Chapter 8: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO
ALL........ Now I probably love Christmas more than most people,
and yes, it's my favorite time of the year! But it seems with each passing year the busier I get each holiday season.
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| Michelle McCausland, MGM 2012 |
Client after client
keeps calling me to do all of their holiday decorations. So for about a month,
I do nothing but go from house to house to house, etc. – leaving very little
time for myself. My home is always the last to get decorated. Here it is, the
14 day of Dec 2012, and I’m having a party on the 16th. Is my house done?
NO – it’s not! And I’m off to a client’s home this afternoon to decorate
hers – only then can I do my own. It’s a good thing that I love
Christmas!
Now Miss Gay Missouri is only four months away – can you believe it?!! On Sunday, Feb 17th is Miss Gay St. Louis…and yes, there will be more prelims in the next few months, I just need to get them all finalized.
Now Miss Gay Missouri is only four months away – can you believe it?!! On Sunday, Feb 17th is Miss Gay St. Louis…and yes, there will be more prelims in the next few months, I just need to get them all finalized.
There are still
several pageants yet to come for you to get your "Golden Ticket" to
MGM 2013! I will post much more frequently on the happenings of MGM as
soon as Santa comes down the chimney and my holiday world is over. ( Girls
- I'm TIRED and if I make one more bow I think my hands will fall off!)
BUT - come January 2, it’s full speed ahead to MGM 2013! You never know, this
crown could be yours! Please have a wonderful Christmas, and an "awesome"
New Year - and start getting your MGM packages together. AND TO ALL A GOOD
NIGHT.
Michelle McCausland
December
2012: MGMA Board Letter
From the MGMA Alumni:
Happy Holidays everyone! Well, it’s
hard to believe we are at the end of another year. They say that the older you
get time flies faster and faster and I am starting to believe that. Miss Gay
Missouri 2013 is a little over four months away and we will be crowning a new
MGMA. But let’s first get to Christmas, I love this holiday so much – all the
decorations, the lights, the music and of course, the Christmas stories.
One of my favorite Christmas stories was written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863), who wrote the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeer!
One of my favorite Christmas stories was written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863), who wrote the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve. The poem has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeer!
Clement Moore was a reticent man and it
is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to
the New York Sentinel who published “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. The condition of publication was that
the author would remain anonymous. The first publication date was Dec. 23, 1823
and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke
Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry.
This is how the original story was written.
Twas the Night Before
Christmas
Make it Snow!
Twas the night before Christmas, when
all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
 |
| Happy Holidays from MGMA |
This
holiday season, take a moment to give thanks for all the people and things that
you have in your life. We at MGMA give
thanks for all of you. Your continued support as promoters, dancers, dressers, sponsors,
audience members, friends and family and all you have given to our contestants
and our pageant does not go unnoticed or appreciated. This last year could not
have been the success that it was without all of you.
We
still have four prelims left before MGMA 2013 on April 11-13 in St. Louis Mo.:
MISS HEART OF MISSOURI: Feb. 2, 2013
SoCo Club (128 E. Nifong CO MO) 9 p.m.
For info contact Atheena Voce: atheenavoce@mchsi.com
SoCo Club (128 E. Nifong CO MO) 9 p.m.
For info contact Atheena Voce: atheenavoce@mchsi.com
MISS
GAY ST. LOUIS:
Feb. 17, 2013
Hamburger Mary’s St.
Louis (3037 Olive StL MO) 9 p.m.
For info contact Jade Sincliar: jade@missjadesinclair.com
For info contact Jade Sincliar: jade@missjadesinclair.com
MISS GAY KANSAS CITY (closed) TBA
MISS CITY OF FOUNTAINS (open) TBA
Don't let these pageants pass you by - get your golden ticket to compete and you could be our next Miss Gay Missouri America 2013 and join this amazing family of sisters. Well, like Santa, it has come to that part of this letter where I must say, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all, a GOOD NIGHT!"
Merry Christmas and have a safe and Happy New Year!!
Merry Christmas and have a safe and Happy New Year!!
Emilio Olvera/Lexsus Chaney, MGMA 2000,
The Miss Gay
Missouri, America Board of Directors