Vermont is filled with sweetness!

Part 2 of my catch-up blog!

On October 2nd, I drove the 4-hour commute to Vermont from Assumption College, with only minutes to get ready before my appearance for the night. Throwing some hot-rollers in my hair, (thanks to my step-dad who plugged them in for me so they were hot when I walked into my house) I scrambled to get ready for the 5hour event. With only 5 minutes to get ready for 5 hours, I think I did ok. But hey, time is money, and as I volunteered my time at the Casino Night benefiting the Epilepsy Association, I witnessed a great deal of money being raised for this wonderful organization! From 7pm until Midnight, My step-dad Mike and I volunteered at the Elks Club where the Casino Night took place. Mike and I were asked to be Black Jack dealers, but because I've never been a gambler, I figured that I would be of much better use spinning the big wheel, rather than trying to learn how to be a Black Jack dealer in a short amount of time. Mike has a great deal experience with Black Jack (I hope he wins big while in Vegas for Miss America) and he alone was able to raise over $500. There were about 12 Black Jack dealers, along with a Roulette Table and Texas Hold'em tables, so although I don't know what the final tally was for the evening, I'm certain that the Epilepsy Association made a great deal of money for their cause! It was such a fun evening, and the time really flew by! I really enjoyed my task, it reminded me of the Price Is Right--one of my favorite shows!--and each time I spun the big wheel, I pretended I was playing in the Showcase Showdown! Lame? Ok...I'll give you that, but I had a blast! The people were so fun to mingle with, and there was a great turn out! Since the closest casino is in Montreal, a lot of people attended the Casino Night, and I think because this event raised money for charity, it gave us Vermonters all the more reasons to come out and gamble! Win or Lose it was a win/win situation. A few members of the Middlebury College Rugby Team came out to volunteer and before they left we took a picture together! What nice guys! Overall, the entire event was a great success! Before I left, the Epilepsy Association asked if I could participate in their next big event in April. The Penguin Plunge! I agreed. I will be jumping into Lake Champlain in April where there is still always snow on the ground! I'm excited, and I already get goosebumps at the thought of my feet jumping into that ice cold water.

On October 5th, I participated in the Miss America Lottery. I had to go back to Assumption College, so I was in Massachusetts while I was picking my lottery number, but I had a slew of supporters watching the lottery and helping me figure out which competition group I should be in. I was on the phone with either my mom or Nonni almost every 4 minutes. Each time a new contestant's name popped on the screen I'd get a phone call telling me "I'm sure you'll be next. I'm sure you'll be next." Well, I received at least 35 of those phone calls haha! Miss Vermont popped onto the computer screen towards the end of the lottery, and I'm really excited to say that I am VERY happy with my placement! Harry Benoit, a huge supporter of the MVSO, and I kept e-mailing throughout the process, and I'm glad that he too is happy with my group. I am in the MU group, and we joke that this group is very appropriate for our state, since MU sounds like MOO! Gregory Ellenburg gave much support during lottery with his phone calls and texts, along with many of my friends and family who were watching the lottery from their homes. My Uncle Pat and Aunt Jen did the lottery dance in Seattle, Washington. My Aunt Lisa in Cincinnati, OH was cheering for me, along with my family members in Atlanta, GA. Vermont had so much support during this process and I'm so happy with the outcome! Thank you all for your positive vibes! A special thank you to my boyfriend Mike who drove to Assumption College to sit and watch the lottery for 2 hours and then took me out for a celebratory dinner! Miss Vermont is contestant number 4 in the MU group! I feel very good about this placement...I keep seeing the number 4 everywhere! Seems like a good sign to me!

What does this mean? This is my competition order:

Monday AM--Interview

Tuesday--On-stage Question

Wednesday--Swimsuit and Evening Gown

Thursday--Talent

So, I believe I have caught you up from what has happened over the last couple of weeks. Other exciting news, my talent song has been approved! I just need to get the song re-recorded and we are in the process of figuring that all out. I will be dancing to "I want to go to Hollywood" from the musical, The Grand Hotel.

