Wednesday, February 4, 2009

I'm Here For You

I do a lot of talking about myself here on Murphblog. There are many reasons for this, the only one worth sharing being that it's my blog and I like to write about what I know and love. I also like to write about awesome things. But enough about me. This post is about you. See, there comes a time when even award winning bloggers need to give back to their rabid devotees. So today I bring you the following:

  • Links to blogs written by my "followers" (I've picked some favorite posts)
  • A "get your book published" contest here in Michigan that you probably won't want to enter.
  • A poem about grandpa farts
  • A picture from my Photobucket account
  • A chance to win 10 packs of grape Kool-Aid (sugar not included)
I have eight official followers, so here are awesome things they've posted on their blogs:

Carrie--you can't go wrong with John Lovitz, lightning struck horses, and gambling on piranhas
Tracy--As a fellow teacher, I couldn't agree more with his reasons, especially the long breaks
Lily Cate--I like this one based on the title alone
Kelly--One of those "things about me" lists, but noteworthy because of its honesty. Kelly tells us 'My husband and I had a pretend puppy when we were first married, because we couldn’t have a real one yet in our apartment.' I admire people who are willing to embarrass themselves for the sake of their blogs.
Big Plain V--Ben nails Twilight in this post and I like to read things I agree with. Plus, there's a pie chart.
Linda--because it's about one of my favorite authors and his book and also because I disagree with her and I like to read things I disagree with (like how I did that there?)
Monica--this is good because it means Monica spends a lot more time reading my blog than she does updating her own. The world needs more readers.
Murph--this should come as a surprise to exactly no one.

PUBLISHING CONTEST

MEMSPA, which is not an organization of really smart people, but is instead comprised of Michigan school principals (and yes, I know exactly how that sounds) is sponsoring a contest for "aspiring children's authors." You can read the details here if you're interested, but there are two drawbacks I can see. One, you have to drop 40 bucks to send in your manny and two, the prize is you get your book published, but it says nothing about being awarded a publishing contract and those are two very different things. (The different things being one involves payment and the other may not.) But if you're desperate (like me) to see your name in print, I don't imagine they'll get a ton of submissions, so you might have a shot.


And now for what you've all been waiting for...


GRANDPA'S FORTS

My grandpa says he forted,

But we all know what he means.

It happens almost every time

Grandma bakes her beans.

After he admits it,

Grandma rolls her eyes.

“Better out than in,” he says,

And then my grandma sighs.

I always feel like laughing,

But I try to hold it in.

And that’s when Grandpa smiles at me,

And then he forts again.



"When the Wine is Gone"



And finally, for your chance to win the Kool-Aid, guess the name of my cat. Hint: the name is also a 1980s movie character. Contest only open to rabid devotees, although I will look the other way if you become a "follower" just so you can win (and really, why wouldn't you? I mean, you can win $1.00 worth of grape Kool-Aid!)

You: Why did you make this contest so hard? I mean, there were thousands of awesome movie characters in the 1980s and lots of them would make a great name for a cat (like Chunk from The Goonies, for example. Wow, funny link there, Murph.)

Me: Because I already bought the Kool-Aid. And I really like grape Kool-Aid.


Good luck. And, you're welcome.





18 comments:

Anita said...

OK, after your MEMSPA description, I HAD to follow your blog.

Anita said...

P.S. My guess for the cat name is Marty McFly.

I'm so glad it was an 80s movie, because I've seen so very few movies since then.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

You can't fool me, Anita. Your following is all about the grape Kool-Aid.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

And no, not Marty McFly. But now that you mention it, it should have been Marty McFly. I love Back to the Future.

Feel free to guess again.

Anita said...

These are my last guesses. And my family could totally use the Kool-aid, so if you're thinking about renaming the cat, this might be a good time.

E.T.
Goose
Indiana Jones
Fredy Krueger
Ferris Bueler
Rumpelstiltskin

LindaBudz said...

Wow, I was totally going to guess Marty McFly! Weird.

OK, my revised guess: Ferris Beuller.

Monica said...

Never have i been more honoured for doing nothing.

Carrie Harris said...

I love grape Kool-Aid. So here are my guesses:

Igon.
Fletch.
Lloyd Dobler.

Lily Cate said...

Thanks for the shout out!
That might me my first real, honest to goodness link.

And I think your cat's name is Snake Plisskin.

Is it just grape Kool Aid? or is is Purplesaurus Rex? Also, Sharkleberry Finn was quite tasty.

Anita said...

Linda:

I also guessed Ferris Bueler, but you and I used different spellings. If that is indeed the feline's name, we'll have to sequester vet records and see how Mr. Murphy spells it. Or maybe we should request that we both get some Kool-aid. Yeah, that's a better idea.

Paul Michael Murphy said...

Although you've all guessed a ton of characters that would indeed be excellent names for my cat, we still have no winner. Feel free to keep guessing.

Kelly Polark said...

I had to laugh at Carrie's answer Fletch because my husband suggested that for one of our children! And he would be mortified that the pretend puppy story was on two blogs now...:0)
Guess one: Ducky (from Pretty in Pink)I just watched 2 1/2 Men yesterday...with Jon Cryer.
Guess Two: Pee Wee (I just made my kids watch Pee Wee's Big Adventure)
Guess Three: Ponyboy (from the Outsiders) one of my fave 80s movies

Paul Michael Murphy said...

New hint: the 1980s movie character is not a human.

Unknown said...

Fort-Monster

LindaBudz said...

Ah, well, now you've gone and made it too easy. It has to be Flitter Bit, from one of the Strawberry Shortcake movies.

Anita, if you guess Flitter Bit, I'll be more than a little freaked. Are you by any chance a Virgo?

Anita said...

Linda: Nope, wasn't guessing Flitter Bit. I think I'm giving up. The cat's name should be Marty McFly.

I am a Gemini.

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing Heathcliff. Okay, not technically a movie star, but he is a cat, I'm pretty sure his cartoon was on in the eighties, and I always kinda dug the poor man's Garfield thing he had going on.

Ben

www.benjaminesch.com

Anonymous said...

I think everyone needs a hint... Wheel of Fortune style.

Cat's name = _i_m_



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