Just how do you eat a crawfish? Mrs. Arizona and Mrs. Utah asked....

Hello Las Vegas!!!!!! Our first official event was dinner at the French Market Buffet.

On my way to Las Vegas for the Mrs. United States Pageant!!! Sitting here in a hotel not far from the airport, I'm a little bit lonely, but also enjoying a bit of solitude. I leave in the morning for Las Vegas and the Mrs. United States Pageant. I am traveling with more clothing than I think I ever have in my life. I have to full size suitcases weighing in at about 40 pounds each, just under the 50 pound weight limit; it's crazy. I never did count how many pairs of shoes I packed but it is about 5 maybe 6, 2 evening gowns, three swimsuits, 2 suits, three cocktail dresses, enough make-up for to last a year, 6 or so pairs of earrings, workout clothes, more lingerie than I will wear in a month...... and even with all that I am sure to have forgotten something! But this will be easy, I am looking forward to an enjoyable, and fun filled week, with ladies from across the United States.

TOO LONG - It has been all too long since I visited my blog, unbelievably long, and so here I am back to talk..... about what? Let's see do I have anything to talk about? I'm getting ready to retire from the Army, (well in a few months anyway), I am once again at my home away from home - Fort Lewis, Washington - for 6 weeks, and oh yeah I am going to be in another beauty pageant! The Mrs. United States Pageant to be held 20 -25 July in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am being really low key about the whole thing because hyping myself up in the past has not gotten me the crown. So for now I am working on my game face. I'm in the gym, getting my diet right and just trying to Chill out. If it was meant to be it will come to me. So perhaps I will dedicate my blog this summer to just taking it easy......Everything is JUST DUCKY!!!!

Join the University of Oregon and the City of Eugene as we recognize World AIDS day and the impact that this disease has had on our world.

Friday, November 30th
5pm - 6pm: World AIDS Day Memorial CeremonyWayne Morse Plaza-Lane County Courthouse, 125 E. 8th Avenue, EugeneIncludes candlelight ceremony, address by Mayor Kitty Piercy, showing of AIDS timeline, and performance by members of "Spectrum" Lane Community College jazz ensemble6:30 pm: AIDS Art Reception Adell McMillan Gallery, Erb Memorial Union (EMU), University of Oregon Installations of "AIDS Plague" series by Clint Brown & AIDS art by Mike E. Walsh

8 pm: Condom Runway Fashion & Variety ShowEMU Ballroom, University of OregonIncludes skits, music & dance; doors open at 7:30pm
Installations/Exhibitions:Through December 1st: Clint Brown's "AIDS Plague" series Adell McMillan Galley, University of Oregon EMU

November 26 - December 1: Mike E. Walsh, AIDS InstallationEMU ConcourseNovember 26 - December 1: AIDS Memorial Pavilion & World AIDS TimelineEMU Concourse & Fountain Courtyard

October 6, 2007 was the Mrs. Oregon America Pageant. It was agreat experience Mrs. Taryn Stasny was this years winner, I was again came in as first runner-up. What can I say, perhaps like the say the "third time will be the charm".

