THEY CALLED!!!

Message

SportsFan68 · #26 Post by **SportsFan68** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:28 pm

YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!

GOOD LUCK!

HAVE FUN!!

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #27 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:35 pm

Congratulations!

thguy65 · #28 Post by **thguy65** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:43 pm

Woohoo!!

All of these Calls may be the best benefit of the new rules to speed up the game. More contestants!!

JBillyGirl · #29 Post by **JBillyGirl** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:50 pm

Fantastic news! You go get 'em and do us proud!

goongas · #30 Post by **goongas** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:31 pm

I second the motion to sleep the night before very close to the studio. If you can get an hour more sleep, it is probably worth it. I live forty minutes away, and if I ever I got on the show, I would rent a hotel room in midtown the night before.

#31 Post by **Bob78164** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:35 pm

I'm delighted when anyone here, new or old, gets the call. But it's particularly wonderful when it's one of the long-time regulars.

Congratulations! Of course, if you need a PAF, don't hesitate to ask. --Bob

silvercamaro · #32 Post by **silvercamaro** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:05 pm

I'm delighted for you, Winnamill! You've been in this quest for the long haul, and I'm so happy that your efforts finally have paid off. Win a pile 'o cash, and have a great time in New York.

peacock2121 · #33 Post by **peacock2121** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:47 am

Hot Diggity Dog!

This is a great day for me to read the bored!

Congratulations!

My opinion - the difference in cost between a place in Jersey and a good buy in NYC will not be worth the cost on your body and time.

Use a discount finder and get a place in NYC, at least for the night before you tape.

dimmzy · #34 Post by **dimmzy** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:34 am

Having been there I too argue strongly that you should stay in New York City. The Red Roof Inn is inexpensive (for the city). Besides, trains and subways are delayed all the time.

You also should note that any costs you incur ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE AGAINST YOUR WINNINGS. Keep your receipts!

That $200 a night hotel room won't seem like much against your $1m in earnings!!

#35 Post by **littlebeast13** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:38 am

Woohoo! Revenge for a fellow Seat 9 alum!

Win a mill!

lb13

trevor_macfee · #36 Post by **trevor_macfee** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:10 am

Congrats on getting The Call!

I definitely agree with what others have said about spending the night nearby. I taped over two days, and on both days it was great not to have worrying about traffic or subway problems adding to the stress. Strolling to the studio from the Lucerne was calming in itself.

I looked at it this way - there is great probability of winning at least $1K, so spending anything up to that was at worst breaking even.

Have fun!

#37 Post by **Bob78164** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:16 am

dimmzy wrote:You also should note that any costs you incur ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE AGAINST YOUR WINNINGS. Keep your receipts!

I'm not comfortable that this is accurate. I believe it's more likely that expenses are properly classified as hobby expenses, which means that they miscellaneous itemized deductions that are only deductible (assuming you itemize) to the extent that, combined with any other miscellaneous itemized deductions you may have, they exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income.

For a more informed opinion, I suggest perusing the Motley Fool's Tax Strategies Board. --Bob

kayrharris · #38 Post by **kayrharris** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:21 pm

This is good news. Good luck! I'd look for a hotel close to the studio.

Melly and I rode the subway several times the past couple of days. It was
nice and cool on one of the rides. On the last ride we took, it was actually cooler in the subway terminal than the subway car. It was sweltering! It would not be very pleasant if this happened to you on the way to the studio for your taping.

Winnamill · #39 Post by **Winnamill** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:38 pm

Thanks again to everyone for the good wishes. I am now convinced to stay close by. One of my co-workers gave me some other tips on decent places to stay so I will be searching for various places over the next day or two.

Several people had questions for me to answer so here they are:

- Littlebeast commented on fellow Seat 9 alum. Not really a question, but I'm wondering HOW DID YOU KNOW!!! I'm not 100% sure 7.5 years later, but I think that WAS my seat when I was in the ROF.

- JBillyGirl -- I'm pretty sure you were the carryover contestant for the show just preceding the one I taped in 2001 (they did two that day). Unless I am running more than one show together, you did the forehead 'L' for loser in one of your answers. In any case if you carried over on Jan. 29, 2001, it was you. Skypilate and SamCat were also in my taping group. Another fun fact is that SamCat and I share the same b-day.

- Second Chance asked movie or regular game -- regular game. I did not pass (not surprising) the movie test.

- Frogman asked about my previous attempts:

About 5 auditions/attempts -- I guess it would count as four auditions, five audition attempts. Sacramento is my lucky town as that is where the first audition was for the 2001 show, and was listed as the town for this summer (technically, it was Jackson Rancheria). The furthest I went was San Diego shortly after being on the show, and that was the worst of the bunch -- failed the test. It was definitely HARD. Many of us (more than usual) did the slink walk to the door. Think it was still fast finger style.

The other attempts were up the peninsula toward San Francisco (test, followed by "how goofy can you be in front of the group" -- I told a lawyer joke, and a practice game); one in San Jose (don't remember the details); and one in my town of Sunnyvale, which I thought went pretty well, but was a No Card event (they only sent Happy Cards then). That was about five years ago.

