NO HOP IS HOPELESS

My first attempt at blog hopping (CLICK HERE TO SEE) was courtesy of Robin and her alternative friend-matching efforts. Indeed, I discovered three new blogs and made a new blogging buddy. And because for me each new discovery is precious, I consider the effort successful. But rumour on the web has it that you've never blog-hopped until you've tried Java's Follow Friday.

Having already had my first sip of this activity, I thought I'd start my new blog-hopping adventures more ceremoniously by accepting two awards given to me by Ro Magnolia! 

The rules are simple:

1) Thank the person who gave you the award.

My acceptance speech:
"This award has been sitting on the shelf for quite some time because it was hard for me to truly fathom how lovely and beautiful I am. Now that it has finally sunk in I would like to say - Thank you so much, Ro Magnolia. These two awards mean so much to me! I will print them, enlarge them, frame them and hang them on my office wall so that my colleagues will finally be able to see what a beautiful and lovely person I am. (Such a pity they don't know I blog, though.)"

2) Share 7 things about yourself.

Say, haven't I done this before? Or was that 10 random things I wrote about during my last award? CLICK HERE. I guess after receiving an award or two, they all just become this one BIG BLUR. This time around though, I'll show you my "things":

1.

My Swatch...actually I have quite a collection. Instead of changing batteries, I just get a new one. They are loads of fun!

2.

I've beeen holding onto my komboloi (worry beads) for dear life itself since quitting smoking about 1 1/2 months ago (this may explain the agitated edge that my posts have had lately). But before you go celebrating the new smoke-free me, I should tell you that I haven't totally kicked the habit - I've just quit buying cigarettes and I did enjoy a smoke on my birthday (August 11).

3.

This is my SPOT! That place where I like to take my coffee, read books and ponder! We all have one, don't we?

4.

Here is Bianca - my pal, my personal trainer, my transport, my beloved bike...

5.

Summertime in Greece, and these are my shades. Bought for just 5 euros cause I keep losing the expensive ones! These ones are very retro, don't you think?

6.

While still an undergraduate I read Marilyn Monroe's biography and her famous response to a reporter's question about what she wore to bed: "What do I wear in bed? Why Chanel No 5, of course." The first bottle I bought was a gift for my mother, but ended up hogging it for myself. My uni friends would say, "Try Loulou or Anais...You're too young for something so classical." And I would joke about it and say: "Darlings, I was born 40!" And here I am, 2 years past THAT age and still wearing the same perfume!

7.

These are my favorite "things"...these little hands and the moments we spend together. Fleeting moments that we should appreciate before they slip through our fingers. Don't you agree?

3. Nominate at least 7 friends for this award.
If you are kind enough to read this and comment - even anonymously so (wink wink nudge nudge) - then I think you are definitely lovely and extremely beautiful. So with just one comment, with just one "hello", you can consider yourself nominated. (And you don't have to be over 40, either)! So now that I've shown you my things, perhaps you can show me yours...

THERE, THAT WAS EASY. AM I HOPPING NOW? IS IT ACTUALLY HAPPENING?