Always willing to try something new..... The other day I went with my personal trainer (PT) Jack to a Yoga class. He had been a couple of times before and talked me into attending with him, but I'm thinking he should have given me more information. For some reason I had the impression that the class would be one hour, it was an hour and a half. I read the piece of paper that said the temperature of the room would be set at 104' degrees, but I guess it didn't dawn on me how hot that was, and how hot that is to actually move in and do physical activity in. Think back to how you felt attending your first aerobics class or jazz dance class, that whole uncoordinated thing, now imagine feeling that awkwardness at 104 degrees for an hour and a half. When I walked out of the building I was truly drenched in sweat like I never have been before, not even after running in a marathon. It was god awful!! I thought I was going to die, but of course I didn't, I lived through it and actually went back for a second class, now I need to take the plunge and go back for the third, I'm trying to convince myself that I am truly getting something out of contorting my body into unnatural positions while sweating like the proverbial pig.

A Pageant Girls Life....

I have my father to blame for this thing I call the pageant craze. It all began in the 4th grade it was 1974. Dad signed me up as a contestant in the Junior Miss Black Oregon Pageant, so what did this mean? Well it meant having a gown made, it meant learning how to curtsey just so, it meant that my parents had to sit nervously in the audience and watch as their younger child took the stage for the first time to sing Summertime, I found out years later that my mentor (dad) left and went to the bathroom when I got ready to sing, because he was so nervous…but he had prepared me well. I entered the Junior Miss Black Oregon Pageant 2 years in a row I didn’t win either time. But the bottom line is that I had been bitten - I had the pageant bug. In those days pageants were not quite as prevalent as they are today so, I lived vicariously through the television and the Miss America Pageants. Each year Miss America fell ominously during an annual party that my parents attended at the Hickerson’s home. Lori their daughter was my pageant-watching buddy. We watched the show on TV in the Hickerson’s living room - as the parade of beauties went by we picked our favorites. It was not until my senior year at Lincoln High School that I had my next opportunity at pageant glory. First was the race for homecoming queen - it was simple; there was no parading across the stage, no gowns, no swimsuits. Students were to choose from 5 senior girls, I won homecoming queen that year. Again, I had that pageant bug and I wanted more, I wanted a crown. Oh sure I had my homecoming tiara, but I wanted the real deal, a full blown crown, like in Miss America. So I set my sights on the Miss Portland Scholarship pageant. Then I tried the Miss Oregon USA pageant. I have one fairly vivid memory of Miss Oregon USA; I was just getting ready to go out on stage in my very sexy swimsuit, I remember it well, it was a white tank suit of mesh material it had white flowers strategically located. Just as I was going to step out, the girl behind me said, “oh my gosh, you have a huge zit on your ass!” What could I do? I strolled out on stage as if I owned the world. I didn’t win Miss Portland or Miss Oregon USA, I didn’t even place, but if you have a good attitude about these things you learn to say, “I had a good time, I learned something about myself, and I did the best that I could.” Then it was on to the next competition. The Portland Rose Festival was fast approaching. I was chosen as Lincoln High School’s Rose Princess for 1982 and served proudly and with honor but alas all I got was the tiara (and at that they crowned me and then took it away for next years winner), but I did not get the crown of all crowns the one that most every Portland girl dreams of wearing, the crown that dubs her the “Queen of Rosaria”. It is a special crown with a lot of history, it’s made of gold and rubies, and it has been apart of the Rose Festival for 100 years; it is kept under a lock and key. In 1982 the coveted title went to Leslie Carlson of Cleveland High School. At that point I figured my pageant years were over that is at least until I got married and could compete in the Mrs. America pageant. You see the pageant age for Miss America and Miss USA is from about 17 to 24. With no man in sight to marry and college on the horizon, my dreams of winning a pageant crown were put on the back burner. In 1986 I graduated from the University of Oregon and went on to start my life as an Officer in the United States Army. I figured, as most would that pageantry and the Army were not a good mix, but boy was I wrong; I arrived at my first duty station in Herzogenaurach Germany, I wasn’t there 6 months when I saw the call for contestants in the Ms. Nurnberg beauty pageant. Not only does the Army and pageantry mix, this pageant was for Army women and the wives of Army personnel. With a sequins gown, and a dramatic interpretation I took the title of Ms. Nurnberg. I felt a great sense of satisfaction, but this was still no Miss America and my crown once again was a very small tiara. Let’s fast forward 20 years to 2003, I was 39 years old had a nine year old son and there was still no man in my life, I had all but forgotten my dream, visions of tiaras and crowns dancing in my head. Then prince charming walked back into my life. I say back because Bob Goodwin had been my high school sweetheart, I had not seen him in at least 20 years, our coming together is another story in itself, which I will save for another time. But Bob and I married and immediately my dream was back, oh sure by now I was forty years old and my body sure wasn’t what it used to be, but I took the plunge anyway, I was living in Birmingham, Alabama I decided to try out for the Mrs. Alabama United States pageant, So I went for Mrs. Alabama United States, but didn’t even make the top 10. Again I told myself I had done my best, besides I really wasn’t in to it, I mean I’m not from Alabama, I’m an Oregonian. I returned to Oregon last year, and before I had even stepped foot in the state I had paid my fees to the Mrs. Oregon America pageant and claimed the title of Mrs. Eugene America 2007. On October 6th 2006, I came closer to my pageant happiness than I ever had in my life, I was 1st runner-up to Mrs. Portland Kimberly Takla who oh by the way won Miss Oregon USA when I was a contestant back in 1986. Once again I hold the title of Mrs. Eugene and will vie for the title of Mrs. Oregon 2008. If I haven’t made myself clear as to why winning a crown is so important to me please allow me to quickly elaborate; winning a crown was always very important to me, but now its for very different reasons, yes I still love the limelight but being in a pageant for me is like being and athlete, we train and we train some more to do our best, look our best, be the best. It’s about family, it’s about community and community service, I have traveled all over the world, I have seen many beautiful places but in the end the place that I love the place that I want to be an ambassador for and show off to the world is the great state of Oregon, it is what I know, it is what I love and it is what I want to win a crown for.

