So, some stuff has recently been floating through my life. I haven't had a chance to post because I've been lazy. But here I am... posting, finally.
First of all, I'm way behind on my phone call returns. People that called me 2 weeks ago are just now getting a call back from me. I had a super busy couple of weeks and phone calls were the first sacrifice. So if I haven't called you back please don't think I'm being a bad friend - I'm spending all my free time on this posting.
If you know me then you know why I sometimes go to Corpus Christi. Lately, I have been paying very close attention to the Whataburger situation in Plano and CC. A compare/contrast, if you will. Here's what I know... The Plano phone book lists 4 Whataburger Restaurants. Sometimes I drive by the one close to my house and it's really busy at lunchtime - but not any other time. I discovered that Whataburger was founded in CC in 1950. The CC phone book lists 33 Whataburgers! As you drive around town, you'll spot one everywhere you go and they are always packed. In fact, the few McDonald's restaurants they do have are usually very empty. So, is it fair to say that Corpus is the Burger-Bizarro of Plano?
Oh, one last thing. I have totally gotten addicted to my new bike! That thing rocks. It's named Bonnie Blue and it's a sweet, sweet ride. I found a bike trail by my house and it's about a ten mile route. But I hope to take Bonnie Blue to Austin soon. That way if I see Lance Armstrong while I'm riding around, I can run right into him. I hate that dude.
Well, I better go. I have phone calls to return and a Whataburger to scope out. Take care friends!
Monday, September 11, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
August Got Good
Dudes...I totally ragged on August in my last blogpost. That was mean. Sorry, August. But in all fairness, I had been really ticked and with good reason. And things are better now...much better. Where to start???
Evelina and me at her new place!
My sweet man and my sweet ride!
- August brought back my friends, the Kedroski's. Minnesota has officially lost its most beautiful family and they are moving back to Texas where they belong! I am thrilled that they are just a 3 hour drive away now. That's flippin' sweet!
- August brought me news of an upcoming wedding. My oldest brother is marrying his girlfriend next year. She has 2 daughters from a previous marriage so that means I'm getting 2 more nieces! Cool, huh?
- Oh, and August delivered my sweet friend, Evelina, to Austin as well. She starts at UT this week. I met her when she was just 16 and I've watched her grow into such a beautiful woman. I can't wait to see what else life brings her.
- In case you didn't already know, August proved I have the most perfect boyfriend on the planet. He's not only the sweet guy who drove 3 hours to visit me in Austin, he's also the considerate guy who helped my friend Evelina get settled into her new apartment in Austin. And he's also the thoughtful guy who bought me a new bike!
Oh, August, thanks for reminding me that the heat is only temporary but the love is deep, wide and flowing.
Evelina and me at her new place!
My sweet man and my sweet ride!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Oh August, How You Anger Me
August is not off to a good start. We are only 8 days into this month and I'm already eager to toss it aside. I am convinced that these 100 degree days are getting the best of me. I could tell you many, many stories about the nasty heat. But instead, here are just 2 examples of how August is going for me. And oddly, both examples involve my nose.
- I was at work and stepped into the elevator after a women stepped out. Evidently, she bathed in tacky perfume so that it would "linger." But all it really did was "stink." It was so bad that my nose actually burned once the elevator doors closed. On my way up to the 3rd floor, the elevator stopped to pick up somebody on the 2nd floor. When that person got in, all he could smell was that tacky perfume. He thought it was me and he actually scooted over to the other side of the elevator. How humiliating... and it wasn't even my perfume!
- I had to spend the last few days out at schools since our new year just started. And, of course, I came home with a nasty cold. I took some Zycam and hoped that it would keep the cold from setting in. I use the Zycam nose gel. You squirt the gel in your nose but it is designed to stay in the lower part of your nostrils...it's not like a nose spray that gets snorted up. But I accidentally snorted a little of it while trying to swat a mosquito. This led to a long, painful night. My sinuses were in so much pain. It felt as if someone had poured acid in my nose. I felt like Helen Hunt in that after-school special she did about drugs... remember the one where she jumped out of a second story window? That's exactly what I felt like doing. Now I know why Helen jumped. It was so awful.
I promise to post something good soon... that is, if August decides to stop being so bossy and give a little happiness.
Friday, July 21, 2006
My Ex - Desperate Housewives
Blogger friends, it's official. I have broken up with Desperate Housewives. I even deleted it from my TiVo season pass lineup. Here's the scoop...
