Miss Missouri 2007 Lindsay Casmaer

Miss Missouri 2007 Lindsay Casmaer		Travelogue
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Happy National Pancake Day! Today, IHOP celebrated National Pancake Day by giving away a free short stack of pancakes to anyone dining at a restaurant today. I was in Kansas City to celebrate, and we collected donations for the Children's Miracle Network in lieu of the cost of the pancakes - thank you to everyone who generously donated! I also did an early morning interview with KSHB reporter Ryan Kath. We had a very heated pancake flipping and stacking contest. I am proud to say I won - stacking 26 pancakes without toppling! After the festivities I myself enjoyed a stack of pancakes - here's to the Children's Miracle Network!

This morning we awoke in West Plains to a horrible ice storm! I hope everyone stayed off the roads and safe today if you were in Southwest Missouri! I was lucky enough to meet with some students from West Plains Middle School - they presented me a "West Plains Zizzers" mug and some Valentine's candy! They told me a "zizzer" is someone who goes above and beyond - you learn something new everyday!

From Mexico, I ventured down south to West Plains, Missouri. I spent the day at the Lion's Club Cheerleading Competition and Outdoors Expo. Mary Bauer, Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen, as also in attendance! We spent the day thanking sponsors and trying out the equipment at the show - note the photos of the boat AND motorcycles. I had a wonderful day - thank you to the Lions Club for generously sponsoring my visit!

Tonight I was the guest of honor at the Missouri Military Academy Valentine's Ball. Thank you so much to the cadets for showing me a fantastic night! I am pictured here with the President of MMA, Major General Robert Flanagan, as well as my escort for the evening, Won Uk Lee.

I leave for Las Vegas tomorrow - and the hours can't click by fast enough! After months of discussing my trip to Las Vegas, it is finally here. I am thrilled to be a part of such a longstanding piece of Americana. My step out onto the Miss America stage is due largely in part to all who have given of their time and energy this year. From my local board, to the state board, and my friends and family, my trip to Las Vegas is a chance to represent all who are part of our Miss Missouri family. Thank you for never ending support and encouragement throughout the past months, I hope to make Missouri proud!

I round out my week with a trip to both the salon and the gym - like any normal Miss America contestant! The Phillip Johnson Salon and Spa hosted me today for a day of haircare. Thanks to Phil for your generous donation to the program - you always make sure Miss Missouri's hair is in great shape! Also, a special thanks to Van Becker at Wellbridge, my trainer for the last four months. I am in the best shape of my life thanks to you Van - and I have the biceps to prove it! : )

Mary Ann Owens hosted my last mock interview here in St. Louis tonight. We had several local media personalities on the panel, and they had some great questions to prepare me for my Miss America interview! Thank you to Mary Ann, for organizing such a great interview, as well as sending me off well-prepared for those judges next week!

This afternoon I had a unique Miss Missouri appearance, a tea party! We celebrated Alexandra's ninth birthday today and had tea with her closest friends. Thank you so much to everyone who attended. After signing autographs and taking photos, I had quite the busy afternoon! Happy Birthday Alexandra!

One last trip to Scandals Day Spa was in order to relax prior to leaving next week. Thank you to everyone at Scandals - you welcome me with open arms each and every trip.

Yes, the rumors are true, I indeed need a new talent. I flew down to Dallas today to meet with Mia Davis, my choreographer. She and I worked diligently and came up with a great dance that I actually love more than the original! The new song is called "Piano Fantasy" - and the pianist is still William Joseph. A special thank you to William himself - he was instrumental in helping me get the rights to dance to his piece on the Miss America stage. I am ready to go to Vegas, and take my new choreography with me!

Well - today is the big day, my Miss America trunk show in Mexico, Missouri. Thank you to all who came out to support me at my final send-off to Miss America. Today is certainly not just a day about me, it is a day for all of us to celebrate the hard work that many volunteers on the state and local level, have given, to support one young woman on her quest to become the next Miss America. Know that I will work just as hard in the weeks to come as I have this whole year. Thank you to all who have been a part of my incredible journey, this is not possible without your love and encouragement!

Back to Arkansas I go, but this time my mother was my companion for the ride. We traveled to Jonesboro to see Shelley Kelly of Clark's Bridal, and pick up my evening gown. I am so pleased with the gown - again - you'll have to come to the wardrobe showing to see it! I don't want to ruin the surprise! : ) Thank you to Shelley for your generosity - there is another seamstress in town that holds a candle to your work. I always leave Jonesboro with a smile (and some formal wear)!

Happy New Year! Again, I find reason to celebrate! Here is to the new year - may 2008 bring you joy and success, and time well spent with friends and family! Here's to Miss America!

