LOST IN LOS ANGELES

**photos to come after show!

Just a really brief note of "yays!" for Shawn Stockwell, 10 ... after 3 years of being in a California hospital & having heart surgery, Shawn will be home for Christmas! As a friend of the family I am just thrilled for them! I know this has been rough on the entire family & Shawn has been such a trooper!!! And as a transplant recipient, I know the struggle that has gone on to this point, and the success he has achieved thus far! To Shawn & his family: A very Merry Christmas & I will stop by before going back to California to give my love in person! :)

These pictures are from the Miss Arctic Circle Pageant which as held in Kotzebue (Alaska) this July. The winner goes on the represent at the Miss WEIO Pageant. This contest is more than just a beauty pageant. Judging takes into consideration accomplishments, community service and knowledge of the contestant's native culture. I worked with Lucy who was Miss Maniilaq. She didn't place, but did score top interview!!! She sent me these (finally) - she'll be going to UCLA this fall with a major in marine biology and a minor in cultural studies. This girl rocks & is also looking to do some pageants in California as well!

I have a new goal! Help me to earn 1000 community service hours by September 2009. Please let me know if you have any community events that I can attend as Ms. California Classic Beauty 2009. The wonderful thing about having a pageant queen at an event is that the crown and banner draws a lot of attention. I'm a great public speaker and would be happy to help spread the message about great community projects. Please email me at btwilinski@gmail.com .

I thought maybe if anyone in Anchorage who reads this blog might like the information about Miss Alaska, Stephany Jeffers, new project: Come see the very first performance of UAA's new Improv group!!!! Our Show When: Sunday, December 7th at 9pm Where: Jerry Harper Studio No, really where: UAA Fine Arts Building It's after the Student Directed Scenes. And it is a suggested $1 donation to the Children's Miracle Network (or whatever change you can find in your couch or the bottom of your purse). Please come help support improv in Anchorage!

I am in Alaska visiting family until I leave to go to Las Vegas for Miss America & then back to California. I am hoping to get an opprotunity to do a lot here in my home state while visiting ... I know this weekend I will be attending an improv group that Miss Alaska, Stephany Jeffers, has started. Stephany is a fabulous and talented young lady & I can't wait to see how she did on the reality show & how well she will do at Miss America! I am also hoping to do a photo shoot here - I recently chopped off 19 inches of hair to donate to charity (& later realized I never took photos!). I need new photos, and my friend Mitch from Propoganda Photos said he'd try to squeeze me in. But I'll also take some while running around town too - I love Alaska! It's freezing right now tho; the temp this morning was negative 8!!! I think I've acclimated to California ... this is just too cold!!! I'm wishing everyone a fabulous holiday season & a wonderful 20...

I was sitting at my aunts' for Thanksgiving & on the piano in the parlor was this photo (see above). This photo was taken in 1989 at the TVSF Harvest in Fairbanks, Alaska. I am 6th in on the left in the back row. I won Miss Congeniality. The next night, the collisium where this was held burnt down. This festival only lasted a few more years after this.

Empowering Ethnic Women to Embrace Their Culture and Promote Self-Actualization ... I need to make it sound less college term paperish, yet still encompass the idea. any suggestions?

Miss Chugiak/Eagle River: Jessica Fulton Miss Chugiak/Eagle River Outstanding Teen: Sarah Lochner Miss Birchwood Outstanding Teen: Krystina McClain

The Miss Unity Pageant is a tradition on campus at the University of Maryland, College Park. It is usually a small pageant, with a great opening number! It occured over the weekend. Congratulations to Idara, who is also competing for Miss Delaware (MAO)!

What do salmon do when they're out in the ocean? No, it's not a joke. I really would like to know. You always hear about how salmon find the river where they were born and then swim upstream to spawn and then die... but you never hear about what they do when they're out in the ocean, maturing. Like, you never see or hear about them as either predator or prey on them Discovery Channel-like shows. So, I'm asking you. What do salmon do when they're out in the ocean? Do you know? Or, at the very least, have you wondered?

This photo was taken today - it's the last day of our fourth year students class. I was in the office reorganizing (hence jeans & a tee), when they pulled me out for a photo op. I'm going to miss this group once they become journeymen carpenters.

Taken this past weekend - I stayed home due to being ill ... boredom hit & I took all sorts of crazy pictures! :)

I just wanted to let you know that until the end of the month I will still be Ms Alaska Classic Beauty. However, November 1st will see me holding the title of MS CALIFORNIA CLASSIC BEAUTY! I was able to secure the title through our director, Stayc, as I am moving down there in January & while wanting to continue to hold my title as Ms Alaska, I felt it should actually be held by someone physically here! So my title is now up for grabs www.msclassicbeauty.com . So I will be getting a new banner & then sharing it briefly with Alaska before taking it home to California & rocking it out there! :) I'm trying to find someone here to take photos for my new title & then I'll post them once they are done. I'm so excited to have this opprotunity to represent my new home!

