Posts By Connie Morgan

2 “Aleppo Moments” and Other Horrible Things Gary Johnson has Done

September 30, 2016
by Connie Morgan
· In the News

You may have read that Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson has “made a fool of himself” once again. In an interview with Chris Matthews he “failed to come up with the name of a foreign leader he likes.” Sounds pretty bad right? How can we take someone seriously as presidential candidate if they can’t name one influential person on earth? Well, I have some thoughts on that.

First of all, have you watched the interview? If all you read is the headlines you’d get the impression that GJ just sat there going “ummmmm” while the crowd awkwardly waited for his response. This is not what happened.

After being asked what world leader he admires, he pauses then answers swiftly saying “I guess I’m having an Aleppo moment in the former president of Mexico…” (not sure what an Aleppo moment is? Click here.) Before he can finish his thought Chris Matthews puts the pressure on to remember the name and GJ responds saying “I’m having a brain freeze.” Then Gary’s running mate Bill Weld asks “Fox?” in reference to former Mexican president Vicente Fox and Gary says “Fox! Thank you, thank you.” The entire exchange takes less than 45 seconds. What appears to have happened is not that GJ can’t name a leader, it’s that he can’t think of the name of the one he wants to list. This is not the way the media has necessarily reported the incident.

Was this proof that Gary Johnson is an idiot or a very human moment happening on an unscripted show? Keep in mind that when Obama speaks his speeches are usually scripted. When Obama gives an interview it’s usually on a specific topic not literally on anything in the world. Even still, Obama has had his fair share of bumbles.

In a past life I competed in pageants where I underwent interviews similar to the ones Trump, Hillary and GJ are going through right now. Let me tell you that no matter how much you prepare, you will forget things. One time I couldn’t describe an amendment other than the first in an interview. It was embarrassing and strange because at the time I was actually studying the Bill of Rights in a class.

Think about the exhaustion of campaigning and the lack of resources GJ has as a grassroots candidate. He doesn’t have teams of advisors, helpers and specialists feeding him information and giving him security briefs. He doesn’t have teams of young people creating memes to make him look good (or put down other candidates). He doesn’t even have a romantic partner on the trail with him to provide constant moral support. (GJ is engaged but his fiancé doesn’t do much campaigning as she has a full-time job in real estate.) These are things the other two candidates have. These aren’t excuses just perspective.

Second of all, even if GJ just sat with a blank look on his face for five minutes is this even remotely close to disqualifying in this election? Does Gary have any scandals? Does Gary have skeletons in his closet? Does Gary blame the “fog of war” for mistakes that ended lives? When thinking of black people is the first thing that comes to GJ’s mind our “vibrant black churches”? Does he try to quiet abuse victims? Does GJ body shame women? Does he have a history of infidelity and womanizing? Did he trick people into paying for worthless seminars? Does GJ have a history of bankruptcy? As of right now, the answer is no to all the above. The other two candidates can’t say the same. I don’t blame you for wanting an informed president but please try and compare Gary’s mistakes to the other two. Can you even compare?

When you’re making decisions on what good leadership looks like ask yourself this question; What matters most, knowledge, or the intelligence to do the right thing when the knowledge is given to you? So far Gary has undoubtedly shown a lack of knowledge on several topics, but has he shown he lacks a moral compass or is less intelligent than the other two candidates? Furthermore, GJ represents the LIBERTARIAN PARTY. You know, the one that is borderline isolationist. Foreign policy is not what this party is all about. Do they want a strong and ready military? Yes. Do they want to play chess with the rest of the word? No. As one meme put it, asking a libertarian about foreign leaders is like asking a vegetarian how they like their steak cooked.

Third of all, pay attention to how GJ handles these sorts of “Aleppo moments.” The very fact that he brought up Aleppo when having a “brain freeze” this time around shows a remarkable amount of humbleness. GJ addresses his mistakes head-on. He knows he makes mistakes and he knows he’s not perfect. Most politicians lie when caught in a bind. GJ doesn’t do this (so far). He admits when he doesn’t know the answer to something, he admits when he’s not an expert on something and he’s able to poke fun at himself along the way.

I attended a GJ rally a couple weeks back and Aleppo was the very first thing he talked about bringing it up multiple times throughout his speech. He said he wanted to apologize for his blunder and assured the crowd that he does take national security seriously. He cares about our troops and spoke a few minutes on Aleppo and related topics to show he has thought about it and does have a rough plan in place. Maybe it’s a bunch of hoopla but his response was still incredibly refreshing.

