WOW what a month!!! Now if you're wondering what that means or why it's taken me so long to write about my last entries promised topic, take a look at this.
Sun 6/29 I'm at Kristine's... Up at 3:45 a.m. off to Sacramento Airport. Depart 6:00 a.m. Arrive in LA 1 hour early - sit on tar mack for 1 hr 10 min... no gates open - pick up car, have breakfast at very good, very crowded “Nicks” in Beverly Hills - arrive at Elan Hotel and wait 90 minutes for early check-in. Four of us in one room some doze, some get ready, I spent 40 minutes talking to AK granddaughter Megan on a bench in the hall (no napping for me)... grab a bite on the way to the CBS Studio to stand in the “Live Audience Line” while Kristine heads for VIP lounge. Wait in the sun for 2 hours!!! (Dress code, no white shirts, no t-shirts with logos, flat shoes - no heals, no open toed shoes, wedges, no jeans etc. - I almost had to show up in my hiking boots.) Security check, they confiscated all cell phones and other electronic devices. No food, no water, can't leave once we enter studio at 5:30 p.m. AHHH air-air-air-conditionining YIPPEE!!! Get orientation on how to behave, when to yell and scream, when to shut up, etc. Nothing’s real!!! Trinitii doesn’t make the 70% needed to advance - disappointing… Off to the VIP lounge for food and more photo shoot opportunities as they get ready for the prerecorded 9:00 West Coast version - includes cut away interviews with all “losers”… somebody’s got to do it!!! At midnight out to eat (we’re all delirious by this time, but Cassie's hungry). Mon 6/30 In bed by 1:00 a.m., up at 4:30 off to airport - flight mixup, so we drive to Sacramento (6 hours), Richard pays a friend of Cassie’s to drive car back to Hertz at LAX and money to fly himself home - cheaper than the $1000 “drop fee” to leave the car in Sacramento. I drive the extra hour to our house, blabbed at Don non-stop; Taco Bell take-out for early dinner. I’m in bed at 6:00 p.m. asleep at 6:01 - up Tue 7/1 at 5:55 a.m, friend Audrey drives hikers 90 minutes - hike 6.5 miles at 6350-7400’ overlooking Donner Lake - too hot 88-90 degrees and a steady climb 3 miles... then all downhill back to the car. Home at 4:30 after ice cream. Wine in hand - sit in back yard, sounds like a war zone as planes, borate bombers, and water bucket helicopters quickly put out a small wildfire about 5 miles away. Enjoy the photos...
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Everyone's out of focus because
the photographer is... |
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Cleaned up o.k. Kristine, Richard, Ev and proud
mama/grandma - all color coordinated without a word!!!
Could be in the "genes". |
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| Three generations... |
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Ev and Richard wait, I wander as the line swells
to 450. |
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| "Trinitii - last sound check... |
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Cassie and Lauren cover up - so they don't
slobber on those great black outfits!!! |
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| More interviews after the low score... |
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| that's it - remember to smile |
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| Last "loser" interview. |
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Cassie was a pro all the way - and the spokeswoman
for the group. Proud of you Cassie... |
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| Cassie's closing comments... |
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Back to the great outdoors
Snow Flowers greet us |
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| Looking back after struggling uphill in the heat. |
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The effort was worth it. Castle Peak (left)
Frog Lake Overlook (right) I-80 creates it's
own design lines!!! You've seen it before from
a different angle!!! |
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| Bear Buckwheat |
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| Smoke billows about 5 miles from home... |
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| AHH, I think I'll become a deer... |
