Aurora's Blog

New Year’s Race 2014 – Part 2

January 6, 2014

Aurora smiling for her special event ahead Picking up from yesterday –

Mile one was crowded! I wondered, “Is this race much bigger than I thought, and are we gonna be packed in here for another few miles still? But as soon as we got to the 5k turnaround, the field thinned immediately.

As far as the idea that maybe I’d even out my pace a bit in mile two… I kept up a somewhat quick (for me) and consistent with the first mile pace. I was feeling good. So, let’s just see what happens. As we went on, we started going uphill. I tried speed-walking the uphills and jogging everything else.

There were SO very many inclines. I’d think, “this has to be the last hill for a while.” But then we’d turn a corner, and wouldn’t you know it? There’s another one.

I probably looked like a crazy person to the people running in the opposite direction in every turnaround because I just put on my best popstar face and tried to act like I was in very dramatic music videos to keep me going up those hills as fast as possible.

People think L.A. is flat. (Mainly it does seem that way.) But boy oh boy, go to the right areas of downtown and it feels like I’m prepping for Kilimanjaro!

So, we get to Dodger Stadium. I’m slowing down a bit on that uphill on the way in, but a 3 hour half still seems in my grasp.

Side note to the planners of the New Year’s Race if they ever read this post: I saw a bunch of people stop on the way into the parking lot of Dodger Stadium turn around right underneath that sign that says, “Welcome to Dodger Stadium” – to be clear again, the one welcoming you to the parking lot (and you can see the stadium uphill in the background) as opposed to the stadium itself – practically everyone by me turned around under that sign and stopped to get a picture of her or himself underneath it…

But here’s the thing. We run around and come out underneath the same sign. So, if you had a photographer right there, no one would stop on the way into the parking lot, knowing the photographer was gonna capture their moment under that sign on the way out…

Also, while I’m talking about perhaps possible improvements from a runner’s perspective (sorry, not to be too judge-y about it) – there were multiple water stops in which the tables were set up on the opposite side of the road than the one you’d be on if you were correctly running all your tangents. So, I’d recommend thinking about the placement of those tables – or it might work out nicely to have them on both sides of the street instead of just one. So, that’s my two cents.

Getting back to my race, somewhere around the Dodger Stadium secret behind-the-parking-lot place, I saw the 3:00 pacer. He was still far enough behind me that I felt comfortable-ish (’cause I saw him coming the other way on the turnaround…) But nonetheless, I saw him. So, I sped up.

I ran through the stadium, which was cool. Everyone was stopping to take pictures in there. But people were good about getting as close to the sides as possible so those who wanted to run through could continue doing so.

All I was doing was focusing, “don’t slow down!” I wanted to catch the 2:50 pacer and I wanted to exit that stadium before 3:00 entered it. (Thankfully, I got out of there before he got in. And I caught up with 2:50 in the parking lot.) I was so intent, I didn’t even notice they had professional photographers in the stadium. So, good positioning there! Thanks for getting those photos (and staying out of runners’ ways in such a tight space!).

I’ll pick up here tomorrow.

New Year’s Race 2014 – Part 1 (Ow)

January 5, 2014

Let’s rip the band-aid off and get to the tough part first.

I wanted to finally do my first sub 3-hour after having open-heart surgery. (Yeah, yeah. I know it was almost 4 years ago and I should be doing ultra-marathons and such now… I’m working on it!)

So, I wanted to finally do a sub 3. Time: 3 hours and 44 seconds!!!

Ouch.

Okay, now let’s talk about the race. (Let me just mention, that I thought I made it in under 3. So, I’m gonna tell the story from my perspective, and you can come along disappointment trail with me! :-))

I did everything right leading up to this. I’ve been training a lot, and seeing improvement. It’s slow, but it’s forward-moving. Overall, I think that’s what matters.

I got a great night’s sleep before the race. I’ve been generally restricting my calories, because I’m trying to lose weight. But the day before the race, I bumped them up to store some extra energy. I thought I gave myself a good mix of mainly carbs, but throwing protein in there.

I drank a bit of pickle juice before the race, ’cause I noticed that helps my endurance on longer runs. (I think that’s due to the sodium.)

I stretched out great – not over-doing it, but totally limber and ready for a long run. I got to the start line with enough time to spare so that I wasn’t rushed, but not so early that I was just standing around forever.

I prepped that a real half-marathoner! And I was ready, baby!

Aurora crying out why in pain of being 44 seconds off I started in the same corral as the 2:50 pacer. My goal was to keep her in my sights as long as I possibly could and to always keep the 3 hour pacer in my rearview. As far as I was concerned in this race, he was something I just wanted to run away from. It was as if a big giant dog was holding that 3:00 sign. (Obviously, with my huge fear of dogs, if a dog catches up to me, I die. So this was serious business.)

I kept the 2:50 girl in my sights almost ’til we hit mile 9. A bit after mile 8, I caught up to running alongside of her. Anyone who had been running with her fell off a while ago. So, she was just running basically alone at this point. (Though it did look like a friend she knew came over to say hi at one point.)

Anyway, I ran up beside her and said, “I know no one’s running with you anymore. But just know, I’ve been watching you this whole time and having you in my sights has helped immensely. So, thank you!” She seemed really happy about that.

But let’s back up again to the beginning of the race.

Before the race, I wondered, should I just try to stick with the 3-hour pacer, or should I go it alone? Obviously, I ultimately decided to go it alone – which I don’t regret at all. We could make an argument that maybe he could’ve gotten me there. But there were lots of hills in this race. And because the incline was constantly changing, I liked being totally in control of my pace.

But in the very first mile, I went out fast (for me). I was only a bit over 11 minutes. And I thought, “Did I make a huge mistake not running with a pacer because I’m going out so fast?!” But then I thought, “I train all the time. I know what I’m doing. Everything is fine. Let’s see if I can be slightly more controlled in mile 2.

And this is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

New Year’s Race 2014 Expo

January 4, 2014

Aurora holding bib upside down at expo As it was last year, this seems to be one of the smallest expos around.

I suppose that makes sense ’cause it’s a pretty small race…

Covered California – our state health insurance exchange was out in droves! They had two different booths set up and additional people in other places handing out flyers… They really, really, really want us to get some health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, baby.

I thought it was nice that they sent so many real people to answer questions about health insurance. And I hope some people got some health insurance!

Also, there was this organic fruit/vegetable delivery service straight from local farmers that seemed cool. But then I read reviews online and it said the food comes with tons of bugs in it/everywhere around it. And I thought, “I get that it’s pesticide free and stuff. But I don’t want an insect invasion in my house, and I’m pretty sure my roommate doesn’t either.”

The OC Marathon/Half Marathon booth was there. I told the race director I’d done his race in 2012 – the day after flying in from the Indy 500 Festival. He said he’d heard that was one of the best half marathons in the country. Then I felt sort of bad because my face lit up ’cause I completely agree with that sentiment. It is SUCH a good race! But you don’t want to be flaunting that to some other race director.

I did tell him that I loved about the mile markers in his race, with all the reasons why people run. He said I had a great memory for recalling that. (I do like to think I have a good memory, but it also helped that I blogged about it and recently finished sorting all my pictures from those races…)

The one thing that was almost exciting was that the announcer guy on the stage was giving away something to whomever’s birthday was closed to June 22. (I have no idea why they picked that random day.) I went over and said I was June 25… But someone else was the 20th. Agh! Just barely missed it.

Then I found out they were just giving away some protein shakes I’d never heard of. So, I was fine with it.

They played awesome music at the expo. Every song that came on was basically my jam.

So, a quick expo. Then it was time to get ready for the run which we’ll talk about tomorrow.

You Absolutely Do Not Need College At All In The Entertainment Industry

January 3, 2014

Some may disagree, but that’s my feeling on it.

I just wanted to state this for the record. I know that I’ve kind of hemmed and hawed about whether college is important. And obviously I sort of have a dream of working toward a degree.

And sure, sometimes, I wistfully blog about all my friends who went to normal colleges with their quads, and their groups, and their sports, and general college life. And it sounds sort of fun and sort of important.

I do like to be impressive, and having a college degree would probably make me sound more impressive. I do like to be educated. College could possibly help with that.

But just because I’m still working in reality TV (as opposed to scripted, or theater) after all these years, and just because I start to question my choices sometimes… it does not mean that I am trying to make people younger than I am question their choices!!!

That is the LAST thing I would ever want to do. And I’m SO sorry if it seems like in all this college talk that I am doing that to anyone.

The reason I know that at least someone must be thinking I’m doing that, is because I got an email from a high schooler’s dad. He said she (the high schooler) wanted to go into the entertainment industry. She didn’t think she needed college, but he was really worried for her to not have a college education. He asked if I had some advice that he could pass along, basically wanting me to “talk some sense into her.”

I can almost guarantee you he did not pass my email along, because basically I said as far as getting any further in the entertainment industry, college is useless. (She wants to be an actress. But my feeling on this stays the same whether you want to work in front of or behind the camera – just the list of “big name colleges” changes slightly depending what you want to do.)

I said if she can get into one of the big acting schools – Tisch (NYU), U Mich, Juilliard, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (if she wants to do musical theater), maybe North Carolina School of the Arts, or some others; it’d probably be worthwhile to go and get your connections, build your resume, and all that.

(He’d already told me where she’d been accepted, and it was not a known school.)

I said my true advice was don’t waste a dime on college because the entertainment industry is basically about perseverance, luck, and who you know (and I suppose maybe talent a little…). A piece of paper (again, from not one of the main schools) isn’t going to be worth it for you.

Get waitressing experience, so it’s easier to get a job as a waitress out here. Build up a savings – whether that means living at home for a year after high school, or whatever you have to do. Try to build a presence for yourself online (’cause that matters nowadays). Throw yourself into your craft, whatever that is.

But if she is sure, 100% sure, that she wants to work in entertainment, she’s gotta chase that full throttle. You can go to college anytime, but you can only be young once – and youth is everything in Hollywood. Get while the getting’s good!

So, that’s where I still stand on that. Even as someone who isn’t always superbly happy with her job and gets rejected and fails a lot (A LOT), who sometimes has those thoughts creep in of “will I ever achieve the things I want?”… And as someone who has thoughts of “I could be a doctor! Or a lawyer! Or many other things”… I still think a big school or no school is the way to go in entertainment (which is why when I was going to college, I went to Berklee).

If you have the money and you want to continue education your whole life – and while you’re hustling, you want to take an online class or a class at UCLA – I wouldn’t at all discourage something like that… Learning’s cool.

But totally dedicating 4 years of your early life to the possibility that life might not be what you want it to be, that doesn’t seem cool.

If someday we entertainment folk decide to do something else, we’ll know what else life offered us. Whereas, if you go to college with the pure intention of getting a degree so you’re safe in case you need to use your back-up plan… then you’re not focusing enough on your main plan! If you’re planning for a back-up, it doesn’t sound like enough of a back-up, does it?

My 1st-ish Semester at Harvard Extension

January 2, 2014

Oof. As I mentioned yesterday, I dropped my classes at Harvard Extension.

Basically, I signed up for two classes because my job was about to end at the end of September. Since it was ending so close (or close enough) to the new year, I figured I wouldn’t be working again until 2014.

(Not a ton of hiring goes on in November/December, so all I could do was keep fingers crossed for a quick hire in October).

I thought I’d have all this time on my hands. So, I signed up for two classes, thinking it would be cake.

But then I got another job. Of course, this is actually a wonderful thing. Who doesn’t want to work. But the thing is, my new job and old job overlapped for two weeks. One was days; one was nights. Between commuting and 9 or 10-hour days at each place, I basically had time to stop at home and shower before job #1. Then I slept on busses and at lunch (at both places). It was pretty brutal.

I felt I had to do it, because I basically never turn down work unless I just cannot find a way to make it work. I tried catching up on sleep/homework on the weekends. (Plus at one of the jobs, I worked on Saturdays.) I was holding on! Barely, but still… I was holding on.

Then I had a week of trying to play catch up, trying to feel more comfortable in the material and such. That week was followed by another week and a half of insane, crazy work stuff. I had to take over for the day lead assistant editor while he was out. So, I was working his shift, then my shift, and again the weekend.

That was basically when all hope kind of became lost.

Had I realized I was going to drop a class, I wish that, instead of trying to keep up with both, I’d focused on just one, dropped one earlier, and seen if I could make at least one work… But I didn’t.

The one thing I will say that was good about this experience is that I feel like I know some things better for next time.

1) My schedule totally got flipped on its head from days when I signed up for the classes to nights when I was actually taking them. For one class, that didn’t matter. For the other, you had to sign in and be present at the online lecture. Class participation was part of your grade.

But that schedule of course didn’t work as well for me when my schedule was going to be flipped upside down. So, I think if I can avoid it, it’s best not to sign up for a class in which I must be present, unless I have a longer-term job and am at least fairly certain of what my schedule will be for the entire semester.

2) Everyone says start with one class. But I’m stubborn. And I’m all “I need to live right this second and do everything I can now!” And I really didn’t think I’d be working since hiring slows down in the last few months of the year (usually). So I signed up for two classes. As much as I hate to admit it, I think the general advice of past Harvard Extension students is right – start with one.

3) Finally, of the first 3 classes you need to officially be accepted, one is mandatory. The other two you choose. I thought I should jump into the one that’s mandatory. If I have to take it, why not get it out of the way?

Because it’s not my strong suit. That’s why. It’s expository writing. I’ve never had to write a Harvard level paper with all the annotations and bibliography and all that jazz. It’s doable, but it’s hard and new. The other class I was taking was neurobiology. I really like science. That grade was based completely on tests. I’m a great test taker! So, I should start with something I’m strong in, build up my confidence and GPA, and then go try to rock expository writing.

So, that’s where I am with Harvard Extension right now – nowhere, really, because I dropped my classes. I did not sign up for one this spring because I’m trying to watch my money.

(Though at least I will say, as heartbreaking as it is for me to waste the money on the classes I dropped, at least I made all that money back in the extra hours I was working… Still would’ve been nice to not lose all that money. But for some reason, that helped it to sort of feel not quite like a loss… Just let me have that faulty logic to make myself feel okay. Okay?)

Anyway, I do want to hopefully sign up for one in the fall and try again!

2013 In Review – Part 2

January 1, 2014

Picking up from yesterday –

August: Joined the board of the L.A. chapter of Mensa. On tumblr and instagram.

September: Started my classes at Harvard Extension, although ultimately I ended up dropping them – which we will definitely talk about soon. In fact, let’s talk about it tomorrow. On tumblr and instagram. (I know the gif on tumblr isn’t anything to write home about… But I must admit, for some reason, I kind of like it…)

October: This was a fun month. I learned a fair bit about running in costume, and I had a great time dressing up as the incomparable, fabulous Wendy Davis. On tumblr and instagram. (I know I didn’t hit the mark exactly for how I wanted the costume to look. But go look at those side by side pictures on tumblr… It really didn’t turn out so bad looking back on it!)

October bonus: Saw Erick McCormack in concert. He was phenomenal! (Then I hugged him after the show.) On tumblr and instagram.

November: While working as an assistant editor, I got to do my first professional edit – approved by a real television network and everything On tumblr and instagram. (I sort of like that gif I made on tumblr. :-P)

December: The main thing in that month was getting to spend time with my dad (and learning that Oklahoma City is incredibly dope)! On tumblr and instagram. Only person liked that photo on instagram… I’m hypothesizing it’s because people just recently saw a bunch of pictures of that trip… or maybe I didn’t make it “instagrammy” enough with filters and such.

December bonus: I went ahead and added not being able to have kids, ’cause it just really excites me. Also, I thought I had some nice photos for that, and instagram is a visual medium. It’s only on instagram, because tumblr was always a day behind (since I decided to start it a day later). (Also, I didn’t have any video/gifs for that. So, not having that extra day on tumblr worked out.

I got a little filter crazy with this one on instagram, because you know, it’s instagram! Looking at it now, I think the photo on the left side turned out cool-looking with the filters. (I believe this is my first photo with 2 filters!) But the photo on the right has a different filter underneath, making it reddish. I don’t know how I feel about that, really… But overall I think the photos still look well together and that my intense happiness still shows through in the second one.

So, what did I learn from my year in review?

For one thing, perhaps it is not the very best idea to do something in a visual medium if really only half of your things are visual. (Although, I gotta say, looking at all my posts together side-by-side right now, I really want to congratulate myself on the use of filters in that last photo. It does look cooler, different, and more instagrammy (in a cool way) than I think all my other photos… So maybe anything can be in a visual medium if you do it right. Who knows?

Also, this year was so much more about work than I either would’ve liked to have admitted or possibly even realized otherwise. One month was basically defined by me getting into the union. One was defined by my first professional edit. Really. Those were the only things I could come up with for those months. So, there’s that…

I guess the moral of the story is perhaps I need to live a little more. I think you can kind of tell when I went back to work, because my life got so much more boring… I think you can easily work and still have fun. Heck, I was actually working when I met Cory Booker (which was a very cool event). I was working when I went to OKC, and when I dressed up as Wendy Davis. So, work doesn’t always preclude fun…

I dunno. I guess there’s just always a balance that kind of needs to be struck between work, dream work (like writing musicals), and living an interesting life. And since I did it by month, it’s easier to see where that balance gets sort of wonky…

I think the moral of the story is be more interesting (and work more on the dream work – that’s more important than being interesting)…. Though as long as I always take time to work on dream work, it is important to keep living. Just ask Jason Michael Snow in his new interview I saw today.

More focus on dream work. Less focus on day job. More overall interestingness, I think are the takeaways. Let’s hit 2014 hard!

2013 In Review – Part 1

December 31, 2013

Aurora De Lucia leaning over, tired, with her medal, at the Walt Disney World Marathon 2013 — One of my favorite race photos from 2013. I love it, and hope you do too!

Still learning the optimal ways to do years in review.

In 2012, I did not make a blog post about it. I remember at the time, it’s because I didn’t feel I’d done enough and that I didn’t have enough to say, so I just let it go by. Looking back, I kind of, sort of wished I had one… But then I realized I sort of do.

I was kind of glad I’d made a little movie each day. You can tell they’re very choppily edited… As with many things from 2012, I was flying by the seat of my pants. But I like that I have so many videos of myself that I can look back on.

I’m a little too afraid of videos, I think. It seems like the internet in general likes videos… For some reason, I feel it’s embarrassing when no one watched my videos. Yet it’s way less embarrassing if they don’t look at pictures or blog posts? I don’t understand the disconnect there. And I definitely need to work on doing more videos…

Anyway, this year, instead of 25 days of sharing (which btw, I think is actually a much better idea than what I’m doing year), I did a month a day over on Facebook and tumblr.

I maybe didn’t think it out all the way, because the middle of the year wasn’t as well represented in photos. Plus, I felt that the middle of my year seemed kind of dreary. That happened to fall on Christmas. So, I didn’t get a lot of likes on that stuff.

I’ll link you to each individual post, so you don’t have to go searching for everything if you’re reading this a while from now when the older posts won’t be quite as accessible:

(btw, please feel free to go show love on those other social media platforms. I love likes and tumblr reblogs and such. :-))

January: Goofy challenge on tumblr and facebook.

February: Taped The Price is Right on tumblr . (In my opinion, that tumblr gif is worth clicking on.)

March: I got that car, baby! On tumblr .

April: I met Cory Booker(!!!) On tumblr and instagram. (In that tumblr link, you can watch us hug! :-))

May: Joined the union (I.A.T.S.E – Local 700 (Motion Picture Editors Guild)) On tumblr.

June: Said goodbye to the theater I once called home when my teacher retired. This one still pulls at my heart-strings! But at least I got to help with the party, which is the only way I knew how to deal with my teacher leaving – by making it just like old times when we’d work on shows together… On tumblr .

June bonus: SkyRobics – my new thing for the year. (I try something new every June 25th. And I got to do this with my dad!) On tumblr .

July: For this one, I actually had literally nothing to say/show about/for the month of July. Truly, my only thing I thought about that whole month was my musical and perfecting my application to my dream musical theater program. I didn’t even get a callback. But I figured if I was sharing all the good, I should share the failures as well. So, sat in my living room, put on Midnight Train to Georgia and taped myself having an excellent cry. 😛

I’ll admit the gif looks a little weird like every time my hand swings out that I’m ready to hit something… But I thought it was fine, ’cause there’s frustration there. Not just sadness. (And if I do say so myself, this was one of my best looking cries ever. Not only did I think it looked pretty genuine, but my forehead didn’t wrinkle in any weird ways! (I have about a 2 minute tape of it in case I ever need it.) So, yay for me and me gorgeous crying. 😉 #EquityActress lol)

On tumblr and facebook. (Not a single person liked that photo… This is why year in review on instagram maybe wasn’t the greatest idea since again, not everything translates so well to photos.

More tomorrow!

Oklahoma City Kindness

December 18, 2013

I mentioned how kind people in Oklahoma City are in the last post. But really, the kindness and politeness is to such a ridiculous level, that it must get its own post.

I just can’t even… There are no examples I can write that are going to truly give you an idea of what it feels like to be in that city. Get on a plane and go experience it yourself. Really. Go now. It might just change who you are.

Every single person we met was overly kind and thoughtful. We walked through the convention center to get to/from the game just so we could walk in a warm area. Lots of people did this. So, it was fairly crowded. And some random man starting holding the door open (even though that meant he stood in the cold for longer) just because, you know, it’s Oklahoma City.

When the people next to me at the game got up to grab a snack, the man very kindly asked (re: my awesome (mostly eaten) baked potato that they sell at super cool Chesapeake Arena), “Would you like me to throw that away for you?”

At the airport, leaving, my flight was delayed by hours. My dad and I went to the airport early, ’cause he said if possible I should try and get on another flight to make sure I wasn’t late for work on Monday. As I was talking to the ticketing agent, my dad was returning the rental car. She said a flight left in half an hour. I mentioned, “Oh, I’ll have to run… I wanted to say goodbye to my dad.”

And in true Oklahoma City fashion, she sweetly said, “I’ll print off an extra copy of your itinerary and give it to him when he comes up here so he knows where you are.” It was so cute! Like I was 17 or something and my dad would still worry about me. (Of course, I’m pretty sure my dad still does sometimes worry about me just as much as he did back then (if not more).)

Even on the plane, when I was going home… since I was one of the last to be booked on that flight, I was in the C group to board. All that was left were middle seats. I hate asking people if I can sit in the center seat because you know how people like to have as much room as possible on planes. But when I asked the two guys in that row, the kind older gentleman in the aisle said, “We’d be honored!” He jumped up from his seat and immediately asked if he could help me put anything in the overhead bin.

(I have 2 pictures loving the snow... because I really, really loved it.) — (I have 2 pictures loving the snow… because I really, really loved it.)

I looked at him and said, “You’re from here, aren’t you?” He said, “How did you know?” I can tell! He’s got that Oklahoma City feeling!

Backing up to when I was checking out of the hotel, the guy at the desk was all, “Are you a Starwood Rewards member?” I said no. And he was all, “Oh, we’ve gotta change that right now! We can take your wi-fi off the bill.” (I get that that’s just awesome customer service that you may be able to find elsewhere… But still. It seemed in the same OKC kindness vein to me.

Also, at the hotel desk, he asked “Did you enjoy your stay?” I said, “Psh! Enjoy is an understatement! This has been one of the best trips of my life!”

We also ended up talking a bit about the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon they have at the end of every April. (I found out about it with all the marathoning stuff in the gift shop in the museum.) I said I was going to have to do that race. He said, “We’re the host hotel for that race!”

Of course you are. Of course the dopest hotel in the dopest city (well, besides NYC, but that goes without saying) is the host hotel for what’s almost certainly one of the dopest marathons.

Suffice it to say, I will absolutely be back. (I may or may not have snuck a peek at some apartments online.)

When I arrived back at LAX, immediately I saw people shoving each other, not paying any attention to anyone around them, smoking cigarettes in crowds with absolutely no regard for other human beings. Ah, home sweet home.

Pacers vs. Thunder Game

December 17, 2013

I can’t very well talk at such length about the yearly Daddy/daughter trip without mentioning the main event.

We got totally trounced. The Pacers lost. By kind of a lot. Which is a bummer, because we rolled into that arena as the best team in the league so far in the year…

But, let’s talk about all the fun parts of the game. First off, I won’t get into this too much now because there’s a post on it tomorrow. But, everyone was SO nice.

My dad was joking about how when we went to New York, the fans would be screaming things such as “We will murder you! Then we will rip apart your body and feed you to the rats in the subway!”

And in Oklahoma City everyone has the attitude more of, “We sincerely hope that we win so we can show off our pride for this great city. But you know what, you’re a worthy opponent and honestly we’re just hoping for a great game.”

Even though I had my Pacers hat on, the crowd took us in as though we were one of their own. The guy next to my dad randomly picked up snacks for us when he went to the concession stand. The guy behind us was dying to catch a t-shirt. I was so happy for him when he finally did. And when I turned around to give him a little applause and wink of approval, he tried to hand it to me!

I was all, “Oh no. I couldn’t.” And his dad(?) said, “Young lady, this is a gift of friendship! Don’t turn away that gift.” Well, okay then. If you insist!

Oh, and backing up to the beginning of the game, two things happened here that my dad and I hadn’t yet seen in our decade and a half of visiting different arenas. For one thing, the game started with a prayer! (A prayer. In a public basketball arena.) I was honestly flabbergasted. I literally cannot imagine them starting something at the Staples Center with a prayer. I’m not judging Oklahoma City for doing it. I’m just saying I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Then, once the game started, the entire crowd stayed standing until the Thunder scored their first basket! (They do that at every game in OKC.) That’s how much the fans want to show their solidarity to the team. I loved it!

What a sweet, sweet city. Even if our team lost (by a lot), it was still an incredibly fun game.

And I’ll finish out talking about Oklahoma City tomorrow.

The Pacers Stayed In Our Hotel! – Part 3

December 16, 2013

This is just a picture from our amazing hotel breakfast the day we left. (No Pacers were there anymore.)

In the last two installments, I admitted being a rude fan lingering in the lobby with the hopes of meeting the Pacers. The next day I found out I could’ve just been a normal human being. I didn’t have to do that, because the next day through no purposeful lingering, my dad and I happened to arrive back from our museum trips just as the Pacers were getting on their bus. So, we totally passed them in the hall and getting on/off the elevator.

(Side note: That same security guard was in the lobby and he gave me the stink eye. But guess what? I’m staying in this hotel! And today, I’m actually being a normal hotel guest! So, put that eye away, sir.)

I guess the moral of the story is, perhaps don’t be a creeper (like me). The universe has got your back.

The Pacers Stayed In Our Hotel! – Part 2

December 15, 2013

So, the Pacers posse is being cool to me, just sort of recognizing me with smiles. I’m not bothering them. Everybody’s being cool and nice.

But the hotel security guard is watching me like a hawk. I can basically feel his breath since he’s right overtop of me. I open my phone to try to sneak just one little innocent photo of the Pacers in the lobby.

Yes, this is incredibly rude of me, I’ll admit. Just because people are famous doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be allowed some privacy. I think that the super-on-social-media me in this instant blurred the lines between what is appropriate and what is not. Because it’s not appropriate to take pictures of strangers in hotel lobbies.

(Though, let’s get real. Andy Lassner and many others are always taking pictures of random people in airports and stuff if they think a hat’s weird or a facial expression is weird or whatever. At least my people were famous, so they have to expect it in some sense! Right? No, I know I’m grasping at straws and it’s really not appropriate either way. I digress…)

Anyway, I try to super stealthily take a picture. I could’ve just as easily been on twitter or doing something else. But because the security guard is practically attached to my body, he sees me open the camera icon. And he’s all “Ma’am. You absolutely cannot do that. You need to go back to your room.”

Oh, okay, sir. No problem. I’ll just wait here with the Indiana Pacers for the elevator so I can ride up with them!

(Seriously though, where’s the logic in that? If he actually thinks I’m any kind of threat at all, maybe don’t send me up in the elevator where I’ll see what floor they’re on?)

So, I get on the elevator. It’s all kind of a blur to me because it’s happening so fast. But I’m pretty sure that Roy Hibbert was the person in the back of our elevator because his head almost hit the top of the elevator! He was SO TALL! I had to look all the way up (like I would if I were looking at the sun) just to see him! (I mention him, because he’s not pictured because I couldn’t angle the camera the right way…)

So, as I’m in the elevator, I’m say super quickly, “Um, I know it’s rude. I’m sorry. Would it maybe be okay with you all if I took a selfie in this elevator with you guys in the background so I can tell all my friends I was here?”

Everyone in the elevator was so nice about it. “Sure, knock yourself out.” So, I did. I just got a blurry photo where you can’t tell what was happening… But I could tell.

As I got off the elevator, I wished them luck and got some big smiles back from them.

And I’ll finish out with just a bit more story (from the following day) tomorrow.

The Pacers Stayed In Our Hotel! – Part 1

December 14, 2013

Probably a little rude of me to sneak this picture... Yes, I did it anyway. — Probably a little rude of me to sneak this picture… Yes, I did it anyway.

My dad and I stayed in what I assume is probably the dopest hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. (Big props to the Sheraton on Broadway.) As if the insanely amazing breakfast buffet and 24-hour(!) gym weren’t enough… the Indiana Pacers stayed in our hotel!

My dad actually said as we were going to check in, “I wonder if the Pacers will be staying here” (since you know, we were in the dopest hotel and right by the arena.

