Sunday Selfie - Alabama Edition

Today's selfie comes to you from Birmingham International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama.  This weekend I attended my 20 year college reunion.  It's been an amazing trip - about which I will be creating a post or two in the next few days.  

I am a bit tired in this photo as I did do a lot of, um, drinking, and not a lot of sleeping.  LOL  But this was a trip I truly needed and I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences with you all. 

On a side note, I am pretty sure that Morgan Freeman does the TSA announcements for the Birmingham airport.  Every time one of them starts, I suddenly feel relaxed as if all is right with the world.  That man has an amazing voice.

My Wednesday Night Jam...

This is my favorite Culture Club song.  No special reason other than I love the lyrics and music.  Say what you want about the Boy, but he could definitely write great songs.

TMI Tuesday - I'm Falling For You

As always, thanks to Sean at Just A Jeep Guy for posting these.  Enjoy!

I'M FALLING FOR YOU

1. How does Fall rank on your list of favorite seasons?

I love Fall.  The temperatures are cooling off, the leaves are changing colors and college football is getting into swing. 

2. What are your favorite fall fashions?

I love the ubiquitous college sweatshirt. My favorite was one from my alma-mater that I would wear everywhere during the fall. Alas, it was stolen from a laundromat. GAH!

3. What are your favorite fall foods?

Pumpkin anything - pie, muffins, bread. You name it and if it has pumpkin in it, I'm in!

4. Have you ever FALLEN and couldn't get up?

No, can't say that I have.

5. Fall is the start of the new TV season, which show are you most anticipating?

Of the new shows I'm looking forward to "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.". For returning shows I do loves me some "Revenge".

6. What fall activities like apple picking, hiking, foliage trips, do you enjoy or plan on doing?

College football games and the occasional hike.

7. Halloween is __________.

The night Matt and I turn off the lights and head down to the basement or out to dinner to avoid the trick-or-treaters.

8. Do you dress up for Halloween?

Last year I did as a firefighter.  It was kinda "hot". LOL

9. Do you have daylight savings time where you live? 

Yes we do. I hate how it comes so early in the year and lasts so late.

10. Thanksgiving is __________.

Time to take a trip. Matt and I travel with the ISU women's basketball team almost every Thanksgiving. Chicago, Nashville, Reno, Honolulu, and this year - Las Vegas!

11. What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Stove Top Stuffing. I'm an addict. 

BONUS  
Do you FALL asleep after sex? Have you FALLEN out of bed while having sex?

One time I did. The guy was doing things that had me VERY relaxed. :-) Never fallen outta be though.

I'll Take "15 Minutes" for $1,200 Alex - Part 6

If you're enjoying this running story, please feel free to share it. :-)
(meaning I'd love to get 100 readers on 1 day!)

(Part 1)
(Part 2)
(Part 3)
(Part 4)
(Part 5)

Tuesday morning arrived. I'm pretty sure that I had not only a wake up call scheduled, but also the room alarm clock as well as my cell phone alarm set to wake me up. They all were unnecessary as I was up bright and early with a lot of nervous energy.

I had everything ironed the night before, so after showering and shaving, I got dressed and prepared myself for the unknown. The hotel offered a shuttle to the studio, so after getting a kiss and good luck hug from Matt, I made my way down to the lobby.

There were already a couple of people in the lobby waiting. After confirming that they were there for the shuttle as well, I sat and waited as other contestants trickled into the lobby. I was a little surprised that there wasn't more conversation amongst us, but I guess we were all just nervous. There was one talker, Paula, who was the returning champion from New York. She was a Chatty Cathy while the rest of us were quiet, like first day transfer students at a new school.

It was a pretty quick trip to Sony Pictures Studios. We presented our IDs to the guard at the visitor's gate and waited for one of the coordinators to escort us to the studio.  Robert and another coordinator showed up in electric vehicles and drove us through a maze of buildings to the "Jeopardy!" building. From there, we were escorted into the green room for the next step in our adventure.

The green room at "Jeopardy!" is just a smaller room with a conference table, couch, and a craft-services table with lots of tasty goodies on it. There are also photos from the show on the walls along with an attached make-up room and of course, a bathroom. The 13 contestants who were there for taping along with a few other production staff settled in for the beginning of our journey.

It was at this point that I met Maggie Speake, the assistant head contestant coordinator. And let me just say, this is a woman I will remember for the rest of my life. She is full of energy and can talk your ear off, but in a great way.  She tells stories that will make your side split with laughter. Maggie was our "head chaperone", but also our biggest cheerleader. At one point during our hour plus session with her, I asked, "Is there a two-drink minimum with this orientation?" She looked right back at me and said, "I like you." I was hooked.

While Maggie was giving us the run down of even more paperwork and such, she explained how the day would go.  During our orientation, each of the contestants would get their makeup done.  Then, we would head out for a practice session on the set so we could all get used to it.  We'd return for final touchups and then they would start filming.

The practice in the studio was amazing. I honestly think I gasped when I entered the studio - as if I had reached the holy grail. To stand on the stage at the podiums was the fulfillment of so many wishes. If this was a dream, please don't wake me up!

This was also where I got to kiss Maggie. :-) During our mic-checks, she yelled that she needed me to speak up. I don't remember what I said, but it was probably something smart-alecy. She said, "Don't make me come up there and kiss you." I looked up at her said, "Bring it." Maggie marched right up on stage and planted a big ol wet one on me.

I kissed a girl, and I liked it.  HAHA!

