Just a short post today to bring attention to and thank a fellow blogger friend/guy/writer. Mike at Roam About Mike. He’s a talented writer who actually does that (write) for a living and he had this contest a few weeks ago.
Mike said I didn’t have to write about it, but I’m going to anyway. He held this contest whereby his followers/readers could win some sweet swag if they’d comment. I love free stuff and am very competitive so I was the first one to comment. The winning was done very scientifically — his partner/girlfriend pulled my name out of what I’m guessing was Mike’s well-worn baseball cap.
I received a box in the mail two days ago and it had a mixture of the delightful and the ridiculous (two things that describe him):
A massive poster of Chachi, Scott Baio. Now Joanie Brigitte loves Chachi. Chachi is in the closet with my printer, in my office so I see him each time I retrieve something I print out:
Chachi, my closet boyfriend. I love that shirt with the plaid insets.
A media piece/card from when Mike was a young model. This is a very rare piece of his history as Mike told me in his nice note and one that he says is a big joke around the “Roam About Mike” household. Who knew? Obviously, he was saying this:
Yeah, you are Mike.
A cup with a big truck on it and seriously, who doesn’t need another coffee cup? I’m having my java in it now.
And a copy of a publication, Ghost Town, where one of the writers is Mike. 
He tells the true story of his visit to Seward, Alaska. It’s filled with colorful and interesting characters and a mention of a possible ghost. He and his girlfriend, Marti, stayed in the room of the only place that was open in the frigid, frozen town. A jealous lover murdered a woman in that room. Mike’s writing, like his posts, are hugely entertaining and well-crafted with personal anecdotes and some serious funny.
Thanks, Mike. He hinted at having another contest soon, once he reaches 1,000 followers which I suspect will be soon. Go visit him, (the guy’s been to all fifty states by the time he was 30) and he now travels to exotic places all over the world. He is hilarious.
But as you can see from the boy-toy pics, if that whole successful, traveling writer thing doesn’t work out, he can always revisit the modeling thing. With the right representation (Mike, I’m good at that) and synthesizers, I can see him with some other guys singing about bringing sexy back.
Thanks everyone who reads and makes time to comment on my blog — you guys are definitely “my friends” and you most definitely help me, curiously just when I need it the most — thank you.
Now enjoy some Joe Cocker.
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Photo creds: friends
Brigitte's Banter 
You are too awesome, Brigitte. Thank you.
As to the modeling pics….that was a very, very long time ago. I look really hungry in those pics, and emo.
Posted by mabukach | August 30, 2012, 9:55 amYou’re so welcome, Mike. Those pics are great! We all have those kind of things in our scrapbooks (not everyone to THAT extent) but you know what I mean. You do look hungry — hungry for youth-filled angst and all that. :).
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 11:09 ami love to show all of my girlfriends the modeling photos 🙂 so glad you liked all the awesome stuff!
Posted by martibabcock | August 30, 2012, 10:00 amMarti, I bet you do! And I’m sure you had a hand in all this, so thank you. Strangely, my hubby looks a bit like Chachi when I look at pics of him when he was 19 or so. Ummmm….
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 11:11 amCongratulations! And what a great prize 🙂
Xx
Posted by Vikki (The View Outside) | August 30, 2012, 10:03 amThanks, Vikki. It was fun. You should check out Mike’s blog.
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 11:11 amWill do honey 🙂
Xx
Posted by Vikki (The View Outside) | August 30, 2012, 5:58 pmBrigitte, I checked out Mike’s site. OH, he is funny. Witty. And what FAB prizes!! T. (Theadora also loves Chachi.)
Posted by Theadora | August 30, 2012, 10:15 amHi T, yeah he is and he travels all over which is cool as well. Chachi is the best! ;). Thanks, Theodora, always nice to see you here.
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 11:12 amWho doesn’t love Chachi, or Mike?
Posted by Fish Out of Water | August 30, 2012, 11:20 amObviously, you and I have stellar taste in men and bloggers.
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 11:22 amAww shucks….I should see what Baio’s up to these days, maybe I can write a Charles in Charge remake.
Posted by mabukach | August 30, 2012, 12:30 pmNow, that would be funny. Do it please!
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 12:38 pmIf that would have been a Parker Stevenson poster, I would be dying in envy over here. When I was young, I was convinced I would marry him. I didn’t, just in case you were wondering…
Posted by Carrie Rubin | August 30, 2012, 11:24 amCarrie, I LOVED Parker. He was so cute. But Chachi…he had that swagger that the Fonz just didn’t.
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 11:26 amOh, the Fonz. Now that brings back memories. Not that I’m old enough ever to have watched the show. 😉
Posted by Carrie Rubin | August 30, 2012, 11:30 amI am. And Chachi (Charles) is always in Charge. I like a man who does that. Don’t worry your Parker passion secret is safe with me. ;).
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 12:40 pmMaybe that’s for the best. He was married to Kirstie Alley, and look what happened to her.
Posted by Smaktakula | September 2, 2012, 7:17 pmHa ha!! Very true. Then again, she IS rich, and I bet if she wanted to get a book published, one of those big boy New York houses would snatch her right up. So, I guess she got the last laugh, anyway.
Posted by Carrie Rubin | September 2, 2012, 7:41 pmThanks for sharing Chachi!
Posted by on thehomefrontandbeyond | August 30, 2012, 1:05 pmI love me some Chachi, although in that pic, he looks about 14. I think people start looking younger the older you get, know what I mean? Still, the cross necklace he’s wearing is soooooo sexy. HAAAAA
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 1:07 pmyeah, but we were 14 back then, weren’t we? Actually you were probably quite a bit younger, and I was older–but I will never admit to it
Posted by on thehomefrontandbeyond | August 30, 2012, 1:09 pmHe’s still a cutie though, don’t you think? 😉
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 1:11 pmI most definitely do – just because I am bordering on old does not mean I am dead.
