As most of you know, we had to go to NYC this past Saturday, because a producer
from "America's Got Talent' saw Brennon's videos on my Youtube account and
wanted him to audition for the show.  Well, here's my blog that I wrote on
Myspace.. enjoy and we missed you all!!!! Love, Val

Okay, so we took off to NYC on Saturday morning, and alittle later than I had
anticipated.  When you have 5 kids, it’s hard to have a "set schedule" and we
left at about 5:00 a.m.  It’s only 6 hours and 37 minutes from us, according
to Google maps and directions, so I thought we were okay.  Well, we were..and I
drove all the way up and being that I’m into "adventure" I don’t mind it.
Casey sat in the back with the kids and loved it..he never gets to "hang out"
with the kids anymore because of work.  He also kept our 2 year old, Blake,
quiet for most of the trip..haha. Method to my madness..? I think so..
Okay, so we were supposed to be at the Javitt’s Center, at 5:15 p.m. for
Brennon’s audition appointment.  We got into NYC at 3:00 or so, and my PLAN
was for us to go to the hotel that I reserved online, in Jersey City, which is
about 5 miles from New York...THROUGH THE LINCOLN TUNNEL.  Okay, so if you’ve
been there, you get that joke..LOL. What a crock ..that traffic..okay, so
anyways..we go to the hotel, after looking for it, for an HOUR and I had to go
to a gas station (you know me, I talk to ANYONE) and got some guy driving an ice
cream truck to give me directions. He was Italian and about 60 and the sweetest
man.  He had me follow him but I lost him and the ice cream truck..we were all
laughing so hard and Casey got it all on tape..me talking to the ice cream
man.  :) Okay, so I lost the ice cream man and the traffic had gotten so bad
that I said "screw it" and I would ask someone somewhere where the Ramada Inn
was. How hard could it be? Well, little did I know that about 60% of New York
and New Jersey speak another language so I stopped and asked a guy, who I would
say was from the Middle East.  He didn’t understand what a Ramada was,
(thought it was something you eat, probably) but he didn’t have an answer. 
So, I used my sniffer and got lost and then finally FOUND the hotel ..on the
busy city street in JERSEY CITY and this hotel had to be the most inconvenient
hotel around. I didn’t care, though..I just wanted to get our stuff inside and
change my STINKY driving clothes and change the kids, and then off we would go.
Oh no..didn’t happen that way..Casey didn’t like it and suggested we just
keep driving to Brennon’s audition and then find another hotel later,
afterwards. Oh my gosh..I stunk, I had a "fruit of the loom" men’s v-neck T
SHIRT on, my jogging pant,s and my pink and brown vans!!! LOL! I couldn’t walk
around in NYC like that..but we did, and I found a parking lot (found the
parking lot that said "Javitt’s Center parking".) so I thought..hell, can’t
be that far. Wronggggggg.. it was about 2 miles from the Javitt’s Center. 
Picture it..tired kids, walking, for 2 miles..LMAO. Yeah, it was fun.

Okay, so we get in there, and that place is huggggggggggeee.. We found the
"America’s Got Talent" table and down in the basement part, there’s all
kinds of singers and strange but true acts.  It was awesome..I had to fill out
all kinds of extra paperwork because we had the kids and Casey going down there,
too. 

We get down there, and they told me to say "that he had an appointment" ..and we
were early..by about 30 minutes or so.  So, we got down there and were put into
a "holding room".  It’s a room with about 100 other people, some waiting like
us, and some interviewing with producers or helpers, with a video camera and a
light. I guess that’s the part at the beginning of the show, too.  Okay, so
we are sitting and waiting for anyone to acknowledge us and that "Brennon has an
appointment" and nothing. So, just about two seconds later, Blake throws one of
his 2 year old tantrums to get out of his "stroller" and run around.  Poor
kid..he’d be cooped up in the car all day and then a stroller.  I’d been
mad, too.  Well, Casey ended up taking Blake and the Haileigh and Connor and
Lil Casey out for a walk. I felt bad, because Casey wanted to see, too..and the
kids did, too. 

