New Name, New Blog

Hey everyone...my blog has a new name and a new beginning.

Please visit me at:

www.marykrouse.blogspot.com

The Finale

This will serve as my final entry in this blog. I feel as though I should end it with a recap of my thoughts of the Miss Ohio experience. Suffice it to say, I will not be returning to the Miss Ohio stage, but will concentrate on my studies and enjoy my senior year at Ohio University.

Things I liked about the past week:

• Meeting Catherine Sengenberger. Catherine is a lovely and talented young woman. She is sweet and caring and exactly what I look for in a friend.

• Rooming with Katelyn Koval. Funny and entertaining. Always upbeat, with a wicked sense of humor.
• My chaperone, Ginny, and my host mom, Margie.
• Seeing Leslie and Abby take time after making the top ten to console those contestants who didn't make it. Class acts, both of them.
• Finding Jillian to be refreshingly honest, positive and upbeat the entire week.
• Winning the Miss America Academic Scholarship for having a 3.9++ GPA.

Finally, congratulations to Melanie Murphy, the new Miss Ohio. Best wishes and good luck at Miss America.

July 4th

Mary's day started bright and early with interview. She was quite pleased with the interview and looks forward to talent tomorrow evening. We were allowed to see the contestants for a two hour visit (without chaperones) . With interview out of the way, she was anxious to finish breaking in her pointe shoes and run through her dance. Her host mom, Margie Joyce, arranged for studio time at Shirley Weddell's dance studio a short distance from the theater. We spent about half an hour at the dance studio, long enough to ease Mary's mind about talent.

The above photo is a group shot of all the girls at their celebrity waitressing gig at Applebee's. Much to Mary's delight, she ran into her Ohio Junior Miss host family, the Barone's, that evening. How random is that? The Barone's live in Mt. Vernon, but apparently were in town with their son, Joe, who is rehearsing for the Sound of Music.

Tomorrow it's up bright and early to watch talent rehearsal and for the Optimist luncheon. I'm getting excited!

More Photos...

These photos are from the Mansfield News Journal. Isn't she adorable!

Waiving to the crowd.

Sharing a laugh with Abby Bollenbacher.

Meeting the mayor of Mansfield.

More Parade Photos!

Roomies.....hamming it up for the camera Roomates...Katelyn and Mary

Jenna Wilson, Miss SEO

Roberta Camp, Miss Scioto Valley

Kyrsten Chambers, Miss West Central, the winner in the "Show Me Your Shoe" contest. The title of her shoe was "Hooked on Learning".

Elyse Healey, Miss Stark County

Random Shots

PARADE PHOTOS

Hello, Mary's mom here just back home from the Miss Ohio parade ready to post a few photos. Enjoy! I have more photos to post but Blogger is being temperamental...check back later for more!

Mary, with a bag of popcorn. Her driver is her friend Brian from OU.

Mary's shoe representative of her favorite things...

Miss Ohio 2005, Marlia Fontaine.

Allie Krucek, Miss Buckeye State

Kasey Wilson, Miss Clayland. Her shoe is the OSU Horseshoe Stadium.

Kristin Haas, Miss Chillicothe.

Laura Estrada, Miss Greater Cleveland.

Note to Self: BREATHE

This will, more than likely, be my last post before leaving for Mansfield and Miss Ohio. Last night I had to clean my old apartment and move out the leftover junk. After that, I went to the dance studio and ended up staying there very late rehearsing my dance. The bad news is that one of my pointe shoes is breaking down, so I will need to break in a new pair before I leave. That's not really bad news, just another item on my to do list.

I spoke with my host parent, Maggie Joyce, this week. She is a lovely woman and I can't wait to meet her. Her daughter, a modern dancer, is in a professional company in California (San Francisco, I think). Maggie mentioned that with time allowed, she would be able to get both Katelyn and I to a dance studio to run through our talent prior to the start of preliminaries. That would be great!

Most of the new apartment is in good shape. Is it wrong to be excited to have empty drawers in your dresser?

With the exception of packing a few toiletries, I am ready to travel home tonight after work. Tomorrow, I have a full day of pre-pageant pampering! Then, my mom will drop me off in Mansfield around 7:30 p.m. You may have heard President Bush is scheduled to make an appearance at a Mike DeWine fundraiser in Powell. We happen to know the people hosting the event and have been told that many of the roads in and around Powell will be closed from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Traffic will be a nightmare!

I'm excited for the pageant to begin and to get to know the other contestants. I have asked my mom to post some comments and photos on this blog in my absence.

So, wish me luck. See you after July 8th!

...

Many Thanks

My official send-off party to Miss Ohio was a great success. Many thanks to Shanna for the use of the lodge on her property. Thank you also to Kay, Carol Ault, Mel, Jane, Vicki Danner and everyone else who made food for the party. Everything was wonderful and I appreciate all the messages of support.

I was able to model all my competition outfits and received many compliments. I really have to thank my wonderful cousin, Ginny (Morrow) Shuster, for the use of her pageant jewelry. We like to think of it as "recycling". To purchase these items would put me in the poor house. The last time she was home, she brought over a huge fishing tackle box full of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pins, etc., for my use.

Combined thanks go out to my "aunts" Carol and Barb for many things. First, for suggesting the changes to my competition gown. The changes really give the gown a little more "oomph". Secondly, for my gifts. The shirt Carol gave me, I will wear for one of the production numbers. Let's just say it is very unique! And Barb gave me the "UPPPOB" --- the Ultimate Post Pageant Pig Out Box --- which will be put to use shortly after Miss Ohio is announced, July 8th. (Ginny also provided me with a new make-up case and wash cloths to take with me to my host home so I won't ruin any of theirs when I remove my make-up.) I received many other gifts, including a pair of boy short undies with a crown on them! One of my favorite gifts was from Janie who made me a soft blanket to keep warm with in the cold, cold theater. The blanket is pink and...are you ready for this...has boxes of popcorn on it! So cute!

This is a picture of me working HTC pre-college. Showing the new

kids where to get their daily dose of caffeine!

Off to work.

Happy Birthday Emily Mary Ann Goddard!

Two years ago, my mom went into the hospital for routine surgery and ended up spending 20+ days in ICU in a medically-induced coma due to post-surgical complications. When she woke up, one of the first things she asked about was whether her friend, Lori, had delivered her baby. As it turns out, Lori was scheduled to go in for a C-section on the very day my mom woke up and was transferred to a regular room at OSU Medical Center. We knew my mom was going to be okay when she recited Lori's telephone number and insisted on singing a warped version of "You're Having My Baby" (renamed You're Having A Baby by mom) by Paul Anka to Lori before she left for the delivery. So here's to my mom, and to little Emily Mary Ann Goddard who came into this world full of miracles.

We won't celebrate Emily's second birthday until late in July...well after the new Miss Ohio has been crowned and after her brother's baseball season is over. Happy Day Emily!