After out thwarted Santa’s Adventures Saturday night, I fell asleep and my dad went down to the hotel bar to watch some sports games. When he came back up around 11:30, I was kind of waking up. He said the Indiana Pacers were going to be arriving soon, and I had to go see if I could catch a glimpse of them.

He said he’d made new friends in the hotel bar who’d recognize me.

I thought it was slightly weird to go wait for a glimpse of the basketball team, because you know, I like to believe I respect celebrities and whatever. And they’re just people like us and all that jazz. However, they’re all super cool super tall basketball players and why not?

So, I went down to the hotel bar. As soon as I walked in, Lona loudly said, “AURORA?!” I was all, “uhhh, yeah.” To which she said, “Your dad’s the sh*t!!!”

This was not at all surprising, because my dad is the life of every party. Sometimes people think I’m fun and outgoing. (And I like to think that too.) But then I get around my dad and the idea of me being the life of the party is just one big joke. You can definitely see where I got it from!

So, I talked to Lona and Ahmed for a while. They were riveting and it was fun. Finally, as it got close to 1am, you saw activity start to happen in the lobby.

I’ve never seen a bar close down faster. (Granted, I don’t go to a lot of bars. But it still seemed like a feat to me.) I don’t know if they closed extra quickly because the Pacers were coming and they wanted everybody out, or just because they wanted to go home.

So, the bar closed down. I thought about just going upstairs. But instead, I sat in the little area by the elevators. I don’t know why it became so important to me to see the Pacers. But it did.

So, I’m hanging out, very obviously not reading this pamphlet book thing they had out, because it’s not that big of a book. So I’m “reading” the same things over and over. A security guard comes and asks if I’m staying in the hotel. I say yes and have a room key to back me up.

Then the Pacers start coming in. Now, I’m actually wearing my Pacers hat. So I’m not incognito in the least. But the team and the crew kind of give me smiles and say hi since they see my hat. I shyly say hi back.

And this is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

December 13, 2013

In OKC, there is a memorial and museum re: the Oklahoma City bombing from the early ’90s. When I asked around as to what we should do on our vacation, everyone said we had to go there. Even at the hotel when my dad was inquiring what we should do, everyone said that was a spot we had to hit.

At first I thought, “Do I really want to go to a museum about a bombing, because that sounds really sad and serious and not vacation-y.” But, finally we were convinced and we went.

Now, we were all about picture-taking and memory-making on this trip. So, when we got there, my dad asked if I wanted my picture next to the main entrance. But I have learned from the internet! You never take photos at serious places because if you do, you will wind up being mercilessly ridiculed on tumblr.

But, we did take some photos of the memorabilia (as you can see in this post). I actually knew nothing about the bombing because (though I think it’s rude to bring attention to my youth, it’s just a fact that) I wasn’t news aware when I was just a child. (And for whatever reason, I never went back and read about it as an adult…)

So, it was interesting for me to learn a story I did not know.

Also, the museum was very engaging because they way they set everything up, you really felt like you were being transported back to 1995 when it happened. It led you through the events of the day. They even have you start by going in a room where they play a meeting that was happening in that building at 9am – 2 minutes before the bombing. Then a sound occurs and the lights flickr as though you’re actually in the meeting. So, I feel like that kind of helps open your eyes and set the tone for the rest of the museum.

At the end of the museum, there were all these glass boxes – 1 for each victim. And in each box/case, it had a photo at the back. And the case was filled with whatever else the family decided to fill it with. And I imagined trying to define people by one case. How do you fit someone’s whole life into basically a square foot? Can you imagine trying to be the family member doing that?

There were some cases where I thought, “This was this person’s life?” For instance, one just had glasses. I had no idea how glasses could define a person. But, there was a computer with the stories of all the victims and why their family chose the pieces they chose. The man with the glasses had been a government undercover agent for many years and that was part of one of his favorite disguises. It’s amazing what little things can mean when you get the story behind them.

I could tell my dad was really moved by the museum as well. He’s not one who’s much for souvenirs, or really any extra stuff in his life. But he bought us both t-shirts. Mine says, “live, laugh, love.” I think that’s one of the messages the museum was really trying to impart. You never know what’s going to happen. So, in the now, make sure you live, laugh, and love.

National Cowboy Museum

December 12, 2013

On day two of the annual Daddy/daughter trip, we headed to the National Cowboy Museum!

When you’re in Oklahoma City, how can you not?

Things I learned at the museum:

– Cowboys in some areas wore special extra protection around their feet while riding horses. (I had no idea.) There was a special name for those things… Daddy, do you remember what it is?

– People pay a LOT of money for art. The paintings in some of the galleries were for sale, and many had the bought dot. Someone paid over $40,000 for a painting.

The best part of the museum was this place called “Prosperity Junction.” It was SO cool! In fact, that was the tip I left on foursquare – that you must check out prosperity junction. (And, dearest reader, if you don’t follow me on foursquare, you can click that link and do it. I would love you even more than I already do, which I know seems barely possible.)

So, Prosperity Junction is this crazy super realistic life-like display of an early 1900s town. There are fake life-size horses. There’s a church you can go into. You can go in the photo studio and other places. And there are real sounds coming out of everything! There are a bunch of creepy sounds coming from the back of the train yard. It all sounds (and therefore feels) so real!

We also got a bunch of really fun pictures with statues. (If you want to see them all, you can check out my album either on flickr or Facebook – whichever is your network of choice).

Then we went to another museum, which I will talk about tomorrow.

Santa’s Adventures… (Or Not!)

December 11, 2013

After our amazing trip to Leo’s BBQ, I my dad and I headed out for Santa’s Adventures!

Earlier in the week, I’d been looking up stuff to do in Oklahoma City, and I couldn’t stop taking about the santa thing after I’d found it.

What are Santa’s Adventures, you ask? Well, there’s Santa ziplining – while ziplining, you try to drop a present into a chimney!

There’s the North Pole Climb – you climb up on SandRidge Sky Trail, then go down a 72-foot slide.

There’s the Candy Cane Rock Wall. It’s basically just a normal indoor rock wall, but Christmas-y, and you get a candy cane if you reach the top.

There are a couple more things. You can read about them in the link…

So, how amazingly fun was all of that adventure-y awesomeness? Well, I can’t tell you because it was CLOSED!

My dad and I went down to the lobby to grab a cab. The concierge was all, “We can call a cab or you can jump in this limo because the driver is doing rides for gratuities only.” What? Count us in!

So, we jumped in our limo like Oklahoma City ballers just to get there and be told that all of Santa’s Adventures were closed due to weather. There was also awesome snow-tubing nearby, but the woman at Santa’s Adventures said that was closed too.

We sadly went back to the hotel, and I fell asleep almost immediately (since I’m on a crazy sleep schedule and being awake all day had been rough…) My dad took a picture to make fun of me going to bed at 6:45pm. It was like we were at the Goofy Challenge all over again!

While we were bummed about Santa’s Adventures, there were more adventures to be had the next day, which we will talk about tomorrow.

Leo’s BBQ

December 10, 2013

I could never do as much justice to this story as my dad can. I wish I had a tape of my dad’s impression of the waitress – better yet, I wish I had a tape of our actual waitress.

Anyway, our waitress was hilarious because while she was extremely kind and lovely, she was so straight and to the point. When we got there and asked her what to get, she told us we needed to get this platter that had the different meats on there and she’d throw in an extra slice of cake. And that was the end of the discussion. She basically just walked away and got that for us.

Later, when we were talking about Leo and the restaurant. Apparently, Leo’s dead because she told us so straightforward and matter-of-factly, “Leo’s dead.” Again, I can’t really explain this interesting woman without being able to do the inflections. Just call my dad. He’ll do it for it you.

It was an interesting little place because it seemed like a pretty small, not fancy building. I don’t know that it would’ve caught my eye. But my dad had looked for places to eat in OKC and heard about this from one of his friends. I loved that he knew sort of an Oklahoma City secret. We got to eat like super cool locals.

Food = delicious. Service = hilarious & awesome. Great restaurant choice, Daddy.

The Flight to OKC

December 9, 2013

This weekend was our annual Daddy/daughter trip. Why not start from the beginning – the flight there.

On my flight to Denver (layover), I sat next to this very interesting woman. She was going through a divorce after over 20 years of marriage.

You could tell the news was still new and pretty raw, ’cause she was still going through a lot of different emotions about it.

But she was so real, I really like her. And she is ready to go out and do some living! Sure, she’s really upset. But she’s gonna leave California (get it, girl). And she’s gonna adventure. I wish she had a blog so I could check in on what she decides to do.

I love the Denver airport. It’s spacious, well decorated, and I learn some cool new facts about history and/or aviation – such as the story of John L “Jack” Swigert Jr. He’s from Denver. He was the one who famously said, “Houston we have a problem here.” Then he helped get everyone back safely to Earth. Did you know he was originally rejected by NASA ,then went and got two master’s degrees, re-applied, and got accepted to that mission? Did you also know he was elected to Congress (but died from cancer days before assuming office)? Well, if you didn’t know, you would learn it at the Denver airport.

After learning and snacking, I went to wait at my dad’s gate because we had a layover in the same place! Isn’t that serendipitous?

He finally landed (a little late) and we rushed to our next gate where we got to fly into OKC together – for the absolutely epic 2013/2014 Daddy/daughter trip – which is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

Packing For A Non-Marathon Trip?!

December 8, 2013

This weekend I went to Oklahoma City with my dad. It was insanely amazing and I can’t even wait to tell you everything about it. But for now, let me just tell you how odd the packing was.

For almost every trip I’ve taken in the last two years, I’ve packed for a half or full marathon. I’m always double checking all the important stuff. “Do I have the correct shoes, fuel, running outfits, socks?” And on and on. I still of course brought workout gear, but this was nothing like preparing for a running event.

The last vacation I went on with my dad was for the Goofy Challenge. I brought at least 3 pairs of shoes with me for that! (One for the marathon, one for the half, and one for all the other walking for the weekend.) Not to mention Shot Bloks, Gatorade and all that jazz.

But for this trip, you mean all I have to pack is normal clothes for going about a city? Cool. I just stared at my suitcase for a minute after I’d packed like “uh, am I done?” And I was.

Though, I was very underprepared to go to a snowy place. I only owned one pair of gloves that I’d bought at a race expo in Seattle for two dollars. I threw them out when I was cleaning out my closet. “When will I ever possibly use gloves again?” I’d foolishly asked. Ah, how living in Los Angeles mis-paints my perception of everything… Oh well, thankfully I had kept a little coat and a sweater. So, I was fine.

Still Curious How To Be A Price Is Right Contestant?

December 5, 2013

I’ve said before that I don’t have official information, but I have my strategies and ideas… Well, if you want official information straight from the source – Emmy winning producer Stan Blitz – who’s in charge of picking the contestants – was on the most recent episode of the awesome podcast by TPiR exec producer Mike Richards.

If you can’t listen, I think one of the big takeaways was “It’s not what you say. It’s how you say it.” But if you do have a chance to listen (and are interested in game shows and such), give it a try. It’s a nice podcast.

(There’s even an episode with awesome super celebrity whom I adore – Ken Jennings (which is how I found the podcast in the first place).)

The End Of BathroomGate 2013

November 25, 2013

I found this piece of old wall behind my toilet. (Btw, can we talk about how I literally have 6 different photos of me posing with the wood because I couldn't decide which look I liked best. Aye, aye, aye.) — I found this piece of old wall behind my toilet.
(Btw, can we talk about how I literally have 6 different photos of me posing with the wood because I couldn’t decide which look I liked best. Aye, aye, aye.)

I mean, there wasn’t really a “BathroomGate.” That’s kind of a ridiculous title. But because I value my precious, precious sleep oh so very much, it sort of felt like it!

In case you missed it, there was a leak below me. So the maintenance people came up and totally tore apart my bathroom – making holes in walls, taking off faucets, all that jazz over a multi-day period.

Once they were finally done, they left me a mess! (A mess, I tell ya!) I wish I would’ve taken pictures of the state it was in so you could see. But there was white dust everywhere (everywhere!). There were dirty paper towels on the ground.

(Also, my shower faucet is now on upside-down… but I can live with that…)

At first I was kind of ignoring it, pretending like if I just never cleaned up after them my bathroom would magically clean itself. Of course, that’s not how life works.

This weekend, I finally bit the bullet and went to work on it.

And I have to say, it was really fun. Why? Because it wasn’t just cleaning a bathroom. It was cleaning a bathroom while belting out all my favorite showtunes.

Is there anything I like more in this world than putting on my musical theater eyes and singing to my heart’s content? I’m gonna have to go with no. I can’t think of a single thing I like better.

It was fun to clean the bathroom in different characters. When Cathy did it, she was trying to rid her apartment of the memories of Jaime. When Elphaba did it, she was packing to get out of there. When Effie did it – by golly, the shampoo bottles, the Origins skincare products, and even the plunger – they were all gonna looooooooooooove her.

(But my favorite was when Rose did it – not because there’s any kind of special scenario as to why she’d be cleaning a bathroom, but because I love the songs from Gypsy so much it hurts. And 30 years from now, I will play her somewhere. I don’t care if it’s in a 20-seat venue. I will be singing that “some people ain’t me!”)

(But fyi casting directors of the internet, I’m ready to play Kate Monster, Olive Ostrovsky, or Cathy (aka (full-out sings): Mrs. Jaime Wellerstein) right this moment.)

Aaaaaannnnyyyway, I digress. Everyone except people who care way too much about musical theater has totally checked out by now.

I’m pretty sure all I was trying to say is that when something doesn’t seem like it’s going to be all that fun, it actually can surprise me when I decide to just make it fun. At first, cleaning up someone else’s mess in my bathroom seemed like the last thing I wanted to do. But I was having so much fun on my magic carpet rides, and in all the other fun places in my imagination, that it ended up feeling like there was nowhere else I’d rather be than cleaning my bathroom.

Once it was nice and clean, I felt empowered. Mmmm, clean, organized spaces. Feels so good! (And leaves you much more space for tap dancing when “I Wanna Be A Producer” comes on.)

I Maybe Shouldn’t Be SO Harsh When I Talk About TPiR Strategies…

November 24, 2013

In case you missed yesterday, I’m always calling out people who don’t play games correctly on game shows.

But the truth is, that is how I treat myself as well. Don’t know if that makes it better, but it’s definitely something I do in my life.

When I was in elementary school, I was in the math pentathlon. I lasted oh so many rounds. I was finally playing against someone for gold… And I ended up with silver.

It was unbelievably embarrassing. Think about how many years ago that was, and I’m still not happy about it.

Do you know why? Because I made an idiotic strategy mistake. I let my mind go for a second and victory slid out from underneath me.

I ran and hid under a bench in a far away hallway, and my dad couldn’t find me for an hour. He was pretty mad, but when he saw how distraught his baby girl was, I think he was sort of over his anger.

I am competitive. And I get really, really mad at myself when I wreck something I shouldn’t have. Because I know better! And when I make a mistake that’s in my control, I have no choice but to blame myself.

I will say that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten a bit better about it. I no longer hide under benches when I embarrass myself. I sometimes take off for like a 9 mile run/walk because I find that to be necessary.

On unhealthier days I lose it in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s instead of taking the exercise route. But I’m generally better (sort of – I don’t know, man… There were moments in my improv classes where I just did not want to see another human being ever again).

Anyway, I honestly wonder how the people who lose – especially people who lose at simple math/strategy mistakes as opposed to just on random chance – pull themselves together to spin the wheel.

When I won my car, I honestly said to myself, “Well I won’t guess 52 because it’s the only number that has my unlucky number (2) in it.” Yet, somehow I ended up forgetting that idea and guessing it anyway. Can you imagine if I’d lost, and the winning number coincided with my 52 half marathons in 52 weeks – which was on the freaking shirt I was wearing.

Devastated doesn’t even begin to describe what I would’ve felt. I would’ve been at that wheel with a face full of tears. I like to believe this whole, “I’m a good, grown-up, responsible, ever-growing/changing person.” But the truth is that 3rd grader I used to be – she will live inside me for the rest of my life.

And that’s cool. ‘Cause I adore her. I do love the whole “If you’re not first, you’re last mindset.” Sure, I think it can possibly sometimes sort of be a hinderance. But overall, I think it’s very helpful in life. And that would’ve certainly been her mantra had Talladega Nights been out back then.

However, even if we admit I’m not a perfect person and am slightly, perhaps too competitive (as if that’s a thing), I will say Price is Right is such an incredible blur of a day that I see how you could possibly lose something huge and still be in such incredible shock just by being there and the whole thing that you don’t totally lose your mind ’til you get home…

I always envisioned that if I went over on the wheel I’d storm out like a kid throwing a tantrum, but I didn’t. So, who knows what happens to people in the moment.

I guess the point is… well, the point is really nothing. I probably should be less harsh on other people. But you know, it’s a game show. Get your strategy in check, y’all.

The Fateful Mistake People Make In “Lucky 7” on Price is Right

November 23, 2013

man playing lucky 7 for a dream car — This was the person who narrowly missed out on Dream Car week.
(Photo courtesy @PriceIsRight twitter.)

“Don’t you understand how math works?!” I feel myself constantly screaming at the TV during The Price is Right.

So, this past week was Dream Car week. We’ve already been over how the 1st woman should’ve definitely won her car.

And now we’ve got another person should’ve won.

Look, I know there’s luck involved in most of The Price is Right games. And some numbers are basically arbitrary. (Seriously, how should I know if some trip or some car ends in 30-something dollars or 70-something dollars… You can kind of sort of reason and strategize that out, but not enough that you’re gonna win even close to every time.)

However! There are some mistakes that are just straight math mistakes. And that’s when it gets infuriating. I mean, come on, people! This is your chance! You’ve been given the gift of being on The Price is Right. Please don’t squander it.

And I sort of get it. Because when I was on 1 vs. 100, I made some really, really idiotic mistakes. I sat at home watching my square go read, thinking “What?! I didn’t get that right?! (Whatever that happened to be.)” So, I get it. With the lights and the pressure and all that. I understand if it’s your first game show appearance how you might make a fatal mistake without fully thinking it through.

But, honestly. You have to keep your head about you. You just have to. In most Price is Right games, you are not timed! So take a breath. (I know, I know. I’ve said that before, but it’s so unbelievably true.)

Anyway, back to math. We’ve already discussed the travesty that usually is “Pay The Rent.” But here’s another thing that gets me every time – when people make a fatal mistake with the last number in Lucky 7.

A random shot from the internet from an episode in which I don't know what happened with the car... — A random shot from the internet from an episode in which I don’t know what happened with the car…

In case you don’t know how you play Lucky Seven: Drew hands you $7. You must have $1 remaining at the end of the game to “buy” the car. The first number of the car is revealed for you. Then you guess each of the next numbers before it’s revealed. For every number you’re off, you pay a dollar. (For example, if you guessed the 2nd number in the price was an 8, but it was a 7, you pay $1. If you guessed a 9 in that scenario, you’d pay $2.)

So on dream car week – for a car worth over $80,000 – a guy gets all the way to the final number… and he still has $3 left to spend! Not a perfect scenario, but at least you have breathing room.

Now, I’ve seen this same type of scenario before during Lucky 7. People get to the end, they get nervous, and just guess a lucky number or a 9 since people think car numbers always end in 9. But here’s the thing… You no longer need to worry about saving any dollars (except of course the one to buy the car)! You need to give yourself as wide of a range as you possibly can.

So, in this dream car week instance – when you have 3 dollars left to lose (in addition to the dollar you need to save), you should never guess anything under the number 4. (Guessing 4 already automatically gives you 1, 2, & 3 since you have a $3 buffer (and there are no 0s in this game.) And you should never guess anything over 6 for the same reason.

Now, if you guess 4, 5, or 6 and you’re still off, then okay. Sucks for you. The last number is sort of arbitrary. What can you really do about it?

But if you guess 7, then the world is going to be screaming at you!

The man guessed 7. And the worst part – the last number in the car was 3!(!!!)

I was yelling at the TV to guess 6 because I feel like cars often do end in 9, 5, or 0. (And 0 isn’t an option in this game.) So, I thought 6 would be the safest bet… And it was a safe bet. But one the guy didn’t take.

And this is a mistake in Lucky 7 that’s been made multiple times!

So, not to be mean to the people who I know are under pressure, many of whom have probably never been on a game show. But I just have to ask again – Do you not know how math works?

Did You See Today’s Gut-Wrenching, Heart-Breaking Price is Right?

November 18, 2013

*spoiler alert*

I love watching part of The Price is Right when I eat breakfast every morning. (That’s not the spoiler, by the way.)

This morning, I literally almost cried for the woman. So, it’s Dream Car week on TPiR. She was playing for a Porsche – a car worth over $90,000!

She was playing this game called Temptation. I don’t know if you watch Price is Right. But in the game Temptation, they bring out 4 prizes that are just yours to keep if you so choose. In each of those prizes there are only two distinct numbers. (Example: something worth $2112.) You choose from those two numbers which one goes in the next number of the price of the car.

The temptation of the game is that you can just take your prizes and call it a day, or play for the car. If you choose to play for the car and you get it, then you also get your prizes. But if you miss any numbers, you lose everything.

On a normal day with a normal car, to me, it seems like it’s all about what the prizes are. Generally, they only total about $4,000. So, I think most of the time it’s worth it to try to go for the car. But every once in a while, you’ll get all pretty useful and cool stuff (like cash, a new bicycle, and some iPads). When loot like that comes up, I’m sort of like, “eh. Enjoy your stuff. The chances of randomly picking these somewhat arbitrary numbers of the car aren’t excellent.”

But when a Porsche is on the line(!) In the words of Michael Jackson, cha’ mone, man. Cha’ mone!

The prizes weren’t even that great. It was like $2,000 in cash, a karaoke machine, a crappy non-Mac laptop and something else that obviously isn’t even memorable. Who wants that crap? What are you going to do with that laptop?!

But the sweet older woman was like, “Drew, I’ve been watching this show forever. I’m so happy to be here. I want to go home with something. I’m taking the prizes.”

He tried to convince her. “You sure you want to just take $4,000 worth of prizes and not go for the $90,000 car?”

She turned to the audience. Of course everyone was screaming at her to go for the car. But she played it safe…

I was in disbelief. Before, I’d been rooting for all of her numbers to be right so she could win. But now I was hoping beyond hope that at least one was wrong – otherwise this would be devastating.

As he revealed each correct number, the audience response got bigger and bigger. (My response did too at home. My mouth got wider and my back got stiffer with each one.) Finally, there was only one more number to be revealed. And she had it RIGHT!

I literally screamed because I could not even believe it in that moment. She had tears welling in her eyes. It was AWFUL. So very, very awful…

Um, How Did I Even Do Those 52 Half Marathons?

November 16, 2013

This morning, I was lying in bed thinking about how if this were last year, I would’ve been getting to a start line in about 3 hours for something around race #44. What?!

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been working out a ton lately. (Yeah, marathon training!) So, I’m not surprised that I love running (and walking) and wanted to do it every week.

But seriously?! All those early mornings. All that traveling.

At the time it just seemed normal. I mean, it seemed somewhat tiring now and again. But generally, it just seemed like “Of course I’m going to a race. This is my project this year. And that’s what happening.” I sometimes wondered why people thought it was a big deal. I was all, “Yeah, it’s cool and all. But it seems somewhat normal to me.”

But now that my life has kind of settled, and I’m not doing anything crazy like that this year, I’m like, “How in the heck did that year happen?” It just seems so tiring! And I’m a bit in disbelief in this moment that it happened.

Although, I’ll admit, it was super fun. And I would do something like it all over again in a heartbeat.

Maybe You Actually Can Strategize The Wheel?

November 11, 2013

I’ve said before that the Price is Wheel is mainly just luck/fate/what have you – that you could spin all day and potentially never spin $1.

But I think that actually might not be true.

Sometimes I watch The Price is Right and some wheel scenario will happen. For instance, someone will end up doing two spins that add up to a dollar – but in their second spin you’ll be able to tell they ended almost halfway around the wheel from where they started.

Then, in their bonus spin, if they know the last spin they did took them to the other half of the wheel, they should spin differently to try and make it so they land in the dollar area. That may mean spinning much less hard, trying to finesse the wheel. Or it may mean spinning a good amount harder to try and get back to the dollar area. But either way, if you’ve seen you end up all the way on the other side of the wheel, maybe a different spin strategy is in order if you need to try to get back to where you started.

Now, of course it’s not gonna be an exact science since you haven’t gotten to practice with the wheel beforehand. But you can still make an educated guess to improve your odds.

I don’t know about you, but I’d never really thought about that before. I always thought about my “lucky spin” – the way I’d spin the wheel if I ever got on the show – how many clicks I’d go up before I went down (3), and all that jazz. But I never thought, “Okay, watch the 1st spin. See where you start and end and judge if you want to do that approximate distance again… And if not, change up your spin.

But as a viewer who sees that all the time now (of course everything looks more simple at home), I think there is at least maybe a way to semi-strategize the wheel. (That’s assuming you need a second or bonus spin. For the first one, all I can say is good luck.)

One Reason I Love Older Music

November 7, 2013

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons posing together — photo credit: Last FM

As if I even need a special reason since older music is freaking awesome.

But today on the elliptical, I was listening to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. And one of the things I really love about music from a certain era is that they leave the mistakes!

There’s this part toward about 30 seconds in where the boys are singing “who says they don’t cry,” but one person kind of forgets where he is and starts to sing “that’s just an alibi.” And they just left it.

Nowadays we play with every single part of the song and record each track individually. Perfection is fun and cool in its own way. I don’t dislike music of today or think it’s worse than older music. But there’s something fun about hearing the mistakes and the takes just as is.

(I first made this revelation of love at Berklee, and thought about it today and thought I would share.)

And That’s Why You Always Bid One Dollar Over!

November 3, 2013

The other day, I watched an episode of The Price is Right on my DVR.

You know how I never realized until I went on the show how much disdain there was for people who dare bid $1 over someone in contestants’ row – but I’ve always been on the side of the person doing it…

Well, I saw an episode where the 3rd woman to bid said $500. The last woman to bid said $510. The actual retail price was $503!

That my friends is why you ALWAYS bid only $1 over. Seriously. I don’t care who thinks it’s “nice” or “fair” or whatever. It’s plenty fair because of the way they do the rotation and because that’s just smart gameplay strategy.

Does it suck to have someone bid $1 over you? Yes. I know because it happened to me in my first round down there! But I was totally fine with it, ’cause that’s how you play The Price is Right. That’s how it works.

I’m down with those bidding only $1 over. Learn from the mistake of Ms. $510. Be smart and strategic in contestants’ row. You only get a shot in contestants’ row once every 10 years (if you’re lucky). Make it count.

Dressing As Wendy Davis – Part 2

November 1, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

I like my hairdresser a lot. She’s funny and kind. And my hair is back to brown now and looking dope because of her. However, in an effort to save me money (which was sweet of her), she recommended I only do partial highlights instead of full. Now, not only did we do partial highlights, but we did all over color. So, I figured all over I’d be blonde but in the highlighted part, I’d just be more blonde.

Well, the under part of my hair still turned out looking dark – it seemed almost the same as just my natural color (which looked pretty darn dark in comparison to that super Wendy David blonde. Granted, in the right angles you couldn’t tell. However, my hair was floating all over the place. So, some pictures looked awesome. Some it looked like I had two completely different heads of hair that got mushed together on me.

Of course, it’s nothing a little photo-editing wouldn’t be able to fix. But I guess the lesson is if you’re going blonde, you need all them highlights, baby!

If the outfit and the hair were both a bit of a mess, that means practically the whole thing was a mess…

Also, when I first decided as whom I wanted to dress, I thought, Wendy Davis will be perfect! It’ll be this huge change, ’cause I’ll be blonde. So, that’ll look costume-y. Not to mention, she wore these great running shoes. Running shoes are part of the costume! How perfect is that for a half marathon?

Well, what I learned is when everyone is wearing cool running shoes, no one realizes they are part of your costume. When the defining piece is something everyone overlooks, it does not a good costume make.

Not to mention, none of the strangers knew that I didn’t used to be blonde! So, that also didn’t help anything.

Also, in general, way fewer people knew who she was than I expected. No one recognized me as her (though granted, I’ve said my costume was no good). And even when I said, “I’m running as Wendy Davis,” everyone was all “who’s Wendy Davis?”

Also, I didn’t do a good job anytime I had to do any posing, ’cause I’d always trying to be posing cutesy to try and wrap my legs to make them look skinner. But Wendy Davis doesn’t have to act cutesy. She’s a strong woman who just exudes confidence. And she’s gorgeous without acting cutesy. So, I didn’t feel like I embodied her at all – especially when I’m running with my butt practically hanging out.

Basically, it seemed like my idea which I thought was super great ended up being a total bust. So, sorry Wendy Davis. Sorry creative people of the world who could’ve executed this better. Let’s hope next year goes better.

Dressing As Wendy Davis – Part 1

October 31, 2013

I was super duper stoked to dress as Wendy Davis for this half marathon.

But alas, I didn’t do the best job.

Let’s break down all the problems. Oh boy, oh boy. Where to even begin.

Well, let’s get to the biggest problem first.

I don’t love that for some reason all women’s Halloween costumes have to end up being the sexy version of whatever they are.

So, I wanted to go as this inspiring, strong, wonderful woman. Yet somehow I ended up as sexy Wendy Davis (as if she could be any sexier than she already is).

I looked around for a Wendy Davis costume online but couldn’t find one. I looked for one of those “get her look for cheap” articles about what she wore during her filibuster. But again, I couldn’t find one. Gah.

