I had a fun time in Orlando watching Michaela. She was beautiful and did an amazing job!!! I was BURSTING with pride as she performed her talent. I cannot get over how great of a dancer she is =) It was an honor to be there in support of such an amazing girl!!! WAY TO GO MICHALEA!!!
The only regret I had about my Orlando trip is that I was unable to attend some of the scheduled Miss America Contestant Events. I think the worse part was missing the trip to Disney!!! I had been up the night before tossing and turning with stomach pain!! UGH—-Let me tell you, That WAS NOT fun =/ I was just about in tears when I woke up and still did not feel up to it.  Anybody who knows me will tell you… I AM A HUGE DISNEY FAN. One of my dreams as a little girl was to be Ariel at Magic Kingdom. (It kind of still is a secret wish of mine) Luckily when my chaperone saw how sad I was, she MADE MY DAY by saying, “If you feel up for it in a little while, then I’ll take you.” (Thanks for that Erin) I made it there just in time to see some of the other contestants and hear all about their day. I was SOOOOO happy! After a few hours it was back to bed for another night of stomach pain. YUCK!!!  I was however able to go to the CMN hospital with the MAO contestants that were in Orlando (29 were there).  That was a highlight for me!! I met a little girl who called me Snow White…this is funny considering I am a blonde hair, blue eyed, tan girl, with a touch of a southern accent!  HOWEVER- Any child THAT cute can call me whatever she wants!!!  That hospital was so BIG. I made some great connections there and hope to revisit this hospital again this year.  It was lots of fun and very interesting.
The girls I’ll be competing with are all wonderful. I really enjoyed hanging out with Miss Michigan (and her fabulous board of directors…they are amazing) and Miss North Carolina. I also really like seeing Miss South Carolina and Miss Alabama again!!! (I went to their pageants this year and was thrilled when they won)!! It was also nice meeting Florida! We spent the first ten minutes of our conversation discussing all of the people we both knew. It really is a small world!! Miss America, Lauren Nelson, looked fabulous!! She represented the MAO very well as she emceed and preformed at the pageant!!! She did a very nice job. I was very impressed and it was fun to see her again. I was also able to visit with Art McMaster (MAO CEO) and Mike Allegretto (who is the MAO board member that attended Miss GA). It was nice to see both of them again as well.
I got to see Lace and the Cobb board which was a treat!! The MGO board got us GREAT tickets in a fabulous location in the theater!!! I was able to sit with MGOT board members which was fun!! They were as proud of Michaela as I was =) SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB!!! YAY MICHAELA!!!
After returning home from Orlando, I visited the doctor and as it turns out those stomach pains weren’t just in my head after all. The doctor found stomach ulcers that had been progressively getting worse. He will be treating them for the next eight weeks. That’s kind of a pain, but necessary! I’m just glad we figured out what was wrong!! He basically said I needed to stop stressing. I said, stressing is a BIG part of my job =) Later that afternoon, my day was brightened when I learned of the plan to broadcast MISS AMERICA on TLC. That is one of my favorite networks!!! I think that was a GREAT move by the MAO and TLC!!! YAY!!! It’s good to have a home again =)
The last thing I want to share before I go is the fact that we have a new addition to my family!!! This morning at about 3:16am my Niece, Katherine Lee Massee (Kate), was born!!! Both Mom and Baby are doing great and will be home tomorrow!! Kate was 7 pounds and 2 ounces. She was 19.5 inches long and has huge hands and feet like my brother!!! (Her talent will be playing the piano at Miss GA 2027) She is beautiful and we are all exhausted, but totally thrilled!!!
Well—that about wraps it up!!! I’m now headed to Columbus for a Rotary Club Meeting, then I’ll be in Blue Ridge for the Ageless Beauty Pageant, followed by East Central Technical School’s Summerfest event in Fitzgerald, and I’ll end my week Sunday at the Braves Games singing God Bless America!! I hope to see you there!!! Take Care and have a great weekend =)