Since I’ve been reading so many blogs these days, I’ve noticed a couple of things that I really like, and it wouldn’t surprise me if I use (read: STEAL) them occasionally.

I love the way jo(e) uses pseudonyms for all the people and places in her life. I wanted to show a good example of what I’m talking about, and as if she’d read my mind, there were a whole bunch of great examples in her newest entry:

“It’s not time for spring break yet, but I am taking mine a bit early. My suitcase is packed. I’m off to a conference, held this year in City Burned to the Ground During the Civil War. In class, I gave my students a project to work on while I was gone and told them I was heading to Warm Southern City.

Of course, they all had to chime in with interesting facts about City at the Beginning of the Alphabet. One of my landscape architects told me that the city is famous for being an urban heat island that generates a permanent low pressure system, sort of like a torture chamber for someone who gets migraines. Another student claims there is some kind of whole museum dedicated to Famous Soft Drink filled with caffeine and sugar. A biology student told me cheerfully that the newest tourist trap in the city is a huge building where intelligent mammals who have both language and sonar are trapped in tanks of water and forced to perform tricks for a human audience.

I think they are just jealous that I am going someplace warmer, leaving behind the snowbanks and icy roads and winds that blow snow into every crevice of clothing.”

And I love the way Luke gives pseudonyms to the women in his life, e.g. TeaGirl, CherryCherry, and now my friend ‘Fiji.’

“Which yeah makes it a little strange for a first date I suppose, meeting in Fiji for 6 days. But I’ve talked to Fiji (or “Adam” as TeaGirl jokingly called her in an applear reference) over email and the phone enough times that it really doesn’t feel like a first date in a lot of ways. And – as several of you have pointed out – it’s not like this is the first time I’m flying somewhere to meet someone (see also: Austin and NYC).”

I don’t really have a ‘point’ to this post, I just noticed these things and wanted to highlight them and share them with you. What can I say? I like to share the things I appreciate.

And now I’m going to ask you for a favor in return. What are some of your favorite blogs?