So, I called the wonderful woman who used to do my costumes in high school. Unfortunately, she wasn’t available to make this one. Well, without her, I’m totally lost. I put the task up on Task Rabbit ’cause I didn’t know what else to do. Of course, later I remembered I’ve worked with wonderful professional costumers. So, how I forgot about that, who knows?

Anyway, I just went with the one person who bid on making the costume. She was incredibly nice. However, the costume didn’t fit me all that well. It was really loose at the top of my stomach and really tight at my hips. It was also too short – especially for a running outfit, ’cause you know it’s gonna ride up.

She said she’d alter it. The night before the race, she left it for me outside my door. She didn’t even ring the bell or call or anything to let me know she was here. She just waited ’til the last minute, left it, and ran away. I’m thinking it’s because she ended up not adding the extra inches of fabric she said she would.

At that point, I almost didn’t want to wear it. I didn’t want to go as slutty Wendy Davis! But then I thought, I’m already in this, y’all. Hair’s dyed. Shoes are bought. I’m freaking doing this. (This is why I wore pants for the majority of the race.)

Also, the jacket didn’t really seem to be the right fabric, and on Wendy’s there looked to be grey in there. Not on mine. I dunno. It wasn’t perfect is the point.

And I didn’t leave enough time to order one of the orange buttons Wendy Davis had worn. The girl who made my costume said she’d make one – but in the end, she didn’t. So, I ended up just writing the words (stop the war on Texas women) on orange construction paper and taping it to a button. Janky.

Besides the outfit, I also had problems with the hair.

That’s where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

Dressing In Costume For A Distance Race

October 30, 2013

Oh boy, oh boy.

This was the first time I’d dressed in costume for a distance race. As with most new experiences, I feel like I learned a few things. So, I thought today I’d share some general ideas/advice. But tomorrow I’ll talk more specifically about my costume.

I really wanted to dress as Wendy Davis because she’s awesome. However, this costume run was basically the last thing on my priority list with other life stuff going on. (It’s been a busy time at work.)

I felt like I kind of left things to the last minute. This is something I do not recommend. If possible, you should have time to run around in your costume for a bit of time. I got my costume at my door the night before the race. So, if it wasn’t perfect (which it totally wasn’t), I just had to deal and go.

Also, it’s smart to think your costume through, y’all. I saw someone running by with ET. He carried an ET doll in a crate for 13 freaking miles. (Or at least, I assume I did. I think it was around 6 when I saw him and he looked tired. I would’ve looked tired too! I do not have the kind of upper body strength to carry a little crate around for 13 miles. Uh huh. No way.

I also saw a few different people who had make up covering their entire face because they were mimes or rag dolls or what have you. These people looked pretty miserable around mile 7, with many wiping the color all around and off their face.

I’m sure these costumes were great ideas in theory. But don’t forget – you’re gonna sweat.

Granted, I saw a couple people who went all freaking out who looked great. If you can rock a green mask and a wig and whatever else you need for 13.1 miles, please, by all means, do it to it.

But for the rest of us mere mortals my piece of advice for myself and others in future years – do something easy to run in, practice in it early, and stay away from make up that’s gonna melt all over you.

Good luck, get creative, and please let me know your tips!

Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles (2013) – Part 3

October 29, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

So, I kind of kept my head down and sort of got in a bit of a zone. I wanted to keep as close to 15-minute miles as I could this race. I know that’s not fast. But recently I’ve been working more on speed for short distances and I haven’t done a ton of distance training. So, I basically just wanted to keep a great walking pace up, comfortably getting all 13.1 miles in without hurting myself.

I held on to approx. 15-minute miles for almost the entire race. There’s a huge incline somewhere around mile 9 or 10. I slowed down a fair amount for that. That mile felt more like a mile and a half. But I just kept on pushing through.

I really loved the fun Halloween punned signs such as “your ghoul today is the finish line.” Cute, right?

I also loved this cheerleading squad that had painted faces. That’s some determination, man. Cheering in super full makeup for hours.

Once I reached mile 13 (with only .1 to go), I veered off the course and ran up to my apartment!

I thought, “Hey man, if you’re gonna dress in costume and live in a super convenient place, you might as well finish looking as sharp as possible.”

My roommate was like “uh, are you even allowed to do this?” Valid question. ‘Cause we’re actually probably not supposed to go off the course. But I figured if I exited and entered at the same place, not cutting off any mileage, that it was basically the same as if I were to stop to high five my family or get a drink or take a stretch break of something. I just went a little farther off course than I usually would.

So, I went into my apartment, took off the hat, put the pearl necklace back on, ripped off my pants.

(Don’t fret too much. I had shorts on under my dress – not comfortable running shorts, by the way, that for some strange terrible reason I decided to wear under my pants the entire race as if I couldn’t spare 5 extra seconds to put them on after I took my pants of in my own apartment. Oh no, no, no. They had to just be on me the whole time. (Stupid last minute morning decisions – this is why you should always practice in your running costume so you figure this stuff out!)

I then proceeded to put on mascara and throw on a bit of foundation. (That would be all the make-up I own in this world.) I took my pigtails down then headed back out for my last .1 stretch of photos ops.

Boy was that dress short! Sorry, Wendy Davis.

Anyway, successful race. Somewhat successful photo ops – even if I unfortunately did dress a bit like slutty Wendy Davis. (Here’s the explanation of all that.)

Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles (2013) – Part 2

October 28, 2013

man in silly costume at Rock n Roll Los Angeles half marathon 2013 — The silly (fun) men who took a picture of themselves on my phone.

Picking up from yesterday –

So, I took my photos to tweet. Another person took some individual shots of me. Then he put a picture on my phone of him and his buddy. I told him I’d tweet it to him. He was excited, but said he didn’t really use twitter. He told me his handle was @LarryRich, but when I went to tweet him I found out that handle didn’t exist. Come on people, learn your twitter handles, ’cause twitter’s the greatest thing in the world. (Sorry if I sound slightly harsh on this guy, ’cause he was really nice.)

After I had some pictures of me in the Wendy Davis garb, I went back over to my apartment to modify my costume for the actual running of the race. I put on pants. (Again, we’ll get to why later… I’m realizing I probably should’ve started with the costume post, but it’s too late now, people!) I took off the pearl necklace so it wasn’t jingle-jangling. I put my hair in pigtails, and grabbed a hat (a special “I Stand With Wendy Davis” hat that I got just for this).

Then I made sure Joy was up. (I don’t know if you remember Joy from last year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego. But now we’re buds and she came to stay with me as every person who ever does this race should do.)

We went down after the race had already started. Even still, there was plenty of time to wait in the farther back corral I was in.

The one thing I really dislike about this race is that the proceeds go to ASPCA. Oh boy. Here we go with the whole not liking animals thing where I’m sure I lose some of you. But when the proceeds are going to an animal charity, we get all these animal lovers and tons of people wait by the start with dogs – big dogs! The number of people who wait with dogs seems to go way up for an ASPCA race. Blegh.

I just stayed to the middle and hoped for the best. I didn’t die from any creatures. So, point 1 me.

The weather was perfect! It was sort of overcast and for once wasn’t hot in Los Angeles. I couldn’t believe it!

I wished I were still hanging with my fun lawyer buds from last year, but I have no idea if they ran the again.

I basically kept my headphones on and sort of kept to myself running some, walking some. But during the walking parts I tried to keep a pretty good pace. I’ve been working out a lot lately. So, I want to actually start pushing a bit as opposed to flittering around the courses for fun. (That can be fun too. But it’s time to at least begin to focus on improvement.)

And I’ll finish up here tomorrow.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles (2013) – Part 1

October 27, 2013

If a race is gonna happen right outside your window, you might as well do it. One way or another you’re waking up to blaring music. And if you don’t go run it, you just get to watch everyone else finish for hours. So, I can’t foresee a time when I live here that I don’t run this race.

As I mentioned yesterday, I decided this year to run in costume. I’m going to devote a whole post to what that’s like. So, we’ll get there.

For now, let me start with the most awesome thing ever. There was a group of people who dressed up in awesome zombie costumes and danced to Thriller along the side of the course. They did this for hours. The Thriller dance over and over and over again. There were a fair amount of loops on this course. I saw them when I came by the first time. I saw them when I came back around again. As far as I know they did it from when the first runner passed them ’til the last runner did.

My new dream for next year is to be in that group. Please Thriller people, if you read this blog, let me dance with you! 🙂

Now that we’ve started on a positive note, let me backtrack a little to a more complain-y attitude and say, have you ever wondered if blondes have more fun? Well, in my first full day (in a looong time) as a blonde I’m gonna have to go with no.

When I left my apartment in the morning in my blonde glory and costume (which granted, was too short, but we’ll get to that), a man yelled out, “Hey sweetie!” I ignored him because I ignore all men who yell out any variation on that. (And I hate being called sweetie. It sounds so demeaning. Blegh. (However, for some reason sweetheart is fine for those of you keeping score at home – but only from people I like. Never from strangers.))

Then he said, “You doing the walk of shame, baby?” Ignore again. ‘Cause really, I don’t care.

He waits for me to respond. Nothing. So he follows up with, “You going to Denny’s, girl?”

That’s the point where I whip around and say, “No. I’m running the half marathon this morning. I have running shoes on and this race number, and I’m walking toward the start line like everyone else to go do my 13 miles.”

I definitely caught him off guard. He seemed pretty shocked that I was on my way to a race. I guess I get it since I was wearing a dress. Still. No need to hassle me like that outside my apartment, yo.

I walked over to the race and took a few pictures. When I was thinking in my head what might be some good stuff to tweet, I thought, “You know, it might be nice if I found a group of superheroes and said something like “lots of people going as their favorite superheroes. I’m mine – @WendyDavisTexas.”

Surprisingly, the first people I saw were a group of superheroes totally up for a photo. What luck.

Granted, I only got 1 retweet – but that retweet was Joel Burns. So that’s nice.

I’ll pick up here tomorrow.

Expo & Prep – Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles

October 26, 2013

Sneak peak of me with my new blond hair and pink Mizunos!

I usually like to talk all about the expos to my races – though I’m sorry to report I basically have nothing new with this one.

L.A. is my home turf so I’m pretty familiar with all the races we do out here. Going to the expo was basically just walking through saying “done it, done it, etc.”

As soon as I turned the corner to get to the L.A. marathon booth, I said, “Let’s do it!” I immediately signed up. I’ve been running a ton lately.

(I’ve been a little stressed/busy, so I’ve been feeling like Forrest Gump since that’s the only way I know how to deal with things – run ’em out.)

Between all my running (making me confident in my ability to do another marathon in March), and my goal to do at least one marathon a year for the rest of my life, I was ready! So, I am officially signed up for the L.A. Marathon on March 9th.

But let’s get to that blond picture of me because that was the real news from today.

Since this is a Halloween themed race, lots of runners dress in costume. Last year, I didn’t do it because I don’t know… I remember when I trained for my first half back in 2009, I was somewhat serious about it. I wasn’t crazy fast, but I wanted to take it seriously and do my best.

I wore the running clothes I felt the best in. And while I’ve run many races that didn’t feel as serious to me, I think the clothes thing just stuck.

Plus, I just feel like I want to look as cute as possible while running. I’m always in pants and long sleeves a) to protect me from the awful, horrible sun. b) because I don’t want my legs and arms jiggling around while I’m out there running. Oof. Uncomfortable.

However, this year, I am throwing caution to the wind! My legs aren’t that jiggly (I don’t think – though I suppose we’ll see tomorrow).

I decided I’d go ahead and dress up this year. What was the best Halloween costume I could think of? Well, that would be Wendy Davis from her filibuster!

I got her pink Mizunos. I dyed my hair blond. (Yes, I could’ve worn a wig. But a wig… for 13 miles? Forget it.)

I even had someone make a similar Wendy Davis dress and jacket. (How does Halloween costume not just exist as something I can buy?) The clothes are not perfect, but I think you can tell what I was going for. (It didn’t dawn on me until I’d already put the task on task rabbit that I’ve worked on television shows where we had phenomenal professional costumers who would’ve totally helped me out… But next year…)

So, that’s my story! Wendy Davis, baby. We’ll see how it shakes out tomorrow morning!

I Saw Eric McCormack In Concert & He Was Spectacular! Part 4 (A Wild Then Sweet Ending)

October 19, 2013

Picking up from yesterday,

All show long, Eric was painting us these really vivid pictures of himself dressing up in tights and elaborate costumes. Finally, for the final song, he came out dressed as Freddie Mercury. And it was awesome!

He slinked all around the stage, and walked down stairs into the audience. He said, “I’ve been warning you all night!”

He elaborated on that thought, stopping literally right in front of my chair when he said the old stage adage, “Don’t pull out a gun onstage if you’re not willing to use it.”

Then he said “pow,” as he did this thing with his microphone stand.

In fact, I posted a gif of that on tumblr.

When the show was over, the applause was thunderous. He got a seemingly never-ending standing ovation. The crowd was shouting for another song. He delivered, giving us an encore.

He ended the show on a really sweet note. He said Stand Up 2 Cancer (where the proceeds from the show were going) wasn’t an arbitrary charity for him.

He told us he’d lost both of his parents to cancer. He’d talked earlier in the show about how thankful he’d been that his parents were so supportive of him and his career choice. He even threw in a funny story about his dad.

By the end of the night, I felt like I practically knew his parents. Then, in a sentence they were gone. He really took us on a ride, and made us care so much about the characters in his life.

Then he did a final beautiful song (which I have lamely forgotten the name of). But he dedicated it to his parents for allowing him to become who he wanted to be, and to his wife and son for making him the man he is today. It was very sweet.

Again, thunderous applause. I think we were ready to watch him perform for another hour. Some people can just perform. They are just captivating. He’s one of those people.

After the show, as I was milling about waiting for him to greet his fans in the lobby, I overheard a bunch of people talking who all seemed to work with him in one way or another.

What was lovely to hear was that people who’d known him forever spoke very highly and lovingly of him, even when he wasn’t in the room. In a town full of people who never say the same thing behind your back as they do to your face, that’s really saying something.

And soon, I’ll talk about meeting him!

I Saw Eric McCormack In Concert & He Was Spectacular! Part 3 (A Great Performance (And A Hilarious Joke!))

October 18, 2013

Picking up from a few days ago –

When Eric talked about moving to L.A., he had this hilarious line that made me laugh way too hard. Oh my gosh, I’m laughing just typing it!

He said his friends in Canada were all, “Isn’t it weird out there with no seasons?” And he said [*pause to laugh some more*] – he says, “There are seasons! There’s pilot season, mid-season…” Bahahahaha. My head just fell down on my laptop with laughter.

One of the things I hate about LA is its lack of seasons, and I bring it up a fair amount. Now for the rest of time, anytime I’m sad I don’t have snow, I can just think of that joke… which I will use constantly now (with proper annotation to the genius Eric McCormack.)

The night was funny because he said he’s more of a b-side guy. If you’d asked me, “Hey wanna go see a concert where some guy performs a bunch of old b-side songs you’ve probably never heard,” I would’ve probably been like “uhhhh….”

But, the night was perfect. It’s interesting how experiences can totally surprise you and be way different from the way they sound like on paper. He performed his heart out, and his stories that connected all the songs were precious. It was incredible. (I know that’s been said, but I’m just reiterating.)

I consider myself a pretty big Eric McCormack fan. I will watch any show he’s on. I loved Will & Grace. Trust Me was great. I adored him in The New Adventures of Old Christine. (I’m a little devastated there wasn’t one more season to see what would’ve happened there. In my mind, they were wildly happy together.) I’m head over heels for Perception. I went to see The Best Man on Broadway in large because of Eric McCormack.

I keep up on his twitter. I used to even check his official website back when he had one. All that was not to paint a picture of some care-way-too-much fan, which is kind of what I felt like I just did. But it’s to say that I thought I was pretty up on Eric McCormack. I was not! I had no idea that he’d written a song with Barry Manilow and performed it on a Will & Grace soundtrack. I didn’t even know there was a Will & Grace soundtrack!

The song is called Living with Grace, and it was lovely. The woman next to me even cried. (I actually wanted to cry a little, but I felt weird getting emotional at this show with so many hilarious moments and so much laughter and clapping and such.) The song is fabulous, and I sort of really want to buy that album now.

The one song I recognized from the show was What a Good Boy by the Barenaked Ladies. And I have to say – even though I am a humongous Barenaked Ladies fan, Eric’s was the best rendition I’d ever heard. It’s still in my head when I’m writing this many hours after the concert ended.

And I’ll finish up talking about the concert tomorrow.

I Saw Eric McCormack In Concert & He Was Spectacular! Part 2 (We’re All Gonna Be Okay)

October 15, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

In addition to totally entertaining me, he also really inspired me. He was telling this story about moving to L.A. right before his 30th birthday.

I don’t really think the point of that story was to live your dreams and such. That was just the whole setting up part of the story.

But as he was setting up the story, he was talking about how he was acting in Canada, and he knew in his heart he was just afraid to make the big move to Los Angeles. How often does that happen to us, right?

How often do we settle for what we’re doing instead of what we’re dying to do? “Yeah, I’m living life…” knowing you want more.

“I’m just gonna wait until I get that nose job and I’ll look better in the photos…” (Or whatever our excuses are for not doing whatever it is we want to do.)

He was acting, after all. But he wasn’t Will Truman yet. Then he took the leap. And for some reason his story (which, again, wasn’t really meant to inspire us… if I remember correctly, it was a lead up to talking about Will & Grace) made me want to conquer the world!

I also loved that he didn’t even move here until he turned 30. I don’t know you about you but some days I get a little wrapped up in the rejection of it all, and I think, “I am SO old. It is over, is it not? Jennifer Lawrence has a freaking Oscar. Just put me in a home already.”

Of course, I always remind myself of people who did amazing things with their lives, and weren’t super young when they did them.

But it can get stressful since our society idolizes youth, and every single second that goes by is a second that’s now gone. Sorry, I’m not trying to stress you (or me) out.

The point is, I found it very heartwarming, and lovely, and good-feeling to hear about him moving here at 30. And he didn’t make himself sound like he had it super together back then.

Everything’s gonna be okay, everybody. That’s what I took away. For some reason, Eric McCormack made me really feel that everything was going to be okay (as long as we all took our leaps).

I’m so not done talking about this show. So, more is coming on Thursday.

Since my guess is, tomorrow we will be talking about New Jersey’s brand new senator! (In case you haven’t heard, the special election is tomorrow. Mayor (for now) Cory Booker is running for the seat!)

I Saw Eric McCormack In Concert & He Was Spectacular! Part 1 (He’s An Exceptional Storyteller)

October 14, 2013

I can’t even…

The concert was so very amazing! I don’t know where to begin or what to say.

Also, Eric McCormack is such a spectacular storyteller that I don’t even know how to do blog posts anymore. No one else should be allowed to tell stories but him.

(Okay, obviously at this point, I’m somewhat exaggerating because other people should still be allowed to tell stories… I suppose. But my goodness, he was awesome.)

And he was so very lovable. No wonder he works all the time. I imagine he walks into a room and you just love him. Immediately. I wonder if he’s always had that quality, or if it grew as his confidence probably grew throughout his life.

He had this way of telling these phenomenal stories – such as Elton John christening the baby grand piano in Eric’s house (which was a gift, by the way, from Yamaha), or Burton Cummings performing at Eric’s induction onto the Canadian Walk of Fame – these grand, incredible stories that we mere mortals only dream about… and yet, he kept us on his side.

It felt as though those things were as incredible to him as they would’ve been to us. He made himself really seem like any one in the audience, as opposed to “Eric McCormack – famous, fabulous actor man.”

(Side note: He told us about this little group of his from high school that had done Godspell together. Now four of them are out working in the business – still. In their 50s. Is that, or is that not, what we all dreamed about in high school?)

After the first song of the show, he explained how singing had been a fantasy of his forever. He told us this extremely detailed and lovely story of his boyhood room, and the way he’d set it up as he pretended to be a rockstar. He even set up a fake drum set made of pillows.

He painted us this vivid picture of his passion for music – and most importantly, for performing it in front of a crowd. He made us feel like we were part of his dream coming true. He totally had us in the palm of his hand for the whole rest of the night – which I can’t wait to tell you all about tomorrow.

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 8 (Should I Really Waste My Money? Pt. 2)

October 1, 2013

Aurora working on the floor — My glamorous life working in television… on the floor (This photo was added to this post after its original posting.)

Picking up from yesterday –

I don’t want to sound entitled. However, I’ve run the errands. I’ve gotten the coffee. I’ve made the copies. I interned. A lot. In high school, in college, in summers, I interned.

I work now (in my own office – with a door, and everything!).

I’m not against interning again if it’s for writers on a sitcom, or for a political office – something that’s going to teach me something new.

But an internship that might help me to work behind the scenes in the entertainment industry? That’s what I already do for a living, which leads me to another point. It would be hard to commit to an internship, since I take jobs as they come, and they often have ever-changing schedules.

I’d have to get some incredible internship for me to want to prioritize it above a job. And if I do, then how am I going to make money to keep living… not to mention to pay to work (at an internship) in the first place?

I’ll talk to Berklee’s Office of Experiential Learning just to see. It doesn’t hurt to talk it out and to see what’s possible. You never know. There may be a life-changing internship available out there.

Berklee says you can be compensated for your internship. My guess is I could finagle it so I could fill out paperwork with one of my jobs, using that job as my internship. (That would make that $2,500 of credits truly just a fee.)

To pay $2,500 to keep the opportunity to graduate from Berklee… I don’t know that it’s worth it. After all, isn’t the whole point of Berklee not to graduate?

Every time I’ve ever met an alum out here, if the question of graduating comes up, they always say with a chuckle, “No, of course I didn’t graduate. Did you?”

Aurora making voiceover faces into a microphone — More photos of me at one of my jobs. (Again, added after the original post went up)

At Berklee, you’re sort of made to feel like a failure if you do graduate. The idea is you should be too busy working to bother with this whole college graduating stuff.

(To be clear, I don’t think that idea is led by the administration. My understanding is the administration actually wants to stop that attitude, as they seem to be pushing to get the graduation rates up.)

As I’ve said before, once you’re in at Berklee, you’re in for life. I could still take classes to my heart’s content. I would just never graduate. I’m telling you right now, I will not take those extra 10 liberal arts credits at Berklee.

It comes down to this. I decide to pay the money to prolong my catalogue year, or I make the official decision that I’m cutting off any future options to graduate from Berklee.

I’m leaning toward letting go of ever officially graduating from Berklee. Who needs that piece of paper?

But we’ll see what the Office of Experiential Learning has to say, in case there’s an internship that makes me change my tune.

[Edited to add: Someone who views education as very important read this post, and gifted me the money to take the internship (aka pay the fee). I used work experience I was getting anyway, filled out a few extra pieces of paper, and bam – internship counted as complete. I now have another 4 years of options on the clock.]

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 7 (Should I Really Waste My Money? Pt. 1)

September 30, 2013

The Simpsons rolling in a huge pile of money in their living room — If only, right? (Photo credit: Matt Groening/Fox (The Simpsons))

Picking up from yesterday –

I was trying to justify why it’s okay to drop $2,500 as basically a fee to keep my catalog year.

I’ve spent money on stupider things before. Geez, for instance, my trip to Big Sur during my half marathons. I really mis-planned that.

I’m sure I could go through my bank statements and find things that really aren’t necessary. However, to spend a lump sum of $2,500 on something unnecessary? That’s gonna feel different from bits and pieces of unnecessary money adding up over months or years.

$2,500. Let’s think about all the things that could be.

That could be rent (for multiple months since I have such a great deal on my apartment).

That could be a climb on Mt. Kilimanjaro! (Granted, I haven’t researched that very much. There may be better (and more expensive) climbs/companies. But on my first click in a google search, I saw a place leading climbs for under $2,500.)

That could be a trip to New York City. For $2,500, you could actually stay for a bit and see some wonderful Broadway shows.

It could be 272(!) dance classes.

That’s almost 5-ish classes in writing and/or improv at UCLA Extension, The Groundlings, or many other writing and/or performing schools out here.

Even if we think about unselfish things for a second, think of all the good $2,500 could do for any number of charities.

And in between selfless/selfish, you could give money to the Clinton Foundation and meet Hillary Clinton(!) for that $2,500.

I could go on forever with the list of things I could do/experience/learn/etc. for $2,500.

(Seriously. Imagine the practically unlimited possibilities – healthy food plans, or personal training sessions, or 20 marathons, and on and on and on and on.)

Or, I could use it to pay to do more work somewhere in Los Angeles.

I’d, of course, rather do any of those previously mentioned things.

In general, I’m actually really against the idea of internships for college credit, because I think it creates an even bigger gap between those who have the means to do them and those who don’t. College credits costs money – a lot of money, obviously. (Though yes, I’ll admit, some cost less than others.)

I’m not so against internships for credit that I wouldn’t do one. But I don’t necessarily think they’re right.

I have said before that I never wanted to spend money in order to work for free, because that truly sounds ridiculous. To work for free is already pretty rough. To pay to work? It sounds a little insane to me.

And this is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 6 (I Figured Out how To Go Part Time)

September 29, 2013

Aurora eating a donut — I don’t have any pictures from any internships. So, here’s one from my first job in television.

Picking up from yesterday –

(And getting back to the story part of all this…)

After I talked with the counselor, I felt I was back at square one. I looked at the page of requirements again, when it came to going part-time.

Internship, I realized.

Sigh. I don’t necessarily want to do an internship. But sometimes in life we have to do what we don’t necessarily want to do.

I called the registrar’s office to double check that if I signed up for an internship, that would count as attending Berklee (meaning my 4-year clock would reset), allowing me to have my catalog year ’til Spring of 2018.

He verified that was correct. I followed up with an email to get it in writing, which it now is.

I still have to go through a few hoops. Approvals are needed from the Office of Experiential Learning and a department chair. There’s more paperwork in my future. But at least I have the solution.

After the initial elation from finding that solution died down, I wondered… is this actually a good solution?

The amount of time an internship would take is probably the same amount of time you’d spend on those extra liberal arts credits if you had to take them. And you’re gonna have to blow $2,500 (uuugh) on something that doesn’t necessarily even help you move toward graduation. Is that really worth it?

But keep in mind, even if I was allowed to CLEP out of 3 of the 10 new required credits, there’d be 7 left – so, about $9,000.

Ultimately, to fuel and flame my stubbornness and feel as though I’ve “won,” and to leave my options open while potentially saving $6,500 in the future, the internship plan seemed to pretty much make sense.

I’m basically looking at it as a $2,500 fee to keep my catalog year.

Obviously, I was going to have to sacrifice something. I learned that thing could just be money and time. It wouldn’t have to be my apartment; my acceptance into a hard-to-get-into major; or my precious, precious catalog year.

I suppose that’s how it’s done, right? That’s compromise, baby!

[*passes out from all the stress, calling & emailing around, and brain spinning*]

That was the original end to this post (as I drafted it weeks before now). Since I’ve had time to calm down after this whole very mild fiasco, I’m wondering… is the option to graduate from Berklee in the future honestly worth a $2,500 fee to me? Let’s talk about that tomorrow.

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 5 (The Berklee Admin Attitude Pt. 2)

September 28, 2013

Aurora giving a frustrated face, the kind that asks, "seriously?" — just another frustrated face

Picking up from yesterday and the Berklee admin attitude –

I remember even when I first started, it was a humongous runaround just to try to drop that first English class for which freshmen are automatically registered.

I didn’t want to waste any precious (not to mention expensive) Berklee credits on liberal arts classes that could be completed in other ways.

Seeing a million people and getting a bunch of forms signed to drop one English class is one of many examples of the Berklee runaround.

Granted, I am talking in generalizations. Some professors are wonderfully helpful. Some department chairs are lovely. The MP&E department chair (and practically the whole department) was extremely supportive and incredibly helpful during my open-heart surgery.

Even the Berklee administration actually did help me a lot when I needed it most. In the semester I got sick, a professor advised me to go to the counseling office for help. I practically laugh/cried in his face, knowing no one in any office like that at Berklee is going to help me. But surprisingly, after much prodding, I did go.

I was allowed to withdraw from my semester, even after it was technically over.

Though, that wasn’t Berklee’s doing, per se. An insurance company was the main entity behind that. (I didn’t realize the fees we pay with tuition would turn out to be so helpful…) Berklee did at least point out that I did have that special insurance that I didn’t know about, which could help with the school ramifications from my health issues. So, ultimately, Berklee was involved and helpful.

Credit where it’s due.

Aurora giving a little fighter face — Just giving a little fighter face. Grrr…. [p.s. This photo was added to this post later]

But in general, I think you have to be extremely diligent at Berklee. I only knew about CLEP tests because I kept my ears wide open, and happened to see a paper in the registrar’s office. I only knew that you could technically declare a major first semester… well, I don’t remember how I learned that.

I just kept reading everything I could get my hands on when I started there. I took all the handouts from the regsitrar’s office. I read all the fine print anywhere. I talked to anyone who knew anything.

(And yes, I realize how hilariously ironic it is that the girl who knows “everything” failed to notice the rule on keeping her catalog year.)

Anyway, my experience with Berklee is not that people want to help you understand how to maximize your time there, and get things done quickly – but instead, many seem to want to put you in the cookie-cutter student box.

I get that. They gotta make money. Plus strategizing can be time intensive. And each one of us at Berklee thinks our life is super special and different. None of us are the most traditional college students. So, I’m sure it’s very hard to deal with thousands of us.

