Genay's Gist: I'll be the first to admit, I'm a terrible blogger.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Devine Kwanzaa, and a wonderful start to 2008!

I am so unbelievably sorry for the delay on the blog entries. I really hate to post excuses, but I have been exceptionally busy with senior year, college finals, my job, pageanting (my other, more glamorous, job), and holiday shopping!

Since my last post, I was able to participate in one of my biggest appearances of the year. I was able to be a representative and key part of the Prevention at the Summit. This was such a great experience for me. Tony Masias, a former judge, hooked up this little schindig. This event was amazing, simply AMAZING, I TELL YOU! I got to meet people from all across the state who are working to find new and unique ways to spread the ideas of prevention throughout their communities. I had so much fun working with the community leaders and representatives. I was able to participate in various activities throughout the weekend. One of my favorites was simply a group discussion. It was just a passing and sharing of ideas and plans that had worked in certain communities. This was also a time to address any questions you had. Everyone got really into this, and I heard some amazing plans. I also learned an awful lot. For instance, did you know that energy drinks contain alcohol. In fact, they are actually sponsored primarily by beer companies. I, sitting in a pool of naivety, had absolutely no clue about this. I guess now I'll just have to suck all my energy from coffee.

MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS EVENT, was no doubt the rally. This was so great. This was really where I got to see the teens take action. I take that back, not just teens. There were kids. I was walking in protest of cigarette smoking with everyone from ages 7-18. It was so inspiring to see all of these kids and young adults stepping up to the plate. I am so proud to see that I represent a group of people so willing to stand up and work to see positive change. Sometimes, I look around and see kids my age more interested in Halo 2, than the well being of their communities. Not these kids. So many of these kids came up to me saying they were so excited to meet me, which is really just silly. It was me who was really excited. It proved that I'm not a lunatic, and kids who care...really do exist. I'm not the only one. I'm not saying I though all teenagers were rebellious slackers, but I had never seen such a large group of kids standing up for what they believe in. It was amazing. I really hope that this is an event that continues to work with the Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen Organization in the years to come. I can't think of one person who couldn't improve from being around such great people.

Oh, and after the rally...there was a DANCE party. Now those of you who have seen me dance know that I'm not really down with the hip moves of today. I can't drop it like it's hot, but I do have a mighty fine sprinkler dance. I can twist and shout until the break of dawn. I actually think that most of the kids were surprised and my rad-tastic nostalgic dance moves. It was so much fun. This was also where I got to talk to lots of the kids individually. On a side note, I have never been asked to dance as many times as I was that night. Apparently, there are a lot of young boys in Washington who dream of dancing with Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen.

That was just the first day! Believe it or not, there was more to follow. The next morning, I had my very first African Drum Lesson. I was surprisingly bad for being a tap dancer. I thought that I would be good, because of my previous work with rhythms and riffs. Not the case. We were doing easy stuff and I was struggling. Don't worry though, I've been practicing my "peanut butter and jelly" song.

Hmm....what else have I done?

I got to attend the opening of a Century 21 in Vancouver, WA. This was fun. I got to support one of my biggest supporters Marina (we pulled a switcherooni).

More recently, I was invited to the Mustang Club's Christmas Party. I am so pampered at these events. They really are just too kind to me. They gave me my own Mustang. I know crazy, right?!?!?! Cardboard, but still really cool. They also fed me a great meal (followed by delicious cake.) Not too mention the gift exchange and the great gifts. They really are too sweet. This was so much fun to attend. It's nice to see programs like that embracing our scholarship organization. I'm sure you've seen pictures of the little red mustang with the cobra on the side. The drivers of this lovely vehicle, Gil and Darlene, have basically adopted me as their permanent parade passenger. I love both of them, so much. They really are amazing people. They're so sweet. I was so proud of them (I actually gave them a standing ovation) when they won the Mustanger of the Year award!

I also got to be Santa’s helper. Yes, I actually got to work with the one and only. The most popular man this time of year! We had lots of fun together. He is just so jolly! It was so much fun delivering presents and seeing all of those smiling faces.

My most recent event was a Christmas celebration with the 50 & Better program at the Luepke Center. This was my second time working with this program, and hopefully not my last. It’s really great for me to listen to the advice these wonderful people have to offer me. I loved seeing some familiar faces, and making new friends. I also got to see some old friends from the Loaves and Fishes program. It’s always so great to spread holiday cheer to old friends, new friends, and future friends. I was even offered a dance by one of the members of the 50 and over program. I might just be attending their holiday dance! How fun would that be? Maybe my twist and shout will be better appreciated with this generation?

As a state, we should keep those on the coast in our thoughts and prayers. That’s a hard situation to be in, especially during the holidays.

RECRUITING! With the New Year coming, I am both very excited for a new year and new experiences and very sad that my year in reign is coming to an end.  Most of you are saying, “but Genay, you have until May.” Yes, I know, but the recruiting has begun. I am so excited to meet and work with all of these new contestants, as well as being sad that this part of my life is almost over. Alas, I’ll save this for my last blog. This paragraph was really supposed to be about recruiting. My Christmas wish this year is to have at least 30 teen contestants. I know that’s a lot for Santa to fit down my chimney. In order to make this easier, I figured I rely on Christmas spirit to spread the word. Santa is only one man, and he wouldn’t want to take these 30 amazingly talented, gorgeous, and intelligent girls from their loving families during the holidays. I’ve decided to make the wish extend past Christmas. In fact, they don’t even have to see me until forum, if they don’t want to. However, if you know anyone who could possibly, even maybe, be slightly, or a teensie weensie bit interested, you should ask them to check out this (our website) and our brand new MySpace http://www.myspace.com/mwot for more information. There they will be able to contact me directly, and I will pass on the knowledge I have gained in these past few years with the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization.

Last but certainly not least…ELYSE! The future Miss America? I definitely think she would make a great representative. I’m so excited to go to Las Vegas (my first time in Sin City) to cheer on my pageant owner. She is going to do so well. She is such an amazing person, on and off stage. She is genuinely inspiring, and a winner no matter what. Don’t forget to send her your love, I would say luck, but we’re in Vegas…you can’t be much luckier than that, right?

~Happy Holidays
Genay

The No STANK you fairy. We're in front of the Barfboro van. This was so fun.

This is after our drumming lesson. His lesson was so inspiring, and not too mention a whole lot of fun!

Kelly, Miss Clark County, and I being too tall for Marina.

Mariah Hairston, MGVOT 2007; Chelsea Jordan, MCCOT 2007; Earl Edwards, Mustangs Unlimited; Kelly Backous, MCC 2007; and MOI. (Do you see our shiny new mustangs?)