Merry Christmas! Though there was no snow to be found in St. Louis on Christmas Day, I had a blessed day with family and friends. It was a welcome break from my recent schedule, and was truly a day full of love, laughter, and my favorite- turkey! No Christmas cookies for me this year with the swimsuit competition in the near future - but I did enjoy helping my mom bake and decorate them to give away as gifts! A very merry Christmas to everyone this holiday season.

Kim and I were back on the road after my USO appearance today! We headed south, to Little Rock, Arkansas. Tommy Lyons of the Venue sponsors a generous package for my Miss America wardrobe, and today we went shopping! The Venue also sponsors my custom-made talent costume - which I was able to see today for the first time ever. Thank you to Tommy and everyone at the Venue for your generosity and support. Kim and I had a fabulous time choosing my Miss America wardrobe - and I cannot wait to show it at the send-off party next month.

I had a great session with Van Becker at Wellbridge Athletic Club. For those of you who are not keeping track - I leave for Las Vegas in 32 days!

This afternoon The Villa at Riverwood hosted a "St. Louis Send-Off" party to wish me good luck at Miss America! The Villa is located right here in Hazelwood, and it was amazing to have so many local residents from my own community come out to wish me the best of luck as I compete for the job of Miss America. We had a lovely reception, and then I was welcomed by a representative from Congressman Lacy Clay's office. Congressman Clay is a representative from the 1st district (my district here in the State of Missouri). Though he was unable to attend, he did send a beautiful proclamation honoring me for my role as Miss Missouri. I am proud to say, that today, December 14, 2007, is now officially Lindsay Casmaer Day! It was completely unexpected and really did make my day! Afterwards, the staff from the Villa presented me with a beautiful crystal mouse for my work with cyber-bullying and Internet safety. Overall, I had one of the best afternoons of my Miss Missouri year thus far! Going forward, I am blessed to have a wonderful support network cheering me all the way to Vegas! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

McMillan Elementary was my destination this afternoon. I visited the Kindergarten, first, and second-grade classrooms for story time. We read a great book called "Amazing Grace" and talked about achieving our dreams no matter what! We also had an all-school assembly and kicked off "Red Ribbon Week" at McMillan. Thank you to all of the students for my warm welcome!

This afternoon I drove to Mexico for some much-needed time with my host family, Jim and Judy Dye! We had a great evening just catching up on my recent travels. I am in Mexico this week until Tuesday for MOREnet's Internet Safety Night in Columbia.

The KlaasKids Foundation for Children and the Dave Mungenast Automotive Family hosted the 11th annual KlassKids Child Safety ID Day today! I set up an Internet Safety for Kids booth and offered information for parents on ways to keep kids safe online. Thanks to everyone who came by and an enormous thanks to everyone at Mungenast Hyundai who invited me to be a part of this great event. For more information visit http://www.klaaskids.org

This afternoon I attended rehearsals for the Miss Gateway to the West and Miss Gateway St. Louis program. We rehearsed for the "Broadway Babies II" themed show - and had a blast! I attended dinner with the judges - thank you to J. Buck's for a great meal! We had a wonderful time and the show was a success! Congratulations to Lacey Fitzgerald and Tara Osseck who are your new Miss Gateway to the West and Miss Gateway St. Louis! Thank you to everyone on the board - it sure was a fun evening. Here I am pictured at the reception with our new titleholders, Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen Mary Bauer, and former Miss Metro St. Louis Jamie Moran.

This evening I was lucky enough to be a guest speaker at the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis "Beyond Bars" program. We had a wonderful seminar on the Internet, safety and security, cyber-bullying, and just making good choices in general! Thank you so much to all of the girls - you made my night. We had dinner and then spent some time taking pictures - everyone got to try the crown on, including Vivienne from the Girl Scout Council!

The US Postal Service held a press conference today in St. Louis for the launch of their new website www.fakechecks.org. The website is aimed at educating the public on some extremely dangerous fraudulent check scams that claim many victims each year. Many of the scams involve contact via the Internet and correspondence over email, and leave the victim in debt due to the scams. Thank you to Postal Inspector Dan Taylor for inviting me this afternoon. I am pictured here with Dan after the press conference.

