Not Quite Everything

I've always felt like I have had a blessed life. Things have always come easy to me. I loved school and always got good grades...well except for that Calculus class in college. I tried out for cheerleading, I made it. I learned to play the piano, then learned to play 4 other instruments. I wanted to work as a waitress at Chili's, so I bugged them until I got the job. I wanted to become a teacher, I did. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and two perfect kids. I feel like if I wanted something, I would do what I needed to do to get it, but really, for the most part, I didn't have to try too hard.
When I figured out I wanted to be on The Amazing Race, I just knew the casting team would love my dad and I. We did all the necessary things to apply and never heard anything. This was not normal for me. I did what I was supposed to do and I didn't get something I wanted. I then decided we had to try harder and we did. We still have not heard anything. For the first time in my life, I have not been able to have, or even work toward getting something I want...and want more than anything right now.

Eliminated before they even take a plane?!?

OK! So season 15 started last night. I was so nervous for the teams when they had to pick through the license plates! How nerve racking to think you could be eliminated before you even get on a plane! But, IF that was Dad and I, we would have immediately seen the Japanese characters at the top of the clue! Really!
I'm not into eating bugs, but I think I could do the wasabi bomb if I had to.
Now, as for the teams, they seem like a good group as a whole, but the father/son team.....once again, we are stuck with a parent/child team who is trying to "get to know each other better"...."make up for lost time". Why can't we have a team on like Dad and I? A parent and child who like each other...love each other... and have never had to "repair" anything! Wouldn't we be a team for many parents and children to look up to?

Our "Amazing" Attempt

We made shirts to wear when we shot our video. It says "The Amazing Race" in a few different languages. I bet you can't name all the languages!


So, when Dad and I finally decided to apply for The Amazing Race, the casting for season 15 was almost over, but we applied anyways, sort of assuming we were applying early for season 16. We applied in April 2009. The next few entries will show you what we have done so far in our attempt to be cast for the best show on television. We feel it is the best show on tv, and so do many others. Last night, at the Emmy's, it won for the best reality show. Of course, Phil should have won for the best host. I can't say much for Jeff Probst since I've never actually watched an episode of Survivor.....

1. We sent in our application and 3 minute DVD - the application is about 10 pages. There are lots of interesting questions and some funny ones. For example, "List three adjectives that describe you", and "What is your opinion of foreigners?" For our DVD, we decided to make our own little Amazing Race around the Sacramento area. We started at Folsom Prison since we live close to there and it's a fun little backdrop. Then we went to Dad's house to display his Dr. Pepper collection. Then we went to a scrapbook store, where I did a "roadblock" and scrapped a layout of my family. We did a "detour" (go behind the counter make a sub for a paying customer) at a sub shop by Dad's school since we both like sub sandwiches and we used to eat at this particular shop quite a bit. Finally, Dad did a "roadblock" at his racquetball club where he hit a target in the corner of the court. It was a fun way to learn a few things about us, but it didn't quite turn out how we imagined. I guess it didn't work, mostly because I'm not an actor and I was trying to be one. Dad is always quite animated and I am too if the situation is spontaneous or candid. We actually had our video planned out, so I think I was trying too hard....


When we sent in our application, we decorated the envelope. I took a picture of it so EVERY time we send them something, we ALWAYS use this cover for the envelopes. I just print one out.

2. We OVERNIGHTED a follow up letter with a batch of homemade cookies (May 4) - In our DVD and application, we explained how I love to bake and I bake fantastic cookies. I would bring some to an interview if we were called, but since we were not called for an interview, I thought it would be fun to send some in the mail. I knew the casting team would not eat them because they just can't go eating something that arrives in the mail. But it shows a little initiative on our part and it shows we are trying to go outside the box. The letter we sent with the cookies stated that we were not happy with our video and a longer, more complete version was on the way.

3. We sent in a “director’s cut” DVD (mid May) - Have you ever tried to make a three minute video? You think three minutes is a long time, but it isn't. We ahd to cut out quite a bit of the video, so this longer version was full length...9 minutes... I think if the casting team actually met my dad and I, they would see how real we are...how great we would be on the show....

