Day 5: Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Its obvious to me today that the changes are now more rapidly occurring on the inside, rather than the outside.  While there were a lot of volunteers working on the site, it was rather a "quiet" day.  The updates were nonexistent.  Other than a glimpse of Paige walking by the site, no "celebrities"  were present.  "The show" aspect of the project, is going a bit more under wraps.





So what do you do when there isn't an emcee on hand?  Well you create your own bit of entertainment.  Like drywall stilt walking races. This guy was so smooth he smoked all the others in the race.



These Cobbers created a cheer.  They divided into two groups and they went like this "hardhats, hammers, hardhats, hammers, can we build it?  Ya you betcha!"  They said the last part with such thick Scandinavian accents they had us all rolling.  


And these two are the Poparazzi.  Their energy and enthusiasm match their promotion of the new radio station popster fm.



How cute are their shirts?



Hi Paige!



My sweet new friend Coco, whose house is hiding behind the food tents and food trucks, took me on a tour of this stretch of the neighborhood.  I told her as a spectator I wasn't really allowed back there, but then, I underestimated the influence of Coco.  She not only lets them keep the coffee on all night long, but she lets them in through her garage to get it at all hours of the night.  She also lets them do laundry out of her house, but she draws the line at folding it.  And while Coco was giving me the tour?  She totally made me forget to actually take her photo.  But these are the food trucks that the VIP's use.  The chefs prepare meals for the cast and celebrities and travel along with the show.


These are the food tents in front of Coco's house.




And this is Adrian.  Adrian is security.  By day 2 he learned my name.  He goes out of his way to greet as many people as he can as they pass by his post.  He always asks if there is something you need, or something he can help you with.  His enthusiasm is a little catching I have to admit.  He would only agree to a picture if I was in it with him.  How could I refuse?


Day 6 promises to be a big day... Ty returns in time for an attempt at a new Guinness book of World records ... sigh... stay tuned... 

Day 4 Extreme Makeover Home edition and we have a house!

Last night when I left there was only this...

Literally 12 hours later and this is what I arrived to see this morning! Amazing hardly scratches the surface.

Do you see who that is perched on the very top of that roof?  Paige.  In high heels.  And- she was running in them all over the roof, filming for the show.


And Paulie?  Was picked up by the FBI.  Yes really.  You see there is another "secret mission" he is on that has to do with something for Garrett.  And Ty? Is in Cleveland till Friday and then due back here.  I have to admit, the builders are very good about getting info. out to the spectators.


The call was going out for roofers with shingle experience to come finish the roof when I left.  And the pool, is going INSIDE the house for Garrett to use for therapy.  The elevator, is still just a rumor, but it would be a pretty wise rumor considering the two stories on the house.  
Stay tuned...

Day 3... Extreme Makeover Home Edition

It was late afternoon before I got to the site of the house.  Things have changed remarkably.  There are barricades all along the sidewalks keeping spectators in a more narrow viewing area.




















The forms are in for the foundation of the house and the the concrete was coming in next.


Paulie came and lead some cheers for the crowd.  And then he started giving away some t-shirts and hats.  They kept sailing over my head and he laughed each time he did it and then... right at the end, he walked over and handed one to me!  I haven't dared tell the boys what I did while they were at school... insert more giggles here.


Gotcha... this is Amanda, my hair stylist and friend.  She lives on the block of the makeover and texts me updates.

The sun is going down so early, but then the big lights come on...








Ty is in Ohio now shooting the beginning of another show.  The cast and crew do two shows a week, and then take one full week off.  Ty is one of the only cast members who has to split his time as host of the show he goes to both places.  But the rest of the crew stay on site.  
If you are around the site at all, the energy is so warm and energizing.  An almost magical thing is happening right before our very eyes.  I am convinced this project touches people and changes lives far beyond the 4 members of the family.  
I'm off for the day to see what adventure awaits today.
I took the kids for dinner last night before football practice.  Our fortunes were spot on...  Colton's was: "live for the moment, there is only one result in life."  Nolan's was "It is very possible you will achieve greatness in your lifetime."  Go Nolan..., and mine was "Make it a rule of life to never regret and never look back."  Amen






But the cherry on top to my whole day?  Was meeting a bloggy friend in real life.  She lives here with her two adorable boys and we read each others blogs, but have never met, until last night.  Melissa, the pleasure was all mine...

Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Day 2

Day two of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition.  Thinking I wouldn't have much of a view, I stood across the street from the home yesterday watching for it to be moved.  As luck would have it, I only stood for about a half hour when they announced they were ready to "move that house."

Thinking they were going up to north Moorhead, I was both surprised and then elated to discover the house was going to pass right by me.  There was much speculation about who was going to drive the big semi, with many assuming Ty would jump in at the last second...

But before any moving could be done, the crew had to be taped... numerous times... chanting "move that house."  Over and over we watched them without any movement from the semi.

I leaned out to take a photo and looked up shocked to see this taking MY picture... I leapt back thinking I might be ruining his shot, and heard him laughing at my reaction. 

Under those signal lights is the big camera that takes the long shots of the house coming down the road.  8th street in our community is a busy thoroughfare and was pretty wild to see it all blocked off at the noon rush hour. 

And then suddenly, the all clear was given, and the house began to move.  The crowd cheered on both sides of the street, and I assumed the driver was Ty because of how crazy the crowd was going...

This is the main director dude, and one day I'll actually find his name and tell you his story which I got today... but on with the show for now.

Here is comes, right at me... 

But wait, thats not Ty...