February 29 After a busy month, I took some time to relax at Scandals Day Spa. Thanks to everyone at Scandals - you always make sure my time spent in the Spa is truly relaxing!
February 26 Tonight I drove to Mexico for the February Miss Missouri Board Meeting. We are preparing for this year's program - and it is so exciting! I can't wait to see how the show comes together this year!
	February 23-24 This weekend I found myself in Waynesville! Why, you might ask? Well - it is time to crown a new Miss Mid-Missouri, Miss Pulaski County, and Miss Tri-Counties! Saturday morning was spent in rehearsal, and that event the pageant was held. Congratulations to your new winners - Miss Mid-Missouri - Abigail Grimmett, Miss Pulaski County - Chelsea Jones, and Miss Tri-Counties - Kari Gai. All 14 contestants did a wonderful job, and the pageant was a complete success! Thank you so much to Linda Stockton for hosting me at the judges dinner, as well as Christina Icaza - for your hospitality!
February 15-17 Today I was on the road to the greater Kansas City area, Platte City, to be exact! I was very excited to take this trip because we are welcoming a new local pageant to the program - the Miss Greater Kansas City pageant! I attended a luncheon for local business women at the Shields Manor Bistro on Friday. Thank you to DeDe and her wonderful staff for hosting me - the food was fabulous! That afternoon I attended an autograph session at the Platte Valley Bank. The President of Platte Valley was out on vacation - so I was able to use his office for the autograph session! Note the picture of me settling into his office - perhaps a bank president position is in my future...Friday evening I attended rehearsals for the pageant - I was the official emcee - so I had to make sure to get my script right! Saturday morning we had an interview on KCTV-5 to promote the program that evening. Saturday night the pageant was held, and we crowned the first Miss Greater Kansas City - Me'Lisa Enyard! Congratulations to Me'Lisa and all of the contestants - you truly did a fabulous job. A special thanks to Angie Young for inviting me, and a very heartfelt thanks to Wayne and Louise Triplett, who hosted me during my stay in Platte City.
	February 12 Happy National Pancake Day! Today, IHOP celebrated National Pancake Day by giving away a free short stack of pancakes to anyone dining at a restaurant today. I was in Kansas City to celebrate, and we collected donations for the Children's Miracle Network in lieu of the cost of the pancakes - thank you to everyone who generously donated! I also did an early morning interview with KSHB reporter Ryan Kath. We had a very heated pancake flipping and stacking contest. I am proud to say I won - stacking 26 pancakes without toppling! After the festivities I myself enjoyed a stack of pancakes - here's to the Children's Miracle Network!
February 11 This morning we awoke in West Plains to a horrible ice storm! I hope everyone stayed off the roads and safe today if you were in Southwest Missouri! I was lucky enough to meet with some students from West Plains Middle School - they presented me a "West Plains Zizzers" mug and some Valentine's candy! They told me a "zizzer" is someone who goes above and beyond - you learn something new everyday!
	February 10 From Mexico, I ventured down south to West Plains, Missouri. I spent the day at the Lion's Club Cheerleading Competition and Outdoors Expo. Mary Bauer, Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen, as also in attendance! We spent the day thanking sponsors and trying out the equipment at the show - note the photos of the boat AND motorcycles. I had a wonderful day - thank you to the Lions Club for generously sponsoring my visit!
February 9 Tonight I was the guest of honor at the Missouri Military Academy Valentine's Ball. Thank you so much to the cadets for showing me a fantastic night! I am pictured here with the President of MMA, Major General Robert Flanagan, as well as my escort for the evening, Won Uk Lee.
February 6 Just a quick note - I will be heading out on the road this weekend, and I wanted to remind everyone that IHOP's National Pancake Day is next Tuesday, February 12. Receive a free short-stack of pancakes at any IHOP nation-wide. IHOP asks you consider making a donation to the Children's Miracle Network in lieu of payment for your pancakes. Last year, Pancake Day raised more than $625,000 for the Children's Miracle Network! Next Tuesday, I will be in Kansas City, flipping pancakes for a cause. Please visit an IHOP and support the Children's Miracle Network - plus get some delicious pancakes! http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/
	January 30 Tonight the gentlemen of Eureka High School showed me why Eureka is truly one of the best schools in the area. I was honored to emcee the "Mr. Eureka High School 2008" pageant this evening. 21 amazing guys, each representing a respective sport or club, competed for the glory and honor of being Mr. EHS! There was a club (or sport) wear competition, karaoke, talent, and formal wear section. I am proud to introduce you to your new Mr. Eureka High School 2008 - Mr. Band! The sold-out crowd had a great time, and ticket sales went to a great cause. All of the proceeds were donated to Lydia's House, which provides transitional housing and services to abused women and their children. For more information visit http://www.lydiashouse.org