So, Berklee students, look out for yourself. Read everything. (And ask everything.) Be vigilant. Sometimes you will hear things are “not possible.” But oftentimes, they are – if you are a fighter and have the energy to show it.

I’ll talk more about my catalog year and Berklee tomorrow.

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 4 (The Berklee Admin Attitude Pt. 1)

September 27, 2013

Aurora rolling her eyes hard — Just a picture of one of my frustrated faces… rolling my eyes hard

Picking up from yesterday –

I shared plenty of frustration. That should be enough. But apparently it’s not, as I didn’t have room to say this part as well. To put this in perspective –

A few days before this Berklee call was my call with the Harvard counselor. The Harvard counselor was so kind and fought for me like crazy when all I’d done was sign up for one class. I hadn’t even been accepted as a student yet!

At Berklee, my parents spent many, many tens of thousands of dollars. I am deep into being a student there. My counselor can’t care at all?

Even if the rules to her really are that black and white, she can’t at least have a caring tone, or pretend she wishes there were something else she could do?

She has to basically talk down to me, acting like I have no idea what I’m talking about (and that even if maybe I do, I’m making stupid requests)?

Even when I called the registrar, the (I’m pretty sure) student on the phone was bending over backward trying to help me find a way.

He was suggesting things such as switching to Professional Music (in which you basically design your own major), and any other idea he could think of.

Ultimately, I didn’t go with any of his ideas. But the fact that he sympathized and wanted to help (or at least acted like he did) made me feel a million times better than getting this cold concrete wall of “if you fall within the exact painted lines, I’ll begrudgingly fill out the correct paperwork. Otherwise, I don’t care one bit what you want to do – but I’m certainly not gonna help you do it.”

That was especially a frustrating attitude because she is a counselor! Is it not her job to try to help find solutions for students?

This is actually a frustrating thing about Berklee in general. If my experience (and every experience I’ve ever heard talked about) is any indication of the overall experience at Berklee, then there is almost no person in any admin-type office who wants to help you.

(I qualify that with almost no person, as there are some gems… You just may have to work to find them.)

This is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 3 (So, Berklee, Allow Me To Go Part Time?)

September 26, 2013

Lucy the Peanuts character sitting at her counseling help booth — (Photo credit: Peanuts/Charles Schulz)

Picking up from yesterday –

I called the counseling and advising center to get permission to go part-time. My counselor seemed as though she could completely not care any less about me.

I said I could technically finish in 24 credits. She pointed out I couldn’t if I kept both majors on my transcript.

I tried to explain that I still have fewer credits than a full load’s worth per semester in sequential semesters (even if there are more than 2 semesters left) – that it follows the same line of thinking for how they allow people to go part-time.

She said it didn’t matter if it followed the same line of thinking. The point is, that option wasn’t laid out in writing. Therefore, I couldn’t have part-time status granted.

Her attitude was so unbelievably uncaring – coming across as, “Hey your only option is lose your catalog year or drop ELPD. And I don’t really care what you want.” I’m frustrated! And I’m letting that frustration fly here in this post.

Not only did she give off an uncaring vibe, but she also acted like what I wanted was stupid – that it was a horrible idea to keep a major I hadn’t started yet, and that it was awful to want to keep my catalog year.

“Classes change. Even if you figure out a way to keep your catalog year through the college, you probably won’t be able to anyway, because changes will occur in ELPD,” she said very judgmental.

“I understand they might change. But as of now they haven’t really.” (The only current change is that one class is now required that used to be an ELPD elective. That’s not a big deal.)

Not to mention, even if the curriculum changes, that’s where waivers and things come in. There is always a solution – whether she wants to see one.

My next call was to the registrar’s office. I don’t give up until there are truly no other options. None of this “one person told me I have to compromise something that’s really important to me at Berklee, so I guess that’s it” business.

In the counselor’s defense, I sort of understand. I’m sure she gets students all the time trying to bend the system to exactly what they need.

I’m sure it might’ve been annoying to get this girl on the phone and think, “Wait a minute, Miss Entitled who hasn’t even been here for the past 3 years. You want me to figure out how you can keep your major and catalog year, and yet not come back full-time and finish up anytime soon? You just want that option extended for four more years? Get out of here. I have work to do.”

I can imagine her frustrated blog post (if she had one) at the girl who wasn’t willing to give anything up.

But just as she didn’t really care about me, I don’t really care if she felt that way. Because this is my life. I don’t want to add an extra semester of liberal arts credits. And I don’t want to drop a well-regarded major. So, I refuse to budge on either changing my catalog year or my major, as they’re both far too important to me.

And of course I found a way to do it. (Since there is almost always a way.)

I’ll pick up here tomorrow.

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 2 (So How Do You Go Part Time?)

September 25, 2013

Aurora at a mixing board — (I never got any pictures of me in a studio at school, so here’s me later at a studio in LA)

Picking up from yesterday –

We’ve established I need to go to Berklee part-time.

So, let’s get into the details.

The requirement at Berklee to go part-time is that one of the following must apply to you. You must:

– have fewer than 12 credits remaining to graduate
– have fewer than 24 credits remaining, but two sequential classes left to take
– have a medical issue
– take an internship

I figured I was golden with the fewer than 24 credits remaining thing. As I’ve mentioned in the blog, I got out of a bunch of credits with various tests and things. I tested out, and transferred in, my way out of three semesters.

I have fewer than twenty-four credits remaining, and I have two sequential classes in MP&E (Music Production and Engineering). Golden right? Wrong.

Technically, I started a dual major immediately before I left. (I got accepted to ELPD (Electronic Production & Design) in my last semester there.) While I can graduate from the school in two semesters and fewer than 24 credits, I can’t if I do both majors.

But I can’t drop Electronic Production and Design.

There are only two majors at Berklee to which you must apply separately (outside of your normal application to the school). They are Music Production & Engineering, and Electronic Production & Design.

They are highly competitive majors and they’re regarded well. If someday I graduate from Berklee, I’d like to have a dual major in those.

…But if I were to officially drop ELPD, I’d have to apply all over again if I wanted to add it!

It’s hard enough to get in the first time. I’d rather just stay in.

And yes, I tried to fight using the train of thought that if you have enough sequential semesters remaining, with still an average of fewer than 12 credits needed per each of those semesters, that you should be able to be granted part-time status. But my counselor was not down with that – as I’ll discuss tomorrow.

Protecting My Precious Berklee Catalog Year – Part 1 (I Gotta Go Part Time)

September 24, 2013

a picture of the coffee station in the morning in an apartment building — As we talk about my swanky apartment in this post, here’s a pic I snapped when I thought, “look where I live!” (They give us marshmallows and whipped cream at the free coffee station downstairs.)

Picking up from yesterday –

I learned I had to take at least one class in the spring to keep my precious catalog year. Now I just had to figure out how I was gonna do it.

If I were to go to school full-time in the spring, it would cause me all kinds of problems.

For one, I’d have to borrow a wild amount of money to go to school full-time in a different state. Not cool.

For another, I am actively seeking programs at traditional colleges (since, as I mentioned, the only time a BS or BA is semi-readily available to me is before I get a BM).

Now, if I apply to Yale or Brown right now, saying I’m ready to move toward a more traditional degree, and they see I haven’t been to music school in four years, okay. But if I apply to those schools with a transcript in progress – what does that say? It would be a complicated thing to try to explain.

The third way full-time school would affect me – and to me, this is possibly the most important – I would lose my apartment!

I’ve mentioned that I have the greatest apartment in the universe. We have a pool, a gym, two jacuzzis, a lounge, security, convenience, everything.

Because of the specific apartment I have, we are not allowed to have everyone living in our unit be a full-time student. My roommate is in a doctoral program. So if I become a full-time student as well, I lose the apartment.

the empty gym in my building — …and here’s a shot of our sweet gym

(Technically there are possibly some ways around this, such as adding someone to the lease. However, any way around it adds complication to my life, my living situation, and my roommate’s life. (Plus it adds a lot of paperwork and general hassle.))

Our leasing office doesn’t love multiple roommate additions/subtractions in a year. I just switched roommates during the lease renewal in late July/early August. I want the office to be in love with our unit, not annoyed by us.)

It’s possible to work around the apartment thing, but it’s not a wonderful choice. Going full-time is the absolute last resort.

There are limited options that allow you to go part-time at Berklee. I’ll get into those tomorrow.

The Sanctity Of My Berklee Catalog Year

September 23, 2013

Berklee registration manual cover spring 2014 — (Photo credit: Berklee.)

As I was figuring out everything that would transfer into Harvard Extension, I looked at my Berklee transcripts for the first time in many years.

I called the registrar’s office to check if it mattered that some of my CLEP credits were listed as transfer credits.

It didn’t. But while I was talking to someone in the office, I found out that you only get to keep your catalog year if you’ve attended Berklee within the past four years!

(“Keeping your catalog year” means being held to the same requirements that were in place the year you started college.)

They hit me with the news, “If you don’t come back this spring, your four years are up.”

I came out here for America’s Got Talent 4 years ago? Oof. It surprised me in the moment to hear that so much time had passed.

Okay. So, I might lose my catalog year. What’s the big deal? There are often only tiny changes, if any.

So… what changed?

10 (that’s right TEN) more liberal arts credits are now needed. Oh Berklee. What are you doing to me? I wish I would’ve known about this and thought about this, and maybe some summer taken a class or two to keep my precious, precious catalog year. (In the summer, you’re allowed to go part time without any special concessions.)

I know that since I’m now trying my hand at Harvard Extension, you might be wondering, “What do you care? You’re not going back to Berklee anyway.”

But I wanted the option! Some things I love about Berklee are that once you’re in, you’re in for life. Also, you can get a Bachelor of Music at Berklee, even if you have a bachelor’s degree from somewhere else.

Berklee registration manual fall 2013 — (Photo credit: Berklee)

If I finish at Berklee first, I can no longer make a decision to go get a BA or BS.

I like Berklee a lot. It’s an excellent school. I love music. I love a lot of the amazing professors I had. There is so much wonderful stuff to be said about Berklee.

I didn’t want to leave forever.

I always imagined that when I moved back to New York, I’d take classes at Berklee and eventually finish. I never want to stop learning. And I certainly never want to stop learning about music.

I just didn’t realize it would be SO long until I moved back east… [*sigh*]

Okay, so 10 more liberal arts credits. What’s that really? Well, that’s almost a whole extra semester! (The minimum full-time semester load at Berklee is 12 credits.)

Yeah, but can’t you just CLEP out of them, or transfer them in from somewhere else, as you did with all your other liberal arts classes at Berklee?

No.

Berklee registration manual cover spring 2010 — (Photo credit: Berklee)

My understanding is that 3 could be clepped in, but 7 (seven!) are Berklee specific.

Apparently this huge change in the curriculum occurred for the students entering in 2010. I left in spring 2010 and didn’t really pay any attention to Berklee developments for people entering that year.

(After all, I was already in. Plus, I had a lot of personal stuff going on.)

I refuse to add seven more credits of liberal arts classes at Berklee. My stance is basically I figure out a way to keep my catalog year – or I don’t finish at Berklee.

I immediately started thinking of how I was going to hold onto my precious, precious catalog year. And we’ll get to those fun hoops to jump through tomorrow.

Harvard Transfer Credits

September 14, 2013

While we’re talking about Harvard Extension, I thought I’d throw in a story about how cool their administration is.

The school in general is very helpful. It’s all about arming students with information and trying to help people make the most out of the school.

When you sign up for a class, you’re offered an advising session just to see what would transfer over from any previous schools. So, I took Harvard up on it.

My Harvard advisor is incredibly nice, and generally completely lovely. She makes me all that much more excited and confident about starting here.

Harvard will take way more credits than I expected. (And I wrote that sentence back when the estimate was only 42.)

I thought since many of my music classes were only 2 credits (and were music) that they’d basically count for nothing. But Harvard counted 8 credits of studio art (8 being the maximum transfer credits allotted for that category).

Then some of my music business classes counted as either professional or social science classes. Throw in my CLEP exams and that semester of community colleges online (that I took to knock out the Berklee liberal arts that couldn’t be Clepped out of), and boom! We’re up to over 40 credits going for me at Harvard. Not a bad start.

And, the counselor gets even more amazing. When she estimated 42, I was practically elated. “I can’t believe you found that many. That’s great!”

She said she’d send me a detailed email with everything we’d talked about on the phone. She did. But in it, she said she wanted to see if she could get more credits out of my transcripts. So she asked me for some course descriptions.

I sent them to her. She sent a very prompt reply saying she’d be going over them with a colleague and giving me a date I should expect an email from her.

Then she sent me that email saying she’d met with a colleague and they figured out a way to make 64 credits (the maximum allowed to transfer in at Harvard Extension).

I was happy with 42! I didn’t even expect that many. I hadn’t pushed, her or even asked her to check for any more, yet she totally went the extra mile for me.

Keep in mind, I hadn’t even been officially accepted as a student yet. (You don’t become a full-fledged student until you’ve taken 3 classes with at least a B or better, and you’ve gone through an application process.)

I was just some random girl who signed up for a class (who honestly didn’t even have that stellar of a transcript). So why my Harvard counselor had such drive and belief for me, who knows.

But I very much appreciate her!

Later, we’ll be comparing this experience with one I had with Berklee. (But not quite yet.)

My First Week In A Harvard Extension Class

September 13, 2013

It’s actually been a bit more than a week. I’ve had two classes so far.

And I wanted to write about my initial feelings before things got too hard or crazy or anything – while I’m still in the honeymoon phase.

I ended up signing up for a second class in addition to expository writing. I’m also taking Neurobiology.

They’re two very different classes – not just in subject matter but how they’re run. For neurobiology, lectures are taped and I watch them on my own schedule. The midterm is 50% of the grade and the final is another 50%. End of story.

In expository writing, our class virtually meets at a dedicated time each week. Participation is part of our grade, and there are attendance rules (to avoid be dropped from the class).

Going into Harvard Extension, I didn’t know what to expect. Judging from various online message boards (though I know it can be smarter to avoid those), there’s a group of people who think, “It’s Harvard! So it’s going to be next to impossible.” Then there are people who think, “It’s just the extension school. It’s the same as community college.”

I didn’t know if I’d be in for an easy ride, or for something over my head.

It really is probably too early to judge completely. I will say that my expository writing teacher (or, I suppose I say professor since it’s [*in very affected speech*] Haaahvard) is very helpful. His syllabus is very complete. He’s tried to arm us with plenty of information so that nothing comes as a surprise to us. And I appreciate that.

He’s very nice and interesting. So, I think he does a good job of sort of disarming what could be an overwhelming class.

However, no matter how nice or helpful someone is, it doesn’t change the fact that there’s a lot on that syllabus. There are plenty of things to read and papers to write. Plus things are often due on Friday when our class is on Tuesday. So we don’t get from class meeting to class meeting (as I think most non-online school works).

Mainly we’re talking about politics in the class. (Yay!) But in our last class session, he taught us about making inferences from texts and photos – for example, using a photo of a cemetery. We were supposed to discuss what we could assume from that – the place, time period, etc.

People knew about architecture and were able to deduce place and time period (and say the special names of buildings types and arches and such). People know about art, and photo composition, and all that jazz.

I felt as though I knew nothing. I was the layperson in the class. When everyone else is saying what religion and denomination the crosses and religious symbols belong to, I’m just noticing things that someone with no training could – such as one of the plots was missing a cross when every one around it has one.

I guess at least we can give me effort points for trying to notice something, right?

Anyway, it’s gonna be rough. There are going to be moments of feeling overwhelmed. But I can handle it. In the words of my high school theater teacher “You’re Aurora De Lucia!”

I’ll just keep letting that ring in my head until somehow I’ve gotten through the semester.

As of now, I’d definitely recommend Harvard Extension if you’re thinking about taking a class there. It’s wonderful. They’re wonderful – everybody. The admin side, the professors, the students. Everyone seems really cool. I will update you with how it all went once the semester’s over.

The Game Show Hustle – The Time Rules

September 6, 2013

I mentioned yesterday that if you’re really going for optimal game show appearances, you might want to try for shows that are more individual than pair-oriented.

But why did I say that? Could you just do a pair one and then an individual one if it happened to come up later?

Well, not exactly.

Did you know that many people have a list of game shows they want to go on – in the order the want to go on them?

For instance, with Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and Price is Right, you can’t have been on 3 game shows in the past 10 years. Therefore, you’d have to do those 3 first since one you’ve hit 3, you’ve gotta wait ’til your decade’s over.

With Let’s Make a Deal, you can’t have been on 4. So, that would have to be next.

(Additionally, with TPiR, they now have a rule that you can go on once every 10 years… So if you need to redeem yourself (or for any other reason you want to return), now you can after a decade. (It used to be only once in a lifetime.) I believe the same rule applies with Let’s Make A Deal now as well. Wheel is one and done.)

With most others, it just can’t have been a year since you were on a game show in general.

But many people don’t know about all those little rules. I doubt some of these things will matter to the majority of us, but I thought I’d throw them out there. These are well known rules in the little game show world, but I didn’t know if the great big world knew about them.

With almost every single game show you go on, you must wait a year since your last game show appearance.

I’ve actually been emailed (since I’m in people’s files) about trying out for 3 different things since Price, but each time, I’ve said, “Well, I was on TPiR in March. Does that matter?” And they’ve each said, “We’ll see you again in 2014.”

As I mentioned in my other post, I’ve had so many close calls that if history repeats itself, I very easily could audition all year (or longer) and still not actually get booked on anything. But, rules are rules, baby. Gotta cool my heels on trying out for stuff.

(Though I think you can probably start trying for many things out a month or two before your year is up, because for most shows you’re not gonna make it to try out to tape to air in such a short window.)

For the record, even though I, and others, might have the dream scenario of what game shows we’d love to go on, and in what order – I am a total game show adorer. And I would be ecstatic to go on anything anytime.

So, even though I’m pointing out that you can only go on one a year, and that technically the best ones offer big prizes and let you play individually – if I got the offer to be on any game show, I can’t imagine ever turning one down saying, “This isn’t what I want my one chance for the year to be.”

It’s rare to be invited on one. And I’d be extremely lucky if I actually did get one a year! If we start with the first year I was on one, I’m averaging about one every 3 years.

So, let’s keep our fingers crossed for Wheel of Fortune in 2014. 😉

The Game Show Hustle – The Auditions

September 5, 2013

So, talking about these two game shows, I probably sound pretty lucky.

And I won’t fight that.

But you should know that for every game show I get on, there were more I didn’t.

I adore game shows. They’re totally my jam. So, I try out for them basically any time I can.

I find out about them by network websites, Craigslist, word of mouth. I also follow two casting directors on twitter. Now that I’ve been in L.A. for a bit now, I’m actually just on some random lists in some places.

I got a call the other day saying they’d seen me in 2010, asking me if I still lived in Los Angeles! So, those lists seem to last forever. On the one hand this is wonderful. On the other, let’s hope I don’t ever screw anything up in case that’d last forever as well.

By the way, the one who called me said, “We gave you a practically perfect rating when you auditioned for Minute to Win It. So, I had to call. Did we use you on the show, by the way?” He mentioned twice how highly I was rated and how he felt that meant he had to call me. No, you didn’t use me on Minute to Win it. But thanks for rubbing it in that you should’ve!

(In all seriousness, though, no hard feelings at all. I don’t know that Minute To Win It is really my kind of game show anyway. It’s not one for which you can study at home and figure out your strategies. That one seems to be more coordination based (which still could be fun) rather than mind/puzzle-based.)

I tried out for syndicated Deal or No Deal. I got to the final callback where you open the case and everything. (In the syndicated version, possible future contestants were also the models.) I thought it went well, but alas, nothing happened with it.

I tried out for that show (that I think only lasted a season), where you fall through holes in the ground when you get things wrong. I made it all the way to having to fill out practically a book of paperwork with medical waivers and stuff. Yet, they never called me for a tape date.

(That’s actually probably good, because you don’t necessarily want to waste your game show shot on something that has so many people vying for a not huge prize. I think it’s better if you get to play a more individual game. But more on this in a second.)

I tried out for “Oh Sit!” and even got invited to come play a practice game (’cause this is when they were still coming up with the show). At the time, I was in Florida at the Disney Princess Half Marathon week.

It didn’t seem smart to interrupt my 52 half marathons like that (especially when I would’ve just had to fly right back for the next one), especially for a practice game. I was still delighted to be invited, and had I been home would’ve been over the moon for a practice game. But I didn’t want to cut the trip short over one.

(Side note: It’s better I didn’t get on that show, ’cause had I gotten on, I wouldn’t have been able to do Price is Right for a few more months. More on that tomorrow.)

I tried out for Millionaire, but didn’t even past the test. (Yikes.)

I did get to help producers as they were building Million Second Quiz. I came in and played trivia for a couple of hours, which was wildly fun. (I was just on a casting person’s list from some past tryouts, and they invited me.)

Though I’ll admit, I was nervous, ’cause they said the game was very “serious,” and “Don’t have too much fun/be too lively.” And I just thought, “I am SO the wrong person for this. But I’m up for the challenge!”

I’ve been emailed about a few new game shows here and there that didn’t pan out either because I wasn’t in the city at the time of the audition, or I couldn’t secure a partner, or whatever.

Anyway, I just thought I should point out that if you think I have some kind of amazing luck because I’ve been on two game shows – it’s a whole little world out here. I’ve gone in for plenty of things that came oh so close within grasp, but in the end I did not get. So, yes, I am lucky for sure. But I’m also definitely not batting anywhere close to 1000.

My Appearance In The 1 vs. 100 Mob – Part 3 (The Tapings (& More Questions))

September 4, 2013

Shocked. (I'm in box #9 in bottom right.) — Shocked. (I’m in box #9 in bottom right.)

Picking up from yesterday

– and feeling that I was messing up a bunch of the questions –

There were some questions that I would’ve gotten wrong even if I’d had all the time in the world.

Specifically, the biggest shocker to me was who had more followers worldwide Jesus or Buddha. I was SO sure it was going to be Buddha.

I’d thought Lisa had said on The Simpsons once that there were more Buddhists than Christians. And obviously if it was on The Simpsons, it has to be true.

However, it’s possible that there actually are more Buddhists than Christians, but when you add in Catholics and other stuff you get more followers of Jesus.

Or perhaps I just misunderstood The Simpsons. (I certainly couldn’t entertain the fact that Lisa would ever be wrong.)

Anyway, I was SO sure it it was Buddha, I was beyond shocked when the answer was Jesus. (And I was with the majority of the mob!)

In case you’re wondering what happened next, they guy got out on Obama’s Secret Service code name (which I knew from The Daily Show.) Blergh. (p.s. He guessed “sweetness,” by the way, but it was Renegade.)

Anyway, getting to the taping part of it all, and the parts I can share in a public forum –

(Aren’t we special with our secrets. Oh-la-la.)

Carrie (the host) would say we were all coming in on webcams – which was true. However, if you were under the impression that we were chilling out at home or something (which probably no one was, since our backgrounds matched and most people don’t have green screens) – we were not skyping in from our own locations.

We were totally under the watchful eye of those lawyers/standards and practices/whoever else those special stealth people were all the time.

There was a monitor next to my webcam backstage so that I could see the whole mob and I could see myself. And I was always so proud of myself whenever I looked to be looking up at the question or over toward another mob member. ‘Cause I was seeing like a mirror image – or some kind of image that made thought go into it.

I think when people are watching, they don’t think about the fact that to look over at someone, you didn’t just look, you had to think about where they were sitting in the web cam puzzle and which direction you had to look (not the way you think you did) to make it look like you were in fact looking that way.

So, let me just pat myself on the back a little for that. *Bows, accepts roses* Thanks very much.

They definitely took great care of us with snacks, water, even people who touched up our hair and make-up for us.

We got lunch vouchers good for a certain amount of money to be used in the commissary, and we’d play games to see who could get their lunch to come closest to the value of the voucher. (Get game show lovers in one place and apparently we make games out of our downtime between the parts of the actual game we’re playing.)

Just like all game shows, we weren’t allowed to have cell phones (or anything with internet capability) anywhere near us at any time. (I just left mine at home that day.)

Just as it was at TPiR, it was very freeing to not be tethered, and just 100% enjoy the company you’re with.

I met a bunch of really fun people on the show – some of whom I’m friends with to this day. (One of whom went on to be on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? Another person recently tapes a Wheel of Fortune, which will be airing later this year.

So, we’re keeping up with game shows. And we’re keeping up with each other.

I’m incredibly happy I got to play on 1 vs 100.

My Appearance In The 1 vs. 100 Mob – Part 2 (The Questions)

September 3, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

I’m not allowed to say all the super secret inner-workings stuff, but I can say this much. I think I only worked a total of maybe 3 or 4 days to get all those episodes in.

We got those shows done, baby! *snaps* Places to go, people to see. We got a ton done in a day.

You know how when it comes to Price is Right, I’m constantly talking about how incredibly important it is to remember to breathe and to remember that there is no time limit? That’s because I learned the hard way from being on this show the game show stress gets to you.

Three seconds is not enough time sometimes – especially by the end of the day. By that point, I’d answered so many questions in such a high-stress environment. I felt like I didn’t even know my own name anymore.

Some of it blurred together, and things surprised me when I watched at home. I’d scream answers I was practically sure of at the television, just to see my square light up red, signifying I’d gotten it wrong.

What? How could I have missed that?

There was at least one time where I just literally accidentally pressed the wrong thing. And once you press it, it’s too late.

There was also at least one time when I put in an answer thinking it was right, just to realize immediately after that I’d mis-thought out the answer and was wrong. Ugh. That never feels good.

There were some questions I definitely over thought because I was so nervous about the idea of the trick question. I remember one specifically. It asked who was an Oscar Winner. The choices were “a former vice president,” “Jennifer Garner’s husband,” or some schmuck that it definitely wasn’t.

I knew for a fact An Inconvenient Truth had won for Best Documentary Feature. But did Al Gore receive it? (He didn’t. David Guggenheim did. Though, I didn’t know that at the time.) I definitely knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ben Affleck is an Oscar winner. But is he married to Jennifer Garner, or are they just domestic partners?

I thought the trick question part must be that legally Ben’s not married to Jennifer after all – because we all know he’s an Oscar winner! So, you must be thinking we’re gonna guess him – when really we should be guessing Al Gore, now shouldn’t we?

No. No we shouldn’t. Because Ben Affleck really is married to Jennifer Garner and I totally got that question wrong.

So, if you ever go through my old episodes, please, I beg of you not to judge me too harshly when my square lights up red. Some of that stuff I truly didn’t know. But some really was just over-thinking, exhausted brain, and stupid mistakes.

But the idea of talking all the time you have and not letting yourself feel so rushed that you mess up is a lesson I’m happy to have learned. It did help me on TPiR. And I assume it will help me in other things in life.

My Appearance In The 1 vs. 100 Mob – Part 1 (Getting Cast)

September 2, 2013

Did you know I was actually on another game show before I was on Price is Right?

I was in the mob of 1 vs 100 on Game Show Network – for 37 episodes. I won a grand total of $40.15.

In 2010, when I was out here working on America’s Got Talent, I made it onto the GSN version of 1 vs. 100.

1 vs 100 was a show I’d really liked a lot on NBC. So, I was excited to hear they were bringing it back on the Game Show Network.

I tried out, but didn’t hold my breath. Just living my life not thinking about it. My sublet I was staying in ended when AGT ended (in the middle of the month).

My next sublet wasn’t starting until the beginning of the following month, so I went up to Seattle and stayed with my uncle to ride out that in between time – enjoying some nice relaxing time with family after a long summer.

I don’t remember exact times frames, but I think it was after about a week and a half in Seattle, 1 vs 100 called me way sooner than I ever expected and asked if I could come in the next day.

“Uh, what?!”

They were so sweet and made it sound like they really wanted me. At first, I actually declined. “I’m sorry. I’m not coming home for another 5 days or so. It’ll be expensive to change my plane ticket. I just don’t think it’s a smart idea.”

(If I’d been the contestant who gets to be the one, I would’ve done it in a heartbeat, assuming I would’ve made enough money to make it worth it. But being in mob, you’re in a lot less control and have a lot less possible money available to you.)

But after calling a couple of people to relay the phone call that had just happened, I was easily convinced that it’s not everyday you get invited on a game show. (Thank goodness there were people there to talk sense into me.)

I had to throw caution to the wind and do it.

We weren’t guaranteed a certain number of episodes. And I knew that with the top prize going down from a million to $50,000 since we were moving to cable –

and me being in the mob instead of an individual player –

it very likely was not going to be a big money-making opportunity.

But I just did it anyway, because I adore game shows.

Though I do remember feeling every so slightly bummed, thinking, “Why wasn’t I special enough to be the one? What is it about me that makes them think I should be in the 100 instead of being the star?”

But, a lot goes into casting. And since I had a group (I was in the Mensa group), I might’ve just been a puzzle piece they needed.

Speaking of my group, it was funny. We had to totally dress the (somewhat stereotypical, though I totally understand it) part. They asked me to wear glasses even though they knew I don’t wear glasses, even to read or for any reason.

But if you see me on that show, I’m wearing glasses and some smart person sweater – which I do not mind in the least. I love playing dress up and acting. So, I was more than happy to go along with it and play their little Mensa nerd. And I actually thought I looked kind of cute in glasses (maybe not in that photo specifically, but sometimes), if I do say so myself.

And on that conceited note, I’ll leave off and pick up tomorrow.

The Secret Time Between Tape Date And Air Date

September 1, 2013

I’ve found it funny that more than taxes or anything else, it seems like the thing that surprises people the most is that you have to keep your win secret (usually for months) until your show airs.

