Pageants, Pigeons, Mojitos and Bloddy Feet

I'm back home from Puerto Rico and the Ms. World International Pageant.  My good friend Tamara Jett competed as Ms. Midwest World and captured the 2nd Runner-Up spot in the competition.

Tamara Jett and Pageant Judge Beth Nordyke

As the assistant to the title holder I had quite the unique exeprience.  Some of which I've talked about in my earlier post "Please Don't Speak Directly To The Title Holder".

We stayed at the beautiful El San Juan Resort and Casino, which was definitely one of the more gorgeous hotels I've ever had the pleasure of spending time at.  I'm not sure if I was more thrilled with the surrounding beauty of the grounds and ocean, or the fact that our lovely housekeeper Carmen was cleaning up after me and making my bed.

Lobby of the El San Juan Resort and Casino

Our room which overlooked the pool and ocean

By far, the highlight of this trip was meeting people from all over the world, and making new friends.  I told Tamara that she now has some stiff competition as my BFF.

First off, the fabulous Kruger family from South Africa.  I learned we not only shared a love of mojitos, but also an agreement that peeing in the ocean was completely acceptable.

The stud muffin and I are already making plans to visit them in South Africa, where we would love to renew our wedding vows during our 15th anniversary next April.

Maritha, Jacoline and I enjoying a day of mojitos and sun

Jacoline's sister Jeanette Kruger-Hibbins placed as the 3rd runner-up in the pageant and was voted as the International People's Choice winner!  Jeantte does an amazing amount of charitable work in her homeland of South Africa.

I shared a lot of laughter with my new friends from Alabama and Michican.  Miss Mary and Miss Bertha who are sisters.  We had a blast over champagne bellinis in the hotel lobby.  I discovered that Miss Mary lived in Saudi Arabia for 11 years and that Miss Bertha will sneak off to the casino if you don't keep an eye on her.

Mary, myself and Bertha, who I think is contemplating her
 next trip to the penny slots

While Tamara was at rehearsals or at an appearance I would hightail it to the pool.  It was there that I met Chris and Bob from Virginia.  They have been together for 20 years!  They are bound by love and business as they run a successful catering and event planning business together.

These guys were the eyes and ears of the pool area, apparently witnessing quite a bit of drunken pigeon chasing by a guest who shall remain unnamed.  I hope to be able to meet up with them for dinner when I'm in Washington D.C. next month.

Chris, Bob and I on a pigeon free day

Another couple was celebrating their anniversary, having been together for 34 years.  Ava St. Pierre Cogburn and Rodney Cogburn.  Lovely people from Colorado.  Ava was a beautiful Ms. Colorado and made it to the finals.

Ava and Rod, two of the nicest people you will ever meet. PS. I stole this photo from Ava's facebook page ;)

In addition to being a gorgeous grandma, beauty queen and the woman behind the St. Pierre Skincare line, Ava knows her way around big game hunting.  She and Rodney run an outfitting business which takes people out big game hunting in Colorado.

The only hunting I've ever done has been searching for the best clearance buys at Macy's, but Ava, Rod and I will be making plans to turn me into a big game hunter and work on my survival skills.  All of which will come in handy when the Zombie Apocalypse happens.

The Eastern States were represented by Ewa Dzwierzynski and her husband Thomas Mann.  Ewa made the top 8!  She and Thomas were soooo much fun!  After the pageant Ewa litteraly danced until her feet bled.  She slapped some napkins on her wounds and kept going, hardly missing a beat.

Despite my best facebook stalking efforts, I couldn't find a recent photo of Ewa and Thomas together so I spliced together this one.

Ewa and Thomas from Rhode Island

There are so many more new friends that I could mention, but I have to get going as unlike in Puerto Rico, I don't have Carmen coming in to clean or make my bed.  I left my family home without me for a week, leaving me a mountain of laundry and cleaning to do myself.  So, I had better get to it.

Congratulations to the new Ms. World International 2012 Juanita Ingram from Great Britian.  Thank you to Stephanie Hunt for creating the Ms. World International pageant, which celebrates the beauty, elegance and sophistication of women 35 or older.