The Bad News and the AWESOME News

I can finally reveal to everyone both halves of the secret I have been bursting with for two days. Pardon my silence, but for one half, I was asked to keep it quiet, and for the other half, I didn't want to say anything until I was sure it was happening.

First, the bad news...I didn't win the Face of Fox Toledo competition. Congrats to Ashley, who I'm sure will do an awesome job. Naturally, I was bummed, but still, I know that I did as well as I could. I can walk away from the experience with my head held high, knowing I gave it everything I had.

And, as I've said, the amazing, awesome, unbelievable support I got from all you guys has made it all worthwhile. From everyone who supported me every step of the way, to those who posted links asking others to watch my video on Facebook (Abby, Lindsey, Christen) to those who watched my video countless times on their computer (Abby, Lindsey, Christen, Lia, Gretzinger, Caitlin, so many, if I'm forgetting anyone please let me know! :) ), I appreciate it all more than I could ever say. You guys are just incredible, and I love you so very much.

But now...the rest of the story.

After she told me I hadn't won, the Fox producer asked me if she could forward my contact information to the editor-in-chief of the Toledo Free Press, Michael Miller, who has been a judge in the contest from the beginning. It seems he took an interest in me from my first audition, and had a proposition for me. I said of course she could.

Mr. Miller called me later that afternoon, and he had me into his office for a meeting today. As soon as I walked in and saw action figures of Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Batman, Superman and others lined up behind his desk, I knew I was home.

I start writing a weekly arts/pop culture column for the Toledo Free Press later this month. I’ll also be conducting interviews for the paper’s website.

To say I’m thrilled is a gross understatement. As I stated to Mr. Miller during the interview this afternoon, he’s basically offering me my dream job. And I’m grabbing on with both hands and running with it.

This has been a remarkable, roller-coaster experience. Thank you guys once again for all the support - I could never have done it without you. But I think the real adventure has only just begun.

Excelsior! :)

Psst. Hey, Over Here.

I MADE THE FINALS OF THE FACE OF FOX TOLEDO COMPETITION!!!!!


The call came this morning, but I couldn't tell you guys until the list was posted this afternoon...there is actually a top 6, not 5, as Whitney Brownfield and Ashley Johncola both were awarded "co-fan favorite" status, but...I'm in!

Once again, none of this would have been possible without the amazing support and encouragement of you guys. I have the greatest friends in the universe. Much of what I say on this blog is opinion...that last sentence is FACT.

Thank you to everyone who watched my video, made a comment on the Fox page, expressed their enthusiasm, encouraged me, or anything. You all rock. Hard.

A special thanks to Abby, Lindsey and Christen for their incredible efforts on my behalf. I don't deserve you guys, but I am so happy you are my friends.

All right, time for the finals, and from here on I'm on my own. Last audition is Monday. Wish me luck! Fingers crossed!

Now LOOK What You Guys Have Done... :)

So, last Wednesday, the videos of the 14 finalists got posted on FoxToledo.com.

After 24 hours, the leader, Whitney Brownfield, had over 1,000 views.

I had 37. Thirty. Seven. That's less than two views an hour. To put it in pop culture terms, that's five less than the answer to the Ultimate Question, or the exact number of guys Veronica...um...well...in "Clerks."

Then, a couple of my closest friends sprung into action. Abby, whose support through this process has been invaluable, posted several notes in support of me on Thursday. Then Lindsey, my favoritest person in the world, posted several on Friday. Their fervor and support completely bowl me over, and I am incredibly lucky to have them both as friends.

By Friday, my number had gone up to 243. Over 200 more than the day before. Over the weekend, the counter did not update, so I didn't know until this morning what the views were like over the weekend.

And then, this morning, I saw this:

8. Jeff McGinnis - 1,454

Unbelievable.

To put this in perspective, Whitney, the leader, had nearly 6,000 votes on Friday. Today, she has a little over 6,500. Which means I had more views over the weekend than the contestant who has been the runaway leader in the web polling all along.

You guys are just awesome. I can never thank you all enough for all your support. To everyone who has watched one of my videos this weekend (or watched one a couple hundred times!) I am eternally grateful. I love you all so much.