On the subject of makeup, I have to give their makeup artist a lot of credit. Damn I looked good! No dark circles under the eyes, even complexion. It was the best I had looked in a long time.

A week's worth of episodes are taped in one day. The show only needs 10 contestants on any one day, but they call in 12 just in case someone is disqualified or is unable to make it. Each episode only takes about 45 minutes. The schedule was to film three episodes, break for lunch and then come back to film the last two.

Here's the really interesting part - none of the contestants (other than the returning champ) knows what episode they are going to be on! To be completely fair and impartial, all of our names are written on notecards and placed face down in another room.  A lawyer simply selects two cards, hands them to a contestant coordinator who then comes to find us and says, "You and You. You're Up."

I also need to mention here that two of 12 challengers for the day are hold-overs from the last taping date (usually Southern California based contestants).  In the "card room", those two cards have stars on them which tells the lawyer that he must select those cards by the third game. This is so those contestants get on the show. The rest of us have no assurances of when we might get picked. The first two challengers were picked - my name wasn't one of them.

Matt arrived and settled in the studio audience. I made eye contact with him, but were strictly forbidden from speaking with anyone we weren't supposed to. One misstep and we were out.  They take things that seriously at "Jeopardy!" The challengers actually sit in one corner of the studio audience to watch the tapings. It's not like we're getting an advantage or anything. But we're also kind of in a bubble - no talking to anyone. They even have to escort us to use the bathroom!

On the first episode one of the challengers, Steve Unite, beat the defending champ. He proceeded to win the next two games leading up to lunch. Frankly a lot of us were worried about going up against him. Gulp. Lunch was held at the studio cafeteria. The show gave each of us a voucher to use for our lunch. It was an okay lunch - the nice things was just being able to relax for a bit.

On to game number 4 and I'm STILL waiting to be picked. Steve was on a tear, laying waste to all who challenged him. This guy was GOOD. I was hoping that up against him I would get some good categories.

The time came for the Game 5 contestants - nope, not me. This meant that I would be coming back the next day along with another challenger, Glenn, who wasn't selected. I was really bummed that I didn't tape that day, but I knew that I would be on a show the next day. Since the show doesn't offer transportation back to the hotel, we offered Glenn a lift back with us. He gladly accepted and we headed out.

The plan was to head back to the hotel, change clothes and the go out to explore. It took me a good half hour to get the makeup off - I learned that the mini-bottle of moisturizer that the hotel provides makes a great makeup remover. Who knew?! I got into some comfy clothes and we headed out for food.

A Western Sizzlin was just the ticket and food hadn't tasted that good in a long time. Matt and I played back the day and I realized suddenly just how tired I was. An entire day of being wound up really catches up with you when you finally just relax. We called it an early night and headed back to the hotel.

Wednesday was now the big day.

I'll Take "15 Minutes" for $1,200 Alex - Part 5

(Part 1)
(Part 2)
(Part 3)
(Part 4)

I had gotten the call and now had about a month to get ready. Of course at my school it's almost impossible to keep a secret, so when I returned to school the next day EVERYONE knew - even the kids. I knew the following weeks were gonna be rough trying to keep my lessons focused.

"Jeopardy!" had asked me to come out for taping on Tuesday, October 24th. Matt was going to come with me so we made our plans to travel out on the 22nd (my birthday) and return on the 26th. What most people don't realize is that even though I was selected to be on the show, I had to pay my own way out there. Flight, hotel, transportation - all that was my responsibility.

The packet of information arrived which allowed us to finish up making plans. The show actually has an arrangement with a hotel in the area for a group rate. With all the arrangements made, now I just had to get myself ready. A couple of weeks before the taping, I bought a new sports coat and got my hair cut. I think the hardest part was getting the plans ready for my sub!

Finally the big day arrived. Our flight was actually out of Kansas City, so the night before we drove down and checked into an hotel.  Since the next day was my birthday, Matt had stuff planned for us to do once we got to LA. Matt's goal was to keep my mind occupied so I wasn't psyching myself out before the actual taping.

We arrived in Los Angeles pretty early in the morning so we wouldn't be able to check into our hotel for a while. We found an IHOP for breakfast and then drove a bit around the city to get oriented. Fortunately we were able to check into the hotel a little early. The place was amazing - SLEEP NUMBER BEDS!

His big surprise for me was taking me to see the Anaheim Ducks play the LA Kings. I'm a huge hockey fan, and the opportunity to see a game live was a blast. Anaheim won the game 3-2 in a shootout. It was a wonderful gift and there was more in store. We then went to dinner at Chevy's, (sure it's a chain, but it's my favorite Mexican restaurant) and then to.... IKEA! The entire day was fun and a great way to start our trip.

Monday was our sightseeing day. We got up and headed out to see the city. We made our way to Hollywood and the Sunset Strip. A highlight for both of us was the chance to go to Amoeba Music. Matt collects records and Amoeba is one of the largest record stores in the U.S.. Plus, the brother of a very good friend of ours worked at the store. He gave us a tour of the place (it's pretty amazing) and we even got some nice swag!

The day ended in West Hollywood for dinner with a guy who I was in a fantasy football league with online. We met Ken at The Abbey in WEHO for a great meal. Hanging out in the "gayborhood" was a blast. It was relaxing just walking around the area and exploring the stores. (and checking out the eye candy). :-)

It was time to head back to the hotel. I had an early morning ahead of me and Matt thought it would be a good idea to get a good night's sleep. I got my clothes together for the next day and then time to turn in for the night.

