Today was an adventure. I tried out for America's Next Top Model. Well, ok, I tried to try out for America's Next Top Model. There was an open call in NYC today from 10-3, and since they want people who are 5'7" and under for cycle 13, I figured, why not? What else do I have to do? Nothing, that's what.

So, M and I went to the audition spot around 8 this morning. The line to get into the audition went all the way around the block- and nobody was sure where the front of the line was. There was no official organization of the line outside- no police, no security, no show staffers, nothing. We got into what we figured was the back of the line and waited. The line started moving a few hours later- we were right at the back of the line, and were going to need to travel all the way around the block to get to the entrance. There were rumors of large crowds rushing the entrance, and given the lack of crowd control, I'm totally not surprised.

So, we spend the next few hours moving along. People are still relatively good natured, we're making jokes and laughing- I pulled out "I'm not here to make friends" every chance I got. I bond with a short woman standing next to me, who I think of as my line girlfriend going forward. Then the line pretty much stops moving. The crowd is filling the entire sidewalk down the block, walk to curb. M leaves to fill-in for me at a babysitting job I had lined up. Everyone packs in closer and closer- soon, every move forward comes from behind, and we're all hip to hip, barely able to move our arms. My line girlfriend and I are holding onto each other for dear life. It's 3 p.m., the stated end time for the auditions, I'm not anywhere near the door, there's no way of knowing how much longer this whole thing is going to take, I can't stand up straight with all the midget models crammed up my ribcage, and my poor fiance is doing my babysitting job. I decide to cut my losses, even though I can barely move. I push and shove my way out of the crowd- the only reason they don't tackle and kill me is because I'm leaving, which makes them rejoice- Woohoo, more room for us!

On the train back to Queens, I talk with a girl who had made it inside the audition- she had gotten there are 4:30 in the morning. No way did I want to be America's Next Top Model that badly! I trek back to my babysitting job, and later, M and I go to his apartment for some TV time. Late tonight I'm scrolling through the blogs when, what's this I see making headlines all over the internet? "Chaos breaks out at 'America's Next Top Model' audition in Manhattan". Why am I not surprised? I saw how poorly the whole thing was being run, I saw people getting angrier as the hours ticked by and the space became more cramped, and you know how girls get when they get hungry. Looks like I made the right call leaving when I did.