Yes, I’m down. but a friend reminded me I had been through worse and survived. Friends in the blogosphere gave me cyber hugs (and a furry one from my friend Clowie!), they shared music that made them smile. They encouraged. I’m still down, but I’m moving up. Bent but not broken.
Hugs back at you all….I am posting a video – Best Day of My Life by American Authors – the Dog Version. Animal welfare is very dear to me. I have been rescued and adopted by some of the most incredible animals in the universe. So this is a shout out to all of them. How we live, how we cope, how we survive – it’s all a choice of attitude. I have faith in a great God, I have friends who care, I have people who love me in spite of me being me….I am wealthy beyond the imagination.
This post is a very belated THANK YOU to some super bloggers who passed along awards to me. They didn’t do the rules thing, but I was taught to say thank you and that I am doing. I am also linking to them and I hope you will will check them out.
I would love to nominate all my “followers” because you all provide me with my best moments, new perspectives, joy, knowledge, music….you all expand my world. So….ALL WHO FOLLOW THIS BLOG AMD READ THIS POST – pick out any four of the awards posted for yourself. It may not sound very personal, but I want you to pick what will make you feel great. Like giving you a bag of Jolly Rancher candies and you picking the combination you like the best.
I have been given all of these awards by you all. Something I wrote spoke to something in you and you took the time to let me know either by comments or awards. So…have at it. Take your pick. Everyone of you deserves every one of the awards. Thank you to Huntie, Belsbror, and the Seeker for your recent nominations. Pass these along to others. Let’s all of us take more to time to let others know about how they touch us.
I have been nominated for and given the choice of awards as they posted them…
Thank you dear hearts for reading my blog and nominating me:
http://chasingrabbitholes.com
http://belsbror.wordpress.com
http://3psbyseeker.com
Things you should know about me:
1. These are three of the blogs I follow.
2. I want you to go visit them if you have not already
3. I really enjoy these three blogs. I like what they say, how they say it, and who the bloggers are.
4. I like all the blogs I follow!!!
5. I am a prolific reader
6. I have over 1500 books on my Kindle and the number is still growing
7. I am a kickbutt cook.
8. The rest of what you want to know is all through my blog.
Help yourself to four of these:
![shaunyaward[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/shaunyaward1.jpg)
![Sunshine-Award[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/sunshine-award1-e1392141636517.jpg)
![bth_VersatileBloggerAward-Tekkaus[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/bth_versatilebloggeraward-tekkaus1.png?w=150&h=112)
![shineon1[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/shineon11.jpg)
![unique-leaves-award[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/unique-leaves-award1.jpg)
![seed-of-light-award[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/seed-of-light-award1.jpg)
![first-best-moment-award-winner[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/first-best-moment-award-winner1.png)
![sweet[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/sweet1.jpg)
![inner-peace-award1[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/inner-peace-award11.jpg)
![very-inspiring-blogger-award-2[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/very-inspiring-blogger-award-21.jpg)
![one-lovely-blog-award[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/one-lovely-blog-award1.jpg)
![most-influential-blogger-e1364230844577[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/most-influential-blogger-e13642308445771.jpg)
![rose-of-kindness-award[1]](https://kanzensakura.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/rose-of-kindness-award1.jpg)
kanzen sakura 
Mar 27, 2014 @ 14:22:49
I am deeply honored to be included in your list. I truly appreciate the kind words. You are too generous. 🙂
I will post a reply a bit later. I hope you will like it. 🙂
Take care, I pray that you and your whole family will always be in good health.
Blessings,
belsbror
Mar 27, 2014 @ 14:30:42
Thank you.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 14:32:33
Thank you. Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 18:22:54 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 28, 2014 @ 10:55:06
🙂
Mar 28, 2014 @ 12:02:00
Thank you for that lovely post. You have made me smile hugely and my heart happy.
Apr 01, 2014 @ 12:48:55
Keep doing what you do. Kindness always win in the end. 🙂
Apr 01, 2014 @ 16:28:13
Thank you. Yes, it does.
Mar 28, 2014 @ 09:43:04
Thank you for your prayers. I need them rather desperately at this time. Prayers are my lifeline and while I wait on God I pray and will add you to mine.
Mar 28, 2014 @ 10:32:26
Hope you like the Savor post I did earlier. 🙂
Blessings always,
belsbror
Mar 28, 2014 @ 11:23:35
Yes! I’ll check. Sometimes my Like button takes and sometimes when I go back, it shows up as not pressed. I’ll make sure of it.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 14:24:53
your link left at my crossroads has just sent me over here… 🙂
1st of all: thank you! 2nd of all: have you read my “about”?… 🙂
N.B. This is an award-free blogging zone… 🙂 I feel already grateful, honored and rewarded if you stop over and read my posts. I don’t follow any blogs and I don’t belong to any social networks as my spare time is quite limited! NO fake or automatic “likes”, PLEASE! I’m thoroughly interested in QUALITY, not in quantity! 🙂
http://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/about/
Mar 27, 2014 @ 15:33:19
Awwwwwe-some! Congratulations. 🙂
Mar 27, 2014 @ 16:02:28
I hope the furry hug helped.