When I was first introduced to Desperate Housewives, I really wasn't interested. I felt that we didn't have anything in common as I am not a wife or desperate. So I basically blew it off even though it was asking me to hang out every Sunday night. Then one weekend, a group of friends were going to hang out and Desperate Housewives was there. So I gave it a chance. And to my surprise, I liked it! We started hanging out every Sunday night and I couldn't wait for our next meeting.
Then summer came and the season was over. I thought I would die... but then I remembered the re-runs. I had a lot of catching up to do with Desperate Housewives so I still kept watching on Sunday nights. Those re-runs are what made me fall in love with it and it's many characters.
Finally, fall came around and it was time to start a new, fresh season with my guilty pleasure. Each Sunday, I would gear up and get all ready for an exciting, thrilling ride. But each date was a let down. The magic was gone. Something in Desperate Housewives changed and I just couldn't get over it. I didn't even recognize it anymore... everything was wrong. I kept trying to watch because I just knew that it would come around. I didn't want to give up.
In order for a relationship to succeed, both sides have to work. And I felt as though I was the one doing all the work. I was the one having to forgive it everytime it was not living up to the expectations America had given it. I was the one having to defend it each time someone made fun of me for loving it. But the fight is over and I've moved on.
My TiVo will no longer be recording it and that means Sunday nights are free. We've been flirting with an Italian from New Jersey that wants that Sunday night spot. But he's a little shady and unpredictable and there are rumors that he's involved with the mob. So we'll see how that goes. Who knows, maybe something totally new will come in and sweep Sunday nights off its feet. I'll let you know how it goes.
When I was first introduced to Desperate Housewives, I really wasn't interested. I felt that we didn't have anything in common as I am not a wife or desperate. So I basically blew it off even though it was asking me to hang out every Sunday night. Then one weekend, a group of friends were going to hang out and Desperate Housewives was there. So I gave it a chance. And to my surprise, I liked it! We started hanging out every Sunday night and I couldn't wait for our next meeting.
Then summer came and the season was over. I thought I would die... but then I remembered the re-runs. I had a lot of catching up to do with Desperate Housewives so I still kept watching on Sunday nights. Those re-runs are what made me fall in love with it and it's many characters.
Finally, fall came around and it was time to start a new, fresh season with my guilty pleasure. Each Sunday, I would gear up and get all ready for an exciting, thrilling ride. But each date was a let down. The magic was gone. Something in Desperate Housewives changed and I just couldn't get over it. I didn't even recognize it anymore... everything was wrong. I kept trying to watch because I just knew that it would come around. I didn't want to give up.
In order for a relationship to succeed, both sides have to work. And I felt as though I was the one doing all the work. I was the one having to forgive it everytime it was not living up to the expectations America had given it. I was the one having to defend it each time someone made fun of me for loving it. But the fight is over and I've moved on.
My TiVo will no longer be recording it and that means Sunday nights are free. We've been flirting with an Italian from New Jersey that wants that Sunday night spot. But he's a little shady and unpredictable and there are rumors that he's involved with the mob. So we'll see how that goes. Who knows, maybe something totally new will come in and sweep Sunday nights off its feet. I'll let you know how it goes.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Livia, The Eskimo Hut and Other Panhandle Goodies
Hi friends! Sorry it's taken me forever to post the stories about my Amarillo trip. There is a reason for it and it's mixed into this posting. So here goes...
Friday
On Friday, June 23, I voluntarily got into a car with my sister and her family. Why I agreed to ride for five hours with my 2 nephews, ages 7 and 9, is beyond me. The trip consisted of beef jerky smells, little boy snoring and the soundtrack of High School Musical. But it actually was fun because my nephews are now old enough for me to joke around with. It was a good time. I got to Amarillo and immediately went to Livia Woodburn's house. You gotta love Livia and her sweet family. They always let me crash at their Casa de Woodburn.
