Miss America Scholarship Pageant ~ Judges Workshop

Today I became an official "certified" Judge for the Miss America Scholarship pageant. Many of us spent the day learning about what it is like to sit on the "other" side of the table, and it was truly eye opening as to how judging works for MAO. I am looking forward to judging some preliminary state pageants in 2009 and hoping to be able to pick that one "special woman" who just may become our next "Miss Connecticut"!

Nikki's Walk ,Run and Roll for Pediatric Cancer

Nikki's Mom and I, with a little "help" from "Build a Bear"! Read Nikki's story below!

After the remnants of Tropical storm Hannah, we all awoke to a truly beautiful sunny day!
Perfect day for the 6 annual "Nikki's run walk and roll" to support pediatric cancer, in Manchester.
I joined Miss Ct USA 2004,Shiela Waitr , Miss CT Earth, Tracy Harrison to help make this a truly memorable event.




Nikki Giampolo was a cross country runner at RHAM High School in Hebron, CT. In July of 2001, Nikki was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer that often affects young people.
Nikki's dream was to help other children with cancer by increasing awareness so that they would be diagnosed as early as possible. It was also her wish to give more children with cancer the hope of finding a cure by funding research programs. Nikki died just 6 months after her diagnosis, on New Year's Day 2002.

PLEASE! Support cancer research!

We saved our Heart Center!

What a wonderful day!
Almost 200 people turned out at our state capitol to speak out about the future of our cardiac center. After 5 hours of testimony and public commentary, The Waterbury Heart Center was given a 6 month extension to remain open and eventually get it's permanent certificate!!!
All of our representatives and Senators spoke of the importance of the center remaining open. It services a population of over 300,000 residents and since it's inception it has saved thousands of lives. To all that signed the petition, I personally thank you and could not be more proud of all the people that made this thier personal mission!

Pictured with me above: My dear friend, State Rep. Kevin Delgaddo









Pictured: Mayor Micheal Jarjura,Me, and
Senator Sam Caliguri
Below: State Rep Anthony Damelio,Me,Senatore Joan hartley and State Rep Jeffrey Berger

Pups without Partners~ Bow Wow Luau to support Greyhound adoption!

Had an awesome day supporting Greyhound adoption! KC101.3 and I were on hand to help raise awareness and $$$ for these fabulous retired racing dogs. Did you know that Greyhounds are called the 45MPH couch potato? They love to sleep and curl up, They are great with kids, they require LITTLE EXERCISE and they are low shedding. These are affectionate, friendly and quiet dogs.
If you are considering getting a dog, Please look into adopting one of these beautiful animals! Just log onto thier website and check out all the dogs ready to be adopted!!

http://www.pupswithoutpartners.org/

Time to get back to work!

To my pageant sisters. My city is facing a crisis.Our 2 hospitals are facing the closing of our shared Cardiac Heart Center. The center covers a large region of 300,00 people and the next closest heart center is approximatly 45 minutes away. Before our heart center opened, you would be taken by ambulance to Bridgeport (60 minutes away ) or Yale New Haven Hospital (45 minutes away) that is if you survived the trip. Since our heart center opened 3 years ago, we have saved thousands of lives but we did not meet the number of treated patients that the state set for the center.We have performed 1800 angioplasties exceeding the states assigned target of 1200+. We performed over 600 open heart surgeries falling BELOW the states target of 950. The difference of 350 open heart surgeries is the reason for the propsed shut down.

I am asking ALL of you to please fill out the petition on the attached link. It is sooo important for my city that critical cardiac care is not taken away from us.

http://www.heartcentergw.org/content/22/414/417.aspx

No More Make-up, Hair products and High Heels!!!

After a 2 day journey from Vegas, We arrived to beautiful sunshine and turquose water for a much needed rest from the National Pageant.
My home is in Punta Cana,Dominican Republic and is available for rent.

To all my pageant sisters of Mrs United States 2008, I am offering a discount on the rental price. Click on the link below and email me if your interested!!!

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p184692

I am off to get a much needed Mojito!
Buenos Dios! Lynnette

Leaving Las Vegas!

LIVE,LOVE,
LAUGH, & DREAM!

This is the perfect description of my week at the Mrs. United States Pageant in Las Vegas. I really got to LIVE it, I absolutely LOVED the experience, I spent an entire week getting to know and LAUGH with my pageant sisters, and I made a childhood DREAM come true for this 45 year old!!!!!
It was worth every aching muscle, sore feet, hungry tummy and every penny expended and If I were younger & given the opportunity, I would do it again in a heartbeat!

To my pageant sisters, Thank you for your grace, friendship and sisterhood. I will remember and cherish this week for the rest of my life.
I am off to a well needed vacation!!!!



BYE BYE VEGAS!!!!!

And the winner is............Mrs South Carolina!!!

Mrs South Carolina Wins!!


Congradulations Gerianne Gunter! I had the time of my life!! What an experience, one I will never forget. I have a new found respect for ALL women that compete. It is quite honestly grueling and stressful
but wonderful experience. I did not make the top 12, but all 12 women were very deserving.


This was anyones game, and we were all truly happy with the outcome.

Many of these pictures were taken before and after the top 12, hence the red dresses!

To my wonderful husband and the best "Pageant Partner" a girl could ever have. I LOVE YOU, for standing proudly by my side and always cheering me on. You will always be my king~ Lynn

To my family, I am sooooo tired, Yes, I finally ate some food after 2 days!!! I have many more photos that I will post to all of privately.
I AM GOING TO SLEEP!!!!!!!

Day 5~ Morning Rehearsals

What a great night! Everyone had a ball and was incredibly helpful to one another. NO DIVA'S in the house! Yeah!!! This morning I think most of us dragged ourselves to rehearsal!! The production Number for the eveing ilooks great, the music is upbeat and Fun and it is truly turning out to be a 1st class production!!!!

Mrs. NJ and I take a down moment during a 5 minute break.


Dancers in rehearsal...

Mrs. Colorado gets to see her kids for the first time!! She is so sweet!

Preliminary night!!

Ok Ladies, from this afternoon, a few rehearsal phot0s and then this evening Preliminaries!!!
Everyone had a blast!!!




Some of the "girls" helping me to promote my Platform!

The entire Preliminary production went off flawlessly, thanks to some amazing choreographers who were so patient with all of us!