Tuesday would be one of the biggest days of my life.

Sunday Selfie - The Week That Was

Fresh and clean, just outta the shower.

I haven't blogged in a while and I've missed doing so. But life gets a little crazy and writing had to take a back seat for a few days. I figured it made sense to use my Selfie day to catch up on life.

The first part of last week simply sucked. I got stuck in a deep funk and I just couldn't break out of it. There wasn't a reason for it, it just simply happened. I found that even a workout with my trainer on Monday couldn't even bring me out of it. Normally a good workout does make me feel better. But nothing this time.

A Christmas Gift for me?
You get the entire barrel!

Wednesday found me in a better mood, but I was simply exhausted. We had friends come over for dinner on Wednesday night and it was all I could do to keep my eyes open. I have been using a new app called "Sleep Cycle" to monitor how I've been sleeping. It uses the motion sensors in my iphone to measure how well I sleep at night. It wakes me up in a range of time so that I'm not waking up while in a "deep sleep". That night it measured that I had a 79% sleep quality. Good, but not great.

Thursday I felt really good and had a very productive day at school. We also had our first meeting of an after-school math program that I co-sponsor. That went very well and I'm excited about the group of kids I'll be working with. From there I was supposed to go play sand volleyball, but a pretty strong storm moved in and the skies opened up - thus, volleyball was cancelled.

After the storm.
Haven't seen a rainbow in a long time.

I ended up going to Sam's Club to get new tires on the front of my car. The were, um, pretty bald. It was there that I met the nicest looking tire guy I have ever seen. Oh man was he cute and friendly to boot.  I'm gonna have to find more reasons to get my car worked on.  LOL

Friday's Dinner - the 50/50 Burger

Friday went quickly at school - I gave a quiz. After that it was dinner with the boys and then off to an engagement party for two very good friends. He asked her that night and then we all surprised her with a party back at their house. She was very surprised and the party was a blast. We stayed until about 1 am.

Moon over Ames.

Yesterday Matt and I went over to Mom's place to help her with some stuff and then back home. It was a lazy day for the most part. I really felt like the week caught up with me as all I wanted to do was sleep - and I did! Today it's off to Kohl's and then sand volleyball in the late afternoon.  This will be a short week at school as I'm taking Friday off to travel back to Montgomery, Alabama for my 20-year college reunion.  Oh that's gonna be fun. :-)

My latest crush. Sigh........

I'll Take "15 Minutes" for $1,200 Alex - Part 4

(Part 1)
(Part 2)
(Part 3)

I had aced the audition, or at least in my mind I had. They told us not to, but of course I hurried home every day after work to check and see if there was any messages on the answering machine.  Alas, none. For the first few days of work it was at least fun to tell everyone about the experience. But with the new school year starting, I had other things to occupy my time, new kids, new student teacher to supervise, and I was officiating volleyball.

After a few weeks, I hadn't really forgotten about the audition, but it wasn't the first thing on my mind. It was mid-September and volleyball season was in full swing.  After school on a Monday I had a match that I was officiating in B.F.Iowa and this was before cell phone towers were everywhere. I had to stop back by my building to pick up some stuff that I was taking to a conference the next day.

Running way behind on time, I called home to let Matt know I was on my way. He asked me if I had checked the messages on the machine. I responded that I hadn't.  He said that, "well there was a message from my doctor checkin in about a sinus infection I was recovering from, and that, wellll.  Oh heck, JEOPARDY! CALLED!"

Matt was originally going to let me find out when I got home, but thought I might have a shot at reaching them before they left.

I was in shock. Matt told me the name of the coordinator to call and gave me the number. I called, but they were gone for the afternoon. Leaving a message, I told them that I would be at a conference. I gave my cell phone number and told them to "please, please, please feel free to call me at any time."

Was this really happening? It was a fast 30 minute drive home where I listened to the message two or three (or 10) times, making sure to write down everything just in case.  The educational conference was almost an afterthought to me. And really, I got little to no sleep that night.

The next morning I picked up my student teacher and a co-worker and drove down to Des Moines for our conference. I shared with them why I wouldn't be "focused" and we had a great time talking about all the "what ifs". Oh if only I knew what time to expect a call?! Knowing that the people at the show probably wouldn't be in until mid-morning (oh those Californians), I wasn't expecting my phone to ring until at least 11 or so.

I honestly can't tell you what happened at the conference. All I can recall is me looking at my phone trying to make it ring (doesn't work btw). I also made a list of the categories that I would love to see and the ones that I would hate seeing. After a few hours of my mind being elsewhere, we finally broke for lunch. It was a beautiful day, so we ate our box lunches outside. Over turkey sandwiches, chips and cookies, my cell phone rang!

Nervously I said hello and on the other end was a coordinator from the show. We engaged in a bit of small talk, "how's the weather, how's the school year going?" etc., then he got down to business.

"Well, we'd like to invite you to be on the show."

"Ok." (Huge grin on my face)

"Just have to ask if you know anyone from Channel 13, or these two firms?"

"Nope"

"Okay, then we're in the clear. We would like you to come out on Tuesday, October 24th for the taping. A package will be arriving in the next couple of days for you explaining the details."

"Thank you.  I can't tell you how excited I am."

"We look forward to seeing you next month. Congratulations."

Okay, that is just a truncated version of the call, but you get the picture. I hung up and my co-worker, student teacher and I all shared a celebratory hug. I called Matt and we figured that we would take five days for the trip. The 24th was only a couple of days after my birthday, so we figured to make it a birthday trip.

