Inaugural A Hoy Awards

Several months back, I was contacted by Matthew Holford, of It's Quite An Experience, to work on a new internet blog award, called the A Hoy. I am a Co-Founder! How cool is that?

It's been my pleasure going through blogrolls, reading blogs left in hyperlinked comments over the the last three months.
I want to stay away from the usual suspects and find some really awesome blogs, worthy of these inaugural picks.

And I am pleased to give the brand new A Hoy, to these following blogs.

In no particular order-they are all fabulous. All are keepers to me.

1. Healing Philosophy
This blog is run by a Canadian named Alex. Alex's bio says he speaks English and French, and I am grateful he blogs in English because my French is poor.(faible). The blog discusses Eastern and Western philosophy and every time I read it I am amazed by what he knows and how succinct his entries are. I always feel uplifted when I read this blog.

2. Merely Me's Writing to Survive.
As Merely Me states on her redesigned blog-" From my mother's schizophrenia to my son's autism to my depression and Multiple Sclerosis, I can honestly say that I am a survivor. I write to heal but more importantly, to give back."

3. A New Beginning
I don't know why I love this blog so much. It's written by a guy in his Twenties, who just finished Graduate School and is now teaching. Maybe I love this blog so much because it's something everyone knows= now that I am out of school what am I going to do with my life? But G writes about it so eloquently, so very candidly you feel you are in Norway or Dublin with him.

4. Apocrypha
Mala is a writer in Africa. She writes of Africa so clearly, you can close your eyes and feel you are there in the heat. She writes of food, like a modern MK Fisher, and of everyday life with something silly like training her puppies. Mala says she writes to help her with her depression and cure her writer's block.

5. My Sick Mind
Anthony is a New Jersey boy, and he writes about everything and everything in NJ, Philadelphia, and society in the USA. It's a delight to read, and almost brilliant satire at times. And he is the best thing I have read from NJ since "The Sopranos" left the air. Preferably read with a Tastycake.

6. Doxieman's (Larry's) Blog

Another Jersey boy, though now he lives in FL with his soon to be fiance. The only one of three bloggers I know in person. Larry's blog runs the gamut- he writes about his struggles with depression, and toxic meds. On the other hand he also writes about politics, popular culture, religion- and Doxies. I don't always agree with him, but I respect him and learn from him. I am glad to call him a friend- and even happier I am getting an invite to the wedding.

7. My Medicated Cartoon Life
Cartoons! A depressed, bitter animator draws about life. Man, cartoons haven't been this good since "Doonesbury".

8. The Banana Peel Project
Brad is a graduate student at UC San Diego, He writes about science, technology, drugs, identity, feminist theory, and anthropology. This blog is a guilty pleasure, and enjoy his blog because I feel like I am back in school and learn something every time I read.

9. Don't Give Up! Giggle On!
Christa started a blog to deal with her friend's suicide, and writes about it, passionately. She educates with humor, and I know she is helping save lives.

10. Alcoholism-A Life Sentence
Alan has been through the mill. He is an alcoholic with long term sobriety, suffers from anxiety and depression and has had ECT. In other words, a kindred spirits. Alan seems better on his recovery than me, his marriage stays, and he is able to hold down a job. But I am still inspired by his story of a fellow alcoholic, and he writes about it with such passion I usually cry.

11. Quotidian Vicissitudes
This one I just discovered, and I love it. David loves classical music, and shares his house with 3 kitties, in Portland. Portland is supposed to have one of the best remaining Indy bookstores in the country, Powells. So anyone who writes about music, cats and books- and writes about them with eloquence and erudition, what is not to like?

And last but not least-

Furious Seasons
Because Philip inspired a lot of us on "A Hoy" to start blogging and his tireless journalism and professionalism brings out the best in us all.

Serendipity Dog
Koda is an Alaskan Husky who lives with Stephany and is her daughter's psychiatric helper dog. And Koda is my helper dog too, every time I see his beautiful face he makes me happy.

Rules for Making an Award

1. Pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award based upon any criteria - for example, the quality of the commentary, wit, humour, artwork, overall design, value to you of the information being provided, and so on.

2. The awarding blogger should choose at least two blogs not on his or her own blogroll, the purpose being to encourage variety of reading matter, and to have the person making the award think about what they like to see and read.

3. Your five choices must be published in a dedicated post on your own blog. This post must contain the name of the author (which may be their logon name), and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone. This post should contain brief details of what attracted you to the blog. Details may also be posted in the comments section of "What is a Hoy?"

4. In the same dedicated post, each winner has to show the award and acknowledge the blog that has given him or her the award.

5. Both those awarding and receiving A Hoy must show the link to A Hoy blog, so that everyone will know the origin of this award.

6. When publishing details of the blogs to which you have made your awards, these Rules must be published for recipients to follow.