I guess that concept is something some people don’t really want to wrap their minds around.

Some people have been asking how secretive you really have to be, which is why I did this post.

To me, this secret stuff is all just part of life. If I have a friend who is on a game show that hasn’t aired yet, I don’t ask what they won. Even when I was telling my friends in the industry to DVR my show, not a single one asked what I’d won.

Before I’d even said finished my sentence, everyone was all, “Don’t say another word. Just in case. I know you must’ve signed a confidentially agreement. Can’t wait to see what happens.”

Even if I was sort of giddy – “But I want so badly to say something. Can I just give you a hint or a tiny piece without saying what happened?”

“You better not say a single word! You never know who overhears you or how things travel. I’ll find out soon enough,” my smart, responsible friends would answer.

That’s really the best way to be with a game show winner. When you’re begging us to know more, we want to tell you! So make it easier on us, since we can’t.

I know Price is Right is one of the harder wins to keep secret. With the other shows, when you definitively know you will be on ahead of time, you can get everyone to come be in the audience. Then you don’t have to worry about keeping a secret from your circle, because they will have seen it all before their very eyes.

one over

With TPiR, you don’t know you’re a contestant until the moment it happens. (Of course, that’s also a lovely thing in my opinion.)

Now, exactly how secret do you have to be about it?

I would not go posting on social media that you won anything. Sometimes Price is Right tweets stuff about the upcoming contestants who’ve made it onstage.

I’d defer to TPiR. Unless they specifically tweeted about me, I’d be pretty vague.

Personally, I did tweet out that people should DVR TPiR, but I didn’t give away any spoilers.

That’s not to say that literally no one knew anything. Audience members for the next show saw me with my Price is Right winner’s license plate holder when I walked out. Already my super secret was sort of out of the bag to these strangers.

(But they were all in the area where they weren’t allowed to have phones, and none of them knew me. So what did it matter?)

(I’m sure word generally gets around families or friend circles, because whoever did go with you didn’t sign any confidentiality things (as far as I remember) – you’re the one who signed one when you were filling out the paperwork for your prizes.)

I desperately wanted to immediately tell my dad everything. But I didn’t. When you’re a grown up dealing with important stuff, sometimes you just can’t tell your loved ones everything.

Just pretend you’re in the CIA or some other super secret organization. (Makes the secret more fun, right?) Think of it as protecting your loved ones from the stress of keeping your game show secret.

Aurora stressed

(Of course, telling people that you can’t say anything, but that they should watch, makes their imaginations go wild, and everyone thinks you won a double showcase… Oof.)

Now, if it’s getting pretty close to your air date and you end up telling an extremely close friend who works with cars for a living, ’cause you want to know the best way to sell it…

Or if you let your dad in because you need grown up insurance advice or whatever – I don’t think Price is Right is NSAing you.

Even Ken Jennings told his boss when he was winning a million Jeopardy episodes, ’cause Ken had to say why he kept missing work.

My guess is you’d tell your significant other or possibly parents or someone heavily involved in your life, so y’all can figure out how your household plans to accept your prizes.

However, all that being said, please note that I am not officially advising you to tell a single soul. If you tell someone and get in trouble, don’t blame me. ‘Cause my official stance is to tell no one.

*Men in black light*.

What Did I Do With My Price is Right Prizes? – Part 2 (Camcorders & Cash)

August 31, 2013

So, I’ve talked about the car.

As far as the camcorders… When I was on the show, they seemed so cool. “3D camcorders?! It’s the future in the present! I’m gonna start taking more home movies.”

Then I read a bunch of reviews online, and basically couldn’t find a positive one.

I never saw the camcorders being sold anywhere for anything even close to the suggested retail price.

There are only instructions to work with PCs, not macs. The camcorders are known as not mac-compatible. Although, I guess technically they are, if you go through extra steps and such.

But no one wants to buy a camcorder they need to struggle to get to work with a mac – when they could just go buy a camcorder made to work with one.

I put the camcorders on Facebook, Craigslist, and Ebay (and told everyone I know that I wanted to sell those camcorders).

Nothing.

No one wanted them – no one in the world wanted these cameras. I had a couple friends who said they wouldn’t even take them for free. No one felt they’d use them.

Well, okay then.

Finally, after literally not even being able to give them away to some people (and certainly not being able to sell them for even half the suggested price to anybody), I just donated them to charity, hoping that at least that write off will help with my large tax bill.

My old roommate works closely with a charity that has the goal to use creativity to help heal people who’ve had traumatic experiences. He said they’d make good use out of the camcorders.

So, I said, great. Take them.

If I would’ve known more about the camcorders, I probably would’ve just forfeited them so they’re not taken into account in my prize total when it comes to taxes.

So, I should’ve looked into that right after the show taped. I forget how much time you have to forfeit something, but I believe you do have a few days to decide.

(I'm sorry. I've just exhausted all my TPiR photos and love this one.) — (I’m sorry. I’ve just exhausted all my TPiR photos and love this one.)

I really don’t want to sound ungrateful in the least. I LOVE The Price is Right and everything they’ve done for me. I’m just saying the reality of the situation. (And warning you to really think about each prize and whether you want to accept it if you’re a TPiR winner.)

As far as the $96, I’d like to do something special with that money. I got rid of everything I received from the day (the camcorders and car). So, I’d love to buy something with that prize money that helps me remember it, whether it be a TPiR mug or sweatshirt or even something non-TPiR related that’s just a lovely prize. But I haven’t landed on anything yet.

I’d really love to make one jewelry splurge. I don’t own a single piece of jewelry. But I would love to own something from the Caliber Collection – which is made from pieces of illegal guns, and proceeds go to fund gun buyback programs.

So, I’d love, love, love to buy myself a little splurge-y gift and think, “This is my physical Price is Right prize.” But the cheapest cuff option (and actually the one I want) is $150. And I really wanted something that was $96 or less, so I could say I won it with my Price is Right money.

(Yes, i know I made thousands off the car, but it feels like different money to me for some reason.)

I did win $40.15 on another game show (which I’ll talk about very soon). And I got paid $50 to help producers try out a new game show (Million Second Quiz). So, if you put all that together, I have more than enough to pay for a cuff and call it my “game show bracelet.”

I don’t know if that’s what I’m going to do or not. But I just really wanted to have some sort of physical representation – and have it be something I loved – that came from that TPiR $96. And if you have any ideas, please let me know!

What I Learned From Having A Car For A Week

August 30, 2013

I know I don’t need to convince you anymore that it was the right decision to sell the car, ’cause really I’ve done enough convincing, right?

But, I did just want to give one last post to say that having a car for a week helped me to not feel a need for a car.

First, I will freely admit the good stuff. Sometimes bus schedules make it to where you’re going to have to be 35 (or more) minutes early to a place.

You don’t want to leave your house quite that early, but you have to, ’cause if you don’t you’re gonna be like 20 minutes late.

It was nice to not be tied to someone else’s schedule. However, there were many things that weren’t great about having a car.

Driving is stressful. stress-ful. This is part of the reason I haven’t put a car high on my priority list. Driving in LA is hard. Drivers are crazy. Pedestrians are crazy. And I barely ever drive. Therefore, I’m really not that great at it.

I don’t want to drive around a huge machine that holds people’s lives in it’s hands. I’m cool.

Also, I do live right downtown. Trying to pull out of my building and see what’s coming at you beyond the row of cars in street parking that are taking up your visual space – it’s really hard! No wonder everyone always gets into accidents on our corner. (I even had a past roommate get into an accident coming out of our parking structure!)

If I had a car, I’d say that chances that at some point I’d get into an accident coming out of there have got to be around a 97%* (*No actual data whatsoever to back that up.)

I’m awful at parallel parking – just horrendous. So, I just did my best to avoid that at all costs as much as I could.

Truthfully, I got to many places in the same time it took me on public transportation (especially if the subway was involved, ’cause that’s pretty fast even when the buses are not).

Even if I had a car, I would never drive it to Hollywood/Highland or a number of other places that could be easily accessed by subway (including my job).

Also, in a car, I lose my reading (and great tweeting ;)) time. (Though I’ll admit you could listen to books on tapes or podcasts.)

Also, in car, you’re just getting even more alone in a city that’s already very isolating. In a car, who’s gonna burst in and start selling water or candy or doing a song and dance for you?

In Los Angeles, that might be the only interactions you have with humans all week!

Of course there’s also the great benefit of walking more when you don’t have a car.

In many ways, not having a car rocks.

But in the few times where some place is not really on any good public transport routes, or the bus schedule runs few and far between, it’s easy to say “I WISH I had a car!”

But driving around a car for a week makes it that much easier for me to ask myself back, “But do you really?”

I will say if I became pretty wealthy, and every thing on my priority list was paid for for a while, and I still had loads of leftover money – and for whatever reason in that scenario I decided to stay in Los Angeles even with the freedom that that much money brings (I’m guessing in that scenario, I’m working on a sitcom – which is why I couldn’t go to NY, but would still have lots of money.)…

In that scenario, I would consider buying a car. If I become Mindy Kaling, I’ll think about it. I’ll brave the chance of getting into an accident (and I’ll get better at driving with practice).

I’ll enjoy the conveniences of the car when I want them, but take public transport to everywhere even kind of close (or located in a congested area where it’d be hard to park).

So, someday, maybe. You never know. I don’t plan on it anytime soon.

But I’m very, very thankful at how having a car for a week showed me how to be thankful that I don’t have one.

(I cannot stress enough that a car was what I wanted on TPiR – but for the novelty of saying I won one, and for the money I’d get from selling it – not so I could actually drive it and get a million wrinkles from the stress of barely knowing how to drive.)

Side note: My last mission in that car was the ultimate driving test. I survived picking my mom and sister up from LAX!

Taxes Aren’t The Only Expense With A Car

August 29, 2013

Just a reminder, if you read yesterday’s post in email form, I accidentally sent you an earlier draft, in which I hadn’t yet turned it into two posts. Therefore, this will be VERY familiar, as it’s just the 2nd half of yesterday’s (if that makes sense).

Okay, this is the last money (as it pertains to the car) post that I plan on doing, ’cause it’s all basically been said. And who wants to talk about money all the time anyway. Right?

However, just to try to solidify my position that selling the car was the right choice (and hopefully convince anyone who’s somehow still on the fence) –

If we forget about how much I wanted to pay off my debt, I’ve already mentioned that taxes made it very cost-prohibitive to keep the car. But taxes aren’t the only reason to sell it.

Not only would I have had to get over paying the taxes, I would’ve had to re-do my entire budget to keep up with the costs of having a car in general.

I got quotes for car insurance for the semi-young person I am, who hasn’t had insurance in over 3 years (which is the time frame all the companies ask about), who lives in downtown Los Angeles – and needs collision coverage on a brand new car.

My quotes were over $200/month.

I could’ve possibly tried to finagle it more or kept pushing options down to have the very, very bare minimum coverage. But how would that have really helped if I’d gotten in an accident. (Which let’s get real, with my driving in L.A. was practically bound to happen.)

So, that’s just insurance. Add gas (a lot). Add parking ($100/month just for a spot in my own building, not to mention you have to park at meters or in garages out here which all adds up).

It was going to be over $500/month to keep this car. $500/month I’m not currently paying. Sure, I wouldn’t have to pay $90/month for a Metro pass. So, that’s something. (Though in reality, I’m sure I’d still take it sometimes.)

And I could’ve tried to change everything around. But to me, it didn’t seem worth it to sacrifice in other areas so I could drive. What? Am I gonna stop traveling, going to Cory Booker fundraisers, and do whatever other fun things I like to do – just so I can drive instead of take public transport? (Am I gonna try to take out fun to not even replace it with other fun, but with the stress that comes from driving?)

I am SO thankful for my Price is Right car. Seriously. I know in rationalizing getting rid of it, it maybe doesn’t read that way. But it was a beyond-words incredible experience. And I am really glad it’s in the family. ‘Cause in non-LA, I don’t mind driving so terribly much.

Going on the show, a car was what I’d always dreamed of winning. To me, that is the American Dream – having the Price is Right announcer (currently George Gray) tell you you’re going to play for a brand new car!

I wanted the car because a) I think those are generally the most exciting games, b) the net amount you walk away with, with the car, is more than the amount you’re likely to walk away in most of the straight money games. (Yes, I know there are anomalies in the cash money games. Technically, in Plinko you could win $50,000 – but really, when does that ever happen?) c) as I said, to me it’s the American dream (or at least one of them – the American Price is Right dream).

(As far as any other options besides a car or money go – what would I have done with a dining room set or a hot tub?)

I am beyond pleased that my total Price is Right dream came true. But I knew before I even walked in the building I’d be selling it. And I think that was definitely the smart choice.

What Did I Do With My Price is Right Prizes? – Part 1 (The Car)

August 28, 2013

I’ve already mentioned in multiple places that I sold the car. So, I don’t think any of you are on the edge of your seats.

I’d decided in the Price is Right line before I even went on the show that if somehow I won a car, I’d sell it. While killing time, my friends and I were discussing hypotheticals.

In the scenario in which I’d win a car, I was all, “I will just see a big pile of cash on the stage. That’s all a car will be to me.”

And that’s basically all it was.

I looked into a few options. Carmax seemed like the safest one. Cars on Craigslist or Ebay… I heard too many meh stories to make me think those might not be the greatest ideas. (But I have no personal experience selling a car through those channels, so what do I know?)

Why chance it when Carmax would be simple, fast, and fair (from everything I’d heard about it)?

As I mentioned, you’d have to hold onto the car for about two weeks anyway (or however long it takes you to get the title in the mail). Well before the end of two weeks (or even two hours), I learned I didn’t need to sell it to Carmax

Within minutes of my show airing, my mom and grandparents were already starting in with, “We have to keep the Price is Right car in the family!”

About a week after my show aired, my mom and sister flew out to California and drove the car back to the midwest.

The car was titled in a family member’s name as soon as I had the title to transfer. It’s no longer registered in California. So, it’s definitely and officially not at all my car now.

But, it’s nice that I can still drive it on occasion when I visit.

In case I haven’t convinced you already that selling the car was a good idea – I have one more post tomorrow about taxes not being the only expense with a new car.

(I know it’s not my job to convince you, but I also know many people think I’m crazy for selling the car. So I just want to make the decision as understandable as possible.)

Again, I want to reiterate in every post I can that this was a dream come true and in no way am I at all ungrateful. I’m just making what I believe to be smart (and maybe even responsible, you’d say) decisions for my specific situation. (For others, keeping the car might be the perfect way to go…)

Price Is Right Contestant Strategies – Part 4 (The Wheel & The Showcase)

August 27, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

I have no advice when it comes to spinning the wheel. I went over. And I don’t know that that’s something you could strategize on without being able to practice on it.

If we all lived at the Bob Barker studio, we probably could spin it enough to understand the right amount of uumph needed, and get to the point where we could spin a dollar, or close to it, often.

But, we don’t live there. Or at least I don’t. If you do, kudos, and go get practicing!

I never made it to the showcase. So, I don’t know that I’m qualified to give advice for that. However, I’d assume it’s the same exact advice that I’d give for contestants’ row and your onstage game.

Really, really listen. Ask for anything you need repeated. (You get at most one chance on Price is Right every 10 years. So don’t waste it, ’cause you’re too embarrassed to ask. They’ll edit it out if you have something repeated and it bores the audience.)

Listen to the person beside you and how they bid.

If you know they’re way over, bid $1 (or at least pretty conservatively).

If you have the incredible good fortune of being able to pick whether you’d like to bid or pass – unless you are a boat enthusiast, I’d say just bid on your showcase if you have a car in it.

stress of it being almost 95

One showcase almost always has a car. The other one – sure, it may have another car or an SUV, or it may be all trips. And all those things are lovely.

(Although taxes on a showcase full of trips unfortunately might make it too cost prohibitive to take those trips.)

But the other choice that second showcase could be is a water themed one.

From what I’ve heard, boats and those things are SO much harder to sell than cars. Personally, I wouldn’t take my chances. Perhaps you’re a bigger gambler than I am.

If so, go for it and when you get an even better car, come laugh and gloat here in the comments.

Also, if you do happen to bid first – I know it’s incredibly important not to overbid, however, don’t underbid too much either. I saw a girl bid $18,000 for a showcase with a car, $3,500 cash and an iPad.

Even if you don’t know the price of everything. Take a moment and do a little math in your head. If you know for a fact there’s $3,500 in your showcase, that means you think that car is less than a $14,500 car. (And that’s assuming the iPad is worth nothing.)

I have never seen a car (in modern times) on The Price is Right go for under $16,000.

The girl lost her showcase by $12. ($12!) And that’s why when you’re a contestant on TPiR, I literally cannot stress enough, you have all the time in the world!

I mean, they’re on a schedule and I’m sure at some point Drew will ask you to make a decision. But talk it out if you have to. Do the math. Take a deep breath. Don’t just pull a random number for your showcase out of thin air. Think about how much you think each item costs, and how they all fit together.

I don’t know if any of the advice of the past 4 days has been helpful to any of you. But if it does help you, please let me know that it did (once you’re allowed to).

Side note: I saw someone on twitter the other day tweet to over 1,000 followers(!) that he’d just won a car but to keep it secret.

Uh, what? It’s twitter. If it’s gotta be secret, don’t tweet it. So, I suppose that’s my last piece of advice. They can take away your prizes if word gets out in the world. Don’t take that chance. Just be patient. (It’s a virtue.)

Price Is Right Contestant Strategies – Part 3 (Take Control Of Non-Luck Parts)

August 26, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

So, I’m going on an on with games I didn’t even play, because as I said, I could talk about Price is Right all day.

Let me make it clear that I know there is tons of luck involved. Heck, even in the game I played – first, I guessed that it was about a twenty-thousand dollar car. So, picking 19 made sense.

When it came to the last two numbers, I picked 96 thinking that whole thing of companies charging very close to the next hundred without actually charging it so that psychologically you think it’s cheaper than it actually is.

Then I picked 52 because it just felt right. It was just in my lucky spot on the board and seemed like something I want to pick.

I later learned that that’s also a tactic companies use – numbers falling at the end of the price to make it seem lower. (The 5 was lower than the 6 in the hundreds column before it, the 2 was lower than the 5.)

laughing with Drew

(Some strategies that people that in the game I played (The Money Game) include: if one of the pairs starts with 0, pick it. Bob Barker called that “el cheapo.” That’s how often it got people – he ended up making a special name for it…

Or, many people think the two correct squares are often actually next to each other on the board. Though, I have no stats on that to back it up.)

Another strategy on a different car game that I’ve heard people should use, but never really see implemented is to purposely get the first number of the car wrong in Cover Up to try to get yourself an extra turn at the board. (Of course if you also happen to get every single other number in the price wrong on that first turn, then you’ve totally screwed yourself.)

Anyway, moving back toward the point – I’ll totally admit I’m not some guru who knows everything when it comes to pricing. Luck definitely played into it for me (and probably for many people), and I’ll never act like it didn’t.

All I am saying is that even though big parts of your Price is Right appearance can be attributed to luck (especially any of the games that involve rolling dice or racing rats), you should do everything you can to control the parts that have to do with your decisions and thought processes.

running back to Drew

So, bid smart in contestants’ row. Keep your head and breathe onstage. Really, nothing is more important than keeping your head.

If you remember nothing else, remember this incredibly important thing: In the majority of the games, you are not timed!

Take an extra breath.

If you watch my appearance, it may look rushed to you, and like it goes quickly, but that was me really taking my time.

In your head, you may feel like you’re taking years to think it all out, but in real life it’s only a few extra seconds. And it makes all the difference in the world.

I’ll finish this out tomorrow –

Price Is Right Contestant Strategies – Part 2 (Know About The Gameplay)

August 25, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

You’re not always going to know what the price of something is.

Sure, there are psychological pricing strategies companies use.

And that kind of stuff might be helpful to you if you need to guess the exact price of a car, which can get sort of muddled and hard – especially when it comes to the last 3 numbers.

But really, those 3 numbers could basically be anything.

Sometimes I think you just need luck.

Then there are some things that are used over and over again on Price is Right. How many times have I seen Gold Bond lotion used? I feel like it’s used in practically every grocery game.

So, if you’re going to The Price is Right, maybe learn how much that costs. (Heads up: Sometimes they use the regular formula and sometimes the diabetic one – which have two different prices.)

That’s another thing – sometimes there will be slightly different versions of things they use. I’ve seen Chevy Cruzes with fewer features for less money. Unless you practically live Price is Right, you’re probably not going to be able to know all the ins and outs of every grocery product, car, and trip they might ask you about.

But, they use a lot of the same cars, and a lot of the same grocery items. (Watch the Price is Right for a couple of weeks, and you’ll see what those things are.)

So, even though things may be changed up a little, you should be able to usually make a somewhat educated guess. (Though of course I know there are curveballs, and there are always items even I as a frequent watcher do not recognize. Good luck with those.)

19!

Knowing strategy can be just as important as knowing the prices.

For one game specifically – please, if you go to Price is Right, understand the main idea behind how to play Pay the Rent.

There is nothing more frustrating while watching the show than to see someone waste a chance at $100,000 by putting the lowest price grocery item in the mailbox.

This video explains how you’re supposed to play that game.

Basically, to sum it up in case you don’t want to watch that video (or don’t know the game), you have to place prizes in a house so that each level adds up to more than what’s on the level before. There are 4 levels, with each of the middle levels having 2 spots.

So, the 2nd level must be more than the 1st – but the first only has one spot for an item. The 2nd level has two spots.

Why would you waste your least expensive item on the 1st level (in the mailbox), when you could get rid of a more mid-level priced item, still easily being able to outspend it when adding two grocery items together on the next level?

That way, you save your least expensive item to be paired with one more on the expensive end to keep your middle levels low – which will help you leave space for the most expensive item, which must stand alone in the attic.

it's getting serious now

Price is Right actually has played some versions now where you could place the items from least to most expensive and still win.

(I think they eased up that game a bit because no one was playing with the correct strategy, therefore no one was winning.

The game came out in Sept. 2010. In April 2013 someone finally won. The person won by going from least to most expensive grocery items, ’cause I think Price is Right was ready to just have someone win.)

The chances of you playing Pay the Rent are very small. So, don’t sweat it too much. Just please if you do play it, don’t put the ramen noodles in the mailbox. ‘Cause really, why do that?

I’ll pick up here tomorrow.

Price Is Right Contestant Strategies – Part 1 (You Have All The Time You Need)

August 24, 2013

If you’re looking for ideas on how to become a contestant on Price is Right, go to this post.

For what to do after your name is called, stay here. since Price is Right has recently been brought up all over again, people have been asking me if I have any advice for people once they’ve made it down to contestants’ row.

I could talk Price is Right games and strategies all day long. I’m a total game show fanatic. But I’m boiling it down to 4 posts (which yes, I realize is still a lot).

Be smart and listen in contestants’ row. When the last person to bid places her or his bid in some crazy out of the blue place, I just think “What are you doing?! You’ve already been given these great parameters by everyone else. So, do you think it’s below everyone, above everyone, or in between a range that’s been established? Bid accordingly.”

Some people don’t believe in bidding $1 over someone else. To me, that’s just not smart game play. If you were playing Monopoly and landed on Park Place, would you not buy it because you felt bad that your opponents didn’t have the same luck with the dice that you did?

Would you stick yourself with 15 extra points in Phase 10, because you refuse to use a skip card since that’s too mean?

Whenever we play any games, some amount of luck is involved. You receiving some luck means that during certain times you’ll have advantages over other players in the game. I don’t think it’s mean to use those advantages. I think it’s smart.

I know I’ve already talked on that subject before, so I won’t keep belaboring the point. Just seems silly to me not to use what you got.

And if you don’t use strategy while bidding, most of us viewers at home will be yelling at you. But, do what you want. I’m not the boss of you.

So, contestants’ row. Really pay attention. Sometimes when I watch the show, it seems like some people aren’t listening at all, and they’re just grabbing random numbers they thought of when the prize was revealed.

If you’re first to bid, you don’t have much choice other than to do that. But everyone else should be listening.

I know it is crazy at Price is Right. Tension is high Nerves are running wild. And it truly is hard to hear in there.

If you can’t hear what’s going on, just ask! Ask Drew if he can remind you what’s just been bid, and he will.

It’s better to feel like you look a little silly, or to feel a little stupid for asking, than to miss out on an opportunity to get onstage – just because you’re scared.

Now let’s say you get onstage.

My biggest piece of advice to myself that really helped me: “You have all the time in the world.”

I just kept reminding myself of that.

It’s easy on game shows to feel rushed, but that’s where you make stupid mistakes. Some of the games are timed on Price is Right, but most of them are not.

Take an extra breath and really ask yourself, “What do I honestly think this costs? Even if I don’t know the cost of that specific prize, do I have any field of reference at all that can help me?”

Or “What should be my strategy for this game?” (Although you should’ve already thought about the answer to the second question on many games at home/in line.)

This is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

My Summer Working On America’s Got Talent – Part 2

August 23, 2013

I remember her and her and her mom teaching me a bit more Polish everyday. I got sort of good at it! — Her and her and her mom taught me a bit more Polish everyday. I got sort of good at it!

Picking up from yesterday, and how lovely working with contestants was –

I felt like the contestants kept me sane and happy that summer, which is funny, ’cause I think that was kind of what I was supposed to be doing for them.

I made friends there that I have to this day. I went to visit some former contestants up in Seattle. When I was living in New York, I went to a fundraiser with some of my girls from the show.

Heck, one of the contestants went on to be my roommate for a year!

There was this crazy during-the-show-time when I ran into a few boys from the show at a bus stop! It was kind of jarring to see them outside of work because there were all these contracts stating no fraternizing and everything.

But how could I help that we were at the same bus stop? It was so random, and I wouldn’t have believed it if it didn’t happen to me.

Ma ray ray and me (I wanted to “run into” people at the movies and stuff when they’d tip me off on what they’d be up to. People kept telling me to come hang out with them. I would’ve absolutely loved to do that, but all that contract business seemed so serious with fines they could impose and stuff. So, I never did… But the accidental bump into at a bus stop was real… Unless they were “running into” me. ;))

It was a little draining to say goodbye to people you loved every week – and not even just to say goodbye… Because, you knew when the show was over, you could keep up with them with all the newfangled technology available to us.

But to see these friends of yours you cared about, have a dream slip away… Ugh, it was painful every time.

And I know one show doesn’t mean their careers are over. But rejection on such a humongous scale – blegh. It seemed awful.

(Though, as crummy as those parts were, it was fun to see people continue on another week, and go from 200 Facebook friends to more requests than they were allowed to accept – to know people in the moment before they became famous and see them becoming a star right before your very eyes. The level of that joy vibe you’ could feel radiating off the person was beautiful.)

Somehow just a sliver of my face ended up in this shot... — Somehow just a sliver of my face ended up in this shot…

I’m sure I could go on for a while with specific stories (like how we used to have freestyle rap battles complaining about Corner Bakery since we ate it everyday), but I think you’ve very much gotten the gist.

(I know these past two posts have really just been kind of like personal journal entries and not really information adding posts to anyone who has any interest in what goes on behind the scenes.

But if you do have any questions about anything, as always just let me know.)

In the not to distant future, I’ll talk about how I got my jobs after this one. But for now, let’s talk about game shows for a few days. ‘Cause really, how many days in a row do people want to hear about my day jobs?

My Summer Working On America’s Got Talent – Part 1

August 22, 2013

In case you haven’t been reading, this is sort of part of a series. So, if you want to hear about how I got hired on AGT, you can start with this post.

It has been an interesting experience to go through all my old photos looking for things to post with these entires. If you’d asked me what I remembered about my summer with AGT, I would’ve said that I remembered how much of a struggle it was.

I remember how hot it was. I remember how different it was from the road, and how hard it was to be a well-liked PA and get in with the cool kids production crowd on the summer shoot (which I don’t think I ever really did).

I remember how constantly tired I was from never having a super stable living situation during the entire summer.

(The first place I subletted I’m pretty sure was a drug dealer’s apartment. The second one was totally infested with cockroaches (ew). I was just hopping around to places close enough that I wouldn’t have to drive, and doing my best to stay with friends in between.)

I remember how chaotic it could be with the ever-changing schedules (which never seemed to be communicated to every one – so sometimes you’d think you needed to take someone to rehearsal just to get yelled at because why weren’t you taking them to an interview), how on edge it could get sometimes with live television.

I guess that was maybe the main thing if I had to try to boil it down. On the road, people were in a new city having fun, taping ahead for the summer.

In L.A., it was hot, definitely not vacation, and it was live TV. So, the air on set was a bit more stressful, I think.

Unfortunately (and maybe this speaks to my personality in a bad way), I would’ve started to list the negative things before the positive things, if you’d asked me about my experience.

However, having looked through these pictures lately, I’ve had a lot of awww moments wondering “What’s that person doing now?”

Luckily, I was assigned to contestants. Even though sometimes things could be crazy, sometimes they were the complete opposite. I felt that the summer was pretty much the definition of hurry up and wait.

Bianca and me (made up)

Sometimes the wait part of that would go on for many hours. I know I just finished talked about how important it is to use downtime to learn, but in the summer there didn’t seem to be as much room to shadow people – and a lot of that had already been done on the road anyway.

Plus, on the road it wasn’t downtime while my boss was holed up with the script where I really could go try to do something. Here, I was supposed to be with contestants.

