Nothing Funnier than Kids + Lauren + Spoons

2013 Spoons Champion Lauren

Since this blog is called Keeping Life Hilarious I should start being funnier. Lauren came over last week and Christmas. Both times we played Spoons. Spoons is a card game that everyone gets four cards in their hands. The dealer adds a card to his/her hand then passes a card to the player to his/her left. The first person to get four of the same number or face card grabs a spoon. Whoever does not get a spoon is out. It is kind of like musical chairs.

This is the first time I got to see Lauren's competitiveness at work. She won all of the 4-5 games that we played! In one of the last rounds, she actually pushed away Emily's hand to get it. The kids and Lauren and I were in hysterics. Emily made her a trophy spoon and Lauren took it home with her only to return on Christmas with the spoon and we played again!

My partner was in the mix this time and Lauren won again! During the game spoons her misgrabbed and flung into the air only for someone else to grab it. Grown-ups dove across the table to grab a spoon that was knocked across it. People were scratched. It was rough.

We are looking forward to next time Spoons 3.0.

New Adventure: Mudderella

My cousin posted that she was hoping to pull a team together for Mudderella. I thought, "What the heck is this?" Now you need to know I have boycotted the whole "women in their 30-40's doing marathons, iron woman, triathalons, etc." So I checked it out.

Mudderella as seen here is a non-compe
titive 5-7 mile course with over a dozen obstacles. You get really muddy while working as a team to get over, through and under obstacles.

What better event for Lauren and I (along with anybody else) to do together. It would be great training for the Amazing Race, give us some good pictures and footage, and be fun. Most importantly it will give me another reason to get in better shape.

The website offers you ideas of work-outs to do to get ready for the event. The event in is May and the next price cut-off for registration is Jan 15th. I emailed Lauren to see if she would like to do it, but I have not heard back yet. She has been busy covering for me at work and skiing these last few days.

I hope I can get someone to do that with me. I have a few prospects. I will keep you posted.

Goals for New Adventures

Lauren and I have not spent much time together outside of work. That needs to change if we are going to sharpen our team work skills. We need to try new, challenging things together and spend more time together. I decided I need to come up with  list of things that we could do.

1. Go on a road trip. It doesn't have to be too far or too long. 
2. Build something together. A desk, dresser, complicated puzzle.
3. Take a (free) class in something we have never done. Fencing, crochet, laying tile, feeding monkeys, etc.
4. Watch episodes of the Amazing Race together.
5. Talk about our weaknesses and strengths. (Notice out pictures above. I am in sunny weather and her in winter weather.)
6. Work in a stressful environment. (check)
7. Do something where we are conversing with strangers.
8. Work in an environment where we have to sell things or a service. We could volunteer at a booth at some event.
9. Teach each other tactics or skills that we already know but the other person does not.
10. Instill the motto "work smarter not hard."
11. Get someone to set-up a day of traveling and doing obstacles.

I will get some ideas from Lauren and I will keep you posted.

Confident in being a Good Team: Not as Bad a 9 & 11 year old

Lauren and I used a 60 piece, puppy puzzle to show our weakness of putting together puzzles. It took us nine minutes! Two of my kids were making fun of us for it. Lauren spent Christmas with us and brought the puzzle along. It took them over 30 minutes to do it. As long as Lauren and I are up against 9 or 11 year olds we will be fine!

No idea why this picture is here.

The more I work with and get to know Lauren, the better team I think we will make. We know what each other is going to say, we take on tasks equally (with exception to a workforce that she is in charge of) and we enjoy spending time together.

My daughter got a video camera for Christmas, and she said she would film our next video application for the Amazing Race if we don't get on this year. I still haven't given up hope on getting on the show this year!

Letter to The Amazing Race Casting Crew

Dear TAR Casting Crew,

I am sorry to say that your voicemail or email must have gotten lost. That is okay. Lauren and I are available at anytime to fly out and meet you. Just send us an email and we will be there.

Lauren and I have been training and planning for the Amazing Race. I figured I would give you an update on how we are doing.

1. I started this blog to keep me motivated and to let ALL our fans know how things are going. They are all up in arms about why you haven't called us yet. I told them that you are busy, and to be patient.

2. Lauren drove in the snow for the first time during a bad snow storm. Everyone else left work at 2pm, but not Lauren and I. We kicked up our feet, ordered a pizza and waited until the roads were at their worst. Then at 7pm we hopped in our cars. I drove East and she drove South. We turned a 30 minute drive into a 70 minute drive. WE LOOK DANGER IN THE FACE AND LAUGH. HA!

3. I have been working out. I brave the treadmill regularly. I have been bulking up on the weights, because if you saw our video, there is no helping Lauren get upper body strength.

4. I have been funnier lately. Lauren does a joke board at work. We are working on our funny.

5. When we did the video, Lauren and I were only four months into being co-supervisors. We are getting to know each other better. She is spending Christmas with my family and last week she met my kids. She beat them in the card game SPOONS. She is undefeated.

6. I talked a pet store into giving me two bags of dog food for the price of one!

7. I finished writing my second book and I am 80% done with my third. (Nothing to do with TAR but I don't miss an opportunity to do some marketing).

Well that is it for now. So give us a call. We will be the most memorable team. You just watch us! We have the natural chemistry of funny and sweet and competitive.
Sincerely,

Michele (and Lauren)

Lessons from this last season of The Amazing Race

With our application in for this Spring Amazing Race Lauren and I have been watching it from a whole new perspective. We have been watching it from the "what would we do", "how would we do" and what have we learned perspective.

What have I learned from this season?

1. Karma will catch-up to you. The winners of the race had some good karma going for them. Even on the last day of the race Amy (the female contestant on the winning team) took time to help someone with their task.

2. You can never be prepared for everything. Amy wrote things down from pit stop to pit stop and seemed to be very observant. Then the last task was to spell out the currency of the countries they went to. She didn't record that but they still did it and won.

