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.
Friday, July 21, 2006
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!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Five Things About May... so far
So it's halfway through May and I haven't posted at all this month. It's been a little crazy and there's a lot going on. But I have pulled a short list of events - just 5 things.
1. Cindo de Mayo
This year, Cinco de Mayo was more like Drunko de Mayo. I went to hang out with my family in Denton and the cocktails got WAY out of hand. The next morning my sister and her family were going to be in the Cinco de Mayo parade since they are Denton's Family of the Year. But I had the hardest time getting out of bed and I was mortified to find pina colada stuck in my hair. I did manage to get some pics... they're below.
2. The Perfect Storm
There's something wrong with the air in Dallas. I don't have allergies, but over the last 2 weeks I have come to understand the pain of those with allergies. I feel terrible. To make matters worse, I got a cold. My doctor told me I had an infection and had to treat BOTH the cold and the allergies. Getting a cold right in the middle of an allergy fit truly is The Perfect Storm.
3. Aurorica
My mom's name is Aurora and if you have met her you know that she's a bold presence. I sometimes refer to her as Aurorica because she could be her very own country and would probably demand to be its dictator. I know my mom is tough, but that's what makes her so perfect. On Mother's Day I always remind her that she is a rock star and I am blessed with a mom who taught me to be independent and to develop my own identity.
4. California Dreamin'
In 11 days I'm flying to California with my sweetie and my brother. We're going to see my friend B who is in law school out there. And to see my brother's friend J who has lived out there for years. AND TO SEE BOB BARKER! I have been watching The Price is Right for years, however over the last 2 months I have been studying it. If I get asked to 'come on down' I'll be ready.
5. Audrey Jane Miller
My friend Jenn and her husband had their third child, Audrey Jane. She is welcomed by two loving older brothers. Sweet Audrey was born with CDH, a birth defect in which the diaphragm does not close properly while in the womb. Therefore, the abdominal organs form in the chest area. Audrey is still in the NICU in Dallas and each day she's fighting for her life. Please keep her in your thoughts and send her some positive energy! And visit her blog if you have time.
http://spaces.msn.com/jennmillerblog
My nephew in his Guayabera shirt on Cinco de Mayo.
The Havis Family - Denton's Family of the Year!
1. Cindo de Mayo
This year, Cinco de Mayo was more like Drunko de Mayo. I went to hang out with my family in Denton and the cocktails got WAY out of hand. The next morning my sister and her family were going to be in the Cinco de Mayo parade since they are Denton's Family of the Year. But I had the hardest time getting out of bed and I was mortified to find pina colada stuck in my hair. I did manage to get some pics... they're below.
2. The Perfect Storm
There's something wrong with the air in Dallas. I don't have allergies, but over the last 2 weeks I have come to understand the pain of those with allergies. I feel terrible. To make matters worse, I got a cold. My doctor told me I had an infection and had to treat BOTH the cold and the allergies. Getting a cold right in the middle of an allergy fit truly is The Perfect Storm.
3. Aurorica
My mom's name is Aurora and if you have met her you know that she's a bold presence. I sometimes refer to her as Aurorica because she could be her very own country and would probably demand to be its dictator. I know my mom is tough, but that's what makes her so perfect. On Mother's Day I always remind her that she is a rock star and I am blessed with a mom who taught me to be independent and to develop my own identity.
4. California Dreamin'
In 11 days I'm flying to California with my sweetie and my brother. We're going to see my friend B who is in law school out there. And to see my brother's friend J who has lived out there for years. AND TO SEE BOB BARKER! I have been watching The Price is Right for years, however over the last 2 months I have been studying it. If I get asked to 'come on down' I'll be ready.
5. Audrey Jane Miller
My friend Jenn and her husband had their third child, Audrey Jane. She is welcomed by two loving older brothers. Sweet Audrey was born with CDH, a birth defect in which the diaphragm does not close properly while in the womb. Therefore, the abdominal organs form in the chest area. Audrey is still in the NICU in Dallas and each day she's fighting for her life. Please keep her in your thoughts and send her some positive energy! And visit her blog if you have time.
http://spaces.msn.com/jennmillerblog
My nephew in his Guayabera shirt on Cinco de Mayo.
The Havis Family - Denton's Family of the Year!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Names
A while back my sister sent me a link to a site that will tell you when your name was popular, the years in which the popularity rose and declined, etc. It's actually a very cool site and you can see it here.
My sister pointed out that my name was most popular in 1880. It was in the top ten names given to girls in the late 1800s in the U.S. As time went by it decreased in popularity. In fact, the year the name was given to me was its LOWEST point of popularity. Thanks, mom and dad!
Then, I remembered the many, many times people say things like, "My great-aunt is named Clara." Or, "Clara was my grandmother's name!" While that is slightly depressing, it doesn't upset me. (Call me Claire or Carla and then you'll see all kinds of angry!)
I've come to terms with my old lady name. When I meet people, I actually say, "My name is Clara, like an old lady." They think it's funny and I resist laughing with them. I usually just smile and hope my dentures don't fall out. :)
Do you like your name?
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Lubbock And All Its Glory
As many of you know, I went to Lubbock this weekend for my friend Mike's senior art exhibit. He'll be graduating from Tech next month, but he invited all of us to his exhibit because he's not into the whole cap and gown thing. Anyway... here's the story about my weekend and there are photos below. Here goes...
I flew to Lubbock way too early on Friday morning. The flight ended up being delayed, but I finally got to the Panhandle. I sat next to the most bizaar man on the plane who kept reading my Cosmo over my shoulder. He even asked me about the Man Manual section of Cosmo. Eww! Anyway, the Lubbock airport only has FOUR entrances but I still had trouble finding Mike. Finally we found each other and headed off to do a million things. Lunch, shopping, a beer run, etc.