Even if it was fun and games time, I still did sort of have to keep an eye on everybody and make sure they were comfy and such (and where they were supposed to be). I mean, that was kind of what I was being paid to do…

(Coincidentally, looking out for them and trying to keep them in a good mood meant I got to relax and play games too. Isn’t that nice?)

I was amazed at how much fun they could have. If it were me, I think I might’ve been too nervous to let loose. But, really it felt like one big happy summer camp as opposed to some big competition.

As far as what I did for the actual work part of it (in case anyone out there is really curious), I had to rotate contestants through hair and make-up before each show, and try to get the timing right of how to keep the chairs full and never run into someones rehearsal time.

Plus, I worked with the kids again, making sure they got their school in. (I actually even helped someone with Physics homework, which made me feel really smart and happy.)

Everyone was assigned different stuff to do. There were driver PAs, office PAs, etc. But I think contestant PA was the best assignment.

And I’ll finish this out tomorrow.

How To Break Into The Entertainment Industry (At Least From My Experience) – Part 3

August 21, 2013

Picking up from two days ago –

But going back to the idea of the first post in this series and the whole taking an interest in people thing (such as when I’d go learn about various jobs) –

I also made this agreement with myself that each week during the summer, I’d try to go to dinner or coffee or whatever with a different person so I could get to know more about them and what they did.

This wasn’t intentionally to try to build a network of people I could use to get future jobs. This was just so I could feel like a contributing part of the crew who knew everyone and felt friendly with them, and so I could get advice and information.

Sometimes it was scary to ask. I had a lovely dinner with one of the producers on the show I hadn’t yet worked with. There was a little part of me before I asked him that thought, “Why would a high-powered super cool producer want to have dinner with a mere production assistant such as myself. He’s busy and such.”

But, he was super nice in agreeing to hang out with me. And I got a great and riveting story of how he made his way up in the business.

Now, the internet does have this whole set of people who talk about how annoying it is when people try to brown nose or kiss up or be too interested in kind of getting people on their side or whatever.

I never found that to be a problem with the people I was reaching out to, but I suppose it could be one.

I think there were possible some other people around who maybe thought I was being a brown noser, but I like people and was just genuinely trying to get to know more people and take a real interest in them.

And I wasn’t concerned with being friendly to only people above me. I definitely was friends with fellow PAs as well. As my high school theater teacher always said, no one is more important than anyone else. Everyone works together to make the final product, and without any one of them, it would be different.

I think that basically sums up advice I have. I don’t know if it will be helpful to anyone trying to make it. And I certainly don’t do everything perfectly. I don’t have all the answers. (If I did, I’d be working on The Simpsons right now.)

If you want advice on breaking into scripted, well, I’ve got nothing for you. Go figure out how to do it, and get back to me. (My guess is, a lot of the ideas in these posts still ring true, it’s just a matter of meeting/knowing different people, and/or getting a different lucky break and/or sacrificing more than I did.)

Tomorrow, I’ll talk about the summer on AGT.

“Wah, wah, The Poor Game Show Winners” (aka Taxes On Price Is Right Prizes)

August 20, 2013

If you just came here for the numbers and breakdown, scroll down a little until you hit the words in bold (where I say “Let’s break it down a little.”)

Sorry to anyone invested for interrupting my series on breaking into working in television.

In case you haven’t heard, I got linked from Yahoo! Shine yesterday, and now I’m getting thousands of hits. (*Bows to applause*) Yes, thank you, thank you.

I’ve been getting a fair amount of comments/emails and such. So, let me take a post to talk about the taxes – since that seems to be the big issue.

The night I won, I started googling information on what the taxes would be like on my prizes. I saw so many comments by people with this angry attitude toward game shows winners. “How dare you complain about taxes when it’s all just a bonus to you?!”

Some people did it in a nice way. “A brand new car, and I only have to pay the taxes?! Sign me up!”

I didn’t get involved in any of those discussions, because really. Why? But now that everyone is talking about it with me, let’s go for it.

I don’t want to sound ungrateful in the least. I adore game shows, and anything I win truly is a lovely bonus. (I do agree with that part of the sentiment from the above comments I mentioned.)

However, I also think it’s a little silly how people marginalize the taxes for game shows winners.

bidding in contestant's row

As I said, there’s this “‘wah wah, poor me’ – Hey, buck up, you won on a game show!” attitude all around the internet if any past winner even dare utter the word “taxes.”

But, taxes are very real. Taxes definitely prohibit many people from keeping prizes they win (or going on trips they win).

Let’s break it down a little.

To be clear, you are taxed on the value of whatever you win. Of my $21,008 in winnings, only $96 of that was actual money. So, I will be taxed on an extra $21,0008 of “income,” but obviously I can’t just take the thousands of dollars of taxes out of physical, non-cash-money-prizes – unless I sell the stuff I won (which I did).

To understand all the taxes involved:

First, we start with sales tax. I paid $2,067 just to pick up the car.

Then, let’s estimate federal.

I don’t know what bracket everyone’s going to be in. For argument’s sake, let’s go with the median income in Los Angeles. Page 3 of this document states the median income for a single person in Los Angeles – $43,200.

That would mean your game show earnings would be taxed at the 25% rate. So, with this example, we’re up to paying $5,250 in federal taxes.

Then, you have California state tax. There, you’d be in the 8% bracket and pay $1680 to the state.

Add those estimations together:
Sales – $2,067
Fed – $5250
State – $1680
TOTAL: $8997(!)

(Again, those are just assumptions. This would easily be more for someone in a higher income bracket – or for someone who wins a more expensive car and goes on to win a big showcase, therefore getting pushed into a higher tax bracket.)

(And, I will concede it could be less if someone has enough deductions, credits, etc. And I’ve heard the sales tax part of it could, in some circumstances, count as some sort of deduction or something. (I’m not a tax professional, nor have I done taxes for my Price is Right year yet, since we are still in it.))

Anyway, in a pretty safe-ish hypothetical range, you’re paying about $9,000 for your car. But that’s starting to get toward the price for which you could actually buy a car in the first place.

So this idea that “only having to pay the taxes still leaves you with a practically free car”… I don’t know how other people feel, but to me $9,000 is not practically free.

Again, I’m very thankful. And even after selling the car for a depreciated price (since it had previously been owned by me – even if only for double digit miles), I still made thousands of dollars (even after the tax bill).

I will say that in our scenario, though, the government could easily come out the same or ahead of the winner on the actual net winnings after selling prizes for depreciated values and such.

I’m very happy and extremely thankful for my day on The Price is Right, but I’ll never stop thinking it’s funny that people trivialize a tax bill of $9,000ish as though it’s totally nothing (and that everyone could still easily keep this new car) – just because it’s a bill from something fun as opposed to traditional income.

(If you have nine grand to drop on a car, go out and buy yourself a car!)

How To Break Into The Entertainment Industry (At Least From My Experience) – Part 2

August 19, 2013

Picking up from yesterday, I was talking about being invisible sometimes.

Of course, it’s important that if there is something to do, you do it.

Sometimes, it got to the point on AGT that one of the higher ups would call for 3 PAs to stand in for the judges (’cause that was the most fun job), just to see who’d run out.

Then they’d make the PAs do something else, ’cause they were just finding a way to see who was free.

The higher ups had had to resort to doing that because sometimes when they’d call for help on the walkie, no PA would go.

I actually got in trouble once because I was assigned to a specific person. And she said that I was not to take any other random jobs, ’cause she might need me at the drop of a hat.

So, I was just sitting at the ready for her. Then, someone called on the walkie for free PAs to go help with a crowd shot outside. I didn’t go because I’d been given strict orders not to go do anything else.

(Some of my pictures are so small! Oh cell phones from 2010... (At least, my cell phone was behind the times.)) — (Some of my pictures are so small! Oh cell phones from 2010… (At least, my cell phone was behind the times.))

But the people who were assigned to be floaters and do those kinds of jobs just didn’t go. They were in their hiding place, but not doing the most important part of the hiding place thing – getting out when you’re called.

PAs were called on the walkie 3 times. The person calling was seeming frustrated and frazzled and really needed extra help. So, I just went assuming my boss would call me on the walkie, and I’d immediately go to her if she needed me.

Well, the outside group all switched walkie channels. So, I went to the one the outside group was on. My boss didn’t really listen to a walkie, ’cause she had her own job she was concentrating on and no one really needed to call her. Usually, if they did, they’d just call me and I’d relay a message.

So, I couldn’t call her on the walkie to tell her I was switching my channel. I figured someone would if she called for me, which I figured was a slim chance ’cause I’d only be outside for 20 minutes. And I thought I’d be waiting for longer than that ’til she needed me again.

Well, of course while I was outside, she called for me on the other channel. And no one told her what channel I was on. When I came back in, she was really mad she couldn’t get ahold of me.

The production coordinator actually pulled me aside after I’d been yelled out telling me that she was really glad I helped when no one else did, and not to feel bad. Even though the best circumstances didn’t happen, they really thought I was a hard worker and appreciated me.

I thought I was so cool wearing my hat with make up done by the pros on set.

So, that was nice. But obviously not the best situation. I could’ve definitely done some things differently. So, you know, don’t try to be a superhero taking on too much.

However, barring that time, I generally tried to keep my boss as happy as possible. I tried to be very alert and remember everything she told me, how she liked things and all that jazz. My goal was that she’d never have to tell me anything twice.

And that worked out well. She always complimented me for being smart. And she said she loved knowing things would just get done right.

So, yay me!

And this is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

How To Break Into The Entertainment Industry (At Least From My Experience) – Part 1

August 18, 2013

(I'm still using fun photos from the America's Got Talent set, which a little bit seems to contradict my messages of hard work in here... But, uh, whatever I suppose.) — (I’m still using fun photos from the America’s Got Talent set, which a little bit seems to contradict my messages of hard work in here… But, uh, whatever I suppose.)

My America’s Got Talent story is transitioning from how I got the job to what the job was like.

Before talking about my summer on the show, I thought I’d throw in my advice on how to break into the industry (since the people reading about how I got the job are possibly looking for that).

I don’t know how qualified I am to give advice. I’m obviously not at the top of any ladders (and I’m working in reality).

Plus everyone’s experience in TV is different, but if you want my experience (and the straight up advice part as opposed to a story), this explains why I felt like I was able to keep working.

I showed up to work excited. I tried to make it clear that I wanted to be there and appreciated being there. I was always looking for ways to help.

I will say, early on in my career someone gave me the advice that sometimes there will be lulls. Part of being a great PA is knowing how to just get out of the way when there’s not much to be done.

That means don’t hang out in areas that are frequented by the bosses. Find a little corner and learn to be invisible. I got the advice that sometimes knowing how to be invisible is just as important as knowing how to be visible.

I’m sure it depends on the show. But I felt that advice has actually served me pretty well.

There’s a difference between being enthusiastic and being up someone’s bum. It can be sort of a hard line to navigate sometimes. (Though, in my experience, I would advise always erring on the side of up the bum. People can easily tell you to go away or settle down. It’s very hard for them to pull you in and get you working harder.)

Also, when I saw be “invisible,” that doesn’t mean you have to totally waste your time.

First off, there is often actually something that can be done. There might not be any tasks people can immediately think of, but if you’ve been keeping your eyes and ears open, you may be able to assign a task to yourself.

For instance, this is not specifically television related, but I once worked in the office of a theater producer. He mentioned in passing one day that he was pretty head over heels for a particular album of a certain band, and he’d possibly even like to do a show with them at some point.

When I’d run out of work and the producer told me I could basically hang out for a while, I made a spreadsheet of every songwriter who’d worked on the album – sorted by who had the most writing credits.

Then I had columns with which songs they’d written, their websites, and any contact info I could find for those writers – just in case he decided he wanted to contact them about that possible show.

He was thankful, and that was just one of many little positive checkmarks in my favor in his mind.

That’s just one small example of how I tried to always be thinking, “What can I add?” “How can I help?”

Now, sometimes there really just does not seem to be anything to do. Perhaps you’re part of a humongous crew for a show that’s been on many seasons. Everything’s organized. Everything’s running smoothly. Nobody needs you for a while.

(I took my hat off for a bunch of these pics and my hair went nuts.)

Well, for me, when it was time to go into that invisible mode on America’s Got Talent, I’d go to hang out in different departments.

The lovely man in charge of the audio department allowed me to shadow him as he mixed the show. He was really helpful, and tried to make sure I learned any new things possible.

I watched the director do his thing inside the truck. I learned from the camerawoman. I did my best to keep eyes and ears open – not distract anyone from his or her job, not annoy anyone, but just take an interest in how everything worked and how all the various people and departments came together to make this crazy television show.

Everyone I asked welcomed me.

Of course, I always had my earpiece in – ready to go help at a moment’s notice if there was something to do. But in the meantime, I figured I’d learn if there was nothing else to do.

This is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

How I Got My Job On America’s Got Talent – Part 6 (Struggles-ish)

August 17, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

I’d lamented about how great it would be to be a must-hire, just to realize I was one.

It was silly to be jealous at the good fortune of some other people. I’d had some good fortune of my own.

The job hadn’t been posted anywhere. No one who wasn’t somehow in the loop even got a chance.

Of course, that wasn’t all that surprising. That’s how Hollywood is.

But I guess just the fact that it was quite so hard for me as someone who’d already worked with these people, to break into just the very bottom rung of the ladder (after 2(!) seasons) – that was surprising to me.

As I mentioned, while this is the general (and honest) account of me time there, I didn’t want to belabor the point of the struggles too much. But I do want you to know that if the story sounded like, “Eh, it wasn’t that hard. It wasn’t so bad -” there was more than meets the ear.

And if you’re seriously considering going into television, let’s get a coffee, and I will give you a realer perspective than one I can give you on the internet.

Now, as much as I want to make it clear that I didn’t make it sound as stuggle-y as I could’ve, I don’t want to swing too far in that direction of the pendulum either.

Because, in reality – yes, there were people who weren’t necessarily on your side. Yes, there were rough logistics to figure out when you had to travel yourself to show how much you wanted to work or whatever. However, I got to see a lot of great cities and work enough overtime to pay for my trips.

Speaking of overtime, yes we actually got it! The show was not stingy with overtime on the road. You’d have to stay ’til every contestant had been seen, and you’d be paid accordingly. We also got smorgasbords of free food (as people often do on television shows).

And even though there may have been people who weren’t on your side, the majority of people were. Of those, not only were they on your side. But they were your allies, and they were kind and helpful.

So, looking as objectively as I can. Yes, there were struggle-rich moments (some quite super rich with frustrating situations), but more often than not it was actually sort of a luxurious experience when I think about it. Because how many people get to experience working on a television show, really?

To me it seems like every person ever, because this is what I do for a living. So, my circle of friends and I talk about it as though it’s basically nothing, ’cause these are just our normal jobs.

But my dad still brags about me back in Ohio, and even though I’ve been doing this for years now, he thinks it’s cool every time. “What show are you working on now, sweetheart? Which network is that on?” He has to know all the deets so he can tell everyone he knows. (It’s kind of adorable, really.)

Anyway, back to AGT, I’d finally made it to the coveted summer shoot! I was a real working person in Los Angeles – where people go to get television jobs. I was at least becoming kind of, sort of the real deal. (And yes, I do realize it sounds silly to have been so excited about that because it’s reality TV. But still. Working for NBC seemed like a big enough deal to me.)

This is where we’ll pick up tomorrow.

How I Got My Job On America’s Got Talent – Part 5 (I Got The Summer Gig)

August 16, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

So, I’m at this Vegas party with the two producers I’d been working with for the past two seasons.

At this point, I’d been pushing harder than last year to get on for the summer, being a little more insistent. But the production office people kept me at bay. “We’ll see, we’ll see. Uh, maybe kind of sort of.”

If I remember correctly, by this time, the “maybe, kind of, sort of” had basically slid all the way into a “Sorry we’re just not going to have room this year.”

When I was telling that to producers #1 and #2 on the Vegas roof, they were not standing for it. “What?! No. Not after two seasons. Not after all the work you put in. You’re a huge asset to us, and it’d be crazy not to have you around for the summer.” (Wasn’t that nice?)

They built me up and made me feel great. As I said in the other post, use your allies. I did. They had my back. And wouldn’t you know it, when high-level producers put in a call, all of a sudden there was room after all on the summer crew.

So, I packed my bags and went to Los Angeles to become an honest-to-goodness working person in television production – not just in the outskirt cities, but right smack in the city of Angels, where it can sometimes seem impossible to get your foot in the door.

I visited some of the past contestants in Seattle. That's me hiding out in the back, totally looking like the mom to all these young-uns! — I visited some of the past contestants in Seattle. That’s me hiding out in the back, totally looking like the mom to all these young-uns!

I remember on one of my first days there, I was talking to someone else who’d had to work for a while to try to move up there, about what a sort of arduous journey it’d been for us.

We had one person who was 16 years old working with us. There were all of these people in high school or college doing their first summer jobs on America’s Got Talent because a family member worked there.

I was a wee bit jealous (though I don’t really know why, considering I was in college too). But, I’ve kind of skimmed over some of the hard parts of trying to constantly remain on the show.

It was tiring to have this job that you had to fight for every week, never knowing ’til the last minute if you’re on for another city – feeling like you’re holding on for dear life and could fall off this ride any second.

I think practically every story can cover the same event, but be told from many different perspectives. I’ve tried to basically tell this one from the “golly gee, wasn’t that lucky” perspective, as opposed to the “at times this could be a harrowing experience that made me want to bang my head against a wall” perspective.

But whether or not I tried to make that the focus on the blog, it certainly existed.

This is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

How I Got My Job On America’s Got Talent – Part 4 (My Second Season)

August 15, 2013

I really loved hanging out with this boy. I think that photo really captures that time - tired yet happy. (It is literally my favorite photo of the summer.) — I really loved hanging out with this boy. I think that photo really captures that time – tired yet happy. (It is literally my favorite photo of the summer.)

In the interest of taking a break from kind of hodgepodge of random posts lately, how about we bring it back to a story for a few posts?

Picking up from last time –

So, I didn’t work on AGT in the summer of 2009, but I did spend a bunch of time in and out of the hospital. So, there was that.

I kept an eye out for when they’d start auditioning for the following season. I felt I’d worked so hard in the previous season that I was not going to give up on this show!

When the auditions came somewhere close to me (New York, perhaps?), I emailed my producer bud, asking if I’d be taking notes for her again.

She did get me back working on the show for the season 5 audition tour. I don’t remember the exact sequence of events, but I do remember at some point I ended up in the other (even more senior) producer’s room.

I think what happened was that producer #1 wasn’t there for one of the cities, so I worked in producer #2’s room instead. He took a liking to me. And then I was basically with him for the rest of the time. I think they had a little (not actual but cute non-)fight over who would get to keep me. (I know, I know. I’m so special, right?)

So, yet again I did another season of cities with AGT. I don’t think I made it to quite each one. There was crazy hospital stuff going on still. But, I worked in most of them. Overall, the crew was actually very nice to me and accommodating of any hospital stuff.

Giving clues during a game of Catchphrase in the summer

I was really lucky though that this seemed to be the one job that wasn’t affected all that much. I think because this job was so sporadic, it happened to hit the times I wasn’t in the hospital, which was really convenient for me. (And I actually scheduled my open heart surgery for one week later than necessary so I could get in one more city (Portland) before I had surgery.)

One thing that was really nice during my 2nd season is that they began giving me a tiny bit more responsibility. In Portland, they actually let me train the group of outside room PAs (who gathered paperwork and kept the flow going)… And they told me it was the best group they had for the whole audition tour. *high five*

(I promised my group free treats if they made me proud. They did. So, we went out for shakes!)

The tour ends. Yet again, I got to go to Vegas.

Vegas was a grand ol’ time. I didn’t do any Vegas-y type stuff. But I did have a lot of fun playing card games with contestants for hours on end.

I mentioned last time that since the initial auditions were over, I didn’t have the same job. The producer didn’t need me taking notes for her. So, this time I was assigned to contestants. Specifically, my job was to make sure all the kids under 16 got all their required hours of schooling and rest and such.

Sucks for you, adults. We can keep you till 3am if we feel like it! Families who have minors in them – free pass, baby.

...And people laughing up a storm at my ridiculous clues. — …And boys laughing up a storm at my ridiculous clues.

I got along well with all the kids and parents. And I almost certainly had the most fun job. Instead of lugging equipment places or doing whatever else, I basically just got to hang out with nice people while logging their hours and trying to keep them happy.

I worked somewhat closely with the studio teachers. They were a very nice bunch.

I still got to see the producers sometimes, because they’d ask for me to come give them an update on how many hours we had left with certain acts. (The younger the kids, the fewer hours they can have on set per day.)

So, Vegas ended and I headed up to our swanky wrap party. Here, I ended up in a conversation with producer #1 and producer #2 together.

This is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

What Is The Saturation Point?

August 13, 2013

Cory Booker (completely unsurprisingly) won the special Democratic Senate primary election today.

(Really, why were three people running against him?)

Even though I knew this race was a total lock, I made phone calls for him yesterday – just in case.

I expected everyone I called to have at least some sort of opinion. People would either tell me they couldn’t wait to vote Booker, or that they thought he was too much of a celebrity and not enough of a politician. But one way or another, they’d have a definite opinion on Cory Booker. (Or so I thought.)

I’d been hearing people on twitter complaining that they can’t go five minutes in New Jersey without seeing Cory’s face somewhere – “we get it man, you want to be our next Senator. And you will. So, leave us alone please?”

I thought we were well into the point of saturation – possibly even over-saturation.

So, I was shocked when I called people who didn’t know who he was – or even that there was a primary.

I called one person who didn’t even know what a primary was. She was a lovely sounding woman who was very nice to me. But when I asked if she wouldn’t mind sharing with me for whom she was leaning toward voting, she said, “I’m gonna vote democratic all the way, honey!”

At that point, I had to, as nicely and politely as I could, explain, “Well, everyone on the ticket will be a democrat. So you have to choose which democrat you’d most like to see go up against the republican candidate for the empty senate seat.”

But I think my explanation went in one ear and out the other, because again she reiterated she’d be voting democrat. So, I (I’m hoping) sweetly explained the idea of a primary again, at which point she asked me who was running.

Thankfully, I’d watched the live-streaming debate a few days earlier. So, I had a pretty good idea of the people in the race and how they were trying to differentiate themselves.

In the end, she said I sounded nice so she’d go ahead and vote for that Booker fellow.

Now, even though I had some surprising households, I did have some who said they had a voting plan in place and couldn’t wait to vote. So, there were certainly people who knew.

But the idea that I had to explain to multiple people who Cory Booker was blew my mind a little.

So, how do you know when you’ve reached the saturation point? How, when it seems you’ve reached everyone, do you reach the last corners of people who have no idea who you are? And how do you do that without alienating the people who are more and more bombarded with your messages everyday?

“You’re So Old To Go To College!”

August 6, 2013

Just to address one thing really quickly, I know that even though commenters on the blog have been extremely supportive, I’ve heard (in my own head, or by a few people), “aren’t you a little old to be going to college?”

It’s weird, ’cause right now I don’t feel all that ridiculously old for college. Some of my friends are still in college. I’m pretty sure I could fit in on a college campus right now – but those are the germane words. Right now.

If it takes a year or two to build up a bit of a transcript, and then possibly another year between applying and going (depending where I’d apply and what the deadlines are), then four-ish years of actual schooling, I see how I’d be much older than I am right now.

First off, let me just tell you, I am never aging. Let’s just get that out there now. (Let a girl hold on to her little insecure dreams. (Also, look at Jim Parsons and Sutton Foster – some people just don’t age!))

Secondly, here’s the main thing. And it’s the best thing to remember.

We are going to get older. That’s just a thing that’s going to happen. If I think I’m gonna be old now, how will I feel 6 years from now when I could’ve been done?

I don’t know about you, but I see people around me living fluid lives, trying new careers, new jobs, and new ideas. I don’t think it’s horrible to be “so old” when I graduate college (if I ever decide to do that). Life is ever-moving, and it’s meant to be lived.

When we think we’re too old for something, we gotta push it aside and just do that something. ‘Cause if it’s something we really want to do, we’re still gonna wish we did it in the next decade to come – and we’ll call out 10-years-ago self “so young.” We’ll wonder why we didn’t take more chances.

In the words of Aladdin, “All I gotta do is jump!”

Droppin’ Out Like It’s Hot

August 5, 2013

Kanye West sitting in college bleachers in mascot costume without the bear head on — photo credit: Kanye West College Dropout photoshoot

I know, I know. So much college talk lately. I have 2 more posts (counting this one) about college. And then we’re moving on (until I update you about the class I’m taking).

I’ve kind of been exploring the reasons I’ve always sort of had this pull/push with college.

Have you ever noticed that there’s often this crazy pride people have when they announce, “I don’t need no college!”

I am not above that pride.

I have some pants that read, “school of hard knocks.” I also once put “dropping out like it’s hot” on some online profile in the space for my college major.

Kanye West (whom I used to love and be totally inspired by) was always talking about how he dropped out.

There’s some kind of pride that drop-outs wear – like what? Like maybe we’re better than college? Or perhaps we got out of it – outsmarting those poor suckers who didn’t know how to beat the system.

Or are we totally overcompensating because we know we hit some random pocket where we can have a pretty nice life without a college education – knowing we’re totally the exception, not the norm (and knowing all those suckas have lots of opportunities that we might not).

I don’t completely understand the pride of being able to stand up and say, “I chose not to be as educated as I could’ve been!” Nonetheless, I’ve felt it, and I’ve bellowed it out to the world.

One random thing about this: P. Diddy was a college dropout,, and obviously really made something of himself. Yet, when he had that reality show to find an assistant, he required that all applicants have a degree… I thought that was odd.

I have no conclusion to this post, just wondering aloud why sometimes we so highly exalt the dropouts – and why we dropouts act like we’re the coolest kids (not) in school.

Thank You For All Your Kindness/Helpfulness

August 4, 2013

post it notes with thank you written in different languages — Photo credit: MarketingPilgrim.com

When I wrote posts a few days ago about college woes, and being in a somewhat stuck and what-do-I-do position, I wondered if it’s something I should even be talking about.

As you’ve seen, I’m pretty super open on the blog. But still, that doesn’t mean you need to hear my each and every thought.

As I was drafting those posts, I thought, “I’m supposed to at least sort of have my life together!” I probably shouldn’t be showing such current vulnerability on the blog.

But, I did it anyway. Partly because the blog is about my life, so why not share what I’m thinking about/looking into right now. Partly because sometimes when I open up my current struggles or thoughts people respond with great insights and help. But mostly because I’ve sort of started assuming no one’s reading anymore.

That makes it easier not to get too terribly wrapped up whether my content is interesting, too vulnerable, or anything else. Of course, that’s also a scary place to be. Many times, bloggers who start assuming no one is reading get too cavalier, maybe a little too opinionated or who knows what else – and then they rile a) the internet b) their life or c) all of the above.

But, as of now, I think things are still cool.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks because you are still reading! The next time I checked my email after posting those posts, I already had comments from two different people!

So, thank you for not abandoning me in a floaty/exploratory phase. And thank you for adding to the conversation – and for doing so in such a kind and supportive way instead of yelling at me to figure it out, or to give up on being educated as though my ship has already sailed (or anything along those lines).

(Not that I want to say I expect that from people. But, you know. It’s the internet. And I was mildly nervous.)

You are lovely, dear blog readers.

I’m Taking A Class At Harvard Extension School!

August 3, 2013

After all the blabbering about college recently, here is at least one actionable step.

I don’t know if you’ve heard about Harvard Extension School. If you haven’t, it’s basically a place where anybody can start in on some college classes. (It’s perfect for someone in my situation.)

If you meet certain criteria, you can actually be accepted to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree from there. If you do graduate from Harvard Extension, you can attend the regular Harvard ceremony, and get your degree from Harvard University.

Also, as a student at Harvard, you can take advantage of many things normal students can – playing on Harvard sports teams, playing in the marching band, etc. I know it’s not exactly the same as being a student at Harvard College, but as far as the limited options people like myself have when it comes to going to college – this is a stellar one.

You don’t need any more info on the school from me since they have their own great channels to talk about it. You can hear this year’s information session, or check out their official website.

What I can tell you is that I signed up for Expo-25, the first of 3 classes one would need to take to eventually be accepted (which is what allows you many of the perks of being a Harvard student (and a student in general)).

To take that first expository writing class, you have to pass a placement exam. I signed onto my Harvard Extension School account, ’cause I remember having taken the placement exam when I first learned about Harvard Extension.

I saw that my passing score was from 2010. I had always planned to go back to Berklee after taking the summer (and possibly fall) to get away from the scene. But alas, in September 2010, I realized that was not going be possible (or it was going to be more prohibitive than I was wiling to sacrifice).
Back then, I was all about, “What are my options?”

That was when I took those community college classes online in the few subjects you couldn’t CLEP out of at Berklee. I wanted to at least feel like I was sort of moving forward in some way.

That year was also when I found out about Harvard Extension. (I took the placement exam in December 2010.) Other than passing one placement exam, I did nothing with Harvard Extension… until now.

I’m not necessarily saying I’m going to become a degree candidate, or that Harvard Extension is absolutely the right choice as the end game for me. But what I am saying is that from everything I’ve heard, it has wonderful and challenging classes.

While looking into any options I do have college-wise, the one thing that was true across the board was that they all wanted some sort of recent academic progress. It didn’t have to be full-time study somewhere, just a class here and there to show you’re willing to study and do well at this point in your life.

