this is JEOPARDY! (auditions)

One of the first things I learned from this experience is that JEOPARDY! is always spelled in all caps with an exclamation point at the end.

INCORRECT EXAMPLE:

"I really hate jeopardy because it is kind of boring."

STILL INCORRECT EXAMPLE:

"Sometimes I watch Jeopardy.  It's pretty entertaining."

CORRECT EXAMPLE:

"Sorry I left your party last night running for my car like a crazy person.  I realized that I forgot to set my DVR to record JEOPARDY! and I just can't miss that show."

I am not bothered by the unconventional grammar used to indicate JEOPARDY! in a sentence because that is basically pretty much how I feel about the show.  I LOVE watching JEOPARDY! and playing along.  I shout out all the answers even when I am alone.  When I don't call out an answer but realize that my guess would have been right, I always make sure to inform anyone in the room that I knew it.  There have been many times that I nudge Dave to say, "I already knew that answer.  I just didn't say it."

Last year, they were advertising for the online test that only happens a few times a year.  This piqued my curiosity as being on the show has kind of been a life long dream of mine.  So I signed up and encouraged by Dave, I sat down one night and took the fateful test.

It was tough and when the test was over I turned to Dave and said, "Well that was fun."  I really didn't think that I passed or anything.  I imagined an army of geniuses and bookworms taking the test on their fancy computers, sitting up straight in their private libraries or chemistry labs.  I did not expect a tired pregnant school teacher, sitting in her bed, dressed in her pajamas, taking the test on a computer that was literally held together with duct tape.

A few months later, I received an email inviting me to the actual JEOPARDY! audition!  I was so excited even to be nominated.  When I found out that the audition was taking place in San Antonio, I knew I had to go.

Poor Dave couldn't get the day off from work so my dad took the day off and I went with Baby Kate and my parents.  They picked me up that morning and we piled into the car for a fun road trip to the Alamo.

(The auditions were not held in the Alamo but that would have been really cool.)

My mom prepared really well and made a deluxe set up with a DVD player for Katelyn in the back seat.  She watched Shrek four times on this trip.

 

We stopped at Buccee's on both ways.  This is one of the biggest Buccee's I have visited.  Because of Spring Break, it was packed.  There was a line just to exit I-10 but because it was Buccee's, there was no line for the restroom.  I seriously love Buccee's.  If you have never been there, you wouldn't understand but in Texas it is more of a tourist destination than a gas station.  One does not simply drive by Buccee's without stopping for drinks and to sit on their luxurious toilets.

We made it to San Antonio with plenty of time for me to get changed and fill out some important contestant paperwork.  The hotel was really crowded and busy.  The auditions weren't heavily advertised but we knew we were in the right direction when the din of hotel guests faded into the quiet buzzing of brilliant minds.  When I caught sight of the other potential contestants I started to get nervous.

My parents and Katelyn wished me luck and then I waited to be called in to the audition.  The actually audition was really very fun.  The producers were so energetic and we all had a really great time.  One of my biggest goals in life has been fulfilled.

My parents walked along the River Walk with Katelyn.  They bought her frozen yogurt and took her down to the Alamo where they let her try on hats (one of her favorite things).  My mom told me she was having so much fun that she spent most of the time sitting in her stroller laughing out loud.

 
The don't tell you if you have been rejected.  You are put into a pool of possible contestants for the next 18 months as you sit by the phone night and day waiting for that magical call.  I would LOVE to be on JEOPARDY! but I'll just have to wait to find out.

After the auditions were over, we got back into the car (much to Kate's dismay) and drove back home.  Katelyn refused to take a nap for the entire trip so she was beyond tired and beside herself with exhaustion.  We spent the last 30 minutes of the drive singing "The Wheels on the Bus."

I had such a fun time!