Lights, Camera, ACTION!

It has been so long since I have gotten a chance to update on here. I have literary been really busy, as has the family. I'll get back to that idea in a bit.

I remember mentioning there was a camera crew at my house on Sunday July 29. Our main camera guy, Kevin was from a show that is going to begin airing on September 10 called The Jeff Probst Show. Jeff Probst (the host of 'Survivor') is starting his own talk show and our family was chosen to be featured in an episode. So we had Kevin at our house on that Sunday at 5 AM filming our family getting ready for church. He also rode in the car with us to church asking us questions and filming us. After church he rode home with us again and then he and his sound guys filmed us the rest of the day, and interviewed us outside on the balcony by the the river.

Guy in yellow is Kevin.

McKenna and I were really bothered with our mom's micromanaging because every time we started answering a question, she would interrupt us and have us say what she wanted us to say, or what she thought was more important.

Here is an example: while we were in the car driving home from church, Kevin asked me what I don't like about being the oldest in a family of 8 kids. I started to say "I don't feel like I have any authority-" and then BAM! Mom interrupted me and said "Well while you are living at home, you *don't* get any authority." In my own defense, here is what I was going to say before she decided to butt in.
I don't feel like I have any authority in my own life. I'm 26 years old and I do not feel like I have the freedom a person my own age should. I'm lumped in with the 'kids' and I am not treated as an individual. If I have a conflict with someone, I do not get to resolve it, Mom has to do it.
McKenna also had an issue with Mom being a busybody but i do not remember the exact situation.

Besides that, having Kevin around was kinda cool, we also took 15 minutes out in the yard to film what I think is going to be part of the promo or commercial. I could be completely wrong, that has happened.
Now the following Thursday, on August 2, the studio sent up a bus from LA to our home to pick us up and take us to LA. Our driver was John and he was awesome!

The inside of our bus.

 Nina in the bus before we left.                                           Self portrait.

Before we could head south, we had to drive in to the Bay Area to pick up David from a Cystic Fibrosis retreat he goes to every year. From there, we took a back way through Gilroy to I-5 and we stopped for dinner at a place that is about an hour from home, but it took us 6 hours to get there >_<

The show put us up at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. This place is super nice! A lot of celebrities hang out there, as does a general 'younger' crowd. I heard about it on a show on the Travel Channel in 2010. It is rumored to be the most haunted hotel in Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe used to hang out there as did many other older movie stars.

 

 This was the view out the window.

The rooms were modern enough, Nina and I shared a corner room, so there was a weird bend to it.
The view out our window was Grauman's Chinese Theater. The sidewalk was closed off for an event so I went down with Shannon, and Nina to check it out, even though it was after 10 at night. We found Dad there and he told us that Johnny Depp was there. I did in fact get to see him. Mom thinks it was not really him, but Dad seems to think it was. I couldn't honestly tell you if it was or not, it sure looked like him, so if anyone asks, I saw Johnny Depp. I called up to McKenna and Lynnsey and had them come down for the event.
Also at the Chinese Theater is the place in Hollywood where movie stars place their hands in cement. I've been there many times, but it was Shannon's first time in Hollywood. She literally freaked out when she saw the hand prints from the cast of Harry Potter. It was a fun night, us 5 sisters walking around Hollywood, looking at the stars on the Walk of Fame and such.
The show had 5 rooms for our family, 2 per room. It was so much fun having a huge bed to myself. I shared a room with Nina and she and I stayed up until after 1 in the morning watching The Food Network, and the Olympics. It was fun, I can hang out with that girl all the time.
 
            Nina and I had a room in the corner of the building, hence the weird bend at the window.

                                                       That bottle of water said it cost $10!!!

We had to get up pretty early because we were to meet John at 8 downstairs so he could get us to the studio by 8:30. They wanted us to come in light make up and hair so they could make adjustments if needed.
Nina and I got up around 6 and got ready, then I went downstairs and across the street to a Starbucks and got breakfast sandwiches for everyone (thank you discount!)

