By

Michele L. Tune

Just popping in to share a contest with you….

Head on over to AnyLuckyDay.com for your chance at winning a Flip Ultra Video Camcorder! It’s simple. All you have to do is comment on the Flip Ultra Video Camcorder Contest post and that gets you one entry. You can also follow @anyluckyday and tweet about the contest if you’re on Twitter and for another entry, post about the contest on your blog.

From Any Lucky Day’s site, here’s the rules:

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How to Enter:

• YOU MUST visit Flip Video and check out their website. They are providing you with this awesome opportunity to win a camcorder!

• You must make one (1) comment on this post in order to qualify. If you do not do this, your other entries will not count

• If you have a blog, posting about this contest will earn you another entry. Make a post that links back to this page to earn another entry. Contact me with the link to your blog so I can give you another entry.

• If you are on Twitter, simply Follow Me, then tweet this message: “I just entered to win a Flip Ultra Camcorder from AnyLuckyDay.com. You can win by following @anyluckyday and RT http://tinyurl.com/csfuch”. Once you’ve done this, let me know you tweeted the message so I can give you another entry.

In total, you can receive 3 entries in this contest. You must comment on this post first or else the other 2 entries will not count.

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NOTE: A special thanks to Matt over at SmallBizBee.com for letting us know about Any Lucky Day in the first place!

Perhaps you’re wondering where I’ve been, what I’ve been up to, and why the cyber highway has been so quit and lonely lately. Come on over, I’ll let you in on a little secret.

By

Michele L. Tune

Hope you’ve been having a fantabulous weekend! Here’s a few fun facts you may not know about me. Enjoy!

Thanks to Steve, over at My Wife QUIT Her Job, I’ve decided to share 25 random things you don’t know about me. (I can’t forget Angie from Freedom Freelance. She recently tagged me for a meme requesting I share 7 things about myself–hopefully she’ll think 25 is even better!)

