Contestant Blogs

Jeana P.

Theme:	Weekend Getaways
Hometown:	Lawrence, NJ
Week of:	01-21-2013

POSTED on Wednesday, January 24th, 2013

Being on Wheel of Fortune was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I started out by waking up that morning after not being able to sleep all night from excitement. I got changed into my perfect HD-ready outfit, did my hair and make-up, and was ready to go. While waiting in the lobby for the bus to arrive to bring us to Sony Studios, I started talking to some of the other contestants. Everyone was so warm and friendly. I honestly had the best bunch of people to be sharing this experience with. We all joked and laughed and made each other feel comfortable. The bus arrived, and we headed to Sony. As we pulled in the gates my heart started pounding, this was really happening! I was going to be on Wheel of Fortune!

For the next few hours we learned the ins and outs of the show, in case some people didn't know the rules. I have been watching for so long that I knew everything and anything about the show. During this time we also went in to the fabulous make-up artists and got our HD ready make-up done. I felt so special and glamorous. It's every girls dream to have their hair and make-up done for them every day!

All of a sudden, a women in sweats, wet hair, and a coffee in hand stepped into the room! "Hi Everyone!" she said. WHATTTT!!! It was Vanna White! We could not believe our eyes! She came in to wish us all luck and give us a pep talk! What a fantastic woman she was. Friendly and beautiful even without make-up on!

The pressure was building as the time was going by. I knew we were going to have to go in and start taping soon. But how do I know which day I'm on? And who will I be playing against? We then were broken into teams and then picked a number to decide where we were going to stand on stage. Number 2! Fantastic, I thought! The yellow will look perfect with my Royal Blue shirt I'm wearing!

The Wheel team then brought us onto the stage where the magic happens! My first thoughts were, "Whoa! It's so small!" and "It looks huge on TV!" The stage was amazing. The set-up was perfectly designed for our themed week. They then had us go by the Wheel and tape a commercial for our local news channel. "Hi, my name is Jeana Pulaski from Lawrence, NJ. Watch me play Wheel of Fortune on 6ABC!" I nailed it! Maybe I was meant to be on television!

Finally, the time came. We got the chance to practice spinning the wheel. Boy, was that thing heavy! I put all my strength I had into it! I guess it would be heavy when it weighs 2400 pounds! Touching and spinning that Wheel in itself made this experience worthwhile!

Here we go

The tapings of the show were going to begin. I was number 3 out of 6. This gave me a chance to see how everything was going to happen. The music went on and Pat and Vanna walked out on stage. I was star-struck and giddy to see them, like a little kid on Christmas! The time went by faster than you could imagine. Before I knew it, it was my turn to go up on stage and tape my episode.

I got up on stage, smile on my face, ready to go! The lights were shining, the audience was excited, and I was excited as well. I was ready to do this! Pat came out and we began. Whoa, the first puzzle is over already! I need to focus. Pat introduced each of us to the studio audience and viewers of the show. I wish I could have re-done mine when I called my job La-Monmouth

University instead of Monmouth University. I knew I was going to get made fun of for that! Other than that mess up, Pat and I had a great talk together. He made us feel comfortable and was very witty with jokes throughout the entire show.

Second toss-up came and went again! Ugh! I was getting frustrated with myself. I just needed to breathe and go with the flow. I was just not lucking out at all. I would spin and buy vowels and have a good flow going with money in my bank but then BOOM! Lose a Turn Jeana, or BOOM Bankrupt Jeana! What was happening! I wanted this more than anything and it was just not going my way. Finally, third toss up! YES! I solved one! That made it all worth it! My goal was to solve one puzzle and I achieved my goal! I met Vanna, Pat, and some amazing people on this trip. I would not take it back for anything!

As soon as I left the studio that day, I turned to my boyfriend and said "Steve I know what I want to do with this money!" He knew exactly what I was thinking. We are going to DISNEYWORLD!

After taping the show I came up with a fantastic idea! I wanted to plan a fundraiser at my local American Legion in Trenton, NJ to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. If I won a decent amount on the show I was going to donate some of my winnings. Since I did not do as well as I wanted I chose to give back for an amazing cause. On Wednesday January 23rd from 5:30 to 9:30 I planned a fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy. We will have a DJ, food, music, Chinese auction and MORE!

I encourage everyone to go out and live their dream! No matter how big or small!