I really, really wanted to take a moment to mention "two things.”
Pheww. OK. Now that’s taken care of, ahhhhh, I feel so much better :)
Elsewhere, in our top story today, DL Hammons is hosting his
third annual WRiTE
CLUB.
There is still a week to email your 500-word (max) entry and all submissions remain anonymous.
(Which is awesome because I’m having the dickens
of a time whether to submit my Victorian-era, Zombie-Slasher organic (yet
romantic) poem using the alias of Morgan, DPK or Elise? :)
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Beverly
Fox was very kind to recently award me a “Very Inspiring Blogger” Award.
Accordingly I am to reveal seven random things about ones
self….
·
As
a 17-year-old, I was arrested in Magaluf,
Spain and spent at least five hours “communicating my desire” to not pay a
$50 bribe (never mind being brave and not giving in to corruption - it was all the drinking money I had left!)
Upon my eventual “escape” (sans
payment of any kind – score!) I eventually made it back to our hotel at 6 a.m...
...Where I *fully* expected each of my six mates to be
busy coordinating pre-Internet emails called "faxes" (!) while working the phones to and from the Irish embassy - all in a
valiant effort to secure my release. It was then very surprising to find our room
empty and dark.
I was the first one home!
·
I
adore the ocean (any of them) – or any wave-making lakes, (hello Michael Di CHICAGO :), but don’t need to do much *in* the water. Listening to the waves is
enough.
·
My
favorite number is 56 (I also have no clue why, but there you go…)
·
The
only sport I truly, truly love is baseball. I’m a die-hard Angels fan who is currently on bended knee. I
can’t *wait* for Spring Training 2014. (Have you seen the newest horror movie, Nightmare at Anaheim Stadium?)
·
My
first real job as a growing lad in Dublin was “apprentice truck driver.” We
used to drive all over Ireland to change/replace those old linen towel machines
in toilets and restaurant kitchens.
One day, my driver/friend was
teaching me how to drive (ahead of my road test) when I reversed into a
stationary car. (It wasn't a Mercedes, but could have been a Hallmark.)
I was fired hours later.
·
However,
if I had gotten my license, I would
have happily settled in Dublin with some “young wan” and would *never* have
asked my Da if it was OK to go live in Amsterdam with my Dutch Oma.
But, after the crash, Da said sure. Jobs
were scarce in 1989, why not go live in Amsterdam (as a nineteen-year-old youngster) for a
few months? (Place original yellow smiley face HERE.)
·
Thus,
if I hadn’t of moved to Amsterdam, my
Wanderlust gene might still be dormant – and I guarantee I wouldn’t be here in Hawaii with my beautiful family,
twenty-three years later. (Thank you, Car Driver for parking where you did that
day – and I’m sorry, again!)
Shannon, you are an amazing woman, wife, writer and mother.
You have my prayers and best wishes, and I only wish I had a hundredth of your will power and strength.
25 comments:
So your friends never even noticed you gone? Or did they know where you were and were just too drunk to care at the time?
I'd say enter your piece for Write Club in Morgan's name.
LOVE the story about getting arrested in Spain and still making it home before your roommates!
(I'm sure they would've gotten around to calling the embassy after they'd run out of drinking money.)
Yes! Enter as Morgan! Alex is very wise.
Annnnd just why were you arrested in the first place? Did I miss that part? :P I'm sure your friends were trying to gather intel on foot in hopes to spring you from the clink...right after their hangovers. (;
Love your seven random facts, especially the first one. Awesome and hilarious.
And I feel the same about oceans/wave-making lakes.
Hahaha! No, enter as Elise or DPK--you'll be much more popular! Totally laughing.
And Mark, your story is crazy. Crazy! I have a feeling that you have a lot of these stories... Oh to have known you in the 80's!/90's!
Congrats on the award. Great choice for the tag. :)
Looking forward to that entry in the Write Club, lol! And I think there are a few of us who are grateful that car was parked where it was--who knows if you'd be writing this blog if not? :)
I'm glad you crashed that car too!
