Merry Christmas to all; and to all a good night...

And a very happy new year!

It has reached that moment.

Mrs. Claws has just handed me a list of things to be done before the "Big Holiday" and I am going to be very busy for the next few days.

I just want to thank everyone who has made my blogging experience such a joyful one.

Merry Christmas

to all my new friends!

2006 Eddie Award Winners

2006 Eddie Awards

Winners may click on the Eddie Award at the top of the page and collect the code for your award. Simply copy the HTML code then paste it in your page or sidebar and the Eddie will be there for all the world to see.

Welcome to the first annual Eddie Awards presentation.

As the year 2006 draws to an end I wanted to acknowledge a few of the blogs that I believe go above and beyond the normal standard. Some of the awards are based on content, others on layout while others are based upon the characteristics of the people that post the blog.

My first award goes to Rookie of the Year-Midnight Oil. His post on the Philippines was a wonderful example of a beautifully designed posting. It was both informative and delightful to the eye. I look forward to seeing more of his work in the upcoming year.

Congratulations!

My second Award goes to Best Military Blog of the Year-Greenery in Bagdad. I’ve been visiting this blog almost daily since I first discovered it. His perspective is warm and filled with a genuine compassion. He is a great representative of our troops in Iraq. I wish him continued safety in the New Year!

Congratulations!

My third award goes to Best Travel Blog of the Year-Little House on Wheels. What is more interesting than two women stepping out in faith and wandering around America in a Recreational Vehicle? Pepper is a real example of doing it! I love reading about her adventure.

Congratulations!

My next award goes to Best Foreign Blog of the year-Passionate About Life. I love his gentle and kind spirit. If there is a more accepting and loving being in the world of bloggers I have yet to find him/her. His blog always makes me smile. He also has a way of making me learn something about the wonderful place he lives.

Congratulations!

My next award goes to Most Inspirational Blog of the Year-Whimsicalnbrainpan. The story of this woman and her journey back to physical and spiritual wholeness is purely amazing. Whenever I’m having a bad day, I go to her blog and discover just how good I have it in life and I quit my whining.

Congratulations!

My next award goes to Best Graphic Artist of the Year-Pixiels by Pixie. She designed my graphics and I couldn’t be happier with the job she did for me! She is a joy to work with and I love her to death.

Congratulations!

My next award goes to Best Nature Blog of the Year-Wizened Wizard. I can’t wait to see what is happening at the wizened wizard’s house each day. What is happening with the well? What creatures have wandered up to her doorstep and been captured by her camera lens? What are the rascally gnomes up to? She is one of my favorite people on the internet and she runs one of my favorite blogs.

Congratulations!

My final award goes to Best Blog of the Year-Home is Hell. This man makes me laugh like no other individual I know. His humor may not be for everyone, but he is pure comedic genius. Hail Satan! Please don’t change your evil ways.

Congratulations!

Failure to display Eddie Award may result in disqualification.

We are the champions my friend...

Truly, I'm humbled...

When I first began blogging in October of this year I had no idea of what awaited me. As I began meeting the good people who participate each day in the marvelous world of the blogosphere I knew that I’d become a part of something important. Actually, it was more than important, it was something good.

It quickly became apparent to me that someone needed to draw attention to the many wonderful people sharing their hopes, dreams and daily lives on the great tapestry of personal blogs. I took on that task and began sharing with the world the many amazing stories I encountered in my travels along the Internet Highway.

Before Time Magazine found the goodness of what so many of us already knew was happening here, I was already naming many of you “Individual of the Year.” You deserved it! Each and every one of you...

Of all the awards I’ve received this year this one came as the biggest surprise. Hell, I didn’t even know I’d been nominated. But, in all humility I can not accept this award as an individual. This has been a team effort. I couldn’t have been named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year without the help of those in the trenches.

It was you who made me the Dirk_Star I am today.

As this year comes to an end and we stand together upon the precipice of new one, I promise to continue performing at the top of my game in the coming days and make you proud. I will not consider Time Magazine's award a burden, rather; I will consider it an inspiration to do my very best in each and every word that I post.

Again, I would like to thank all of the small bloggers who helped me get to where I am today. On behalf of you all, I accept this award.

Thank you, Time Magazine; you couldn't have picked a better person.

I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams...

"God rest ye merry gentlemen..."

Tonight a special thing happened to me. As I played with the wheel of blogs I clicked on a link and found myself visiting the site of a soldier in Bagdad. It was the first such blog I’ve ever encountered. His posts were warm, funny and filled with kindness.

It brought the reality of a good soul being stuck in the war in Iraq at Christmas time home to me in a very big way.

As I read through his blog I couldn’t help but notice how empty his comment stocking was. It made me sad.

So yeah, by now we all know the drill...

I’m betting there is a soldier in Iraq who’d sure be surprised if his blog lit up like a Christmas tree from some folks back home in the U.S.A. that he never expected to hear from. So, as of this moment operation "Desert Swarm" is now under way.

Let’s give a G.I. as much Christmas cheer as we can possibly muster. Greenery in Bagdad is the soldier’s blog. Go visit, and wish him and his buddy Cliff a very Merry Christmas.

It is the least we can do...