My Miss America Wardrobe is well-underway! I am in LOVE with my evening gown (or at least the sketches!) I will be flying down to South Carolina with my mom and Nonni in the beginning of November to try on my Evening Gown and Talent Costume on and I cannot wait. I am soo blessed to be working with Gregory Ellenburg. His work is breathtaking and he has done a fabulous job at capturing my personality into each piece of my wardrobe! I don't want to give too much information away because I want you all to be surprised!

I am currently typing my blog in my living room as I watch Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, compete on The Amazing Race! The heat from the wood stove is gently kissing my cheek as my feet are freezing underneath a blanket...I know fall has officially fallen. I love Vermont in the fall! The scenery is simply beautiful as all the leaves change color. We have a beautiful view of the mountains from the backyard of our house in Vergennes, and the crispness of the air outside is so refreshing! Ahh I'm so proud to call Vermont my home!

Yesterday, Saturday the 10th (Happy 11th Anniversary Dad and Katie)--I had an appearance at my old stomping grounds--Chamberlin School! When I first moved to Vermont in the 1st grade, this is the school I attended for 5 years. So many wonderful memories and it's always fun to have a reunion with all of my teachers from back in the day! I had the privilege of participating in their Harvest Festival. I remember attending this festival when I was a student at Chamberlin, so it was so great to return as Miss Vermont. I look forward to doing several appearances at Chamberlin School throughout the year. I cannot speak highly enough about this school. I think the first few words of the school song say enough: "Chamberlin School, Chamberlin School--We think you're cool! Chamberlin School, Chamberlin School--we all love you!" Aww memories!

With Jasmine--a kindergartener from Chamberlin


After the Harvest Festival, my mom and I had about an hour to spare before visiting with my Interim Director (hopefully soon to be my official Executive Director!), Sue Lackey. We went to Mimmo's in Essex, VT for some delicious pizza! It was at Mimmo's that I decided I would start collecting these super cute sugar packets. I have set a maximum limit of 3 sugar packets from each restaurant that carries them...I don't want seem like a crazy, sugar-stealing lady, so three seems like a good amount without crossing the line. Right? Well--why do I want to collect these I LOVERMONT sugar packets? Easy--because Vermont is filled with sweetness and I want to spread that sweetness around! Maybe this is weird, but I think it's cool--every time I travel somewhere out of Vermont, I want to randomly leave a ILOVERMONT sugar packet. I will be traveling to more states this year than I have in my entire life, so why not leave a little piece of our sweet state everywhere I go? haha! So be on the look-out when you travel away from Vermont--you may come across one of my sugar packets.

Meeting with Sue was great! We are on the same page for my vision of my reign and I'm so glad to have her support and guidance. She has great vision for this organization, and together, I hope we can build it up to be stronger than ever! With everything I do, I try to leave something better than when I began--and with this transitional year in terms of the leadership of our program, I believe that I can help build relationships and connections that strengthen this program for years to come. I am already 100% dedicated to this organization for the rest of my life. Miss America does amazing things for the amazing girls who participate in it. It keeps me real. I am so proud to be a Miss America girl!

It's easy for me to get off topic. Thanks for hanging in there. I visited the Red Clover after meeting with Sue and got a super-cute haircut from Mary! I loved the way my hair looked when I left the salon, however, I have yet to find a way to repeat how my hair looked yesterday. I'm trying though! Maybe tomorrow I will master the look! We'll see...

Well, I've been running around Burlington today with my mom and Nonni. We had a great shopping excursion and finished the afternoon with some interview practice. Speaking of interview, I have found out who one of my judges will be at Miss America! Rush Limbaugh, will be one of the seven judges who have the important task of choosing Miss America 2010. I am looking forward to finding out who else will be on the judging panel! I feel like January will be here before I know it.

But until then, I'm enjoying every moment and each step of the way.

Your Miss Vermont,

~Laura