That night we met up with some old high school friends at a restaurant called Basil Doc's Pizza. Belinda, Micheal, Livia and I ate tons of food and drank tons of adult beverages. I drank a whole carafe of sangria. Well, Belinda did have a glass of it... but I pretty much polished off the whole thing. And it was only $10 for the whole carafe!! Can you believe that? Drinks in Amarillo are so cheap! After stuffing our faces, we went to Burberry's and met up with Chris, Chad, Betty and several other friends. We talked and drank and laughed about old times. Chris was getting fidgety and we knew he wanted to go to The Golden Light Cantina. So we packed up and hit the Golden Light - which is Chris' second home. There was a great band playing there and they even had a fiddle player! Livia busted out her Polaroid Camera... it's an old school Polaroid that actually works. She is famous for that camera and the interesting photos that she takes with it. So the band finished up their set and suddenly 2:00 a.m. was approaching. As we were finishing our beers, we noticed that Belinda had walked away. She had gone to the backstage area where the band was chilling out. When we found her, she was wearing a cowboy hat and playing the fiddle. After several photos, we left The Golden Light and went home.
Saturday
On Saturday, I had to meet up with my family at La Fiesta. It's a restaurant in Amarillo where my grandparents were celebrating their 60th Anniversary. My family planned a short and sweet lunch for them. I got to the restaurant with Livia and I had a sinking suspicion that my cousins would assume we were lesbians. That side of my family has not met my super hot fireman boyfriend, so I kinda think they got the wrong impression. Oh well, who cares? Livia is hot so even if I was a lesbian I would totally date her!
Anyway, I talked with my family; many of whom I had not seen in years. It was fun to catch up with them but I couldn't help but turn my gaze into the bar area of the restaurant where the TV was located. Mexico was playing Argentina that day and I really do enjoy a good dose of the World Cup. So I got in trouble for focusing more on the game than on my family. (Sorry, mom.) Luckily, the food arrived and distracted me. I ordered chicken flautas because I kinda wanted to stay on the safe side. However, I quickly realized I was nowhere near the safe side. I bit into my flauta and a puddle of grease came spurting out of the bottom end. Yuck! I didn't eat the rest of my food and left the restaurant hungry. Bummer.
We regrouped at Livia's house then made our way to Hereford. My family planned a little "after party" for my grandparents. Livia suggested that we stop by the Eskimo Hut and get a frosty beverage on the way. The Eskimo Hut is this little drive up joint that sells alcoholic snow cones. They put it in a styrofoam cup with a lid. Then they put the cup in a heat-sealed plastic bag. The side of the bag says some crap about Texas laws against driving with an open alcoholic container. Evidently, the heat-sealed plastic bag passes for a closed container. As we approached the Hut, I was confused at what to order as they have widely increased their flavor options since my days at WTAMU. Then, Livia reached into her car's console and pulled out a menu! She frequents the Hut and has a whole menu in her car. Gotta love Liv! I chose a Hot Mama which was a mixture of cherry, pineapple, cream and some sort of liquor. It was like biting into those Cherry Sour candies. Yummy. Livia got the Orange Dreamsicle and I almost fought her for it.
We got to Hereford and basically just sat around my grandparents' backyard while loud Spanish music was blaring. My grandfather came out of the house holding a CD as though it were gold. He handed it over to the guy by the CD player and said, "This song is for my sweetheart." He walked over to ask my grandmother to dance. She heard the song and said, "Oh, I hate this song. Pick another one!" We all laughed hysterically; even grandpa laughed. He finally found another song and they sweetly danced in the back yard under the apricot tree.
We left Hereford and went back to Amarillo. We met up with some friends at a piano bar which was a lot of fun. But I was so tired and I really wanted to curl up and sleep. We made it an early night and I was in bed by midnight.
Sunday
My mom called me on Saturday and said, "We'll stop by Livia's house to pick you up at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday" But in my mom's lingo, that means 8:30 a.m. So I got up early, showered and was packed by 8:15 when mom called and said, "Are you ready?" Like clockwork.
We rolled out of Amarillo by 8:45 a.m. and made it safely back home. But when I walked into my house it felt like a sauna. My house was 99 degrees and there was hot air blowing from the vents. The unit outside was sitting quietly - not moving a single blade. I spent the next 2 nights away from my house because I was arguing with my A/C repair company because the unit is under warranty and they didn't want to fix it. Long story short, I didn't have to pay for repairs and I now have time to write blogs at a comfy 79 degrees.