My new pageant sisters and I got together for the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland on the 6th of July. We were allowed the opportunity to volunteer in suport of the Oregon Food Bank. Not only was it was worthy cause but it was a great time and we heard some great music.

Is this anyway for a beauty queen to live? well I guess it is if she just happens to be a Major in the United States Army, like me. So here I am spending another summer at Fort Lewis, Washington. Living in old World War II Barracks, that need to be, that should be and some have been condemned. the photos are not actually from Fort Lewis, but they may as well be, the "temporary" WWII barracks looks the same at Military bases all across the United States. So how did I get so lucky as to spend thirty plus days at this vacation spot? It is all a part of being an Army ROTC instructor, we all get our chance to each summer to train ROTC Cadets at Fort Lewis. Don't get me wrong the rest of Fort Lewis is just beautiful, they just stick us temporary folks in these temporary buildings. I've tried to explain that I have this beauty regime that just does not go along with living in a room that is smaller than my college dorm room, that living in the 80 degree heat without air conditioning is doing nothing for my complexion, that only having a community microwave oven to cook my food in is doing nothing for my strict Weight-Watchers diet, the one thing that I am getting plenty of is exercise, running here, walking there, riding my bike over there etc. I complain only because I can laugh at it all, after 21 years in the Army, I've seen plenty and lived in worse, besides that, I say that there are worse places I could be, I think about my brothers and sisters who are "living" in Iraq and Afghanistan, in tents in 120 degree heat, sucking the sand into there lungs day in and day out, and worrying if they will be the next ones to drive by that IED. Then I sit back and say"this just isn't that bad". Beauty Queen? sometimes; Soldier?

Always.

