Watch me on TV!!

I just couldn't wait to share the good news:

I have been cast in the next season of The Amazing Race!!

If you didn't know, my family is kind of obsessed with this show, and we have often fantasized about creating winning teams with a combination of strong language skills and excellent fitness. Well, now that I live in Burbank, the home of CBS, (and ABC, NBC, Warner Brothers, Disney, Nickelodeon, etc.) I figured I should take the opportunity to audition. It was a pretty grueling process, with several rounds of interviews, but they just finalized the cast list yesterday!

I am teamed up with Claire Winters, another opera singer in my ward, which is I guess what the producers liked about us. I don't know if they'll call us "Mormon Opera Moms" or what, but I think it should be catchy.

I had some concerns about who would take care of the kids while we're away, but the producers said they're willing to work with us. They realize the strain this can be on families, so they got in touch with PJ's bosses at USC and came up with a reduced work schedule for him over the summer while we're shooting. It's the light season at work for him anyway, but now he gets a couple of half-days a week. Only in LA, right? Claire's husband works evenings, so the two dads will switch off taking care of the kids.

This has been one of the main reasons I've been working on my fitness too---I realize the toll the show will take on my body and I want to be up to the challenge. Both Claire and I have traveled internationally, which should help, I think. My language skills are all Western European based, but she has focused a lot of her studies on Russian and Slavic, so that should be a plus.

I can't believe I'm actually going to do this! I'm terrified and excited all at once. Do any of you have tips for my preparation? I could use any advice you can give!!! Thanks, and I'll let you know when the first episode airs. Wish me luck!