schmoozin’…on a sunny afternoon
First I want to thank all of you who commented on yesterday’s post Weighty Issues; I love this sort of dialogue, and I hope we can do more of it around here. If you have any topics you’d like to throw out, I’m all ears–send me an email if you don’t want to leave it in comments.
I’m still catching up on all your contributions, so bear with me, but on that note:
Behold the Power of Schmooze! 
Karina at Candid Karina and Meredith at Poppy Fields have both called me out as a blogger who manages to, and I quote:
effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello – all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship.
Well shucks, I sure am touched. Grazie mille!
**This just in: Jessica in Rome has bestowed this wonderful honor upon me as well. I’m *such* a winner today!**
I truly enjoy getting to know all of you through my blog, your blogs, your comments, and emails, and I do hope that you feel there is a community here you can come and visit–where, uh, everybody knows your name (at least your screen name). Or something like that.
For those of you who haven’t commented or emailed yet, I rather enjoy you too, and I hope you’ll consider chatting with us soon.
I’m going to pass this award along to some of my favorite Internet sparring partners, all fellow expats in Italy:
(1) Michelle of michellanea;
(2) KC of Niente di nuovo avviene sotto il sole;
(3) Sara of Ms. Adventures in Italy;
(4) Shelley of At Home in Rome; and
(5) Cherrye at My Bella Vita.
While we’re on the subject, as I was preparing this post, I saw that Sara at Moving Right Along tagged me with the Thoughtful Blogger Award, created by Christy Z. at Writer’s Reviews, and it is:
[f]or those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others’ feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping others bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others.
Again, thank you so much for the honor!
As Sara wrote in her post accepting this award, there is definitely a place for blogs that aren’t so interactive, and I certainly don’t fault anyone who doesn’t respond to every single comment and/or email–these awards just serve to offer a little recognition for those that do, to say thanks, and to urge you to keep it up!
I am passing along this award to:
(1) somepinkflowers at somepinkflowers;
(2) Wanderlust Scarlett at from the shores of introspect and retrospect;
(3) Michelle at Smoochdog;
(4) Michelle at Scribbit; and
(5) Kimberly at Temporary? Insanity.
Also, I know that some of you don’t really “do” these bloggie award thingees, so please don’t feel obligated to pass along anything on my account. The honor is yours to do with as you wish!
Did anyone else notice, though, the prevalence of Michelles here? I’m one too, you know, so all I can say is…hmm….
Now just for some Friday fun, and in honor of my fellow Italian expat bloggers Shelley (At Home in Rome) and Sharon (Respiri di Vita) who have both won prizes through the Late Show with David Letterman Top Ten Contest, I thought I’d share:
The Top Ten Rejected Titles for this Post
10. I’m a Schmoozer Baby, So Why Don’t You Kill Me?
9. Blue Suede Schmooze
8. Schmoozy in the Sky with Diamonds
7. Schmoozin’ Ain’t Easy
6. If the Schmooze Fits!
5. Woo-ee Baby, Won’t You Let Me Take You on a Schmooze Cruise?
4. Schmooze ‘Em If You Got ‘Em
3. Fo’ Schmoozle My Boozle
2. All the Schmooze That’s Fit to Print
1. Lollapaschmooza 2007
Buon weekend!
32 Beans of Wisdom to “schmoozin’…on a sunny afternoon”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
Aw, thanks, sognatrice! I feel truly honored.
Thanks for the shout out! That was a nice Friday pick-me-up. I too was noticing the abundance of Michelles!
Love your list….
Good list, chuckling out loud 🙂
I was doing so well, reading, smiling and then at… “3. Fo’ Schmoozle My Boozle” I lost it and almost busted my gut laughing!
You deserve your awards! and your list is funny, I mention David in my post today, too. Something about lists makes me think of him.
Congratulations! You do create a lovely community, and I’m so pleased it’s been recognized (twice!)
Hey I was writing my post when I checked yours and noticed you won too! I also picked you so you are a triple winner!
KC, Michelle, pleasure is all mine 🙂
Sharon, thanks–maybe you could put in a good word with Dave?
AV & A, glad you liked 🙂
Giulia, Gizoogle is my best friend, you know 😉 Have you tried that site?
Meredith, it’s just amazing how Letterman has become *the* list guy. Glad you liked it 🙂
Figs, thanks and thanks!
Jessica, thanks so much! I’ve edited the post to reflect the most recent honor 🙂
Hmmm, a thoughtful schmoozer. Or are you a schmoozing thinker? Either way, you deserve awards and lots of links.
I am just waiting and waiting for more of your fiction, please.
Have a wondrous weekend, sognatrice.
Congrats Sognatrice! You deserve it!
Michelle ma belle…
Thank you so much, what a lovely thing to do. You gave me my biggest smile today, thank you again. I truly appreciate that.
