Grateful for what online friends have given me, but not necessarily for what I’ve given them

For this week’s Sleeping With Bread post (click on the badge at right for more information about the meme), I’m going to cut right to the chase.

For what am I most grateful this past week?

Online friends and acquaintances, namely three people (or groups) in particular:

1. Traci Davis of Tan Yer Hide and Tone It  Too: Back before the start of November, she challenged me to a 90-day challenge through Team Beachbody. I decided to join and then promptly almost at the very start of the month came down with the flu for the next few weeks. I never got back on the bus, or in words Traci might understand better, on the horse. However, Traci hasn’t gotten off the bus — or the horse, or my case for that matter. Last week she sent me a message on Facebook, asking me how I was doing with my plan. Not well, Traci,  not well. However, because of your perseverance, coach, I am getting back on the bus, horse and my case in the near future. Each year our landlord gives us $100 back, what he calls a “heat rebate.” With that money, we’re getting the membership to help us through the winter months.

2. Bee of Bee’s Musings and Nooter the Dog: Last year Bee began a Secret Santa among bloggers, where the gifts given away were virtual gag gifts. This year I participated in it on my blog Unfinished Rambler and gave a gift to Kevin of Always Home and Uncool, while receiving a gift from Nooter. The gift I gave can be found here; the gift I received, here. Thanks, Bee and Nooter, for reminding me of the joy of the season when for others it can be depressing.

I also want to thank Humorbloggers Dot Com for the same thing: reminding me of the joy of the season with its Second Annual Christmas Humor Carnival.

3. Tara Lamont Eastman of Uphill Idealist: I became acquainted with Tara through Sleeping with Bread. She keeps tagging me in notes on Facebook to remind me about the meme and is one of the reasons I’m writing this post at 2 in the morning (and typing it in at quarter of 4 in the morning).  Thanks, Tara.

For what am I least grateful this past week?

Again, online friends and acquaintances, or specifically the way I’ve let a few of them down, primarily, though, two:

1. Mark A. Rayner, author of the blog The Skwib and the book Marvellous Hairy, of which he sent me a free copy and I told him I’d review by the end of the year. When he contacted me on Facebook last month, I told him I’d review the book by the end of the year.

2. Louisiana Alba, author of the blog Swimanog and the book Uncorrected Proof, who sent me a free copy of her book and whom I also told I’d review her book by the end of the year.

Starting later today, I hope to begin to make good on those promises as I’ll start to read Mark’s book– and this weekend, I’ll begin Louisiana’ s book, with the goal of finishing her book by Dec. 31. I’ll let you know what I think of both of them once I’m finished with them.