RED BULL GIVES YOU WINGS - yes I admit it, Red Bull is my new not so secret love. But I'm not addicted to it or at least I don't think I am. I am very particular about how and when I drink my Red Bull. I first fell for "the Bull" about 2 years ago, now I tend to be sort of sensitive to caffeine so I knew I had to be careful, I found the 8.3 Fluid ounce can to be just perfect for me, not too much and not too little. I sip my Red Bull slowly, and savour the flavor of it. Now my husband just doesn't get it, he would pump coffee in through his veins if he could, but does not get the appeal of Red Bull, he does not understand my love for "the Bull", he thinks that it tastes like cough syrup. Cough syrup? Ha! Yes it is my elixir, my nectar of which I look forward to each morning. Usually I drink one and only one and not the first thing in the morning, but long about 9:00 AM, that is unless I am starting our at a particularly early and ungodly hour, then I will have 2 Red Bull. I have also found that if I am traveling for long distances by car (more than 2 hours) I will indulge in 2 Red Bull. BUT no more than 2. If I have had more than 2 I am done for the day, I can't think straight and feel as if I have a hang-over, therefore I have over indulged I have loved my Red Bull way too much. People often kid me about the blue and silver can that they see me carrying around and ask me if I've got it mixed with some alcoholic beverage the drink of choice I guess Red Bull and vodka or Red Bull and Jagermeister. So I gave it a try (in the evening of course)......eeeewwww GROSS!!!! Don't try to mix my Red Bull with anything, nothing, it is what it is, and needs no altering. I am so excited I have a coupon for $8.00 off of a case of Red Bull at Costco which for me means 30 (or so) days of pure unadulterated pleasure. I open my refrigerator each morning and eye each bottle, I look at them with shear pleasure and know that they are there for me each day to get me started to do as the side of the can says "supply my tired mind and exhausted body with vital substances that have been lost". Yes, Red Bull you are there for me. But I can quit you anytime....really I can.

I am such a slacker. I haven't been here in ages, now I turn around and the whole reason for originally publishing this blog is almost upon me again.....you remember the pageant! Mrs. Oregon America is just 4 months away. I have spent the last 8 months gearing up for it. Let's see I've joined Toastmaster's International http://www.toastmasters.org/ to hone my public speaking skills, I've been running my ass off, completed the Inaugural Eugene Marathon a month ago, have spent the last six weeks working out with a personal trainer (love you Jack), I have reached my GOAL weight with Weight Watchers losing a total of 30 pounds and I got braces put on my teeth!!! Can you imagine, this is the 2nd time around for that. I've even started on my wardrobe, I've got my gown, shoes and interview suit. I will be ready come October 6th 2007. Will you?

Running in the Footsteps of Legends is the theme for the inaugural Eugene Marathon. As I count down the weeks and days (33 days to be exact) to the marathon, I often think to myself, "why am I doing this"? Do I really want to run in the "footsteps of legends"? That thought is especially at the forefront of my mind on Saturday mornings as I go for my "long run", with the group at the Eugene Running Company. It all starts on Friday night as I lay out the clothes that I will put on for the morning run, shorts or tights; jacket or no jacket; will I need sunglasses? When I roll out of bed at 0600 on Saturday (I think why am I doing this?) I remind myself that I must "fuel up my body", ordinarily I would not eat before I run, but on this day I decide to try something new, I eat a banana and a bagel before I go, I pop my pain preventative Motrin and I am out the door. This past Saturday I ran for just shy of 3 hours, about 18 miles. As I slog along I do wonder to myself why? As my Achilles tendon starts to ache, as my knees start to give out, I ask myself "am i too old to do this"? On this particular Saturday the woman who has become my running partner (Eileen) on these long runs is out of town. I am pretty good at talking and keeping whomever I am running withs mind off of the fact that we are running for an hour or more, but I knew that Eileen wasn't going to be around and though I could have paired up with someone else for company on the run, I decided to bring my MP3 player along instead, to keep me company. In the end I felt pretty good.