Fourth of all, pay attention to media bias. With the exception of Fox News, it’s accepted by most that there is a liberal lean amongst the media and Hillary is worried about GJ. He is pulling voters away from both sides. Hillary’s campaign is actively working on getting those voters back to her side. Unflattering pictures, brash headlines and personal attacks are now being used against GJ mostly among the liberal camp (though I’m sure Trump is coming). Keep that in mind as you follow GJ coverage. Kind of odd that a man with an incredible professional (built a multi-million-dollar company, balanced his state’s budget etc.) and personal (Ironman, has climbed Mt Everest etc.) resume only makes national headlines when he messes up.

I am not writing this to make excuses or even convince you to vote for GJ, I understand the dislike. I am simply challenging you to think critically about what leadership means to you, do your own homework and look at all candidates through the same lens.

2 An Oscar Rant You Haven’t Seen Yet

March 1, 2016
by Connie Morgan
· In the News

When #oscarssowhite happened my first reaction was to ask why. Why are the Oscars so white? Is it because the folks at the academy are racist? Is it because black actors just didn’t have any shining performances? Did the white actors just have shinier performances? I don’t know because I have only watched three of the movies heavily nominated this year and one of them was Star Wars. I have my doubts, but maybe black actors weren’t among the best this year and the last thing I want is the academy nominating a black person just to nominate a black person.

Many have pointed out that it’s not really the academy that’s the problem but more so the casting directors and producers. Black people can only seem to get roles as slaves, other famous black people, or black stereotypes (the dude from the hood, the poor maid etc.). Roles where race shouldn’t really matter almost always go to the white guy. This is a point that has already been made and not one I am trying to make now.

The internet loves Leonardo DiCaprio. He finally got that Oscar and every social media platform blew up in support of his achievements. I have to admit that Leo is probably one of my favorite villains of all time (Django Unchained) but holy crap. Why are people so incredibly passionate about him? None of my personal favorite movies feature Leo and there are plenty of other actors with just as much star power who also haven’t won an Oscar. I dug a little deeper to find out what makes him so alluring.

I learned that Leo seems like an OK guy. He produced a documentary I love (Cowspiracy) and is well known as a planet earth champion and mentioned climate change in his acceptance speech. I also learned that women LOVE Leo. And he loves them. Only if they’re between the age of 20 and 25 though. Mind you he’s 41. Leo hasn’t been in a movie directed by a woman in two decades. He isn’t doing anything illegal and I fully support his right to date blonde super models but I can’t say I found this attractive.

One quick Google search on Leo DiCaprio led me to more questions. In the past two months I have seen an obsessive amount of content on my news feeds about how Leo DiCaprio is a cinematic gift and should’ve won an Oscar eons ago. I can list nearly all the movies he has starred in though I’ve only seen about half. Thanks Facebook. But what Facebook hasn’t told me is that there is such a huge disparity between female and male directors that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision launched a formal investigation on Hollywood. No one seems concerned about this issue at all but if Leo hadn’t’ve won last night all hell would’ve broken loose.

I don’t hate Leo and I think he is a talented guy. He helps prove that people have the ability to be incredibly passionate about something. What concerns me is that he also shows that what people choose to be passionate about seems a little backwards. Whether it’s the Seahawks, Leo or a BuzzFood post (God I love that shit) people are quick to share what’s trendy and shallow. Rooting for the thing that everyone is rooting for is easy but it’s at these moments of extreme public trend that I start to question things. There is serious danger when groups of people all start thinking alike.

I mentioned a point earlier but I don’t really have one. I’m not trying to tell anyone what to think about, I just want them to think. Question your heroes. Get passionate about something that makes you uncomfortable or requires sacrifice. And for God’s sake, don’t post a sexy photo of Leo with a cigarette in his mouth and then go on about how he’s going to save our planet. Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item in the world, 28% of sand litter is caused by cigarettes and each year 600 million trees are destroyed to provide fuel to dry tobacco. The Oscars left me angry about sexism and frustrated about race issues but ultimately I was more concerned about the way humans go to extreme heights to glorify other humans that are no more perfect than themselves.

2 The Hardest Job

October 7, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· In the News

With a pretty extensive list of friends and family in the military I have heard all the arguments about which branch is the toughest, which job is the hardest, where is the true honor? Who’s more of a badass, a Marine or an army ranger? Is it tougher being a Navy Seal or part of Delta Force? But there is one job, a sort of unspoken hero that often gets overlooked. Although they may not be at the front lines and they may have never held a weapon, military wives (and husbands) just might have the toughest job in the military. True love is tested when those who have a piece of their heart go overseas to fight for our country. Alone for months and months at a time, often with children, military spouses sleep alone at night, attend functions without a partner and raise their children by themselves all because they believe in something. For my cousin Juarez and his wife Rebecca, it was a belief in serving this country and rising to the challenges that relationships sometimes face, no matter how big or small.

