As 2007 comes to an end, I’ve decided to come up with a few lists of a few different things bloggers I think you may find interesting.  For further information, be sure to read the disclaimer at the end.

Different bloggers value different things in the blogs that they read.  Some value humor.  Some value grammar.  Some value spellcheck.  I value honesty… and the ability to be honest on your blog is a trait I hold in the highest esteem.  Honesty is putting it out there, laying it out on the table without fear of the consequences, and being able to stand against the criticism of those who haven’t even an iota of the courage it took to post it in the first place.  These are the bravest bloggers… and so I present to you the Most Honest Bloggers that I have read this year…

While it isn’t an easy thing to be unofficially known as ”The Komodo Dragon Lady of the Blogosphere”, if you really want to know EXACTLY what Miss Ann Thrope thinks of you?  Just ask.  She will, without a doubt or hesitation, let you know… EXACTLY.  Still, don’t let the rumors or opinions of those who have foolishly asked without REALLY wanting to know EXACTLY what she thought… for her sweetness will put you into a diabetic coma.  This is one Komodo I could definitely cuddle with. 

If you ever want to know exactly how to make home made guacamole, the type of accent your likely to get in Florida as opposed to the rest of the South, how to gain insight to your meaning of life, or how to manipulate the time space continuum to move your family cross country in the blink of an eye, then Miss Britt is the person to go to.  Not only is she independently wise, honest about the ups and downs of life without apologies, and unabashedly an Artist Formerly Known As Squiggly Line fan, but one day you will prostrate at her feet.  You don’t believe me?  When she ascends The Celestial Throne as the Omnipotent High Empress of the Universe, well, I told you so.

The day they taught sharing in kindergarten, Miss Monique not only took notes, but had it tattooed on her heart.  A personal blogger purist (even with those minor little paid posts), there is nothing in her personal life off the table when it comes to blogging.  Loves, losses, manicures, pedicures, pets, blonde highlights, and the more than occasional moronic male she dates is all right there for the world to read… and therefore get to know just how ”le kool” she really is.

Anyone who is willing to go onto a webcam and publicly chew ice is as upfront and honest as they come.  So its without question that the Ice Princess KG displays a wide range of honesty on her blog.  From the California neighbors to the State of Kentucky, there is very little left unscathed from her cold hard opinion.  Still, there is a warmth there below that exterior… the love for her Teddy, her Buddy and her Daisy (and yeah, sometimes her Mr. KG) will outlast all.  In the end… it is all about Love.

The thing about Soda is that her blog plays out more like an episode of COPS.  It has the nitty, the gritty, the high speed chase, and the satisfaction of a new piece of jewelry at the end of the road.  Unlike the television show though, you get the big picture from reading her blog.  It’s not just the best or the worst… its that with every undotted i and uncrossed t inbetween.

We’re all a little crazy to a certain degree… but at least Jane is willing to flat out admit it in her blog title itself!  That sort of open self-awareness lends itself to her incredible honesty about moving through life… with all its doubts and concerns… joys and celebrations… pigs and men.  No, I’m not saying that she says men are pigs… she really has a man… and she really has a pig… and they are two different animals.  Most of the time.

Making the transition from child to adult is a painful and often heartbreaking process called being a teenager.  If you want to taste the pain of those years then look no further than Sarcastica.  Although it is usually easy to spot a teenage angst blog from half a mile away, that isn’t true with this one.  In fact, if I could, I’d proof her to make sure she really IS as young as she says… because her perspective on life is a far more grown up way of looking at things than some adult bloggers I know.  Still… there is purity of heart there… even if it is the heart of an older soul trapped in a younger body.

Although she is one of the less predictable bloggers, Tracy is not one to shirk away from the challenge of filling you in on what’s been happening so that you are able to keep up.  As she attests to, life with kids is more interesting than not… and while some may view it as “mommy bloggish”… there is brute honesty in it… even when the kids aren’t necessarily the apple of her eye, the way other bloggers may whitewash them to be.

There are some bloggers you read, and some bloggers you read into.  With Tori, there’s no reading into necessary… its all laid out in perfect detail… and while it never leaves you wondering, it will often leave you hungering for more.  An artist both visually and grammatically, she takes pride in her posts… even though they may not paint as flattering a picture as we may all want for ourselves… her tales of truth are usually short and of course… the fact she has red hair, blue eyes, and looks incredibly hot in a pair of jeans doesn’t hurt either.

There are very few professions that will advocate you lying to the client.  Unfortunately, EMTs and Paramedics are one such profession that endorses emblazoned lies (ex. “Your going to be okay,” when in fact you know they will be dead in 48 hours if not sooner with burns covering 90% of their body) to accomplish what is in the best interest of the client.  Yet, you don’t get that with Franky.  Her blog is above the table when it comes to both personal and professional matters… and she’ll be honest about every little thing.

As a reward for being the best of the best for 2007… I designed this complex thing-a-ma-bob for those who may want to display their Listed status proudly:

Additionally… because I am beyond benevolent and loving contrary to what some people believe… here is the code for you to use with a permalink directly to this post.  So if your blog was snacked upon today, all you need to do is copy and past the code:

The Lists is a yearly compilation of interesting bloggers that I currently read.  Due to the volume of blogs and the 10 blogger limit, there may be authors who do not appear.  This is not to say that you did not have a good blog, or an important blog, or even a blog I did not read because in all likelihood I do indeed read it.  This simply means that for that year that you are excluded… well… I thought other bloggers were better choices for the Listing.  This does not mean I don’t like you, I don’t love you, or that I don’t read you.  It just means that for that year(s), I chose other bloggers but there is always the possibility of next year.  Unless.

Unless you cry, whine, send me e-mail messages begging me to feature you, send e-cards with links to the blogs you want linked, tell me how I don’t love you, tell me how I don’t like you, tell me how sad you are, tell me how I don’t read you even though you know I did because I commented at some point, and/or try to muscle me with threats of large “goombas” paying a visit.  If you do any of that… then hold your breathe until you see yourself on the Lists again.  While your doing that… go get a white hat and get yourself some Smurfberry Pie ‘cause you’ll be blue before you see it.