Micheal, Belinda, me, Betty and Chris hanging out
Livia and me after a long night
My cute nieces, Michelle and Elizabeth, at lunch
The land from whence we came
My grandparents dancing on their 60th anniversary
If you're from the Panhandle, you know exactly who this is
Friday
On Friday, June 23, I voluntarily got into a car with my sister and her family. Why I agreed to ride for five hours with my 2 nephews, ages 7 and 9, is beyond me. The trip consisted of beef jerky smells, little boy snoring and the soundtrack of High School Musical. But it actually was fun because my nephews are now old enough for me to joke around with. It was a good time. I got to Amarillo and immediately went to Livia Woodburn's house. You gotta love Livia and her sweet family. They always let me crash at their Casa de Woodburn.
That night we met up with some old high school friends at a restaurant called Basil Doc's Pizza. Belinda, Micheal, Livia and I ate tons of food and drank tons of adult beverages. I drank a whole carafe of sangria. Well, Belinda did have a glass of it... but I pretty much polished off the whole thing. And it was only $10 for the whole carafe!! Can you believe that? Drinks in Amarillo are so cheap! After stuffing our faces, we went to Burberry's and met up with Chris, Chad, Betty and several other friends. We talked and drank and laughed about old times. Chris was getting fidgety and we knew he wanted to go to The Golden Light Cantina. So we packed up and hit the Golden Light - which is Chris' second home. There was a great band playing there and they even had a fiddle player! Livia busted out her Polaroid Camera... it's an old school Polaroid that actually works. She is famous for that camera and the interesting photos that she takes with it. So the band finished up their set and suddenly 2:00 a.m. was approaching. As we were finishing our beers, we noticed that Belinda had walked away. She had gone to the backstage area where the band was chilling out. When we found her, she was wearing a cowboy hat and playing the fiddle. After several photos, we left The Golden Light and went home.
Saturday
On Saturday, I had to meet up with my family at La Fiesta. It's a restaurant in Amarillo where my grandparents were celebrating their 60th Anniversary. My family planned a short and sweet lunch for them. I got to the restaurant with Livia and I had a sinking suspicion that my cousins would assume we were lesbians. That side of my family has not met my super hot fireman boyfriend, so I kinda think they got the wrong impression. Oh well, who cares? Livia is hot so even if I was a lesbian I would totally date her!
Anyway, I talked with my family; many of whom I had not seen in years. It was fun to catch up with them but I couldn't help but turn my gaze into the bar area of the restaurant where the TV was located. Mexico was playing Argentina that day and I really do enjoy a good dose of the World Cup. So I got in trouble for focusing more on the game than on my family. (Sorry, mom.) Luckily, the food arrived and distracted me. I ordered chicken flautas because I kinda wanted to stay on the safe side. However, I quickly realized I was nowhere near the safe side. I bit into my flauta and a puddle of grease came spurting out of the bottom end. Yuck! I didn't eat the rest of my food and left the restaurant hungry. Bummer.
We regrouped at Livia's house then made our way to Hereford. My family planned a little "after party" for my grandparents. Livia suggested that we stop by the Eskimo Hut and get a frosty beverage on the way. The Eskimo Hut is this little drive up joint that sells alcoholic snow cones. They put it in a styrofoam cup with a lid. Then they put the cup in a heat-sealed plastic bag. The side of the bag says some crap about Texas laws against driving with an open alcoholic container. Evidently, the heat-sealed plastic bag passes for a closed container. As we approached the Hut, I was confused at what to order as they have widely increased their flavor options since my days at WTAMU. Then, Livia reached into her car's console and pulled out a menu! She frequents the Hut and has a whole menu in her car. Gotta love Liv! I chose a Hot Mama which was a mixture of cherry, pineapple, cream and some sort of liquor. It was like biting into those Cherry Sour candies. Yummy. Livia got the Orange Dreamsicle and I almost fought her for it.
We got to Hereford and basically just sat around my grandparents' backyard while loud Spanish music was blaring. My grandfather came out of the house holding a CD as though it were gold. He handed it over to the guy by the CD player and said, "This song is for my sweetheart." He walked over to ask my grandmother to dance. She heard the song and said, "Oh, I hate this song. Pick another one!" We all laughed hysterically; even grandpa laughed. He finally found another song and they sweetly danced in the back yard under the apricot tree.
We left Hereford and went back to Amarillo. We met up with some friends at a piano bar which was a lot of fun. But I was so tired and I really wanted to curl up and sleep. We made it an early night and I was in bed by midnight.
Sunday
My mom called me on Saturday and said, "We'll stop by Livia's house to pick you up at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday" But in my mom's lingo, that means 8:30 a.m. So I got up early, showered and was packed by 8:15 when mom called and said, "Are you ready?" Like clockwork.
