While I had a blog over at MSN Spaces for a couple of years, I typically just sort of “ran in that circle”.  Then I started venturing off into the blog world a bit further.  And it was FUN!  (Sorta like sneaking out at night when you were a teenager - not the “I” ever did that)  I have found so many wonderful sites.  I never knew how social I was. . . in an introverted, agoraphobic kind of way.  It’s not like I don’t LIKE to leave my house to socialize.  I just like my house.  And I don’t even mind my own company.  I’m pretty cool to hang out with.  But all the blogwalking put this needling little sensation in my craw to start my own site.

However, I had and still have particular sites that I visit EVERYDAY.  And I do mean EVERYDAY.  Well, everyday that I log in. . . which is most days (I’m rambling) before I branched out a bit.  I don’t want to EVER forget these dear friends I’ve made at MSN Spaces just because I’m not posting on Spaces anymore.  It doesn’t mean that I’ve dissed ya’ll.  No.  You can’t get rid of me that easily.

First thing every morning, I check on my Spaces friends.  I actually MET several of them last year in Las Vegas and I swear it was like meeting old friends.  NO awkwardness WHATSOEVER.   They came driving into a hotel parking lot in a limo in the middle of the night yelling out the window, “Doonnnnaaaa!  Doonnnnaaaa!”  And I hopped in. . . and had a blast!!  Even though my family thought I was nuts, I knew that I KNEW these women.

They are an awesome group of women, the best of friends.  You couldn’t ask for anymore.  Meet Demery, Heather, Mo, Me, Deb, Kelly Jo.  Some of them have their spaces set to Private because of personal issues that I respect, while a couple don’t have Spaces at all.  But maybe someday, they’ll be able to come out to play and share their hilarious sense of humor with the rest of the blogworld. (Mo - that would be you Honey - the next Erma Bombeck)  Check out the others’ sites though.  SleepDeprivedMomma who is like my long lost Southern sista.  And dear dear Julz (Misfit) from South Africa.  This girl blows me away.  Her talent, her style, her wit, her wisdom beyond her years.  I love her like she were my own child.  And LeChatNoir from Austrailia.  I adore hearing about life Down Under.  You will feel right at home at any of these Spaces. 

Then, I have my boss, DeWitte, who is the one that encouraged me to get into this whole blog thing in the first place.  Thanks DeWitte!  I actually check his site multiple times a day whenever the hankering strikes me because you never know what he’s going to come out with.  He’s a very funny guy.  Smart too.  And he usually always leaves me laughing my fool head off.  He can actually tell when I’ve read one of his posts by my laughter coming from my office.

His wife, Jamie, I check her site several times a day too for the same reason.  She’s smart too and super-talented.  She’s a FABULOUS cook, one that would rival ANY of The Food Network stars, and she’s a fabulous photographer.  I wish I had a tenth of her talent and/or knowledge in the whole photography area.  See!

Next, I trot over to Undomestic Diva (usually around the time I’m finishing my first cup of coffee).  This girl is a TOTAL HOOT!  She’s a young mother of three little boys living in Southern California and married to a man that she (lovingly) refers to as Candy Ass.  They are a truly an adorable couple.  Just don’t tell her I said “adorable”.  She might want to kick my ass.  She has a style of writing, a love for Starbucks, and an honesty (aka. Bluntness) about her that just leaves me coming back for more. 

Plus I won this coffee mug on her site awhile back during one of her “Guess This Photo” contests.  You gotta love that!!

I don’t remember exactly how I found her. . . or if I found The Pioneer Woman first.  It doesn’t matter.  They’re both great!  And honestly, THEY are who inspired me to start my own site.

The Pioneer Woman is truly an inspiration in her own right.  She is married to THE Marlboro Man (who is very easy on the eyes), has four children, homeschools them, is an amazing photographer, AND maintains one of the best websites I’ve ever visited.  Talk about UBER-TALENTED. 

Many people know about her site already, so this is not news to you.  But just in case you’ve never visited her, I insist that you MUST.  Trust me!  If you’ve never believed anything I’ve ever posted before, you must believe this.

She is like everybody’s best friend, the neighbor you wish you had (if she didn’t live two hours from civilization, aka. Starbucks).  I don’t know how she does it all.

I wish I had the energy she has in her little pinky alone. . . AND the talent.  She says she doesn’t do it for the money.  She says she does it because she suffers from middle-child syndrome.  Whatever it is, I wish she could bottle it and sell it, cuz I’d BUY SOME.

Next time, I’ll introduce you to my NEW friends.  I have found some awesome sites that I’ve added to my daily blogwalk.  (DeWitte, I do it ALL after hours.  Honest.)