Elizabeth Crot

I can't wait for tomorrow! I am so ready to see my fellow titleholders/friends and compete for what I've been preparing for, my dream job. The past two days could not have been more diverse. On Thursday I had my last voice lesson, and went straight to a princess party for the girls who participated in the Miss SEVA/Miss PSW princess program. They were so cute. Today I did something I have always wanted to do! I got the chance to ride in a monster truck! And it wasn't just any monster truck. I got to ride in the Gravedigger, only the most famous monster truck in the country! It was awesome. The only downside was that I wasn't driving, but maybe next time ;-).

For those of you who are curious, here is how next week will work:

Sunday-arrival and rehearsals at the Hotel Roanoke

Monday- orientation, contestant pictures, dinner at the Jefferson Center, and rehearsals

Tuesday-rehearsals, tour of Carilion CMN facilities, reception to meet the judges!

Wednesday- interview!, rehearsals x 10

Thursday-talent rehearsal, rehearsal, preliminary competition in talent :-), visitation

Friday-rehearsal, preliminary competition in swimsuit, evening gown, and onstage question!

Saturday-TV rehearsal, and the big night!, afterglow party

Needless to say, there are alot of rehearsals, which makes me thankful to be surrounded by so many of my friends. People really do have the wrong idea about pageant girls. We know how to have fun! Last year, I think my sides hurt every day from laughing (which is also good for your abs!) Anyway, I probably won't be able to blog, but wish me luck :-). I can't wait!

Last Thursday I had my last mock interview. It went great, and was just what I needed as I finalize my Miss VA prep! I am leaving for Roanoke on Saturday, June 20, and Sunday starts the official Miss VA week. I cannot wait! My roomate for the week is Chinah Helmandollar, Miss Smith Mountain Lake. She is also one of my best friends! We are definitely going to have to discipline ourselves to not stay up all night talking! As I get myself mentally prepared for next week, I have been thinking alot about winning. I know this is something I want. I know it is a job I can do, and do well. I am not overconfident, but ready. My parents have a big, old bookcase in their room with a bunch of random books on it; everthing from "The Grapes of Wrath" to "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader". I was looking for something to read the other night and found "The Psychology of Winning". In it were some definitions of 'winning' that I found particularly insightful. Here are some of my favorites, starting with my favorite:

 1.  Winning is giving and getting in an atmosphere of love, cooperation, social concern, and responsibility.

 2.  Winning is taking the talent or potential you were born with, and have since developed, and using it fully toward a goal or purpose that makes you happy.

 3.  Winning is coming in fourth, exhausted and encouraged-because last time you came in fifth.

 4.  Winning is giving yourself to others freely.

 5.  Winning is never whining. **

 6.  Winning is treating animals like people and people like brothers and sisters.

 7.  Winning is picking up a beer can you didn't throw on the beach.

 8.  Winning is being glad you are you. **

 9.  Winning is habit forming. (So is losing.)

 10.Winning is all in the attitude!

-Denis Waitley

Attitude is everything...so have a good one!

   So the past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions, as life tends to be. I mentioned  in my first entry that this spring I was lucky enough to recieve a speeding ticket. Last Thursday I went before the judge in Staunton to try my luck at driver improvement school to reduce the effects of the ticket on my parents' insurance. Sure enough, I was granted it, and got my ticket and fine reduced! It pays off to a) learn from your mistake, and b) ask for forgiveness!

   Friday was a very sad day. I was asked to sing at a dear friend's brother's funeral. He was 23. I sang Sara McLaughlin's "Angel", which was not easy, but I hope that I gave the family some peace through the music.

   Sunday was the Miss Virginia Community Service recital at Don and Alvene Buckley's home. This was the fourth annual recital, and I have attended all four! I remember the first: I was a senior in high school, held no title, and had never competed in an MAO pageant. I saw a bunch of "crownheads", and was a little intimidated, but everyone turned out to be so friendly. It's crazy to think about the difference in myself from then to now. The recital went well. Tara looked beautiful as she continued to inspire me with her compassion for service. I sang "The Girl in 14G", one of my favorite Kristin Chenoweth diddies. I even wore my favorite color, yellow!

   Monday I traveled to Gastonia, NC to visit my family. My grandparents have recently moved from their home of 50 years to a retirement facility. It was not an easy move, and they still seemed a little weary of the decision. I did my best to cheer them up. My Aunt Lynn is one of my biggest supporters, and she asked me to sing at the fifth grade graduation at her school on Tuesday. It was a lot of fun! The kids were great, and very excited about the last day of school! Afterward I drove the six hours home, and went to a rehearsal for swimsuit and talent. I love to be on stage, and cannot wait to be under the big lights at the Roanoke Civic center!

Last night, my dearest friend, Nicole, and I went to the Oceanfront to see David Cook perform as part of the Patriotic Festival. I must confess, I am not a huge American Idol fan, but hey, it was free! We were forced to park at 35th St. and power walk to the 5th St. stage. By the time we made it to 10th St., and could see Davie in the distance, he was on his last song! We plopped down on the sand and began conversing on our favorite topic, women. Nicole is also a Women's Studies minor, and like me, wants and believes in the revealing and destroying of the ideologies that mask female oppression. Wow, sounds intense, I know, but it is not a prevalent enough part of our social discourse. Did you know that a woman's bachelor's degree is the economic equivalent of a man's high school diploma? Women make up a mere 14% of Congress, are extremey outnumbered in the Supreme Court, underrepresented in the executive branch, which means, men are making the decisions that affect women. Should a man have the right to decide whether a woman has the right to choose? No! It will never affect him first hand. But what is ranting without trying to do something about it? I believe that in my life I can and will make a significant change. In third grade, for career day, I dressed up as the first female president! Women should work together to make a change, which is easier said than done.

