Visiting Extreme Makeover ~ Raleigh

 I am very excited to share with you my trip to the Extreme Makeover Home Edition site here in Raleigh, NC.  I wanted to go earlier in the week when they first started the demolition but I, like most of you, had to work.  Every night I would watch the news on the progress and I finally decided that I just had to ask permission to be away from work for a few hours so I could go see for myself and hopefully be a part of it.  Thankfully my boss let me go check it out.  Camera in hand, I headed out to downtown Raleigh.  I had heard on the radio that if anyone was trying to park anywhere close to the site, they could expect it be nearly impossible to fine a parking spot.  They had also announced on the radio about an off-site parking area that would take anyone on a free transit bus ride into downtown Raleigh and it would stop within a block of the, Poplar Street Extreme Makeover site.

I dressed in my work jeans and sweatshirt and I hoped that I could volunteer to work on the project since my son got to work there the day before.  My son works with his Father's flooring company and they did the stage in the school across the street from the house.  He got a free T-shirt and also got to work around Johnny and Pauley.  This day though, they had the local college Sorority girls there, and they didn't need any volunteers. I was bummed about that. I arrived around 11am and at that time there was a decent size crowd watching the workers and hoping to see the famous hosts of the show. 

I walked up past the house and I heard people talking about Ty and saying he was up in the school building across the street where they would be filming very soon.  No prodding needed... that is where I headed. The Mom had worked at the charter school across from her home for 20 + years and it was her life so they were also doing some makeovers to the school also.   A small crowd of fans and I were just standing around for a long while waiting for something to happen when I started talking to the lady beside me.  She said she had already gotten pictures of Ty when he walked into the school earlier. I asked if I could see the pictures and since I wasn't sure if I would get the chance to take my own pictures of that crazy cute guy I had a wonderfully bright idea to take a picture of her camera with him on the screen!   (see photos) Hey, this Blondie is no dummy!  I think it was a rather smart idea!

Soon after we heard a lot of commotion and through the trees I could see people coming out of the auditorium of the school.  There were cameras filming as a truck showed up to unload new chairs for the school and the Sorority girls were screaming and clapping and helping unload the truck.  We had to stand pretty far back but I did my best to take some pictures.  Ty was there and he was handing the chairs out off the back of the truck. As soon as they were done Ty headed back our way and I got the chance to take a few of my own closer up pictures. Ty signed autographs stopped about 5 ft from me but I didn't have any paper!  That wasn't too smart of me but again.... I do what I must and I asked a lady if I could photograph her autographs!  Man I am pretty smart eh?

 I also got to see Pauley, but he wasn't as close as Ty was so you can't see him that well in my pictures.    I took pictures of Ty and Pauley leaving in a big white van and felt bad for the people who had just arrived off the bus to come see the site.  They would miss the photo opportunity I just had.  I felt great that I got there at a perfect time.  I felt very thankful for the whole experience.  It would've been better if I could've actually helped with the house but the waiting list was pretty long.  It was great fun and I must say that the show is a very well-run operation. 

There was a jolly fellow in a red hat that talked to the crowd and pumped people up by telling them all about what was going on at the site.  There were a lot of important looking people walking around too that I thought might be on the crew but I didn't recognize them for certain. All in all it was a really fun experience and I couldn't wait to get home and publish this article so show you all about it!

Don't forget to watch with me on January 21st 2007 when the Raleigh Extreme Makeover show airs.  Don't forget to look for my son.  He should be seen working on the stage floor at the school.  He is the 6 ft 4 inch tall young man who looks nothing like me... HA ... no, he actually looks very much like me.  I hope you like the pictures!