Miss Oregon America Send-off Party - Today we held a send off party for Donilee McGinnis Miss Oregon America 2006. This years pageant will be held in Las Vegas and televised on CMT on 29 January. Donilee and genuinely beautiful young lady inside and out will do well. Ian tagged along with me for today's event. Read about Donilee and her platform at he Miss Oregon web-site http://missoregon.org/ read more about all the ladies competing in the Miss America Pageant at - CMT.com http://www.cmt.com/shows/events/miss_america/2007/

Good Luck Donilee we are rooting for you.

Old News - a friend of mine just gave me some photos from the Mrs. Oregon Pageant, so I decided to upload them here -

A NEW CHALLENGE - It seems as if my life is about challenging myself, whether it is going to Airborne school and learning to jump out of a "perfectly good airplane" or whether it is entering a beauty pageant or running in a road race. I told myself that I was done with running marathons; Portland in 2001, Country Music in 2004. But here they come with the Inaugural Eugene Marathon, right here in "Track Town USA", how can I not run? I told myself that running and mostly the training for a marathon was too hard on my body, mostly my knees. But now that I have lost 27 pounds (still fight to lose those last 3 lbs), I feel so good, I am in the best shape of my life, my running is so much easier and faster, how can I not run? So I have signed up to run with a group that is training for the Eugene Marathon 29 April 2007. I am working for a personal best being that I ran the Country Music Marathon in 5 and 1/3 hours, that should not be hard to do! http://www.eugenemarathon.com/

Campus population gathers for world AIDS day - Online Only

1st Runner-up to Mrs. Oregon America 2007 - Clackamas High School was the setting for the 2007 Mrs Oregon America Pageant. The first in the season of Mrs America Pageants, eleven women competed Saturday Night, October 7 for the title of Mrs Oregon 2007.
The ladies ranged from 26 to 47, married 8 months to 23 years. It truly was an array like no other and the women not only shined, they resonated well with the judges. What a strong group, one judge was heard to have said. The evening started with an opening number choreographed by Mrs Oregon 2003, Patricia Nuttbrock, to We Are Family. Then the Jantzen Swimsuit Competition followed by the Evening Gown Competition all before intermission. As the 400 plus audience returned to their seat the emcee called all the former Mrs Oregon to stand one by one to celebrate 30 years of Mrs America. The earliest Mrs Oregon was also a Judge, Marsha Naegeli-Moody was Mrs Oregon 1990. Mrs Oregon's from 98, 99, 01, 03, 04, 05, and 06 not only support the program, are still involved in many other capacities.
After a wonderful tribute slideshow tribute presented by John McKibben, Mrs Oregon 2006's husband, it was time to announce the top 5. Taryn Stastny, Jennifer Willis, Trudi Newman, Joelle Rankins-Goodwin, and Kimberly Takla made the cut. They then changed into their opening number dresses and had an on stage interview with Las Vegas Radio Host, Chet Buchannan. Chet's amazing way of making the ladies feel comfortable allowed them the ability to have a wonderful conversation and show themselves to the audience and the judges. It was ANYONE'S game at this point.
National Champion and World Finalist Irish Dancer, Courtney Grogan provided talent while the scores were being tabulated by the auditor. The Director, Libby Crawford, presented several awards and also a check for $1600 to the Chris Dudley Foundation. The pageants goal was to raise $800 to send a child with juvenile diabetes to an intensive basketball camp where they learn to manage their insulin while playing a sport. The cost for one child to go to camp is $800. The money was raised from an online auction the pageant created on their website. They auctioned baskets that the ladies had created from each of their areas of representation. The baskets raised $1200 and Jennifer Willis of Elite Home Loans (also Mrs Southern Oregon) pitched in another $400 to the money raised so that we could send 2 children to camp. The basket that raised the most money received a Mini-Spa Day and that winner was Mrs Marion Co., Kathy Lynn Thompson raising $400!!
The time had come and the final number to Last Dance begun. One last look at all of the states semi finalist. Awards were given (see below) and then the top 5 were asked to step forward. Holding hands the top 5 were announced. 4th runner up, Jennifer Willis, Mrs Southern Or. 3rd runner up, Trudi Newman, Mrs Springfield. 2nd runner up, Taryn Stastny, Mrs Washington Co. and then there was two.
Joelle and Kimberly stepped forward as Chet made his tradition 1st runner up speech before announcing the winner. "And the 1st runner up is....Mrs Eugene, Joelle Rankins-Goodwin, that means Kimberly Takla is the New Mrs Oregon 2007"
Kimberly has a full year to prepared for the 2007 Mrs America Pageant next fall. She has dreamed of the moment ever since she was 18 when a mentor Victoria Jenkins (Mrs Oregon 1984) competed at Mrs America. "I worked so hard and am going give this title my all!" says Takla. Kimberly was the 1st runner up to Lisa Marie Menken in 2005. That seems to be the trend at Mrs Oregon's since director Libby Crawford took on the directorship, Angela Warren, Lisa Marie Menken, and Kimberly Takla were all 1st runners up and have come back the next year to win the title! Maybe the trend will continue for 1st runner up Joelle Rankins-Goodwin, this year's 1st runner up.
Evenings Awards:Most Ad Sales Joelle Rankins-GoodwinMost Ticket Sales Trudi NewmanMost Years Married Trudi NewmanPeople's Choice Award Michelle Hawkins(this award was based on the most cans collected showing support and Michelle's husband showed up with a whole flat bed truck filled!!! These cans of food go to the Oregon Food Bank.)Director's Award Joelle Rankins-Goodwin/Trudi NewmanMrs Photogenic Kimberly TaklaMrs Congeniality Jennifer WillisSpirit of Pageantry Award Shawna DyeNon Finalist Interview Shawna DyeNon Finalist Swimsuit Mariah EskoNon Finalist Evening Gown Malaika Johnston