It’s not about gay or straight. It’s about the people. Currently more than 1 million Americans are infected with HIV; the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and half a million have already died of AIDS or Autoimmune Deficiency Syndrome.
A handsome young man of 19 living on the streets with no where to go. He needed money to live and so he sold his body for a few dollars. With the incentive of earning $10.00 a counselor convinced him to get tested for HIV. Imagine his surprise when only days before his 20th birthday he found that he was HIV positive. It’s not about gay or straight it’s about our youth.
Despite large increases in reported AIDS cases over the last few years most Americans believe the HIV/AIDS epidemic is over with in the United States, that our AIDS epidemic has been controlled and contained. The truth is otherwise. HIV is not going away, and it’s not being confined to high risk groups. In recent years HIV/AIDS has gained a lot of ground fast, making serious in roads along the hidden fault lines in our society. A new surge of HIV is on its way that will be much worse than the first wave in the 1980’s. The United States has the most severe HIV epidemic of any developed country. We are not immune.
She is 97 years old a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother. She lives in New York and because of a program at her church she took an HIV test, she found she was positive. It’s not about gay or straight, it’s about the senior citizen.
Thirty-five years ago, you couldn’t find an American with the virus. Now AIDS is in more communities than McDonald’s, KFC and Wal-mart put together, as ubiquitous as the hidden and illegal behaviors it depends on to spread. AIDS is everywhere, from New York to the most remote islands off of the Alutians, in Texas border towns and Native American reservations and yes right here in Eugene, Oregon. The infection has crept in to every age group, effects families in every corner of out Nation. AIDS is infecting all the branches of our American family tree and seeping into its roots. It’s not about gay or straight, it’s about Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Great Falls, Tucson, Minneapolis, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Chicago, Dayton, Detroit, Philadelphia, Manhattan, Newark, Baltimore, Miami and every city in between.
He’s 80 now and enjoying a full life, retired and living on the Oregon Coast. He raised two wonderful, successful kids, but something is missing; children are supposed to outlive their parents, parents aren’t supposed to have to bury their kids. It’s not about gay or straight, it’s about a fathers love.
AIDS is the worst epidemic the world has ever known. It will soon become the worst epidemic the United States will ever know, yet it is virtually ignored by most Americans, their doctors and our government because it has been deliberately identified with “problem populations”. Since it was identified in the mid-1980’s, it has killed 37 million people. More than 40 million people are now infected, 14,000 each day. There is no cure. There is no vaccine. The problem is in our heartland, our homeland, and the center of our soul as more Americans take their place in the family portrait painted by HIV. It’s not about gay or straight it’s about our mothers, our fathers, sisters and brothers. The profile of the typical American with AIDS has changed drastically since the epidemic began. In the early years homosexuality and drug use were the key driving factors. It’s not about gay or straight, it’s about being responsible for the ones you love and the ones with which you are making love.
Tall, handsome, a real honey-dip”, he swept her off of her feet. He was flowers, expensive dinners; in six months they were married. 2 years later she learned the love of her life had full blown AIDS. It’s not about gay or straight, it’s about love, trust and the truth.
History tells us that epidemics last a long time. HIV/AIDS will be around for at least the next 200 or 300 years. The trajectory of HIV/AIDS growth that started in the late 1980’s will continue until the middle of the twenty-first century, with peaks and valleys occurring at different times on different continents. Then after a long plateau there will be a long drop and AIDS will stabilize worldwide at a lower level and be with us permanently as an epidemic, chronic disease. His name is Scott C. Rankins an artistic man with a bright future, handsome with a devilish grin. He lived a carefree life surrounded by people who loved and adored him. He died at age 40 of AIDS. It’s not about gay or straight, it’s about my brother. It’s not about gay or straight it’s about you, you, you, you, you …and you.

Junior Miss Black Oregon Pageant - I do believe that it was 1974, maybe 1975. It was my first beauty pageant, and my father encouraged me to enter, it wasn't a horrible experience, but I guess I was sad that I did not win, but I did get 2nd runner-up. I think this was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Portland near the Lloyd Center. Ah to be young again.........

GAME DAY - Today "kicked off" the University of Oregon's football season with an exciting game against the University of Houston Cougars. The bottom line is that the day ended with a 48-27 victory with the ducks over the Cougars, but more than the game ending up in the win column it was a special day for me because I was asked to be one of the "guest coaches" for the day. A program that the Athletic Department has to ensure that folks don't forget that the main reason for the athletes being at the University is to get an education. We were able to have breakfast with the players and the coaches, we hung out in the locker room before the game and we got the awesome opportunity of running through the tunnel and onto the field with the team. The noise from the stadium is like nothing you've ever heard before. We got to stand on the side lines throughout the game and had a nice lunch in one of the club rooms at half-time. After the game we ran back to the locker room with the team and heard the coach give a post game talk. I took over 150 photographs and probably would have taken more if my camera had not started acting up.....Here are just a few.

Going through the tunnel

Coach Belotti on his way out to the field

Ducky does push-ups for every point made by Oregon

It was a hot day in the high 80's, so they had the misting machine on.

Oregon's star quarterback Dennis Dixon and Mrs. Eugene at the pre-game meal. Dennis is my son's favorite player and a heck of a nice guy.

Game Day Guest Coaches on their way to Autzen Stadium

Today was pom-pom day. The photo is of 60 or so thousand pom-poms placed on every seat in Autzen stadium before the crowd arrived.

Ian and I on the field

Tailgate Auction 2007 -

Well once again I was blessed to have been a part of the University of Oregon/Springfield Chamber of Commerce Annual Tailgate Auction. This year was even more exciting than last years for me as not only was I there as Mrs. Eugene and supporting the Alumni Association, but I also donated my 2005 Harley Davidson Sportster 883 to be auctioned off. I hated getting rid of it, but being as I bought it brand new in 2005 and to date it only had 535 miles on it, I decided it was time to give it up. My husband doesn't ride and I spend most of my days driving my 12 year old from one after school activity to another and the bike sits lonely in my garage gathering dust. So as sad as it was to let it go, the good news is that it was auctioned off to a good home, and the money will go to a good cause.