January 27 Miss America Snapshots Gallery Few words can truly explain the last 10 days. If I had to sum up my Miss America experience, I would say it was everything and nothing I expected - all at the same time! Arriving in Las Vegas, on January 17th, I was greeted in true Miss America fashion. Planet Hollywood staff was present to get all of the luggage (all 5 bags!) - and then I was whisked away to a limo to travel to the hotel with Miss Connecticut and Miss New Mexico. My roommate for the week was Molly Hazlett, Miss Texas. Molly and I had a fabulous week and truly enjoyed our stay at Planet Hollywood. The rooms were so spacious - and we had PLENTY of counter space in the bathrooms (always a girl's first concern). Our days were split between early morning trips to the gym, rehearsals, and appearances throughout Las Vegas. From a fashion show at one of the largest malls in Vegas, to walking the red carpet at the "Rambo" premier - my Miss America experience truly embodied all that is fabulous about the organization. Monday afternoon I had the interview of a lifetime. While I will never know what the judges thought - in my heart, it was the best interview I have ever given. I had an eclectic round of questions that really allowed who I am as an individual to shine through. Though the judges did not place me as Miss America - that interview is something I will always be proud of. We prepared hard this year for those 10 minutes, and there was nothing I would have changed. Tuesday night was easily the highlight of my Miss America trip. After being forced to change my ballet piece last-minute, I was thrilled to have the performance go smoothly! We were surprised Tuesday night by having members from our state cheering section seated on the stage during the show. It meant the world to have Susan and Lou sitting on stage, cheering me on each step of the way as I danced! Wednesday and Thursday flew by - with on stage question, swimsuit, and evening gown. Those nights always seem to be the LEAST stressful! Friday night we were honored to attend the Children's Miracle Network "Evening of Dreams" Gala. It was a pleasure to thank all of the sponsors and attendees who gave so generously so that the Children's Miracle Network may thrive. Seeing the photos of children in hospitals across the country smiling as they tried on the Miss America crown reminded me that as individuals, we have the chance to bring a moment of hope and glee into the lives of these children battling illness. Thank you to all on the local and state level who donate their time to these amazing kids and the Children's Miracle Network. Saturday was a whirlwind, after rehearsals all day, we attended a private gift bag function with WOW! productions. The show started right on time, at 5pm - and the purple group walked out onstage for our last Miss America performance! While my goal of making the top ten was not ultimately achieved, I learned valuable lessons from the disappointment. Sitting on that stage, watching the other girls compete for the title of Miss America truly forced me to reevaluate what I would take away from the experience. Miss America does not just allow you to compete - it allows you to grow into a person you did not know possible until stepping out on that stage. Looking out into the audience, seeing the Missouri contingency waving their signs and still cheering me on - I felt the warmth and love that I have always had as Miss Missouri. I suddenly realized that I had the amazing chance to come back to Missouri and finish the job I had begun. After the show was over, I shared a wonderful dinner with all of my friends and family that were in attendance. Glancing around the room, I realized that Miss America is truly a group effort. Getting a young woman prepared to compete on that stage requires the love, dedication, and support of many people. A special thank-you to all who have dreamed with me. To everyone who saw me as ready for the job as Miss America I thank you for your encouragement and inspiration. To all who sent letters, cards, and flowers - thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your words of encouragement were carefully placed on my nightstand each day - and by the end of my stay my table was full with support and letters of good wishes! To everyone in the state of Missouri - thank you so much for your support! I am thrilled to be YOUR Miss Missouri - and continue my work here in the state. Love, Lindsay
January 16 I leave for Las Vegas tomorrow - and the hours can't click by fast enough! After months of discussing my trip to Las Vegas, it is finally here. I am thrilled to be a part of such a longstanding piece of Americana. My step out onto the Miss America stage is due largely in part to all who have given of their time and energy this year. From my local board, to the state board, and my friends and family, my trip to Las Vegas is a chance to represent all who are part of our Miss Missouri family. Thank you for never ending support and encouragement throughout the past months, I hope to make Missouri proud! Love, Lindsay
January 15 I round out my week with a trip to both the salon and the gym - like any normal Miss America contestant! The Phillip Johnson Salon and Spa hosted me today for a day of haircare. Thanks to Phil for your generous donation to the program - you always make sure Miss Missouri's hair is in great shape! Also, a special thanks to Van Becker at Wellbridge, my trainer for the last four months. I am in the best shape of my life thanks to you Van - and I have the biceps to prove it! : )
January 14 Mary Ann Owens hosted my last mock interview here in St. Louis tonight. We had several local media personalities on the panel, and they had some great questions to prepare me for my Miss America interview! Thank you to Mary Ann, for organizing such a great interview, as well as sending me off well-prepared for those judges next week!