Juarez and Rebecca met Labor Day of 1999 and Rebecca remembers their first date on December 18^th of the same year, her parents’ wedding anniversary. They quickly fell in love and were married on May 19, 2001. Rebecca’s father was a career soldier so she had no reservations about marrying a Marine. Would she need to learn a new culture? Of course. Would they have to move fairly often? Sure. Could her own career possibly get put on hold? Absolutely. But by no means could either of them have predicted that shortly after they were married the country would face one of the biggest challenges of a generation, the 9-11 attack.

Juarez joined the Marine Corps in 1999. After a 10-week course at Officer’s Candidate School, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Juarez served four years active duty and left active duty in 2003. In 2007 he was involuntarily recalled and deployed as a Captain from July 7, 2007 to August 8, 2008 as a Logistics Advisor to an Iraqi Battalion. He was deployed a second time in 2010 for a year in Afghanistan. His last deployment was October of 2013 to June of 2014 as the Operations Officer for the Civil Military Operations staff section of the Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

With one son (Nicholas) born in 2003 and another (Caleb) born two years later, Juarez’s first two deployments left Rebecca at home with two very young children. The third deployment, has been preceded by a third child, Victoria. All challenges Rebecca could not have expected nor planned for. Fear of her husband dying, fear of her children being without a father and fear of becoming a widow who would never find anyone who could love her and their two boys the way Juarez did were dangerous thoughts. Until his deployment, Juarez’s Marine status had had little effect on their relationship. With the exception of one move to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina there had been very little impact on their lifestyle as a couple.

Deployment brings challenges to all couples; in Rebecca’s case she felt the greatest strain when it came to parenting. Like other commitments, Rebecca and Juarez believe parenting is about the sacrifices you are willing to make to help your children achieve their goals. Like most parents, their hopes for their children are simple; raise children who will become productive members of society who are happy and fulfilled in whatever they choose to do. In order to do this, they make sacrifices, of both the financial, personal and professional nature.

“It’s very difficult to explain the limitations that a family has once one of the parents deploys or leaves the family for an exercise,” explains Rebecca. “When my husband is absent, I and the kids are of course unable to do the same things that I could when he was present in the home. He too is unable to participate in their lives as he would like, and although that seems as if this difference wouldn’t need to be explained, people often are very unintentionally harsh in their expectations.”

Juarez dealt with an array of emotions himself.

“A lot of frustration and guilt, particularly with leaving the kids,” explains Juarez. “A lot of
pride and satisfaction that my family was strong enough to pick up and carry on with only one parent…then it’s back to the guilt that they have to do it at all…”

Unites States Marine Corps Ball, 2014 — Unites States Marine Corp Ball, 2014

All single parents understand that this means less time to offer support to friends and family. Outside relationships may perish as a result of increased responsibility and worry within the home, a notion that seems quite unfair given the sacrifice that family is already making.

“You quickly learn how blessed you are to have the friends who call to check-in. That can mean everything during deployments,” reflects Rebecca.

Despite the challenges that the life of a Marine wife brings there are definite positives.

“The best part of being a military wife is being married to someone with so much integrity and commitment to our country,” says Rebecca. “He and his peers understand the value of service and that commitment epitomizes what I believe is the true meaning of dedication.”

Although the road hasn’t always been the easiest, neither Rebecca nor Juarez would change anything. During his deployments Juarez has gotten to meet several Afghan persons of note including the late District Governor Manaf of Nawa and the Provincial Governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada. Rebecca has a great job as the Senior Director of Media Relations and Advocacy for a non-profit association. The two are raising three beautiful, well-adjusted children.

As for words of wisdom for those embarking on the military family journey? Be flexible and embrace the opportunities your life will bring. Recommending or not recommending a military career isn’t something Rebecca feels totally qualified to do because she has never served (though I sort of disagree).

“I couldn’t assume to know exactly how difficult it is, but I am so appreciative of the sacrifices of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces, that I would hope everyone would consider it,” Rebecca says.

Juarez sees the military as a great opportunity for everyone depending on each person’s individual expectations.

“The military is not easily explained and never is what people originally think it is,” explains Juarez.

Ultimately what makes a military family functional? Love. And lots of it. I asked Juarez and Rebecca what their greatest accomplishments were and they both said each other. Although Juarez and Rebecca are blessed to not need any assistance many military families rate. Juarez notes that many exiting the military find adjusting to “normal” culture difficult and many struggle to find work. Createthegood.org, Operationhomefront.net and Fisherhouse.org are some great resources if you are looking to make life for veterans and their families easier.

“I believe in Socrates’ quote that ‘real wisdom is the property of God’- so not so much words of wisdom as general guidance: be suspicious of others claiming wisdom, stay humble, open minded and hungry for knowledge.”

