12 days and counting … time to spell it out for Vday

Here’s my latest TICKET blog about how to stay out of the dog house for Valentine’s Day. (more…)

Who …. who?

This GORGEOUS fellow (or female!) owl was spotted by a neighbor up in the tree at dusk. (more…)

13 days to woo your lover … Valentine’s Day straight ahead!

Looking for some ways to woo your lover — or even your would-be lover? I say, get busy early!

Here’s my first tip: Plan Ahead!

Woo-hoo!! MC’s got a brand new gig!

I love, love, love being a writer. Best decision I ever made was dumping my career in corporate/business/9-5 America, and throwing myself to the mercy of the freelance god as a publicist and all-round writer.

I may be usually broke … but I’m also unusually happy. Especially on days like today where I get to announce a NEW GIG!

In addition to my weekly print column Sense and the City, I’m doing a new blog for the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s WICKED cool new TICKET website — it is hot (and cool). I hope you’ll check all the offerings and new blogs on this must-read site, but in particular, I hope you’ll check out mine!

— I invite you to check out my new blog — here’s today’s entry — Better Than Botox … the Ringling Museum of Art.

This new blog is great, of course — but it will never replace my humble little depository of “MC reality” right here on my own blog! Of course, this reality blog doesn’t “pay” and my new gig does — so that’s pretty real in its own right! Yippee!

Up Close and Personal with Poverty

In my Sense and the City column today in the Sarasota Herald Tribune TICKET, I wrote about Greg Mortenson, Pulitzer Prize for Peace nominee and author of Three Cups of Tea,

Mortenson’s simple presentation of himself, his extraordinary dedication to helping others, really impacted me … and I wrote about it. You can read the story on page 10E of today’s Sarasota Herald Tribune TICKET section, or you can pick it up — FOR FREE — in TICKET/CL boxes across the city.

If you want to read it online, visit Up Close and Personal with Poverty.

If you’re enjoying my new Sense and the City column, feel free to let the editors know! You can send an electronic Letter to the Editor by clicking here: Letter to the Editor at Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Maybe my American dream

Yesterday afternoon I felt kind of sad because I don’t have a home of my own — that quintessential American dream of home ownership, is one I just haven’t been able to sustain. I did own and live in my own home briefly when I was married, and one other time as well, but most of the time, most of my life, I’ve rented. And I’ve generally hated it. From rats (real, live ones that Einstein had to catch) to landlords who wouldn’t fix leaking roofs that dumped buckets of rain into my living room … I’ve never liked renting one bit.

And because of that, for most of my life I’ve felt like a woman without a home. Kind of like a man without a country, but worse. Because somehow it seems romantic to be a man wandering the world with just a backpack or something … but to be a woman without a home … just evokes visions of bag ladies dancing in my head. It’s not a good feeling. (more…)

Sarasota welcomes Harvard!

I just have to pass along this article from the Harvard University’s The Harvard Crimson … it’s just a nice reflection on Sarasota and a testament to the hard work the community is doing to create a world-class rowing environment here.

Florida Hospitable to Harvard Rowing
By Christina C. Mcclintock, CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

Picture this: the top crews in the world flying through the last 500 meters of the world championships, when an underdog takes control of the race. The spectators—wearing shorts and t-shirts, because it’s Florida—gaze in amazement with one thought going through their heads: “Are you serious?”

That line, of course, delivered by Dick Vitale, who is not only a legendary announcer, but also a Sarasota, Fla. resident. (more…)

Legal eagle Adam Tebrugge opens doors at new law office

Local attorney Adam Tebrugge, who ran for the Public Defender’s office in 2008, opened the doors last week to the new offices of Tebrugge Legal.

He issued an open invitation for people to come by, see his new digs, and enjoy the artwork of Jodie Yeakel, whose work was showcased on his office walls. I knew Tebrugge attended FSU College of Law, but didn’t know he was a New College grad to boot.

Tebrugge specializes in criminal law … so, oddly, I hope I never need his services!

Listen up! Florida Veterans on Rob Lorei’s radio show this morning (WMNF)

Florida Veterans for Common Sense President, Gene Jones, and board member, Dennis Plews, will be on the Rob Lorei radio show (WMNF 88.5 FM) this morning, January 24, 2011 at 10:05 AM.

The discussion will be about obtaining Veterans Diversion Courts in Florida, and the group’s Resolution to Withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan.

It’s a call in program as well — so I believe you can ask questions or make comments on air by calling 813.239.9663 or perhaps by emailing to dj@wmnf.org.

These feet were made for walking …

So, today, after months and months (really nearly a year) of not walking mostly, and then walking in 10 minute increments to build up to thirty minutes, today I walked in the 1 mile “fun run” portion of the New Balance Ringling Bridge Run.

I did have to quit just on the final leg of the return part, so my friends went on to finish without me and I headed back to my car. But all in all I walked nearly an hour!

A friend of mine won a competition to design the tee-shirts for the run — she did a great job, but unfortunately, I don’t have a pic.