Finally, I called my boss, hoping that the substitute who was covering for me that day would be able to fill in for me in October. Andy got on the phone and I told him that I was gonna need 4 days off. When he asked why, I gave the following response which said it all....

"They called."

TMI Tuesday - Sock It To Me

This week's TMI questions thanks to Just A Jeep Guy!

SOCK IT TO ME!

1. What's your shoe size? 

I wear a 9 in a sneaker, which is pretty much all I wear.  Ok, yes, I do wear dress shoes to work (and those are a 9 as well).

2. Do your socks and shoes stink?

Nope.  I kinda go through multiple pairs of socks in a day, so they never have a chance to get smelly.

3. Around the house do you wear socks, slippers or go barefoot?

Barefoot, unless it's cold in the house (during winter) and then I'll wear socks.

4. What length and color are your athletic socks?

White, ankle length Hanes.  I'm so average Joe shops at Wal-Mart for his socks.

5. Do you wear normal dress socks or do you have some fun ones?

If I do have to wear dress socks, they are just normal dress socks.

6. Do you sleep with socks on or off?

Socks off.  Even when I take a nap, I have to be sockless.

7. During the summer do you go sockless?

Only when I wear flip-flops - which I do a lot during the summer.

8. Are socks on a man sexy?

It really depends on how little clothing the guy is wearing. ;-)

9. Have you ever used garters with socks?

Nope.

10. Have you ever darned a sock?

Nope.  Once a sock has a hole in it, it's dead to me. 

BONUS

Sex - socks on or socks off? 

Socks off.  But they'll be on the floor with his. :-)

Rainy Days and Mondays.....

Yeah, I'm having a day.  Not good, not bad, just a day. And I hate it when I have those.  I felt it building all day and the funk just kept getting deeper and deeper.  The funny thing is that nothing "bad" has happened.  I just get in these moods and like a quicksand pit, I feel like I just can't get out.

I had a workout with my trainer after school and while he was telling me that I really kicked butt, I felt like I was just mailing it in.  I know it's a deep funk when even exercise won't pull me out of it. Usually the "endolphins" kick in and at least make me feel better.

My "Mood Elevator"

I've been at Starbucks for the past 2 hours just working on grading papers and taking a little me time.  I get in these moods from time to time and I'm grateful that Matt understands.  He just lets me do what I need to do without trying to "cheer" me up.  I just need my space and eventually I pull out of it. Of course while I'm in the "pit of nothingness", it doesn't feel like I'm going to get out. sigh.

Maybe I just need a good night's sleep. It's been a while since I've really had a good deep sleep.  This is one of those times where if I was a religious person, I would trust in something bigger.  But, I'm not, so I just have to know that this will pass. And if it doesn't, then it's off to the doctor for drugs.  :-]

Sunday Selfie

A busy weekend and a quiet weekend all in the same 3 days.  Today's pic was taken in the Wal-Mart parking lot (had to pick up a few things).  Not my best pic, but I'm keeping the streak alive. :-)

Yesterday was the Iowa - Iowa State football game.  Matt and I didn't have tickets to the game, so we just went to tailgate.  We have friends that we join for before game festivities and this year the parking lots were PACKED.  It's so nice being able to walk around and enjoy the "scenery".  Yup, drunk college boys and other nice gentlemen to look at.  Just wish Iowa State could have actually won the game.  Ugh, a year of having to listen to Hawkeye fans talk about how "great" they are.

I spent today working on laundry, school work and, of course, watching football.  I looked out the living room window and saw the first sign of Fall, the leaves on the tree changing.  It's hard to believe that only a week ago it was 100 degrees.  Today it didn't even hit 70!  Now if we could only get some rain.  It's bone dry out there.





I also wanted to send out a big THANK YOU to everyone who has been checking out my blog and an even bigger THANK YOU to those who have added me to their blog rolls.  Today I hit 3,500 page views!  Your readership is valued and appreciated. :-)

I'll Take "15 Minutes" for $1,200 Alex - Part 3

(Part 1)
(Part 2)

Proving that I was smart was one thing, now I had to impress the contestant coordinators.  There were nine of us who had moved on, and were all now on the hot seat.  We all had our paperwork from the day before which was collected while we each had our pictures taken for the application.  That way when the coordinators go back to L.A., they can actually see who were are when they are choosing the contestants.

We were divided into groups of three.  Each group would go up to play the game and then also go through the interview process.  I would be in the second group to go up, so at least I would have a chance to center myself.  The coordinators told us that by passing the main test that we all were going to be in the "Contestant Pool", which meant that any time over the next year, we might be called to be on the show.  There would be about 1,000 people in the contestant pool at any given time and only about 400 would actually be picked for the upcoming season.

I knew that the game play and interview would be the final "weeding" step.  While there were nine of us, not all of us would make good on-air contestants.  The coordinators weren't just looking for good contestants, they were also looking for red-flags that would signal a not-so-good contestant.  I was determined not to give them a reason to not pick me.

During the game, one thing that home viewers don't realize is that contestants aren't allowed to ring in before Alex finishes reading an answer.  On each side of the game board is a string of white rope lights. When those lights go on, then it's okay to press your signaling device.  If you buzz in even a fraction of a second before that, you are locked out for 0.25 seconds before your device will signal again.  It doesn't seem like a long time, but in "Jeopardy!" time, that's an eternity.  So the trick is to anticipate the lights, but of course those are operated by actual people, so it's not an exact science.

