It's almost here!

Hey everyone!

It has been a crazy few weeks, so I'm sorry that I seem to have dropped off the face of the planet yet again! I've been hard at work with mock interviews, minor dress alterations, rehearsals for Legally Blonde the Musical (I'm playing Brooke!), and mentally trying to prepare for everything. I'll let you know how that last one turns out...!

Tony Horton
Photo from http://knowmybody.com

The other thing I've been doing in prep is the P90x workout that we all know...and hate? I'm actually really enjoying the workout side of the things, although I have to say I have never felt so miserable in a kitchen because I can't eat ANYTHING I want to. The P90x nutrition program is a very low carb, high protein diet, and I love carbs... On the other hand, I'm only three weeks in and I can totally see the results starting already! For those of you who are scared of the program, yes, it's intense, but it's all about doing what YOU can do - not about keeping up with Tony Horton. (Who, by the way, is a beast. Seriously, who does tricep kickbacks with 25lb dumbbells?!)



So in 5 days I'll be heading up north to a Mariner's game to watch our lovely Miss Washington 2011 Brittney Henry throw the opening pitch, and then Sunday is check-in and Miss Washington week begins! Yes, I've been insanely stressed out with the amount of pressure I feel to be perfect. But I am also SO excited for this upcoming week! I'm truly looking forward to getting to know my fellow Miss WA 2012 hopefuls even better, and I know it will be a week full of hard work, amazing growing opportunities, and most of all, FUN!! This entire program really is a blast. It's hard work to get ready, but when competition time comes, I just go out there to do my best and have fun. When it's all over, I will have gained some wonderful friends and pageant sisters, and maybe even a new title and the endless opportunities that come with being Miss Washington!


Melissa

"Do your best, and forget the rest." - Tony Horton

Graduation and Outstanding Teens!

Well it has been one hectic week! Last weekend I "officially" graduated from PLU!! (It's only "official" because until all of my grades are in and I get my diploma, it isn't truly official.) After a fantastic grad party with my family and friends, I had to head to school for my final concert as a member of the PLU Choir of the West. It was a very emotional time, but I am so blessed to have been part of not one, but two amazing choirs while at PLU. My two years in University Chorale could not have given me better preparation for my two years with CoW. Unfortunately, because of that concert, I couldn't be at the MWOT preliminary night, but I was certainly thinking of all 27 of those lovely girls!

On Sunday, I walked across that stage at the Tacoma Dome...and forgot to flip my tassel and look out at my parents and all of that good stuff that you're "supposed" to do...but I made it!

From there, I raced to the Miss Washington Outstanding Teen finals! We had six truly outstanding ladies from Grays Harbor competing, and I am so proud of all of them! Paige Kuhn was named to the top 10, and Chandra Munger won non-finalist interview and the academic award.  The non-finalist talent winner was a harp player, and her rendition of My Heart Will Go On was absolutely beautiful. I was so impressed with the talent of all the top 10 girls, and I would have loved to see all 27 the night before!

And the winner is...Janae Calaway from the Tri-Cities was named Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2012! Whoever the new Miss Washington is will have an amazing "partner in crime," and I'm sure the two of them (us??) will have a blast.

Now begins my last 4 weeks of preparation for Miss Washington. My wardrobe is finalized (except for one pair of shoes and the ever-elusive leggings), mock interviews are starting up next week, and I am now living at home again with my amazing, supportive family. Here goes nothing!

Almost a graduate!

I can't believe that in 5 days, I will officially be a college graduate!! It feels like just yesterday that I finished my first year of college and the end seemed to be miles away. That said, I only have umpteen things to do before my last final on Thursday afternoon...

This weekend is the Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen pageant!! There are 27 amazing young ladies competing this year, SIX of which are from Grays Harbor! Of course there is my lovely Miss Grays Harbor's OT, Elizabeth Henderson, and then Sarah Dier (my future sister-in-law), Chandra Munger, McKenzie Brooks, Paige Kuhn, and Ceeja Barr. We are going to have quite the representation! I'm really sad that I won't be at preliminary night because of graduation events, but on Sunday I'll be rushing from my commencement ceremony to finals to support all of these wonderful young women!

I also had the privilege this past weekend of flying to Virginia for my best friend's Michelle's wedding, who I hadn't seen in 6 years! She married an amazing man named Tom, and I am so happy for them! I also met 8 other amazing people and we kind of became inseparable for three days. The whole weekend really made me think about military friendships and how much the people you meet impact your life, even if you only know them for a short period of time. I really feel like all of my pageant sisters are going to be those people, too - at least I hope so!

Anyways, I'm going to be so busy for the next few days, that I will see you on the other side of graduation!

Melissa

Spring Forum!

For those of you who don't know, Spring Forum is kind of like a Miss Washington orientation weekend. It's the first time all of the contestants are together, and we go to workshops and meetings and participate in the Miracle Bowl fundraiser for the Children's Miracle Network.

This weekend was fantastic! I had already met most of the girls, but I was really excited to meet the few I hadn't met yet. We have a really strong group of ladies this year, and it's going to be a great show! At forum, we also find out/choose our contestant order and we draw for roommates. I'm contestant #20 (out of 22), and my roommate during Miss Washington week will be Catherine Watters, Miss Columbia Basin, who is also a world champion baton twirler...no joke. It's impressive!

I also had the opportunity to meet with Don Baker this weekend, who is extremely well-known in the pageant world for helping contestants prepare for interviews. (He worked with Teresa Scanlan and Laura Kaeppler - Miss America 2011 and 2012, respectively.) I can honestly say that, after less than 2 hours with him, I feel ten times more prepared for my interview! I have a new level of confidence in my ability to answer a question and understand the interview process, and it feels great.

I also want to send a huge shout out to all of my family and friends who came to support me at our Miracle Bowl this morning. Mom, Dad, Tonya, Stephanie, Sarah, Heidi, Rachel, Dylon, and Liisa (and of course, Sue!) were the best team I could have asked for! Even Dylon (ever the Steelers fan) sported our Seahawks-inspired team shirts!

<3 Melissa

New blog!

Welcome to my blog! I've never really had a blog before, so this could be an interesting experience for all of us! (Let's face it, Xanga doesn't count. If you don't know what Xanga is, go ask someone who is probably at least 20...) I plan to write about my journey as Miss Grays Harbor 2012 and, of course, the rest of my life as I prepare to graduate from Pacific Lutheran University in 4 weeks (!) with a BA in Music with History and Theatre minors and move on to whatever God has in store for my life!


This entry won't be too long, but I want to bring your attention to the title - A Dash. I don't know how many of you have heard of the Dash poem, but it is the inspiration behind my blog. Here is the poem for those of you who don't know it:

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
she spent alive on earth,
and now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read,
with your life's actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say...
About how you spent YOUR dash?

© Linda Ellis 1996

That is why this blog is called A Dash. It's about MY dash...my life. In the last two weeks, I have sung so much that I'm surprised I even have a voice left. I spent five days on tour with PLU's Choir of the West. I sang my heart out in my last CoW concert, and I pushed through my senior recital even though my voice almost didn't make it because I came down with a cold. But had I not taken care of my voice and not been able to sing my solo, and had I not pushed through my recital, I would not have taken advantage of what life has handed me. That is what I challenge you to do for the next week. Make this part of your dash count.

Melissa