We rolled out of Amarillo by 8:45 a.m. and made it safely back home. But when I walked into my house it felt like a sauna. My house was 99 degrees and there was hot air blowing from the vents. The unit outside was sitting quietly - not moving a single blade. I spent the next 2 nights away from my house because I was arguing with my A/C repair company because the unit is under warranty and they didn't want to fix it. Long story short, I didn't have to pay for repairs and I now have time to write blogs at a comfy 79 degrees.
Micheal, Belinda, me, Betty and Chris hanging out
Livia and me after a long night
My cute nieces, Michelle and Elizabeth, at lunch
The land from whence we came
My grandparents dancing on their 60th anniversary
If you're from the Panhandle, you know exactly who this is
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Junebug-less June
Wow, June passed me by. I looked at the calendar today and realized that I didn't post much in June. I actually made some funny observations in June and I really wanted to post them... I just didn't get around to it. There are many times in my day where I say, "Dude, that's so going into the blog." And yet, I just slack off. Sorry, friends. Here's the quick hit list:
Father's Day/Dad's Birthday
To celebrate my dad's two big days, I took him to Antares in Reunion Tower. For you non-Dallas people, that's the big building in downtown Dallas with the big ball at the top. The big ball is actually a restaurant that makes a full circle in about an hour. It moves rather slowly so you don't really feel as though you are moving. And if you've ever been in a car while my mom is driving then you kinda know what it feels like. We got to the restaurant and were starving. Dad ordered a big, fat steak and I ordered the seafood pasta. The waiter actually grinned after we placed our orders; he looked extraordinarily happy. Weird, right? Turns out the Reunion Hyatt (which it connected to Reunion Tower) was hosing a scout show for models. The restaurant was full of the models who only ordered hot tea and water. The waiter was so happy that us fatties ordered real food that he did a little Snoopy-Dance on his way back to the kitchen. I'm not even kidding.
Amarillo
I made a trip up to the Texas Panhandle. Yes, it's true... I grew up there in the plains of Texas. My roots came from the flat, plain soil that is Hereford, Texas. My roots now live on the east side of Plano, Texas and it seems odd that I still live in a "plain-o" part of Texas. Anyway... I have to make a whole new posting for my Amarillo trip because there is a lot to include. But to give you a little teaser, it involves my grandparents, a certain Livia Woodburn and her polaroid camera, The Eskimo Hut's frozen drinks and a flauta that spurted grease out of the bottom end when it was bitten. I'm sure the suspense is killing you. ;o)
No Junebugs!
Dudes, where are the Junebugs? How did we get all the way through June with none of those golden, flighty pests? Of course, I'm not necessarily fond of Junebugs... I'm more of a firefly type of girl. However, I noticed that I was able to leave my porch light on and not have to sweep out 5 Junebugs after opening my front door. I also didn't have my annual "Junebug Hair Freak Out" which involves a Junebug getting stuck in my hair and me flailing around and screaming. I think it's our oddball weather. We never really got a full-blown winter in this part of Texas and now it's wreaking havoc in the bug world. I miss you and your golden glory, Junebugs. Please come back next year!
Father's Day/Dad's Birthday
To celebrate my dad's two big days, I took him to Antares in Reunion Tower. For you non-Dallas people, that's the big building in downtown Dallas with the big ball at the top. The big ball is actually a restaurant that makes a full circle in about an hour. It moves rather slowly so you don't really feel as though you are moving. And if you've ever been in a car while my mom is driving then you kinda know what it feels like. We got to the restaurant and were starving. Dad ordered a big, fat steak and I ordered the seafood pasta. The waiter actually grinned after we placed our orders; he looked extraordinarily happy. Weird, right? Turns out the Reunion Hyatt (which it connected to Reunion Tower) was hosing a scout show for models. The restaurant was full of the models who only ordered hot tea and water. The waiter was so happy that us fatties ordered real food that he did a little Snoopy-Dance on his way back to the kitchen. I'm not even kidding.
