Survivor Tryouts

This will go down as one of those thing you do on a whim that seemed like a good idea until you actually go through it and realize that your justifications for doing it really weren't that good. I like the show "Survivor". Heather and I got hooked on it years ago from the influence of our friends, Doug and Julie Rogers. But the enjoyment has always been in watching the show, at my own house, sitting down in front of a tv. This week I saw an advertisement for Survivor auditions in San Diego and for some reason I could suddenly see myself sitting there on national television, winning challenges, and being the coolest, most likeable member on the cast. If I only had a few minutes to show them who I really was, there would be no way they could turn me down. It turns out that 600 other people in San Diego thought the same thing. But 1 out of 600 still isn't too bad. Multiply that by 15 other cities that they visited, not to mention the thousands of other videos that people can mail in. My chances started looking worse, but I didn't realize that until I had already been in line for 4 hours on a Saturday morning, and by then I couldn't just leave the line. I mean, I had already spent 4 hours there and I couldn't just throw that all away. So instead I decided to stay 3 and 1/2 more hours to get my big break. And all it turned out to be was 2 minutes in front of a video camera that they will send to judges to screen through later. And when it came time to do the actual on-camera audition, I was nervous and I'm sure I talked too fast and sounded like a goof (not that I'm not a goof, but at least I'm not a nervous one).

I made some friends during the 7 and 1/2 hours waiting in line

The line in front of me

And the line behind me

Famous Venice painting travels to San Diego

I went on a business trip to Italy last spring. We visited Rome, Florence, Parma, Cinque Terra, Pisa, and finally Venice, in that order. I searched for a painting I could buy that would remind me of my trip, something Heather would like, and look super nice framed somewhere in our house. I passed up all the other venders in all the cities because their paintings were just too expensive, until I was just about to leave Venice. I couldn't come home empty handed, so I finally gave in and paid a lot of money for a picturesque painting of a canal in Venice, with buildings on the side and a few gondolas in the water. Although it was expensive, it would be something I would keep with me and something I could share with Heather for a long time. Then as we were walking along other painting vendors, my co-worker, who also went on the trip with me, found a very similar painting for 3/4th the price. That sure makes you feel good. What they don't tell you, and if you are a guy and have never gotten anything framed before, is that getting a frame for such a big painting on canvas is even more expensive. So much so, you realize how much money you could have saved if only you didn't buy that darn painting. So almost a year later I have given in and we had the painting framed and it is now up on our wall.

Insights of a three year old.....

I am way behind at posting but we have had people at our house for the last month! It's been fun but I am exhausted. Once I catch up on all the household stuff I am behind on I will post some more. Just thought I would share this funny moment with you...

Last night we were sitting in the car outside Longs Drugs while Jacoby ran in to return something. I turned to Rett and said "Where's mama?" and he points to me, then "Where's Coby?" and he points to Coby, then "Where's Rett?" and he points to himself. Lastly I ask "Where's dada?" and he points to the store and Coby says "He might be in jail I think." Just wondering what Coby thinks Jacoby does all day.....:)