As usual, we were a few minutes late getting checking out, but it was no big deal.
Outside the studio, we learned there several shows filmed at this particular location including Judge Judy and Let's Make A Deal. There was a line of people waiting for that show in their crazy costumes.

 

We got two dressing rooms. They had drinks and a brunch breakfast for us, coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, yoghurt, bagels, fruit,  and cookies.

Yes, these are cookies!

 

We were very early for the show, but that was a good thing. It takes a bit of time to get 10 people through wardrobe, make-up and hair. My make up artist asked if I had done my own my own make up that morning, which I did. I did foundation, light blush and eyes. She told me I had done an exceptional job and hardly needed to do anything, just touch me up for the cameras. I was honored that I got such a high compliment from a Hollywood make up artist.  She added a lip color I am absolutely in love with. It is 215 from Palette 5 from Make Up Forever. My local Sephora carries Make Up Forever, but not the lip palette that was used.

For my hair, they just re-straightened it, no big deal.

For my wardrobe, I was wearing my 4 inch heel boots, a pair of weathered jeans from Rue 21, a cranberry top from Target, and a blazer I borrowed from McKenna. the only thing they changed for was the jeans, I was given a pair of super skinny jeans that looked amazing with the boots.

Everyone went through the same-ish routine of hair, make up and wardrobe, some of the girls got super cute dresses.

During some point of this process, we were taken onto the stage so we could get spaced and in order, it felt like blocking in a way. 

We were then taken back to the dressing rooms until out time on the show came on. Some of us were not through with wardrobe and make-up and hair, it all worked out. McKenna was not in her final outfit because it was taken to be pressed, or ironed.

So then it began. From the hall, we could hear the audience being brought in, clapping to upbeat music, it was so exciting. We were brought from our dressing room after Jeff did the intro to our family. from just offstage, we saw a monitor of the video intro that Kevin had filmed earlier that week, it looked so neat put together like that in a professional way. And then we were cued to come on stage, in front of the cheering audience, it was such a rush.

Unfourtinally, I can not talk about what was discussed on the show, I signed a contract. I can once the show airs.

After the family got to talk with Jeff, he turned the tables on my parents, and turned the focus on them, something we did not see coming. He had us kids taken back to the dressing room, where we watched the rest of the show, and he kept my parents.

Again, I am unsure if I can talk about what happened so I won't. But here is an idea:

After the filming, we were told everyone could keep the clothes we were given (yay my super skinny jeans are all mine). We got John as our driver and he drove us straight home, then took David and McKenna to the CF Retreat in the Bay Area.
It was a super packed, fun two day trip and I'll never forget it.

Credit to my dad, Thomas Hardy for most of these photos.

Not Quite Ready to Face The Facts

Current mood:strong

Carleton Hardy Jr. passed away May 22, 2008, in Fremont. He was 83.

Carleton was born Sept. 4, 1924 in Chico to Carleton and Dorothy Hardy. He resided in Fremont.

Carleton was a World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Army. He graduated with a degree in engineering and worked for the Ford Motor Co. for 45 years.

He was a member of the Centerville Presbyterian Church and the U.C. Berkley Engineering Alumni Association.

Carleton enjoyed sailing; he played recorder in recorder quartet and sang in the church choir. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Muriel, of Fremont; children, Kathryn Millen, of Castro Valley, Carleton Hardy, of Fremont, Ralph Hardy, of Atwater, Thomas Hardy, of Modesto, and Ruth Mollenkopf, of Livermore.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on June 7, 2008, at the Oddfellows Cemetery Gazebo in Orland.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Arrangements are under the direction of F.D. Sweet & Son Mortuary, Orland.

--------
Resident of Fremont Born September 4, 1924 in Chico, CA. Died May 22, 2008 in Fremont, CA. Carl was raised on a farm in Orland, CA, joined the ARMY following high school, was shipped overseas where he became a POW in Poland. Surviving his ordeal, he returned to the states to attend college at U.C. Berkeley, earning a degree in engineering. Carl gained employment with Ford Motor Company where he worked for 45 years. He met & married his college sweetheart, Muriel Dietz, at First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley & they raised 5 children in Fremont, CA. Carl sang in the choir & taught Sunday School at Centerville Presbyterian Church for 50 years & worked tirelessly in his retirement for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation after 3 of his grandchildren were diagnosed with CF. Memorial service will be held at Centerville Presbyterian Church, 4630 Central Ave. Fremont, Saturday, May 31 at 2pm. Please send any gifts or memorials to CF Foundation.