Amarillo
I made a trip up to the Texas Panhandle. Yes, it's true... I grew up there in the plains of Texas. My roots came from the flat, plain soil that is Hereford, Texas. My roots now live on the east side of Plano, Texas and it seems odd that I still live in a "plain-o" part of Texas. Anyway... I have to make a whole new posting for my Amarillo trip because there is a lot to include. But to give you a little teaser, it involves my grandparents, a certain Livia Woodburn and her polaroid camera, The Eskimo Hut's frozen drinks and a flauta that spurted grease out of the bottom end when it was bitten. I'm sure the suspense is killing you. ;o)
No Junebugs!
Dudes, where are the Junebugs? How did we get all the way through June with none of those golden, flighty pests? Of course, I'm not necessarily fond of Junebugs... I'm more of a firefly type of girl. However, I noticed that I was able to leave my porch light on and not have to sweep out 5 Junebugs after opening my front door. I also didn't have my annual "Junebug Hair Freak Out" which involves a Junebug getting stuck in my hair and me flailing around and screaming. I think it's our oddball weather. We never really got a full-blown winter in this part of Texas and now it's wreaking havoc in the bug world. I miss you and your golden glory, Junebugs. Please come back next year!
Friday, June 02, 2006
California Love
Whew! What an exciting week! California proved to be the entertainment beast that I thought it was. I've broken down our days below and included some photos. In order to protect the innocent, I had to keep some stuff out of here. I hope you can understand... and if you were there, I know you will appreciate my silence. :)
Sunday, May 28
My brother, Leroy, my boyfriend, Marcos, and I flew to L.A. on an afternoon flight and it was soooo looonnng. It actually was 2 hours and 40 minutes in the air, but it felt like 8 hours. Lucky for me, I'm short and I laid across the seat so I was comfy. As soon as we landed we found my brother's high school buddy, Jason, who now lives in Cali. We picked up our rental car only to find out that we'd been given a free "upgrade." As we drove out of the lot in a PT Cruiser, we began to wonder how this was an upgrade. We got to the Omni downtown and it was fantastic. Again, we'd been given a free upgrade and this time it really was an upgrade to a huge, fancy room. We dropped off our stuff and headed out to Hollywood. We saw all those corny street performers and people dressed as SuperGirl, Freddy Kruger and Batman on Hollywood Blvd. Then we watched a movie at the Grauman's Chinese Theater. We walked up and down the sidewalk but the whole time we were looking down at the celebrity names in the stars. Did you know the Marilyn Monroe star on the Walk of Fame is right in front of the McDonalds? It was getting late and we went back to the hotel for a little sleep.
Monday, May 29 - Memorial Day
Jason, Leroy, Marcos and I got up and went straight to the Grand Central Market. It's a Mexican market in downtown L.A. with all kinds of food, produce, gifts, etc. It was one of the best places I've ever seen in California. After we pigged out on tacos, we met up with my friend, Britton. She is in law school in L.A. and so graciously let us stay with her for the remainder of our vacation. She had just returned from a little road trip to a wedding so she was tired, but she has stamina so she didn't think twice about heading to Venice Beach with us. The drive to Venice Beach was thick with traffic... but that's normal for L.A. on a holiday. Venice Beach didn't disappoint us. We saw all kinds of people wearing all kinds of things... and some not wearing anything at all. After a few cocktails and some fun in the sun, we packed up and went to a baseball game. Britton's friend, also named Jason, joined us. We had so much fun watching the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Minnesota Twins. It really was a good game and afterwards we stayed for a fireworks show. Ah, America!
Tuesday, May 30
This day started WAY too early. I was showered, dressed and ready to go at 5:45 a.m. We had to be at The Price is Right by 6:00 a.m. to get a place in line. And even though it was early, the excitement of seeing Bob made it all worth it! We got some food, got in line and were finally given an "Order of Arrival Number" by a page that works for CBS. Britton pointed out that the page is probably a legal intern and we began to wonder if that would become Britton's new job one day. After hours of waiting, they began to hand out "Priority Numbers." That is the golden ticket that gets you the trademark nametag and a seat in the audience. As we patiently waited we began to notice something... there were about 1,000 people waiting and only 335 people fit into 1 taping. I began to worry. Then we heard one of those pages say, "We have handed out all the Priority Numbers so anyone waiting in line is now on stand-by." We were given our stand-by numbers of 84, 85, 86, and 87 and were told to come back at 10:30 a.m. Things didn't look good. But we didn't give up. We walked over to The Grove which is a cool mall and the Farmer's Market which is nearby. We killed some time there and went back to TPIR.
