Yankees Go To Dallas

I tried to find a way to transition from my last post into my experience with Avfuel, but my only option was to make a terribly inappropriate airplane joke, so I opted for a new post.

I am still on the plane back to Detroit, listening to some obnoxious squeaking noise coming from the overhead compartment. There are still ashtrays on this plane, if that is any indication of the condition of this fine aircraft…

Ahh! I can still hear the squeaking over the music in my headphones. It is greatly hindering my ability to enjoy the sounds of Matisyahu, the beat-boxing Hasidic Jew. If you haven’t heard his stuff, I highly recommend it. If you like it, you can thank my friend Becky for schooling me in modern Judaism.

Despite the awful rainy weather, Ashlee and I had a really good time in Dallas. We met a lot of really interesting people. And by interesting I mean the kind of people that fly private jets. I was crossing my fingers that one of those interesting people was a devastatingly handsome and single late 20-something/early 30-something male. No dice.

When we checked in, Ashlee was in front of me in line. I checked in literally 60 seconds after her and suddenly there were no king beds available. She got the better seat, the bigger bed… Ashlee 2, Gina 0. I bet she’ll call me later today to tell me she was bumped to first class on the way home. Actually, justice was served after Ashlee made the comment “Ha ha, I got the bigger bed,” to which I responded, “Yeah? Well my crown is bigger!”

That night we were wined and dined at a fancy bistro in the Adolphus Hotel. The hotel is historic and absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed really great conversation with Avfuel employees and absorbed lots of important info about their business. If you’re curious, you can check out their website at www.Avfuel.com.

My favorite part of the evening? We were mingling in the bar area (enjoying our Perrier, of course) and one of the Avfuel employees asked Ashlee if she could do the wave. Ashlee makes a ridiculously confused face and then raises both of her arms as if she were at a Michigan football game and lets out a quiet but high-pitched “Woooh”. I just about died. Clearly, this man was requesting a demonstration of the Miss America pageant wave and it went right over her head. I’m pretty sure she’s never looked Blonder (in the most endearing way possible).

After dinner, Ashlee came up to my room to try on one of my cocktail dresses. Why, you ask, was someone half my size asking to try on my clothes? Well, Ashlee was never told to bring a cocktail dress and she just about swallowed her tongue when she heard me ask the woman from Avfuel when she wanted to take a look at the dresses that we brought. Fortunately for Ashlee, this woman questioned our ability to dress tastefully for a corporate event so I had to bring a wardrobe for her to choose from. Also fortunate is the fact that I brought one of my pint-sized dresses from Miss Michigan last year and was praying this woman would choose the other one.

We spent much of the day yesterday at the Dallas Convention Center for the Aviation Industry Expo. The show didn’t have as much traffic as we had hoped, but it was a great place for Ashlee and I to practice the always-useful smile and nod. It may sound easy, but after about 3 hours of standing in high heels, the smiling part became increasingly difficult.

We headed back to the hotel to change around 4:00 and then headed to help host a big fancy party for Avfuel’s top customers. They asked us to keep the details of the party private, so I can’t elaborate much (queue the sighs of relief). However, I can say that Ashlee and I were pleasantly surprised when we walked in the venue and saw Molly Hazlett, Miss Texas, taking photos with the guests. We both met Molly at Kirsten’s homecoming and we had a blast reconnecting. I also had a chance to finally see Stacey Mason’s (former Miss Michigan and violin teacher) band play. She’s so fabulously talented and sweet it makes me sick.

Overall, it was a great time and a nice treat to get to travel to Dallas. They did a wonderful job hosting us and making us feel like we were part of the Avfuel team.

Older Than Yesterday

It’s 8:00 on Wednesday Morning, March 19. I’m now on the return flight home. You know what that means? I’ve been up since 4:30 this morning. This would be the unglamorous part of being Miss Michigan and working full time. I could have taken the 9:15am flight with Ashlee, but I need to get back to the office asap. It’s crunch time and this week will make or break our goals for the quarter. Oh, and speaking of unglamorous… no one would believe that I’m Miss Michigan right now. Thank God for Google’s lax dress code.