3. Never give up. There could be an elimination ahead.

4. Read the clue. Duh, someone doesn't do this every season. Lauren and I will read it 3 times!

5. Go with a good partner. Someone who will put you down is not someone you want to go with. Get someone who will support you and laugh with you, and can read your mind.

6. Enjoy it.

7. Don't psyche yourself out. If you have to eat something gross, just eat it and pretend it is something you like. If you have to jump off something high, just jump (after you are strapped to a cord or something first). If you have to dress a camel, dress a camel.

8. Avoid animals tasks whenever possible.

9. Hydrate.

10. Don't assume anything & don't underestimate anyone.

11. Don't make enemies. Stay out of the drama.

Finale Coming!

Sunday is the Finale of this Season's Amazing Race. I love the beginning and the end of each season the most. The beginning is full of nerves and excitement of the newness of the race for the contestants. As a viewer we are just getting to know the contestants, and guessing who will wind. In the end it is nerve racking. Just one more leg, one mistake could cost you a million dollars, and everyone is for themselves.
I am excited to see the finale and then get a call from the casting crew for Lauren and I go to out to the casting calls. That will be fun. Until then, I will be holding my breath until the winners of this season cross the finish line.

Finale what a Rush!

Most Entertaining

Yesterday I wrote an email to our IT Support team at work. I wrote an email that I will not replicate for security reasons (laziness). I had to two cellphones to give to IT Dept. So I wrote them an email and started it by saying something along the lines of: "Read this to the tune of Two Tickets to Paradise.

Today I got an email back from the Director of IT (the Director!) and he said "Michele you are the most entertaining staff."

Yes! Just another reason I should be chosen for the Amazing Race!

Deadline was Extended

I went onto the The AMAZING RACE application homepage to see if there were any open calls. Then I saw this message.

Me at my computer.

DEADLINE EXTENDED!!
We are now accepting applications for 2014. This new season will film in the Spring / Summer of 2014 (sometime between May and July).
 The application deadline is THURSDAY NOV. 21th (5pm PST), 2013.
Please refer to the open call section periodically for updates to the open call schedule, and to the FAQ section for additional information.


I don't know if they usually do this, or if they did not get the number of applications that they wanted for this season. At least that is only a few days away.

Sunday's Amazing Race

Did you see The Amazing Race (TAR) on Sunday? It involved a Camel Beauty Contest, cutting up food for a wedding, grabbing flags while white water rafting, and driving yourself to those places. Something I was struck by was TAR gave the contestants coins on one leg, and had them use them this leg. One racer had figured out the clue before they even got to the leg. I thought that was pretty smart.

That was a cool obstacle. I think one of the teams just got lucky. They laid out the coins and punched in numbers on the car key pad and it worked. I am so excited for TAR. I have slacked a little on working out and eating habits, but I am getting back on track.

Lauren and I showed our video to more friends, and they like it. I don't think any of them would say that they don't like it. It is an okay video. The thing that is great is our energy. I hope that we get to the second round. I have a good feeling about it. I think someone on the casting crew will see us and say, "That is our underdog team. They will be great!"

Our applications were due on November 7, 2013 and we got them in the end of October. They should be calling us any day now.
I am ready for the adventure.

Train Your Brain

About six months ago I stopped using Lumosity (website to increase your cognitive functioning). It focuses on things like Speed, Memory, Attention, Flexibility, Problem Solving. I saw a huge change in my mental sharpness when I was doing this daily. This is something definitely needed for The Amazing Race.

There is a way you can do a limited amount of games on Lumosity for free or you can pay to do it. I am opting for my favorite four letter word FREE. The games are simple and fun for the most part. My favorite game is the one where I work at a restaurant and I have to remember people's names and orders. Love it!

So I sent Lauren an email asking her to join, so that she can sharpen her mind too!

Interviewing Lauren and Myself about The Amazing Race

Lauren's answers in this color. Michele's in this color.

 

 

1. Why do you want to go on the Amazing Race (TAR)?

I want to travel all over the world, test myself, and try new things.

I think it would be exciting, love the competition and would love to win the money.

 

2. What are you looking forward to most?

 Seeing new parts of the world.

Doing exciting things. (jumping out of plane, riding an elephant)

 

3. Why did you choose Michele as a partner?

 Because she was my only choice (JK).  My real answer is that we make a good team.  I respect and admire her and she is a nice calming influence on me. She knows a ton of things that I don't know so I always learn things when I am around her.

She is a great person. We  have fun together and we always seem to be on the same page. She is also very intelligent.

 

4. What do you think you will struggle with most?

 Things that require strength.  As we both know, I am super weak and as I am watching this season I am getting nervous about all the tasks that require strength.

Puzzles and very physically demanding tasks.

 

5. Where do you think you will excel?

I think we will be good at strategizing and smooth talking people into helping us.  As I am watching this season I keep thinking that teams should be doing more of that...so many missed opportunities.

Intellectual tasks and team work and communication task.

 

 6. Why are we a team to be reckoned with?

 I don't know how well we will do (don't hate me for saying that ), but we will excel because we will be kind to others, we will be persistent, and we will remain calm and work together.

I think we will be great, because people will not expect us to be good, and we are not quitters right?!

 

7. What country do you hope to go to?

 Any country in Africa

New Zealand

8. Where do you NOT want to go to?

 Antarctica

India

9. When you are on the race, what motto or philosophy or mantra will you have?

 Just do it.

No Worries.

10. What is ONE thing that you could not live without on the race? (besides necessities like passport)

 Coffee

Paper and pen.

11. What is one thing you will not do on the race? (for example, there was that one team that would not do a shot of liquor)

 Get naked, but apparently you will so that's good.  I also won't get a tattoo or piercing or something permanent like that.  I wouldn't eat poop.

Can't think of a thing.

12. What will you do with your half of the money?

 I will pay off student loans.

Go on a nice family vacation, college loans, save it.

13. What do you think your partner will do while you are on the race?

 I think he will eat red meat, watch sports, be lonely, hang out with our cats, hang out with Steph,  and ruin his dinner by eating too many sweets before it at least once a week.

