On Kelli's birthday I got the first phone call. Yesterday on Beau's birthday, I got another phone call from them saying that they want me to fly out to L.A. next Tuesday. Suh-weet.
After a few more phone calls with info and verifying the fax number a couple of times, I received the 19 page passport to "The Weakest Link". Actually, it was mostly a legal release, commitment form and show info for me to look at, sign and return, so, due to this bunch of pages, this will prolly be the last time I will be writing about this for a while, but I at least wanted to update as to what was going on for all of the doom and gloomers who thought that since they hadn't called yet, that they weren't.
They did. Heh.
....the more things change, the more things stay the same.
Hairstylist: "The important thing is, do you have a hair appointment scheduled before then?"
Friend: "You have got to tell George, the host, that you have pals who are "Junkyard Wars" fanatics.
Family: "Um, I supported you the whole time........can I go to LA with you?"
Another friend: "Um, I really supported you the whole time....can I go with you to LA?"
Conversation upon answering an "Unknown" call on my cell phone while at dinner celebrating Kelli's birthday:
Me: "Hello?"
Man's voice: "Paula?"
Me: "Yes?"
Man's voice: "Hello! This is Scott, from "The Weakest Link", and the Producer's want to meet you!"
*sound of my jaw hitting the floor, while trying to form some type of response in my suddenly mushy brain*
Me: "That's great."
*trying not to hyperventilate while pantomining to everyone who/what the phone call is*
(I am now trying to head outside where it isn't quite so noisy.)
Scott: "I am just calling to check your availability. Of the top of your head, what does your schedule look like for the 10th thru 12th of this month?"
Me: "Uhhhh....actually, that really isn't good for me. My son's Introduction Day for Kindergarten is on the 12th."
Scott: "Okay, how is the end of that week looking?"
Me: "Umm, actually he starts Kindergarten on that Friday, but I am good during the middle of that week."
Scott: "Well, you definitely don't want to miss that, so how does the last week of the month look?"
(At this point, I have walked back inside, knowing that everyone inside with me was probably just twitching to know that the hell was going on.)
Me: "Actually, the last week of this month would be great."
Scott: "Okay, great. I will need to get with the producer's and check out their schedule. I was just calling to check your availabilty, and I will be giving you a call back."
Me: "That's great. If it wasn't for the whole Kindergarten thing, you know I would be there on the 10th."
Scott: "I understand. Priorities, you know."
Me: "Exactly."
Scott: "Okay, talk to you soon."
Me: "Okay, thanks. Bye."
Scott: "Bye."
(At least I am pretty sure that is precisely how it went - with all of the stupid "actually's" and everything - but I was a bit brain numb and I may have made most of that stuff up after the "......Producer's want to meet you" bit.)
OH. MAH GAH. Holy mother of all shit. Seriously. Shit. Shit Shit. "The Weakest Fucking Link" fucking called me and want to fly me out to fucking Los Angeles. LA. This month. Oh fuck. That so rocks. I seriously have not processed all of this yet. I mean, I hoped they would call after trying out in Dallas, but I figured in, like, 6 months, not 1 freakin' month. GAH.
So, yeah, I don't think I really "blew it in the first round" AT ALL. Oh man.
As someone who is in a customer service type business, it is nice every once in a while to have my own ass kissed. And I have decided that my body, mind and spirit deserve a break every so often - more often than I give it.
A couple of weekends ago, with that thought in mind, I made a Dallas run down to the Hotel Crescent Court, in the Uptown Arts District, for some seriously deserved sucking up and chilling out. This hotel can definitely provide that and more - starting with driving up to the door. (Bear in mind, that I travel verrrry casually, t-shirt and shorts at all times.) As the valet opened my door, saw my attire, he asked, somewhat hesitantly, "Are you checking in?" As soon as he heard that I was, and he asked my name, it was suddenly "Welcome to the Crescent Court" and the ass kissing was in motion.
After a great night out eating at a surprisingly good and fun restaurant, a cold beer at a cool little beer garden, and a deep sleep in a comfy bed, it was time to wake up and head down to the spa and get an aromatherapy massage that used the muscle relief essential oils and helped release alot of the tension and aches in my back, which always makes for a much happier Paula.
They were so great at the spa. After I had the massage, a sauna and a waterfall shower, I was getting pulled together in the dressing room/vanity area. I had just finished washing my face and was drying it off when my earring went straight down the sink drain. That has never, ever happened to me before. Luckily it happened here, because they were so overly helpful and concerned that the spa manager was even apologizing to me for it taking engineering so long to get it, and when they did get it out, she was even complimenting my earring. Gotta love what a bit of luxury can provide. Seriously.
As a great ending to my stay at the hotel, room service came to the room with breakfast. And I don't mean that they brought a tray up, I mean, the trolley that was brought up became a fold-out table covered in linen, with my breakfast served on china - now THAT was a good breakfast.
I completely have got to do that more often, and Dallas is a hell of alot closer than Colorado Springs. And while this may seem a bit extravagant, I have decided that it is worth it to my well-being. Some people choose shopping therapy, I prefer massage therapy.