While we were playing the practice game, the coordinators were looking for people who waited for the lights and didn't buzz in too early.  You're able to read the clues a lot faster than Alex can read them, so playing the game is really a question of reaction times.  I knew that buzzing in too early, too often could be a negative, so I really watched it.  I felt my game play went really well.  I answered questions, picked the next category / amount quickly and I used my "teacher" voice (speaking loudly without yelling).

The final part of the audition is the interview.  While we are standing up there for the practice game, the coordinators ask each of us to talk about ourselves.  It was now or never.  I made sure to keep my answers short and sweet (NO RAMBLING!).  I also tried to avoid any ums or uhs while I was talking about myself.  It was then that they asked about my embarrassing moment - when I accidentally shaved my eyebrows off.

When I still had a goatee, I discovered that if I left the trimming guard on that I could groom my eyebrows.  Well one Sunday morning I had finished trimming my goatee and removed the guard so I could take care of the stragglers.  I set the trimmer down and then the thought "Oh, I'll do my eyebrows too" occurred to me.  I picked the trimmer up and BUZZZZZZZZ - suddenly, no right eyebrow.  Now I have pretty thick eyebrows, so there's no penciling them in (I think I'd need to use a Sharpie).  Since the right one was gone, I had to take off the left one.  Thank goodness that this happened over summer vacation.  LOL

The coordinators were cracking up and I really felt like I had connected with them.  The last group went and we were told not wait by the phone.  All of us would be in the contestant pool and could be called at any time.  We were told not to worry, if they wanted us, they would find us. Now in my eyes, there were only 3 of us who would make good contestants. The others either rambled, couldn't pick a category or were just boring.

I left the audition feeling really good and thought there was anything that I would have done differently. Now the hard part - the waiting.

I'll Take "15 Minutes" for $1,200 Alex - Part 2

Part 1

I passed the first hurdle - the mini test.  Once I got home, I looked through information that I was given. First, there was a form for just my personal information.  Second was the declaration that I didn't know anyone from a number of different groups. The show works tirelessly to keep everything above board. If I knew anyone from those organizations, including our local NBC affiliate, I would be disqualified from being a contestant. Fortunately I was in the clear.

The last thing I needed to fill out was the "Alex" questionnaire.  These are the things that Alex would talk to you about during the short interview should I make the show.  The questionnaire listed suggestions of things to talk about - job, hobbies, interests, dreams, embarrassing stories, etc.  I made sure to write about my job as a teacher, our collection of hedgehogs, the love of women's basketball and my dream of taking a summer trip to watch a game in every major league baseball stadium.

We were asked to wear something that we would wear on the show.  Selecting my best shirt and tie, I made sure I had everything ready and settled in to get a good nights sleep.  My interview time was at 10:30 which gave me plenty of time to get ready and drive down to Des Moines.  Of course, I was excited, so it took me a little while longer to get to sleep.

The next morning I arrived at the Sheraton in West Des Moines ready to go.  Of course I was nervous, but I figured most everyone else there would be nervous as well.  At 10:30, me and about 120 other applicants were ushered into the ballroom at the hotel.  It was filled with tables facing a big video screen.  One thing I noticed was how everyone seemed to be sizing up those around them. "Jeopardy!" only takes the best of the best, and all in that room were trying to figure out who that was.

On the table at my seat was a souvenir pen and a piece of paper with 50 blanks on it. We were instructed to write our names at the top of the page and then given the rundown of what would be happening.  A 50 question test would be displayed on the screen.  We would have about 15 seconds per question and they would not be repeated.  One trick I used was to jot down a simple one or two word clue if I didn't know it right away, that way I could come back to it later.

Once the test was finished, the contestant coordinators would grade our answer sheets while we waited. They do not tell you how many you need to get right to pass.  This is for a couple of reasons - first, if someone absolutely nailed the test, there's still not guarantee they make the show and second they don't want people to feel disappointed if they were one or two questions short of the qualifying score. Those who passed the test would be invited to stay for an interview and to play a mock-version of the game. Most importantly, they told us to relax and have fun.  And with that, the questions began.....

The test went very quickly and I really wish I could remember some of the questions that were asked, but they were all over the place category wise.  Everything from history, pop culture, literature, food, state capitals, etc were included.  If you wanna be on "Jeopardy!" your knowledge needs to be as well rounded as possible.  After the test was over, they showed a video about "Jeopardy!", but in all honesty, no one was really watching.  We were all discussing the test and the answers.  I kept thinking, "Man, a lot of people must have done well on this test."

Finally the tests were checked and Robert, the lead coordinator, stepped up to announce the results.  He told us that only about 10% of those who take the test actually pass it. He started to read off names and low and behold, I was one of them. YES!

Out of approximately 120 applicants, I was one of 9 who passed the test.  I was kinda surprised, but thrilled that I had reached the next phase of the audition.  They excused those who did not pass the test and had the rest of us move up to the front tables.

Next up - The Interviews and The Game....

I'll Take "15 Minutes" for $1,200 Alex - Part 1

Reading MAC's Winner of Big Brother 5 story has inspired me to share my own brush with "greatness".  I hope you enjoy it.


I'm a fountain of useless information, always have been.  When I was a kid I would often read encyclopedias just for fun.  Add to that I've been able to recall stuff in the blink of an eye. In middle school I was able to beat adults at Trivial Pursuit - until they decided to stop letting me play.

