OMG! How excited was I when I woke up this morning at 8:00am and started voting and saw that Stacie had moved up significantly on the “most watched list?” I only stopped to call Eric at 9:00am, eat breakfast, and answer emails. Otherwise, I kept voting. I voted until 11:30pm last night and knew we only had until noon today to get her into the Top 20.
She kept moving up, and up, and up and ended up 7th in the Top 20. Voting ended at noon and the Top 20 was announced. She is SO excited about this, as is everyone else involved. I kind of think it may be the most exciting thing that’s happened to her in a long time.
Stacie is adorable. She’s smart, funny, beautiful (as you can see from the video) and she’s a great girl. She is the mother of 2 young boys and is one of the senior managers in HR. I have been so impressed by her from the time that I met her.
When she mentioned that she wanted to do this, but thought no one would want to see a 37-year-old mother of 2, I told her that’s EXACTLY what people would want to see, and that I REALLY thought she should do it, and I was willing to direct her, if that would convince her.
The rest of the videos were exactly what I predicted – unprofessional, amateurish, silly, over-the-top, or completely unwatchable. Only 3 or 4 of the Top 20 are any competition at all. The problem is that the first step to winning is by votes – so the 20 that got the most votes were in the Top 20 and it had nothing to do with talent.
The further the competition goes, the more the judges are involved and the less it has to do with voting, although we still need to vote until the end. Anyway, I voted, and voted, and voted some more until noon.
Well, it worked! The entire office has been voting, along with all my friends, and all Stacie’s friends, and the friends of all our friends in the office. We have sailors on board ships out to sea voting. We have parents of school mates voting. And I’m hoping I’ve got YOU voting!
Now that she’s in the Top 20, we’re voting to get her into the Top 10. It’s fun. We email each other, communicate on FACEBOOK, text each other, and call each other. Jimmy texts me or emails me to let me know he’s voting. I’ve been getting emails from other friends letting me know they’ve been voting. I sent an email to 80 friends at the beginning of the voting process, and then sent it out again today, to ask them to keep voting.
After she got into the Top 20, I figured I could relax this afternoon, leave my computer for a while, and go out in the afternoon. It rained last night, so the ground was wet, but it was a lovely day. First I went to COSTCO, because the other day I just got gas. This time I went inside and got Kleenex tissues (I had a $3.50 off coupon) and I got chocolate soy milk, too. I also had lunch! There was spinach ravioli (super yummy), veggie burrito bites, swiss cheese on crackers, salad with a light Ranch dressing, and 7 layer dip with beans, sour cream, guacamole and salsa on chips. I could have purchased each thing I tasted, because it was all delicious, but I resisted. I figure eating it there is okay, as long as I don’t bring it home!
After COSTCO, I went to pick up my dress at the tailor. She did a beautiful job and it fits perfectly! Can't wait to wear it! Then, I went to MICHAEL’S. I had two “50% off one item” coupons that expire tomorrow. I walked around trying to find something to buy, but I couldn’t justify anything, so I ended up handing the two coupons to two women waiting on line at the check-out. They were very grateful!
After that, I hit Starbucks and then headed to KEIL’S. I was able to get a case of DIET LEMON SNAPPLE, so I picked that up and went back to the apartment. I carried my drink, my dress and my purse and picked up my mail. Then, I went back to the car with my cart and brought back the soy milk, case of Snapple, and tissues. I unpacked everything and called Eric.
I feel so bad, because he has a bad cold. He told me he was going to rub some VICKS on his chest and take some NYQUIL and go to sleep. My poor honey. I hate the smell of VICKS, but he swears that it helps. I’m kind of glad I’m not there right now, because his apartment is going to stink of Vicks and also he is the biggest baby when he’s sick. I always say Eric could have his arm hanging by a thread and he’d just ask for a bandaid, but when he gets a cold, or is sick in any way, he just can’t handle it. I know a lot of men are like that, and I just never understood it!
Anyway, I’m glad he has the weekend to relax and feel better and doesn’t have to get up at the crack of dawn and commute to work with a cold.