There were other highlights to the evening; As many of you may or may not know, Springfield was almost the town that held the premier of the Simpson's movie this year. Well a couple of the auction items came from the Simpson's including several movie posters and the Simpson's sofa set. Everyone had a great time having their photo taken on the sofa. And Ian bid (using my my name) on the Simpson's poster. In the end he did not win the poster, but a very kind man who did win the poster actually gave it to Ian. THANK-YOU!!!!

Of course Coach Mike Belotti popped into give a pep quick talk to the sea of Duck football supporters and wherever the coach goes so does our beloved mascot Ducky.

It was a great evening and was only made better by the fact that I was able to share it with my family. This year not only was my husband there, but also my mom and my "Official Photographer" aka my son Ian, it was a great time.

August 18th was a busy day for me and for my fellow Mrs. Oregon America contestants. My day started the night before as I returned from a business trip in Virginia late Friday night, weary and jet-lagged I got up at 0600 Saturday morning to make the 2 hour drive to Portland for the Mrs. Oregon America workshop. The workshop is conducted each year for a number of reasons; to allow the ladies to get to know one another (there are 9 of us this year), to turn in all of the necessary paperwork to be in the pageant and to talk about things like, wardrobe, make-up, walking correctly on stage, judges interviews and in general what pageant day will be like. The workshop was held at the Best Western Motel in Sunnyside (Portland), afterwards some of the ladies had dinner at one of the Pageant's sponsors Hoda's Middle Eastern Cuisine restaurant 3401 S.E. Belmont http://www.hodas.com/. Then it was off to Mrs. Oregon America's official send-off party. The pageant contestants, family and friends of Mrs. Kimberly Takla descended on her home in S.W. Portland for the opportunity to see her beautiful pageant wardrobe, eat good food and to wish her well as she heads to Tucson, Arizona this week for the Mrs. America Pageant http://www.mrsamerica.com/. You can keep up with Kim and her time in Tucson by viewing her blog at http://www.mrsoregon2007.blogspot.com/. GOOD LUCK KIM - We know you will do Oregon proud!!!



Mrs. Southern Oregon, Mrs. Eugene, Mrs. Clackamas County
are joined by Hoda owner and head chef of Hoda's Middle Eastern Cuisine
in Portland. They are a sponsor for the Mrs. Oregon
America Pageant. The food is wonderful!!


The murals on the walls at Hoda's are beautiful, I guess
you can't quite tell since we are standing in front of it, but
trust me they really are pretty.


Domestic Diva's - Kim Takla - Mrs. Oregon America and her best friend
Tamara Wissbaum - Mrs. Oregon International make coffee for guests
at Kim's Mrs. America send off party on 18 August.


Mrs. Eugene, Mrs. Rose City and Mrs. Multnomah Co.
at the Mrs. Oregon America send-off party


Mrs. Oregon Kim Takla is joined by the 2008 Mrs. Oregon contestants at the Mrs. Oregon Send off party 18 August 07.

Scott Christian Rankins is my brother and I miss him terribly. Scottie died at 40 years of age. I miss him for totally selfish reasons. I miss him because he has not been here to give me his opinion on anything! Scott was always good for giving his opinion on my clothes, my boyfriends, my jobs, he missed my wedding!! He has missede my life in general and though I think I have managed well over the past few years without Scott, I think it would be very comforting to have him with me. Scottie died from AIDS in 2001, it does not bother me to tell people my families story of dealing with AIDS in our life. It does not bother me, because I want everyone to know, young, middle aged, and old that AIDS is still a threat in our world. I want everyone to know about it, to understand it and to protect themselves. No one is immune from this disease. We all need to educate ourselves, our children, our parents, our friends. Education, Compassion, and research to find a cure. Scott was/is my best friend he is not here physically for me to talk to, but I do talk to him. Please join me and my family in this fight against AIDS. Act, ask questions, get tested, know your status, be aware. Don't be like Scottie, don't leave this world before your time.