This morning has actually been fairly eventful for me. Today is the first day that I actually picked up the free USA Today outside of my hotel room door. I usually disregard it, thinking that they should ask you if you want the service before wasting the paper on disinterested guests like myself. But today is different.

When I arrived in Dallas on Monday afternoon I turned on the news only to realize that in the time it took me to travel from Detroit to Dallas the US economy had come crashing down and Barack Obama’s campaign had headed south. I’m usually not a CNN addict (I don’t even have cable), but it was killing me that I wasn’t anywhere near a TV yesterday.

When I opened the door to leave, I looked down to see a stern-faced Barack Obama staring back at me. I could hardly wait to get to the terminal so I could read about his historical speech addressing Rev. Wright’s comments. This is a moment in American history, and Obama’s campaign for that matter, that has been a long time coming. We often relive sound bytes from Dr. King and JFK, but it has been quite some time since a speech on race in America has garnered so much attention. I applaud Barack Obama for having the courage to accept the challenge and deliver insightful self-authored comments.

I want to be very clear that this is not a statement of my political beliefs or preferences. My intention is not to color this blog with political propaganda or personal agenda. I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those events we talk about for years to come, and I’m genuinely disappointed that I was not able to watch it.

The combination of this speech and the economic changes that have taken place over the past 48 hours have reminded me that I’m turning into a real grown-up. I’m the traveling business woman who picks up the morning paper and a cup of coffee on her way to the airport at 5:00am.

For me, this is all very reminiscent of the days following 9/11. I was only a week into my college career when the planes hit the twin towers. I actually spoke about this experience when I addressed my classmates at U of M commencement in 2005:

Today is a day to celebrate the people we have become and the experiences that have defined our education.

As I reflect on the time I have spent here, I am reminded of the first of many significant events that have shaped my U of M experience. Tuesday morning, during my second week on campus, I woke up in my dorm room at about 11am and started down the hall toward the bathroom. Along the way I ran into another girl from my hall who stopped me to ask if I was just getting up and if I had heard what had happened. I was expecting to hear the latest gossip, but instead she pulled me into her room and sat me down in front of the television. It was September 11, 2001.

That night I joined 20,000 people on the diag, in an attempt to make sense of what was going on. Amidst the anxiety of being away from home for the first time and the difficulty of adapting to a new environment, this event occurred as if to say “welcome to the real world.”

Over the past few years we have seen a number of significant events take place, including: the war in Iraq, a deadly tsunami, a presidential election, economic recession, and the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We are fortunate to have been attending the University of Michigan when these events occurred, because we have had the opportunity to discuss our beliefs and opinions with an incredibly diverse community. And though discussions of these matters may often involve controversy, we can all agree that there is a big world out there in need of fixing.

The more educated we become, the greater the responsibility we must take for trying to improve the world around us. As graduates, our challenge is to use the education and experience we have gained at the University of Michigan to turn our personal dissatisfaction with the world into motivation to create change.

How Did I Get Here?

The title of this post reminds me of a line from the song “Once In a Lifetime” by the Talking Heads. It’s a really bizarre song from the 80s that includes some incredibly profound statements such as, “There is water at the bottom of the ocean.” Check it out. I promise you will find it strangely amusing.

Anyway, I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately, and the answer is always the same. It’s fate, destiny, divine order, God’s plan, meant to be, etc. It’s funny because the wording tends to change based on the audience, but given my earlier post about Godspeak, you can infer where I stand on the topic. Regardless of your beliefs, I think there’s something to be said for finding reason and meaning behind some of life’s best and worst moments.

