Pageantry and Such

Sorry it's taken so long, but here's the post about the pageant I promised!

The whole experience was awesome. Even more awesome than Miss Washington County, even more awesome than Miss Dixie last year. I had so much fun! I love every single one of the girls who competed, and I'm so glad for the winners. Jessica Baird won the crown, Shanae V. was first attendant, Kelby Tyler was second, Jessica Derrick was third, Mandy Stout was fourth, Jill Dallon was "Miss Dixie Spirit" and Clara LeFevre won the platform award.

I didn't win. But that's okay. I had fun. I learned about myself. I'm getting better at speaking my mind. I'm not the timid, un-opinionated little girl I was a year ago. And I think I like it. I totally rocked my interview. I didn't stumble over my words, and I think I only said "um" once. (Last year, I'm sure I said it about twenty times in the ten minute interview, and twice in my on-stage question). I nailed my talent, I sang my heart out in front of a full house. All by myself. No nerves, no stumbles, no butterflies. I was totally and completely confident. And it felt absolutely wonderful!

But the very best part.. was what was waiting for me in the lobby of the Eccles after the pageant was over. I was swarmed with hugs and smiles and flowers and "good job!"s from some of the most important people in my life. I was so grateful for that. I'm so grateful for everyone who came to the pageant. Whether they were there to support me, or to support someone else. The important thing is that they were there to support one of us girls. And by supporting one of us, you were supporting all of us. I really grew quite close to these girls, and I love them all so much!

Well.. enough of the mushy stuff.. and time for some pictures!

The night before the pageant

Opening number!

On-stage Interview

Talent! "True Love's Kiss"

All the girls [:

The Aftermath

I love this boy [:

woooooosh!

The sound of stress exiting my body, and relief filling it back up.

Pageant = Over.

Room = Clean.

Homework = Done.

Time to get back in the groove. [:

(There will be a post about the pageant, complete with pictures, very soon.)

SOTD 2

Derek

"Good Day"

By Angels & Airwaves



[Whispering:]
We don't need to whisper

I should have turned back
I should have known better
Than to walk away defeated
I'll say it tonight, I'll say it forever
And this time I really swear I mean it

Oh I need you now
The Earth fell fast asleep
This room is safe and sound
Will you lay here with me
And feel it..

I think I like today
I think its good
Its something I can't get my head around

True love is something that comes easy
Just one kiss god I swear I want to...
I heard a pin drop and a nervous heartbeat
Have you ever heard me scream I love you

Oh I need you now
The Earth fell fast asleep
This room is safe and sound
Will you lay here with me
And feel it..

I think I like today
I think it's good
Its something I can't get my head around [x2]

dadah da dah dah dadadah [x8]

I think I like today
I think it's good
Its something I can't get my head around [x6]


~~~


Jessica

"Laughing With"

By Regina Spektor



No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God
When it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God
When they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they're mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one's laughing at God
When there's a famine or fire or flood

But God could be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God themed joke or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke

God could be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they've lost all they've got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God
On the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see
Is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God
When they're saying their goodbyes

But God could be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God themed joke or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke

God could be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war
No one's laughing at God
When they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

Song(s) of the Day aka SOTD 1

Derek and I have started a tradition. Every morning before Music Theory (or Ear Training, depending on the day), we each share our "Song of the Day." So, I thought, "why not post them on here to share with everyone else!"

So here are today's songs:

Jessica

"The World"

by The Starting Line



You've gotta hold, hold open my eyelids
If you're gonna shake, shake, shake 'til the morning
I'm gonna put, put things in perspective
And it's gonna take, take, take my precious time
All we need is a reason
For us to dance, dance, dance 'til the break of dawn
All I need is a hook now
For us to shout, shout, shout these words out

Cause we're all, all, all
We're all...
You know we're all a part of the world, of course
If you know it sing out
Yeah, sing it out

I'm gonna snap back into formation
And get to work, work, work 'til the job gets done
Everyone's getting ready
Cause they've been wait, wait, waiting for Friday night
All we need is a chance now
For, for us to get, get down in the after hours
All you need is a voice now
For us to shout, shout, shout these words out

Cause we're all, all, all
We're all...
You know we're all a part of the world, of course
If you know it sing out
Yeah, sing it out
Cause we're all a part
You know we're all a part of the world, of course
If you know it sing out
Yeah, sing it out

Work, work, work
Should, should, should
Good, good, good
I'm gonna keep it up, keep it up
Gonna keep it up, keep it up
Work, work, work if you
Should, should, should and you're
Good, good, good, all right now
Keep it up, keep it up, keep it

Cause we're all, we're part
You know we're all a part of the world, of course
If you know it sing it out
Yeah, sing it cause we're all, all, all
We're all
You know we're all a part of the world, of course
And if you're feeling me sing it out
Yeah, sing it cause we're all
We're part
You know we're all a part of the world, of course
If you know it sing it out
Yeah, sing it out