San Diego Padres Mascot "Friar", Mrs. Eugene and THE best mascot The University of Oregon 's Donald Duck at the Eugene Emerald's baseball game August 2007

Singing our Nations Anthem -

The National Anthem Project just happens to be a major partner with the Mrs. America Pageant, the National Anthem and the Mrs. America Program also just happen to be two organizations that are near and dear to my heart. I was singing the National Anthem at numerous venues before I became Mrs. Eugene, but now my title has given me more confidence and more opportunity to sing the song, the Anthem that is known so well around the world. The Anthem that lets the world know where I am from and who we are and what we stand for. This was never more apparent to me than last year as I stood in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square during the National Anthem Project's visit to our fair state as a group of "anarchists", protesters burned our Nation's symbol, the "Stars and Stripes", while citizens sang the National Anthem. The sight truly pissed me off, so much so that it brought tears to my eyes. To think that I have spent 20 years in the United States Army doing what I think is right to defend our Nations freedom, the sight truly irritated me. But then I reminded myself that if it were not for the freedom that we enjoy in this country, those 18 and 19 year old people burning the flag of the United States on the ground would not just be standing there and laughing, but they would probably be carted off to jail (in any other country). So as the tears streamed down my face and as I stood before an audience of complete unknowns I sang the Star Spangled Banner as I had never sung it before. Each time I am able to sing it again, it has more and more meaning to me, as it did in the photos here on August 12th during a Eugene Emeralds baseball game. I enjoy singing as many of my friends know, but I do't know any song, I don't enjoy singing any song more than I do the United States National Anthem.




Singing the Anthem June 2006 at Pioneer Courthouse Square Portland, Oregon

The Oregon Country Fair - 38 years of world class entertainment, hand-made crafts, delectable foods, educational displays and magical surprises at every turn of the path. Located in a wooded setting, 13 miles west of Eugene near Veneta, Oregon, an unforgettable adventure.

It really was very interesting I had heard stories of people walking through the forest partially clad, or just plain nude, know we didn't see anyone that was competely nude but there were ladies walking around in full body paint. The music was great, and the food was..... well, like WOW!!! http://www.ringoffirerestaurant.com/ We had a great fruit plate from the Ring of Fire restaurant, but I guess you go there for the people and the costumes and we were far from disappointed by what we saw.

An Officer and a Beauty Queen
Portland native Joelle Rankins Goodwin will vie for the title of Mrs. Oregon, a statewide pageant for married women, held this October in Clackamas.

By Sarah Blount The Portland Observer
Portland native supplements army career with pageantry. Joelle Rankins Goodwin has spent most of her career as a military intelligence officer in the United States Army, but none of that prepared her for her first experience parading in front of 200 people while wearing a swimsuit.From soldier to assistant professor at the University of Oregon to beauty queen, this Major focused her sights on winning the title Mrs. Oregon 2008 - a statewide competition for married women taking place this October in Clackamas. Goodwin, 43, a former Rose Festival princess from Lincoln High School, currently holds the title of Mrs. Eugene America 2007. She says it took guts to join the pageant life."Entering into a pageant is kind of like being an athlete and training yourself," she said. "I think it takes a lot of courage just to get up on the stage. It takes confidence, and that's not something I'm lacking."While it may seem unusual for a Major to compete as a beauty queen, Goodwin says military affiliations are not uncommon in the pageantry world. "I'm surprised with how many people are associated with the military," she said. "You find a lot of respect for military members."Goodwin has been married three years to her husband Bob. Between the pair they have three children: Ian, 12, Daniela, 10 and Sam, 17.Last year, Goodwin came very close to winning the title of Mrs. Oregon 2007, until she reached the obligatory onstage interview portion. That's the part of the pageant where contestants must think quickly on their feet to answer an open-ended question. "If you could be president for a day," the interviewer asked, "what would you do?" Goodwin said that being president didn't mean waving a magic wand to make war and sickness go away."I'd take my day to enjoy the White House and take it all in," she answered.But in the end, her response was no match for the following contestant, who Goodwin said gave an answer that was spot-on. Contestant Kimberly Takla said she'd wave the so-called wand anyway, magically making sickness and war go away. Sickness did not go away that evening, but Takla did become Mrs. Oregon 2007. Goodwin finished as first runner-up. Having been bested by magic, Goodwin is trying for the crown and banner again for the 2008 title. This time she is preparing by sculpting her body with the help of a personal trainer and honing her interview skills through a membership with Toastmasters International. Toastmasters, a club where you make speeches to be critiqued by fellow members. Goodwin and her husband joined the UO branch in January, where she's been working on limiting the "uh" factor in her speeches. "I feel even more confident this year," she said. If she succeeds in winning the Mrs. Oregon title, Goodwin will then take an expenses-paid trip to Nationals. After that, she may get to represent married women throughout the world. Goodwin has another reason to aspire for the domestic and international titles. "I'm not sure there has ever been a woman of color to win Mrs. Oregon, and I don't think there's ever been an African American Mrs. America," she said. "I'd love to be the first."This year's Mrs. Oregon pageant takes place Saturday, Oct. 6 at Clackamas High School.

Copyright 2004, Portland Observer http://www.portlandobserver.com/