Nicknames: Mike, Michi Mike, Tide Man (called that by campers for wearing a fluorescent orange hat at camp)
Date of Birth: 12-08-59
Parents: Dave & Joanne Emerson
Sibs: Diane (39), Bob (38), Debby (37) and Thom (35)
School: Graduated from Berrien Springs High School, Berrien Springs, MI in 1978
Attended, but did not graduate from, University of Michigan from 1978 to 1982. Was in School of Natural Resources
Best friends: My wife Karen: Locally: John & Karen Koller, Rennie & Karen Bacon, Carter & Michelle Newell, Jim & Jeanne Wing, Jeff & Cheryl Garr
Online: So many, but some of my best friends are Kenbra Atkinson, Ben Atkinson, Alicia Elliott, Jill Berry, Kelly Berry, Krystal Emerson, Vania Arroyo, Ron & Connie Carrasco.
Pets/names: have none
Jobs: Office Manager (as well as summer camp heath officer) for Five Pines Ministries (a Christian camp) for 7 years. Officiate High School Basketball and Baseball (since 1978)
Things I collect: NASCAR Die Cast Cars and Trading Cards
Best advice ever given: "It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a couple mistakes to destroy it." (from my grandmother)
Word or phrases you use too much: "you spelled that wrong"
A non-sport game in which you excel: Scrabble (I dare ANYONE to take me on) and Jeopardy
A non-sport game you enjoy: Scrabble, Cleaver Endeavor, crossword puzzles, Skee-ball
Dream Car / mode of transportation: Our 1997 Ford Taurus (or called by one teen, a Ford Jelly Bean, because of its shape); other dream car would be Jeff Gordon’s Chevy Monte Carlo
Coolest Experiences: Skydiving in Hawaii (March, 1997), completing Chicago Marathon in 3:38:38 in 1996, and being part of Promise Keepers’ Stand in the Gap in Washington DC in October, 1997
Scariest thing you’ve ever done: first time on a climbing tower
Stupidest thing you’ve ever done: Not tell anyone how much I was struggling financially and discipline-wise while in college, costing me my chance to finish.
Favorite thing to do in summer: Play church softball, watch baseball, play golf, watch NASCAR
Favorite amusement park ride: any large roller coaster
Special Skills/Talents: spelling ability, encouraging others, making people laugh
Character traits I look for: Honest, cheerful, fun
What I want to be: A great husband to Karen, a father someday, and a person who is proud to be known as a "Promise Keeper"
Denomination: Evangelical Free Church
Church: Community Evangelical Free Church (Niles, MI)
Favorite Music: Contemporary Christian
Favorite Foods: BBQ Ribs, Pizza, flavored coffees, dark chocolate
Least Favorite Foods: alcohol, beets, liver, Brussels sprouts
Favorite Vacations: Annual canoe trip to Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota, trip to the 1998 Rose Bowl to see Michigan win the National Championship, and our vacation to Florida in 1998.
Favorite Subjects: don’t have any now, just learning daily from life
Only Real Sports: Softball, Golf
Favorite Actors: Noh Wyle, Jon Lovitz, Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman, Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, Michael Richards, David Duchovny
Favorite Actresses: Gillian Anderson, Roma Downey
Favorite TV Shows: ER, Touched By An Angel, X-Files, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Survivor
Favorite Movie(s): Field of Dreams, Titanic, Forrest Gump, Blues Brothers, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Shakespeare in Love, A Bugs Life
Favorite Cartoons: Jetsons, Tweety
Favorite Authors: God, John Grisham, Frank Peretti, Shakespeare
Favorite Books: The Testament (John Grisham), To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee), Hamlet, This Present Darkness (Frank Peretti), A Time to Kill (Grisham)
Favorite music video: Steven Curtis Chapman - The Great Adventure
Favorite music albums: ....Jennifer Knapp - Kansas ....Michelle Tumes - Listen ....Margaret Becker - Grace ....Bryan Duncan - My Utmost for His Highest: Quiet Prayers ....Iona - Journey Into the Mourn ....Cindy Morgan - Listen ....Burlap to Cahmere - Anybody OUt There?
Favorite animal(s): loons, bald eagles, gorillas, penguins
Favorite Day of Week: Saturday, because of day off plus "Five Pines Live"
Favorite Month: December, because of my birthday AND Christmas
Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving
Favorite part of the newspaper: Sports, crossword puzzle, "Life" section of USA Today
Favorite things to wear: Black nylon lined sweats, pullover Nike jacket, Jeff Gordon T-shirts, shorts
Favorite things to read: USA Today, New Man Magazine, Referee, Baseball Weekly, Shakespeare
Tartar control or whitening: buy Glister (from Amway)
Favorite Cereal: Great Grains (Pecan)
Peanut or Regular M&M’s: Peanut, but like the Almond even more
