Local boys, hot babes, and fast boats — it’s Super Boat Grand Prix Time on the Suncoast!

The Sarasota Herald Tribune is running a piece I wrote on three father and son teams who are battling it out in the wave breaks off the beaches of Lido Key this weekend.

You can read it in today’s paper — in the TICKET, page 4E — or online at Boys and Their Boats.

I don’t have photos of one of the teams featured in the piece — the Bryants — but the photos on this blog post — all courtesy of www.superboat.com‘s team information webpage — gives you a look at the boats the boys (and their dads) will be driving.

Pelican Press — where Reality Chick started — Picks Up Press Awards

The Pelican Press —

— the weekly Sarasota newspaper that gave me my local start in column writing when the editors there began running my Reality Chick column back in 2006 — picked up four press association awards recently in statewide writing and editorial contests.

County reporter and all-round news hound Stan Zimmerman nabbed first place for an editorial he wrote in January 2009 criticizing Sarasota City commissioners for their decision to create a managed mooring field in Sarasota Bay — and we all know how well that decision went.

One of the judge’s raved about Zimmerman’s writing, describing it as “Hard-hitting editorial that takes on just about every power in town. Sure to make enemies but pulls no punches and urges specific action.”

I LOVE that! Sheesh. That’s high praise, and Zimmerman deserves it. He’s collected lots of awards prior to this, and has long been a favorite of mine.

JR Riley — the paper’s cartoonist — also won an award, as well as photographer Ric Miracle, and I think the paper won in an editorial content category, as well.

I MISS that paper! I loved writing for it — loved the readers (well, maybe not the ones who sent snail mail pictures of KKK activities or called my house to call me names). It was a great place to call home.

Kudos out to Stan Z., and the rest of the Pelican crew. Well done!

Talk to me, baby, tell me all about it

Got some burning issue about Sarasota that you’d like to talk about? Want to give the radio waves an earful with your (no naughty words) opinion on anything from the BP oil debacle to the restaurants going dark all over town to what you think will happen in local and statewide elections in a matter of months — or maybe you’ve got something to say about Sarasota cops driving drunk … allegedly?

Whatever’s got your knickers in a twist, call me up and talk to me, baby, tell me all about it — this coming Wednesday, June 30, from 9 to 10 a.m.

I’m going to be a guest on the final Between the Lines show with host Gary Olson, and his erstwhile co-host and now special guest, Francis Scheuer. Live, community radio — WSLR 96.5 LPFM — and we’re taking calls for the entire show — even if we’re not talking about something you’re into, call us up and tell us what you’d rather talk about.

Just call the studio at 355.4540 to share your thoughts or ask a question of me or Gary or Francis. I know one thing for sure — if we don’t know the answer, we’ll make one up, or at least I will.

You can tune in on the radio or listen in online by clicking here: WSLR Online access. If you can’t call in, and want to ask a question or make a statement about some issues that’s got your eyes rollin’, leave a blog post here before 10 p.m., on Tuesday night and if it’s not racy or crazy (or maybe even if it is), I’ll try to read them on air.

O, Oprah, say it ain’t so — what’s the intention of her reality?

I’ve watched Oprah plenty of times. I’ve read her magazines. For the most part, I dig her sensibilities if not always her interviewing techniques.

So, when I heard she was quitting her show, launching her OWN network, and giving regular Joe’s and Josie’s a chance to have their own television talk show — I thought, hey, I’m going to try for that. I’d heard that you had to upload a three-minute video to her website to audition and I was in the process of pulling it all together when I realized that the video-tape is a prelude audition to a reality show contest, the winner of which will get a television talk show. (more…)

MC is SO not a Scenestress (not that there’s anything wrong with being one)

Okay, folks, I’ve had enough of the inquiries about whether or not I am the woman behind the anonymous “Scenestress” column that runs weekly in the Creative Loafing newspaper. She’s not even that anonymous, for crying out loud; the clever author-girl’s ID is well-known among the scenester circles of SRQ society. But still — for those of you who keep asking — it’s NOT ME!!

I am NOT a scenestress! — not that there’s anything wrong with being one … . 😉

photo courtesy of CL website

I finally realized I have to address the issue when I went to a first-time meeting with someone last week and for about the twentieth time in recent weeks, almost the first question out of the mouth was “So, you’re the Scenestress, aren’t you?!” I said no, but was not believed — and the person asked twice, skeptically, “Really?” I had to insist. (Even though it’s kind of hard to believe (though oddly flattering in a way) that anyone would think I had such an scha-winging nightlife and such a hipster personality … .)

So, enough insisting. Here’s the evidence to support my claim: (more…)

“Stand-In” Dads helped me make my life

The Sarasota Herald Tribune published one of my columns today — “Stand-In Fathers Show What Makes a “Real” Dad”

It’s on Page A18 of today’s paper, or you can read it online by clicking the hyperlinked text above.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers — the biological ones as well as the ones who nurture young people whether they were their “real” Dads or not.

Thrashin ’round on a Saturday afternoon

I just have to share this photo of the little guy in the back yard. He’s such a cutie.

MC’s Guide to Showing Your Dad Some Love

Hey, I’m happy to report that the Sarasota Herald Tribune is running a piece I wrote on things to do for this coming Father’s Day. The story appeared in today’s paper in the TICKET section; page 6E if you’re an old-fashioned get-the-ink-on-your-hands kind of person. Click here Celebrating Dear Old Dad to read the story online.

Florida State Rep Race, District 70 starts to look interesting

Looks like Republican Doug Holder will have some competition in November. Savvy politico Nancy Feehan has thrown her hat into the ring, officially filing today for the race for State Representative, District 70.

From the cheap seats, it’s looking like a no-brainer for voters south of Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota, stretching all the way down to the Charlotte County line. Holder voted last year for legislation that would allow oil drilling as close as three miles to the area’s beaches – I think it includes Siesta Key, Casey Key and others.

Bad enough that he voted for near-shore drilling, but what really got me was that (according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune) Holder said he only voted that way because he knew the legislation wouldn’t pass but he wanted to “open the discussion.” To me that’s pretty astounding – voting for something you don’t believe in because you’re pretty sure it won’t pass? That’s the kind of clarity, consistency, and protection I want in a State Rep for sure. NOT.

Feehan lives in Osprey, and if elected, would be representing more coastline in Sarasota County than anyone else in the House. I’ll have to find out where she stands on the issue. Stay tuned.

Lee C., and MC’s most beautiful day

A guy named Lee — and yes, he knows who he is — gave me one of the best moments of my life … ever. I remember it like a dream, but it was real. We were in his car, driving on a gorgeous, clear, fresh-aired summer day in New Hampshire.

We were driving on a highway headed toward a mountain. We were going to hike together. He said he had something he wanted me to hear and he slipped in a bootleg, not-yet-in-release copy of U2’s Joshua Tree. (more…)