I had auditioned for "Jeopardy" three times when I was in school - once in high school and twice in college.  The high school audition took me to Houston, Texas.  It was a big trip and my friends were kinda in awe that I was going.  In college the trips were to New Orleans and Orlando for the auditions.

All three auditions involved the same process - a test followed by interviews and mock-game playing for those who pass the initial test.  All three times I passed the test and advanced to the interview / game play round (Yay Me!), but unfortunately I was never called to be on the show.  I was auditioning for the Teen and College tournaments which only select 15 people, so I knew my odds were pretty slim. It was still disappointing.

Fast Forward to Summer 2006.  One afternoon while watching "Jeopardy" a commercial ran for auditions that were to be held in Des Moines.  I'm saying this openly - I honestly didn't think about going. After not making it years before, the thought of auditioning and not making it again was a bit daunting. Matt was the one who told me that if I didn't go and try out that I would eventually regret it.

The open audition was held at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines a couple of days before I was to head back to work. Over 1,000 people showed up to take a short test to qualify for the audition.  There were about 40 people in front of me in line (yeah, I showed up early) and had no idea of what to expect. I met a lot of nice people in line, although I thought a few of them would have been better suited for Wheel of Fortune auditions.

When I reached the testing room, I was handed a piece of paper with 10 questions on it.  I had as much time as I needed to answer them.  The nerves were building, but I calmed myself and looked at the list. I don't remember what the questions were, but I was fairly confident that I did well on it.

They don't tell you how many you have to score to move on. I gave the list to the tester and waited as she looked over my responses.  I'm pretty sure time stopped for just a couple of seconds, that or my heart. After agonizing for what seemed an eternity (about 15 seconds), she looked up and said, "you passed." Breathing resumed.  WHEW!

The actual audition would take place the next day at a local hotel.  I was handed a packet of information and given a time to show up.  The packet contained a few questionnaires that needed to be filled out and some additional information for applicants (a lot of dos and don'ts).  I drove back to Ames to start filling out my paperwork, and to decide on what to wear the next day.

Part 2 coming tomorrow. :-)

Taco John's

I normally wouldn't be caught dead in a Taco John's, but if the guy in this commercial were there, I would eat there EVERY single day!

So cute and SOOOOOOO my type.

9/11 Memory

We had a brief discussion about 9/11 at the beginning of school today.  It struck me that many of my 7th graders weren't even born with the attacks happened. For a brief moment I was at a loss for words as I realized that the kids would only know about this event through videos, stories and the memories of others. I knew that previous classes of kids are in the same situation, but somehow them actually being around when the attack occurred at least provided a connection.

When 9/11 happened, I was in my first year of teaching.  I was driving to work when a DJ on the radio mentioned that they were getting a report of a plane hitting the World Trade Center.  From the way they were talking, it sounded like it was a small plane.  When I got to my building, I turned on my computer to find out if there was anything on CNN or USAToday and there was a photo of smoke coming from the WTC.

One classroom had cable television and I went there immediately.  I sat there stunned as I watched the building burn.  After a couple of minutes, when I knew that my boss had gotten there, I went upstairs to fill them in on what was going on.  We had about 15 minutes until the day actually started, so we tried to plan accordingly.  Until we knew what was going on, we were going to try and keep the day as normal as possible.

The day started with homeroom and then the kids went to their "specials" - Art, P.E., Music.  Myself and the other "Core" teachers then gathered back in the classroom with the television to watch the coverage. It was then that we saw the second plane hit.  There were no words spoken, just silence.  We decided to continue to try and keep the day as normal as possible for the kids.

We hadn't realized it, but while we were meeting, the music teacher had the coverage on and was allowing the kids to watch it.  I don't even want to get into how much this bothered me.  There was no context for the students. I personally didn't think was a good idea for them to watch unfiltered. For high schoolers, sure, but not middle school students.

While we did try to keep the day normal, inevitably the questions started and I did my best to answer them for my kids.  They were a little scared and understandably so.  Towards the end of the day we gathered the entire school outside around the flagpole for a moment of silence.  I was so proud of the kids for the way they handled things.

I got home at the end of the day and was simply numb.  I called my Mom and talked for a few minutes. I hung up the phone and watched the television coverage.  I don't know when it happened, but I finally just broke down and cried. I had remained strong for the benefit for my kids.  Now, I was by myself and couldn't hold it back any longer.

I still get choked up when seeing anything about 9/11. When Matt and I were in D.C., we went to the Newseum where they have an extensive exhibit about the event.  It took everything I had to hold it together.  I honestly don't know if I'll ever be able to watch the footage of the tragedy without getting emotional.

Iowa Nice

I just felt this needed to be posted.....

Tuesday Stress Break

I'm sick of the heat.  It's just been brutal and I'm just tired of it. When it gets uber-hot, I get cranky - which probably explains why I was voted "Most Likely To Be A Crotchity Old Man at 25" in high school.  LOL  Okay, maybe I wasn't elected that, but the heat was hell in Florida and that was a big reason why I moved north.

So it was again in the upper 90s today, and while my school building is air conditioned and I keep my room WAY cold, I can still feel the heat in my room (the walls get warm!) and my body just KNOWS that it's icky outside.  Add to that I was late getting to school which already put me in a mood.  So let's just say I wasn't in the best place all day.

Fortunately I didn't let it get to me with the kids.  I put on my best face and made it a great day for them. But all I really wanted was just to be left alone to get stuff done - paperwork and such.  Looking back on it, I feel bad because I wasn't exactly Mr. Sunshine with my co-workers and that always makes me feel like a schmuck.