Spend time with the cats, hopefully walk the dog, re-do our bathroom.

 

14. What is something or things you are doing to prepare yourself for the race?

I am practicing talking to people (strangers) I would not usually talk to.  I am exercising, I am taking notes from this season, and I need to start doing more brain teasers.

Getting in better physical shape and researching things about the Amazing Race. I need to do more brain teasers too.

Boundaries

I have been reading a lot of articles by The Amazing Race fanatics. One of the statements that keeps running through my head is "leave your hang-ups at home." One season there was a couple who had a very strong religious belief that prevented them from taking a shot of alcohol. They had to leave and risk losing due to that. I can understand being so dedicated to your faith, but it made me think of activities or fears that might prevent Lauren and I from winning.

I do not know Lauren that well, so I will have to get to know her more. The biggest thing that stands out in my mind is being nude in public. There was one reality show years ago where contestants had to walk in front of an audience naked. Lauren said she would not do this. I figure when it hits television, they will use censors to block out the important spots. I said I would do it, but under one condition. My condition was that Lauren does not watch. Lauren was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. She agreed (probably to her relief) that she would not look. I also told her that if she laughs that hard then, I will make her do it.

Instead of a naked picture of me, I put me naked inside a tent.

We did compromise. I told Lauren if there is something involving a bikini, she is doing it. She agreed. One bare-butt obstacle down. We will have to see what else we will not do. There isn't much that I won't do.

Casting Decisions

Anyone who is a fan of the Amazing Race knows that there are certain demographics the casting crew tries to get in each season. Some trends that I have seen has been the following:

• Married couple.
• Parent/Child
• All female team
• All male team
• Famous person/team
• "Not Going to Get Along" team
• Minority team
• Differently Abled team
• Multi-racial couples
• Gays & Lesbians
• City or Country Folk
• Athletic
• Intellectual
• Young & Old

Also, regardless of your token-demographic, they look for people who have a personality, some character.

Lauren and I come from West & East Coast.
We are both Caucasian.
I am lesbian.
Both married.
We are both intellectual and athletic (despite me molding myself back in shape).

We both alone and together have great personalities, and we can be pretty strategic. We somehow see things from the same perspective.

I am banking on.. you know what I am banking on to get us on the show??
That I used to be her boss and now we are peers. (and she is taking control now)
In our written application I wrote "who is the boss now?"

Deadline has passed... waiting for a call!

Over a week ago we sent in our Amazing Race application (complete with video and pictures) and now my thought go to the next step. Our next step is to get a call from the casting directors to go to a casting call. What do we do then?

We need to have them fall in love with us and the idea of our team. You don't know Lauren and I, but we are pretty funny together. I feel badly for the people we interview because it is less of an interview and more like the Lauren and Michele Show. We joke around and have witty banter. I think when we are together we are pretty contagious. Our boss calls us the Dynamic Duo.

At the casting call, I am trying to form what we will say to make us memorable. I wake up at night thinking, "In the waiting room we should mess with the other contestants." I can go around with a clipboard telling people the contestants have been chosen. We can lead everyone in singing "We all Live in the Yellow Submarine."  We can do a trivia show about the Amazing Race or Geography.
We can intimidate them with our wit, strength, and how funny we are.

The application is out there, and Lauren and I have to have faith that will move us on. Our video is nothing cinematically great, but what is important is that our fun side and genuineness comes out.

Juggling A Lot

Oh, I know it is Tuesday morning and the last time I wrote was Saturday. No, we were not in L.A. for the casting calls, yet. I am just busy. Yes, I am still dieting (cheating here and there), and yes I am still exercising. Actually, I added a new challenge. So doing three challenges at once.

This one I added is an ab challenge. Crunches, leg lifts, and planks. We shall see.

I also have been spending time working on my book. Oh-yes I am a writer too! Check out my Wilderness Girl Blog to the right of this post. I wrote a book and I busy finding Beta readers for it. (Beta Readers: someone to read your book and tell you what they think.) So I found three of them finally, and we are swapping. So I am reading their stuff and them mine. So- Busy.

Well, more later!

Searching

Going hiking and possibly Geocaching with the kids and another mom and her kids. Geocaching is a good preparer for the Amazing Race (TAR). You have to go to sometimes unknown places and search for things. Sometimes there are multiple clues involved.

A good place to hide a cache. Look out for snakes!

We have found over 300 caches. Some of them easy and some hard. After a while you learn tricks of  the trade, and good places to look.

It is great exercise too. Some the caches require you to hike miles to find them. Others are park and grab caches. I bought a GPS about seven years ago. It was when I was in Graduate School and working 2nd shift. I would get up early in the morning and the caches would motivate me to hike.

I have been part of a Geocaching Tournament three times. There were hundreds of people trying to find about 50 caches over a 36 hour period. It was fun being in the middle of some remote woods at 2am and seeing dozens of other flashlights looking for the cache.

Happy November

In six more days all the The Amazing Race (TAR) applications are due. So in about a week or two we should be getting a call to go out to wherever for the casting calls. I am working diligently on my diet and on my exercise. Lauren has been training for a marathon, and she just needs to work on her upper body strength.

It is time now to prepare otherwise. We need to obtain knowledge and skills to sharpen are ability to win.

Two big things that come to mind are the following:

1. Getting better at Geography & World Knowledge.

2. Get better and focusing, memory, and puzzles.


Geography & World Knowledge
I was thinking that Lauren and I should divide and conquer the world. She should learns some countries and me some countries. We should both be familiar with Geography. I need to find books or computer programs to do this.

Memory, focusing & Puzzles
We need to play games, do puzzles, do puzzle books. Playing cards, playing games, that rely on this would be important. Video games could be helpful. Reading books on how to sharpen different skills.
We have a long way to go.