Posted by on thehomefrontandbeyond | August 30, 2012, 1:18 pmI’ve been hearing some great things about this Mike character for awhile now. Followed!
Posted by The Waiting | August 30, 2012, 5:07 pmYay! You’ll have lots of laughs. He’s good people.
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 6:13 pmNow that is what I call swag. The cup with the truck is too good to be true. You must have been thrilled when you opened it! haha! Sounds like Mike is a cool cat. Time for me to check him out.
Congrats, Brig!
Posted by A Gripping Life | August 30, 2012, 5:29 pmThe fact that he had a goofy contest, then took the time to box everything up and send me a HANDWRITTEN note, well, that’s just NICE. And shows character. I’ve been a follower of his for quite some time and he’s a good writer plus he’s funny. All good things. Hope you’ll check him out, Lisa. Thanks!
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 6:15 pmIt looks like a fun blog, and that was a cool contest to have. Chachi there brings back memories, even though I wasn’t into him like some of my friends were. But that poster’s still a great blast from the past. 😉
Posted by jmmcdowell | August 30, 2012, 8:00 pmIt is and thanks for taking the time to comment, J.
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 8:17 pmi feckin’ love mike. and from everything i’ve read on his blog, all of that swag is hilariously accurate. and hey, briges, something’s up with your comment link. meaning the link when you leave a comment is now going to your gravatar and not your blog, at least on my site. check that out ’cause it’s a good way to keep traffic coming. i had to dig to find an old link to your blog. odd, but true. xo, sm
Posted by sweetmother | August 30, 2012, 8:21 pmwhat, what, what??? I was curious as to why I wasn’t getting comments on my honor to Mike when you see I’ve had big comments from others. That makes me sad, so I guess I’ll take it up with WordPress. Cause you and I know how magnificent and funny Mike is. And kind.
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 8:25 pma totally awesome dude. it must be something in your personal settings, i think. see if you can go to one of your comments on my blog and see if it clicks back to yours. when i click on it, it goes to your gravatar page and there’s no brigitte’s banter link on there… i don’t know i can be a tech dummy sometimes, but i’m pretty sure it no worky… lool.
Posted by sweetmother | August 30, 2012, 8:28 pmThis is great.. I like RAM too and wish i had of commented first that day.. Those are some pretty snazzy gifts you got 🙂
Posted by free penny press | August 30, 2012, 9:27 pmRAM? say what? You and I are southern girls, so I must be dense! Lynne, are you talking about REM? Yes, Mike is good about sending gifts. I hope you’ll check him out. I’m so sorry, I don’t get the RAM thing….much love. xxoo
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 9:39 pmOh, you mean Roam About Mike. duh. Sorry!
Posted by Brigitte | August 30, 2012, 9:41 pmLOL..RAM=Roam about Mike 🙂
Posted by free penny press | August 31, 2012, 6:17 amyeah, I replied earlier feeling pretty silly. I spend way too long at this computer sometimes, for work and for blog play. Way too long. Thanks, Lynne!
Posted by Brigitte | August 31, 2012, 10:15 amWhat fun prizes! Your closet boyfriend reminds me of a inner cupboard door my mom used to tape pictures of hot guys on (maybe she was in a midlife crisis). It always made me laugh.
Posted by char | August 31, 2012, 12:43 amYes they were. It’s fun and most definitely not a mid-life crisis. ;). Thanks, Char.
Posted by Brigitte | August 31, 2012, 10:13 amLovely post. Thanks for the suggestion of Roam around Mike, which I have taken up only minutes ago 🙂 x
Posted by manty67 | August 31, 2012, 1:32 amThanks! Hope you’ll enjoy!
Posted by Brigitte | August 31, 2012, 10:14 amWhat a delightful set of prizes, Brigitte! I want a big truck mug 😦 I will check out Mike’s blog and thanks for the referral. Very fun post!
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Ulrich | August 31, 2012, 9:07 amHi Cathy, yeah I thought they were a hoot. And you’re welcome. Always nice to see you here.
Posted by Brigitte | August 31, 2012, 10:16 amDear Brig,
I am jealous.
Cha chi?
He was one hot potato.
I loved this fun loving post.
THIS is what blogging is all about.
🙂
Love, LIs
xoox
Posted by Carr Party of Five | August 31, 2012, 5:53 pmHi Lis, thank you. Glad you liked the post. The blogging thing is supposed to be fun. If it’s not, what’s the point right? Thanks, you’re always so nice. I love nice, don’t you? take care, friend. xxoo
Posted by Brigitte | August 31, 2012, 7:32 pmDear B,
Yes.
I like nice.
♥♥♥
Love,
L
xoox
Posted by Carr Party of Five | August 31, 2012, 9:48 pmCongratulations on winning the Scott Baio poster. After college, we had this sweet Magnum PI full length towel that he hung on the wall as artwork. Sadly, my roommate got it when we went our separate ways.
I still have my velvet Elvis hanging in my office, though. No foolin’.
Posted by Smaktakula | September 2, 2012, 7:19 pmHey Smak, yes it was indeed an honor. Bummer! Who wouldn’t want a full-length towel of Magnum P.I. with that sweet mustache and piercing eyes. You probably could’ve gotten some serious bucks off Ebay for that nice piece of terry cloth. Velvet Elvis! Your credibility with me just went up. 😉
Posted by Brigitte | September 2, 2012, 8:21 pm