When I went through my mail, I saw that I had something that belonged to one of the other tenants. This has happened before (I often wonder who's getting MY mail). Anyway, since it was just two apartments down, I decided to walk down there and deliver it. The door was open, so I knew someone was home. I rang the bell and a young man answered. I asked him of the person whose name was on the mail lived there (a woman). He said yes and I told him that her mail was accidentally put in my box. Instead of thanking me, he held up the envelope and said, "Is this all of it?"
I was shocked and annoyed. He realized immediately that he had said something stupid, but before he could apologize, I said, "So you think I brought you some of the mail and kept the rest?" He apologized and I just shook my head and walked back to my apartment. People!
I decided to relax for a while. I watched some decorating shows on HGTV and started falling asleep, so I took a nap. I woke up at 6:00pm. Then, my cousin Ilene called. Talk about adventures! There are very few people I know who have more wonderful adventures than Ilene.
First of all, she is a pro at entering contests – all kinds of contests. Radio contests, magazine contests, TV contests, internet contests – and she usually wins! I can’t name all the things she’s won, but I know she won an expensive car, tickets to tons of shows, amusement parks, etc.
Just recently she got tickets to see ELLEN and of course she got to go during the "12 days of giveaways" shows that Ellen does at the holidays. They got all kinds of great electronics, including a big flat-screen TV! She’s just very lucky, but also knows how to have fun!
She called tonight to tell me that she’s going to be eating dinner in HELL’S KITCHEN tomorrow. Eric and I LOVE that show. It’s one of our favorite reality shows. If you’ve ever seen it, you know that they have an actual restaurant in Los Angeles on the reality show and the contestants have to cook food for customers. Sometimes it doesn’t turn out very well, because people can wait hours to be served, but most of the time they get great food and it’s free – and the best part is they get so see a show being filmed and meet GORDON RAMSEY!!! I have such a crush on him! I told Ilene she has to let me know if he’s as handsome in person as he is on TV.
When Stacie, Elsa and I were rehearsing for Stacie’s video, they said they were having so much fun. I told them that, speaking from experience (because I’m at least 10 years older than either of them), you have to make your own adventures. You have to bring some excitement into your life – in any way you can – in whatever way makes you happy. It could be taking a class, learning a new sport or craft, entering contests, or joining a club.
Everybody’s different and enjoys different things, but if all you do is go to work, go home, and you never vary your day, stir it up, mix it up, or try something new, life will get very boring very fast.
Anyway, Ilene is a perfect example of keeping life exciting. She is the mother of three and has a very busy job, a bustling home life, and a full schedule, but she always manages to throw some fun in there and keep life exciting. I love that about her!
For dinner I had more of my lovely salad with salmon. Fridays are one of my favorites nights on TV, because I love GHOST WHISPERER, MONK, and PSYCH. I got to watch all of them tonight and enjoyed every minute.
Gena Rowlands guest-starred on MONK and in the show her son was named Paulie. That made me smile, because she is in one of my favorite movies about a parrot named Paulie. Then, I realized that Tony Shalhoub is ALSO in that movie and I made the connection! I know they had the character’s son be named Paulie as a tribute to the movie of the same name, which was made in 1998 and also starred Jay Mohr, Bruce Davison, Cheech Marin and Trini Alvarado!
Tomorrow I’m going to a movie with Tifney and her son, Josh. She has a friend who stars in an independent film. It’s really a documentary about a bunch of biker chicks who take off on their Harleys for Graceland, but it’s all for a good cause!
The movie is called TWENTY WHEELS TO MEMPHIS. I was excited when Tifney asked me to go to the movies, because I had no plans, and she’s so much fun to be with. Then, she told me what the movie was, and I was intrigued, because I have always loved motorcycles. Then, when I found out they ride to Graceland, I was even more interested, because Eric and I LOVED Graceland and dream of going back there some day.
We had no idea how much we would love Memphis, and what an impact Elvis’ house and the tour would have on us. I always loved Elvis Presley movies, but was not a huge fan of his music. You just cannot go to Graceland without falling in love with Elvis. Eric and I both felt it. It’s just an amazing place and a really touching and moving experience. I recommend it highly. Memphis is also home to BEALE STREET and was the first place we ever tasted Red Velvet Cake (Elvis' favorite), so it has many wonderful memories!
So, I actually have to get up and out early, because Tif is picking me up at 11:30am. We’ll go to Encinitas, where the theatre is, and have lunch before the movie. I’m excited!