January 13 This afternoon I had a unique Miss Missouri appearance, a tea party! We celebrated Alexandra's ninth birthday today and had tea with her closest friends. Thank you so much to everyone who attended. After signing autographs and taking photos, I had quite the busy afternoon! Happy Birthday Alexandra!
January 11 One last trip to Scandals Day Spa was in order to relax prior to leaving next week. Thank you to everyone at Scandals - you welcome me with open arms each and every trip.
January 7-8 Yes, the rumors are true, I indeed need a new talent. I flew down to Dallas today to meet with Mia Davis, my choreographer. She and I worked diligently and came up with a great dance that I actually love more than the original! The new song is called "Piano Fantasy" - and the pianist is still William Joseph. A special thank you to William himself - he was instrumental in helping me get the rights to dance to his piece on the Miss America stage. I am ready to go to Vegas, and take my new choreography with me!
January 6 Well - today is the big day, my Miss America trunk show in Mexico, Missouri. Thank you to all who came out to support me at my final send-off to Miss America. Today is certainly not just a day about me, it is a day for all of us to celebrate the hard work that many volunteers on the state and local level, have given, to support one young woman on her quest to become the next Miss America. Know that I will work just as hard in the weeks to come as I have this whole year. Thank you to all who have been a part of my incredible journey, this is not possible without your love and encouragement!
January 4-5 Back to Arkansas I go, but this time my mother was my companion for the ride. We traveled to Jonesboro to see Shelley Kelly of Clark's Bridal, and pick up my evening gown. I am so pleased with the gown - again - you'll have to come to the wardrobe showing to see it! I don't want to ruin the surprise! : ) Thank you to Shelley for your generosity - there is another seamstress in town that holds a candle to your work. I always leave Jonesboro with a smile (and some formal wear)!
January 1 Happy New Year! Again, I find reason to celebrate! Here is to the new year - may 2008 bring you joy and success, and time well spent with friends and family! Here's to Miss America!
December 25 Merry Christmas! Though there was no snow to be found in St. Louis on Christmas Day, I had a blessed day with family and friends. It was a welcome break from my recent schedule, and was truly a day full of love, laughter, and my favorite- turkey! No Christmas cookies for me this year with the swimsuit competition in the near future - but I did enjoy helping my mom bake and decorate them to give away as gifts! A very merry Christmas to everyone this holiday season.
December 20-21 Kim and I were back on the road after my USO appearance today! We headed south, to Little Rock, Arkansas. Tommy Lyons of the Venue sponsors a generous package for my Miss America wardrobe, and today we went shopping! The Venue also sponsors my custom-made talent costume - which I was able to see today for the first time ever. Thank you to Tommy and everyone at the Venue for your generosity and support. Kim and I had a fabulous time choosing my Miss America wardrobe - and I cannot wait to show it at the send-off party next month.
	December 20 I can honestly say I have never been happier to be dressed and ready at 5am, except perhaps, on Christmas Day when I was five....This morning I was up bright and early to greet the troops as they passed through Lambert Airport during the annual USO Exodus. I spent all morning signing autographs and taking photos with the troops - and had an absolute blast! Thank you to the guys from 97.1fm talk - Jamie and Crane - they were there to support the troops as well, and we even fit in time for a short on-air interview. A special thank-you to all who serve our country, without your dedication to freedom we would not be the great United States of America.
December 15 I had a great session with Van Becker at Wellbridge Athletic Club. For those of you who are not keeping track - I leave for Las Vegas in 32 days!
	December 14 This afternoon The Villa at Riverwood hosted a "St. Louis Send-Off" party to wish me good luck at Miss America! The Villa is located right here in Hazelwood, and it was amazing to have so many local residents from my own community come out to wish me the best of luck as I compete for the job of Miss America. We had a lovely reception, and then I was welcomed by a representative from Congressman Lacy Clay's office. Congressman Clay is a representative from the 1st district (my district here in the State of Missouri). Though he was unable to attend, he did send a beautiful proclamation honoring me for my role as Miss Missouri. I am proud to say, that today, December 14, 2007, is now officially Lindsay Casmaer Day! It was completely unexpected and really did make my day! Afterwards, the staff from the Villa presented me with a beautiful crystal mouse for my work with cyber-bullying and Internet safety. Overall, I had one of the best afternoons of my Miss Missouri year thus far! Going forward, I am blessed to have a wonderful support network cheering me all the way to Vegas! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
December 13 Well I suppose it is winter! I was scheduled to head to Shelbina, Missouri today, to visit Shelbina Elementary and Miss Emma Gough. Due to ice and snow, school was cancelled part of this week, and so was my visit to Shelbina! A special apology to everyone at Shelbina Elementary - I was SO looking forward to meeting you! All I can say is that I plan on coming to visit in the spring, when the weather is better and I know the trip will be safe! A very Merry Christmas to all - and my apologies for the cancellation!