I’m on a plane to Dallas right now, headed to an appearance for Avfuel. I’m not exactly sure what my duties will entail, but I’m guess it falls within the realm of smiling and talking to people. Ashlee Baracy, Miss Wayne County, is also attending the event. She is conveniently seated in 8A, while I have been banished to the back of the plane. Actually, when I first got to my seat, I didn’t care because there happened to be a very attractive man in the seat next to mine. However, as soon as I noticed the ring on his left hand I moved to an aisle seat one row up because it was next to an empty middle seat. It was probably for the better. What if he had asked me what I was doing in Dallas? I will admit, it’s not easy being a single Miss Michigan… not the easiest thing to explain. I always want to follow it up with ridiculous qualifies like, “I’m intelligent, I swear”, or “Really, I’m not an self-absorbed airhead.” In reality, I make a joke about not having actually won, and hope that it somehow makes me seem more real. I digress…

Flashback: It’s early December 2007 and I’m at an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party hosted by Katie Lorenz and her boyfriend, Job. Katie is a good friend of mine, a former Miss Washtenaw County, and top 10 at Miss Michigan this past June. Decked out in Jingle Bells, ribbons, and embroidered snow-people, I’m listening to Katie declare her retirement from pageantry. She had one more year of eligibility, but decided it was time to move on. We’re celebrating the end of our pageant careers together and toasting to our real jobs (with sparkling grape juice, of course).

What makes this memory so amusing is that it was only three months ago that Katie and I were certain that pageants were a thing of the past for both of us. Well, you know how the story goes… Kirsten wins Miss America and I become Miss Michigan. Okay, so I was wrong, it wasn’t over for me. Then, on Friday, I got a phone call from Katie’s dad, Scott. In the midst of testing my Google AdWords knowledge, Scott mentions that they are headed to Chicago for the weekend to see Katie compete for Miss Chicago. Next thing I know, I get a call from the new Miss Chicago, Katie Lorenz, on Sunday evening.

I was blown away. Not because I didn’t think she could win it, but because I knew she would. I had that gut feeling like I did about Kirsten at Miss America. I could feel that a profound change had occurred since that Christmas party, not only for myself, but for everyone connected to the situation. Perhaps if Kirsten didn’t win Miss America, Katie wouldn’t have prepared her dance for the homecoming celebration and wouldn’t have felt ready to compete for Miss Chicago. I’m not Katie, so I can’t say that for sure, but I can say that this sequence of events has been one long chain reaction and has given me a unique insight into the role that chance plays in all of our lives.

I Heart My Community

It's 10:00 on a Wednesday night in the middle of a crunch week at work. I'm exhausted. Really, truly exhausted. We've been busting our butts to meet our goals by the end of this month and my days have been packed from beginning to end. Of course, its always after days like this that I'm reminded of why I choose to push myself to the max.

When I got home I was greeted by two cases of Fiji water and a third case of Snapple, compliments of the 7-Up Company, one of our Miss Michigan sponsors (one of the great perks of this job). Then, I opened my mailbox to find a letter from the Michigan Theater. I assumed it was a solicitation, but to my surprise it was a kind letter congratulating me on becoming Miss Michigan with two free movie passes. It was such a simple gesture, but it really touched me that Lee Berry, the Director of Marketing & Development, took the time to send it. The Michigan Theater is such a staple in the Ann Arbor community and I will surely enjoy my free passes. In fact, I think I'm going to recruit a friend to go see Caramel with me this weekend.

Speaking of community, I haven't really had a chance to touch on my platform, which is Community Revitalization: Building a Sustainable Future. I have been working on a number of projects at Google (in my free time...) to support community efforts across the company, but especially here in Ann Arbor. This has been some of the most rewarding work, but also some of the most challenging. In the short time that I've been Miss Michigan, I have had the privilege of taking part in a few community events. In fact, I think that the opportunity to immerse myself in a local communities and cultures around the state is one of the best and most unique aspects of this job.

Last Friday I woke up at 4:00am so that I could do my hair and makeup and be in Fowlerville by 6:00am for a Wal*Mart grand opening. Now, I'm not going to lie, I was less than enthused about waking up this early to go to a retail store opening, but I will be the first to admit that I had no idea how important this was to the Fowlerville community. As I played the last note of the Star Spangled Banner, I looked up at the crowd and noticed a woman in the front row with tears in her eyes and I realized that this wasn't just a store opening. Sure, there were your typical white-knuckled deal-seeking shoppers who were sprinting to the Nintendo Wiis as soon as the ribbon was cut, but to everyone else, this was a celebration of new jobs and new revenue for the city. I watched as the employees did the Wal*Mart cheer (something I've only read about in Business classes and was amazed to witness) and I saw how proud they were to be a part of something so symbolic. Regardless of my views on Wal*Mart's business practices, I gained a new respect for the people who work there and the hope it brought to some members of this community.

