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!) 
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?!