SEPTEMBER 3, 2006
REHEARSAL FOR PRELIMS, GOLF PUTT-OFF, & PRELIMINARY PAGEANT

Prelim day is finally HERE! Yea! We had a rehearsal in the morning that ran a tad late, but that meant that they CANCELLED our afternoon rehearsal which of course we were all very excited about! More time to get ready! Just before eating lunch, my hubby Matt arrived, and I have to admit I got a bit emotional when I first saw him. This experience has been AMAZING, but it's hard to be away from the people you love! I was able to have lunch with him, and then I had to compete in the golf "putt-off" to determine the golf challenge individual winner. Our team (the Blonde Bombshells - Mrs. WV, VT, OR, & myself) had to putt three different holes and the person with the lowest score would be crowned as the winner and awarded an additional 25 points in addition to the 50 points we'd each earned as a team. It was a tough competition with a lot of smack talk (all in good fun of course!), and lo and behold I pulled off the win! So that was a lot of fun. Matt & my parents went to hit some golf balls and explore the resort while I headed upstairs to get ready for prelims and finish my state costume earrings (they turned out great but I am sick of glueing rhinestones!).

Prelims started at 7:00 with an opening number in our swimsuits and sarongs, followed by the announcement of some special awards. Mrs. Congeniality was Mrs. Nevada, Victoria Broz (I'm happy to say I voted for her!). She's been awesome all week...she generously loaned her car or drove people to the tanning salon, to the grocery store, to get their nails done, etc. and is always so sweet and friendly. PLUS she grew up about one mile from where we live in Minnesota! So she's a Minnesota girl at heart! The Super Smile winner was Mrs. Hawaii, Pebblz Nakamoto, who truly does have a beautiful smile and was very deserving. She won $2,500!!! We then competed in swimsuit and evening gown, followed by the state costume competition which was judged by a separate panel of judges. The costumes were spectacular! My costume was Minnesota's state flower, the ladyslipper (when I introduced myself, I said "364 days out of the year, Minnesota's state flower the ladyslipper is illegal to pick...but not tonight; you can PICK ME!" The crowd really laughed at that. My personal favorites are Mrs. Alaska's igloo skirt and my roommate Mrs. Georgia, who is a basket of peaches. The Top Ten costumes were announced and they were: Alaska (igloo), Georgia (peaches), Hawaii (Humuhumu fish), Kentucky (KY Derby), Maryland (Star Spangled Banner--her costume lights up!), North Carolina (dogwood flowers), South Carolina (Gamecocks/Tigers), Texas (Yellow rose of TX), Utah (state flower), & Washington (Seahawks). These girls all looked amazing!

I felt like I did the best job I could in competition, so I'll just cross my fingers and hope for the best. Everyone looked so beautiful and seemed to really be having a great time. I was thrilled to see my good friend Kathy Lauer who came to lend her support. Kathy now lives here in Tucson and we competed together in 2003 and have stayed in touch. Which just goes to show you what pageantry really is all about! Lynn DeJarnette (former Mrs. Arkansas & current State Director) came over to say a big hello...I met her in Atlanta when she was a judge for the Mrs. GA pageant and she is SO NICE and so pretty! It was a fantastic evening and I was STARVING by the end of the pageant, so after grabbing a burger (which was DELICIOUS by the way!), it was off to bed. A wonderful but exhausting day! WHEW!

PHOTOS:
1) My husband Matt finally arrives! I've missed him!!!
2) The Blonde Bomshells at the golf putt-off.
3) Just before swimsuit competition (Mrs. SC, GA, and I)
4) With my dressing room "neighbor" Mrs. MI
5) With the delightful Mrs. Utah (she is beautiful AND sweet!)
6) The "fabulous four" (we share the same directors)
7) The silver ladies (Mrs. Arkansas & I)
8) Mrs. ND & I wearing our gowns from The Pageant Shop by Michael's. Thank you Sarah Moses, your dresses are the best!
9) My state costume, the ladyslipper that is "legal" to be picked!
10) With Mrs. Alaska - I told you she had a great costume!
11) The "state flower" costumes.
12) With good friend Kathy Lauer after prelims.