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September 14, 2010

The experience of winning the DogTime 2010 Best Dog Blog Award at BlogPaws West this weekend still astounds me. I may have managed NOT to cry on the podium, but I’ve been pretty weepy ever since.

I didn’t want to get my hopes up, and I’d convinced myself another nominee was unbeatable. Many thanks to my dog food blog collaborator and friend Anthony Holloway, from K9Cuisine.com, who told me at dinner Friday night that if they knew the outcome, they wouldn’t hold the contest. I guess that’s something he has told the little league teams he coaches for years. You can read his version of this conversation on his CEO Blog today.

Still, I had sort of worked myself into believing that win or not, it was a “sign” that would set me on a certain path. I was NOT prepared for what winning would mean to me or how it would feel after the many rough times in the last year. (Longtime readers, I think, will understand that.)

No one needed this boost more than me.

best dog blog award badgeBest Dog Blog Award Acceptance Speech

The video below shows the entire “Petties” award ceremony, which was held at lunch Saturday, Sept 11, 2010, during the final day of BlogPaws West. Leslie Smith, editor-in-chief for DogTime Media, which gave the awards, is a total crack up, so I encourage you to watch and enjoy it all. (If you’re pressed for time, though, I accept my award about 7 minutes in.)

Seeing it on video, I realize two things I flubbed because I was nervous:

  1. I meant to say that I thought Carol Bryant from Fido Friendly was unbeatable … not that I didn’t think she was. D’oh!
  2. I meant to thank those I consider the Royalty of BE THE CHANGE … not Champion of My Heart.

I very nearly cried at the beginning when I did my initial thanks, especially when I looked at my dear dog-training / dog-blogging friend and Never Shock a Puppy coalition member, Deborah Flick from Boulder Dog.

That panic of “OH, CRAP! I’m going to cry!” felt worse in person than it looks on camera. Somehow, I managed to keep it together and get through the rest.

Once the ceremony ended, I got crushed with hugs from so many dear blogging friends. (I wish there was video of that.) Many thanks to all of them for being there and for their enthusiasm, support, and encouragement not just this weekend, but always.

I got all misty again and kept saying, “I need to call Tom.” Once the hugs waned, I did manage to sneak in a call.

Thanks to Raising Ruby, for documenting my tearful call to Tom and Lilly. Yes … I asked him to put Lilly on the phone so that I could tell her the news and thank her. No writer could ask for a better canine heroine.

Best Dog Blog Award Post Win Interview

I also did a “Red Carpet” interview after the awards ceremony, and I had found a place online where you could watch that, but now I cannot find it again. If it turns up, I promise to post later. (I spent all day Monday suffering through horrible computer problems, so the fact that I can post at all is just about a miracle.)

Thanks to Nicole Platt from DogTime for this photo of that interview taking place.

Celebrating With Lilly

I was so exhausted and overwrought with emotion that I came home Saturday night after the closing ceremony and dinner, and I pretty much crashed into bed. We let Lilly sleep with us as a sort of celebration, but the plan went south when she nearly barfed right on Tom’s head about 6 am Sunday morning.

Yep. I live SUCH a glamorous life.

I’ll come up with a REAL celebration at some point when I regain my sea legs, but for now, these photos will have to do.

That’s her nibbling on my face. She does that when she gets excited.

BlogPaws Update and News

I promise I will pull together my BlogPaws news in the coming days, including (I hope) some video product reviews of some freaking AWESOME toys we got in our schwag bag.

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. Congratulations Roxanne! Your speech got me misty eyed too. Your sincerity and passion is apparent in every word and every motion. 🙂

  2. I just got this clip to work…too many people must of been watching it when I first tried.

    I have no idea how you stopped from crying because I was crying just watching it!

    I will always remember your advice, whenever I get stuck in a tunnel.

  3. I finally got this clip to work…I think too many people were trying to see it when you first published it.

    I do not know how you did not cry…I was crying watching it. I am always going to remember your advice when I get into a tunnel and cannot get out!

    A job well done…you deserve the award!

  4. I was so glad you won! The first time I saw your blog, it resonated with me, and obviously there was a reason why – it does the same for a lot of people! Congratulations to both you and Lilly on a well-deserved award!

    1. Thanks so much, Janiss, for dropping by. For those who might not know, Janiss won Best Cat Blog for Sparklecat.com. Her sweet Sparkle kitty has already done TWO books. We’re so jealous.

  5. I have to admit, I got a little choked up myself watching this. Nobody needed this lift more than you right! Great speech Roxanne, congrats again!

  6. Your speech was just perfect! Your tunnel story made me laugh, and oh how it hits home.

    Three cheers for Roxanne and Lilly!

    1. Well, MyKidsEatSquid … I would have loved for Lilly to be there, but the crowd and other dogs would have freaked her out. Plus, they gave the awards at lunch, and dogs weren’t allowed in the room during meals.

  7. Congratulations!!! I just discovered your blog a little while ago and LOVE reading it.

    You know, I just read your About page and had to chuckle when I read the part about all the confusion and questions you get when people ask about beautiful Lilly’s breed. (I actually thought she looked a little Cardigan Corgi myself!)

    I have a ti-color, very fluffy Welsh Pembroke Corgi, and people are ALWAYS insisting he’s really a Sheltie. We got him from the local Corgi rescue group, and after we did some research have come to the conclusion that if he’s not a pure Welsh Pembroke, he’s at least 75% so. We haven’t done the actual testing yet, and quite frankly it’s not THAT important to us (we’re just happy he’s ours and is a part of our family!), but it does get tiring having to tell people, “No, he’s not a Sheltie,” and even more so when they insist that THEY know better than we do, even though it’s clear they don’t know much about either breed. Sigh.

    Happy for you!

    Cheers,
    Marjorie

    1. Ha! Marjorie … it is a hoot to have people tell YOU what your dog really is. We don’t get that as much these days, but early on. Everyone asked. Everyone had an opinion.

      Thanks so much for joining our community. I’ll do my best to live up to the award.

  8. How thrilling!! That’s so cool that you were able to include the feed. I really enjoyed meeting you — you are smart, inspirational, and are doing great work!

    I look forward to following your blog!

    Angie
    Catladyland/Katt Food

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