My intent was to go to the gym after work.  I've been given some compliments at work about how I'm looking and the plan was to squeeze in a workout today since I wouldn't be able to in the next couple of days.  Well as soon as I stepped out into the oppressive heat, I knew that wasn't happening.  It just didn't feel right.

What did feel right was some comfort food and when it's hot, that means a Mocha Frappe from McDonalds.  Is it nutritionally good for me?  No.  Did it make me feel better?  Oh you bet.  I'm thinking a nap might be in order as well.

The heat is forecast to break on Thursday - and for me, not a moment too soon.

TMI Tuesday - Over the Rainbow.....

Here's this week's TMI questions as posted by Just A Jeep Guy.

OVER THE RAINBOW!

1. How much do you love and how many times have you watched The Wizard of Oz?

I'm not a big fan.  Don't really go out of my way to watch it.  I've seen it maybe 5 or 6 times.

2. Do you think that Dorothy was a scared and lost little girl or was she really a murdering little bitch?

I've taught middle school long enough to know that Dorothy was not as naive as she led everyone to believe.

3. Will you be off to see The Wizard of Oz when it's on the big screen in iMax 3D?

Nope.

4. Have you ever been to Kansas?

Yes.  Many a time.  Usually can't get out of the state fast enough.

5. Wicked is______

A good musical, but it's no Les Miserables.

6. Where is home?

Wherever my husband is.  :-)

7. Who would you like to drop a house on?

Too many Republican politicians to count.

8. How would you "pass the day away" before seeing The Wizard "In the Merry Old Land of Oz?"

One word - Poppies!

9. What's your wish when you put on the Ruby Slippers and click your heals three times?

To physically be the man I've always wanted to be.

BONUS

The Scarecrow, Tin Man and The Lion - Do, Dump or Marry? 

Do - Tin Man (I love a man in uniform)

Dump - The Lion (too needy)

Marry - The Scarecrow (dependable, bendable)

Sunday Selfie #6

Had a kinda busy day.  We went over to Nevada (Iowa) to visit Matt's aunt and uncle.  It was a family get-together - Matt's dad, cousins, etc were all able to make it.  We had smoked pork, chicken, salads, baked beans and homemade peach ice cream for dessert.  It was delicious!

Then it was off to ISU for a volleyball match.  ISU played Illinois today and well, it wasn't pretty.  ISU lost 3 sets to 0. The team did not look good and I'm honestly worried that this could be a down year for the Cyclones.  Add to the fact that I had a headache building and there was a little girl kicking the back of my chair, and I was just put outta sorts.

On the plus side, I did see the cop who was working the match yesterday.  If I haven't said this before (and I'm pretty sure I have), I have a huge weakness for cops.  The Ames officer who was working yesterday was pretty damned hot.  Yay!  He was there again.  So at least I got to have a little cop fantasy during the loss.  LOL

Tonight has been grading papers that I've had all weekend to work on and, of course, procrastinated on. So I'll be up late tonight grading.  A teacher's work is never done.  sigh.....

Well at least Big Brother is on tonight. :-)

Saturday Fun

This morning I woke up early and wanted to get out to exercise.  Yesterday, I had an amazing session with my personal trainer and I felt amazing. Today, my legs were telling me that I might have overdone it and to maybe take it a little easier.  Originally I had wanted to get out and try to improve my bike time out at the lake - that will wait until tomorrow.  Instead I decided to ride to downtown Ames and take in the Farmer's Market.

There are actually two markets that call Ames home - one downtown, along with a market up near the shopping mall in north Ames.  Personally I think it would be nice if the two markets would just merge, but that won't be happening any time soon (big egos involved...ugh).  The downtown market would give me a farther ride, so I set off on the ride.

The market was in full swing and there were quite a few people there.  After doing a scouting lap, I ended up purchasing some kettle korn, artisan gouda cheese, and some snicker cupcakes to take home with me.  But I was hungry and I found the most AMAZING item for breakfast - Sombas Samosas.  One of the vendors is Indian Palace, a local restaurant.  This morning they were offering Sombas Samosas - puff pastries filled with diced potatoes, onions, peas and spices served with a tamarind sauce.  You get two for $3 and they were so delicious!

At the market I also happened to run into a few former students from my old school.  It was so nice catching up with them and hearing what they are doing in their lives.  I was remarking that it was always interesting that I remember them as little kids.  The oldest of the three students (who's now married!) responded that it was just as strange for them because he remembered being that young student and "looking up to me" - now he's about a foot taller than me.  LOL  Curse my short height!

Following my farmer's market trip, Matt and I headed out to watch a little collegiate volleyball.  Last night, Iowa State played the University of San Diego as part of the Cyclones Invitational (we lost 3-1...boo).  Today San Diego played the University of Illinois in the second game of the tournament. Both teams were ranked and we expected a good match. San Diego is a very well balanced team and their excellent play from last night continued.  The Toreros defeated the Illini 3 sets to 1.

We had another reason to attend the match - the coaches.  Matt has been smitten with Illinois's coach for a number of years and I discovered one of San Diego's assistants last night.  Fortunately, since it was a non-ISU event, we were able to sit VERY close to the team benches and take a few photographs.  :-)

University of Illinois Head Coach - Kevin Hambley

San Diego Assistant Coach - Chris Jackson

TMI - Road Trip

Since I'm getting more into this blogging fad (teehee), I'm taking on Sean's lead and answering the following TMI questions.  It's a great way to get to know me better and a chance for me to increase my readership 

ROAD TRIP!

