2008

Moody Christmas Parade..December 13, 2008

Here I am with the MONSTER TRUCK parade ride! Sorry the pic is so bad....never send a disposable to do the job of a regular camera....maybe my daughter's pics turned out better.

Saturday, December 13th was the Christmas Parade in my home town. I had prepared to ride in a black, convertable Mustang Cobra GT owned by one of my daughter's friends. But the unexpected death of another friend changed our plans Saturday morning.

Calls to all other known convertable owners and local car rentals yeilded the same results...all convertables already taken!

When yet another of Julia's friends offered his pick-up as an alternative, I was reluctant. Would that be a little too redneck (even though I AM in ALABAMA)? A wave of dread and panic swept over me, but with less than 2 hours to go before the lineup, I had little choice and agreed to just take a look. If it was presentable enough, I'd go; if it wasn't, then I'd just walk along with the band or something. Toby offered to clean it up and come on by. When he pulled up in the driveway, I KNEW I had to ride in it!

Luckily, I was sitting on ready. Our graphics guy at work made me three beautiful, pink signs, complete with the BOA logo. Two with my name and title for the sides and a third with "Join us!" and the website address for the tailgate. We used the clear "power lock" suction-cup hooks you find in the bathroom hardware section at Walmart (yes...I said Walmart...they get so much free advertising from me, maybe I should approach them for a sponsorship..LOL!) to hang them on the truck. Worked like a charm & were really economical. A little Christmas wreath with a hot pink bow, and we were on our way!

I carried a kitchen chair and covered it with a black throw so that I could sit facing forward. I could have ridden on the tool box but riding backwards makes me car-sick, and THAT would not have been pleasant.

When we arrived, they sent me to over to join all the other titleholders: our homecoming court, a few local MAO girls, our Junior Miss representative. Everyone seemed envious of my ride, that towered over their convertables. My best friend, who's daughters were riding on their dance school float, came by to check out the truck (after the day's drama) with her little boy Matt, who is almost 4. He took one look up at me and said to his mom, "I wanna wide wid Jo-Jo in da big twuck"....and so they did. So Cyndi, Matt and my youngest daughter, Kaitlyn sat on the tool box to help throw out candy. Son Tyler, and oldest daughter Julia, rode inside with Toby.

The coordinator said they were going to send the titleholders out between the judged floats to spread things out a bit. The coordinator put me first! I was about 6 back from the grand marshall (the mayor)and in front of one of the 3 fire trucks.

Each parade unit was announced over the p.a. as it reach the crossroads that marks the center of my town. I wrote a little blurb about this being the 25th anniversary and about celebrating "Beauty and Achievement at every age." The announcer announced me as "Moody's own Jooo

oooooy Wadsworth!" I felt like a movie star!

Unfortunately, I ran out of candy ($30's worth!) before I got that far, so all I could do was wave & call out "Merry Christmas

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A New (pageant) Year Begins! ...November 23, 2008

It's that time that all us pageant girls look forward to....the start of the new pageant year!

October is typically the beginning of the "new year" for titleholders, as pageants name their local titleholders for the upcoming pageant season. Such is the case with the pageant I am participating in this summer, Beauties of America.

October 1st I was named Beauties of America Alabama's 40 2009.

2009 is the 25th anniversary for Beauties of America and director Jennifer Reed White promises big things are in store! Check us out at http://www.beautiesofamerica.com/

Meanwhile....

I've already made my first appearance for the year at Moody's "Oktoberfest", on October 25th.
The day was highlighted by food, fun, performances by local talent, arts & crafts and so much more!

So keep an eye out here, for my upcoming appearances, which include:
The Moody Christmas Parade
The Mercedes Marathon
The Moody Miracle League Season Opening
The March of Dimes "March for Babies"
and many, many more!