Congratulations on all those awards!
Thank you, I’m going to find it difficult to choose!
Mar 28, 2014 @ 09:40:08
Furry hugs are the bestest. Maybe your bipeds could help. I like the thoughts of the Sisterhood one and the one about the Unique leaves, but you are more than welcome to pick those or any combination. You and I not have the tendency to put them in a safe place and then forget! The Inner peace one too, for as you said to me, your blog makes me feel peaceful inside.
Mar 28, 2014 @ 10:33:04
Thank you, those sound rather nice. I’m planning an award post soon.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 16:14:54
“Do not turn away from despair by cowardice. Get across it! You’ll find a reason to hope beyond it. Go on straight ahead and step over it. You will see the light at the other end of the tunnel.”(André Gide)
http://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/cri-et-desespoir-scream-and-despair/
* * *
courage, strength, peace and optimism… ❤
Mar 27, 2014 @ 16:44:37
Thank you very much! Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 20:14:55 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 16:30:28
You deserve all these awards and the support you get because you give it back a million times over. You’ve a big fat beautiful heart that shines through your post’s pages. Glad I connected with you. ❤
Mar 27, 2014 @ 16:43:55
Thank you. It amazes me that several people who don’t accept awards – which is fine – were just downright rude and condescending about it. It’s okay to not accept awards, but to be rude is just……rude! Oh well. I guess the way these people replied means they took nothing from my blog, which is very sad. But that’s okay. I’m glad we connected too. Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 20:30:28 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 16:46:39
I’m sorry to read that they were rude to you. Hard to imagine, since you’re so incredibly supportive. A simple, I love it, thank you, but I don’t do awards, would have been nice. Poop on rudeness. Another big big hug.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 17:09:12
I did get some nice don’t accept, but thanks, which I can understand. Some people just give them back and forth and preen. This is a reality and why some people don’t do them. I am about to stop accepting but I felt these 3 wonderful bloggers needed to be thanked and why I wanted to give all my awards away. Some wonderful people aren’t in on the back and forth society and never get the applause. I wanted to share all with all. I may keep that inner peace one though. Clowie gave me that one because she said she felt peaceful when she visited which was what I wanted from the beginning. I also needed to give a shout out to all the animals through all my years who taught me so much. If you don’t follow Chasing Rabbit Holes, check it out. The writer is the adopter of a rescued greyhound and a wise and wonderful woman. It is sunny today and the sky is so very blue. I feel I am living inside a magical Fabergé egg.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 17:01:58
Dearest Kanzen, you do all of us honor here. I am sorry to hear some of your generosity was poorly received. You must have awarded them privately as I see only three of us here. If that be true, then the lack of grace is truly sad. So, let me begin, I ACCEPT and I thank you for your appreciation and reciprocation of our mutual admiration. Grin. As the ones who truly love and enjoy you know, it takes one to know one. Thank you, Kanzen. Love HuntMode
Mar 27, 2014 @ 17:13:55
The three listed nominated and I was thanking and linking back. None of you three would do such a thing and one of the three received a most ungracious reply when he/she nominated that person for an award. I was hurt for them knowing how kind they are. I had acouple of folks kindly decline which is fine and I understand. But it doesn’t matter in the end. In the end, the greatest gift is love.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 17:17:19
I was just reading something Mozart wrote:
“Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of a genius. Love, love, love — that is the soul of genius.”
Mar 27, 2014 @ 17:58:49
And he was absolutely right!! Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 21:17:21 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 18:43:24
Thank you for all the awards! And cheer up. Please?
