It is official: I am the Grand Prize Winner of Microsoft Office’s Winter Games Contest!
To illustrate just how shocking this is, my odds of winning were equal unto how likely it would be to travel to France for a wedding, get lost and in a car accident, ultimately missing Said Wedding.
And now I can say I’ve done both in one lifetime.
In case you have been out of the loop, I entered the contest to blog at the 2010 Winter Games for Microsoft Office on a whim after reading about it on Twitter. I filled out the lengthy application, submitted two writing samples and wrote an essay about why I should be selected.
And then forgot about it. I mean, this is me (a.k.a. Queen of Murphy’s Law) we’re talking about. I really didn’t think I had a chance.
Much to my amazement, I was notified mid-November that I was 1 of 5 semi-finalists in the nationwide contest. The last two weeks of the month were a stressful blur as I asked pandered for public votes (thank you to my wonderful supporters!) The top three would move on to the finals and Microsoft Office would ultimately make the selection.
And then I waited.
And waited some more.
Notification deadlines were missed as Microsoft Office reps worked out back-end logistics. I lost sleep and may have had a moody outburst (or 20).
Until the blessed call came. My husband Jamie was standing near the phone and commented that the caller was from Milwaukee, the venue of one of Microsoft’s PR companies.
Jamie passed the phone over to me and then I heard the blessed words: “Amber, you have been selected as our Grand Prize winner!”
This include round-trip airfare to Vancouver, a Vancouver Games press pass, nine nights hotel accommodations and a daily stipend to cover transportation and incidentals. I will be blogging here and at Microsoft’s Web site with an Acer Aspire 4810 Timeline laptop computer using Microsoft Office 2010 software.
All this for me–the woman who has never won anything.
I yelled, screamed and jumped around relishing in this ultimate taste of victory.
My children dubiously looked at me. Three-year-old Bode finally spoke: “Mommy, I CAN’T HEAR THE TV!”
In February, he’ll be hearing me all the way from Vancouver.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 