Update: The Amazing Race

Our Team Picture for the Application

So we submitted the application and within an hour Lauren and I received calls and we had to fly out to Los Angeles. I know crazy right. We flew out together and I was so nervous that it took me 10 minutes in the plane to fall asleep. While I was sleeping, Lauren made lists, made a script, and knitted me a sweater to wear to the casting calls.

On the limo ride over we decided there were probably going to be tons of teams there, so we should stand out. We stripped down to our underwear (thank goodness I was wearing some that day). We entered the lobby and hundreds of other contestants were there in there underwear. We hurried back to our limo, got dressed, and grabbed Lauren's clipboard. We walked to all the contestants and asked them their name, wrote a number on each of their hands, and asked them to come back tomorrow.

People started leaving, and we started to get excited that we had foiled the competition. Then Phil arrived. He took our pen, and we had to go sit in time out. Then when it was finally our turn, the casting directors were so impressed by out creativity, we were told to come back next week for the final cuts.

Okay! Okay! None of that happened. I just got busy with life! Sorry! I will try to keep posting more frequently.

Almost Treadmill Accident

This time it would not be my fault.
So today marks the day we sent in the Amazing Race application. I am confident that with my brains and Lauren's looks, if they watch the video and read the application, we will get to the second round.

Today I went to the gym after work despite my knee hurting. I ran through it with the thought of the Amazing Race on my mind. I didn't want to let Lauren down if we had to run for the Pit Stop and my knee hurt. I am determined not to be that person who says, "Oh no, they are going to beat us in a foot race!" I will get faster. I am determined.

It was packed at the gym because I did not get there until six. A father with his teenage daughter got onto the treadmill next to me. It was evident that he had not been to the gym in a while because he did not have his routine down. He wasn't sure how to start the machine, where to put his long sleeve shirt, was surprised that it was hot in there, etc. He decided to put the long sleeve on the handrail on his left, I was on his right.

So, we start running, and I try to ignore him and everyone else around me except the people on the television screens and the music in my headphones. Just as I slow down to a walk in my workout, I grab my handrails. I hear a skidding noise and something hard slams down and grabs my left hand. I quickly look to my left. The Dad of the teenager quickly regains his footing and continues jogging. His daughter shoots him and embarrassed and startled look and he chuckles and he points his thumb over his shoulder.

I turn to see his long-sleeve shirt on the floor behind him. I KNEW it was a bad idea that he placed it on his hand rail. That is why they have hooks strategically placed around the gym. I started to imagine him pulling me down with him as he fell off the treadmill. I thought things like 3rd degree burn, concussion, breaks, and medical bills. This is why I try to run at least one treadmill away from other people.

If Lauren was there, she would have scolded him with her anger management issues. If you knew Lauren you would know how funny that was.

Phew! Finally.

Application Complete

Thank you for submitting your application to The Amazing Race. Your information has been sent to a casting director and we will be in touch!

Thank you,

The Amazing Race Casting Team

Some Stars are Aligning: Fortune Cookie Predictions

Steph and I ordered out Chinese Food tonight. Don't worry. I know it is not on my diet. I only picked a small appetizer. My point is not the food, but the fortune cookie.

Read this:

If this is not an omen to say that I will be on the Amazing Race, I don't know what is. It even has two smiley faces meaning that Lauren and I are going. (Okay, all fortune cookies have two smiley faces).
First, my passport expired Dec 2014.
Then it is TAR Season 24 (#42 backwards).
And now this fortune.
It is official. Lauren and I are going to be on TAR!
We just have to 1. submit the application 2. Get picked. 3. Get officially approved for leave from work.



 

Lauren in Training

Last night I received a text from Lauren, I just practiced some more...we are eating at a restaurant and my friends saw a guy that they thought looked like the guy from American Pickers so I went up to him to ask and it totally was!!

I replied, U r wild and crazy. Million dollars here we come!!
She replied, Haha. . .I know.

Lauren is trying to be more assertive and adventurous. She is pushing some of her inhibitions away.
I love that she is as corny as I am.

Getting into Shape (Other Than Round)

A few weeks ago, I was officially in the worst physical shape of my life. I was at the heaviest I have ever been. I was not fitting in the shirts and pants. Even the shirts that were my "safety net" clothes were too tight. That and the Amazing Race (TAR) application kicked me into gear.

Most Recent picture of me.

I have been going to the gym regularly for two weeks.
I started a "Build Up to Running 30 Minutes" Challenged.
Went back on my Rice Diet.
Started a Plank Challenge.
Been drinking A LOT of water.
Trying to get good sleep.

I am trying to stay away from the whole "checking my weight thing." I am a basketball player at heart which is different from a soccer player. I like and I am accustomed to regular gratification. I am used to several baskets throughout a game instead of possibly one goal. If I check my weight and it is not as drastic as I had hoped, I will be disappointed.

Instead I am gauging it by how my clothes feel on me, my energy level, and the way my body feels. So far so good!  Tomorrow I am into the third week of my ten week running challenge. I am a little intimidated to increase the amount of time I am running. It might be especially hard because tonight we are going out to a show with the kids. We will get home late.

Still doing these challenges has motivated me and kept me on track. I only have missed one day a week at the gym, and that is my mandatory rest day. I actually even want to go to the gym on my rest day. This is a weird phenomenon for me. The only reason I used to work out when I was in college and high school was to be in shape for basketball. Now I have The Amazing Race!

Edits Done: For our Amazing Race Application

Me and Steph

My lovely life-partner Steph and my Race partner Lauren and I had dinner and then did the edits on the video last night. We shrunk approximately 45 minutes down to 3 minutes of video. It came out wonderfully!

I am going to keep the specifics a secret, but we had a lot of bloopers and laughs in there. I was a little bummed that we couldn't use pictures but oh- well. My stomach hurts from laughing so much (or is that from the running or planks?) We had a blast.

I feel that if the casting crew watch the whole thing, we have a great chance of getting picked!

I better go pack my bags. Today is my REST day for working out at the gym. I am on Day 4 of 30 day plank challenge.

