A FAVRE-tastic Season!

Say what you want to about Brett Favre, but you can't deny the fantastic season he and the Vikings had!  Favre was the missing link in the MN offense and he energized the team and the fans.  Without him, the Vikings would have been lucky to be a wild card contender.  Instead, they went back to the NFC Championship game.  And while they fell one game short of the BIG dance by giving the game away in typical Vikings fashion, Favre proved that you're never too old to take a hit...and another...and another...

Only two teams can go to the Superbowl and in the end the Vikings mistakes were too costly and the Saints got lucky with their opening drive in OT.

My heart is still bleeding purple and I'm hoping that Favre will delight us one more time and play with us again in September.

The Real American Idol

In June my little sister A and I travelled down to Atlanta for the American Idol auditions.  Since American Idol doesn’t announce much about the process, my sister got some inside info from a few classmates who auditioned the previous year.  But now that we’ve been through the process, I’m ready to dish!  So here is what I’ve learned from personal experience.

We arrived early Tuesday morning to register for the auditions which would take place 2 days later.  By the time we arrived the line was wrapped 1/3 of the way around the Georgia Dome.  (Technically you were not allowed to line up before 6 am, but those in the front had been there over night). 

American Idol had production staff and security throughout the line.  But if you asked them for info about when the doors would open, audition process, etc., no one would comment.  Once the doors opened, they allowed groups of 50 or so into the dome to line up and register.  Once the crowd thinned out, they let in the next group.  It was a fairly quick process and we had our wrist bands and tickets by 9am.

On Thursday we returned to the GA Dome early in the morning to line up again.  The day of the audition, your place in line didn’t matter as you had already registered and been given a seat assignment.  While we were waiting in line, there were camera crews filming.  They would occasionally pick someone out of the crowd to sing for them.  In addition to the AI cameras you had the Atlanta news cameras and the paparazzi (aka me…trying to take a pic of my sis)! 

Once inside we were sent to our seats where they were already rehearsing the crowd song…Britney Spears’ “Oops…I Did It Again.”  Then the filming began...we sang the crowd song and welcomed everyone to “Hot-lanta.”  Ryan (who normally comes to the auditions - or so I'm told by previous contestants) was a no-show...probably because his contract was under negotiation.  There were no former contestant either.

The crowd to the left.

The crowd to the right.

Finally the auditions began.  Section, by section, we were released to the football field below to line up.  We were put into four lines, and in groups of four we were sent to tables to audition in front producers/talent scouts (or random people picked off the street who claim to have an ear for talent – no one really knows who they are).  :)

The field line.

The audition tables.

When we got to our audition table, I was up first (gasp!).  It was hard trying to remember your song when dozens were singing around you.  I sang a Carrie Underwood song and butchered it (sorry Carrie).  Then my sister was up.  In my unbiased opinion...she rocked it.  She was followed by two guys.  One of the guys was no better than me and the other guy sang a country song and did well.  There was no chance for introductions or tell them about yourself.  They judged on 15-30 secs of your song and your looks.  There were two judges at our table and they deliberated for a moment after we all finished…it looked like one person was close to getting through (probably me!) but instead, they sent all of us packing.  Our wristbands were cut off and we were kicked out of the stadium. 

Those who made it through were sent to another room to fill out paperwork for their return in August to audition before Simon, Randy and Kara.  In the first half of the day, not many made it through.  You either had to be aaah-mazing or dressed up in a silly costume.  There were several in bridal gowns, but only one or two made it through.  There were a few other nuts, but not as many as I expected.  I'm sure American Idol will focus on all the crazies tonight.

As the contestants who made it through to Hollywood are undergoing a grueling week and facing the final cuts, I plan to put my feet up and watch for what could be my national television debut (and my most embarrasing moment)!  I invite you to watch along, because if you miss it you may never see that moment again. :)

Snow Day: South vs. North!