~~~


Derek


"Chameleon Boy"

by Blue October



I changed my color for you
I shed my coat with caution
I lack the beauty you display
See here there are the bruises
And some were self-inflicted
And some showed up along the way
So I nod my head
I'm ready for the world to see
The secret I kept here inside the man you thought I'd be
Slip into coma calm
The coma where I calm myself down
Here comes excuses why I let you down

Stand by for another breakdown
Sound off the alarm
Is this the chameleon boy I swore I wouldn't become
Chameleon boy
Chameleon boy

So now we've come upon the hardest thing I've ever done
Its telling you that I'm a mess
What sort of mess i mean
Is self-destructive gasoline
The kind that strips you of your best
And while I play instead the way that most would end up dead
You sleep alone at home and wish that i was in our bed
With this I'm telling you
My color changes back to blue
How do I ask you this
Will you help me through

Stand by for another breakdown
Sound off the alarm
Is this the chameleon boy I swore I wouldn't become
Stand by for another breakdown
Sound off the alarm
Is this the chameleon boy I swore I wouldn't become
Chameleon boy
Chameleon boy

I try to think of all the people I look up to
Or growing up who would I be
Now the twisted part
Where'd all my idols end up
They all passed away
Passed away

Stand by
Its chameleon boy
Stand by
It's chameleon boy
Chameleon Boy
I'm chameleon boy...
Chameleon boy...

The Low-Down on the New Boy in Town

Ben Stratford
October 14, 1985
R.M. - Germany/Austria
DSC Graduate Spring 2010
B.S. in Music
Excellent Tuba Player
Wonderful Composer/Arranger
Grad School Fall 2011


Beautiful green eyes
Freckles scattered across his nose
"Superman Curl"
Strong, cuddly arms
Infectious laugh
Sweet, tender smile


Ben is a gentleman. He opens doors, pulls my chair out for me, helps me up after we've been sitting on the ground, takes my plate to the sink after dinner, and lots more. He asks me what I think, how I feel, is considerate of my feelings, and makes me smile every second we're together. He holds my hand all the time. He thanks me at least once a day for just being me, and tells me that he's glad we're dating. He encourages me, uplifts me, and reminds me that I'm special. I always feel the spirit super strong when I'm with him. It's like it radiates from him. He works in the temple Friday mornings, and I absolutely love to hear stories and experiences he's had while in the temple. I love every minute I spend with him, and I'm so lucky that he's mine!

Happy Happy!

I have a boyfriend.

:D

National Suicide Prevention Week

So, this week is National Suicide Prevention Week, and today TWLOHA put on an event called "Write Love On Your Arm."
We were asked to "create a beautiful canvas out of that which might seem another's last resort". So I did. (Well, Chase did the actual drawing.. I'm not that skilled!)

I think this sort of this is what I'm going to have my platform for the Miss Dixie pageant be.

"To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery."

This is something I'm passionate about, and I think that I could do a lot of good here on campus if I win the title.

I love the story that was the birth of TWLOHA, but my favorite quote from that story is this:

"The stars are always there but we miss them in the dirt and clouds. We miss them in the storms. Tell them to remember hope. We have hope."