I have this week off from my Miss Michigan duties. It was good timing considering the craziness that has ensued at Google this week. I spent last weekend at Miss Michigan orientation and emceeing the Miss Lighthouse Coast pageant. The weekend afforded me the time to really talk and catch up with some of the people I didn't have a chance to see at the Homecoming/Crowning. Of course, staying up late talking and giggling like little girls has contributed to my current state of exhaustion. I'm looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday.

By the way, I was so proud to see Christina Hastie win her first local title and a trip to Miss Michigan. She has been working so hard and she really deserved it. It was such a joy and privilege for me to watch her finally achieve her goal. It is so powerful to witness a moment like this and it brought tears to my eyes.

On that note, I'm off to bed. I have another jam-packed day tomorrow and I need my beauty rest. Strike that, forget the beauty part. At this point I just need a long deep sleep filled with snoring and sleep-talking and all things unattractive. Yes, it's true. I'm human.

gv

I Always Wanted to Be Homecoming Queen

My emotions are all over the place right now, and I'm afraid this post may end up in the same boat. I'm still exhaling and I don't even know where to begin, but I felt compelled to just start writing.

I arrived in Muskegon an hour and a half late on Friday morning after getting lost in a snow storm. My first stop was the Frauenthal Theater to drop off my wardrobe and talent music. I remember saying to myself when I left the theater in June that it would be a long time before I was back there. It was surreal walking through the lobby because it looked and smelled like Miss Michigan week - and this time, it was my Miss Michigan week.

After checking into my room, I rushed back to the theater for our rehearsal. As soon I walked out on the stage I was reunited with my friend, Jill Stevens, Miss Utah. This was the first of many times that I would cry over the weekend. It was such a thrill to see her again and I was so happy that I could congratulate her in person. She is such an inspiration to me.

We rehearsed the opening number first, and I could not absorb it for the life of me. Luckily, we had dancer decoys dressed as pageant contestants leading us on stage. Honestly, production numbers have always been one of the most stressful parts of competing for me, but the best part about this weekend was that I already knew I won. Seriously, I could have done my own interpretive dance solo and I still would have come out on top. That was comforting.

After a long day of rehearsal we piled in a fancy schmancy limo and headed to the House of Chan for dinner. I had a blast catching up with my Miss Sweetheart sisters (Jill, Elyse, & Nicole) and meeting Diana, Miss Iowa, as well as some of Kirsten's close friends.

Before I knew it, it was show time. Without the nerves of competition, I was able to really enjoy being a part of the production and absorb its significance. I will always remember the moment I shared on stage with my sister, Christina, as she sang 'Oh Heavenly Day' to me. It felt like we were the only two in the theater. I listened to the lyrics and thanked God for this day and for giving me such a loving and supportive sister. That song was one of the best gifts I've ever received and I'm so proud to be her sister.

The first act closed with my official crowning moment. Being on the same stage in front of such a huge crowd made me honestly feel as though I had just won. It felt exactly as I had imagined it would so many times before, and taking my first walk as Miss Michigan was just as real and exciting to me as it would have been last June.

In the second half of the show, I performed my talent for the first time as Miss Michigan. I didn't think it was possible to have a better performance than I did during preliminaries last June, but I was wrong. It was different this time. I was not playing to prove myself. I was playing to share myself, and that made all the difference. I felt completely free and I enjoyed every second of that performance. I really can't believe how far I've come. My deepest gratitude to Regina, Stacey, and Gabe for believing in me and bringing out the best in me through music. What an incredible gift and blessing you have been.

After the show I had a chance to spend some time with my fan club (Mom, Stan, Christina, Dan, Katie, and Jen). I just love how well my friends and family get along. We always have such a good time together. This was the first time in several years that Dan, Katie, and I have been together in the same place. We've been friends since my camp days (1999) and we laughed ourselves sick in the lobby of the Holiday Inn until 2am.

