It's been years since I've been "tagged" in a meme, and that's a bummer because I do love a meme. It's like Mad Libs for Bloggers. Prefab content you customize. Loves it.

So, thank you Brian Branca, for tagging me! This meme requires you to post seven things about yourself that others might not know. Here I go:

1. I was a Research Assistant in the British House of Commons. I worked for Tory MP Piers Merchant. During one of the IRA bomb scares there at that time, I was sheltered in 1 Parliment St., provided a phone to call my parents overseas to let them know about the situation and shown what to do in the event of an explosion. I was 20 ys old.
   
2. I was on MTV's "Choose or Lose" in the 90's. Al Gore was the candidate/guest. During a commercial break, I was able to get Gore's attention. He came over to me and asked me if I wanted to be a politician. I said no and he told me I should consider it because I had a knack getting myself noticed. He also autographed my copy of his book.
3. I was afraid of men with beards and booming voices when I was a child.
   
4. I was removed from a car by the jaws of life after a bad accident in high School.
   
5. For most of my childhood, I wanted to be an archeologist when I grew up. My favorite book as a child was a book my parents bought for me in the museum shop at University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology after we saw the mummy exhibit. I was 6 or 7, too young to be able to read or understand all of the adult text, but I pored over the book for years.
   
6. Michael Jackson invited me to meet him/take my photo with him when I was 11 (it was "Victory Tour"). In a private event prior to his show at the VET, my family was baffled when I refused the offer to meet him with no explanation why, because I couldn't find words to explain that he freaked me out. I've since learned to trust my instincts.
   
7. When I was a child, I swallowed a purple litebright peg. I'd hoped that once inside of me, it would light up my tummy like it lit up the screen. I'm still disappointed that it didn't work.

And now I have to tag 5 other bloggers that I'd like to respond to this meme. I choose:

Valeria Maltoni
Scott McNulty
Dave Parmet
Beth Harte
Leah Jones

(Sorry if any of you have done this meme before.)

No time for blogging. This should explain everything:

Charlie Brown Ad Agency

This post details two important causes that you can help support just by using social media:

The first, is a project that my friend Geoff Livingston's agency is working on. Here's what Geoff says about it on his blog:

The Save Darfur Coalition’s "Be A Voice For Darfur" postcard campaign seeks to ensure that Darfur is a top priority for the Obama Administration. Obama has already promised “unstinting resolve” to end the Darfur Genocide. The effort, which aims for no less than 1 million postcards to be emailed, blogged and snail-mailed to President-elect Obama within his first 100 days in office.

The hottest part is the unveiling of a petition application developed in conjunction with Facebook Causes. Other social media components include an influencer relations campaign, and a Darfur Blogger Toolkit with videos, photos, and other resources at http://www.addyourvoice.org/pages/blogger_toolkit.

So please, send a postcard and help encourage the new President to keep his promise to Darfur.

This next cause is a charity that is close to my heart, The Salvation Army. Growing up, my mom always had us donate our outgrown clothing to The Salvation Army. Years later, in college, I enjoyed the spoils of The Salvation Army, when I started vintage shopping there.

But what brought The Salvation Army deep into my heart, was when they helped me and other NYCer's through the terrorist attacks on September 11th. Like many, many other people, I was the immediate on-site family friend filing missing reports for several friends who were killed in the WTC. Those first 24-hrs after the attacks in Manhattan, were darker and more heartbreaking than words can describe, but The Salvation Army was there for us. The news was bleak even in the first 24 hrs, but The Salvation Army was there with blankets, hot chocolate and food - the only warmth we had going through a grueling and cold time. I will never forget their smiles and their unconditional kindness.

So, do a little more for The Salvation Army this year, by starting your own online Red Kettle. I know times are tough, but if we all give a little, it will mean a lot.