I bet you don’t know that there are blogging awards… well, there are.  And so many have emailed me to say that they enjoy the blog, they LOVE the writing, the photos, the “story”.  And I love doing it and I would love doing it more. So, I am asking, begging actually for your vote!  No “prizes” or trophies are given - it is a way to get a blog known and recognized.

Well, first, take a look at the award site and see what you think and if you find the rules not too cumbersome and if you’d like to take the time to do it - yeah! 

And, oh as long as I’m asking - NO procrastination!!! - nominations need to be in by Friday, January 11th.  The category that fits best is probably “Best Kept Secret Weblog” - but if there is another that you like for “from the front porch” - nominate away!

Go to The 8th Annual Blog Awards site and enter your nomination(s).  You don’t have to register, but you do need to give your email to validate the nomination.  You also need to make sure that at least 3 different blogs in total are nominated throughout your whole nomination form.

From the Front Porch’s URL is www.fromthefrontporch.com/WPBlog.

Thanks! - and thanks for reading From the Front Porch. 

Ok, not so much mist as fog - as in 100% humidity - as in “dear Lord will my hair ever look normal again???” … but anyway, the bus is parked at the guest spot - FULL hookup spot. Magic Bus has had his tanks drained, rinsed and cleaned out and is full of nice, fresh water. The engine has been cleaned and all stuff that should be checked has been checked - I’d elaborate but the diesel engine is a bit of a mystery to me and I’m THRILLED that it is not to Bill and that he seems to enjoy messing with it a bit… I did clean the windshield inside and out and my area of responsibility is the interior - our clothes, toiletries, food, cooking utensils, etc. - anything missing I guess I walk the plank or more likely have to run into a WalMart super center on some gawdawful busy day while Bill and Karl nap in comfort in the peace of the bus. I’ve done my best.

The 4 wheeler does double duty as a cart to take supplies back and forth as well as the workbench for all of the pre-trip chores. Plus, it is FUN!

The truck has been readied for it - a special bed extension goes on to lengthen the short bed to a long bed. Karl is thrilled…

Yep, I’m excited, ready to roll - going to places I have not been before and meeting Open Roads Singles members that I know from chat, email and the message board but have never met. Plus, we are taking our time - a dawdle of an 850 mile drive spread over 5 days so I’ll get up at my usual early time and get my work day (1/2 a work day) in before His Majesty awakes… we’ll have a leisurely breakfast and then hit the road for a couple of hours making sure we stop in time to get set up and for me to go for a walk with Karl so Bill can get a nap and all wake/return for cocktail hour! - then a nice dinner and there goes the day!

We roll in 2 days!

Oh - first photo above - yes, that is the Magic Bus’s house - just completed in late October…mostly completed - there are a few more finishing touches. And for those who heard bits of the story, that IS the rollup door that took out the passenger side mirror - which was nearly brand new having been replaced after a bit of operator error on a July trip. Door and mirror are both all better now and the air in the vicinity has finally lost it’s blue tinge.