Funny Blooper: If it was Recorded

As we were recording the video for the Amazing Race, I was stopped at a light.
I said, "Weird, you know on the Amazing Race they never have music playing in the cars."
Lauren said, "Oh yeah."

My pup Cali and me.

I said, "It is probably because of when they are filming it is hard to get the sound over the radio. That would stink not being able to listen to the radio on those long drives."
Lauren said, "Well, it would all be in a different language."
Renee (camera woman) said, "They have American music in other countries."
To that statement Lauren started hysterically laughing and said, "Oh, that is right!"

I guess you had to be there, but it was hilarious in the moment.
I swear that we will be a team who is more sensitive than most teams to cultures surrounding us.

More laughs to come, I am sure of it!

Trying out for the Amazing Race? This post is for you.

I checked my status and I have 117 reviews. How is this possible? I turned off them counting my views. I wonder if Lauren looked at it 117 times. Today at work I told Lauren that I had over a hundred views. She joked that it could be our opposition and that I am helping them out.

If you are also trying out for the Amazing Race this post is for you. I have done a lot of research, so feel free to print this out.

Here is what you should do to ensure that you get on the Amazing Race:

• Practice driving slowly.
• When doing your application, use costumes or hand puppets.
• Focus your reasoning for being on the Amazing Race around why you want the money.
• If you say you are competitive, just leave it at that. Keep them guessing.
• If you don't have a criminal record, go out and get one. You will be more appealing.
• I heard working for Disney, CBS or their affiliates is appealing. If you can't do it have your spouse, sibling, parents, kid or someone you are living with get a job there. Stop at nothing to get the job.
• Don't talk about your personal life, job, or hobbies.
• Don't talk about your relationship with your race partner.
• If you have never seen the show, great! If you have, pretend that you have not. They like people new to the experience.
• Make a lot of demands during your video.
• Let them know that you are very litigious.
• Tell them it is tentative if you are available during the filming time.
• Gain weight and make sure you will get a bad bill of health.
• Read how to fail Rorschach Ink Blot test, Draw a Person, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, IPIP-NEO Personality Test, and Kolbe Index, and other psychological tests.
• Watch a lot of television, uses a lot of media devices at once, and any thing else to decrease your ability to pay attention.
• Use up your patience. You will not need it.
• Have difficult conversations with your race partner. Find out what bothers him/her and do that constantly.

Yogi-Bearing on the Amazing Race: Lauren is Serious about This

 Lauren is Serious about this Amazing Race Thing

I know I already posted this. I have limited pictures of Lauren.

While she was running 20 miles yesterday she got thirsty.

They had no money on them.

Jeff, her husband, did not want to run home for water.

So, Lauren decided to practice her "yogi-bearing" skills

She walked into one of her city's Dunkin' Donuts

Said, "Sorry to ask you this, but I am running.

I am thirsty and I have no money.

Can I have some water?" The employee gave it to her.

 

Who is doing the Yogi-Bearing on TAR? Lauren.

 

YOGI BEARING: When you take other people's resource especially food.

Does that make me Boo Boo?

Plank Challenge: I am on Day 1

I am feeling GREAT! A lot of energy. I got up at 6 and went to the gym to work out. On my way home for work, I thought about going to work out again, and forgot I worked out already.

I am doing the 2 min run to 30 minute run challenge.

Now on week two I am adding the 30 day Plank challenge.
Any other suggestions?

3 and 3 and 20

• I am on my second week of the running challenge. That is 3 minute walk and 3 minute running. I am doing okay on this.
• I am lifting weights 3 days a week.
• Eating. I am not doing well at sticking to my diet. I am not eating too much junk. Today I ate out in the name of our application video (my excuse). I will work tonight and going forward on this. I lost what 40+ pounds last time on the diet.
• Starting a 30 day Plank Program. Starting at 20 seconds of Planks and ending at 300 seconds by the 30th day!

A skinnier me!

I need to find other options of getting in shape. I am getting there though. I am committed more than I have been in a long time. Skinnier me to the Amazing Race, here I come!

Video Filmed!

Running Lauren and Husband Jeff.

My good friend Renee and I headed from a secret location in Holyoke, MA to Springfield, MA. We landed at Lauren's house to start filming our application video for the Amazing Race! (You have to say it the AMAZING Race... like a magician's name.)

We showed up at Lauren's house, and Lauren greeted us at the door. She stated she was nervous. Phew, sure glad I was not the only one. I have not had much time in front of camera. Well, except that one time in college . . . anyway. . .

We started with introductions on her newly constructed back deck. We did some action shots of us driving. Then we did some obstacles like putting together a puzzle, stacking bricks, and there was a lot of laughing. We ended with writing down challenges and then on camera quickly saying who would do the challenge.

I think it went well. Other than the fact that I am turning into a typical woman and don't think that I look good on camera. (It adds 50 pounds right?) So in a few days my partner Steph is going to help us edit the video, add pictures, and add music. It is all coming together.

Picture of me zipling. No reason for the picture.

Step 3: Video Filming

In case you were wondering, Step 1 was deciding to do the race, and Step 2 was finding a partner. Now today Lauren and I are going to film the application video for the Amazing Race. I am a tad nervous. As I said before, it is a big task to stand-out from 20,000 other people. Hopefully between Renee & Lauren and I the creative juices will be flowing.

I made a list of talking points.

• Story of Us.
• Why we make a great team.
• Why we are going to win.
• Similarities/Differences.
• How we would do at Road Blocks/Detours.
• Shots of us driving, doing some challenges.

We shall see how it goes!

Action!: Shooting the Amazing Race Application Video

Tomorrow a friend of mine (Renee) and I are headed to Lauren's house (20-30 minutes away) to film our application video. Now about seven years ago Renee and I were going to go to open calls in Holyoke, MA. When we sat down to do the application, she realized she was disqualified because her brother worked for Disney. Renee, however, is a great sport and today is going to help us with an application video.


Claire & Brooke video. Not appliation video picture.