I was almost unable to buy my pineapple rum because the 22-year-old girls working at Doc's Liquor thought my ID was fake. In a way, I was flattered but I was really wanting that rum so I ended up getting huffy. Long story short - I got the goods and Mike got about 200 bucks worth of beer for his party! Then Mike took me out to Slaton, TX (where his exhibit was held) to see his artwork. I'd never seen it close up before. The photos below are a few of his cool sculptures. Mike is a rock star!
Liv drove into town while Mike and I were hogging down at Freebirds. We told Liv to meet us at the hotel where she and I were staying. When Mike and I pulled into the parking lot, Liv had already popped open a Lone Star beer from her big cooler that was fully stocked. There's something very "Panhandley" about drinking Lone Star in a hotel parking lot! We decided to save our beer for the party and we went to a local bar to drink.
On the way to the bar, Liv and I got mooned. This little mini-van pulled up next to us and began honking. We looked over and saw what looked like a large ham pressed against the windows. The mini-van had really dark tinting that I'm pretty sure is illegal in Texas. But we could still see the action. Typically, after a mooning, the driver pulls away or turns. But we were at a red light.... so we sat there in the most awkward moment. The girl in the front passenger side of the mini-van looked so humiliated.
On Saturday, Liv and I went to the Buddy Holly Center. There is an area with some of his memorabilia and there is also an art gallery in there. It was actually very cool. The glasses Buddy Holly was wearing at the time of his death are in the memorial area. And the story is that there is blood and flesh still in the frames. Yuck! Liv and I walked around then hit the gift shop. We scored some killer Buddy Holly glasses of our own... girly ones. Pictures below!
We went out to Mike's exhibit that evening and he had a FULL house. There was good food, tons of drinks, good music and fantastic art. We all had a great time. After the exhibit we went to a local bar, The Gas Light, and had drinks. (We actually went through Mike's two-hundy worth of beer and all of Liv's stash.) We ended our night at the bar and headed home.
I flew home way too early this morning and that's why I'm already here posting this. I couldn't wait to share the stories and photos. I am so very blessed with such amazing friends and I am grateful for weekends like this one. These people are gold.
Liv, Clara and Mike - check out our Buddy Holly glasses!
What WTAMU has brought together, let no man put asunder.
Two of Mike's sculptures
This is my favorite sculpture of Mike's
Mike and his beautiful sister, Christie
Mike and Chase
Liv and me at the exhibit rocking our Buddy Holly glasses. The Budapest t-shirt is an inside joke that very few people can know. ;o)
Here I am being goofy at The Buddy Holly Center.
This is my new tie-skirt that I finally got to wear!
I flew to Lubbock way too early on Friday morning. The flight ended up being delayed, but I finally got to the Panhandle. I sat next to the most bizaar man on the plane who kept reading my Cosmo over my shoulder. He even asked me about the Man Manual section of Cosmo. Eww! Anyway, the Lubbock airport only has FOUR entrances but I still had trouble finding Mike. Finally we found each other and headed off to do a million things. Lunch, shopping, a beer run, etc.
I was almost unable to buy my pineapple rum because the 22-year-old girls working at Doc's Liquor thought my ID was fake. In a way, I was flattered but I was really wanting that rum so I ended up getting huffy. Long story short - I got the goods and Mike got about 200 bucks worth of beer for his party! Then Mike took me out to Slaton, TX (where his exhibit was held) to see his artwork. I'd never seen it close up before. The photos below are a few of his cool sculptures. Mike is a rock star!
Liv drove into town while Mike and I were hogging down at Freebirds. We told Liv to meet us at the hotel where she and I were staying. When Mike and I pulled into the parking lot, Liv had already popped open a Lone Star beer from her big cooler that was fully stocked. There's something very "Panhandley" about drinking Lone Star in a hotel parking lot! We decided to save our beer for the party and we went to a local bar to drink.
On the way to the bar, Liv and I got mooned. This little mini-van pulled up next to us and began honking. We looked over and saw what looked like a large ham pressed against the windows. The mini-van had really dark tinting that I'm pretty sure is illegal in Texas. But we could still see the action. Typically, after a mooning, the driver pulls away or turns. But we were at a red light.... so we sat there in the most awkward moment. The girl in the front passenger side of the mini-van looked so humiliated.
On Saturday, Liv and I went to the Buddy Holly Center. There is an area with some of his memorabilia and there is also an art gallery in there. It was actually very cool. The glasses Buddy Holly was wearing at the time of his death are in the memorial area. And the story is that there is blood and flesh still in the frames. Yuck! Liv and I walked around then hit the gift shop. We scored some killer Buddy Holly glasses of our own... girly ones. Pictures below!
We went out to Mike's exhibit that evening and he had a FULL house. There was good food, tons of drinks, good music and fantastic art. We all had a great time. After the exhibit we went to a local bar, The Gas Light, and had drinks. (We actually went through Mike's two-hundy worth of beer and all of Liv's stash.) We ended our night at the bar and headed home.
I flew home way too early this morning and that's why I'm already here posting this. I couldn't wait to share the stories and photos. I am so very blessed with such amazing friends and I am grateful for weekends like this one. These people are gold.
Liv, Clara and Mike - check out our Buddy Holly glasses!
What WTAMU has brought together, let no man put asunder.
Two of Mike's sculptures
This is my favorite sculpture of Mike's
Mike and his beautiful sister, Christie
Mike and Chase
Liv and me at the exhibit rocking our Buddy Holly glasses. The Budapest t-shirt is an inside joke that very few people can know. ;o)
Here I am being goofy at The Buddy Holly Center.
This is my new tie-skirt that I finally got to wear!
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