Lizards and Lessons in 2006 ~ The Year Mimi Wrote

I've never had a year like this before. A milestone journey it has been.

Let's face it. Bloggers are just sophisticated lizards, a species of human chameleons with the ability to change our skins. We are - apparently - the very essence of slithering anonymity. Some silently scream, others inundate with bells and whistles, most just want to have their say. While it may be true that the African lizard of whom I speak is reported to have a projectile tongue - yet another resemblance to those of us who daily spit verbiage online - I'm beginning to appreciate the more beautiful aspects of my fellow bloggers. The world - according to Mimi - is becoming a much smaller place. Taken from this post dated August, 2006 - the month I found my bloglegs. It was also the post responsible for meeting friends, Gale Martin and Lizza from the Philippines via as comment. They have cheered me on ever since. I have found two extraordinary friends; and there are others to follow.....
I am feeling nostalgic this morning. And grateful. Read on.

A guy friend and I had a discussion recently about the reality of blogger friends. Are they REAL friends? Can you count on them in a pinch? Do they count in your world or just in the virtual one?

I started blogging in May, 2006. Quite honestly, my goal was to hone my writing skills and find a publisher. I made a commitment to blog.
My life consisted of teaching and coming home to find yet another dating disaster in the making in the inbox of online dating sites. I am now lethally allergic to online dating and retired my profile some time ago. In the aftermath of dates-TOO-ridiculous-to-believe, I began to write about my experiences and the absurdity of it all. Here's the beginning of a letter I sent to my friends around this time describing my life in dating hell. They thought I should write more.
Dating Profile of the Day was born.

In August, 2006 -just a few weeks after I started the blog - Bobby Griffin named me "Bestest Blog of The Day" on his phenomenal site, The Bestest Blog Of All-Time. Thank you, Bobby, for turning the blogtide. It has been a whirlwind ever since.

June, 2006 came with the realization that I've actually been "blogging" for 40 years - first, in a little leather diary hidden under my mattress and now for the world to see. The more things change the more they stay the same. Now, I'm just waiting for my mother to discover my blog and ground me.

Fast forward August, 2006: "The day finally came when I no longer had diaper excuses, thesis deadlines, or mother exhaustion; pity parties, emotional wretchings, and procrastination fell victim to one powerful motivator -The promise." 

Mimi is writing and writing and writing some more. She has a deadline to keep.

I became a blog cheerleader....."Blogging is exponentially exploding, and there are as many subjects as there are words on Wikipedia. And who's to say that my blog, or Rhys'sblog(s), or Lizza's wonderful blog, or Amanda-the-comical-nurse-in-training, or anybody else should have the edge. That's just it.We all have the edge." I still believe that.
Memorializing my dead mouse, I wrote about The Kindness of Bloggers and took on Bill Gates. He has yet to respond to my scathing jargon. The nerve. He won't be getting a peace globe from Yours Truly.

By now, I am happily cooking a disaster. "Courageous writing is mush" writes one Mimi Lenox, as I tackled that terrifying word - VULNERABILITY.  I wrote, "


"My fear is not of uncovering pain or looking at regret and being hurt by it. My fear is that I won't.Because deep down I know that that is the only place in me that is truly universal.....What I discover every time I run screaming from anything - is that my self-proclaimed I-am-woman-strength never holds a candle to the fear that nips at the heels of real. What I have discovered through the unassuming greatness of unmet artists across the globe and far-flung friends and passersby is simply this: I am nothing without my willowness.
My work is not a damn thing without it."

And so Mimi Writes and writes some more. And if that screams vulnerability then so be it. I've decided to be the Barbie doll with brains. September, 2006 was huge in my blogworld.

I fell in love with The Paperclip Guy and met Bazza from England; who later became Lonesome Cowboy Advertizer and kept me in stitches with his hilarious comments and antics. A far flung friend who has stuck with me throughout.

