Irishey's Isle is Open! Make your reservations now!

My first post on my newly created blog should have been be an introductory post about me, I suppose. Instead it was . . . . . - what WAS that? Lots of words, playing with my template and doing a features test run. There were some things about me, and about you, my blogger friends.

I suppose this could be considered my first "real" post, because it is more along the lines of what I originally intended and most of what follows was in draft before my blog template mishap. Still, this "first" post is not an introductory post about me. I don't always follow convention, although I can be quite conventional at times. This post, and a lot of my blog, is going to be about YOU, my ttwd friends, as much as it is about me. It may or may not be about US, my D and me, but more about that later.

I was told by a couple bloggy friends that my blog could be about anything I wanted. You are the reason I started this blog, you are the reason I will continue with it. Therefore, my blog is dedicated to you. (I know. Aaaawwww.)

I'm not being mushy simply to court your favorable reactions. I am sincere about this. I wouldn't be here blogging if it weren't for all of you, and I like to give credit where it is due. I'll explain, but you don't have to read all of this. Really. You'll miss out on all my -- well, whatever it is.

I've been lurking and commenting around ttwd-land for more than a year now. I've resisted starting my own blog because it involves time, creativity and commitment to compose pithy new posts on a regular basis. Furthermore, most of you share extremely personal information, so it is only fair for me to share intimate details about me/us in like manner. I have some issues with that, which I will explain as I continue to post. At any rate, having committed to starting a blog, I will contrive to do my best to continue blogging with a measure of consistency.

Despite my reluctance, I know there are advantages to having my own blog to serve as my HQ. I've long wished for a place from which to organize my participation in the ttwd community and stay better connected with my blogging friends. Is the feeling of being excitedly reluctant, or reluctantly excited, familiar to anyone else? Yeah, you know who you are.

Also, there are many bloggers who do not know I consider them to be potential friends because I merely lurk on their blogs. I think this would be a good time to acknowledge a few of my friends, both those who "know" me and those who do not:

I should start with Bonnie, from My Bottom Smarts, because she does so much to keep the spanking community involved with each other, and keeps all of us informed about new blogs that have launched. She is kind to regular and infrequent visitors to her blog alike, replying to comments with thoughtful specificity. Hordes of bloggers commented on her Love Our Lurkers Day 7 post, including me, and she was quite complimentary about my delurking comment. She also stopped by my first blog post that really wasn't, and left a warm welcome for me.

However, I can't start with Bonnie, because I feel impelled to follow a trend I've noticed - that first I must blame someone for my blog, namely PK. Come to think of it, PK seems to be blamed for quite a lot around ttwd-land. There is a problem with this, however, because I only lurk on PK's blog, New Beginnings, having commented only once, perhaps twice.  PK hasn't twisted my arm to blog, unlike a few others of you, so I am going to break with tradition and not blame her. Besides, later, I'm sure I'll find something to blame on her. ;-)

I am thanking the following folks for encouraging me to start a blog. Because of this, I also am blaming them for whatever shenanigans develop as a result of me blogging in the future:

• Mick, from Mick and Lynda's Place
• Blondie, from Blondie's Blog
• Stormy, from Shelter in the Storm
• Christina, from Red Booty Woman
• Susie, from Her Mischief Managed
• Kevan, from The Hand of Love
• Cowgirl, from Cowgirl Up (hi, sweetie, we miss you)
• Lillie, from At Ian and Lillie's Place
• Rogue, from Rogue's Awakening
• Bas, from New Life in DD
• Cat, from Giggles, Grins and Reflections
• Sunnygirl, from AimlessRamblings
• Willie (Wilma), from Barney Married Wilma
• Roz, from Roz in his hands
• Blue Bird, from A New Road
• New Bea, from, well, New Bea

There are a few more who've given me a nudge, or asked when I was going to start a blog. There are many more whose blogs have provided me with inspiration through their thoughtful posts and warmly quirky personalities. Thank you, all of you.

I need your help. I am putting the finishing touches on my "shoulda been 1st" post a few days after I started it. Today, I added a new first paragraph and updated the second, then returned it to draft mode so I could re-read it with fresh eyes a little later. I then made the mistake (?) of reading my email and a couple blogs. The above paragraph was the end of this post, until I went blog surfing and found...this:

I received a Liebster Award before my blog was launched. In fact, I think I received 3 of them, possibly 4 (I received one via blind copy on email - assume this counts?). Does anybody know exactly what this award is, where it originated? I had heard of it a while back, but cannot remember when and where. Was it going around here on blogs in the past year?

I have these Liebster Awards waiting for me to respond. Is there anybody out there who hasn't received it yet? Post a comment and tell me who missed being tagged, or who needs/wants the blog exposure. You can name yourself, or tattle on each other. I'll make sure these blogs are given their very own Liebster Award. *

I saw a blogger (non-ttwd) report she had researched it extensively, but was unable to find the "original" posting/announcement of the award. She noted it was meant to promote blogs with 3000 or fewer followers. That number has since been reduced to those with fewer than 200 followers (I have 9 - obviously I qualify). I am not speaking with any authority, just offering my recollection of what I read previously, and a little time spent searching after having received this award.

As for completing these questions and answers and forwarding them on to 33 or 44 bloggers, who each in turn forward them to another 11 bloggers... This might cycle back around to me again. Hhhmmmm.

I love that I was included in this, and I think it will be rather fun, though time consuming. However, this is Thanksgiving week with serious Christmas preparations beginning this weekend. I'm going to show you a little of my mettle here, folks...

* I'll get around to it, when I get a...