I had a 9:30am appointment to have photos taken the next morning. Needless to say, I was tired. Of course, my lack of sleep was no match for Origin's No Puffery cooling eye gel. I tamed the bags under my eyes, threw some rollers in my hair and gussied up for my glamour shots. Big thanks to Alan of Tourcotte for donating the photographs used for 7-Up Company promotions. We had a great time taking some goofy shots with Diet Rite, a fancy Snapple water, and Fiji (the most elitist water on earth). I really can't wait to see the proofs.

We managed to squeeze in some more family time during lunch and headed to Racquet's (a fine local establishment) to celebrate Dan's upcoming birthday. He asked me to broadcast to everyone that he's turning 30 this year. Don't worry Dan, you're like a bottle of Charles Schwab... age is not a factor.

We lost track of time dining on a cake that could feed a small army (thank you, Kelli Leep), and I rushed back to get ready for the autograph session. I broke out my new autograph cards (thank you again, Kelli Leep) and signed my name approximately 200 times. It really started to look distorted toward the end. It's just like when you say a word enough times and it starts to sound funny. I couldn't believe how many stood in line for well over an hour to collect our John Hancocks. It's fun to feel like a celebrity, but then I look at myself lounging in my sweats with crumbs stuck to my shirt, typing away, and I wonder why anyone would want my autograph.

After the signing I took Ashley and Christina (Miss North Dakota & Miss Wisconsin) on a tour of the Muskegon Meijer. I can't imagine a more fitting destination than the most famous destination among Miss Michigan contestants' families.

When we got back to the hotel I laid down for a nice long nap. Just kidding! That word isn't even part of my vocabulary any more. I actually had about 20 minutes to get ready for the gala dinner. I feel like I've already become a pro at making myself look presentable in a pinch. Talk about a resume builder...

The dinner was an absolute blast. I spent a good portion of the meal giggling like a little girl at ridiculous inside jokes made by my sister and Dan. I would share them here, but no one else would think they were funny.

Kay Lani Rae Rafko (Miss America 1988) was the emcee for the evening, and she is a one-woman riot. We watched several dignitaries present Kirsten with gifts and plaques and all I could think about was how her poor mother would have to cart all of this home and figure out where to put it. Seriously, she has enough to cover a few walls in their entirety.

I truly was not expecting any sort of presentation, so you could imagine my surprise when a representative from Krautheim Jewelers presented me with the official Miss Michigan pendent. It's a beautiful solid gold pendant in the shape of the state of Michigan. Honestly, a number of people asked me if I would receive all of the prizes that Miss Michigan normally wins and my answer was always, "I'm not sure, but the only thing I really want is the Miss Michigan pendant". Thank you, thank you, thank you Krautheim for this special gift. I will wear it with pride. In fact, I have yet to take it off.

The night culminated with an emotional speech from Kirsten. Every time I see her speak, whether in person or on TV, I start beaming like a proud parent. She is such an incredible young woman and I could not be happier for her. Some people have asked me if it has been difficult for me to "play second fiddle" (if I may use such a cliche), but the truth is, it's not hard at all. Really, it's not. I can see why the judges would choose her over me, and apart from that, I am entirely at peace with the fact that God had different plans for us.

Throughout the entire weekend, I felt as though I was watching myself from the outside. I listened to my own thoughts and paid attention to everything that was happening around me so as not to miss a beat. At times like this, people always seem to remind you to take it all in and enjoy every second. I don't think I've ever been able to really do that until this past weekend. I was fully present, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I savored every joke, every tear, every kind word. It was a love fest I will never forget.

A special thank-you to my mom, Stan, Dan, and especially my sister. Your presence made the entire experience more meaningful than you could imagine. I am truly, truly blessed. I love you.

gv

Lucky Me

Wow. I just had the the best weekend of my life, hands down. I am in complete awe of God's perfect timing. These past few days have been so incredibly special and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with the people that mean the most to me. My sincerest thank you to those of you who were celebrating along with me this weekend, both in person and in spirit. Your love is so powerful and my heart is overflowing with joy. I am, quite honestly, speechless.