Okay, so they finally (after about an hour) tell all of us waiting for our
appointment, that we can follow him..so we did.  He took us out in the hall and
told us that we’d each (by the time we got there) be able to go in and
audition for two producers. If they were picked from there, then they’d go to
interview with the camera and the light, and then to the stage, with Pierce,
Sharon and David.  So, this was it..Brennon was so COOL and calm..I know I was
shaking, even in my toes for him..LOL.  We sat out and chatted with some guys
on Unicycles, triplet belly dancers who could sing, too..and a guy who
channelled Frank Sinatra through his singing..I swear. He sang "Fly me to the
Moon" and it was sooooooooo good..I asked him to marry me, but I forgot..I’m
married..LMAO.  They called Brennon up, finally, and he went in, and I had to
stand on the side..and try not to LAUGH too hard.  He told his jokes, and his
stories, and the one producer laughed but the other one, a woman, was into her
computer and not even ACKNOWLEDGING HIM!!! I was so mad!!! I wanted to say "Look
at him.my boy is TELLING JOKES!" ..!  After a minute over what he was supposed
to use, the guy told him that they’d call him to let him know. Okay, I’m not
stupid and I know that means that he wasn’t going to be interviewed, so I kind
of know the answer. I felt so bad for Brennon..my heart sank. He gave it his ALL
and he wasn’t upset at all..he said "I am okay. I know that I’ll make them
wish they’d picked me today".  He didn’t say it in a threatening way but in
a way that made me so  proud..that’s my boy, and he threw his pride on his
back and walked out of there a champion. I know that sounds corny but it is so
nice to know that we raised him good.   I told him that at least it was an
experience, if anything, and that’s all I wanted him to get out of it if he
lost.  YAAAAAH!!! He’s a winner in my book..y’all know that. 

Okay, so we left there, all 7 of us, and got some NEW YORK hot dogs..and I had
heard about how good they are and they gave me "many bathroom trips" that
night.. Hmmm..let me think about this one..Oscar Meyers or NYC hot
dogs..that’s a tough one. I don’t remember Oscars making me have to go to
the bathroom 20 times in a day!

So, Brennon was still kind of quiet ..and I’m sure he was bummed alittle, so
we all got back to the parking garage after being LOST a couple of blocks.  I
got to the parking attendant to pay him and it’s how much? 30 BUCK for 2
HOURS??????? You have to be kidding me??????? I paid it and yeah..almost used
the bathroom again..this time out of shock..haha.

We get in the van and it was about 7pm..still light out so I decided we’d
drive around NYC and see the sights..wow..what was I on? Nothing..I drove and
let me say that if you can drive in NYC and LIVE to tell about it, then you are
a GOOD driver.   I did it..I DUDDITZ (if anyone’s seen the movie
"Dreamcatcher") .   I had I don’t know how many cab drivers honk at me, cut
me off, and NYC drivers cut me off and almost wreck into me to cut me off, and
wow..what a rat race. Next time, we’re taking the sub..haha.

We finally found a hotel after driving until about 10pm and it was on Staten
Island.  What a place..in the middle of nowhere, (the hotel) and the interstate
278 right at our window.  Loud but you know what? I was tired and had used the
bathroom so much that day that I didn’t care.  I was out in maybe 4
seconds..3 tops..LOL.

We laughed and just all 7 of us being together was enough to make our trip to
NYC worth it all..  About Brennon’s comedy..he’s still going to do it and
he’s still FUNNY.  We got home at about 5pm yesterday and if I saw one more
TOLL BOOTH I was going to scream..that’s how they get ya.  Going into NYC
it’s $8 and all the way up, is about a total of $20.  Then the parking being
$30..wow..  We’re going back up next month, after Casey gets his sales bonus
from work, and we’re going to ENJOY ourselves and get a hotel in the city, and
take the sub everywhere we have to go.  Casey’s already started planning it
online, so there’s more NYC adventures to come..stay tuned..LOL.. ;-)


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