Wheel of Fortune Auditions

This weekend my sister and I traveled to Austin, TX (about 2.5 hours away) to try for a chance to be on the Wheel of Fortune.  I have tried out to be on two game shows in my life and they both just have happened to be within a few months of each other.  I need to make a post about the Family Feud.  Spoiler alert:  we didn’t get picked for either one! :)

How did find out about them?  My sister is a Wheel Watchers member and got an email.

Side note about the venue, First Texas Honda.  I loved this dealership, they were so welcoming to all of us.  I really enjoyed being there.

My sister and I left Houston about 8:15 am and stopped a few times along the way.  We were going to stop on the way to get food, but we decided to just wait until after we get our applications.  We got there and were able to make it inside before the line started to snake around the building.  They only give out 1,000 applications per hour and there are three times you need to stand in line. 

You fill out an application (see below) with your name and basic information.  The back of the card tells you the rules.  There were three different times and three different colors of applications.  Our application colors for this day were orange, pink, and blue (I might be wrong on the 2^nd color but that doesn’t matter).

 Edited out some personal info

How the application process works:  The first 1,000 stand in line and get the yellow applications.  About 30 minutes before they let you get out of line and go stand closer to the stage.  While the first set of tryouts are going on, the second set is lining up.  (We didn’t realize this and missed out on getting in line for the second set of auditions)  Technically you can get in line for all three auditions, but you have to make sure you can hear the announcer call your name if you are in line.  The line wraps around the outside of the building so it might be hard to hear the announcer.  By the time the first set of tryouts begin; the applications are all given away.

Each round goes the same, so make sure you get there early and get in line.  After you get your application turned in, go back immediately and get in line for the 2^nd line so you will be inside and get an application. 

How you get picked:  When you get your application filled out you can put it in the yellow box.  10 minutes before the start of the 2^nd round, all applications must be in it (per the back of the application) and they bring it to the stage.  They put all applications in a big raffle drum and pull names, 5 at a time.  The drawing is random and you are not guaranteed to get picked.  You have an 1 out of 1,000 (or 45/1000 chance since they choose about 45 people???  IDK about statistics.  LOL) shot at getting picked each round (depending on how many people are there, but just plan on all 1,000 applications being filled out).  The first time they draw for each round, they choose 10 people so 5 are in the waiting area being prepped each time.

Getting on stage:  Once you get your named drawn, your audition starts immediately.  They want you to be really loud and proud when you get picked.  (Think the Price is Right audience members that go crazy)  You go to the holding area and they give you instructions (I didn’t make this part so I can’t give you any clues).

Once someone solves the puzzle, those 5 members turn is up and it’s the next group of 5 peoples turn.  The announcer talks to each person for a few minutes and he seemed to talk longer to the people who had lots of personality.  Some people even did a trick or an act; some were funny and made everyone laugh.  I think the ones who had personality (singing, dancing, hula hooping, air guitaring, etc) were the ones who would make it to the next round. 

They would give everyone a puzzle to solve and ask the audience to SHHHHH!  Each of the 5 people were able to guess a letter and once someone solves it, everyone’s audition is over.  Everyone on stage gets some sort of Wheel of Fortune prize.  The prizes vary from t-shirts, fanny packs, collapsible bags, power packs, pics of Vanna  and Pat, cardboard wheel cutouts, light up pins, etc.  Rinse, lather, repeat.

After they called about 30-40 people (it seemed-I didn’t count) they take a break and start the next round.  BUT remember, while all this is going on, other people trying to get an audition are in line for the next set of auditions (three a day). 

2^nd chance drawing:  They take all of the applications back with them to Los Angeles (I think that’s where they said they were from) and choose a few random people to come back to audition a second time.  Not everyone who makes it on stage gets to go to the 2^nd round either.

2^nd round of auditions:  I have no idea; I haven’t been called or emailed about them.  Sorry! :)

The Texas Madness Massacre

Yesterday SFASU Men’s Basketball competed in the NCAA tournament against Utah.  Like last year, the alumni of SFA had watch parties all over Texas (and even one in Virginia) so that we could all watch the game together.  I deleted my FB profile a while ago and I had not seen the men’s basketball updates like I usually did through my newsfeed. After a quick google search that said they had made it into the tournament, I called the Alumni Association office to see if they were hosting watch parties like they had last year.  They were having them in several Houston areas locations and asked if I could host one at Lucky’s Pub.  I wouldn’t have to do anything except put out some SFA Alumni materials that they shipped to me.

I made it to the game (and got a GREAT parking spot) at around 6 pm.  The kickoff was originally supposed to be around 6:30, but it got moved back to just after 7 pm.  I put out the free koozies, pens, pins, and hyper-color cups for everyone to take.  I think we had about 300 people there. 