The Big Weekend is here - So here I am heading up Interstate 5 once again, butthis time it's for keeps. The pageant is tomarrow night, I can't get anymore prepared, I've lost 27 pounds, the evening gown has been altered, the shoes have been worn in, I found the perfect brooch to wear on my suit; what don't I have? The perfect hair... I have no idea how I am going to wear my hair tomarrow, but I can't worry about it, I'll just have to see what happens. Well my chariot awaits....

Army Fatigues by day, Pageant gown by night - News

A Pictures Worth - a thousand words, so they say. I was "flipping through some other blogs, ans noticed that not everyone is as "stuck" on photographs like I am. I guess photos just say it for me. I am not as eloquent of a writer as I would like to be, in fact I am not a very good writer at all or should I say author, but I think that I have a good imagination and good thoughts, but putting them on paper is another thing, perhaps that is why I use photos. Photographs give you the visualization that I cannot put into words. If I don't already have a photo on file, to express what I am trying to say, I will go out and take a picture, or look for one on the Internet. You know I was going to get a minor in photography while in college, I actually started on it, but I'll be damned if I could get through my Art History class! So I never got the minor, but I did enjoy my photography classes. OK I'm tired and have nothing more to say, so I'll look for a picture to apply to this post.....

Charity Auction Basket - If you would like to bid on the package listed here go to the url listed below. It says that only Oregon residence can bid, but I will mail to out of state residence - but you must bid through the web-site. This is for the Mrs. Oregon America Pageant, and benefits the Chris Dudley Foundation, you can read about the foundation on the web-site. http://www.mrsoregon.net/My_Homepage_Files/Page5.html

