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