Two tags

The Wise Web Woman up Newfoundland way, and our old friend Ernest the Swan over in France, have each tagged me.

Let's see how I do:

WWW wants me to write my life story in six words. Apparently this excruciating exercise (excruciating for me, who is barely warmed up at six hundred words) was started by that taciturn old drinker, Ernest Hemingway, who wrote this:

For sale. Baby shoes. Never used.

OK, mine is not nearly so heartbreaking, nor so dramatic. Which makes it not nearly so interesting. Here goes:

Books, conversation, dogs--all I need.

(Of course, it's not true. I also need beer. And a lot of alone time. And Doug. And a small amount of money. But hell--six words? You try it. Go ahead. Leave yours in the comments. If I get great ones, I'll post 'em.)

And Ernest, he who is not really a swan, wants me to name five blogs that take my fancy.

This is a little harder. I have 121 blogs in my bloglines, and while I don't visit every one every day (or even immediately upon seeing that they're updated), I like them all for different reasons. So of course, I have to cheat.

I won't list five blogs. I'll list categories of blog, and five in each category.

I seem to be drawn primarily to Category 1: Expatriate Blogs.

People who are living the adventurous life that I never had the opportunity or the courage for.

The American Lady, an American journalist in Europe and sometimes Asia.
For the Long Run. An American woman in Ireland.
Fairy Mix. A German woman in Ireland.
Conortje. An Irish guy in the Netherlands.
La Vespita, Herself. An Irishwoman in Italy.
Wise Web Woman. An Irish woman in Canada
Dumdad. A Brit in Paris.
Katie. An American in Glasgow.

That's five, isn't it?

OK, on to Category 2: Life is a cabaret.

Blogs about ordinary lives that are anything but ordinary.

Rotten Correspondent. She meets the curveballs of life with strength and humor.
Willowtree (Especially his travel stories. And if you hop over there real quick, he's posted one today.)
Coffeeyogurt. Just plain fun.
Next door to my ex (She really does.)
Pondside A beautiful life.

I could go on and on.... or you could just check out my blogroll.