I don't think I really did too much different from the Sunnyvale attempt to this summer. I was actually reasonably surprised that I did not at least make the pool and almost wrote off my future chances.

I also played A LOT of the phone game when it was in play. I made it to the second round of questions one time, but no further.

Fun Fact regarding the San Diego/Peninsula test: I'm not sure if this person is on the Bored (if you are, let me know), but a guy I slunk out with in San Diego happened to be parked right next to me. The next morning there he was at the rental car return. Then at the Peninsula audition, there he was again, and we sat next to each other at that event. Not sure if he ever got on the show. I think his name was Jeff, and he lived in the Bay Area.

Snaxx · #40 Post by **Snaxx** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:01 pm

Congrats on getting the call! I too suggest staying in NYC if at all possible.

The "L" was not a BB IIRC; since you provided a specific date I looked up and found an airdate of 2/1/01:

artinma (on the Bored of the time) wrote: Claire Edelstein
Freehold, NJ
English Teacher

$500 A vertical forefinger and horizontal thumb of the right hand placed flat on a person's forehead is a symbol for what?
a. Lady b. Lunchtime
c. Los Angeles resident d. Loser

.

takinover · #41 Post by **takinover** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:41 pm

Winnamill wrote: one in my town of Sunnyvale, which I thought went pretty well, but was a No Card event (they only sent Happy Cards then). That was about five years ago.

It was August 26, 2002. I was there and didn't make it from that one, but a later one.

Congrats on making the show.

AlphaDummy · #42 Post by **AlphaDummy** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:06 pm

Woooooooooooohoooooooooooooo from another Seat 9 alum!! Glad to see one of the old-timers get a turn...go get'em!!!

Tinrinrin · #43 Post by **Tinrinrin** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:16 pm

Winamill-

I think we auditioned together in Sunnyvale. About five million years ago or so? Along with BarbLee and Mellowmom?

I'm so glad you finally got a shot at the show! I have my fingers crossed for you to win big.

#44 Post by **littlebeast13** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:39 pm

Winnamill wrote:- Littlebeast commented on fellow Seat 9 alum. Not really a question, but I'm wondering HOW DID YOU KNOW!!! I'm not 100% sure 7.5 years later, but I think that WAS my seat when I was in the ROF.

- JBillyGirl -- I'm pretty sure you were the carryover contestant for the show just preceding the one I taped in 2001 (they did two that day). Unless I am running more than one show together, you did the forehead 'L' for loser in one of your answers. In any case if you carried over on Jan. 29, 2001, it was you. Skypilate and SamCat were also in my taping group. Another fun fact is that SamCat and I share the same b-day.

When you were first on the Bored back in 2001, you filled out the RoF seat chart I posted (Which I saved, and have on this Bored in the WWTBAM Reference Thread at the top of the Bored). You sat in the dreaded seat 2 shows after mine (Claire Edelstein, the carryover for your show, was in the RoF for the second taping of my day [1/18], and you were in the first taping of the next set [1/29]).

lb13

sunflower · #45 Post by **sunflower** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:54 am

I definitely agree that you should stay in NY. When I went last October, the Lucerne actually had the best rate. Book early though, or their rooms fill up and you might end up with a higher rate. On my carryover day, I had to pay more, but I did get upgraded to the honeymoon suite so it was kind of worth it!

It's a short enough walk to the studio, although I took taxis to the studio in the morning. If you call down before leaving your room, the bellman will have one waiting for you. It costs about $10, inclusive of tip. If it is at all warm out, it's easier to take the taxi since you'll have your clothes and whatever else you want to bring and at least in my opinion, you wnt to keep yourself looking fresh and not hot and frazzled. Both times though, we walked back to the hotel following the taping. The hotel is great about holding your luggage after check out, so you don't have to drag it all to the taping.

Definitely check hotwire or other sites to see if you can get a deal...but the Lucerne is nice, close and easy to get to. Plus there are a lot of great restaurants within a 2 - 3 block radius.

Most of all, have fun!!!

Melora · #46 Post by **Melora** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:05 pm

If you decide you want to stay in New Jersey on other than the night before your taping date to save a few bucks, the hotels in the Harmon Meadow section of Secaucus have a really convenient bus. Any hotel on Plaza Drive would be less than a block from the NJ Transit 320 bus, which gets into the city in 20 minutes, assuming the traffic is not in disaster mode.

http://www.secaucus.org/hotels.html

Winnamill · #47 Post by **Winnamill** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:26 pm

Tinrinrin wrote:Winamill-

I think we auditioned together in Sunnyvale. About five million years ago or so? Along with BarbLee and Mellowmom?

I'm so glad you finally got a shot at the show! I have my fingers crossed for you to win big.

YES!!! I definitely remember you now. You, BarbLee, and I had dinner at the hotel, which is just minutes from where I live. I know Mellowmom was there at the audition too. I think she was in the line just ahead of me the next day. She and I were apparently at the same audition this time too, but I did not see her. BarbLee got The Call from that audition and did quite well as I remember.

P.S. I finally did the quote right! I'm advancing!

I had about given up after that audition as I thought it had gone well but no Happy Card. But Sacramento is the "magic town" for me so I'm glad I gave it one more shot.