Hey George, Yo’ Mama Drives a Bus!

Every year a variety of international venues roll out the red carpet to honor the best-of-the-best in film, television, music and theater with an array of dazzling, celebrity-filled awards shows that run, one right after the other, practically for the full 12-month calendar.

These crimson-colored soirée are the envy of every screaming fan standing on the other side of the rope-draped cordon, or watching all the drama and excitement unfold on television from the comfort of their homes — not to mention all of the paparazzi jockeying for position to grab the attention of the parading VIPs: “HEY GEORGE, YO’ MAMA WEARS COMBAT BOOTS!” 

Historically, the act of walking the red carpet got its start from the creative mind of Greek playwright Aeschylus who put pen to paper — actually, stylus to papyrus — and wrote Agamemnon back in 458 BC.

In the play, the title character returns from the Trojan War and is greeted at the gate by his wife, Clytemnestra, who offers him a red path to enter: “Now my beloved, step down from your chariot, and let not your foot, my lord, touch the Earth. Servants, let there be spread before the house he never expected to see, where Justice leads him in, a crimson path.”

Greek tragedy aside, so far this year the Screen Actors Guild (SAGs), Directors Guild of America (DGAs), and the Hollywood Foreign Press (Golden Globes), to name a few, have already taken their bows and handed out their prestigious hardware to well-deserving recipients. As Steven Spielberg DIDN’T comment, “How ’bout that Ben Affleck and Argo?”

With the granddaddy of all the glitzy awards shows, the 85th edition of the Academy Awards, set to bow on February 24th, I thought I’d take take this opportunity to don my formal wear, take a stroll down the red carpet, grab another scotch-and-water (courage), and walk up on stage to accept a plethora of blogging awards — okay, badges — that have been bestowed upon The Palladian Traveler (TPT) recently for outstanding performances in a blog.

May I have the envelopes, please?

Vladi and Johna of Wind Against Current arrive via matching kayaks — he’s sporting an Armani, she’s in a Chanel — dragging a flotation device full of badges: the Adventurous, Shine On, Liebster, Very Inspiring, On Fire, Reader Appreciation, REALITY, Wonderful Team Member Readership, Inspiring, and Sunshine awards, along with another star to add to my Blog of the Year Award (BOTY). Thanks V and J!

Lisa of Sea Play Photography — wearing Balenciaga — “pays-it-forward” and presents TPT with a RAIMY — better know as the Vision-in-Action Blogger Award  (VIAB) — for, “photos that are inspiring and full of vision.” For details on the VIAB, and to say “hey” to Raimy, just click HERE.

Sarah of In and out of Weeks finds the time to stop by and present me with yet another star to go on my BOTY, too. I believe that now makes eight stars, which, in Dick Van Patten’s television world, is quite enough. Thanks Sarah! By the way, you look absolutely mahvelous in that Tom Ford design.

And last, but certainly not least, Sarah of A Lifetime’s Exploration, wearing a dazzlin’ Dior number, closes out this virtual awards show by presenting TPT with the Big K: the Kreative Blogger award. Thanks Sarah! Love the look of your blog, Triton Lite-themed like mine.

I’d like to thank all of the presenters for going out of their way to recognize the merits — few as they are — of The Palladian Traveler blog. You know, you really didn’t have to do all of this, although I am sincerely grateful that you did. As I hoist all of these trophies above my head, let me just add: YOU ROCK!

                          

As is customary when one receives recognition from a fellow blogger, the recipient is then expected to “pay it forward” and bestow the same awards on other bloggers. At this time, I’d like to invite everyone up on stage — that would be you and everyone else who’s spending way too much time creating content for our virtual space called the blogosphere — to receive all of the above-mentioned awards along with TPT’s Tip-of-the-Hat attaboy/girl.

Don’t worry if you’re not wearing a designer gown or a tux, you’re special just the way you are, and rightly deserve the same recognition that I’ve just received. Simply copy the award badges’ URL addresses then paste each one into a new IMAGE widget and highlight the entire group of awards on your homepage.

Because I’m now doling out the hardware, this “pay it forward” gesture comes with no strings attached. There are no rules, no regs, no nothing. You can accept this bundle of awards, or simply do nothing at all. It’s strictly up to you.

Whew! What a show. Okay, I’ve got to sneak out of here and make my way over to Spago’s for the post-awards party, dodging the paparazzi along the way. You coming?

“HEY GEORGE, YO’ MAMA DRIVES A BUS!”

See what I mean?

©The Palladian Traveler

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