Eating Disorders Awareness Week

As excited as the staff at Forest View Hospital may have been with Kirsten's big win at Miss America, I'm sure it left them in a minor state of panic. Kirsten was scheduled for a series of appearances with the hospital for Eating Disorders Awareness Week prior to winning the title, leaving a rather large (and unfamiliar) void for me to fill.

I woke up before the sun on Wednesday morning to start my long trek to Muskegon for the first of these appearances. My first stop was for breakfast in Portland, Michigan (it's the City of Two Rivers, btw). My mission during my reign as Miss Michigan to singlehandedly boost the Michigan economy by supporting local businesses when ever possible, which can lead to some interesting experiences on the road. I was specifically looking for a mom and pop restaurant when I spotted a place in a strip mall with a sign that read 'Restaurant' - always a good sign (bad pun intended). I sat down and the waitress handed me a menu that read 'exit 77 - An American Mom & Pop Restuarant'. Jackpot! It was classic Godspeak and I couldn't help but laugh to myself.

I arrived at the event at Muskegon Community College and met up with Karyn, the woman running the week's events. The evening's program was for local elementary school kids and their parents. I spent some time visiting with the kids before speaking to the larger group. I must say, it is not easy addressing an audience with such a wide age range, but they were a great group and it went well. I spoke about the values of the Miss America program and the emphasis on inner beauty, as well as how I personally define inner beauty.

After the presentation, I followed Karyn back to my hotel in Grand Rapids... the J.W. Marriott! If you're not familiar, it is a beautiful five star hotel and it was so nice of them to put me up there. Karyn proceeded to tell the valet and bell desk that I was Miss Michigan and I think they were going back and forth on who would get to take my luggage up to my room. Lucky for me, the cute one won. The entire time I was there the staff was treating me, quite literally, like royalty.

The next day, I woke up early to cram an hour of work in before visiting East Grand Rapids Middle School. I was speaking at a special optional assembly for the 8th grade girls and about 100 of them chose to attend. The boys, on the other hand, spent their passing period peaking around doorways trying to get a glimpse of me. The thought crossed my mind that if they knew how old I was, they'd probably think I was old. Anyway, I was excited to talk to the girls because I remember what it was like to be that age and I remember how awful it was. So much cattiness and peer pressure, and unfortunately, nothing has changed. During the Q&A one of the girls asked me if I had my violin with me. I could barely finish saying that I didn't have it with me when one of the girls jumps up and says "Oh, oh, I can get you one!" Within a matter of 3 minutes there was a violin in the room and I had no choice but to perform on a foreign instrument, completely cold, with no background music. It was a bit shaky but they absolutely loved it and I must admit, I enjoyed the spontaneity. These girls were so much fun to talk to and I left feeling really energized.

After the morning appearance, I headed back to my beautiful hotel for a full day of work. Luckily, the lounge had an amazing view of the museum, because I was there for a good six hours. Later that evening I attended a reception at a local art gallery where I was interviewed by Maranda. I'm not sure Maranda has a last name. I think she's kind of like Madonna and Cher. Nevertheless, if you mention her in Grand Rapids, people will know who you're talking about.

Later that evening, I participated in a panel discussion on the topic of eating disorders. I can't emphasize enough how completely lost I was in this conversation. Professor Klump from Michigan State University delivered a brilliant presentation about the connection between genetics and eating disorders. At least, I think it was brilliant because she used all kinds of words I didn't know. Thus, the questions that followed were fairly complex and could only be answered by the other counselors, psychologists, and researchers on the panel. Karyn was so kind to throw me a bone and ask about the prevalence of eating disorders in pageants. In a nut shell, I said that I wouldn't really know, but that this program demands so much from the contestants that it would be hard to do it if you weren't healthy.

By the time I returned to my hotel room, I was so tired that I could barely see straight. Of course, that's no excuse for not getting my work done, so I put in another hour of work before passing out. I just have to remind myself that this is the price I have to pay to have my cake and eat it too. For as exhausted as I am, I thrive on challenges and I'm happier than I've been in a really long time.