Mar 27, 2014 @ 18:47:07
I promise. I’m cheering up. Truly. and thank you.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 18:59:49
Hooray! Glad if I helped any.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 20:10:06
You helped a lot. I’ve had fun checking out Steam Powered Giraffe, music, back story, etc. One of my favorite groups is the Japanese group, World Order. Front man is Genki Sudo, world champ kick boxer, retired. Their movements are hypnotic and the music as well. They have the appearance of the iconic “bracksus”… Black suited Japanese business man. They use their music and movement as a statement about the black suits, commercialistic culture, pop icons, etc. Their latest, Last Dance, is sensitive and in the mode of ” mono aware”..pathos of things, passing of things, wistful sadness. Some of the scenes are on the beach at Fukushima and with Fuji in background, with view of the notorious suicide forest. It deeply awed and moved me. But they are fun as well and as a public performance group, it is fun to see how people around them react and children imitate. Last Dance, Mind Shift, and Change Your Life are recommended. The last two bring out the power within you, choices, etc. Sudo’s martial arts training and discipline are evident. I’ve been following for several years. I think you can Google English translations of their interesting lyrics.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 20:21:26
I like some totally different Japanese bands – Gazette and Kagrra. Gazette is my favorite band of all time, though their recent output has been hard to get access to. And of course, Kagrra broke up about a month after I discovered them, and then their former lead singer “was found dead”, as they say. Most Kagrra videos are elegant, because that’s their style. Gazette videos are mixed, because their music is so varied – literally every kind of rock and pop music is represented in their songs somewhere. Also, I’ve never seen a band that shot more video than Gazette. They’re practically a reality show unto themselves.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 20:39:35
Yes indeed. Many of the groups remind me of bishounen…I think I like World Order because they stay away from that. A friend and I got into a discussion about this and bishounen – Japanese bleaching their hair, having their eyes “rounded” etc. to fit a different ideal of beauty. I find the Asian standards sufficient unto themselves. He didn’t like the electronicness which was one of the things I like about many of the Japanese bands/groups.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 21:08:22
Well, all the bands I named are visual kei, which is more of a style than a musical genre – sort of like steampunk! – so it’s their ‘uniform’, just like big hair in 80s pop metal, black leather everything in industrial, flannel in grunge, etc. That’s it. They wear regular stuff the rest of the time.
They are not afraid of dressing up in a more feminine way, though. That’s true to the extreme in a band like Versailles or Malice Mizer.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 21:29:19
I know. all groups seem to have some kind of look which is part of their schtick. I just get tired of pretty boys, lol Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:08:24 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 21:36:45
I agree, but that’s why I weeded out the myriad other groups that look good and sound bland, and stuck with the bands I named, plus L’Arc-en-Ciel and Miyavi.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 22:24:12
And they do sound good. Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:36:48 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 20:51:10
Okay, I watched all three – I loved them! Thanks for sharing that with me! Great to listen to, great to watch, impressive.
I have something for you – comedic, rather than musical. They’re called Gamarjobat!
Mar 27, 2014 @ 20:59:33
love it….do you ever watch the No Laughing Batsu tv show? I’ve watched for the past umpteen seasons and just love it. My husband hates this kind of thing, but then, he hates the Three Stooges, which is hard for me to fathom. Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 00:51:14 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 21:34:56
I barely watch any TV at all.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 22:23:45
This is a Japanese game show and you watch the episodes online. It can be a bit twisted but it is fun. I started a few years ago and searched and went back to some of the earlier episodes Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:34:58 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 20:54:41
Like giving you a bag of Jolly Rancher candies and you picking the combination you like the best.
*drool*
Mar 27, 2014 @ 20:57:49
yeah…..I lovelovelove the cherry I can’t remember if I sent you a special email, but you and Cimmy go grab – have fun!!!!! It’s my parade and I’m throwing out candy, coins, and awards. Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 00:54:44 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 27, 2014 @ 21:24:08
Breaking my vow of silence for you, Kanzensakura. It’s better to give than to receive and we give and received plenty from each other. The video is super, can I have some peanut butter please. Congratulations! xox seeker.
Mar 27, 2014 @ 21:28:29
Yes, you may have some peanut butter! Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:24:09 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Mar 28, 2014 @ 14:43:31
Congratulations!! I loved the video you posted–so cute! My husband loves bulldogs, so I’ll have to show him too. Thanks for brightening my day and I hope you continue to mend. Sending lots of virtual hugs and positive thoughts for you!
Mar 28, 2014 @ 17:21:58
Thank you! I watched it a couple of times when it hit me, they did a backtrack of time in the day to when he was adopted. The best day of his life.
Apr 12, 2014 @ 12:47:37
Thanks for visiting today and again – your site is a continuing inspiration to my humble gathering of haiku
Apr 12, 2014 @ 12:55:49
I am blushing. Thank you. I work hard on them and am rarely satisfied. this makes me smile. Thank you again.
May 07, 2014 @ 14:07:32
thanks for stopping under the apple tree
May 07, 2014 @ 14:09:06
I love all trees. They are a wonderful place to be reminded that time really doesn’t matter.
May 08, 2014 @ 15:37:19
thank you for the like today, goes perfectly with the joy of our first rainfall this yeaar
May 08, 2014 @ 16:03:27
We have had a long rainy time and finally, the sun is coming out for a whole day at the time. Summer is starting up with a vengeance. We had two weeks of spring… Date: Thu, 8 May 2014 19:37:22 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com