Because THIS is Ty... hi Ty. 

I actually have video of Ty videoing us and taping us for the family to see.  

And then... Paulie and Eduardo, and  Paige show up.  

And we're walking along the house and cheering as instructed by the main producer dude.

The whole thing took about an hour and then the house continued on its way out of town.

day 3

I actually had to "work/babysit" this morning and it was late in the afternoon that I snuck over to the site for a bit.  More photos to follow... 

Extreme Home Makeover in our community... up close encounters with the cast and crew...

This is one of those "stories" that just keeps getting better and better. So fasten your seatbelts and hang on for the ride. Last week, when I got my hair cut, my stylist announced she had "a secret."  Knowing, as a former mental health specialist, that I understood confidentiality, she felt safe in telling me.

Everyone in the local Fargo-Moorhead community knew Extreme Home Makeover was coming to town to build a house for one local family.  My stylist's secret was that she knew the family down the block from her was one of five finalists for the show.  The Grommesh's participate in Cully's Kids and we have gotten to know Garrett over the past couple of summers.  I was also excited to know the home was relatively close to our neighborhood, if they were in fact chosen.

Well yesterday, by noon it was announced that same family, the Grommesh family was chosen to be on Extreme Home Makeover!  We were driving right past the block as the barricades were going in and decided to stop to see what the set up was.  Surprisingly, the first security guard we encountered was from the show and waved us right in.  We learned a few minutes later they stopped allowing people access.  So once we got in, we weren't leaving anytime soon.




The Grommesh's house is this one on the corner of the street.





The bus had just pulled in before we got there.  The family had been surprised at their sons adaptive hockey game.



The man of the hour, Garrett Grommesh, Mr. Personality himself.


Adair Grommesh who was gracious and humble and made sure she was using the spotlight to shed focus on others.





Paulie spreading the love.


The homebuilders, Tyrone Leslie, and Daryl Braham, of Heritage Homes.


The first Ty sighting...  sigh.  We were told we could scream once to get it out of our system, but then we had to keep quiet or they would keep having to reshoot the scenes.  We kept our giddy on the inside...


These were the first volunteers to arrive. We were all jealous of their blue t-shirts...



The cast filming the opening of the show.  This took about 3 times to get all the footage they needed.

They would walk from the bus to the house talking about the same things each time.  (hmm, yes and how would I know what they talk about?  Just wait...)

In between the action, there was a lot of standing around and waiting.  But the security guards were easy to interact with and answered what they could for us.  This is the dolly that just one of the many cameras is attached to.


This is one of the equipment guys who took a liking to Colton and teased him continually.

Nolan made friends with a neighbor who was trying to socialize her sheltie.  She shook the whole time in Nolan's arms, but he was so thrilled she trusted him to hold her.



This time we yelled Ty's name and he waved to us... shiver, giggle.

When our friends the Rahman's arrived, Brian became our fearless leader and managed to get close enough to ask sweet Paige for a photo.  I got her a bit before she was ready... but let me vouch for her, she is tiny, pretty and as sweet as she is on tv.




At this point I was thrilled with all I had seen and could have gone home happy.  But then they announced they needed 40 spectators who were willing to participate in the opening scenes. With Brian leading the charge, his wife Jessica and I raced to sign our consents for "Hollywood", and donned our blue shirts. 
And then they told us to put our camera's away.  So the next little bit I can only describe to you... and you'll have to see for yourself if we make the cut on the debut of the show in a month or two.







Brian and Jessica


We were asked to form two lines on the driveway.  The scene is the one in which the family learns where they are going on vacation from Ty, and then they get escorted by all of us to the limo.  Brian, Jessica and I wound up at the top of the driveway next to the family and cast.  After Ty walked by us (very closely, giggle) we filled in behind the family as they were told they were going... to the Bahamas!  We all knew, and the family had no idea.  The reaction is classic.  You are going to love this family as much of the rest of us did from being around them.  
4 times we walked them down the driveway and the producer would tell us when to cheer, and when to quit, and where to move to.  It really was a very easygoing relaxed atmosphere and we were all giddy at the thought of being a small part of it.  Most of us had signed up to volunteer but they had 2000 more than the 4000 they had asked for.  
After we "wrapped" ha ha, I'm so Hollywood now, you know... giggle snort... I knew it was time for me to depart.  I had been there for over 5 hours standing, I was dehydrating quickly and needed a restroom.  As I turned to leave Brian saw Ty snap a photo with someone.  He quickly grabbed me and my camera and we walked over a few feet to Ty.  The security guards were already telling people no more photos, as Ty had to leave.  But I snuck in sideways, with Brian ready with the camera and asked very sweetly, "please Ty, one more?"  And he said... YES!  Be still my quivering heart and quaking knees... And then I got a sideways hug from him as I said thank you to him he replied "your welcome sweetie."  And then I died and nearly fainted... or not.  I was way too tired.  Hollywood is exhausting peeps.  (she says, tongue firmly in cheek.)
Ty and moi... I know!  Who would have thought? 



And the fitting, cool part?  Was when we all saw the bald eagle circling overhead.  Truly, as much fun as I had doing this, the family at the center of all of this, is totally deserving.  Not only does Garrett face numerous physical challenges, but his sister has a medical condition that requires treatment at the mayo clinic as well.  The house is not going to be demolished either, rather it is going to be moved to a new location and given to another deserving family.  (We are under strict orders not to disclose the name of this family so as to not ruin their surprise.)  




I'll do my best to bring more updates as I figure out how to navigate over to the site.