4. We sent a letter letting the casting team know Dad and I were flying to LA to come sit in front of their building in hopes of talking to someone (May 21). We figured if we were not going to be invited for an interview, we would go to them and hope to get an inverview. We called it a "sit-a-thon". We would sit in front of their office and hope someone would come talk to us during the day.

5. We flew to LA and sat in front of the China Airways building and ended up talking to Erin (June 17). So we bought airline tickets, gathered our folding chairs and got an ice chest full of food, brought some games to play, made a sign (which you can see part of here) to stand beside us and headed to LA on a Tuesday. We went to the office Wednesday morning and expected to be there all day. We got there at 8:30am and said hello to the people as they were coming into work. Most worked for China Airways (it was their building and TAR leases an office from them). One girl from TAR came out and said they had already picked the cast for season 15. We told her we assumed that and that we were there early for season 16. She said ok and went back inside. She came out a few minutes later and said that there are no casting people at this office and that it was just a production office. We told her that was ok and we'd be there all day in case anyone showed up. Next a lady from China Airways came out and wanted to know what we were doing. She told us she was the landlord for the building and she didn't seem happy we were there. We told her we were trying to get on the show and we were doing a "peaceful sit-in". Then she left. A few minutes later the same girl from TAR came back out and said, "Ok...it looks kind of bad (for our lease from China Airways) that you are here. I told you there was no one from casting here so I made a phone call and if you leave now and come back in 45 minutes someone from casting will come here and talk to you." We told her that was fair and we packed up and left. We came back in 45 minutes and met a nice young lady from casting. We actually talked with her for about 20 minutes! We didn't really have a formal interview, but we talked candidly. We told her how we had applied and didn't like how our video turned out (I felt like we were trying to act versus just being ourselves) so we wanted to do what ever we could to show the casting directors that we are serious about wanting to be on the show, so we flew down to LA in hopes to speak with someone. She asked if we had passports and knew we would be away for 20-40 days if we were selected, etc. We told her, "If we got a chance to talk to someone from the show, we wanted to stress to them that we could be ready to go the next day...we have passports, we don't work, I've already let everyone know they have to help out with the kids....." She told us they will start casting for season 16 in the middle of the summer and she would take our paperwork (which we had copies to give her) to her boss and tell her how we flew down to LA just to TRY to talk with someone... So, long story short, by 10:30am we were done! We expected to sit out there all day long. And that was if we weren't arrested! We felt positive about the "interview". The lady who interviewed us seemed genuine and interested in us.
I have some video that I will post once I figure out how to do it. The one thing I'm sad about, is that we didn't take any pictures of us sitting in front of the building together! That's so not like me......

6. We sent a thank you to Erin (late June)

I was taught to ALWAYS send a thank you letter after you receive a gift or after someone has done something nice for you. We actually wrote two thank you notes to Erin. The first one, we wrote right after she talked with us. We just gave it to the door man and asked him to give it to her. The second one, we wrote once we got back home. Of course, we sent it with our signature envelope cover!

7. We sent a letter and updated our application for season 16 (June 30)

There was one new question for the season 16 application. It was a multiple choice about what you would do if you saw another team drop a plane ticket....so we filled that out and sent it in with a little letter letting them know we have already applied and gave them a list of what we had done so far (like this list here).

8. We had family and friends send in letters on our behalf (July 13 through late August) We printed out paper with our picture on it and asked friends and family to write a short letter to the casting team telling them why they should pick us to be on the show. Of course, we gave them all our signature envelopes to send in their letters. Thanks everyone!

9. We started this blog (September 20) Well, we'll see where this goes....Thanks for reading! Please leave us a comment!

Let's get it started!

I've never thought I would do a blog for any reason. Most of you know my dad and I have been trying to get on the award winning reality show, The Amazing Race. We have gone through numerous steps to get on the show and have not been contacted for an official interview. Although it's disheartening not to be contacted, we continue to try and do different things to get the attention of the casting team. This blog is the next step in our attempt to get on the show. We want to share with you the things we have done thus far. This seems like a pessimistic first entry, but season 15 is going to start a week from today....wish we were going to be on it....