When we got back we heard some good news and bad news. The bad news was that any group of 20 or more gets a guaranteed seat and there were 5 large groups reserved for that day. That's why we were put on stand-by so early. But the good news was that 2 of the groups didn't show and there was hope for those on stand-by. It was around 10:45 when we realized that many of those that were on stand-by had given up and didn't return... and they missed their chance because WE GOT IN! We got our cool name tags and waited some more. Finally they called our group into the interview process. Evidently, they choose the contestants based up on a very brief meeting in an "interview" with about 15 other people. They put all 15 people in a row and ask each one these 2 questions:
1. Where are you from?
2. What do you do for a living?
That's it... depending on what you say to those 2 questions will determine whether or not they like you and if you'll be on the show. A lady in our group sang a little song... something about "Plinko, Plinko little star." And she was chosen to come on down! Britton, Leroy, Marcos and I were not chosen to come on down but we had a GREAT time yelling in the audience. It was so much fun to see the small set that looks so large on TV. It was a a great day.
After that, we headed out to Universal Studios City Walk and enjoyed some junk food, corny gift shops, and even a long ride on a shuttle bus. But I hit a wall and could hardly keep my eyes open. We went back to Britton's place where she introduced us to the world of garlic knots and Johnnie's Pizza.
Wednesday, May 30
This was our last day in California. We laid low in the morning and took it easy. We ate lunch at Jaxx on Sunset Blvd. and then drove around Beverly Hills. We walked around Rodeo Drive and window shopped at Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, Tiffany, etc. It was nice to look at all those incredible designer clothing... even if it was only through the window display. Britton introduced us to Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills. WOW! Those things are like nothing I've ever tasted. There was a line waiting to get even 1 cupcake and now I see why people are willing to wait. I bit into my chocolate coconut cupcake and was surprised to find that something so small could make life so good. My tastebuds were confused and appreciative all at the same time. I can't wait to go there again. After our relaxing day, it was time to head home. We landed in Dallas around midnight so we were really tired... but it was so much fun.
Traveling with my brother was fun... even though my other siblings warned me not to travel with him. Traveling with my sweetie is always fun... and this time having Britton there made it even better. I was to happy to get some hang time with Britton on her new stomping grounds. It was nice to just hang out and laugh with her again. Of course, she'll be back in Texas next weekend and I'm sure I'll have even more stories to tell. But for now, enjoy the pics below!
Gas is expensive in Cali!
Jason (on left) and my brother at the Omni
Me at the Omni
Marcos and me in Hollywood
Marcos ordering lunch at the market
Britton and me at Venice Beach
Marcos and me at Venice Beach
My brother and me showing our family ties
Putting my toes in the Pacific
Britton and me at the baseball game
Britton is the only person in Cali who can properly pronounce Coors Light
Britton and me at The Grove - waiting for TPIR
Here we are after TPIR!
Sunday, May 28
My brother, Leroy, my boyfriend, Marcos, and I flew to L.A. on an afternoon flight and it was soooo looonnng. It actually was 2 hours and 40 minutes in the air, but it felt like 8 hours. Lucky for me, I'm short and I laid across the seat so I was comfy. As soon as we landed we found my brother's high school buddy, Jason, who now lives in Cali. We picked up our rental car only to find out that we'd been given a free "upgrade." As we drove out of the lot in a PT Cruiser, we began to wonder how this was an upgrade. We got to the Omni downtown and it was fantastic. Again, we'd been given a free upgrade and this time it really was an upgrade to a huge, fancy room. We dropped off our stuff and headed out to Hollywood. We saw all those corny street performers and people dressed as SuperGirl, Freddy Kruger and Batman on Hollywood Blvd. Then we watched a movie at the Grauman's Chinese Theater. We walked up and down the sidewalk but the whole time we were looking down at the celebrity names in the stars. Did you know the Marilyn Monroe star on the Walk of Fame is right in front of the McDonalds? It was getting late and we went back to the hotel for a little sleep.
