Got Green? Blog O'Hop Winners are...

Aloha,

Photo Courtesy: Rick @ Scarlett's Tattoo 

Finally, just as everyone got tired of waiting for the paint to dry, or the fourth leaf to grow on the Shamrock, here are the winners of my inaugural Got Green? Blog O’hop.

But, before I announce the winners, in reverse order, as they do in the Eurovision Song Contest, I would like to say a simple THANK You to Evah-reyone who stepped up to the plate and supported me on this sweet, Oirish journey.

I got a kick out of all the responses and there was one point there where I gave the A-Z Linky List a right run for its money (for about 3.8 seconds :)

From a total of thirty-eight eligible entrants (my wife’s guest post doesn’t count for the contest – but I loved hers the most :) I and the wee Leprechauns whittled it down to the Final Seven.

Honorable mention for 6^th runner up (formerly known as “seventh place”) is: Ashley Nixon
Honorable mention for 5^th runner up (formerly known as “sixth place”) is: Mandi

In fifth place, the winner of the Regular Size Box of Lucky Charms is: Hunter

In Fourth Place, the winner of the Family Size Box of Lucky Charms (gasp!) is: David Powers King

In “Thurd” Place, the winner of the Query Critique (by me) is: Darci Cole

In Second Place, the winner of the Three Chapter Read and Critique (by me) is: Theresa

And the winner of the 2012 Got Green Blog O’hop, (sponsored in part, by Lucky Charms… not) is:

MORGAN SHAMY J

The. Red. Head.

Whoot O’hoot!!

 Morgan wins an all-expense paid trip for two to Hawaii, (which she must pay for herself :) and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Congrats to all the winners :) Please shoot me an email at mark.koopmans@yahoo.com and I’ll get your address, or figure out a timeframe for the critiques.
And now, the fun part… Morgan’s entry is below, or her full post is here.

(If you need the backstory on SIGGY, read this J )

The Ides of Ireland:
(By Morgan Shamy)

The crowd stood shoulder to shoulder, the early morning sun pounding down on our heads. The smell of sweat and unwashed bodies perforated the air and a baby wailed somewhere in the chaos. Hundreds surrounded the arena, some having been camped out for days.

I shifted my weight, my legs aching with the wait. But it was worth it. I’d stand here for another week to get a good look at Super Irish Guy, aka SIGGY.

Then he entered.

Face painted green, orange, and white, with parallel colors flowing from his back, he stood with his feet planted, one hand on hip, other clasping a mug of ale. His eyes scanned the crowd under his backwards baseball cap until they zeroed in on his opponent.

The small green man sat across the arena, one knee propped up, clover stuck between his teeth. His red hair was matted under his green top hat, an evil smile lurking at his lips.

“Do ye think he’ll win?” I asked the man next to me. “Lucky looks pretty smug.”

“Och, dinna fash, lassie. 'Course he’ll win. No one can stop the SIGGY.”

As if hearing our words, the SIGGY took one last swig of ale and tossed the mug to the ground. Lucky unfolded from his position and spit the clover from his teeth. The two faced each other in silence, as if waiting for the other to move.

Then Lucky charged. He pulled out a small dagger, the sun glinting dangerously off its shiny face. SIGGY grabbed the blade with one bare hand, unflinching, and ripped the weapon from Lucky’s grasp. But Lucky procured another blade and stuck it in SIGGY’s side, pinning him.

The crowd stopped. No one moved. But SIGGY smiled. He removed his cap. The sun bounced off SIGGY’s baldhead and burned Lucky like a magnifying glass to an ant, the heat sizzling him to a crisp.

The crowd erupted.

“Who's got yer Lucky Charms now!” SIGGY yelled. “Beware the Ides of Ireland!

                                                   ###

Thanks Morgan, and everyone else. It was an O’blast.

SIGGY. Out.