Despite continuing efforts at public education, misconceptions and inaccuracies about donation persist. Learn these facts to help you better understand organ, eye and tissue donation: Fact: Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history. Fact: All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others. Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ, eye and tissue donation can only be considered after you are deceased. Fact: When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information, not your financial status or celebrity status. Fact: An open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process the body is treated with care, respect and dignity. F...

A few weeks ago I was down in California visiting some family for the week when I get a call from a fellow pageant sister who is attending a charity dinner for SPCA & would I be interested in helping to give out prizes - one was a trip for two to Alaska. They thought it would be "neat" to have an Alaskan Queen give it away. Of course I said I would - any excuse to go shopping for a gown & to promote not just my beautiful state, but my platform as well! So I get down there & realize I dont' have my camera (fellow pageant sisters from the state were at the doors) & since I wasn't planning to be there, I didn't have banner or crown. It really touched my heart that regardless of being a different state, a different program, and minus a crown/banner, these were some of the sweetest & funniest people to be around! So many people attach a neagtive spin on the whole pageant system & I think that is truely a shame! The girls I was with were mostly l...

Mama moose & her two babies visited our offices this morning! here they are near the trucks of the people doing some electrical work in the yard...

I did the Light The Night Walk on Friday, September 5th, downtown Anchorage. The morning and afternoon were pretty rainy, but thankfully it cleared up just prior to the walk. I would say around 150 or so people showed up to walk the 5 miles total. I personally raised $2,345 dollars for the foundation - my goal was 1,000! I want to thank each & every person & company that donated to my walk! I also want to thank Chelsi & Richard who walked with me. This was my first time doing the walk, and I had so much fun that I will definately do it again! However, I will not sign up one month prior to it - I felt rushed to get everything done! And hopefully, it'll be warmer & not so wet. I highly encourage anyone interested to check out their site & join on one of their walks! Go to http://www.lightthenight.org/ for more information.

I'm feeling very honoured to be a part of a committee to revise the Miss Fur Rondy pageant! It hasn't been done in 15 years - last year they brought it back (but choose simply thru interview), but this year will be a full out pageant. Primarily all the people selected to be on the pageant committee are all former title holders. As a volunteer escort last year, it was fulfilling to be a part of the resurection of the title. But to be able to assist in the rebuilding of the pageant is utterly fabulous! We are hoping to have some wonderful contestants from all over Alaska and all walks of life! If anyone is interested, they can get an application at www.furrondy.net

I was driving down Northern Lights Blvd. on my way to the airport. The air was warm, but if I kept the windows open I could stay cool without using the AC. Just another way to try to save on gas until I buy a more "earth friendly" vehicle... Anyway, my stereo was loud, but not blaring. I was singing along to Charlotte Church when a light stopped me for some pedestrians crossing the street. I abruptly stopped singing when I saw that the giant black man coming from the gym (I think) caught me singing in my car alone. He stood in the intersection and said, "Oh, NO! Don't you stop for ANYONE! Let it out!" And he was right, I said, "you're right." Not only did I continue singing, but he joined me, and loud. It's moments like this that restore my faith in humanity. Thank you intimidatinly huge dude. Thank you for reminding me that the world is mine to enjoy, everyday.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS SOUTH CAROLINA, Taylor Fitch , THE NEW MISS AMERICA OUTSTANDING TEEN

Shawn Stockwell is a young boy who recently received a new heart after a 2 1/2 year wait. He is a very brave & beautiful boy! Thursday was tough for him as he coded, but he is doing well according to the post his mother left. His family is hoping that he will be home by Thanksgiving. Until then, they ask that everyone where pink on Thursdays in honor of him. Pink is because people with poor hearts tend to have a blue tinge, and Shawn finally is a healthy pink. Shawn's story is one of the many reasons that organ/tissue donation is so important & must have an understanding of. I will be posting my own story, as well as information about organ/tissue donation within the next few weeks. I am also hoping to arrange an auction & dinner to raise money for Donate Life America. I'd love to do it over the holidays when Shawn is home - maybe get his family involved. Information will be posted as it comes to life.

Hello fellow readers! It is my hope to use this blog as a way to promote my platform "The Ultimate Gift: Organ/Tissue Donation" as well as keep you informed of all the activities and title holder appearances. I'm still pretty new to this, so keep reading & grow with me! :) TTFN, Batya Brigitte Ms Alaska Classic Beauty Ms Alaska Universal Elegance