The basket contains the following -

SIMPLE ADDITIONS
By The Pampered Chef ®
•2 Tiles design small bowls
•2 Tiles design small square plates
•2 Tiles design Napkin Set
•2 Tiles design Beaded Napkin Rings
•2 Tiles design Tiles Reversible Placemats
•Tiles design Reversible Table Runner
•Pampered Chef Wine Bottle Opener
•Pampered Chef Cooking for Two Cookbook
•Chipotle Ranch Seasoning mix
•1 Bottle 2002 Viognier wine from Griffin Creek vineyards
•2 U of O White Wine Glasses
•1 Pack of Oregon coasters
•Duck Chocolate for two
•U of O Hazelnuts
•U of O Tailgater Mustard
•“O” Football Antenna Ball
•2 Green and Gold Spirit Poms
•2 Football spirit necklaces
•2 University of Oregon T-Shirts
•2 Duck hats
•1 U of O Football helmet cling
•1 Oregon fleece blanket
•Oregon mini-football
•Stuffed quackin’ duck

For the true Oregon Duck fans or even the wanna be Duck fans

WHY ME? - If you will recall just about 2 weeks ago, I was on a bike ride and literally ran across or over the kamikaze squirrel (see Sept 13 post). Well, this past Sunday I was out on a walk near a pond with Bob, he was a head of me a bit, as I walked through the uncut grass, I stepped down on a Garter Snake?!!!!! It was fine, it stuck its long red tongue out at me and then slithered on down the hill towards the water. But again I must ask; why me? The girl that brings stray animals into her home to feed them, the girl that will pick up a dead cat or dog on the side of the road to give it a proper burial, the girl that will wreck her car to avoid hurting what ever furry creature may be trying to cross the road. I just don't get it. Perhaps there is a lesson in the fact that I have stepped on or ridden over these animals and they were still able to "get up and go". I'm not sure what that lessone is, perhaps I'll figure it out in time.

I want to Grow Wine - Ok well you know what I mean, I want to grow grapes and make wine. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be the next Chateau Ste. Michelle or even the next Ernest and Julio Gallo. This notion started sometime ago, I mean everyone and their brother is making wine now, right? And I sure am drinking my share of it, so why not try my hand at making my own, I might save myself some money and have fun at the same time. Now I may be adding this to my list of hobbies that have fallen by the wayside, but I would at least like to give it a try. This past Sunday after church Bob said "let's go for a Sunday drive". Ian was not really into it, I am sure whatever was going to be on Cartoon Network was much more exciting to him, but too bad, we were off. I had no idea that Bob had a particular drive in mind, but off we went to the Lane County - Willamette Valley, heck I don't know what they call it - Wine country, and I will be darned if it's not practically right out my back door!!! Rows and rows and more rows of grapes and these wine tasting places HEAVEN, absolute HEAVEN!!! I had to wonder to myself (out loud), if you could actually eat those grapes, you know were they bitter, sweet, sour what? Well I had my question answered after we pulled into the first winery called "Sweet Cheeks", they were the new kids on the block they'd only been open a few months. I asked if one could eat the grapes hanging from the vines, they actually gave us two bunches, one red, one white. In case you didn't know the grapes aren;like the ones you buy down at Safeway, they are really small, about the size of an eraser head, but I guess it also depends on what kind wine you are going to make with them as to their size. Wow and mmmmmm, the grapes were very good. Ian who hardly had anything to eat was starving so he took the bunches of grapes outside and ate them as he looked out on the country side and what a sight it was, just beautiful.
I on the other hand stood inside and enjoyed the the flavors of seven different bottles of wine, you know just tastes, not whole glasses or bottles. We bought one bottle a riesling my favorite. We stopped at one other winery and I talked to Ed, the guy serving the wine, not an Oregonian, but a New Yorker. Don't ask me the name of the place, I forget, the wine was good, I bought a bottle of muscat, kind of like champaine but without so many bubbles. OK So here is the point it was nice afternoon, a beautiful drive. We are still eating on the two bunches of grapes that we got, but as I eat them I am spitting the seeds out and putting them on a paper towels, one marked red, one marked white. I hope to take my little seeds and plant them, but I am not sure how, and have not had time to research growing "wine grapes", so there they sit on the kitchen counter. Soon they may get thrown away, or perhaps they will mold or shrivel up and die before I can get to them, but for now I will maintain a dream of creating Joelle's little vineyard in my backyard, who knows onw day I may be calling my friends to come over for a "grape stomp".