December 11 Today I was scheduled to head to Lake of the Ozarks for a full day of appearances! However, the weather thought otherwise, and due to ice and sleet, I was "grounded" here in St. Louis. My appearance both at the School of the Osage and the DARE Graduation was cancelled, and I am looking forward to visiting those schools in the spring!
December 10 Tonight I attended the Philip Johnson Salon and Spa Holiday Party to benefit the Ronald McDonald House here in St. Louis. I signed autographs, met customers, and participated in a silent auction. Thank you to all who bid on "lunch with Miss Missouri" - the proceeds go to a very worthy cause! It is nice to know that with this holiday season and all of the shopping, we are taking time to remember to help those in need this Christmas.
December 9 Now it is Sunday and we are headed back to St. Louis through the ice storm – I hope everyone is staying safe! Thank you so much to Doug and Mandy Spieker for making my stay in Knob Knoster warm and memorable. The beautiful house on base, the hospitality, and fantastic tours made my trip one I will not soon forget.
December 8 Saturday morning we awoke on the base to snow and ice! Although the weather was blustery, my parents and I headed out to tour the wineries nearby. We spent time at Montserrat and Bristle Ridge Wineries, had tastings, and got to know the wine-making process. A special thanks to Doug and Mandy for setting up our tours, as well as Vickie and Kelly for hosting me at their wineries. Saturday night was the Miss Knob Knoster program, and it was a complete success! I was really impressed with the Teen and Miss contestants – everyone did a fabulous job. Your new Knob Knoster is Miss Lindsey Lou Rich – a special congrats to her! Here I am pictured with the contestants as well as Miss Western Missouri 2006, Stasha Baker.
	December 7 This morning I headed to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Knoster, Missouri. After checking into the base and getting settled into the “Spirit of America” house (my home for the weekend) – I had a full day of touring the base! I had an absolute blast getting to know what goes on at Whiteman as well as how everyone is working hard to protect our country. It was such a personal pleasure to thank each man and woman for their service and dedication to our nation. We started with the A-10 fighter jets, and after sitting in that cockpit – I have a new appreciation for the men and women who pilot those jets! After the A-10’s we moved onto the Apache Helicopters in a new hanger. The Apache units asked me to sign the inside panel of the helicopter – which was an absolute thrill (see my smile in the picture)! We finished up with the B-2 Bomber. Let me tell you – THAT was an experience. First of all, it is so much more massive than you ever expect. Getting to climb up into that cockpit and see how they function was incredible. We even climbed up on platforms above the plane and saw the technology from above. The end of the tour finished with a chance to try my skills at flying the B-2 in the simulator. I don’t think a B-2 pilot career is in my future, but I did okay after a crash the first go-around. : ) I also was able to make a special stop to see the pilots of the B-2’s – they signed a beautiful picture for me and even gave me their Whiteman patches off of their uniforms – thanks gentlemen! Friday night I was a guest wine pourer at Wine101 in Warrensburg. Thanks to everyone who braved the winter weather to come out and join us. Here I am pictured with Barbara and Brandon from Wine101 – thanks for treating me to a great evening.
December 5 Tonight I found myself back in Mexico for some Miss America preparation. We had our final mock interview in Mexico – and it was great to see everyone! Afterwards I had dinner at the Mexico Country Club – thanks to Jim, Judy, Alice, and Lou for treating me to dinner.
December 1 What do you get when you mix 17,000 Girl Scouts, 1 Convention Center, and tons of activities? Many might say chaos, but the 2007 "Shades of Green" conference was a complete success! "Shades of Green" is held every 5 years as a way to unite all girls that participate in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. I attended the event with the "INOBTR" Internet safety campaign and we had a blast! Our booth had a bank of computers set up for girls to go online and take Internet safety quizzes testing their knowledge of how to stay safe online! I also signed autographs for hours and was thrilled to get to know so many great girls from the surrounding areas. During the day, I also attended a reception with Dr. Debbye Turner - who was also in attendance at the conference. Thank you to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and the INOBTR program. www.inobtr.org
November 27 Tonight was the November Miss Missouri Board meeting. It was so nice to see everyone and catch up after my trip to film the reality show!
	November 23-24 On the road to Kansas City, I traveled to meet up with Bill Wolfe and Mia Seminoff in order to work on my talent for Miss America. We rehearsed in a beautiful studio at the Kansas City Ballet - an enormous thanks to Cheryl Kimmi for securing the space! After rehearsals, we attended a cocktail party downtown to watch the Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Saturday morning was mock interview time! Phil Kimmi had two wonderful panels of judges who were aimed at helping me hone by interview skills for Miss America. I'd love to send a personal thanks to everyone who volunteered for my mock interviews - I feel more and more prepared after each session! Thank you so very much to Mia and her family for hosting the party, as well as to the Kimmi's and Bill Wolfe for your fabulous hospitality while I was in Kansas City.