It’s so fun to get around to all the blogs I love and find new ones, make friends all over the world and learn so much.
Congrats on getting these! You very much deserve them!
This is one of my favorite blogs to visit!
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
very sweet post! And you deserve all the awards!
Power to Schmooze and
to be Thoughtful
while you are doing it!
you go, girl…
you have GOT to have more hours
in your day than i do!
are there 3 of you
running this blog or what?
…that lion is helping you,
i knew it!
thank you for awarding me ~~~Thoughtful~~~
my mom will be so pleased!
i give it my best shot
and have fun with it all…
i like it
when folks come into my blog home,
sit down and visit…don’t you?
if you pop in,
i want to hand you a cup of earl grey
and a cookie.
well, why not?
…except right now i have harrypotterharrypotterharrypotter
visiting…
enjoy your italian week-end.
i will be ploping down Thoughtfully
with HP at the beach…
🙂
Lollapaschmooza 2007, indeed!
David, oh my…it’s you! You’re right about needing to get on that fiction. Thanks for reminding me 🙂
Laura, grazie mille 🙂
Scarlett, well thank you and congratulations–isn’t community wonderful?
Jennifer, thanks. I like to keep it light on Fridays, so these awards had great timing 🙂
SPF, well, you haven’t seen the state of my house(s), which may explain what I’m *not* doing instead of keeping up with the blog 😉 I would love that cup of Earl Grey and a cookie (or two, I hope I’m not greedy)–and YES I love when people come and visit and stay awhile. I do hope that people feel like they’re coming over to a neighbor’s to chat…only here I mostly serve espresso 😉
I’m sure you and HP will have a lovely weekend together; I’m actually quite jealous, but I’ll be spending the first part of the weekend reading too. Things have been so busy and I miss it so. Tonight I have some visitors coming for a pizza, and tomorrow some friends from the States! Woohoo!
Now if only my camera would start working again…sniff sniff….
That’s really nice of you, thanks!
Hi there, congratulations! I’m inspired. . .any advice on how to create this blogger community? I’ve been visiting and commenting. . and in person, I’ve build communities a million times, but this is different!. .but the thing is, I’m pro’lly gonna be an expat for a long time and I like the idea of an online community, esp. when a lot of my buds back home aren’t so bloggie-oriented! If you have any two cents to share, I’d appreciate it!
I was just thinking this morning about how many people I have never met but have become so fond of and so attached to. Dangling participles, anyone? Special price two for one.
I know I am richer for all the bloggers and forum posters I have “met.”
Scribbit, it’s an award you most definitely deserve, and probably have won (and will win) many times over 🙂
Andrea, you’ve described why I’m so interested in blogging community as well–I’ll have a post about this shortly, probably on She Who Blogs. Stay tuned!
Judith, don’t you know that dangling participles are all the rage? P and I just had dinner last night with someone who first emailed me from the blog (along with her husband, son, 2 sisters, and nephew)…how awesome is that?
And yes, I, too, am so much richer since getting involved in blogging 🙂
you were rolling in the blog bling
sognatrice, I just nominated you as well. You put the “S” in schmoozin
xo
Just visiting from Scribbit! congratulations on your award. And now I come here and there’s another whole host of awards – what a season.
Best wishes
I was surprised to read the name of your blog and when I saw the header I about fell out of my chair.
See for yourself.
Congratulations on winning the Trifecta.
I have noticed that your comments on other blogs are always kind, so all those awards went to a very good home.
That list was hilarious!!! Loved it. Happy weekend to you!
I’m so touched! And laughing like mad at the same time at your top ten list. I just got back from a trip, and am caught up in the chaos of the “return to normal”, and what a lovely, lovely gift. =)
Grazie mille! I’ll have to go spread some schmoozin’ love now…
Hope you’re managing to keep cool down in Cal… up here it is sizzling still!!
Congrats on your awards.
They are truly deserved!
Fun list!
Blessings…..
congratulation hugs to you!!! see how far one can go from ‘the Region’!! Woo hoo!!!! Coal Power!!!
Sparky Duck, blingin’ indeed 🙂
NYC, thank you much! I’m such a schmooze!
Mcewen, thanks for stopping by and commenting–I’ve been a lucky blogger lately 🙂
Goader, hah! That *is* quite a coincidence! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Heart, why thank you; I definitely believe in the saying “if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all” in the blogosphere–most of the time anyway 😉
Erin, glad you enjoyed 🙂
Kimberly, enjoy your award–you deserve it!
Shelley, it’s been ridiculously hot ma andiamo avanti….enjoy your schmooze 🙂
Jennie, thank you much my dear!
Qualcosa, who woulda thunk it, huh? The Region *does* rock & coal. Hah!
Thank you for honoring me!! If anyone deserves this award, it’s definitely you. I love the community you have here! 🙂
The piacere is all mio, Sara 🙂