-Major Juarez Morgan

0 Spectacle Lake

September 17, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· Health and Fitness

Last weekend (9/12-9/13) I went on a super awesome backpacking trip about 15 miles outside of Roslyn, WA. Starting out at the Pete Lake Trail Head, the goal was to make it to Spectacle Lake and camp there. This hike starts out pretty flat with some steeper switchbacks as you get closer to the lake. From the Pete Lake trail head to Spectacle Lake is about 11 miles. There is about 1,400 feet of elevation gain.

Getting a late start, we actually ended up doing some night hiking with head lamps. The trail went on and on and in the dark we eventually stopped at a spot that looked like a good place to camp, not actually sure how close to the lake we were. Boy did we rough it. I ended up sleeping in a shelter made out of tarps with my doggie by my side. The goal was to try and experience what it really means to survive out in the wilderness with the bare minimum. In hindsight it was fun, but next time I will be bringing my tent. That being said, it was windy and rainy that night and I stayed dry!

The next morning the search was on for Spectacle Lake. There were a lot of little trails where we ended up camping. At first it seemed like we might just need to hike a little higher to reach the lake but eventually we turned around, confused because there was still no sign of it. On our way back down we saw it. And I cursed out loud because we probably added 2 or 3 extra miles both ways going too far. The lake was truly spectacular. On our way back down we saw the sign we had missed the sign directing us to Spectacle Lake. The turnoff was sort of hidden and when I was hiking in the dark I completely missed it. If you plane on doing this hike, make sure you watch for the signs and if you feel like you have gone far enough you probably have!

Aside from the distance possibly being longer than some are comfortable with, I would recommend this hike. Not too steep and sites galore! If 20-something miles isn’t far enough for you, you can add more by hiking along the ridge for I don’t know how long. This trail is actually part of the infamous Pacific Crest Trail and there is horse camps and regular camps along the way. I hiked in my Brooks PureGrits and didn’t have any issues. This hike took about nine hours for me total hiking time but keep in mind I added on quite a bit of extra mileage! Northwest Forest Pass is required for this hike.

0 You Are Enough

September 12, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· In the News

Checkout the video my friends and I made to support Miss Washington 2015, Lizzi Jackson!

0 Rachel Lake

August 22, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· Health and Fitness

Last Sunday I went hiking with the goal of reaching the Alta Mountain peak but we turned around at Rachel Lake because my hiking buddy was sick. You can also hit Lila Lake or Rampart Lake if you want to extend this hike. I highly recommend this hike, especially if you are with people who aren’t in the best of shape or are just getting into hiking. There are some steep spots towards the end so you do break a little sweat if you are moving good. You don’t need boots for this hike and a pair of tennis shoes work just fine. (I used my Brooks Pure Grit trail shoes.) I got warm during the hike but put on pants and a jacket at the lake cause it was fairly chilly despite the glaring sun.

Most of the hike is pretty flat but it’s long enough that its worth the drive. It’s great for people who are in the Ellensburg area or just over the pass on the west side because it’s right smack in the middle. Try to get their early though because parking is tough. Its a pretty popular spot! It takes about 45 minutes to drive their and this hike took about 4 1/2 hours of my day, travel time, stopping to eat time included.

There are camping spots near the start of the hike but camping is not allowed on or near the trail

Find directions to the hike here.

20150816_151806 — Boomerang wanted some PB&J

20150816_125002 — Awkward picture at the trailhead

20150816_162110 — The glare made picture taking on my phone pretty difficult!

0 Queen by Night

August 6, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· In the News

I have been itching to write this blog on what I believe is one of the most important and relevant topics I have covered to date. The Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage nationwide hit just as I was getting ready to leave for Miss Washington. The timing of this announcement could not have been better as I was working on a blog from the LGBTQIA perspective.

The idea to write this piece came from my involvement with the Wounded Warrior Project. Through this organization I was able to connect with a group called the *Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma. This organization is similar to the Miss America Organization. Instead of a Miss Washington, they have an Empress and Emperor. The current empress is Empress 36 Mulan Rouge Bradshaw Beaute. The current emperor is Emperor 36, Jimi Cricket Beaute. The organization hosted a drag show called “Rockin’ with our Heroes” that raised money for the Wounded Warrior Project. It was here that I learned of a drag queen that wasn’t present named Brooke Lynn Bradshaw. Brooke Lynn (who was Miss Gay Washington 2014-2015) had an interesting past that didn’t exactly fit drag queen stereotypes, she was once in the Coast Guard. Obviously once I heard that news I was drooling for an interview.

