The Big O.

Last week sometime, one of my co-workers approached my little corner of the world and asked "What are you doing next Thursday?"  I was suspicious.  Suspicious because this is a girl who I became fairly close to--she attended my bridal shower and wedding, we ate lunch together nearly every day, roomed together when we traveled for a conference.  And then, for some reason everything changed.  I know I can be snarky and difficult sometimes, but I swear that I cannot come up with a single reason why our relationship has changed so much.  Now we certainly don't eat together.  We hardly even speak to each other.  I realize conversation is a two-way street, but when someone no longer expresses even the slightest tinge of being interested in your life, it's hard to come up with a reason to press.  For a long time I was *very* upset about all of this.  I even briefly contemplated looking for a new position.  But, here's the thing, my boss is *fantastic*, truly.  And I have been through a hell of a lot worse than being ignored.  So, I have found a new lunch buddy.  And do my work quietly most days in my little corner of the world.  I'm finally okay with that.

ANYWAY, this co-worker asks what I'm doing next Thursday.  I think I must have kind of shrugged because I wasn't sure where this was going.  Well, it was going to Oprah.  Yes, this co-worker worked some sort of miracle and after 6 months of trying, finally managed to win the Oprah lottery and had access to 4 tickets to a taping.  And she was asking me!  I was puzzled.  I debated.  But less than 24 hours later, I graciously accepted the offer.  To hell with it, this is Oprah, I reasoned!

So, on Tuesday night I went on a mini-spree and planned my outfit.  The cardigan and trouser jeans were new, from The Gap.  My version of this shirt is from New York and Company and cost about $20, while the one pictured here is designer and cost $400.  I don't know why people would pay that much, but whatev.  The bracelet was actually a very similar necklace (also from New York and Company) that they didn't have pictured on the website.  I wore earrings that I already owned and the shoes weren't new either.  Not too shabby; bright colors (wearing white or cream on top is a no-no for the big O) and comfortable.  (I have seen these polyvore boards before and never had a reason to create one.  This may be the first and last time, but it was kinda fun!)

Oprah! by marienkafer featuring GAP 
  


This morning was the big day.  The alarm went off at 3:45 a.m.  Much too early in my opinion.  I am *not* a morning person.  Not even a little bit.  But, by some miracle, I was dressed and out of the house just before 5.  Met up with my co-workers at 5:40ish.  Made it to Harpo studios at 6:45 and joined the long, long line.  We thought we were early getting there when we were!  Not so much.  After a little bit of a wait, outside, in the cold, we started moving.  I think we were in the building by 7:15.  Checking coats and making it through security took another half hour.  Once we were done with that we were ushered into the "holding area."  I know this is going to sound bad, but I kind of felt like I was part of a herd of cattle at this point.  The holding area was on the second floor and wasn't very big.  It was full of chairs, just over 300 of them, placed in long rows, facing each other, and awkwardly close.  The whole audience was up there!  It was warm and crowded.  And we sat there for just over an hour.

We kept ourselves entertained by taking wild guesses as to the topic of the show and starting conversations with the people around us.  Turns out that we were a few seats away from friends of "the guest."  One of them was hall of famer Jim Kelly's brother.  We also met a very nice gentleman whose sister works for the Chicago Bulls.  We know this because he was wearing a Bull's Championship Ring from 1993 and everyone surrounding him was curious about it.  Bling!  When he said it was an NBA championship ring the woman next to him actually asked "Oh, is that the Super Bowl?"  Poor thing.

Finally, finally, they started calling names of the special people and those chosen to sit in the front section.  Lucky devils.  Then the rest of us were called by the number on our consent forms.  I was 147.  But, who cares?!  We were walking into the studio!!!

The studio is much smaller than it looks on TV.  The seats were incredibly close, no leg room at all, but it was comfy enough.  After some time "warming up" (q & a with the audience and...some dancing!), the moment was upon us.  Oprah was on her way.

She approached the stage barefoot, clutching a pair of Louboutins in her hand (black peep toes).  She took her seat, looking sleepier than I expected, but still fabulous.  And started putting on her shoes, "These shoes are for sitting only!"  omg.  How awesome is that?!  She chatted with the audience a bit.  Told us about the trials and tribulations of living with puppies (I think she has 2 right now)--"They shit A LOT."  Yes, Oprah said shit! 

Once "the guest" came out though it was all business.  I think the actual taping probably only took 30-40 minutes.  And we were in the studio just over an hour total.  We didn't "win" anything.  No free samples or anything like that.  Heck, we were lucky that there was a water cooler in the waiting room!  But Oprah was incredibly gracious.  She told us all how much she appreciated us being there, how she knows how long it can take to get tickets, how difficult it can be too choose an outfit (!!!), and arrange for travel/time off/babysitters.

It was a great experience and I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to go.

The show airs March 3rd.  And I think there will have to be a whole 'nother post on the topic.  I'm going to make my husband watch too so I can discuss it with him.  It was one of those tear-jerkers... but... well, something was a bit off for me.  Maybe it will feel differently on TV.  :)

And now, it's 8:34 and it's bed time.  I'm exhausted.

Oprah: you should go.