So, I’m going to take this class. If I continue wanting to actually go to a school somewhere, this might help me. Or, if I decide for whatever reason that I do want to graduate with a Bachelor’s, but I don’t want to go somewhere else (or if I didn’t get in anywhere else), I could continue class by class at Harvard Extension. The program is amazingly flexible. I sort of wonder why more schools don’t have something like this.

There you have it. 3 years later, I signed up for the first class. Before, I bemoaned about the money. And time. I didn’t want to commit to a 2-hour window every week when I had to sign on to class, ’cause (read over-dramatically) what if it conflicts with my next job?

Now that I work in post-production, it’s much simpler than working on set. My work environments are very lax. If I need to come in a little early and take a 2-hour lunch once a week, I’m lucky that I can.

Basically, there’s almost always a way to find the time and money if you prioritize something high enough. So, I found the time and money for one class, and we’ll take it from there.

The College Rock And A Hard Place

July 31, 2013

Jim Belushi wearing a college sweatshirt, making a confused face — Photo credit: Animal House/Universal Pictures. (I’ve never seen the movie, but this came to me in a google search result :-P)

I’ve talked a lot (maybe not on the blog, but in real life) over the past couple of years about going back to college.

I’ve always had these two different sides of me – the side who wants to be educated in everything and hold at least two (or three) advanced degrees, and the side who says, “buck the system! I don’t need no stinking college!”

I’m gonna leave the subject of whether college is a good idea until tomorrow. But today, I want to talk about how colleges don’t seem to give me a lot of options – or perhaps I just didn’t give myself many. Nonetheless, I have boxed myself in a little corner when it comes to college.

As has been mentioned probably a million times on the blog, in high school I took practically all performing arts classes. I literally do not have the minimum high school requirements to get into most colleges (foreign language, advanced math, etc.).

I will say that I can’t regret high school, because it was truly amazing. I loved (mostly) every second of it. I could’ve probably taken some online classes in the summer to fill out a transcript. But, I don’t wish that I had taken anything else at the school. And I certainly don’t wish I’d taken any fewer performing arts classes.

But I am really far behind on requirements to get into school as a freshman.

Now, technically, I actually could take some online high school classes (which is not an awful idea). Or, I could apply as a transfer.

But, here’s where I’m really screwed. I have a whole bunch of credits from Berklee – more than two years worth, due to taking more than the “maximum” credits during certain semesters. (I put maximum in quotes, because you take more than that). Add to that a bunch of test-outs (plus 4 community college classes I took online while working in California to round out all those gen-ed classes). It’s practically raining credits for me after all that.

So, I almost have to apply as a transfer to most places.

However, I’ve reached the threshold where tons of places won’t even let me apply anymore. Once you have more than two years worth of credits, many places won’t let you apply – even if you’re willing to do three, four, or however many years at their school. Even if you’re willing to forego a lot of your credits because you know a lot of them won’t transfer, they don’t care.

Anything over two years? That’s just too much, says college.

I think the feeling is that you should finish at your current institution. Look, I love music. I desperately want to write a musical that ends up on Broadway. I work toward that. I apply to programs and festivals and such.

But just because I love music doesn’t mean I necessarily still want a Bachelor of Music. When you go to a “normal” school, if you decide you’d rather study political science than biology, or women’s studies instead of mathematics, you can do that.

At Berklee if you don’t want to study music… uh, what are you doing there? You can go to a different concentration of music. But it’s all music based… As it should be! When I graduated high school, I thought, “forget every other subject out there, baby! I want a college experience just like my high school one.”

And I was so happy a place like Berklee existed. (I would not have done well at a liberal arts school.)

But now that time has passed, I’m thinking I might, maybe, want to actually learn about some other things in the world. The best writers I know are actually extremely well-educated.

Homer Simpson on a big swinging ball between a rock and a hard place — credit: Matt Groening/Fox (The Simpsons)

I’m not saying you can’t be well-educated at Berklee, I’m just saying it’s not the college experience that I’m currently seeking.

Getting back to all those schools who don’t take people after they’ve done anything over two years, a Bachelor of Music is different from a Bachelor of Science. People view it differently. It opens different doors. And most importantly, it’s a totally different experience.

So, even if you have over two years worth of credits, I believe you should be able to change your mind and go after a different degree (which means going to a different place).

Berklee knows this because they even allow people to get a second bachelor’s if they already have a BA or BS!

I will say, I am getting close to crossing the threshold of being able to be in programs for people who’ve been out of school a certain amount of time, or are a certain age. There aren’t as many programs, but they exist. And those are probably pretty much my only options if I want to go to college-college.

I don’t think colleges were made for me… or I didn’t make myself for college.

How I Got My Job On America’s Got Talent – Part 3 (Not Getting Hired For The 1st Summer…)

July 27, 2013

This was after the summer when some contestants, family, and I went to a swanky event together. (I'm all the way on the left.) — This was after the summer when some contestants, family, and I went to a swanky event together. (I’m all the way on the left.)

Picking up from yesterday –

So, I’d worked my way around different cities, ending up in Vegas.

Now that they were paying my way, I started to really feel like I was kind of making it.

As I was trying to remember the differences between the seasons, Vegas 2009 and 2010 sort of ran together. But I think I have a handle on which is which.

This season (4 (2009)), I remember going back and forth to the airport a lot – helping corral the contestants onto big tour buses (like they needed me as their chaperone, or something), and bringing them from the travel person station at the airport to the travel person stationed at the hotel.

I did get to wait for groups inside the airport by a Starbucks. So, that was convenient.

I also walked contestants around to their various rehearsals and fittings and things. This was kind of fun to get to roam around the hotel and talk to different people throughout the day. However, this was also stressful because our walkie talkies didn’t work in parts of the hotel. So, there always seemed to be a lot of running and desperately trying to find various people.

Somehow we made it through.

(Side note on Vegas: One thing I will always remember is the heartbreak I felt for the talented sweetheart Kelli Glover.)

So, Vegas came and went.

And I put it out there that I’d like to work in Los Angeles for the summer shows.

Now, I didn’t fight extremely hard to do that. I knew it’d be a pain in the bum to find a place in LA for the summer. And it’d mean coming back to school a bit late into the semester. But, at this point, I’d worked so hard already, I wanted to keep my TV career going.

Somehow, after all those cities, I still hadn’t learned that the “right” channels are not the right ones.

I thought you’d just go to the person who does the hiring of the people at your level (which was at the time, I think the production coordinator (sometimes it’s the APOC (assistant production office coordinator) or production manager, kind of depends on the show).

But, here’s the thing. The right person is the person who wants to hire you and has the power to.

What does the production coordinator care if you’re working in the summer or not? That person has his/her own friends to potentially get on the show.

I had never thought of this before, because usually at the end of the city, my ally (whom I didn’t know was such a strong, necessary ally), would ask if I was coming to the next city. I said I’d love to. Poof. She’d make it happen.

So, when I was working with a different department, I just figured I’d go to the production coordinator (who’d officially been hiring me all these times anyway – all emails and things came from her, so why wouldn’t I go through her?).

Plutonic, Cam Hodges, and Aurora in America's Got Talent tent, season 5 — …as was this.

I did not get hired for the summer.

For the record, I’m not painting the production coordinator as a villain or as someone out to get me. She wasn’t. It was just a first-hand lesson.

As we know from all advice people give ever – generally, the only person looking out for you is you. So, when you find someone else willing to be your comrade, use that. Don’t assume that other people on the show are going to help you out.

It might feel silly or entitled to get someone above the hiring person, or in a different department, to be the one who hires you on the show. But you gotta do what you gotta do, right? And I learned that that was what I had to do.

(By the way, in the end it was better that I did not work for AGT in the summer, ’cause that was when I learned about my heart problem. It would’ve been a really horrible time had by all, I’m sure.)

I shall continue this story soon enough.

How I Got My Job On America’s Got Talent – Part 2 (Moving Past The Audition Tour)

July 26, 2013

Work so very hard on set... playing mafia with the boys — Work so very hard on set… playing mafia with the boys

Picking up from yesterday –

So, I flew to Florida. And I worked with America’s Got Talent down there. I was on a city-by-city basis. But somehow I always worked my way onto the next one.

There were a few of us who’d do different cities. Some people only made it to a couple. I don’t know if it’s because they ran out of money, time, or weren’t able to fight hard enough to stay on.

(Me and one other guy made it all the way through. He was a production assistant superstar, and as far as I know he works in television to this day.)

Now, when I say that some people didn’t fight hard enough to stay on, this may not make sense to the average reader. If someone’s doing a good job and paying his or her own way, why wouldn’t she be staying on?

When people say the entertainment industry is mostly about who you know – they’re exactly right. (Or at least, judging by my experiences they are.) I was so lucky that I got paired with a producer on the show. Had I not been the note-taker, and been a wristband attacher or waiting-room watcher, I’m sure my time there would’ve been over much sooner (probably after my initial two or three days).

Some people expressed interest in going to other cities, but the production office had enough to worry about without having to trust that people were gonna have it together to plan and afford their own travel.

Plus, I don’t want to speak out of turn or anything, but the TV game is tough. Some (some) of the production people had just gotten out of PA purgatory. I’m not sure they felt the need to try to bring in a whole new class of PAs, and willingly invite people to try and chase them up the ladder.

(We can talk more about the vibe and politics of working in TV sometime in person if you want to. But that’s as close to crossing the line as I can get here in this public forum.)

Anyway, I was incredibly lucky. And as long as I went through the producer I sat next to, I always made it on to the next city. (However, I did not learn this lesson soon enough… More on that in tomorrow’s post.)

I used discount travel sites and airline miles making it through the audition cities. In the last tour city, I asked if I could work the Vegas callbacks. They let me. Not only that, but they paid for my hotel room that time around. (And I didn’t even have to share!) What a swanky life, right?

Vegas was incredibly fun. Since we were done with the initial auditions, I didn’t have the same note-taking job.

(Side note: Small point, while writing this, I just remembered that I was actually originally assigned to be an outside the room PA. who led auditioners in/out and organized paperwork to be ready to go.

My dad was so proud, he passed a screenshot of the credits around to everyone he knew. I was such a proud nerd, I kept it for all these years.

But the girl assigned to inside the room wasn’t familiar with Excel, and didn’t feel she was a fast typist. It was decided we’d switch (in case anybody’s keeping score and wanted to know that).)

Also, let me circle around and say in case anyone was wondering, the note-taking job on the road was extremely fun. I loved watching people audition all day.

I can’t really say anything specifically about what it’s like inside the room and behind the table, ’cause all that’s protected in a confidentiality agreement. Suffice it to say, it was interesting. And the day moved pretty fast watching all the auditions.

As far as the traveling was concerned, in case anyone’s wondering how hard it was – it was kind of hard. I had to stretch every dollar. I obviously wouldn’t have had the luxury of doing that had I been in a different position (not in college). It was the right timing, and through research/favors/friends and family in random cities, I somehow made it work.

I visited places I hadn’t been before, met great new people. It was probably a risk worth taking.

And we’ll pick up in Vegas tomorrow.

How I Got My Job On America’s Got Talent – Part 1 (“Keep Her”)

July 25, 2013

Aurora De Lucia stuffing her face with a donut — I took a picture of myself backstage eating a donut on one of my first days working in L.A. because I couldn’t believe how many free donuts were available to us!

The title is a bit misleading because that’s sort of the story I told yesterday – how I got my first job in TV production (which was America’s Got Talent).

But, that was a 2-day gig. How did I actually get in-in with the show? Well, that’s what today’s about.

So, that weekend audition I worked on… There were various different stations to which you might be assigned.

You could be putting wristbands on people in line, working in the production office, doing registration, or many more options.

I ended up being put as the note-taker for one of the more senior producers on the show. I sat next to her for the day(s), and kept detailed notes quickly. We got along great.

I happened to be on my lunch break when a staff member announced that if any of us were interested in working in New York City (since it’s our neighbor), we could talk to her. I ran up there to try and get a spot. As she was saying she maybe might be able to find a job for me, my weekend boss happened to walk by the table and overheard us. When she heard I wanted to work again, she said, “Keep her.”

Those two little words – “keep her” – started my career.

From the summer I worked in L.A. (in a tired craziness and after ripping of my hat (with crazy hair underneath))

I was so in the right place at the right time. From seeing the Craigslist post at the right time, to a production coordinator taking a chance on a newb, to being assigned to a room with person who had a lot of weight with the show – then just so happening to be by the production table at the exact same time she passed – it’s sort of amazing how it all worked together.

So, the following week, I went to New York. They didn’t actually pay for travel or accommodations for any of us lowly PAs. But, I knew people in New York. I actually stayed with my old roommate. Plus, it only cost $20 to take the bus from Boston.

So, my expenses were minimal. Thankfully, we worked a whole lot of hours. On the road, you usually make tons of overtime on AGT (which you basically never do during the live shows).

New York actually had a callback round during the week which was taped for television. I was invited to work on that as well. There, I found another woman on the show (the script supervisor) with whom I got along brilliantly. I went on to work with her many times over the course of the next couple of seasons.

(New York week happened to fall during my spring break which made it all that much more wonderful since I didn’t miss any classes.)

Here was a slightly more normal one of me and the same lovely girl.

After New York came a somewhat big decision. Because of the higher-up women pushing for me and welcoming me with open arms, I was invited to come along to the next city, which I believe was in Florida (Miami, maybe?) if I remember correctly. But, because of the budget of the show and my position in it, I’d have to pay my own way.

Remember, at the time, I was in college. All the income I gained from working was sort of bonus money to help with things not covered by money I’d gotten for school. This was one time in my life when, if I could just break even, it’d be worth it since I didn’t have to worry about rent and such.

I’d met PAs who’d paid their own way the previous season and then got moved up to a staff position. So, I knew it could happen. Of course, it wasn’t guaranteed. But I felt it was worth a shot. So, I bought a ticket to Florida.

And this is where I’ll pick up tomorrow.

How I Got My First TV Production Job

July 24, 2013

From the Vegas round on America's Got Talent - when Northwest Dance and Acro painted my face. (And yes! My hair was red...) — From the Vegas round on America’s Got Talent – when Northwest Dance and Acro painted my face. (And yes! My hair was red…)

As I’ve mentioned before, for my day job, I work in reality television.

It’s not the focus of this blog, because the goal is to have cooler things to talk about than my day job, right?

However, some people have shown interest in learning how I made my way into the field and what it’s like to work in it.

So, I suppose I’ll start doing some posts about that stuff. And if you find that idea either really interesting or really uninteresting, you can let me know in the comments.

Many people have seemed to want to know – how did I get my first job in television? I was living in Boston (going to Berklee College of Music) at the time. (This is back in 2009.) I’d been doing a fair amount of theater work, and I was checking Craigslist (and any other available sites) all the time for more work.

I wanted to work as much as possible. I desperately wanted to keep building my resume (so I could work for wages that would sustain me after I finished college). (I did not finish college, but I do still sustain myself.)

I didn’t have cable or internet in my apartment. I had no distractions, and I tried my best to be out working as much as I could.

While on Craigslist, I found a posting for an unnamed reality show. I thought to myself, “I bet this isn’t even legitimate. Some random reality show with barely any details listed, and not showing a name, is really hiring in Boston?

With two of the dancers from the show, whom I went to see in concert.

Well, I’ll apply. Even if it is some kind of small thing some friends are putting together, as long as it’s in a public place and doesn’t seem genuinely dangerous, I’ll do it. Work is work.”

So, I sent in my resume. I think it was a day later that I got a call. “Hi, I’m from America’s Got Talent. I got your resume off our Craigslist post and was wondering if you’d like to work with us at our Boston auditions next weekend.”

A major network’s summer hit? Of course I will.

So, I was booked to work on the show. I had zero television experience before that. But, I applied because –

a) I applied for everything I was even remotely qualified for.
b) In the few details they did share, it sounded like kind of a live/theatrical show, and I figured that would be a TV show I could realistically work on with my theater credits.

I believe the reason I was hired was because they needed about 30-40 extra production assistants for just two days to help with their Boston auditions. Basically they needed a large group of people for a short amount of time. The L.A.-based show had very few people in Boston they knew, andnd they had a ton of other stuff to worry about.

My guess is that they took the first 30 responses from people who sounded like they probably could handle two days of work well enough to get by. Then they called it a day. I happened upon the right timing.

(Look at how very tired I am - and how much that hat so does not fit my head.) — (Look at how very tired I am – and how much that hat so does not fit my head.)

Incidentally, one of my friends from high school called me shortly after the production coordinator called me. He said he was working on the America’s Got Talent Boston auditions, and asked if he wanted me to have him get me a job.

“So funny you should ask! I was just booked on that show earlier today!”

So, there you have it – how I got my first TV job. (I will loop around and do how I got my first theater job as well.)

Now, how did I turn a 2-day gig into a 3-season-long job, and leverage that into working in television for four years now? How about we talk about that tomorrow?

One Wonderful Female Role Model

June 29, 2013

At first, I wasn’t going to say “female” because she’s a great role model in general.

But, then I thought about how truly necessary and wonderful it is to have these incredibly strong female models in a still male-dominated (sorry, but its true) world. And I thought about how thankful I am that I have my personal, real-life (well, real in my life) Hillary Clinton (who is real, but I’ve never interacted with her).

My high school theater teacher – let’s call her B – is this amazing, incredibly strong woman/mentor/role model who’s been very much in my life for many years now.

I went to see B in a reading on Wednesday, and she was phenomenal.

There are a number of things I adore about her. One story that I think illustrates how much we all adore her:

I was out to dinner with a friend of mine from high school. And I said, “You know what’s great about B?” And he gave me this look like, “Are you kidding me? You know you’re gonna have to be a little more specific, right?”

We burst into laughter, saying there were so many things we’d have to sit around for 4 days of non-stop talking ’til we even got close to exhausting all of the wonderful things about her.

But, I’m gonna pick out a couple of things for this entry.

For one: She’s incredibly confident. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen doubt in her eyes. She carries herself in a way I hope to carry myself someday. I really don’t know how to elaborate other than to say she’s wonderfully confident.

Two: Related to confidence – she’s been teaching for 40 years. So, she’s older than some people. I don’t deal with aging well. I know a lot of people who don’t deal with aging well.

(An interesting idea from Sarah Silverman in Comedians In Cars Drinking Coffee was that some of these women from the Real Housewives shows are so concerned with youth and just trying to look/be as youthful as possible that they’re not giving their daughters any reason to get excited about aging.

Of course, she said it better than I am, but I found it to be an interesting thought…)

So, my teacher – Again, she just seems very confident in her skin. She didn’t run out and get a bunch of Botox (like you know I’m gonna do). She never thinks she’s too old for anything. She is the kind of woman who makes me believe good things can come with age.

Oh boy, I could list a million more things.

But, here is just one more wonderful thing about her. She’s incredibly strong while being incredibly supportive.

I feel like as a woman, if I’ve ever had to wonder, “What’s the right way to walk that line of being incredibly strong so that no person ever walks over you and you are always respected, but so human and caring that everyone feels uplifted/supported by you and generally better when you’re around?” – B is that line.

She does it perfectly.

I don’t know how she does it. But I would never let her down (or at least I will always strive not to). I will always work to my fullest potential for her. Yet, I’m never afraid of her. (Okay, maybe just a little scared of her – but in a totally acceptable way).

SkyRobics (June 25, 2013’s Something New)

June 28, 2013

Aurora De Lucia attempting a tuck jump at SkyRobics — attempting a tuck jump

Every year I do something new on my birthday. (I’ll expand on that later).

This year, I happen to be visiting my family. (There’s a very important party in Ohio this weekend. More on that later as well.)

As seems to be the pattern, I waited until the last minute to decide what new thing I wanted to try. I searched for new things to do in Ohio. (Side note: Since I happen to be in Ohio, I wanted to go to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. (Can you believe I lived in Ohio for all those years, and never went to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame?) But my dad couldn’t get the day off work. I knew it would be more fun to do something with him. So, alas, some other time.

As I was searching for new things to do, I found this awesome blog – which I definitely think anyone should reference when she wants to do something fun in Ohio. From the blog, I got the fabulous idea for SkyRobics.

What is SkyRobics, you ask? Well, it’s aerobics in the sky (well, partly in the sky – on trampolines).

We went to this big trampoline park where 12 trampolines are put together with tilted trampoline walls and pads between the trampolines. Then an instructor leads the class.

One of the very first things we did was walk over to the foam pit. We had to do 2 laps walking around the foam pit!

Aurora De Lucia posing with her trampoline shoes — Getting ready for class, posing with the nifty trampoline shoes

I cannot get across to you how difficult it was to walk around the pit! You may think it would be easy. “Oh, it’s just some light foam, how hard can it be to frolic in it?”

Well, the problem with it being just some light foam, is that it’s just some light foam! You’re trying to maneuver yourself through this cloud basically. So you just sink in so easily. So, it’s like this constant climbing out of this thing that’s sucking you in.

While out of breath, I said that least I’m getting a glimpse of, and a little practice for, what it will be like if I’m ever in an avalanche. As my dad was disappearing below the foam, he said now he knew he’d just die in one.

Somehow we all made it out of there and went back to the main trampoline area.

I think the hardest part about SkyRobics was not the cardio, but the balance! I like to think I have pretty good balance. I studied musical theater. So, I did my share of dance in the day. Of course balance is important in that.

But balance on a trampoline felt totally different to me than balance on the ground. It’s hard!

The teacher had us do suicides (quickly running down to the end and back, then 3/4 of the way and back, 1/2 and back, 1/4 and back.). We had to shuffle side to side (again, way harder on a trampoline than on the ground).

Then, he set up different exercises in 4 corners – different kinds of jumps and leg and arm work. You’d do your exercise in your corner for 30 seconds. The teacher would yell, “switch!” And then you’d run as quickly as you could to the other corner and do the new exercise.

And you did the rotation 3 times!

Toward the end, we even did a running thing where we were supposed to bounce off the wall(!), then run to the other end, bounce off that wall, repeat, repeat, and on and on.

In the last 10 minutes or so, we ended with some dodgeball.

My dad and I had the very best time.

He’d been a little hesitant at first. But, he was ready to go back after it was over.

It was a tough (and awesome!) workout, and I’d love to do it again! It cost less than $5! And I’m pretty sure that would get me in some very cool shape with fun new skills.

The Last Thing Michael Jackson Did For Me Was Save My Life

June 25, 2013

I guess it’s fitting that since it’s my birthday (which falls on the same day as the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death), I write this post.

I know I talk about Michael Jackson kind of a lot on this blog. And that each time I do, I sound like a complete and total crazy person. Probably because I am a crazy person when it comes to Michael Jackson (and maybe at other times..).

Unfortunately, I never met Michael Jackson. You would think that since I never met the man, he couldn’t have a very big impact on my life – but he very much influenced it.

He inspired me. Most of all, the thing I loved the about Michael Jackson was that he was hope when there was no hope. No matter what was going on in your life or in the world… even if things seemed awful, no matter what they were, they were never awful enough that Michael Jackson couldn’t take you away from them.

I know his messages are bigger than a man, and that when he died hope (and tolerance, passion, kindness, and all the other great things he was spreading) did not die with him. But for a little while, it felt like they did.

Michael Jackson gave me so much over the course of my life. His music, his speeches, his dreams – they enriched my life. But, the very last thing he gave me was my life. As if he hadn’t given me enough already, in death he saved my life.

As you know, if you’ve read the very long story about my time in and out of the hospital after finding out I had a congenital heart defect, you know that at that time, I was not taking great care of myself. At all. I just didn’t know how.

As I said, he was hope to me. I didn’t realize how much I relied on, or sort of got life force from him – how much he embodied the ideas of “keep moving forward.”

I was intense and awesome in high school and college, working ’round the clock, never settling, constantly striving toward goals. I had no idea that when Michael Jackson died it was going to feel like the ground completely fell from under my feet. I didn’t know how much I kind of relied on his presence – even though he was nowhere close to me.

When I was brought into the ER at Mass General, I straight up admitted to the doctors and nurses that I’d been a total mess. I could’ve easily (and quite possibly that was the case) passed out purely because I wasn’t eating or sleeping, and I was exercising too much. I knew it was irresponsible to take such poor care of myself. (And I feel bad about that. It’s a waste of time and resources.) But, I was a wreck.

It was out in the open that my body shutting down might mot have anything to do with my heart. But my new medical buds told me it didn’t really matter how I ended up in the ER – whether my heart problem caused me to pass out or not. No matter what brought me in, there was a problem with my heart that most likely would not have been found otherwise.

I had a ticking time bomb in my chest. Doctors at Massachusetts General were convinced that had we not found it, I would’ve absolutely been dead before I hit 30.

(Of course, you never really know if something will happen until it does. Would it have? We’ll never know. Heck, I’m not at 30. So, who knows what kind of crazy stuff could happen between now and then.)

I can’t imagine a scenario in which I would’ve gotten an EKG – other than the way it happened. I would’ve never randomly gotten my heart checked at a physical. And by the estimations of some of the best doctors in the country, I wouldn’t have lived to see my 3rd decade of life.

So, even in death Michael Jackson was giving me hope, and pushing me forward.

And on this day when I close out another year of my life and look forward to the next one, I can only hope that in some small way, at some point, I can pass along some of the hope and inspiration he gave me to someone else.

I’m On The Rendezvous Show Podcast!

June 13, 2013

So, please, if you would, check it out!

Then tweet me, or comment there or here – just somewhere, say something and let me know if you liked it, please. Thanks!

If you want to know a little more than just me telling you to listen – we talk about my time in the hospital with my heart stuff, running 52 half marathons, running Disney races, and The Price is Right. (That’s in part 1 – which is the link above).

In part 2, we talk about The Price is Right story, kidneys, and equality. When I listened, it sound like a bit got cut out here and there around the talk regarding equality and Broadway Impact. I know we had a couple of technical issues (as we mentioned at the beginning of part 1). So, it might’ve been that.

Either way, I think you get the gist of what I was saying. But, if it sounds a little wonky, it’s ’cause I think there are hiccups/jumps in there.

(Within the 2-part podcast, I also make the embarrassing admission that I’ve never seen MASH! (And I accidentally misuse was vs were at one point – just pretend like you don’t notice.))

(Not to bring attention to all my faults, but I also say that my dad “just did the 5k.” I’d get a very stern talking to from my high school theater teacher who taught me the very important lesson to never use “just” when talking about people’s accomplishments. There is no just. Everything we do is intertwined and important.)

(Also, I said something like “young people don’t usually get EKGs. Most people don’t get EKGs until they’re over 50” – which kind of implied 50 is old. And I really don’t think it is. I was sort of just regurgitating the sentences the doctors had said when I was in the hospital. I’m sorry for implying 50’s old, which isn’t true.)

But, enough with apologies and picking apart what I said. Moving on:

Apart from what we talked about, if you’re interested in how the podcast came about – I met this really nice, cool guy – Brian Katala – at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Vegas night race while I was live tweeting. We’ve been friends ever since. (Thanks, twitter (as always making my life better)!)

He emailed me and asked if I wanted to do his podcast. Of course I said yes! I like to think I’m game for pretty much anything (in case any of you want to invite me on your podcasts.) Also, who wouldn’t want to spend time talking with Brian? (Especially when it’s time talking about herself.)

We had talked for about 1/2 an hour when the iPad died on us, and we lost everything we’d done thus far. We tried to do it all over again for you as if nothing had gone wrong. It’s a weird feeling when you know you’re repeating yourself, but you know the audience doesn’t know it.

We took some new tangents on the second go ’round. Even though it wasn’t precisely the same, hopefully you don’t feel any bits are missing that you didn’t hear from the first take (that we ended up not repeating). Hopefully you enjoy any new stuff that did come out (even though you may not know what’s new and what’s repeated). And hopefully you don’t feel like I sound any less enthused or more confused while repeating things.

I guess the main point is, I really hope you like it!

If you haven’t listened already, don’t forget to listen here for part 1 and here for part 2.

Actor’s Equity West Coast Tony Awards Party

June 12, 2013

My friend Brandon who came to the party with me

Hey everybody, as I continue to catch up on the blog, take a trip down memory lane with me to June 12 which is where this post goes, which was still late to the party to be talking about the Tonys.

I know I’m a little late to the party to be talking about the Tony Awards. But, you know, I was talking about other stuff.

Last year, I hosted a little Tony Awards party at my apartment. This year, I went to the special shindig Actor’s Equity was throwing!

I’m sure you watched the Tonys, so I don’t need to run down the broadcast with you. The one general thing I will say is that I thought Alan Cumming and Scarlett Johansson were two super sports to come present an award after being overlooked for nominations.

As far as little tidbits that you missed by not watching the Tony Awards with me at the party –

The Actor’s Equity Group played songs from musicals in every commercial break. And I perked up and said, “Oh I sang that at a scene night (or my senior recital)! for what seemed like every single song that played throughout the night. (Do you or do you not totally miss high school?)

The number about how television sucks absolutely killed for this Los Angeles crowd. I believe we were the absolute exact audience meant for that song, and being in that room for it was quite fun. When Neil Patrick Harris said, “Kiss L.A. goodbye” the room erupted into absolutely wild noise and applause. (We all need to get out of her and on our way to New York!)

During all the breaks, prizes would be raffled off. As the night wore on, I thought I might be the only person in the room who didn’t win something – until the final ultimate prize of the cool book remembering 100 years of AEA (Actor’s Equity Association) was being awarded. And boom. My name was the last one called! It may not have been a Tony, but at least i went home with something.

Since a bunch of Actor’s Equity Members were all gathered around to party, they also did a little celebration for the big 100 year anniversary. We had a huge cake and everything! Yum, yum.

