After a marvelous year on the road and an amazing casting trip it was time to hit the road once more, this time for season 5. Little did we know the changes that the year would bring.
I remember:
-Heading back out to LA and surfing in Malibu as the sun went down. Greeting seals on the waters edge.
Not a bad place to be.
-Screening Days (we had them for the first 3 seaspns) where the entire company would get together at the movie theater down the street from our offices. We would watch an episode of every show and each program makes a funny video. They were always brilliant.
-The Trading Spaces vs. American Chopper World Poker Tour championship. This was taped for the Travel Channel and we kicked those American Chopper boys in the butt! First of all, 25 of us showed up to cheer on Joe, Wynn and Carter, compared to the OCC's measly 7 fans. We treated the event as if we were at the Super Bowl. They had never seen a crowd like us before. Carter won big time. We were a little scared cause those guys are huge (arms like pythons-no joke)
-Going to Scotland to "Trade Castles." This was my first trip to Europe and was the most amazing trip. On the last night we had a huge party in one of the castles. We had Brits, Scots, and Americans all present (not to mention bagpipers). Spontaneously the Brit recited a poem, the Scotsman barreled out a song, and Mindy our Associate Producer sang "Summertime." Until that point I thought moments like that only existed in the movies.
Irvine Harbor
-On the way home our flight got delayed by 24 hours! The airline put us up overnight and we got bonus time in Glasgow. YAY!
-Spending Quality time in Savannah, GA, one of the coolest cities in the country...go there, you'll love it. They know how to have a good time.
-Shooting "Through the Roof" we redecorated 2 houses in 2 days and all of our on-air personalities were there. Somehow I knew it would be one of the last times we would all be together.
Everything but the people are in focus for this shot. It was 15 degrees outside and everyone was shivering like crazy!
-Heading to Key West for an amazing shoot. I was able to bring my mom down for her 50th birthday during our 3 days off in Key West. The TLC show "In a Fix" was in town shooting a special too. We tore up that town...
This was the view from my hotel room.
-Shooting Paige's last episode which happened to be in Key West. She mentioned that our short vacation down there seemed like a special gift just for her. I agree, it did feel that way.
This was right after we shot her last "open." The first part of the show where she says where we are.
-Inviting Otis to come with me on a business trip to Santa Fe, NM 8 days after we met. Quite the place to be when you are falling in love...
This is the view from the AIRPORT!!!! It was special.
-Crew bonfires on Camelback Mountain in Arizona.
We would go hiking every night after work behind the hotel.
-Going to Traverse City, MI and meeting the Cherry Queen. Her entourage brought the most amazing Cherry Pie to set. They aren't effing around up there.
-Hanging out in Milwaukee and being so pleasantly surprised. It's a gem...shhhh don't tell anyone or you'll ruin it.
Here's audio extraordinaire Juan after eating a "slider" a cheeseburger topped with Wisconsin butter. BLEH...he didn't feel so good for days after this.
-Being surrounded by endlessly creative people. If you need a gnome costume so you can run around and take silly pictures, it takes our seamsters 5 minutes to make it.
-Having a month off between seasons where Otis and I just traveled all over the place together for 21 days.
Ah relaxation!!! (although I don't recommend Jamaica in September)
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