Edward Perez has lead a colorful life. Like many 20-somethings, he got to a point where it felt like his life had lost direction. Edward just quit his job, got out of a bad relationship and living in his native California just didn’t seem to be a viable option anymore. While watching TV, Edward heard the term “homeland security.” Not knowing what that meant he looked it up and a Coast Guard ad popped up on the site as a link. Edward clicked. Three days later he was in a recruiter’s office. Two weeks later he was being shipped off to boot camp.

“It seemed to answer everything that I needed at that time,” Edward reflects.

Perez joined the Coast Guard in 2005. He finished his Coast Guard career as an Operation Specialist or E5. Edward loved the job and he loved what he was doing but in the end, the military lifestyle wasn’t for him. While the Coast Guard once answered the questions Edward was asking, eventually he got to the point where he wanted to something he wanted to do, as opposed to something he had to do.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell wasn’t repealed until 2011, 9 months before Edward would get out of the Coast Guard. Because of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Act, Edward had to keep much of his life a secret. The punishment for “getting caught being gay” was harsh. Immediate expulsion and no benefits whatsoever. Drag made his secret even harder to keep.

Edward’s first contact with drag was at an S&M bar called Miss Kitty’s. Edward didn’t know what type of bar it was until he got there. People were paddling themselves and Go-Go dancers clad in leather filled the bar. Needing a minute to get some fresh air outside, Edward exited the building only to find himself surrounded by men dressed as drag nuns in what he described as a terrifying experience. These women were a part of the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” a charity group that is quote well known in the drag community. Edward did not realize this interaction was only the beginning of his drag experience.

In 2010, Edward met who would become his drag mother. A drag mother is essentially whoever put you in drag for the first time. They are usually the one to help someone new to drag figure out how to put on makeup, choose what clothes to wear and pick a name. A drag mother will often pass along their own last name. In Edward’s case, his drag mother didn’t have a last name to pass on, so he created his own. He already liked the idea of going by Brooke Lynn and it was his drag mother’s idea to separate the two to make the name a little more unique. Bradshaw is a reference to Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City. Brooklyn, New York, Carrie Bradshaw from New York.

Before meeting his drag mother Edward was very introverted.

“The hottest person could be staring at me and I would ignore them,” laughs Edward.

FB_IMG_1438819696712 — Brooke Lynn Bradshaw salutes you

Edward’s drag mother helped open him up in ways he never imagined. Edward was the person who wouldn’t dance at a club unless he was surrounded by other people. Now Brooke Lynne takes the stage and everyone in the room can’t take their eyes off her.

Participating in drag while in the Coast Guard made “not telling” even more difficult. Although he didn’t have to fear the consequence of his secrets for very long, even after Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed, Edward was extremely private. Before the act was repealed he would hide his tattoos and try to come and go quietly. Even some of his gay friends didn’t know he was an aspiring drag queen. Even after secrecy was no longer a requirement in the military, Edward didn’t feel the need to waive a rainbow flag.

“It’s different for everyone,” notes Edward. “One of my good friends went out to the gay bar in his uniform and took a picture in front of a rainbow flag. To him he was proud of that where I didn’t care.”

Not to say that Edward doesn’t think gay issues are important. Edward believes there is still a long way to go as far as acceptance in the military. Certain branches are more accepting than others, though all could use improvement. While many are coming around to the idea of having gay soldiers, a soldier in drag would push some people way over the edge.

Starting out performing in small clubs, Edward would eventually go on to be selected at Miss Gay Washington for the 2014-2015 year. This pageant system is very similar to the Miss America organization and includes a talent, evening and interview portion just like MAO as well as an “all white” and “after dark” phase of competition.

Now a student at Sanford Brown studying fashion design, Edward’s interest in fashion design has proved useful in the drag world. Edward designs and makes most of his clothing. He even charges other queens and for his services. Edward’s drag style has gone through many different looks. Starting off with a sort of rocker chick vibe, Brooke Lynn has been everything from the classic pretty face to Goth. Brooke Lynn has branched into a more alternative look.

“It’s sort of like puberty, you think you know what you liked and then what you like evolves as you get older and go through different phases of your life, “Edward explains. “I am still trying to discover who I want to be. We are always learning.”

While drag has changed Edward’s life forevermore, this isn’t something he sees himself doing forever. While some perform drag into their 40s, 50s, even 80s, it’s not something Edward thinks he’ll have the energy to do. Drag is more taxing then one might think. It can take upwards of three hours to do hair, make-up and costuming.

“My favorite part about drag is taking it off,” Edward jokes.

Contrary to popular belief, at its core, drag has very little to do with sexuality. Straight men, gay men, straight women, and gay women all participate. Edward frequently gets messages from people asking for sexual favors and getting mistaken for transgender is the usual. Although some drag queens, such as Brooke Lynn’s drag mother are transgender many of them aren’t.