Monday, May 29 - Memorial Day
Jason, Leroy, Marcos and I got up and went straight to the Grand Central Market. It's a Mexican market in downtown L.A. with all kinds of food, produce, gifts, etc. It was one of the best places I've ever seen in California. After we pigged out on tacos, we met up with my friend, Britton. She is in law school in L.A. and so graciously let us stay with her for the remainder of our vacation. She had just returned from a little road trip to a wedding so she was tired, but she has stamina so she didn't think twice about heading to Venice Beach with us. The drive to Venice Beach was thick with traffic... but that's normal for L.A. on a holiday. Venice Beach didn't disappoint us. We saw all kinds of people wearing all kinds of things... and some not wearing anything at all. After a few cocktails and some fun in the sun, we packed up and went to a baseball game. Britton's friend, also named Jason, joined us. We had so much fun watching the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the Minnesota Twins. It really was a good game and afterwards we stayed for a fireworks show. Ah, America!
Tuesday, May 30
This day started WAY too early. I was showered, dressed and ready to go at 5:45 a.m. We had to be at The Price is Right by 6:00 a.m. to get a place in line. And even though it was early, the excitement of seeing Bob made it all worth it! We got some food, got in line and were finally given an "Order of Arrival Number" by a page that works for CBS. Britton pointed out that the page is probably a legal intern and we began to wonder if that would become Britton's new job one day. After hours of waiting, they began to hand out "Priority Numbers." That is the golden ticket that gets you the trademark nametag and a seat in the audience. As we patiently waited we began to notice something... there were about 1,000 people waiting and only 335 people fit into 1 taping. I began to worry. Then we heard one of those pages say, "We have handed out all the Priority Numbers so anyone waiting in line is now on stand-by." We were given our stand-by numbers of 84, 85, 86, and 87 and were told to come back at 10:30 a.m. Things didn't look good. But we didn't give up. We walked over to The Grove which is a cool mall and the Farmer's Market which is nearby. We killed some time there and went back to TPIR.
When we got back we heard some good news and bad news. The bad news was that any group of 20 or more gets a guaranteed seat and there were 5 large groups reserved for that day. That's why we were put on stand-by so early. But the good news was that 2 of the groups didn't show and there was hope for those on stand-by. It was around 10:45 when we realized that many of those that were on stand-by had given up and didn't return... and they missed their chance because WE GOT IN! We got our cool name tags and waited some more. Finally they called our group into the interview process. Evidently, they choose the contestants based up on a very brief meeting in an "interview" with about 15 other people. They put all 15 people in a row and ask each one these 2 questions:
1. Where are you from?
2. What do you do for a living?
That's it... depending on what you say to those 2 questions will determine whether or not they like you and if you'll be on the show. A lady in our group sang a little song... something about "Plinko, Plinko little star." And she was chosen to come on down! Britton, Leroy, Marcos and I were not chosen to come on down but we had a GREAT time yelling in the audience. It was so much fun to see the small set that looks so large on TV. It was a a great day.
After that, we headed out to Universal Studios City Walk and enjoyed some junk food, corny gift shops, and even a long ride on a shuttle bus. But I hit a wall and could hardly keep my eyes open. We went back to Britton's place where she introduced us to the world of garlic knots and Johnnie's Pizza.
Wednesday, May 30
This was our last day in California. We laid low in the morning and took it easy. We ate lunch at Jaxx on Sunset Blvd. and then drove around Beverly Hills. We walked around Rodeo Drive and window shopped at Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, Tiffany, etc. It was nice to look at all those incredible designer clothing... even if it was only through the window display. Britton introduced us to Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills. WOW! Those things are like nothing I've ever tasted. There was a line waiting to get even 1 cupcake and now I see why people are willing to wait. I bit into my chocolate coconut cupcake and was surprised to find that something so small could make life so good. My tastebuds were confused and appreciative all at the same time. I can't wait to go there again. After our relaxing day, it was time to head home. We landed in Dallas around midnight so we were really tired... but it was so much fun.
Traveling with my brother was fun... even though my other siblings warned me not to travel with him. Traveling with my sweetie is always fun... and this time having Britton there made it even better. I was to happy to get some hang time with Britton on her new stomping grounds. It was nice to just hang out and laugh with her again. Of course, she'll be back in Texas next weekend and I'm sure I'll have even more stories to tell. But for now, enjoy the pics below!
Gas is expensive in Cali!
Jason (on left) and my brother at the Omni
Me at the Omni
Marcos and me in Hollywood
Marcos ordering lunch at the market
Britton and me at Venice Beach
Marcos and me at Venice Beach
My brother and me showing our family ties
Putting my toes in the Pacific
Britton and me at the baseball game
Britton is the only person in Cali who can properly pronounce Coors Light
Britton and me at The Grove - waiting for TPIR
Here we are after TPIR!
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