Watch Brook and Claire video here.
I am nervous. I have a notebook full of ideas but I am not sure what will be a good video. It is hard to stand-out among 20,000 people. When I was in high school I tried out for something called and AAU basketball team. I had to drive an hour south to some college. I showed up and there were literally 200 girls trying out for 10 spots. Somehow, I made the team. I was good, but not so slam-dunkin good that I stood out. I think just the right coach saw me do just the right thing or they knew my high school coach.

Lauren set-up a suggestion box for our staff to give us ideas, and there was not one in the box. My 11 year old Emily has tons of run-on sentence, energy-filled hard to follow ideas. One that sticks out of my mind is this (you have to read this quickly without taking a breath), "I saw this video in class or on YouTube or something there were these cats jumping out of an airplane they were parachuting and you guys can put your and Lauren's heads on them not a picture but video heads and talk about why you should be on the Amazing Race and pretend that you are not even falling. OR. . . you can sit in those chairs pilots have when they eject with a parachute and talk." At least she gives ideas.

Lauren's husband Jeff had a good idea to use a map showing a plane going from Seattle to Massachusetts and me going from NJ to Mass or NJ to Florida to NC to MASS. Talking about how we could not find anyone to go on TAR with but now we found each other. That seems like the  most viable option at this point.

I think I am relying on my and Lauren's relationship shining through and my hilariousness shining through, it his hard though because I cannot just TURN-ON the funny. Lauren and Renee will probably draw it out of me. More on this later . . .

My Race Partner Lauren

Lauren with be doing an TAR winter activites.

I met Lauren the spring of 2012. She was moving out to Massachusetts from Philly. Her husband was transferring jobs out here. In one weekend she was house hunting and we set-up to meet on that weekend's Sunday in my office. We had a great interview. It was one of those interviews that did not seem forced and was more like a conversation. I made the decision pretty quickly to hire her.

She started in mid-July, and in 364 days she was promoted to a supervisor. We have been co-supervisors for three months but it seems like it has been forever. It was such a seamless transition, and she fell into her role so easily. She is a wonderful supervisor and co-wo
rker.

She is hardworking, dependable, organized, and funny. She is very caring and compassionate with staff, yet firm. She is a wonderful leader of the team.

Hectic Work Day Proving as Great Training Ground

Lauren and I are co-supervisors for a team of about 18 people. They are therapists and case workers who do outreach to provide therapy and resources to families. As we were going through our agenda for the meeting (snore. . . I know but I am getting to it), there was a topic that brought on a bunch of debate and frustration. The room got tense.

Lauren was on my right, and it was wonderful how we handled it. It was nice having someone beside me who could deflect the bullets with me instead of TOWARD me. It sure was nice to have someone there helping me through it, instead of being alone in it all.

After the meeting Lauren and I could laugh and finally breath. We were calm, cool and collected through it all, and afterward we debriefed with each other. Not everyone can do that. It is hard when you have strong opinions and views flying at you. You have to watch what you say about upper management and policies. We are awesome!
Amazing Race here we come!!

Why Lauren & I are going Win the Summer 2014 season of Amazing Race






First All Female Team to Win TAR

There are many reasons why I know Lauren and I are going to win the Amazing Race 2014

 

1. I just feel it. When you know you know.


2. I think Lauren and I are a powerful team.


3. My 11 year old said I could "really" win it.


4. I checked my passport and it expires December 2014. So this is our year.


5. This season is Season 24. 42 is my lucky number and that is 24 backwards. (And season 42 I would be too damn old.)


6. I can feel a change of direction in my life coming.


7. Lauren is equally excited and focused on this.


8. We are committed and dedicated to this.


9. My family, friends, and co-workers seem to instantly think we can win it, and are behind us.


10. I am using "The Secret."



 

 



Looking for Amazing Race Sites & Resources

I have so many unanswered questions. I have been trying to find any winning application videos (only found two)
Tips on how to play or win the Amazing Race (TAR) --> nothing yet
Looking for anybody else doing a similar blog

I am running into fans doing things like the following:

• Funniest moments.
• Best female teams.
• Favorite teams.
• Destinations.
• Interviews with the host Phil.

If you find anything, please let me know!
Thanks.

"Secret" Blog

One of my friends emailed me and told me that he/she had a "Secret Blog". The message went like this. "Hi, I have a secret blog." I didn't have to read any further 'he/she had me at secret blog.' So then he/she explained the blog, and gave me the sight to read. I feel very privileged to read the blog. There was swearing in it and a strong amount of honesty that only certain people can handle. I am guessing he/she is keeping his/her audience small so that he/she can be free to speak his/her mind.



Me & my wife Steph

So, guess what? This is a SECRET BLOG! Only two people know about it. My wife (pictured to the right) and my Amazing Race partner Lauren (don't have permission or a picture yet of her). Lauren read it yesterday (because I just told her about it yesterday). Despite it being a secret blog, I have had 60 people read it in a week. So not so secret?

I had a 6th grade teach who used to say "Three can keep a secret if two were dead." I always found that saying to be eerie. I imagined pirates for whatever reason.

So who are you all who are visiting?
How did you find this blog?
And why are you not leaving any comments?

Thanks for visiting! Even if you are a phantom passing over my blog. I wonder if the visitors are just automated Internet bugs scouring pages. I like to think there are 60 people out there who have looked at the page.. or maybe it is 20 people who have come back 3 times. (And before you say it, it is not me coming back 60 times. I turned that function off the computer so that it would not track my visits.)

In the words of TAR host Phil Keoghan,
'The World Is Waiting For You, Good Luck, Travel Safe'

"She will eat all the gross stuff and jump out of planes."

My TAR partner Lauren seems just as excited as I am about the Amazing Race. She has been telling people about it just like I have too. I put it up on Facebook and friends and family gave their support and hurrays.


I'm ready to go! I might need a bigger bag.

 I told my kids.

One 9 y/o boy said, "I will miss you."
My 11 y/o girl said, "You know," with a thoughtful look on her face. "Michele could actual win it. She will eat all the gross stuff, jump out of planes, and she likes to travel."
My other 9 y/o boy asked, "If Michele makes it, can we stay up and watch it?"
My wife answered, "Yes."
"Hurray!" all three said.