	November 22 Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! This morning we braved the cold for the annual St. Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade. Thanks to Plaza Motors for donating our convertible for the day! I hope everyone had a blessed holiday and took time to note all that we have to be thankful for. As the weeks approach Miss America, I am certainly thankful to know there are such wonderful volunteers here in the state supporting the Miss Missouri program all the way!
November 18 'Tis the season! Today I rode in the Columbia Holiday Parade. Thanks to Susan for the fabulous convertible and to Lou for being a great driver! There was quite the crowd that turned out for the parade and I had a great time all-around! Now I definitely feel like the holidays are here!
	November 17 A side note - two months from today I will be leaving for Las Vegas to compete at Miss America! That being said, I spent some time in Jackson today for the Miss Jackson program. Mary Bauer and I hosted the afternoon program where we crowned a Tiny Miss, Little Miss, and Preteen Miss Jackson. That afternoon I had a wonderful dinner with the judges from both the Teen and Miss competition, and then we got the show started! Congratulations to your new Miss Jackson, Kate Wizenburger, and Miss Jackson Outstanding Teen, Alexis Bogenpohl. I applaud all of the contestants on a job well done ladies - it was a wonderful production! Thank you to Kirk and Marybeth Williams for hosting me during my stay in Jackson.
	November 15 Well - I am back to St. Louis after two weeks in LA filming the new Miss America Reality Series with all 52 contestants. We shot a total of 4 episodes that will air in the weeks before the live finale on January 26. I can't disclose what we did during our two weeks, but I will say that I met some wonderful friends and am excited to watch our hard work when the show airs on TLC!
November 4 This weekend has been a whirlwind! This morning I left for Los Angeles to film the Miss America Reality Series. We arrived in LA today and are spending the night before heading to our shooting location tomorrow morning. So far - none of us have any idea where we will be going! In order to find out what I'm up to - you will have to tune in in January! This just might the hardest secret I ever have to keep. :) My apologies for the tardy travelogue update, I promise to try to update while I am here in LA. Until then - wish me luck!
	November 3 The Girl Scout Council of Eastern Missouri hosted an Anti-Violence Symposium, and I was the keynote speaker this morning. Girls grades 4 through 9 attended the program to learn about becoming a part of the solution to end violence. They listened to classes on healthy relationships, gangs, bullying, and the internet. My keynote address focused on Cyber-Bullying and how we as girls can protect ourselves and others when online.
October 29-November 2 Bon Voyage! Today I left for Miami and the Miss America Cruise! 31 contestants total attended this year's cruise, and we had a blast. We had some weather trouble, however, and the ship had to divert to stay out of the way of Tropical Storm Noel. We went to Key West, and enjoyed lunch with the Mayor and a trolley tour of the historic sites. After Key West we headed to Cozumel for the evening. While at sea each night we had dinner with a different table in order to get to know everyone from Miss America! Mid-week we had a talent show and we were able to do a production number! How fun is it to now say I have danced on a cruise ship? Each contestant also had a roommate, and mine was Miss South Carolina, Crystal Garrett. I am pictured here with Crystal during the Halloween party. I went as a glass of "bubbly" and wore my gold dress while blowing bubbles!
October 26 This afternoon I spent time in Quincy (Illinois) working with Beth Heinze. We rehearsed my ballet routine for Miss America! There are still days I have to pinch myself when I realize I will be dancing on the Miss America stage.
October 24 Back in St. Louis, I had a great day at the Philip Johnson Salon and Spa. Thanks to Phil - I am ready to head to my Miss America events feeling fabulous!
	October 23 The Missouri Research & Education Network (MOREnet) hosted Internet Safety Night this evening to raise awareness of online dangers and crimes, and provide resources for keeping families safe online. More than 1500 people at 79 sites in 9 states tuned in to learn about the latest resources available for staying safe online. I was part of a discussion panel for the evening that included law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals from the private sector. MOREnet's entire program will be available via streaming video at http://besafe.more.net for the next several months. The hope is that local communities will get together and use the archived presentation as yet another resource on the topic of Internet safety. Thank you to all who emailed in questions! It was truly an experience to remember - my first video-conference Miss Missouri appearance!
Photo by Mexico Ledger	October 22 McMillan Elementary was my destination this afternoon. I visited the Kindergarten, first, and second-grade classrooms for story time. We read a great book called "Amazing Grace" and talked about achieving our dreams no matter what! We also had an all-school assembly and kicked off "Red Ribbon Week" at McMillan. Thank you to all of the students for my warm welcome!
