Alright, this is the last post of the day – I swear! I just saw this contest on The Wired Kayaker and I would really like to win it. And of course, the deadline to enter is the 15th. Considering the fact that tomorrow is Graduation I kind of doubt I’ll get the chance to get over here and blog it in time.

Drew (BenSpark.com) has teamed up with Mad Gringo (you might remember me blogging about them a while back) to hold this giveaway contest. All you have to do to enter is make a blog post (like I’m doing right now) explaining why you deserve to win and embed this video into your post:

Pick a shirt or sarong you would like to win and provide a link to it and then comment on the contest post to let Drew know you’ve entered. Voila! It’s that simple. The prizes are pretty sweet too:

• 1st Place winner will win your choice of a Mad Gringo Hawaiian Shirt or Sarong and the Mad Gringo himself said throw in a White Mad Gringo T-shirt as well for first prize.
• 2nd Place winner will win a Mad Gringo Floppy Beach Hat or Caribbean Golf Hat in your choice of color. And the Mad Gringo himself said throw in a White Mad Gringo T-shirt as well for second prize.
• 3rd Place winner will win a Mad Gringo T-Shirt in your choice of color.

I’d like to win the first prize, who wouldn’t, but really I’d be happy to win any of the prizes because Mad Gringo’s merchandise just rocks. Especially their logo. I love that pineapple! If I won, I would love to own Mad Gringo’s Inky Fishmonger Hawaiian Shirt it’s very cool and definately a shirt I could see myself wearing as often as possible.

The philosophy of the folks at Mad Gringo is to “go slow”. We’re all always rushing around, stressing out, and working our butts off daily and every once in a while we need to kick back, turn off the cellphone and pager, put our feet up and just say don’t bother me, I’m on vacation. Believe me, I can completely understand that feeling. I still vividly recall the horror and shock at discovering the streak of gray hair in my bangs and the acne breakout the morning after my last final. Talk about a rude wakeup call! But that just showed how much stress I was undergoing in order to make sure I passed my Anthropology 355 class so that I could graduate with both of my Minors. Honestly, after having one major exam on Friday and then going into my final exam for that same class that following Monday, it’s not surprising I was stressed out. Especially when you add in the fact that I essentially had only one day to study for it since I had a final on Saturday in one class and another class that same day plus I had to go in to work as well. Really it’s a wonder I didn’t flip out and go on a homicidal killing spree to relieve some stress. Although, yeah, I did panic and I did start to cry when I thought I had failed everything.

So after the stress, after giving in and participating in the graduation ceremony as my mother wanted, I think I have more than fully earned a little vacation time for myself. I put in over four years of serious studying and hard work to earn my degree while at the same time busting my butt to pay the bills. So come December 16th please vote for me on the Wired Kayaker so that I might have some Mad Gringo swag to accompany my vacation time and help me to go slow.