I have won a handful of awards over the years, which hang from my office walls like framed monuments to potential and vanity. As a young sports reporter, I was given the Cornell University Media Award, mostly because I was just about the only guy who covered Cornell sports. But it’s a nice plaque. I also won something called a “Best of Gannett” award for a series of stories I produced about the debate over Native American nicknames in sports. That was from the Gannett Corporation, based in Washington, D.C., where the Redskins play. I believe they call that irony.

From the beginning, I have enjoyed freelancing for Cornell Alumni Magazine, which has been honored as the nation’s finest college alumni publication. A few of my features for CAM have earned me recognition from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). In 1999, a story I wrote called “Searching for 4.3” (a tongue-in-cheek pursuit of the perfect student) was awarded a Grand Gold Medal as best article of the year. Of course, I never actually received a gold medal… let alone a grand.

Also in 1999, publisher John F. Blair submitted my first travel narrative, States of Mind, for consideration for a Pulitzer Prize, which sounds impressive until I discovered that you can nominate a grocery list for a Pulitzer. However, it did win an IPPY Award as one of the ten outstanding books of the year, as chosen by Independent Publisher magazine. Specifically, it won for “Best Concept,” which is a bit like winning an Academy Award for “Best Costume.” But I’ll take it.

Speaking of the movies, I co-wrote (with L.A.-based producer/director Brian Adler) one full-length feature film script, a clever comedy called Spin Art in which Hollywood’s bottom-feeders stick it to the movie moguls. It was a finalist in the Monterey County Film Commission Screenwriting Contest and got some buzz in the biz. Then deafening silence. Then, in 2003, a movie – “New Suit” – came out with an eerily similar premise and story. Welcome to Hollywood.

Oh, and in 2006 the RV Industry Association honored Amy and me with the Spirit of America Award. Matthew McConaughey won it the next year – yet another thing he and I have in common.