Katie Couric and I became blog buds (well, sort of) and I sang the praises of two remarkable women: Ms. Couric and CBS News foreign reporter, Lara Logan. No matter what I blogged about, September always led me somehow back to the war in Iraq - which became the catalyst for a very important epiphany having to do with spinning globes and John Lennon. Can you guess?
In September my dad became seriously ill and my first Mimi Morphs article was dedicated to him. I hope he realizes how important his influence on my writing - especially the humor - has been.

This post brought new friendships: Irene Tuazon (who is a daddy's girl herself) and whose blog always inspires me to honor family)

In September I discovered MEMES and created Book Meme Central, Movie Meme Central and eventually even Halloween Meme Central. I now had more blogs than "Carter Has Liver Pills" (as my great-grandmother used to say)! They are still a work in progress but house many of your fabulous literary memes for all to read. OK, I admit. I did get carried away. But happily so. Stay tuned for more additions on these sites. Your meme -and a mini review of your site - will eventually land in central station.

September was the month I became a Queen.

Yes, it's true.

Yaxlich, from England, royally dubbed me Mimi Queen of Memes.

I've been trying to rule the monarchy ever since - and find a real live Prince in the process. (That prospect is looking up, as a matter of fact) Queen would like to thank Yaxlich - and his underpants - for his inspiration and faith in my wacky over-achieving nature. I also learned to speak in third person. What fun! And how neurotic. As I said...what fun!

KARAOKE BLOG was born in September. If you'd like to be featured, click here and submit a request. I'd love to do a review of your blog.

October can only be described with one word.

M-A-G-I-C

I did an interview with Bobby Griffin, the brains behind Bestest Blog Of All-Time. It was great to finally learn a little more about the (young) man whose ingenuity introduced so many of us to each other - and brought blogging to a new level.

I became Mimi Pencil Skirt

Dona Nobis Pacem in The Blogosphere

October 12, 2006

became the main focus of my writing, ignited a new passion and spawned a peace movement in cyberspace.

It also changed my life.

Can blogging change one's life?

No question.

Just ask Mimi Lenox.

What happened in the days that followed -and still continues to occur - is nothing short of magic. Bloggers came together in one voice on the subject of peace. Inner peace and World Peace became one in the same goal and words of encouragement and hope flowed from your blogs. I am still amazed at the simple power of Peace Globes.

 

It remains my primary focus and will always be. Stay tuned for exciting new developments in the works. Saturdays will be devoted to Peace Globe happenings. A new site is up called BlogBlast For Peace. Please link it to your sites and I will return the link. Let's get the ball rolling again!

Peace Globes brought me to new friends and lasting relationships with people all over the world. I met Annelisa and her fabulous photography and poetry, who stayed up with me until the dawn of Dona Nobis Pacem.

AngelDust, who painted a watercoulor dedicated to the movement.

Frank Sirianni in Canada, who laboured with me during the first BlogBlast and lent his artistic talent and generous spirit to the cause

Prometheus from India, who is responsible for writing what I consider to be the quintessential essay on World Peace in the blogosphere. Something about the timing of his words and the angst in which he wrote them captured our attention and sealed my fate as a lifelong peace promoter - after kidding me that my idea was a bit like "digging to China with a plastic spoon."

He had no idea that challenges only bring out the stubborn me.

Thanks, Prometheus.

Rhys from New Zealand, (aka Reeholio) whether he knows it or not, was a great inspiration to me with his vision for world participation in the blogosphere and his determination to unify bloggers from across the globe.

Madd (Maddspace/Maddisms) was a staunch supporter and cheerleader as was Sanni in Germany, Philip in Bulgaria, Iamnasra in Oman, SGT DUB in Afghanistan and countless others in the United States. And don't forget he CATS who Blogged For Peace! Amazing. And so......Mimi Writes and writes some more.
This post has become a novel. I just want to say thank you to all the people who made this year so phenomenal for me - and especially those who supported the Peace Globe movement. Inspiration can always be found in one very special bowl of marbles.
It is far from over.

I can't wait to see what the New Year holds.