Wow, this is amazing to me. First of all, not to sound like a cliche, but being nominated is so validating, especially since most of the time a I alternate between feeling that no one even reads my blog and feeling that my efforts are just too pathetic to matter, or it’s just a lot of time wasted in vain in a conservative state where I’m quite the fish out of water. I read many of the best (lefty) political bloggers in the country daily, and know I can never aspire to their level, but I make whatever effort I can. This recognition will certainly motivate me to continue despite all those countering aarguments.
I also feel that being a far left blog in a far right state makes it all the more amazing that Peace Arena got the readers and the votes to reach this level. So, Oklahoma is getting more of my rantings and offerings for another year, at least!
The winner in the category is Batesline. An excellent and popular conservative blog, which totally deserves the honor. If you haven’t blogged, you can’t fully appreciate the time and effort involved. Batesline has been around quite a while, and never seems to flag (something I do all the time). Don’t know how Michael Bates does it. His writing is great, and he does his homework. So kudos to him — not to mention all the other winners, and nominees (they are listed here. All are worth your time to read regularly, for information, for opinion, for laughs, for culture, for the odd take. The Oklahoma section of the blogosphere is vital and growing, please be sure to support OK bloggers all year long by reading, commenting, donating, sharing their links with your networks, etc. etc.
Thanks to all those who participated in the awards by blogging and/or voting this year, and especially to Mike at Okiedoke for doing the awards. He’s created a very open and fair way to recognize and honor Oklahoma Bloggers, and takes on this extra work of managing the nominations and voting every year now for four years.
Finally, I’ll repeat my ongoing offer to anyone who wants to start blogging: I will help with the tech side of things. You can use free services like Blogger or WordPress.com, or you can jump in and get your own domain and software install. But it never hurts for more voices/perspectives to be part of the discussion. Contact me and I’ll provide whatever tips or tutorials you may need. Who knows, maybe YOU will be up for an Okie Blog award for 2009.
Congratulations are being runner up in the Okieblog and providing an alternative view of things here in OK.
Congratulations, Serena! You definitely deserve this important recognition. I am so proud and happy for you!
Congratulations on runner-up, but FWIW I voted for you to come in first (and Irritated Tulsan in the humor category).
Next year … next year.
Congratulations. Your efforts have been recognized! I’m a lefty, too. It’s not so lonely now that we can meet in the Blogosphere.
Congratulations. Your efforts have been recognized! I’m a lefty, too. It’s not so lonely now that we can meet in the Blogosphere.
I’m not a sore winner. I’m a runner-up like you (Best Commentary). I’m also a lefty, and voted for Batesline not because we agree on politics but in a show of support for, as you mentioned, his consistency and also his composure in the light of all the grief he’s getting because of his blog right now. Otherwise my vote likely would have gone here. Don’t judge me on one post written at the end of a very long and difficult day. You should probably read several entries found under “personal politics” and, in particular, today’s response to The Lost Ogle before you decide who I am.
I’m not a sore winner. I’m a runner-up like you (Best Commentary). I’m also a lefty, and voted for Batesline not because we agree on politics but in a show of support for, as you mentioned, his consistency and also his composure in the light of all the grief he’s getting because of his blog right now. Otherwise my vote likely would have gone here. Don’t judge me on one post written at the end of a very long and difficult day. You should probably read several entries found under “personal politics” and, in particular, today’s response to The Lost Ogle before you decide who I am.