1. I know you don’t know this: My Mom named me after Michelle Lee (from Knots Landing)–only she chose Michele with one “L” and spelled my middle name differently. Can you guess how she spelled “Lee” in my name?
2. I lived in California when I was a kid, from the time I was 2 until I was 4 (although I have no memories of it). That’s a shame, considering I supposedly got to go to the beach and play in the ocean all the time.
3. My favorite place to go (according to my parents) was Der Wienersnitchel — a cool place that sold hot dogs. That’s hilarious, ’cause now I wouldn’t eat a hot dog for a million dollars! Oh, and Mom and Dad still laugh at how I tried to pronounce the name. Every time I said it, they knew where I wanted to go though.
4. When I was in the 2nd grade, my teacher told me I’d be a writer when I grew up. When I asked her why I wrote so much, she replied: “It’s because you have so much to say you can’t say it all, you have to write a bunch of it down.” She was right; I’m a writer–although I wonder some days if I’ve really grown up.
5. I attended both public and private schools growing up. Both experiences were totally different. While I missed my friends from public school, and had some issues with my experiences at the academy, I do have warm memories I’ll always cherish. (And, yes, I had to wear a uniform: tan skirt, white oxford shirt, navy blue vest, panty hose, closed shoes [meaning no open toes/heels]–go ahead and laugh. I’ll wait.)
6. Spelling and English were my two favorite subjects in school. I always made 100% on my spelling tests and my teachers were always pleased with my enthusiasm–and talent–for writing essays and doing book reports. While other kids cringed, I jumped for joy.
7. P.E. was my least-favorite part of school. Well, that and the bullies!
8. I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. I never became a Cadette, though, because I left public school and went to private (see above).
9. My parents paid for professional swimming lessons–I still can’t swim and don’t like to be in the water! (Sorry Mom and Dad.)
10. I almost flunked Home Ec. Why? ‘Cause I loved eating the cookie dough.
11. My grandma always wore shawls in cool weather–with panty hose and white sandals. I wanted to be just like her, so I insisted my parents buy me the same exact shawls and sandals–I was her shadow and I looked the part, too!
12. When I was in 5th grade, my teacher asked us to write an essay starting with: If I were a turkey on Thanksgiving Day... He gave me an A+ and proudly put it on the bulletin board out in the hallway for everyone to enjoy–I’ll never forget that achievement! However, I’m convinced someone morphed my words and ideas into the movie Babe. Seriously!
13. Judy Blume was one of my favorite authors. I read Blubber, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, and so many others. I loved her! I dreamed of having my name on the cover of books someday, just like her–I’m on my way! Wahoo!
14. Some shows I loved were: Charlotte’s Web, Reading Rainbow, The Patty Duke Show, Mork & Mindy, Different Strokes, Laverne & Shirley, I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch (I still remember the entire theme song!), The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, The A-Team (gotta love Mr. T!), Silver Spoons (Rick Schroeder, anyone?)–ah, those were the days, eh?!
15. As a kid, I went to see Tojo Yamamoto. Can any of you tell me who he was–without a Google search?
16. Growing up, I was one of the few children in a neighborhood made up mostly of elderly folks. I had lots of grandmas and grandpas and I loved every minute of it. They’d spoil me with special baskets on the holidays filled with freshly-baked cookies, old-fashioned candies (that they remembered and loved from their youth) and other goodies. I’ll never forget those baskets–or those special people who loved me like I was their own granddaughter. It’s a huge reason I’ve always loved making baskets filled with homemade goodies and taking them to nursing homes, shut-ins, the sick, or any elderly person I adopt.
17. I sing. Not all of you know that I sing. I have since I was a little girl. Surprise: I’m working on another website and will eventually have both audio and video of me singing up there. It might be a little while, as I’m doing it in my spare time. I’ll let ya know when it’s up.
18. I have the uncanny ability to turn (most) extremely stressful situations into bearable moments by finding humor or the silver lining right away. Not everyone appreciates my enthusiasm, but I try…
19. When I was obese (near 300 pounds), I went to a doctor and he accused me of going to the all-you-can-eat buffet every single day (like I could afford that?!) and he ticked me off–I lost over 100 pounds. Anger is a good thing when focused in the right direction.
20. I’m blessed with empathy. I not only have compassion for people going through crisis or any trouble or pain, I am overwhelmed with empathetic feelings and always do my best to comfort the person/people any way I can. I don’t take this gift lightly, and I feel it truly is that: a gift.
21. I fantasize about sitting on a porch/deck in Hawaii and writing as the sweet scent of Plumeria wafts with a gentle breeze for my enjoyment. Oh, and I’m sipping herbal tea. And since I’m dreaming here, I’m eating a ginormous piece of German chocolate cake–which just happens to be my favorite.
22. My favorite color is pink. Always has been. I love pink clothes, pink flowers, pink office supplies…
23. Another fantasy I have is to win a shopping spree in an office supply store. Oh, my! I know, I’m a sad, odd gal. I’d be a happy odd gal if that happened, though!
24. At this point, I really don’t want to travel the world or anything, but if I ever get to New York, the first place I want to visit is the library. Yes, I’m serious. When I was in college, my Speech Instructor told me she was astounded when she walked in the door. She said as far as you can see bookshelves spiral up, up, up. That is so intriguing to me! (What, I’m a writerly kind of gal.)
25. Something I’ve always wanted (since I was a young girl)… a classic Mustang: candy apple red, black leather interior, with a black convertible top. My favorite styles are the Mustang GT Coupe and the Mustang GT convertible. I don’t like the Shelby–or the late 60/70 body styles. Only the 64 1/2 and 65-66 body styles appeal to me.

Whew! I never thought I’d think up 25 things about myself–this is hard! So, there you have it. I’m assuming most of you didn’t know these 25 things about me.

What about you? Have you done this meme? Do you always share stuff like this with your readers? Share your thoughts and 25 things links with us in the comments!

Be sure to subscribe to Writing the Cyber Highway’s Feed or by email, so you won’t miss upcoming posts and updates. Look for news from my own writing life, as well as interviews with amazing and inspiring folks. I’ll even be sharing the links to my mom’s  new website and blog!