October 21 This afternoon I drove to Mexico for some much-needed time with my host family, Jim and Judy Dye! We had a great evening just catching up on my recent travels. I am in Mexico this week until Tuesday for MOREnet's Internet Safety Night in Columbia.
	October 20 The KlaasKids Foundation for Children and the Dave Mungenast Automotive Family hosted the 11th annual KlassKids Child Safety ID Day today! I set up an Internet Safety for Kids booth and offered information for parents on ways to keep kids safe online. Thanks to everyone who came by and an enormous thanks to everyone at Mungenast Hyundai who invited me to be a part of this great event. For more information visit http://www.klaaskids.org This afternoon I attended rehearsals for the Miss Gateway to the West and Miss Gateway St. Louis program. We rehearsed for the "Broadway Babies II" themed show - and had a blast! I attended dinner with the judges - thank you to J. Buck's for a great meal! We had a wonderful time and the show was a success! Congratulations to Lacey Fitzgerald and Tara Osseck who are your new Miss Gateway to the West and Miss Gateway St. Louis! Thank you to everyone on the board - it sure was a fun evening. Here I am pictured at the reception with our new titleholders, Miss Missouri's Outstanding Teen Mary Bauer, and former Miss Metro St. Louis Jamie Moran.
October 16 I spent Tuesday in Canton as well - only today was focusing on Red Ribbon Week. Tuesday morning I presented "Right Decisions Right Now" to grades five through eight. Since Tuesday was "put drugs to sleep day" at the school, everyone was encouraged to wear their pajamas! Sadly, I was not in pajamas, but we did have a great time talking about the ways we can continually make good choices in our lives. The Kiwanis club of Canton hosted me for lunch and I was truly thankful for the good meal and fun conversation. I toured the Kindergarten classes Tuesday afternoon and had a fantastic time seeing so many bright shining faces! Kids really do have the most adorable questions - as one Kindergarten boy asked me "Why are you wearing a queen hat?" I always thought we could call it a crown - but "queen hat" sure does sound fun!
	October 15 This week began with a road trip to Canton, Missouri. Though I had never been to Canton before - I found myself in love with this town by the time I left! Monday morning I toured classrooms in the school district for their kick-off of Red Ribbon Week. I also presented two Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying presentations to the junior high and high school students. That afternoon I attended a tea at the home of Dr. William Fox and his wife, Lynn. Dr. Fox is President of Culver Stockton College, and I had a wonderful time meeting with so many professors and students from the college community. Thank you to Dr. and Mrs. Fox for hosting such a lovely event! Monday evening I presented "Internet Safety Night" for parents in the Canton School District. I am continually impressed with the interest parents take in securing their child's safety online. We had a great night and I hope everyone was able to learn a bit more about ways we can keep safe when using the Internet! Thanks to Anne Davis and Teresa Daughtery for arranging such a wonderful day in Canton!
October 13 The Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis hosted the first annual "Leadership Academy" at St. Charles Community College. I attended the event as a presenter and led an Internet Safety program for adults. I always enjoy getting to present to adults because I do feel that there are so many components involved in keeping children safe online. We had a wonderful time and I think the first "Leadership Academy" was a success!
	October 11 I had a wonderful invitation to attend the screening of the documentary "Miss Navajo" at the Missouri History Museum. I also served as part of the discussion panel following the screening. Watching this documentary was such a treat - being able to witness how a young woman is chosen to represent the Navajo Nation for the year is incredible. During the discussion panel following the documentary, we discussed to what extent do pageants reinforce cultural values. I am proud to say that whether you are a contestant for the title of Miss Missouri, or a young woman vying to be Miss Navajo, the common thread is women of strength, vibrancy, and dedication to their communities. Here I am pictured with Sunny Dooley, who is a former Miss Navajo and a member of the discussion panel. http://missnavajomovie.com/
	October 3 This evening I was lucky enough to be a guest speaker at the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis "Beyond Bars" program. We had a wonderful seminar on the Internet, safety and security, cyber-bullying, and just making good choices in general! Thank you so much to all of the girls - you made my night. We had dinner and then spent some time taking pictures - everyone got to try the crown on, including Vivienne from the Girl Scout Council!
	October 3 The US Postal Service held a press conference today in St. Louis for the launch of their new website www.fakechecks.org. The website is aimed at educating the public on some extremely dangerous fraudulent check scams that claim many victims each year. Many of the scams involve contact via the Internet and correspondence over email, and leave the victim in debt due to the scams. Thank you to Postal Inspector Dan Taylor for inviting me this afternoon. I am pictured here with Dan after the press conference.