And a special thanks to Abby and Lindsey, my two most vocal and hardcore supporters. I owe you two the biggest hugs ever when this is over.

BUT...it ain't over! We still got two more days, people! If you wanna watch my video, votes'll be counted until the 23rd at midnight! So head on over to FoxToledo.com (or, to borrow a phrase, Just You Click here: http://bit.ly/6Y67L)! The 5th place contestant is only 500 views away!

I love you all!!!!!

Ahem.

I made the Face of Fox Toledo Top 15! http://tiny.cc/Ddo7z

I got word this morning, but waited until the official list was posted before I announced it here.

Thank you all SO very much for your support, I love you! Wish me luck in the second round of auditions! :)

The Power of Social Media (to Make People Jump to Baseless Conclusions)

True story:

Bob Barker hosts Raw.

Bob does a good job, and people enjoy it.

People, thus, decide to talk about it on social sites like Twitter.

Enough people on Twitter talk about Bob that "Bob Barker" shows up in Twitter's "Trending Topics" sidebar.

Other people, seeing Bob Barker's name in the Trending Topics, jump to the logical conclusion: He must have died.

Now even more folks on Twitter are talking about Bob, asking if he's passed away, and more people correcting them. This leads to Bob's name getting even higher on the list, more people asking, and the cycle repeats itself.

It gets to the point that some news sources actually have to run a full fledged story confirming that no, Bob Barker's not dead.

That's right...

Unh!
Bob Barker's not deeeeeaaaad...
I'm so glad Bob Barker's not dead.
Bob Barker's not deeeeeaaaad...
I'm so glad Bob Barker's not dead.
Bob Barker's not deeeeeaaaad...
I'm so glad Bob Barker's not

Just the claps! Just. The. Claps.

An Admittedly Imperfect Analogy

Two men. One in a lifeboat, one in the sea.

The man in the sea says, "Help me! Please!"

The man in the lifeboat says, "Why? I had the foresight and ability to procure a lifeboat. You didn't. Why should I save you and cost myself energy, time, and a portion of my supplies? Frankly, your laziness and lack of personal responsibility disgusts me."

"But I'll drown," the man in the sea says.

"As far as I'm concerned, what happens to you is none of my business," the man in the boat says.

He turns and rows away.


That's what the debate really means to me. Are we, as a nation, willing to offer a helping hand to those who need it? I hope so.

If Real Life Was More Like Wrestling...

-There would be a five-day waiting period to buy a folding chair.

-You could leave your workplace whenever you liked, as long as you were back inside before a count of ten.

-All interviews on CNN would begin, "Well, you know something, Mean Gene?!?!?"

-The IRS would recognize "Parts Unknown" as a legal residence.

-Whenever you walked into any building, your theme music would start to play.

-The most common injury at hospitals nationwide would be, "Mysterious cut on forehead."

-You could break any law you wanted to, as long as the referee didn't see you.

-Lou Dobbs would complain about all these Luchadors taking jobs from good old AMERICAN high-flyers.

-Vince McMahon would re-write history and claim HE wrote the Declaration of Independence.

-Furniture stores would rate tables based on style, color, construction and "breakability."

-It would be forbidden by law for any woman to wear a garment that came within a foot of her neck.

-You could walk into a convenience store wearing a mask and no one would call the cops.

-Spandex sales? Through the roof.

-The guy in the rainbow wig at basketball games would have a sign reading "AUSTIN 3:16."

-All the major events of your life would be on pay-per-view.

-Mickey Rourke would have won the Oscar, dammit.

-Face paint wouldn't just be for Halloween and tailgating anymore.

-Andre the Giant wouldn't just have a posse, he'd have a FRIGGIN' ARMY.

-The Super Bowl would be referred to as, "That game that happens the week after the Royal Rumble."

-All conversations would begin with a collar and elbow tie-up.

-All Japanese immigrants would be required to learn how to spit green mist.

-When you "retired," you'd be expected back at work a few weeks later.

-You couldn't drink bottled water without spitting it dramatically in the air and posing.

More as I think of them... :)