Gosh, I wish we had the video camera rolling for that. I wish we could have the kids on it, but that is complicated. Also, I don't want to exploit them that way.

In the words of TAR host Phil Keoghan,
'The World Is Waiting For You, Good Luck, Travel Safe'

Lauren and My Excitement of the Amazing Race (TAR)

It was great going into work today and Lauren seemed just as pumped as I was over our plans to go on the Amazing Race. She came into my office for our normal meeting time and was prepared.

She had the following:

• A song in mind for our introduction to our video.
• An idea for the intro with the help of her husband Jeff.
• Thoughts on where we should shoot the video.
• Ideas about outfits.
• She even brought a handful of pictures.

We have both also been super-charged! Like I told her how I have been experiencing life differently.
She said, "Me too!"
I looked at her weirdly then said, "Like when I was at the gym trying to talk the girl and guy down on price. I thought 'I will need this skill."
"Yup," Lauren said. (Remember she is a therapist, a woman of few words, sometimes.)
Then I said, "When I was at the library with Emily trying to find a book, I felt like I was on TAR finding it."

We talked about trying new things, and pushing ourselves. We talked about doing things to exercise our mind, memory, and quick thinking.
I can hear TAR music now!!

Grading Lauren for the Amazing Race

I am liking Lauren more and more as a partner everyday.

• So what if she can't swim that well. She promised not to drown.
• So what if I will be the one eating gross stuff.
• It is okay her nickname was Weakling or something like that.
• So, we might get lost 1 or 9 times.



Not a picture of Lauren and I.

• And I will be the one jumping out of a plane.

We will have fun doing the race.
She does have some great attributes.

• She is very enjoyable to be around.
• She has a great sense of humor.
• She is very level-headed.
• She is detail oriented.
• She is very intelligent.
• We work very easily as a team.
• She almost reads my mind.
• She is very sensitive to the needs of others (especially me).
• She is very likable.
• I am learning that she is competitive.
• She is straight (heterosexual) - Why is that a positive? Because I don't have many hetero friends. lol
• Her husband's name rhymes with my wife's name. (Random)
• She eats meat and loves pizza.
• My snoring will not bother her (only hoping on that one).
• She is 10 years younger than me.
• She runs marathons and long distances.
• She is attractive so maybe the guys will help us out because of her.
• She likes country music.
• She is willing to do TAR with me.
• I am sure there is more but this is all for now.

NOTE TO SELF (and Lauren): Amazing Race Tip: Fumble!

On last night's Amazing Race (spoiler alert) the football players went from being in the front of the pack to being last. They took a different flight with two lay-overs and both flights were delayed. The last scene of the Amazing Race they are running through the airport and Phil (host) shows up. All the other teams had made it to the Pit Stop. They were eliminated. Phil's closing words were "at least you are at the airport."

The football players turned around and walked back toward the ticket counters. Burn! Ouch!

So, note to self: Do not take a risk with two connecting flights. We will not put our fate in the airlines hands. If we are at least with one other team, we have a chance to make it and beat them out.

Also, think twice or three times before separating yourself from the other teams by taking a separate flight.

What's for Dinner? Lunch? Breakfast?: My eating plan.

So seven years ago I tried Weight Watchers which did not work (well I didn't work because I am a point cheater). Then almost two years ago I found the Rice Diet. I bought The Rice Diet Renewal ebook. I became a Ricer. The book put me on a path to eating more brown rice, brown rice pasta (never knew there was such a thing) and I was watching my sugar and sodium intake. At first I was not eating anything that had sodium in it.

I changed my peanut butter.
Ate more beans.
Gave up soda the previous year.
Drank a lot more water & green tea.
Ate out at restaurants less.

The book made me more conscious of what, and why I was eating. When someone would come to a meeting with snacks to share, I would not eat them unless I was hungry. I made a vision board of all the things I will do more and enjoy more now that I am healthier.

I discovered to daily use more spices than salt and pepper. I began to feel sorry for people who used salt & pepper only.

I am not a big cook. In college I survived on hot dogs, frozen cheese steaks, pasta, and Ramon Noodles. I had a handful of pretzels for breakfast most days. So, I am still struggling a little bit with what to eat. I bought the Ricer Cookbook, but not much sounds too enticing or has too many steps. I need to find stuff that has taste, is easy to make, and is good for me.

So, is my quest to get in shape and lose weight for life and to get ready for the Amazing Race.

Gym Recap: Treadmill Fears

So, I went to the gym, and tried to get the young attendant to give me the discount that expired 3-4 days ago. No dice. Darn it! So I handed over my wife's money, and started working out. The gym moved 200 yards from the basement of business and medical offices to an old warehouse building that used to be a hardware store. Upgrade!

I joined Planet Fitness... and trying to leave Planet Fatness.

The whole gym is yellow and purple. I don't know who thought of those colors. It is also a judgement free zone so I can't go around laughing at people. Nor can I do my whole flexing in the mirror and slamming weights. So yes, it is no fun.

When people see me get off a machine and only lifting 60 lbs, I give them the nod and stern look of "you are not allowed to judge me." As I run on the treadmill with a donut in my hand, I think "I am in a judgement free zone."

Okay, so enough humor. Oh speaking of funny, I watched an episode and half of Friends as I was running. That makes things much better. I wonder what will be on the television when I go today.

I did my first round of the 2 minute run, 4 minute walk, 5 times. I did okay until the last few minutes.

Oh, as for the title of this. I realized that this is only the second or third time that I have actually been on a treadmill. I have this fear. It doesn't seem natural to be running as fast as I am in the same place. At one point I felt tired and a little dizzy (I know on a sticker on the machine it says "if you feel faint or dizzy stop exercising" but who pays attention to those silly rules) so I looked behind me to see how fall the wall was behind me and how hard it looked. I almost lost my balance due to this looking over my shoulder. I envisioned me falling on the treadmill and me being flung into the back wall.