1. Pilot or navigator? 

I can do either, but if given my choice, I'd really rather drive.  While I am a capable navigator, I'm much better at taking direction. Of course now that Matt and I have a GPS system, Andy the Garmin, it makes life a lot easier. All I have to do is punch in the address and off we go. Of course, Andy isn't the most accurate guide.  On occasion I honestly don't know if Andy knows where the hell he is going.  LOL

2. Were you ever able to read a map?

Oh my God YES!  I've been reading maps from a young age.  I loved just lying on the floor going through the Rand McNally atlas.  I would spend hours and hours just pouring over the pages. Both Matt and I share a love of maps - he always gets the latest state road maps whenever we go to a new state on a trip.  For his birthday this year I actually bought him a US Map that was actually voted Map of the Year. 

3. Can you sleep or read in a car?

If I'm not driving, more often than not, I'm asleep - especially on a long car trip.  I don't know if it's the scenery rolling by, or the hum and rhythm of the engine, but it just lulls me to sleep. Hmm, perhaps I need to do something like that in our bedroom so that it will put me to sleep at night.  When I'm not sleeping, I can read in the car. For long road trips I usually do bring a book along with me, but I don't get a lot of it read because..... I fall asleep.

4. Driving in the snow is_________?

Not fun simply because of the people who DON'T know how to drive on snow.  I've lived in Iowa for 18 years and have driven through my share of snowstorms.  Smart drivers know that you drive slow and steady along with making sure to pump your breaks.  What is frustrating about living in a college town are the students from other parts who have never driven in snow.  It's exhausting.

5. Music, talk or audio books?

When I'm just driving around town, NPR.  At the rural school I taught at for 10 years, I had a 35 minute drive - both ways.  To kill the time I would listen to NPR for intelligent conversation.  After a day with 7th and 8th graders, I would often need some "adult" conversation.  

In my next car I desperately want Sirius radio.  The radio stations in central Iowa are what you would generally find in most areas - pop, adult contemporary, rock, country, oldies, classical.  I really want a great dance station or 80s.  I could listen to cds, but I tend to just go for the radio.  

6. Pack a snack or road kill?

Road kill.  We almost never plan ahead with snacks.  It's just plain easier to stop and grab something at either a convenience store, gas station or fast food place.  

7. Direct or scenic route?

As much as I wanna say we take the scenic route, it's just easier to go direct. I will say that I am thrilled when the two routes collide.  Last September we attended a wedding in northeast Iowa.  The most direct route was also the scenic one as there weren't any major highways. The scenery was gorgeous and I was a little bummed that the wedding wasn't a few weeks later as the leaves hadn't begun to turn yet. The locals told us that it was amazingly beautiful.

8. Car games?

Other than spot the hottie.  Nah.

9. Can you fix a flat?

I can change a flat and have done so on multiple occasions - the most memorable being on I-35 headed to Minneapolis.  It's not the most fun experience, but yes, I can do it. 

10. Have you ever been or picked up a hitchhiker?

Nope.  But I have offered (and given) rides to people caught out during a rainstorm.  I figure it builds me up some good karma points. 

BONUS

Rest stops?

I'll stop at them, but haven't ever had any, um, experiences there.  But I have heard stories....

Cycling Progress

On Labor Day I went for a bike ride.  I had a headache and wasn't really feeling the ride, but I felt I needed to get out and try to enjoy the weather.  The photo on the left shows my ride - 9.56 miles in 54:12.  It was a good ride and the exercise did help relieve my headache (somewhat).

So this afternoon I decide to go for a ride after school.  I keep thinking that I should go to the gym, but the weather has actually been nice, so cycling seems more appropriate.  Plus it's another opportunity to get out to the lake in hopes of seeing some hotness.  Sadly, yet again, I was let down.  Sigh....

I took off from the house feeling really good.  I had no idea how fast I was going or what time it was, but I felt like I was flying.  For the first time in a while, everything felt in place.  When I got back home, I was pretty much shocked to see that I took almost a full 8 minutes off of my time.  DAMN!

My goal is to keep increasing my time and then start adding a little more distance to my rides. Tomorrow is sand volleyball and then personal training on Friday, so my next ride will have to wait until Saturday.  When I get down to 215 pounds, I'm going to reward myself with this little piece of cycling gear ----------->>>>>>>

I bought it last year and gave it to Matt to hide from me until I reached the 215 pound mark.  I really wanna wear it now and need to earn it!

Sunday Selfie - D'bag Edition

Matt and I went for a walk this afternoon out at Ada Hayden park.  The temperatures were MUCH more comfortable than last week.  It was still in the mid-80s, but there was a nice breeze from the north. Tomorrow will be even better with a high of 80!  Of course later on in the week the temps head back into the 90s, but we'll take what we can get. We ended up walking a little over 3.5 miles in an hour. Unfortunately, not a lot of "scenery" out there today, which we were kinda surprised about.

My selfie this week is after we had gotten back from the park.  When we walk I wear my baseball cap backwards so that I can get some sun on my face.  Of course this also means that I take on the classic "doucebag" look.  You know the type - the guy who had the backwards baseball cap, sunglasses, sleeveless t-shirt who thinks he's God's gift.  Yeah, that's the look I had today. LOL

The d-bag look is also one that Matt seems to have a weakness for.  We'll see a guy and I'll just lean over and ask Matt, "So is he douchy enough for ya?"  A good bit of the time I get a "Douchy enough". 

HA!  Good times!