I met up with some Driving Jacks members and we all sat together.  I looked up and I saw Hector coming over to where we were sitting.  I didn’t even know he was in town (he’s been in California for work the past 1.5 months)!  We all sat together and watched the game.  

Some of us really got into it……LOL. 

That's not my hand in the way. haha.

The game was fun to watch, but the end was sad.  SFA lost to Utah 50-57.  They played a good game and I am happy that they made it far!  They had a wonderful season and played their best. 

As for Texas…all five teams that made it to the tournament were kicked out last night. Baylor, SMU, Texas, Texas Southern and Stephen F. Austin logged a combined 0-5 record.   Whomp, whomp, whomp.  It was like the Texas MadnessMassacre (I saw that on an article comment and though it was funny, hence the name of this post).  Two of the teams were favored to advance, but they were beaten too (Baylor and SMU).

Now I will go back to not caring about basketball.  Or Football.  Or baseball.  Well, baseball will be on my mind when this little guy starts playing.  He joined a “K-Ball” team and has started practicing.  His first game was supposed to be Saturday, but it got cancelled due to rain.  K-Ball is a precursor to T-Ball, which is a precursor to baseball. 

My very cute nephew, Cole

Military Care Packages-Round 3

Every so often I try to send care packages to our military that are deployed throughout the world.  There might not be a current war that the US is participating in (thank goodness!), but there are still troops deployed all over that deserve our thanks.  I have sent two (here and here) and I wanted to send more this year.  I found the addresses on AnySoldier.com if you are interested in sending a care package yourself.

This year I decided to decorate the box a little bit!  I had two boxes so I used two sets of scrap book paper that were cut in half to decorate the lid flaps on the box.  I used a space theme (because they are “out of this world”) and a polka dot/diamond theme (just because).  It just adds something pretty to the boxes!   I used the large flat rate shipping boxes from USPS for $15.90 each box. 

I also had friends from work write letters to the soldiers to add to the boxes.  I wanted the boxes to be filled with lots of letters so they can read that we really appreciate them. 

This round we included these items in the boxes:

·         Clif Bars

·         Tooth paste

·         Tooth brushes

·         Laundry soap pods

·         Candy

·         Water bottles (reusable-empty)

·         Shaving razors

·         Mixed Nuts/Pistachios

·         Chapstick

·         Lotion

·         Nutella to-go packs

·         Band-aids

·         Wet wipes-travel size

·         Tissues

·         Assorted puzzles

·         Suckers

·         Assorted samples

·         Thank you cards

·         Mechanical pencils

·         And more that I can’t remember right this second….

I wanted to keep adding more and more stuff, but I was on a small budget and I still had to pay for shipping.  It’s the thought that counts, right?!

Currently the boxes are in Miami waiting to be shipped to their locations, per USPS tracking.  Hopefully they will write back and tell me they got them!  I would love to hear from them.  I am friends with one of the soldiers I sent a box to a while ago.  Fun stuff!

Rodeo Houston

It’s Rodeo time in Houston!  Tonight is my last night volunteering for my committee and boy am I tired.  The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has over 31,000 volunteers that spend their free time helping to raise money for scholarships.  This is my second year on as a volunteer and it is very rewarding.  All committees raise money for scholarships, but my committee also does good in another way.  We are the Special Children’s Committee and we take special needs adults and children around the rodeo and also 3 concerts.  I love seeing the children’s face light up when they dance or when they see their favorite animal.  

I have gone a few times with friends and family to the rodeo and I wanted to include some pictures!  We have one more concert to work (tonight, Dierk's Bentley) and then we have a committee party.  I am tired (it's Monday!) so I might not make it to the party. I am getting old. LOL. :)

Centerpieces for Rodeo Week at work that I helped coordinate

Centerpiece #2 for Rodeo Week at work that I helped coordinate

SCC bandana that everyone has to wear

I love this flower box art!  Students compete in a competition during the rodeo and this is one of the entries

Me and Cole!  I am not exactly sure what happened to my camera phone.  I think it was just the sun.

Rainy day at the carnival.  Sad carnival.

My tomato was in the shape of a heart!  Does this mean love is in the air?! ;)

Rodeo Bling

Me and Cole again!  We were watching the muttin' bustin' competition

Group Selfie (minus Cole)

The Penny - In God We Trust

I heard this story on a daily positive message recording I listen to and I  wanted to pass it on!  I am not sure who the original author is, but it is powerful!  I know that I will look at pennies or any other change on the ground with a new light! :)

The Penny - In God We Trust

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband’s employer’s home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband’s employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so she as enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny?

Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.

A smile crept across the man’s face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before!

What was the point of this?

“Look at it.” He said. “Read what it says” 

She read the words “United States of America.”

“No, not that; read further.”

“One cent?” 

“No, keep reading.”

“In God we Trust?”

 “Yes!”

 “And?”

“And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God’s way of starting a conversation with me. God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, “In God We Trust,” and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful!

And God is patient..