In Sarasota … the haves and the have-nots

The Sarasota Herald Tribune ran a piece of mine today. You can read it on page A10 or simply follow the link here: In Sarasota, gap widens between the haves and the have-nots.

Here’s a snippet:

Yes, a lot of people made a lot of money, and most of it was done with little regard to how regular folks would survive the seemingly unending upward spiral of housing costs and the correlative costs of living in what had become, essentially, a rich man’s town.

MC Coolidge Wins Florida Press Association award! Yippee!

Most of my life, I’ve been known for being WAY too serious. I’ve been notorious among ex-boyfriends and ex-husbands (of which there is only one) for never getting the punchline of jokes. I always said things like, “Huh? I don’t get that.” To which they would usually shake their heads and say,”Lighten up!!” If I had $18 for everytime I’ve been told to lighten up, I’m sure I’d have about $18,000 right about now.

So, it’s IRONICALLY BEAUTIFUL that I just found out this morning that not only have I won a Florida Press Association award for column-writing … but I won the award for a HUMOR column of all things!!

The only downside is that the humor column really wasn’t supposed to be funny at all — it’s a tragic look at the seedy underbelly (and I mean that literally) of my fight with the flab!

The column that won is called Ben and Jerry Take a Hike! So you can imagine what it’s about. But if you want to read it — you can get a peek into my physically psyched-out psyche by double-clicking on this link: Ben & Jerry Take a Hike and win MC a Big Award! (Hey, that makes the Michelin-esque aspects of my physique almost worth it! — notice I said ALMOST!)

Look out! Michelin-woman coming through!

I’m super happy about winning — I’ve wanted to nab one of those FPA awards since I launched the Reality Chick column back in early 2006. And, I’m grateful as well … to the editors at the Pelican Press, Rachel Brown Hackney and Anne Johnson, who are the ones responsible for entering me into the FPA contest in the first place. And speaking of the Pelican Press — I heard the paper won something like seven or eight OTHER awards from the Florida Press Association. So kudos all ’round to the editors and writers at that paper.

The FPA gives awards at four levels, I think. First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention. I won’t know until July, I think, what actual PLACE the column won, but heck, it’s already been announced on their site, and I’m happy with any place whatsoever!

Now, um, where the HECK did I put my sneakers?!

Snakey-behavior

I’m always saying what a jungle my back yard is. Here’s today’s visitor: (more…)

The world needs columnists … and column-readers!

As a freelance columnist I might be biased, but I’d like to think that while a lot of readers love to hate and hate to love the columnists that appear in their favorite paper’s pages (or dare I hope on their favorite blog sites?!) — columnists ultimately make reading a paper fun, and sometimes give us something meaty to chew on during our lunch breaks besides our stale tuna fish sandwiches. (more…)

Googling is so last year

Googling someone you want to date or are about to date is such a lame thing to do that I don’t even know where to start.

While it’s okay to google a prospective client or business associate or new roofer, I refuse to google a prospective date or romantic partner.

Googling someone to see what’s “out there” about them is just plain snooping. But it’s like snooping for sophomores. Fuggedaboudit. (more…)

One final birthday blog …

A late-night visitor to my back yard. A real Stephen King-looking critter! (more…)

Box turtle? … only on birthday blog #4

OMG — I’m not usuall prone to using acronyms like that, but this newest twist in my never-ending fabulous birthday is so WICKED cool. (more…)

Aging extravagantly … birthday blog #3

Whoo hoo! My day just keeps getting better and better. I’m receiving an extravagant number of wonderful birthday messages from so many people. Call me goofy, but (more…)

Beethoven on a birthday … birthday blog #2

A few weeks ago, a man invited me out on a date for April 4th, (more…)

Intruder at the bird bath … birthday blog #1

I’m one of those wacky people who LOVE their birthdays. I don’t really care that much about getting older (just don’t ask me how much older I’m getting! ;)) but I do care about having fun on April 13th. Which, by the way, is also the birth date of my adopted felines, Einstein, Coco, and Boomerang. Since they are all rescue cats, I decided we should all celebrate on the same day … and what better day than mine?! (Not too egocentric of me, huh?) They will get canned tuna fish for their dinner in honor of another year.

Today has already started off FABULOUSLY. After morning coffee, I went (more…)