“Inside The Writers’ Room With The Mindy Project” Panel – Ike Barinholtz And Fan Stuff

June 5, 2013

Ike and Mindy together at a different event

Ike Barinholtz!

It’s official. I’m a fan.

So, I’ve been watching The Mindy Project since the beginning. And definitely one of the breakout stars on the show is Ike Barinholtz.

He seems really great on the show. Then, I happened to see his twitter through a person I follow. I liked his twitter. (And obviously that’s where people really win my over, ’cause I’m head over heels in love with twitter.)

(By the way, his twitter bio says, “Let’s be friends,” which I love and a little bit want to steal.)

He was funny in the panel. And then he stayed to meet with every person who wanted to meet him. And he totally knew how to work a crowd. I want to be like Ike Barinholtz when I grow up.

First, let’s talk about him on the panel. I love his refreshing honesty. When he was talking about how Mindy said she wanted to find something for him to do on the show, basically said, “I figured it was just that Hollywood bs. Oh, sure I’m gonna have a part for you.”

There is so much bs in Los Angeles! And I love when famous people completely admit it and just call it out.

He’s a really interesting guy. I looked him up a little more once I got home.

I found it really interesting to hear about his time starting out in Cali; his idea that no matter where you are or how far you’ve gotten, there are always new ways for your dreams to be shattered (and on that page, he even talks about originally meeting Mindy through twitter – which is of course the window to many wonderful things); and his views about people of L.A., how it’s like they’re from another planet, and the difference between them and Chicagoans.

Note: Those are all just different pages that I found relevant from the same interview (but you could easily click one and read the whole thing instead of 3 different links).

Moving on to his life-of-the party-ness after the panel, I thought about just heading straight out – I did have to get back to work. But, if people were going to be cool and stick around, I wanted to take the opportunity to meet them.

I ended up meeting Ike with a group of girls that I sort of found my way into. We were basically in a line when he met us all. Ike went down the line, shook hands and said, “It’s nice to meet you” to each person.

When he got to me, to be funny and change it up, he said something like, “You? Not so much.” Then he immediately threw his arms around me in a hug and said he was just kidding.

And this is Matt Warburton. I almost asked for a picture with him, 'cause he's cool (and famous in my world). But, no one else was. So, I felt weird about it (and in the end didn't do it). — And this is Matt Warburton. I almost asked for a picture with him, ’cause he’s cool (and famous in my world). But, no one else was. So, I felt weird about it (and in the end didn’t do it).

Oh my gosh. New best friend much? He was so super cool and awesome. He just has this incredible electric energy, and is totally a person you want to be around – or at least who I want to be around (and also be like if ever there’s a crowd around telling me how great I am). (A girl can dream, right?)

As I was leaving, I said “I love you in the show.” He said, “I love you for saying that.” We’re obviously totally best friends now.

Speaking of new best friends, I also got to meet Matt Warburton. Not to just leave him to the bottom of the post like he’s chopped liver or anything, ’cause he was super cool.

He stuck around for a while and patiently answered every question anyone had. I told him I really enjoyed him on a Simpsons DVD commentary, and he told me what it was like to record one. I thought that was pretty super cool of him.

It seemed like a generally great group of people. that is a writer’s room I certainly would not mind working in.

“Inside The Writers’ Room With The Mindy Project” Panel (Writing Advice & Takeaways) – Part 2

June 4, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

Some other stuff I enjoyed hearing the writers talk about: They mentioned how fun it was to have such opinionated characters. They talked about “Danny rants,” and how you can give basically any topic and know exactly how he feels about it.

Matt Warburton talked about this thing he learned from Dan Harmon: When you let your character have something great, give that the seed to make it something challenging. (Something wonderful should be on the verge of exploding into the exact opposite.)

The example that was given was the shower scene in the Frat Party episode of The Mindy Project. You think it’s gonna be this great thing for Mindy to have this sexy shower with her boyfriend. But in the end, it’s pretty much a disaster.

During the Q&A, someone asked about how the panel members deal with writer’s block. What was so interesting to me was that none of them seemed to really have an answer. All their faces sort of immediately said, “Huh, I have no idea, because I never get writer’s block.”

Then, they actually talked about the very idea so evident on their faces. They said writer’s block basically just can’t exist. You have deadlines and you have to do it. They also said that the successful writer is not necessarily some naturally gifted person – the successful writer is the one who writes every single day.

Because you just have to.

They did also say that being in the writer’s room helped, because you build off of other people. And Mindy said that if there’s a day when you’re not feeling particularly funny, you can just write the straight version of the script. Write it out where the plot unfolds and you take all the story turns you need to, with just straight dialogue. Go in and put those jokes in later.

I also found Mindy’s take on network notes interesting. I find that many people are quick to disparage network notes, and usually want to fight with them. Mindy said she’d learned from Greg Daniels that network people are just smart audiences trying to help make your show better. That structure breeds creativity. And that it’s always better to listen first, instead of immediately fighting a note.

In the end, you might not change things the way they suggested. But anything they do point out gives you an opportunity to re-pitch and re-visit, and maybe find something even better.

Mindy Kaling talking at a writer's panel Last but not least (not chronologically that night, but here in this post), someone asked about how Mindy makes it so the show doesn’t seem self-serving. Mindy’s playing a character that has a lot in common with herself. So, how does she write it without it seeming like she basically gets to kiss these hot guys all day?

The answer was basically that for every cute or sexy thing Mindy’s character does, she does something else that’s incredibly embarrassing. She also mentioned that wish fulfillment for the audience can be okay sometimes. You can give them what they want now and again. (She mentioned loving watching Sex and the City, and seeing some of the fun Carrie had with her fun wardrobe choices and great boyfriends.)

But, what I found most interesting about that question (which I had actually wondered myself), is would we have asked that question to a man?

I recently read Lean In (blog post coming soon). So, this stuff is kind of on my mind. Would we have ever even thought to ask Jerry Seinfeld, “How do you play a character so close to you, and not make the show seem self-serving by the parade of women coming through Jerry’s life each week?”

I kind of feel like generally that would not be a question he (or any male star) would’ve been asked. We accept it as natural fact, “Obviously this male star will have as many attractive girlfriends as we need to go through – and we won’t bat an eye about it.”

Yet, when it comes to Mindy’s character, we (including me!) wonder, “Hmmm… How many hot guys can she kiss on the show until we start judging and stop separating her character from the writer?” And basically, “How believable is this that this normal girl can get so many interesting, attractive guys?”

Yet, we don’t have the same wonder about normal male leads…

I dunno. Something to think about, maybe?

“Inside The Writers’ Room With The Mindy Project” Panel (Writing Advice & Takeaways) – Part 1

June 3, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

The panel was, of course, great. Some of it was stuff I’d heard before, but is always good to be reminded of. For instance: One great thing that Mindy said was, “No one’s gonna believe in you, except for yourself… So, just do your own thing.”

I actually have part of that thought written largely in one of my improv notebooks (though it is applicable in many instances). It says, “NO ONE is looking out for you, but you.” (Yes. “No one” is in all caps. Intense, right?) It takes up almost a whole sheet of paper, and I’ve seen it many times.

(I don’t do that to emphasize lack of caring from others – but how much you need to remember to care about yourself.)

Some of the stuff I’d never heard before. I liked this analogy that Mindy had gotten from BJ Novak.

Regarding romance on the show: Using the example of The Office, there might be 6 seconds of screen time for Pam falling asleep on Jim’s shoulder. And it might be the only thing people on twitter (or wherever) are talking about – even thought the other 95.5% of the show was filled with great comedy.

And when everyone is telling you that’s the best part, it might be tempting to try to shove more of that in… But, it’s kind of like when you give someone a cup of coffee. And they say, “Wow, this is a great cup of coffee. I love this! You know what I really love is that taste of cinnamon in there.”

And then you might think you should add more cinnamon. But eventually, you end up giving them a cup of cinnamon with just a little coffee in it. So, sometimes a taste is better than kind of a binge.

As far as some other cool stuff, they talked about – when someone asked if they had any advice for someone trying to get in the business, Mindy talked about how she got rejected from tons of stuff. And whenever the traditional route doesn’t go your way, it becomes about finding paths around whatever’s blocking you.

And she mentioned how for every job she’s gotten, she had a bunch of things she didn’t get. Sometimes she couldn’t even get an interview.

(This is actually another example of something I knew to be fact already, but is always nice to hear again. I actually even already had a blog post drafted about how even in my little tiny corner of the world (obviously without my own network sitcom and all that stuff), people think I get a lot (which, I’ll admit I do). But in reality, I get rejections probably 20x more often than I get successes.)

One thing that was cute about Mindy’s answer, was she said that when she was first trying to break into the business, she was the one who came to these things and nerd-ily took notes.

(She said this as I was sitting there taking notes, and I had a nice chuckle about being one of the nerds she was talking about.) And she said that she always wondered why everyone always talked in such broad strokes. Why can’t they just give a step by step answer about how their career came to be?

So, she broke it down (with stuff you mostly could’ve already read on the internet had you been into Mindy Kaling, which I am). But, she talked about doing that play Matt and Ben, and how things just built up little by little ’til Greg Daniels found her. Then she talked about having to go to FOX after NBC passed on her pilot – which I thought was a little crazy. Why would NBC have passed? Oh well.

I’ll talk more about the panel tomorrow.

Scott Robinson’s Last Day On The Price is Right

May 28, 2013

I don’t know if you remember from my millions of Price is Right posts, but I’d talked about this amazingly energetic, super guy at The Price is Right.

I didn’t know his name or his title. But I certainly knew that it seemed like he breathed his job. He was so fun to watch on stage. He was the one who excitedly revealed my name from a poster board, and I just adored him every moment I saw him onstage (even before he was a participant in making my dreams come true).

Well, the other day, I learned that his name is Scott Robinson. How did I find out? Because it was his last day on the show. And his send off was so emotional. You watch it, and possibly get a bit choked up.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wW24zuEfYo?rel=0]

(If for whatever reason the embedded player doesn’t work, the link is here.)

In case you were wondering, it seems like he did in fact live and breathe his job. He was very active on the main Price is Right fan forum. (You can’t search by name unless you’re a member. But in case you are, he posts under the name MSTieScott.)

He seemed so happy throughout so many years. And I’m so happy for him!

I don’t know why he left, and I still don’t know exactly what his job was when he left. But I do know that from the little I do know, it is so lovely to see someone who worked at their dream show for such a long time – and did it from starting at the bottom. (He mentioned his days as a page on the CBS lot.)

I find that so incredibly heartwarming and impressive. Huge kudos to Scott Robinson. I tip my hat to you, sir.

I hope he has many more successes ahead of him, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

The Ben And Jerry’s Truck Visited Us At Work!

May 19, 2013

Free OMGBenAndJerrys West truck stopping at our offices — (Yep, I got to pose in the truck!)

Twitter makes the day better again!

I know I’m always talking about how awesome twitter is, but that’s because twitter is awesome.

So, I’m sitting at work before the morning people come in. As I’m winding down, I give a little check into what’s going on, on twitter. The Ben and Jerry’s West Truck tweeted out that they’d be around L.A. giving out free Ben and Jerry’s!

I tweeted telling them to come on over and hang out on Sunset Boulevard ’cause we were hungry at TNT.

They didn’t say anything back. I didn’t think anything of it. I was sure they got tons of tweets. So, the morning people got there. I talked with them a bit, then went out to run an errand down the street.

As I was leaving the office down the street about to go home for the day (my night), I got a direct message from the Ben and Jerry’s truck! They asked for my number, then called to ask me if I’d like them to come by.

Heck yes, I would!

When would anyone ever say no to one of her favorite companies offering to come by with a truck full of free food?

The awesome Jana and Dan of Ben and Jerry's truck fame. — The awesome Jana and Dan of Ben and Jerry’s truck fame.

They said they’d be there around noon, and I headed on back to work. I told my boss, co-workers, and basically everyone around that free Ben and Jerry’s would be coming. And I felt really popular and loved.

While waiting for the truck (since my shift was over, but everyone else still had to work (boring, right?)), I hung out in the break room, had a great phone conversation with my friend Jon Rankin – super cool Olympian (I know, amazing, right?), and most importantly, founder of The Run Project. We had a great time catching up. And before you knew it, it was time for the Ben and Jerry’s truck!

Jana and Dan called to tell me they were there. I ran outside to help them decide where to park. Then I ran inside back to tell everyone they were here. We watched out the window as the parked, and we all ran outside for some free Greek Yogurt (which was delicious if I might add).

I was so happy I got to try the new Liz Lemon flavor! I’d read about it, but hadn’t been bold enough to buy a pint. (I guess that’s why the truck is roaming around.)

Not only did they give us free frozen goodness – they gave everybody free Ben and Jerry’s sunglasses!

Then they took some great pictures and tweeted about us! What a day – to be fed and famous!

Ohio Health Suite at the Columbus Crew Game

May 7, 2013

Yet again – the awesome power of twitter.

So, I was checking out the Cap City twitter feed, and they had some tweets from Ohio Health – which was a sponsor of the race.

They were tweeting people asking them to come to the Ohio Health suite at the Columbus Crew game (Columbus’ soccer team). I tweeted and asked if there was more room in the suite. Sure, enough there was!

They invited both me and my dad to the game, which was awesome of them.

We got free t-shirts (I’m wearing mine in the picture), and we got autographed mini-soccer balls.

When I walked in the suite, I felt famous! I didn’t realize they kind of knew who I was. Everyone was all, “Oh, you’re 52 half marathons in 52 weeks Aurora.” So famous. They called me an influencer! What? I mean, I’m only hovering somewhere around 190 twitter followers, but golly, did I feel special.

There was even a little paper up telling us hash tags to use and people to tweet – ’cause we were influencers who people cared about on twitter. Awesome.

I’ll admit that I didn’t totally watch the soccer game. I spent most of my time talking to people (convincing one of the people there to actually join twitter). (She was there because she was an athletic trainer, there to answer any of our questions – not ’cause she was a “twitter influencer” – being that she didn’t have twitter and all.)

Also, I ate all the food ever. I’m a sucker for lots and lots of free food. I did of course watch some of the game. It was the first professional soccer match I’d been to!

I realized how little I knew about soccer when I had no idea if it was played in halves or quarters. And I didn’t know what the boxes outside of the goal meant. But, someone in the suite patiently explained soccer to me. So, it was a great learning experience for me about a game I knew so little about.

Overall, it was a great day! Huge thanks to Ohio Health for making me feel like a superstar!

Cap City Half Marathon – Part 2

May 6, 2013

Picking up from yesterday –

So, the energy was incredible. I was ready to do this race, by golly! I went out a little faster than I intended, and had to tell myself to pull back.

(Those of you who regularly read the blog know I’m a very slow half marathoner. I didn’t do a single one under 3 hours last year – and I did a few over 4 (a couple even over 5 hours – granted, one was on crutches and one was in a weekend with 4 races).)

I went in thinking I’d aim for around 3:30 in this race. I haven’t built up a ton of speed. I’m just kind of getting back into the groove after taking a bit of time to decompress from the 52 in 52.

Well, at the first mile marker, I think I was going faster than the 2:50 pacer. Pull it back, Aurora!

I slowed it down and jogged along, letting the 2:50 group pass me.

Somewhere in the first few miles, there was an open lane of traffic – stopped traffic – beside us. I bet those people were not happy. But what was hilarious about it was around the time I saw those cars, I got a call from my high school theater teacher (aka totally my bff, and one of the most amazing women on the face of the planet)!

I didn’t answer ’cause I was still working fairly hard and didn’t want to have a conversation with her while huffing and puffing away in a loud place. But when I listed to her message, she told me she was on her way to Dayton for a baby shower, and got stuck in horrible race traffic – when she saw me jogging past!

I thought that was hilarious and awesome.

Speaking of high school, later in the race, one of my friends from high school was cheering on the sidelines. She exclaimed, “Aurora?!” as she was already basically mid-hugging me. She walked with me for a bit before she had to turn around and keep on cheering for others.

This group seemed kinda weird in a sort of awesome way. Mud Ninja. Seems like it's probably pretty fun. — This group seemed kinda weird in a sort of awesome way. Mud Ninja. Seems like it’s probably pretty fun.

There were some fun signs at this race – “You can’t quit… You’re not the pope!” “Smile, you are having fun.” (I love that someone decided they needed to remind the runners of that in declarative sentence form.) We had a “May the 4th be with you.” (And who doesn’t love things Star Wars themed?) Two girls even came out in comfy looking chairs with a sign for a shortcut (which of course no one took (I assume) but was still funny.

I also love that the staff at a White Castle came out and cheered us on – with a white castle mascot and everything! (Now, if only they had free sliders on the table instead of free water… but you can’t have everything.)

And very close to the end (with finish line in sight), there was someone who had a sign that said, “You’re actually almost there.” (I think at the beginning I also saw a sign that said something like, “You’re not even close to being there.) I so appreciate signs making fun of people’s tendency to constantly say “you’re almost there” when you are so not even close to being there.

My dad came and met me in the last while, walking along the side of the race route for a bit. He ran into two people from work in the 10 minutes that I spent with him. (My dad kind of seems Ohio famous. He pretty much knows everyone in Columbus as far as I can tell.)

I ran it out to the finish. They announced my name, making me sound special since I was “all the way from Los Angeles, California.” I did make it in under my 3:30 expected time (not much under – around 3:28). Then, I had a delicious brunch with my dad, and that was the end of the morning.

But in the afternoon, we were guests in the Ohio Health (sponsor of the half marathon) suite at the Columbus Crew game. (How did I get that honor? Mainly through twitter (one of the greatest things ever – I’d love if you’d follow me there if you don’t already.)

I will talk about the soccer game tomorrow.

Cap City Half Marathon – Part 1

May 5, 2013

As I’ve said all the time – sleep is everything.

I’m used to working 7pm – 5am… in California (so 10pm – 8am Ohio time). It was actually a very hard choice to know if I should try to sleep during the day, stay up all night, and treat the half marathon as a workout before bed – or just do my best to sleep at night and wake up in the morning.

I went for sleep at night, knowing I’d feel better rested. I went to bed around 9pm, woke up around 11pm. I laid awake, doing my best to fall asleep – looking at the clock about every hour until I ended up going to sleep somewhere in the 3 o’clock hour.

Basically, all that to say sleeping like a normal person = so rough. But, I woke up and the adrenaline/excitement was enough to make it work.

I’d won an entry to this race, so I used it as a great excuse to visit my family. My dad drove me to the race. (It’s always nice to be chauffeured – especially by your dad.)

As I waited for the race to start, I saw that the trash cans along the starting road had all be saran-wrapped off hardcore with signs that they were temporarily out of service. (If people come across this post years from now and don’t know what that’s about – there was a bomb by a trash can at the Boston Marathon less than a month ago.)

Security was out and about in full force. I even saw a guy with gear that said bomb squad. I tried to take a picture of him, but he was too fast for me! He was walking along the sidewalks, being super alert, talking to people on his walkie.

The Cap City half was incredibly serious about security. There are almost always a lot of police officers at races, plus a big medical staff. But there was so many police officers, firefighters, and medics – I felt like I was the President of the United States running this race.

Before the start of the race, we took a moment of silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon, and then they played Sweet Caroline, which I thought was a really nice touch.

And the crowd was riled up! As we started, I heard people chanting “USA! USA!” I also heard some people say, “We are not afraid!”

The energy was absolutely incredible. And I felt a little emotional with all of that going on. Intellectually, I know that just running a race isn’t doing anything for the people of Boston (not unless you’re fundraising for them while doing it, which I wasn’t (though I did donate to 6 fundraising pages)).

Even though I knew that it wasn’t going to personally affect any Boston people to run this race – I still felt the energy of “We are doing this, remembering those of you who can’t right now.” And, “We are doing this to continue to show your strength and that we are not afraid!”

(Even though the Boston tragedy is really not all that super personal to me since I wasn’t there, it will always feel a little personal, since I lived there 3 years ago – right there, only about 2 blocks away. And I loved seeing the runners. I even complained the day before the Boston Marathon this year of how badly I wished I were staying in my old apartment, walking over to the finish. I walked in the spot of the bombing almost every day when I lived there. And I had so many friends in the city, or involved in the race. So, even though it didn’t directly affect my life, it, of course, hurts my heart. Back Bay will always feel a little bit like home, as will marathon-running. So, the whole thing is just…(no words))

But back to our race at hand – and the insane energy of the runners and the crowd! The people on the sidelines were absolutely incredible. I even saw a bunch of people in Boston gear. It felt very much like a really loving, strong, fearless, awesome community out there. And I appreciate every spectator so much!

And I will pick up here tomorrow.

Cap City Half Expo

May 4, 2013

(I know I’m playing a bit of catch up. So, in your mind, transport yourself back to last week.)

Prepare yourself for a riveting blog entry!

I’m kidding, ’cause I basically have nothing to say.

My dad took me to this expo. The theme seems to be “United we run (with Boston).”

Got my bib, got my cool shirt. And we got yet another free shirt from the Ohio Health Expo. Those shirts were bundled with ribbons, which was cute.

I ran into Darris Blackford – race director of the Columbus Half (and full) that I’d done last year. He was working the booth for that race and was cool as always.

Other than that, it was basically same ol’ same ol’ – races I’d seen mentioned at other expos in Ohio last year, and a bunch of nice Ohio people. And it’s on to the race tomorrow!

A Day Off At Disneyland

May 3, 2013

I think I maybe talk about Disney almost a disproportionate amount on this blog.

I guess not really. If you really look at the blog, I don’t talk about Disney that, that much in comparison to other things. But I do talk about it more than I ever really thought about it being a part of my life.

Either way, I’m gonna talk about it right now.

So, we had a couple of days off at the end of the week last week, and I decided to go to Disneyland – because why not, right?

For the first time since I was a little girl (before my family moved to the midwest), I have a season pass to Disneyland. I got it as a gift. It’s the SoCal resident one. where you can basically go on weekdays. And since someone gave me a gift, I wanted to make sure I use it!

So, I went on down to Disneyland. And it’s really wonderful down there! I feel like for some reason, I’m always re-realizing that every time I go.

I had a super chill day, rode some things I loved – and explored some things I’d never seen before. Did you know there’s a Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure? You can earn a Wilderness Explorer badge for doing all the little assignments in there.

I didn’t earn one, ’cause it was mainly for kids. But it looked super fun, and I certainly did walk through the pathways of rope. And I walked through this log where all the adults had to lean way over, and I just kind of sucked a little. (I’m pretty short.)

One of the things I really love about Disney is not necessarily roller coasters or bringing movies to life. It’s how Walt Disney wanted us to believe that anything was possible. If you go to the right attractions, you can just get a bunch of inspiring messages throughout the day.

When I got there, this list greeted me. I didn't let the closing of some of my favorite rides phase me. There's still plenty to do there! — When I got there, this list greeted me. I didn’t let the closing of some of my favorite rides phase me. There’s still plenty to do there!

I also love rides/attractions where we learn. That innoventions place is pretty cool.

Speaking of cool, I’ve been trying to be healthier lately and keep an active life going. And Disney seems to really be jumping on that bandwagon. They have healthy options for eating in the park. (I passed a lot of fruit (and ate some, thank you very much).)

They also have active things. In innoventions you can play this dance game to Billie Jean. (Totally did that twice.) You can learn about fat and healthy foods. I already mentioned the challenge trail which is a great way to just explore and be active. It was awesome.

I also bought a new book – Brain Storm – by Don Hahn (producer of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.) I should absolutely not be allowed to look at books while in Disneyland, because they always have one I want. (This book seemed a little “self-helpy,” and I thought, “eh, I don’t really need anymore of the same ‘believe in yourself, work hard’ messages that I’ve surrounded myself with my whole life” – but I’m actually really liking this book.)

And, even though I’m harping on this idea of inspiration, wonder, and fitness – I still like the normal Disney stuff too. I loved feeling the wind rush past me on the Silly Symphony Swings. (I rode them twice.) And I love riding Tower of Terror – a ride that really lives up to its name, ’cause I can always feel that terror in the elevator.

Of course, I adore the old staple Captain EO. The guy in charge there was a funny Michael Jackson fan. He told people to “chamone in” (you know, the Michael Jackson version of “come on”). It also gets me every time when they say they’re gonna take us back to before I was born, when Captain EO first opened. I love being transported back in time in Disneyland. I’m unbelievably happy they brought Captain EO back, and I hope it never goes away.

I know this post didn’t really have anything new to say and wasn’t earth-shattering or anything, but I just had such a lovely little day date with myself and just wanted say how happy it made me.

I am so going back to Disneyland at some point in the not-too-terribly-distant future. (For 1, I’m racing there in September. But, for another, it’s awesome there. And even though I’ve been there a lot, I still have more to explore!)

The Rest of My San Francisco Vacation

May 2, 2013

After the incredible Cory Booker reception, I had a lovely couple of days with my friends Jaime and Carlos.

I stayed in their awesome apartment. We went walking all along the great hills of San Francisco.

I saw the exterior of the Full House house. We went to Fisherman’s Wharf and took a boat tour quite close to a heck of a lot of sea lions.

I also had the greatest coffee I’ve ever had (sorry, Starbucks) at this place called Biscoff Coffee Corner at Fisherman’s Wharf. I tried a Snickers Latte. It is incredible. It’s a must get the next time I’m in San Francisco!

We played in an arcade like children – and got matching friendship rings with our tickets.

I don’t think I have any specific mind-blowing things to say about the weekend. We just ate a lot of great food, did a lot of wonderful walking, and had a grand ol’ time.

Bottle Up My Life

May 1, 2013

– and stick it on a shelf, and keep it safe.

I mean, not really, of course. ‘Cause that would be boring. And who in the world knows what could possibly happen next? Life is all about adventures – ups and downs, and all that jazz.

So, I’m sure there’s a lot of interesting things coming up in the future.

But the beginning of this year has been blowing my mind!

Let’s just recap here a little, okay?

In January, I took a trip to Walt Disney World with my dad, met a member of my favorite boyband, had camera crews on me for both the half and full marathons, met some super cool people (hi Nikki!), and made national news.

Then I jetted off to Phoenix where I stayed with one of the sweetest families ever, and had one last half marathon of my 52 in 52 series kick my butt.

Just a couple of weeks after that in February (February 6th), I taped an episode of The Price is Right – which was an absolute dream come true! (I still can’t/never will get over that.)

I was then interviewed for a National Running Magazine (Women’s Running). (And I did a few normal fun things that month – saw a couple of shows (including Conan), etc.

In March, my Price is Right episode aired, and I got to share my joy with the world! I also sold that car and basically got out of debt. (Still making a few final payments on credit cards and waiting for a couple of things to clear, but I am basically there – and will be officially there soon, and you will be hearing about it.)

(I did a couple of small, normal fun things that month too – such as going to Disneyland.)

Then, in April, I met Cory Booker!(!!!)

I got to share that with my incredible friend Jaime. I had a lovely, brilliant, beautiful time in San Francisco.

(Also, as far as the small things in April – I started a new job where I work my favorite hours. Plus, I work with people with whom I’ve worked before – I adore them, by the way. I also have the pleasure of working on a medical show, so there’s a lot of interesting information in the interviews.

So, basically what I’m saying is from a micro to macro level (in my life), the first four months of this year have been exceptional!

I have no idea what’s coming next. But, I guess for now, I just want to soak it all in and say how unbelievably grateful I am.

And huge thanks to everyone who reads this blog and has been along for the journey with me! I appreciate you.

The (Awesome) Response To My “Price is Right” Appearance

April 27, 2013

You all are the best ever.

Really, I appreciate you so much.

I cannot even begin to express how much wonderful love came my way after my Price is Right episode.

The texts, the emails, the tweets, all of it – thank you, thank you so much.

I got a text from someone who said they hadn’t had the greatest few days, and watching my Price is Right episode turned their week around – which amazed me, because I would never think that watching someone else win a car could make your week.

I got a tweet from a stranger later in the week who said my game was their favorite they’d seen all week.

A coworker even told me she thought I was the quintessential Price is Right contestant – that if you imagined the very perfect Price is Right contestant and had that person materialize – it would’ve been me. I really appreciated that compliment, and thought it was so sweet.

The love was incredible.

I even got a number of people who said I looked beautiful on The Price is Right! And while, I really try to not focus too, too much on outward appearance – who doesn’t love to feel pretty? (Especially, when if you notice, I was carrying a bit of extra weight. Once I’d gotten home from the 52 half marathons, my body was so tired. I pretty much sat on my butt until the day I went to Price is Right. ;))

Oh, and the people who sent emails or commented that they were enjoying my crazy long play-by-play blog series of the day – thank you for those as well!

Just, generally, thanks to anyone who reached out in any form. All the love just compounded the experience and made it that much more special. So, thank you, thank you, thank you.

A lovely experience. A dream come true. It’s all pretty much beyond words (even though I have used oh-so-many words to talk about it).

Thanks so much for coming to my blog!

I’m Aurora (as you probably guessed)!

This blog started when I ran 52 half marathons in 52 weeks after open-heart surgery for a weird congenital heart defect (Wolff-Parkinson White).

(That inspired more “52 in 52 weeks” projects you can see if you scroll down to check ’em out!)

I also won a car on The Price is Right (and lost a trip to Mexico on Let’s Make a Deal).

Currently, I’m completing Project 882 – 882 race miles in a year to represent the 882 Americans sexually assaulted every day.

Thanks again for visiting! Stick around, and read today’s post (to your left), or check out the projects (below), and feel free to contact me – let’s be friends! 🙂