Overworked-Overwhelmed- My good friend Laura said to me today, "update your blog". I new from the beginning that I am terrible about keeping a diary. The creative juices don't flow, the thoughts are just not there, and I am just too tired sometimes. But I do enjoy it when I can write something thoughtful or funny and share it with others. So when I started writing this blog the purpose was to follow my steps leading up to the Mrs. Oregon America Pageant, so let's talk about that. Here I am September 13th, the pageant is less than one month away. I have been feeling so confident about all that I have done to prepare up to this point. I bought the dress of my dreams, for about 75% less than I could have gotten it off the rack. I have been a size 10 to 14 usually a 12 for about as long as I can remember. My evening gown for the pageant is a size 6!!! I bought a suit for the interview portion of the pageant; a size 12, it is currently with the seamstress being taken in to fit on my now size 6/8 body. I am 42 years old, and I guess I should not be ashamed to say that I look and feel pretty damn good for my age, I am actually in the best shape of my life. I've never been obese, just at times heavier than I wanted to be, uncomfortable at times. So now here I am, I joined Weight-Watchers about 26 weeks ago, I have lost about 20 pounds in that time and like I said have gone from a size 12 to fitting pretty good in a size 8. So what is the big deal you might be wondering? It's a transition. I am afraid to go out and buy new clothes. At the WW meetings they talk about each milestone and rewarding yourself for reaching a milestone. I have a problem with that for some reason, I did buy two pairs of black pants because I needed them to wear to pageant appearances, that is how I found out I was in a size 8, but other than that, I am swishing around in clothes that are too big for me. Perhaps because I have not been this small for at least 25 years, perhaps because I have tried just about every diet in the book, and gained all lost weight back, perhaps I am waiting for another failure. Perhaps I just want to wait and see if it sticks, will I stay this size and weight? I love it, I feel great, I still have 8 pounds to lose, but that is another frustrating subject for discussion on another day. My husband calls me his "incredible shrinking wife". I wanted to lose weight, so that I would feel better, my motivation to get started was the pageant, I truly hated the thought of joining WW but I needed a kick in the butt and now I am happy that I did. So in less than 4 weeks, I will be parading my size 8 butt, (that will never go away), up on stage in a swim suit. How do I feel? I usually contain my excitement, I don't like to peak too early, I am anxious, a little nervous, and quite overwhelmed in some ways because I still have a lot to accomplish before 7 October. But I am prepared, I don't know why I love to do pageants, why do I put myself through this craziness? Again, that is a discussion for another day.

kamikaze Squirrel - yesterday I was on a bike ride with a group of people that I work with, there were four of us and we had about 10 minutes left to our ride; as we rode through Alton Baker park, I was riding in the middle of the pack and watched as a beautiful, cuddly, grey squirrel ran directly into the path of our bicycles, I watched in slow motion horror as "Rocky the Squirrel", ran directly under my front tire! Thump-thump. I gave a very typical "girl" scream and stopped my bike, as the guys roared with laughter. I looked back and thank goodness Rocky had hopped up, brushed himself off and ran up the nearest tree, he caught my eye as if to say, "it's OK sister, I know you didn't mean to run me over". But I felt terrible, of all the people in the group to have a run in with the wildlife, why did it have to be me? If I see a spider in the house, I am more apt to pick it up and put it outside, than I am to kill it. Of all the folks in the group, why did it have to be me...the only girl, who of course had to give out this huge shriek. Of course I was ribbed at work all day about "killing the squirrel", and I did worry all day about whether he was hurt at all. When I got home I got no sympathy, my husband wanted to know if I had brought the body home for dinner. I'll never look at a squirrel the same way again. I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to ride my bike through the park again without the fear of maiming the wildlife. Well to Rocky the Squirrel wherever you are, I'm sorry I ran you over, and I don't mind if you and your cousins continue to dig up my backyard hiding and digging up your peanuts.