Though the transition from everyday citizen to drag queen can be a taxing practice, the transition out of the military to civilian life be twice as hard. In Edward’s experience, the hardest part was knowing how to use the resources available to you. There are resources for veterans but there isn’t a lot of clear instruction on how to use those resources. Edward thinks classes on how to access health benefits, GI Bills etc., should be required of veterans as they make the transition out of the military. Even after veterans figure out how to use their benefits it can take over 5 months before they receive the financial benefits. Filling the space between can be extremely difficult.

How can you help veterans? When you have a friend or family member on their way out, do some research to yourself on what their options are. The cultural shock of leaving the military is enough, figuring out a whole new system to live by is a headache many veterans put off. You can find information about military benefits here.

No longer Miss Gay Washington, Brooke Lynn Bradshaw is still making appearances. With the hope of continuing to educate gay youth about gay history and helping veterans where she can, Brooke Lynn still has a few years left in her. Follow Brooke Lynn on Facebook and keep an eye out for her on Capitol Hill and around the Pacific Northwest.

*The Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma, Diamond Empire of the Cascades, shall endeavor to create a safe, supportive, and social environment for members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex, Transgender and Questioning community. We shall strive to create and support charitable, cultural, and educational activities, which promote a greater awareness and understanding among all peoples, who make up the rich and diverse community within our Empire, and to promote a positive awareness of the ideals of the International Court System. As serious as we work to accomplish our mission, we shall never forget to have fun while doing it by enjoying all the frivolity and creative outlets the Court encourages.

0 A Sailor’s Life For Me

August 3, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· In the News

So far, most of the people I have interviewed for this blog have joined the military because they were searching for something. Maybe they felt lost, maybe they needed a clearer career path and skills to get there or maybe they were looking for adventure. For Dave Barksdale, it was family tradition. Just like his father and grandfather before him, Dave joined the Navy in 1985 and served active duty for over two decades.

Entering the Fleet Reserve midnight, January 31^st, 2009 at the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E7), Dave’s active-duty career has been a colorful one. Serving on seven different ships in his career, Dave’s specialties have ranged from fire control to air search and missile Guidance RADAR systems to Tomahawk missile systems. His experience and skill set have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Australia to Japan to Kenya to name a few of the countries Dave has visited. He admits he has had too many deployments to count.

The chance to see the world gave Dave the opportunity to experience cultures and events that I have only read about. Dave has attended the Chinese New Year visited the tomb of Job in Oman and played hacky sack on top of a pyramid in Guatemala.

“Eating frankincense from a tree older then America blew my mind,” reminisced Dave.

Through his own selfless service, Dave learned lessons all over the world. Meeting the aboriginal people in Perth taught him to cherish what he has. In Dave’s experience, people were generally friendly and happy to see him and his fellow sailors. Immersed in dozens of cultures throughout his career has given Dave a unique outlook on life.

“Even in the harshest countries you could always find someone who had no political agenda and would welcome you with open arms,” remembers Dave.

11824205_10153101794992449_481368725_n — Dave and his wife Maria

Despite his incredible experiences, a life of military service is never just fun and games and certainly comes with its challenges. Serving during a time when the internet was not what it is today, a sailor survived on snail mail, with an emphasis on the word snail. Mail came but once a month on average and learning of family events so delayed could be agonizing. Even after Dave was married, a new wealth of challenges was brought on. Though a sailor’s work could be dangerous in itself, one of the greatest fears is that something would happen to your family back home leaving you unaware and helpless for a month or much longer.

“Your heart and soul always long to be near those at home,” explains Dave.

Although family at home was a distant thought, each sailor walks away from the Navy with a new family. As Dave and many veterans will tell you, one of the best parts of the military lifestyle is the unbreakable bond you form with your newfound brothers and sisters. Combat only makes these bonds stronger in the moments when you truly have no one else to rely on but your shipmates, overcoming that adversity creates a deep love that lasts until your last breath.

Despite any challenges one faces in the military, Dave recommends serving to anyone, even if only for a couple years. Although a military career might not be for everyone, the experiences are invaluable.

In Dave’s opinion, the Armed Forces are receiving the best support they have ever known. Unfortunately, there will still be those who refer to Dave and his comrades as “baby killers” with some opponents of the military not being above spitting on servicemen and women, for the most part the public appears to support the military. Dave points to ignorance as the greatest threat to the military and believes there have been great strides made by to the public to better understand what the military is doing, hence offering more support.

Like I’ve heard so many times before, one of the greatest struggles veterans face is getting on their feet after serving. Dave told me stories about retired veterans passing away for what appears to be no apparent reason. Whether it be suicide or simply wasting away, it’s extremely difficult to adjust to a “normal” society after living in a high stress and structured environment for so many years. As civilians, it is our duty to do our best to understand and learn about their experiences, recognize extreme signs of distress and offer support and opportunity through jobs and training so that veterans feel as comfortable as possible in the civilian lifestyle.