Let me know which name you choose because I was going to use one of those too. :)
It seems you have several novels tucked away in those experiences, Mark. And I'd say sub that spectacular Victorian era, Zombie-Slasher (yet romantic) poem immediately. It will net you massive comments and accolades. No doubt in my mind.
Congratulations on your award. My family is all about baseball (and softball for teenage daughter). We spent a morning at the Louisville Slugger museum in Louisville, KY last week. They were mesmerized. I was a little less thrilled, but it was fun family time-- we're all winners.
And I LOVE the ocean too!
Great 7 random facts, and yes Green Monkey Tales, says it all!
Still debating the Write Club, should I or shouldn't I? Have a few more days to decide, that is if I can get down to the 500 words limit!
Good luck everyone!
Yeah, I'm scrambling to figure out what i'm going to write- nothing like waiting till the last minute!
And I loved learning these seven random facts about you- especially about how you ended up in all the places you did! So fun! Thanks for accepting and passing it on!
Funny how the wrong turns can be the rightest ones!
Funny stuff, as always :)
oh my goodness. How very lowering to find out you weren't even missed.
Amsterdam? At 19? Que horrors. And just how much time did you actually spend with Oma?
I enjoyed your article Mark and dammit I love being in and around the ocean. Lucky you. And our lakes don't even have great waves--unlike the Great Lakes up in Michael's area do.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
All things happen for a reason, even driving accidents.
The Angels. Really? I'm so disappointed. (Go BoSox!)
High fives on the baseball fandom, Mark! These were fun tidbits - thanks for sharing.
It is fun to learn more about you, mostly the way you tell things. I can imagine your disappointment when you realized your friends were nowhere to be seen, hahaha. I would assume they were still partying.
Enter with DPK's name, that's my vote. He's in a hiatus anyway, I think he'll appreciate it, hahaha.
You're right, amiguito could be "dear friend" but literally it is "little friend" but your Spanish is very good.
I really appreciate your kind notes at the Cave and your thoughts and prayers. Thank you very much, amiguito. :D
That's some story! Had me laughing all the way through.
Good luck with your entry!!!
Mazza dude!
You can relax now. Yep, I'm here with one of my eagerly anticipated comments. Or something like that :)
Ah yes, another writing competition. Maybe I should set up a competition or a blog hop or a blog fest and see how many followers I can get. Seriously, I'd rather go to McDonald's for a "Happy Meal" than participate in such things. Wishing anybody who does, however, much fun and positive interaction.
Yay to awards. Congrats on getting that award. My son went on vacation in Magaluf. It was, by far, the worst place he's even been to. You seemed to have had a similar experience. One of his friends was beaten up so badly there by a "bouncer", that he was flown back to England and placed in ongoing intensive care.
I also love baseball. Go Blue Jays, who have, of this writing, won eleven straight games.
Dublin, Amsterdam, Hawaii. You do get around. It's been "donkey's years" since I've been to Amsterdam.
On that note, I shall check out "Green Monkey Tales", there is a poignancy to your mention.
Be well and this comment will abruptly end!
Gary :)
Mark, have you written anything set in Ireland? I swear, I could *listen* to your accent all day! The way you tell stories is SO funny!
That was entertaining. :) Write Club is fantastic and I look forward to reading the entries. 56??? Umm...Mark, that's the oddest favorite number I've heard. Ever.
I didn't know you drank! All the Mormons I know here in Utah won't go near the stuff. You are a fascinating guy, Mark. I love the multi-facets you reveal.
I think you're a pretty calm guy. I have friends who were not arrested in Spain.
oh gosh. Sorry you were fired--but at least nobody got injured in the car accident.
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Thank you for the WRiTE CLUB mention! Year three is going to be EPIC!
And I'm a little like you...I love the ocean but really despise the sand. Dang stuff gets everywhere! :)
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