My gramps was my hero in so many ways. The cause of my love for music, my courage for adventure, and my support system in failure and knowing it is ok to mess up every one in awhile. He was a romantic, artistic, and creative beyond anything I could do sort of person. When I think about how I am feeling about this, the only thing that comes to mind is "I really really miss him." There is such a hole in my heart for this amazing man.
I decided that I am going to let myself feel however I feel until I leave for WDWCP. After that, my mind and emotions are going to be completely focused on working and playing in Orlando. I have 10 days left to be sad and in a slight state of shock, then on with life and myself to look after.

It has been just about a year since Bri went home to be with Jesus, and about a month since Smokey went as well. Now this making three memorial services in the past year has been really hard on me. After taking a lot of time to think about these sort of things, I gain a lot of strength knowing that most of this in the end is not really going to matter. Whoever wins the election; it is not going to matter in the end. Gas prices are not going to matter in the end. Focus on the people you love, focus on yourself, and most of all focus on God.

Kelsey Time

Alright, so this whole "family reunion" is finally over to say the least. Let's see, we had 20 people, 10 from my house, Matt, Nina, Riley, Emmet, Otto, Auntie Vee, Vanessa, Auntie Teri, Jasmin, and ...dang I forgot her name. But ok, so, yeah, no great stories or anything to share. Matt and Nina and their kids flew out from New York and that's about it. Honestly. Nothing worth mentioning has happened.
So, man, I have to work tomorrow, but at least I have someone helping me. Last week was hell. I had no help and 6 kids to look after, but thankfully, my mom came to the rescue and helped. So I have that in the morning then McKenna, T.J., and Shannon have camp for the week.  The day after she comes home from camp, she, David, and T.J., have to go into the hospital. So she will be gone for 3 weeks and I will finally have more of my Kelsey Time. For those who don't know, I discovered my Kelsey Time last summer. It is time I spend alone, writing or reading or sitting around and thinking about nothing and everything. It is actually something I cherish very much and don't have time or space to enjoy. It is during my Kelsey Time I write most of my poetry. Like the one I posted the other day and another I will post when I find my notebook. Last summer when I first discovered my Kelsey Time, I actually read the first 15 chapters of the Bible and some other selections from other sections.
Grah, so no one really is online to chat with and I already watched my Sea World videos I have saved onto this computer. I know, I think I'm gonna put some programs into my computer, so until....

Come on Summer!

Man I feel so bad, I don't know why I didn't go home hours ago. Man, this really sucks. So I got most of the major homework out of the way. Just got a notebook, and a project and some other minor homework and thats about it. Then cone rolling those lazy summer days where things slip into a fantacy for two long wonderful months.
So, David is going on to independent study for the rest of the year because his doctors are telling him to do things that require him to be at home more than he is. So this was the only solution we could come up with.
As for me, I guess life could be better.

Sweet Ice Cream

K, so yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a long time. David has some sort of acid reflex problem and there is scaring in his stomach and stuff. But he will be ok. So he's on the same meds as my dad which is kinda weird.
But, anyway... so Caleb picked me up from school and we went out and did stuff (it was fun, we had a good time)...then Mickalyn, Melina and I went Baskin Robbins hopping cause it was free scoop night. Its sort of a tradition we have done for three years now. Its always been so much fun. Now Mickalyn and I are looking for jobs at Petsmart.
OMG!!! my life is ruined. K, not really. They are moving the killer whales around in the Sea World community and Marine World has got another whale in its possession. And there are getting another one from Argentina...I think. So, SWC has only 7 whales now and yeah, this all happened this week, right after we got back from San Diego.