10/13/13 Day 1 of work-out!

I later told my wife this story. She was at the gym while I was there. She imagined someone yelling "WoMan, down!" She said that she knew that it would be me.

So here I go today. For my second round of the 2 run to 4 walk five times!

Oh, I just want to point out as I am getting my mind and body sharp for the Amazing Race, my race partner Lauren was "making maple bars" which she said was the "opposite of running." It is okay because she could literally run circles around me right now.





Physical Preparation

As I am getting ready for the Amazing Race (TAR), I am thinking of all the challenges involved. A lot of them involve different skills like strengthen, endurance, intelligence, attention to detail, working in extreme temperatures, etc. My team partner Lauren is currently training for a marathon. She is also 10 years younger than me, so she is clearly doing the endurance tasks.

Being a former athlete though I refuse to take the backseat when it comes to physical events. I want to be able to scale up a mountain, run an obstacle course, etc. So, the only solution to this is to get in good physical condition. When I played basketball in high school and in college, the reason I ran and lifted weights was to be a better basketball player. Over the years I have lost the motivation to keep in shape. TAR will be my motivation from now until April or May. (TAR filming is May - July.)

Acadia NP The second hardest day hike I have done.

Yesterday I went with my 11 y/o step-daughter to one of our local gyms to get an application for membership. Of course, I missed their special deal of only $10 off by three days! So this morning my wife and I are going to the gym. I am busy constructing a workout plan. Otherwise I go there, listen to a few songs on my mp3 while I meander on the elliptical, and leave.

RUNNING
I don't go as far as to be that person who says, "I only run if someone with a knife is chasing me or if a keg is at the finish line." I used to love running when I was in shape. When you have 50 extra pounds you are running with, that is a different story. I am not talking about the pack on my back. I am talking about the extra weight I have been storing. When in college I would run 2-3 towns away, and turn around and run back home.
I am going to start with running in the gym.

The plan for the next 10 weeks will be any Easy Start Running Plan.

• Week 1: Run 2 minutes, walk 4 minutes. Repeat 5 times
• Week 2: Run 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Repeat 5 times
• Week 3: Run 5 minutes, walk 2.5 minutes. Repeat 4 times
• Week 4: Run 7 minutes, walk 3 minutes. Repeat 3 times
• Week 5: Run 8 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Repeat 3 times
• Week 6: Run 9 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Repeat 2 times then run 8 minutes 1 time
• Week 7: Run 9 minutes, walk 1 minutes. Repeat 3 times
• Week 8: Run 13 minutes, walk 2 minutes. Repeat 2 times
• Week 9: Run 14 minutes, walk 1 minutes. Repeat 2 times
• Week 10: Run 30 minutes. Repeat once and celebrate!
  
  Read more: http://www.beginrunning.com/plans/easy-running-plan-to-start-on/#ixzz2hbNOCbEg

Weights
I don't have a weight lifting training program. I guess I just do my own thing. I think I do well in this department, because lifting weights is not as difficult for me. I will research some programs though.

YOGA
I used to be in a yoga class. I will continue this daily at home and during breaks at work.

Wii Fit Plus
You laugh but there are some good exercises. I used to do the strength training programs, but there are some fun events on there. It also is my way of tracking weight.

MY GOAL IS IN 10 WEEKS TO BE ABLE TO RUN 30 MINUTES, AND TO LOSE 15-20 LBS.

(SEE LATER POSTS ON MY EATING PLAN).

Do you have any ideas on getting in shape?
Any weight lifting plans?
Things that motivate you?

Brain Storming: The Application

From what I can tell about applying for the Amazing Race, I have to do the following:
1. Send a picture of myself.
2. Send a picture of my team mate.
3. Send a picture of us together.
4. Send a three minute video.
5. Fill-out a short written application.
*This is all due by November 7.

Of course, the most intimidating and exciting of those is the video portion. Lauren and I  have a plan. Next Sunday we are going to meet to do portions of the video. A good friend of mine who is a genius and hilarious volunteered to be the videographer. I have a page full of ideas of what to talk about and shots to take.

I, also, have been researching on line other people's application videos. There are hundreds on there, and I have been having a hard time finding the winning videos -vs- the random videos that did not make it.

I did find a video that was rather impressive, Tyler & BJ's video HERE. Tyler & BJ, also known as the hippies, was pretty amazing. They had shots of them in other countries when they were on their Semester at Sea. They definitely look fun and enjoyable to watch. After I watched that I started to think of a theme for us. There is no way Lauren and I can genuinely convey that      level of goofy.

Then I found Claire and Brooke, shopping network hosts, video HERE. They just stood in a backyard and did the video. That helped me feel more confident with our video. Brooke and Claire were one of my favorite teams. In their video hit all the points why they should be on the show, and important things about their team.

The Amazing Race Here I Come

Within in the last few weeks, myself and friend/co-worker Lauren have decided to serious talk about and make a plan to apply for the Amazing Race. I have watched the Amazing Race (TAR) for years. Here is the Wiki page on it HERE.

The Amazing Race is a reality television game show in which teams of two people, who have some form of a preexisting personal relationship, race around the world in competition with other teams. Contestants strive to arrive first at "Pit Stops" at the end of each leg of the race to win prizes and to avoid coming in last, which carries the possibility of elimination or a significant disadvantage in the following leg. -Wikipedia

The prize other than getting to travel around the world, get a chance to win prizes, play a competitive game, is a million dollars. This decision to pursue this has given me a bit of a skip in my step, some energy, and motivation throughout my days. This energy is further energized when I share that Lauren and I are going to go to apply for the show. (I plan to write a post on this too.)

So this is the first post on my new blog in my life-long quest to "keep life hilarious." I am not sure what direction this blog will go in, but I have several ideas already on what to write about. Please pass this blog on to others, and comment on this blog. In the words of  TAR host Phil Keoghan, 'The World Is Waiting For You, Good Luck, Travel Safe'