If you’re looking to educate yourself more on military topics I recommend the following blogs “Task and Purpose” and “War Council.”

One topic that has and will always interest me is women in the military. Dave admits that in the beginning of military genderization he was against it. He saw women in supporting shore roles only. After he had a couple female supervisors his views started to change, though there have been issues with fraternization among crews. As Dave notes, it’s very difficult to take men and women directly out of high school and expect them to keep their hormones in check. This can be a problem in any career field, military or not, but when men and women are stuck on a boat for months at a time, you can only imagine what might happen. Although many times, many of these cases are wanted by both parties, unfortunately, as we all know, the military isn’t immune to cases of sexual assault etc. But that issue is for another blog, at another time.

11027973_10153050043977449_4223957930229716477_n — Dave, myself and the other title winners earlier this year.

Dave has no problem with women serving in our military. He does feel that there will always be those isolated incidents between men and women no matter how much training you put them through. I met Dave through the Miss America program where he is one of Washington’s most valued employees. Dave believes in women empowerment and I am in awe of how much time he puts into volunteering to help young women such as I better myself.

Dave is currently employed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes as a maintenance technician. He also operates Depoe Barksdale Studios; a video and photography studio that has contributes to the Miss Washington organization but takes on other projects as well.

“A life of service is a life well spent,” are words of wisdom Dave lives by and his actions show he takes those words very seriously. He considers serving his country with honor and distinction his greatest achievement and he continues to live a life of service. With volunteering being his main hobby, (listening to Electronic Dance Music a close second J) Dave doesn’t plan on changing any time soon.

0 Miss Washington Highlights

July 28, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· In the News

Pictures by Keith Krueger, Evelyn Hou and Sheri Backous.

Y'all know I ain't been missing no meals. — Y’all know I ain’t been missin’ no meals. Pictured with Miss Grays Harbor – Paige Kuhn and MWSO volunteer of the year Joyce! She was the one who let me run on the treadmill that week. God bless Joyce.

With one of my mentors, Miss Grays Harbor 2007, Liisa Koski

Backstage with Miss East Cascades - Christa Weddle and Miss Grays Harbor - Paige Kuhn — Backstage with Miss East Cascades – Christa Weddle and Miss Grays Harbor – Paige Kuhn

Waving to my people after top 5 question.

Chance was the real MVP and brought some shoes I forgot to arrival. His support meant so much this week.

I posted a ton of pictures in this dress and I'm not sorry about it. — I posted a ton of pictures in this dress and I’m not sorry about it.

BAE aka Miss East Cascades - Chritsa Weddle and 8 pounds of make-up — BAE aka Miss East Cascades – Christa Weddle and 8 pounds of make-up

My face in this. I had just been called as the Community Service Award recipient.

The squad! I have never competed with so many people that look like me! Morgan, Lizzi, Taryn and I. — The squad! I have never competed with so many people that look like me! Miss Auburn – Morgan Warren, then Miss Rainier – Lizzi Jackson, Miss Seattle – Taryn Smith and I.

Top 5 gettin' cozy after crowning — Top 5 gettin’ cozy after crowning

Catching up on my National Geo backstage.

Farmer's Market with Miss Grays Harbor - Paige Kuhn and Tanya who was my personal savior because she fed us and Mama Duck herself, Patti Belik! — Farmer’s Market with Miss Grays Harbor – Paige Kuhn and Tanya who was my personal savior because she fed us and Mama Duck herself, Patti Belik!

Paige - Miss Grays Harbor getting called into the Top 5. I really enjoy this picture for some reason. So happy two Grays Harbor gals were in the five. — Paige – Miss Grays Harbor getting called into the Top 5. I really enjoy this picture for some reason. So happy two Grays Harbor gals were in the five.

God Bless Josh Stancil and the work he did on my legs.

Grays Harbor Gals! Miss Whatcom County Kimberly Wolfe and Miss Grays Harbor Paige Kuhn

Found my old radio co-host Catrena at the market!

Chillin with Miss Spokane - Ashlee Karras — Chillin with Miss Spokane – Ashlee Karras

We talkin' bout practice, not a game, not a game, practice. — We talkin’ bout practice, not a game, not a game, practice.

