I won another Evan-related auction.

But I think this one is the mother lode of Evan auctions. I just got this email confirmation that I won:

I totally did not expect to win this at all. This was part of the Race to Erase MS Gala that took place last Friday. It was a two-part auction. The first part was online. That part I won easily (there was only one other bid). But once the online auction was over, there was going to be a live auction that night out in Los Angeles. It was a star-studded event, and I was pretty certain there was no way I would beat out the celebrities, so my maximum really wasn't that high at all. So imagine my surprise when I received that email today telling me that I actually won. Wow.

Now I just wait to receive my information packet in the mail. The skating with Evan does have to take place in Los Angeles, and I'm in Ohio. But, we are already planning to be in California for a week in July, and we have the entire month of August free. My husband travels to the Los Angeles area nearly weekly for business, and I know he would love to have us with him for another week, so there should be no problem getting this set up. I hope.

I guess the next step is to actually learn how to skate...

That is totally awesome!! :cheer: :clap: Congratulations!! :hug:

WOW Congrats!!! :cheer:

So awesome for you and Karen:)

Holy SMOKES! Congratulations! :cloud9:

WOW!!!!! Congratulations!!!

Congratulations!

You obviously have the "Midas touch!!" :thumbup:

Congratulations!
How lucky you are! :hug: It must be a priceless experience. :clap:

How lucky you are indeed!! :clap: :clap:

Congratulations!! You are definitely doing something right. I'm sure you will enjoy this! Please don't forget to give us details after your skating lesson. :)

Congratulations! Be sure to post pictures!

How do you find these auctions? That is great for you but JEALOUS!!! <_< :P

I think I saw this auction mentioned a couple different places. Someone posted it in a thread about Evan at another figure skating board. I also think I saw it on Facebook, although I don't remember if it was on Evan's page or elsewhere.

If you haven't already, you can read all about my evening with Evan here, as we had our lesson with him last August:

http://z9.invisionfree.com/evanlysacekfan/...topic=2205&st=0

:cloud9: Wow, just wow - what story! And you won another chance to see him? Do you keep four-leaf clovers with you all the time, or what?

My daughter and I have seen Evan twice. The first time was an auction won in late 2010 that gave me two tickets to the SOI show of my choice as well as passes to meet Evan afterward. That took place in March 2011 in Pittsburgh, and we also were seated with Evan's family for the show. (I'm not sure how that happened, but it was a nice surprise.)

The second auction I won, which is what we're discussing here, ended in April 2011. I totally did not expect to win that one, since it was handled differently. The online portion ended the afternoon of April 29. I won that portion easily, as only one other person bid at all, and they only bid the minimum amount. This auction was part of the Race to Erase MS, and Evan's auction was one of a handful that had an online portion, too. After the auction ended, I was contacted by an auction rep to see if I wanted to increase my maximum bid, which I did by a small amount, which turned out to be a good idea, because my maximum bid was what won the auction.

Anyway, the Race to Erase MS had a star-studded celebrity gala the evening of April 29 in Los Angeles. Evan's auction was one of dozens that were part of a silent auction at the celebrity gala. An auction rep bid on my behalf at the silent auction. I really expected to lose to a celebrity. I was told that I would find out one way or another if I won by Monday May 2. When Monday came and went without any news, I assumed I had lost, so I was beyond thrilled when I found out on Tuesday that I won.

It was totally worth every penny, as Evan really went above and beyond that night. All he owed us, per the auction terms, was a pair of signed skates and an hour on the ice. Instead we had about 2.5 hours of just us with Evan, out of the 3.5 hours we were at the rink. He is a genuinely nice, decent young man, and was such a warm, gracious and attentive host.

One of the most amazing parts to me is this. When Karen and I met Evan in Pittsburgh, I had him sign "Triumph on Ice" for me. It had just been released a couple of weeks before I met Evan, and it was the first time Evan had seen the book. He leafed through it while talking to me, and I pointed out to him that there was a section that compared his scores at the Olympics to Plushenko's and explained why Evan won. Evan commented that it sounded interesting, and I blurted out that I had thought of having him sign that page, "Choke on it, Plushenko." (My daughter was mortified that I actually said that to Evan.) Evan found that funny. Well, in the summer, a friend of mine saw Evan and gave him that book as a gift. In the course of conversation, I came up and Evan totally remembered me from that book. (I'm convinced that the choke on it comment is why I stuck out to him.) When I saw Evan in Lake Arrowhead, I told him my friend said hello, and he commented that she had given him the book I had him sign in Pittsburgh. I find it impressive that, with all the people Evan must meet, he remembered us and that book.

:) Nice that he remembers so well (though the "Choke on it, Plushenko" comment probably would have stuck in my memory too :lol3: ).

Choke on it, Plushenko is great!

"Choke on it, Plushenko!" = :thumbup: :thumbup: and something Evan would appreciate but never say out loud himself.

Evan has an uncanny way of remembering fans very well. I think it is because he totally puts his attention on the person he is meeting and forgets about himself.

:huh: I think this is where I would ask... Does anyone know why Evan is going to Dubai???? hmmmm....

Oops - I meant choke on it Plushenko, EVAN is great!

And I LOVE how Evan remembers fans! I only met him for about a minute and he seemed to remember me when I posted on his Facebook a few weeks later!!

Not a clue! Unless it's somehow related to one of those prior contractual obligations for a sponsor. PURE speculation.

Also, pure speculation, but I wondered if it could associated with Deloitte or the fact that Dubai is going to bid to host the summer Olympics in 2024. Evan usually mentions when he is doing something connected to Deloitte, and I know he's not a summer Olympian. Again, just speculating. We'll have to wait until we hear from Evan.

I was going to ask the same thing when I saw that Evan tweeted he was going to Dubai. I'm sure it's a business trip, but for what exact reason, who knows? Hopefully, he'll let us in on the reason later. :-)

Since this has now morphed to a discussion about Evan's travels, Do not want to close this one altogether so, I'm going to change the topic title and then start a new one for his travel discussions. :)

Carry on here with discussions of Diana's meet and greet with Evan. Please take travel discussion to other topic.

:thankyou: