Contestant Blogs
This Week's Contestant
Ginny H.
| Theme: | Halloween |
|---|---|
| Hometown: | Washington, D.C. |
| Week of: | 10-29-2012 |
POSTED on Monday, October 29th, 2012
Nintendo, fundraisers at the office, in front of my TV. These are all places that I've played Wheel of Fortune and demonstrated my puzzle solving skills. And I was goodmaybe good enough to be on the show. Haven't you ever been watching Wheel at home and wondered, "Why doesn't he just solve the puzzle?!" I loved playing Wheel of Fortune in any setting, and I thought if I could just get on the show, I would dominate! (I later found out how difficult it is to solve puzzle under pressure with Pat Sajak standing next to you, but more on that later).I submitted my name online multiple times but hadn't heard back. I was like a starving artist waiting for my big break, except that I have a government job in DC. StillI wanted it bad. You can only imagine my shock when, out of nowhere, I received an audition invitation from WOF in my email box! I thought, "This must be a hoax." But to my delight, I was wrong!
I requested a vacation day from work and drove myself down to National Harbor, Maryland for an 11am audition. I wore my best professional black dress and flats (I didn't want to look even taller than 5'10" or trip over high heels). I kept a smile on my face for the entire audition, called my letters loud and clear, and clapped til my hands were red. When they said that I would receive a letter in the mail in two weeks, I was optimistic, but I knew the competition was stiff.
Six days later, I was in line at the pharmacy picking up a prescription and buying shampoo (yes, my life is very exciting). I got a call and decided to be that obnoxious girl that answers her phone while waiting in line. Boy, am I glad I did! It was a contestant coordinator from Wheel of Fortune. They haven't had time to send out letters. They want me to tape an episode in L.A. in two weeks. Can I do it? Yes. Count me in. That night, plane tickets for my boyfriend and me were booked, hotel arrangements were made, and my blood pressure went up with the excitement of living out my dream. "I'm going to be the one people yell at from their living rooms!" I thought. Heck, I may even solve a puzzle!
I discussed strategy with friends and family and played incessantly online. When I played on my laptop (in my pajamas mostly), I still tried to make it as realistic as possible. I clapped after every spin, and of course, each time I solved the puzzle. By the end of my training regimen, I was like Pavlov's dog. If I heard a wheel spinning, I started clapping.
I was ready as I'd ever be. At this point, my thoughts were consumed with questions like: What episode would I be on? What will the other contestants be like? What will the set look like for Halloween Week? And what was I going to wear on national television?? The experience was just beginning.
Want to see how I did? Tune in during Halloween Week on Tuesday, October 30, to see if the Wheel gave me a trick or a treat!