Ok, so why did I entitle this entry "Boys..."? Because in the middle of our proud, tearful, forward-thinking conversation, two guys walked up to us, circled around a few times, and said, "Hey, are y'all here alone?" I politely said, "No. We are here together, and we're actually in the middle of a heart-to-heart." They left. Are we there alone? As in with the absence of men? Does that mean you're alone?! Boys who are reading this, please do not think that I hate males. Know that women are not flattered when you say, "Hey, sexy!" What we want is someone who attempts to relate to us. What we don't want, is someone to objectify us.

Wow! Between Miss VA talent, interview, and swimsuit prep, and appearances, I have been very busy. I wouldn't have it any other way! Yesterday I visited three different schools to do A.L.L. for One presentations and perform for the kids. First, I went to Camelot Elementary and talked to two of Mr. Waynick's music classes. I then traveled across town to Indian River High School where I celebrated with the top readers of the school. After that, I went to Oscar Smith Middle for the revealing of a book the students wrote. Although I did not attend that particular middle school, I saw my sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Miles, and I was somewhat relieved that she didn't recognize me from the way I looked back in the day! It was neat to see how the students of different age groups reacted to me and my message. The younger kids seemed awe struck, the high schoolers had to "feel me out" a little bit before accepting me, and the middle schoolers surprised me with their maturity. Overall, I had a great day! I was glad to experience three schools in one day, just like the job of Miss VA!

Wisdom teeth are now gone! Well, actually, they are in a little paper envelope; I decided to keep them as souveniers. In my down time since the surgery I have found a way to volunteer from my computer! http://freerice.com/ is a website that asks trivia and vocabulary questions, and for every answer you get correct, they donate 10 grains of rice through the UN world food program to help end hunger! This website is incredible. They are simultaniously providing free education and helping hungry people. Anyone out there addicted to facebook? If you spend as much time on this site as facebook, you could be feeding people instead of stalking them! Jk, well kind of. The questions get more difficult the more you get correct, so it is both stimulating and challenging. So go, free-rice away!

(This is a retrospective blog entry)  I could never fully describe how inspiring attending the Boston Marathon was!  It was my first time in Boston, and I drove 10 hours with one of my room mates from JMU, Charlotte Johnson, to her home in MA to cheer on her mom.  That's right, my friend's mom ran 26.2 miles...all at once!  First of all, her family was incredible.  I felt right at home!  Charlotte has a younger sister and brother, just like me, and I literally had flash backs the whole weekend of time spent with my own family.  The day of the marathon, we staked out a spot at the 17th mile marker and waited a few hours for the first participants to pass.  Eventually I heard cheering in the distance, and the first man in a wheelchair zoomed past.  I got goosebumps thinking of the challenge, motivation, and accomplishment experienced by this man.   The elite, professional runners soon ran by, and then the rest of the 29,000 runners.  Charlotte's mother, Heather Johnson, is my new hero-a marathon at age 50! 

What truly inspired me about this race, was the amount of people running for causes.  In order to run for a charity, you must raise $3,000.  We were seated next to the Alzheimer's Association tent, a cause very close to my heart. People were running for every charity imaginable.  Some were running on behalf of individuals who had passed away, which was especially compelling.  One man ran pushing his son's wheelchair.  I saw the same man at the finish line, still running and pushing.  I started thinking about how cool it would be for Miss America to participate in the marathon on behalf of Children's Miracle Network!  I have never been a runner, actually, in high school I loathed running the mile for gym.  Since the marathon, I have taken on running as a personal challenge.  I called one of my best friends (who is super athletic) and told her I wanted to run in the Boston Marathon one day!  She laughed.  So I have decided to start small.  There are a few 5 and 10ks in Hampton Roads this summer, and I intend on running one.  If I ever win Miss America, I want to be able to run in the  Boston Marathon! 

I'm officially a blogger!  It's about time. Where do I start? As you can tell from the website I am currently Miss Southeastern Virginia, working towards the covetted title of Miss Virginia 2009.  I am home from college for the summer, and am focusing all of my energy on this endeavor.  I truly feel that I have a relevant message that can change Virginia, and in essence, change the world!  My platform is centered around volunteering, and I feel that in this economic crisis especially, it is vital to use our talents and special gifts to better society. I know it may sound cliche, but I believe it.

Can I talk about perspective for a minute? I have not had the best of springs, but I am constantly reminded of the necessity of thankfulness, which I'm thankful for! 360,000 people have been displaced in northern Pakistan because of conflict, and I'm worried about a little speeding ticket?  I was upset at first , and afraid of my parent's wrath, but realized that if I continued to speed, something really bad may have happened. Everything happens for a reason.  And yes, pageant queens get speeding tickets just like everyone else.  I do not pretend to be perfect, but I do try to learn from my mistakes. 

Tomorrow I am getting my wisdom teeth pulled. I have put it off for 3 years, and finally the time has come!  Hmmm another lesson; don't wait until the last minute to do things!!!

More to come.