Southern Snow Day:

All week long I was hoping for a snow day.  The meteorologists were first predicting 2-4" of snow and even put us under a winter weather watch, but by Wednesday it had been down-graded to 1-3" of snow and a winter weather advisory.  Even though we just got back for Christmas break, I wanted one more day to catch up on sleep and tackle the mess in our dining room/office.  Knowing that I had to work this weekend, I eagerly watched as the school closings came in Wednesday night.  Thursday morning, I crawled out of bed and over to the window, hoping to find the ground covered in white.  DANG!  No snow.  I humored myself anyway and checked the office line...no closing announcement.  Disappointed, I got ready for the day...jealous of all the kids (and their teachers) at home in their beds!

 

I was able to leave work about an hour early on Thursday since road conditions were deteriorating which was a nice bonus, but now I was wishing for a snow day on Friday...or at least a late start.  Once again I eagerly watched as the school closings came in Thursday night.  Friday morning I checked the office line hoping to hear some good news...robbed again!  I called back a few more times just to make sure and off to work I went. :) 

 

For all you Northern folks - they cancel school down here whenever there is a "credible" forecast of snow or ice.  If one road in the county/district is icy, the entire county/district shuts down.  If they buses can't run their routes...no school.  Since predicting the weather is more of an art and an exact science, the kids often have fake snow days.  The snow finally came on Thursday mid-morning, but if northern schools shut down for the same weather, their kids would never be in class.  In defense of the South, they don't have enough equipment to properly maintain all the roads continuously.  And even though I can tough it out, I relish my Southern snow days when I can take advantage of them. :)

 

Northern Snow Day:

As a kid I remember waking up to the radio and listening closely as they announced the school districts that were closed.  In North Dakota they rarely announced them the night before.  Every school district around us would close, but Fargo Public Schools would stay open!  Because most of us lived in the city, we would have to go to school while neighboring towns enjoyed a day off.  I remember disliking our school superintendent because of it.

 

I remember one day in 8th or 9th grade every school district up and down the Red River valley (the river that separates ND & SD from MN) was closed, except FARGO.  Wind chills were at or near -50 F and there was plenty of BS (blowing snow).  I had to get up and catch the early bus.  On very windy or cold days I usually stood in the garage until I saw the bus coming down the street and then I would run across the street and down to the end of the block to the bus stop.  Then I had to ride the bus for 30 minutes.  If you've ever been on a school bus you know they're not very warm...now add in a -50 F wind chill...and since I was in Jr. high, I'm sure I wasn't dress appropriately as I had to maintain some level of "coolness."  When we arrived at the school we went to wait in the cafeteria until it was time for class to begin.  A couple teachers came walking though singing the marching chant "I Don't Know What You've Been Told" re-written about how tough we were for coming to school in a blizzard.  A short while later (before classes began) an announcement was made that school had been canceled for the day...the buses would be turning around and coming back to get us and bring us home!  I was glad to be heading back home, but not happy that I had to get up in the first place!

 

For all you Southern folks:  On days when we actually got a snow day, I spent it in my PJ's at home.  If it was bad enough not to go to school, you definitely didn't want to be outside.  Sledding, snow ball fights, fort building...those would have to wait until the temps were back up into the teen and twenties.

Shutdown

For the past week and a half I disconnected myself from most of the world.  I spent Christmas through New Years at my parents place.  I was soo busy with other things that I rarely had time to sit in front of the one computer or in front of CNN.  I felt disconnected from world.  In this high tech society where I spend almost every waking moment parked in front of a laptop (or one very close by), I’m connected…the latest news, what my friends are doing (right now), entertainment (music, videos, blogs), etc.  But without that I’m lost (well almost).  My cell phone has internet, but it’s not a smartphone so the internet experience is…well…cumbersome and time consuming.    

It was good to get away and take a break, but I’m glad to be back in the land of the knowledgeable.  And since it’s almost time for a new cellphone, I sense a smartphone coming my way!

Happy New Year!