US (wifey had a return ticket that was still valid–yes, she went over on a return ticket because it was actually cheaper than getting a one-way ticket). We gave it due prayer and consideration. In the end it looked like one door shutting and another opening, so we decided to relocate.
I have a lot of affection for my former homeland. Even though I’m a naturalized US citizen, I’m not at all offended when people refer to me as a Brit. The paperwork might change my citizenship, but my homeland is in my blood, and always will be.
*cue “Rule Britannia”*
Thanks for the question, Jaime. 🙂
Thank you so much, Colin! I so enjoy getting to know you through your thoughtful posts and comments. Because Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, I’d love to read your love story with your wife. How did you meet? Was it a case of the Insta-love we’re all so fond of in YA? 🙂
You’re welcome, Laurie!
Ours was by no means Insta-Love! Wifey-to-be went to the UK as part of a study abroad program organized by her college. The university she selected was the one I was attending. She was in her junior year, and I was in the second year of my three year degree (most UK bachelor’s degree programs are 3 years). We met at a Bible study at the beginning of the school year, and were friends for most of that year. During the last few weeks of the academic year we started spending more time alone together, getting to know each other better. And then, just as we were getting ready to go our separate ways (me home for a few weeks in the summer, she back to the US), we decided/discovered there was *something* there *sigh!*. And thus began a long distance relationship via letter and telephone (this was before email, Skype, etc.). I visited the US for a few weeks just after Christmas. We went on our first real date while I was there, six months after we started “dating.” Then the following July, she returned to the UK. I proposed to her the following month, and we were married the following December. And that was twenty years ago! 🙂
That was the short version. I could probably novelize the full version. 🙂 Thanks for asking, Laurie.
Thanks for this wonderful post! It has been extremely useful. I hope that you’ll carry on sharing your wisdom with us
Hi Colin,
Thank you so much for the award! It’s always so nice to be appreciated. My question to you would be: In the UK, do you get to eat clotted cream every day? if not, why not?
🙂
I don’t know about anyone else, but growing up we didn’t eat clotted cream every day (if only!). I do remember back in the 80s there was a butter surplus in Europe, and as members of the European Community, the UK was allowed to partake. This meant we were able to buy butter from “the butter mountain” really cheaply. During that time, we had butter instead of margarine quite regularly. Ours was not a wealthy family, so we felt quite pampered. 🙂
Hi Colin! I tagged you in a post today! 🙂 http://vickiorians.blogspot.com/2012/02/tag-im-it.html. Hope you have a great evening!!
Wow, thanks Vicki! I just read the questions on your blog, and I’m going to have to think about them. I hope it’s okay if I don’t answer until later in the week. Looks like there’ll be a Thursday blog article, folks! 🙂