THE INTERVIEW - Imagine 5 judges, 53 women and they have to spend 4 minutes with each of them learning as much as they can about them in that time! We truly have a beautiful and dynamic group of ladies here at the Mrs. United States Pageant and I do not envy the judges job this week. Interviews began at 6:00PM and are not due to be finished until 11:00PM. Tomorrow of course is more rehearsals and the preliminary competition.

"The Room"

"The Timer"

THE DREADED SWIMSUIT COMPETITION?

We started the day at 7AM with our swimsuit photo. The photographers were fantastic and did a great job of making the ladies feel at ease in front of the camera, after taking our individual photos we gathered around the swimming pool for the customary pool shot with the class of 2008. As none of us felt like eating breakfast before getting into our swimsuits to have pictures taken we bolted for the breakfast bar. Here are a few photos of our time around the pool -

REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL - From 9:30 AM until 4:00 PM the key word was REHEARSAL. Yesterday by the time we quit rehearsing no one cared if we ever heard the count of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 again we all dreamed it last night, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.... today it was the tune of Gloria Estefan's "Party Time" over and over and over and over again! Know one had ever heard of the song before and by the time we leave here we hope we never have to hear it again. The majority of us rehearsed in "comfortable" shoes for most of the day and then put on our heels on occasion just to get used to wearing them on stage. Other hard charging ladies wore heels all day long (God Bless them), so following is my photo expose of the Mrs. United States Class of 2008 feet.

Tonight we look forward to our judges interviews and then in the morning more REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL.......

WHAT A DAY!!!!

We started with breakfast at 7:30 then orientation at 8:30, we got a wonderful pep talk from Mrs. United States 2007 Stephanie Hunt, then we met our choreographers and other production staff of the Mrs. United States Pageant. After a very long day of rehearsals we were off to Planet Hollywood for a few hours of shopping on the Mircle Mile or whatever any other girls decided to do. Many of us wanted to spend a night out on the town but director Isabella Ilacqua knows best she had us all back on the bus and to our hotel by 9:30. We are all due for our swimsuit photos starting at 7 AM. I hope you enjoy the photos from todays activities...

Mrs. United States 2007 talks to this years delegates

The state gift exchange, it was like Christmas in July!

We all had our little (or big) bags in hand Christmas? maybe trick or treating...

Getting it all organized

Boarding the bus to Planet Hollywood

Me with Mrs. United States Director Isabella Ilacqua

Just hanging out on the Miracle Mile Mall

Getting good luck from Budda

Mrs. Florida and one of her fans and fellow statesmen.

Stephanie had to take her crown off so that it would not hit the ceiling of the bus

Shopping at Frederick's ooh la la

and so it as time to call it a night, it was late but we were all still smiling :)

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