just jill...: we came, we saw and we danced... a lot!

No time to post about American Idol this week... But just know that I still like all the key players from last week and even have a few new ones to add to the list. We'll see who "makes it through" tonight and go from there starting next week. But in honor of Ellen being the "newest (prettiest) judge," here's my story about her.

Okay, so this is old news. Like if this was a newspaper article the paper itself would be all yellow and wrinkley like. But, I'm trying to get caught up and this event was worth still talking about...

Raise your hand if you love Ellen... How can you just not love this woman? She is funny as all get out, she's as kind as they come and everyone knows that she can dance. I've been a fan of her show from day one. I tape her show every single day and honestly can't say that I've missed but just a few days since the beginning. I just love her that much. She's a lifter of spirits, and not a mean word ever escapes her mouth. She does so much for others, and especially those in need.

~~Last month~~ In January, we got to go and see her show taped live... I've been trying to get tickets for 2 years and finally, finally we got ourselves some. TL, the nephew and I loaded up in the car early in the morning to head up to Burbank. Once we scoped out the area, and found out where we needed to park and go to be at our confirmed check in time, we then headed out for some lunch. There was only one place we could go while up in Burbank and that is the famous Bob's Big Boy. This is the "original" and has been there since the early 40's. We even opted to save time and sit at the old fashioned counter. We ordered up our Big Boy's (okay, so the diet was NOT in force that day...) admired all the Big Boy decor and had a great lunch.

Once we got to the studio in time for our check in, we then began the wait. Ohh, the wait. It's just like you hear all the celebrity's say about the tv and movie business, everything was like a big "hurry up and wait." So wait is what we did. For about 3 hours. It could have been a "boring" wait, but instead they had a little talent show of sorts, asking for volunteers from the audience to come up and perform their hidden talents. Oh, and you know MY hand went up immediately. Wait, you didn't know that I have a hidden talent? Yeah, I didn't eiether. But then when I was the first to be called on, I shot Christian a look of horror... "Oh shit, I didn't really think he'd call on me, now what am I going to do..?" Then it came to me... Of course I can perform that thing I do when I rattle off all the United States in Alphabetical Order. Yep, we'll just make that my "hidden talent" and to make it all "talenty" I'll claim that I can do it really really super duper fast. And, that's just what I did. Um, how embarrassing... But the 300 3000 people I performed it for, did clap for me afterwards. Also, Christian informed me afterwards, "At least you were better than the girl who Barked like a Dog." Thanks Christian. I guess.

Once we got into the actual studio the Party began. The music was loud and the dancing commenced. We had great seats, just off the right side in about the 4th row. I got placed right on the isle and that is when it hit me that Ellen herself was going to breeze right by me as she danced up the stairway directly after her opening monologue. I started to get that nervious excited feeling... We were just giddy from all the excitement in the room. And boom, the show began. Ellen came out and the roar of the crowd was defining... these people seriously love her and I was one of them, screaming my head off, so happy to see her in person. As the show progressed, it just seemed to FLY by... I remeber her dancing right by me, I remember Matthew Broderick coming out and saying the Mystery Word, which won us each a $100 gift certificate for some Clark shoes. (Thank you Matthew B) I remember seeing Tony, and Jillian Michaels who came out to teach Ellen some exercise moves that even looked hard for Ellen to do. (Man are those bitches ever T I N Y) And I remember Mary J. Blige coming out for a short interview and then a fantastic performance. Her singing voice IN PERSON blew me away, unbelievable. Then we got to sing her Happy Birthday... And then it was over. So sad. As we exited the studio, I took one last look behind me to take it all in. What a great time we had. We were handed our free MJB cd, our Clark's gift certificates and even a piece of MJB's Birthday cake (chocolate cherry with white icing) and were on our way.

(click to watch video...)

(click to watch video...)

The next day I couldn't wait to watch "our" episode on TV... It was fun to watch it knowing that we were "actually" there!! I couldn't wait to see if "we" got on tv. And to my horror we did. Now, most people would think I would be horrified to see myself on tv because it obviously adds lots of Lb's, but THAT was not my problem this time. This time what I noticed is that the camera caught a glimpse of us just as Ellen was sprinting up those stairs during the "dance" portion of her show. There we were, TL, the nephew and myself all swaying our hips, rocking back and forth, and clapping to the beat... well, TL and the nephew were clapping to the beat, I don't know what I was clapping to... See for yourelf.