“Get me the Hell off this stage.”
-My dad’s thoughts

Another visitation photo with Miss Pierce County - Anikka Abbott, Miss Tri-Cities - Samantha Brown and Miss East Cascades - Christa Weddle — Another visitation photo with Miss Pierce County – Anikka Abbott, Miss Tri-Cities – Samantha Brown and Miss East Cascades – Christa Weddle

Hold my hand. Top 5 before crowning Miss WA! - Lizzi Jackson, Fourth Runner-UpMiss Eastside- Megan McCormick, Third Runner-Up, Miss Grays Harbor - Paige Kuhn, First Runner-Up, Miss Pierce County - Anikka Abbott — Hold my hand. Top 5 before crowning Miss WA! – Lizzi Jackson, Fourth Runner-UpMiss Eastside- Megan McCormick, Third Runner-Up, Miss Grays Harbor – Paige Kuhn, First Runner-Up, Miss Pierce County – Anikka Abbott

On the way back from our VIP Boeing tour. Me lookin’ fly in my safety glasses with Miss Eastside – Megan McCormick, Miss Thurston County – Emily Hamack and at the time she was Miss Rainier – Lizzi Jackson.

Just heard my name called as Second Runner-Up.

Visitation with Miss Spokane - Ashlee Karras — Visitation with Miss Spokane – Ashlee Karras

Connie sandwich with two slices of Kuhn bread.

0 Fat Connie

July 23, 2015
by Connie Morgan
· Health and Fitness

Time for some updates. A lot of folks have been asking me what I am up to post Miss Washington. I competed in my first Half Ironman which was hard as Hell. I got a flat tire and I learned to never try and do such a long distance without clip-ins again, but overall it was an awesome experience. I have been super busy getting my house ready to sell which has been quite a project in itself. Over the past five years, countless roommates come in and out, so there has been a little bit of wear on the house. New paint, new carpets, new cabinet, new bathroom, have all been a part of the process. My mom has been a God send and is getting a ton of work done helping me while I continue to work for CWU in the Alumni Office.

This was 12 minutes later. We timed it. I wasn't even trying to be fast. — This was 12 minutes later. We timed it. I wasn’t even trying to be fast.

More important than getting the house ready though, I have been busy eating! Fat week comes but once a year and this year was no different. Last year, fat week came right after Miss WA but it was delayed this year due to my Half Ironman. For me, “fat week” is a time when I eat whatever I want. In fact, I almost make a conscious effort to not eat anything healthy. I usually break down my meal plans for you guys to show what I eat to stay fit. Well, now I am breaking it down to see how many years of my life I took off. Please make a mental guess of how many calories I ate during the week now…

Monday
1 32 oz. peanut butter protein smoothie
1 16 oz. Iced Mocha
1 small Domino’s pizza with pineapple
3 fried chicken breasts
2 croissants
3 ½ servings of Tillamook Mudslide with Fudge Magic Shell
1 sugar cookie with frosting

Daily Total Calories:
4,067

Tuesday
15 Double Stuff Oreos
1 glass of 1% milk
4 eggs
2 croissants
Pizza Lunchable
6 servings of Doritos
1 ½ cups Bugles
3 ½ servings of Tillamook Mudslide with Fudge Magic Shell
4 cheese Ziti
6 servings of bread and oil
Half a huge slice of chocolate cake

Daily Total Calories:
4,922

Wednesday
4 eggs
1 Sourdough English muffin
15 Double Stuff Oreos
1 glass of 1% milk
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
6 servings of Doritos
1 ½ cups Bugles
4 servings of Pizza Bagel Bites
2 cups Strawberries with cream cheese fruit dip
Strawberry pop tarts

Daily Total Calories:
4,284

Thursday
4 eggs
10 Double Stuff Oreos
1 glass of 1% milk
1 croissant
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Strawberry pop tarts
3 ½ servings of Tillamook Mudslide with Fudge Magic Shell
1 salmon fillet
1 serving mixed vegetables with cream sauce
1 Sourdough English muffin
1 sugar cookie with frosting

Daily Total Calories:
2,715

Friday
4 eggs
Strawberry pop tarts
1 Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
6 servings of Doritos
3 Pillsbury® Melts Molten Fudge Cake Filled Cookie dough, not cooked
1 hot dog and bun (first hot dog I have had since high school!)
10 sandwich cookies
1 serving potato salad
3 ½ servings of Tillamook Mudslide with Fudge Magic Shell

Daily Total Calories:
3,729

Saturday
8 eggs
2 croissants
9 servings brownie batter
1 Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
6 Pillsbury® Melts Molten Fudge Cake Filled Cookie dough, not cooked
Mikes Harder Lemonade
1 Iron Horse Brewery 509 style beer
½ Domino’s pizza with pineapple
1 Sourdough English muffin

Daily Total Calories:
4,432

Sunday
Sax’s Salted caramel milkshake
4 eggs
3 ½ servings of Tillamook Mudslide with Fudge Magic Shell
2 pulled pork sandwiches with wheat bread
1 piece of Tony’s cheese pizza
1 pepperoni stick

Daily Total Calories:
3,177

Total calories for the week:
27,326

What I eat in weekly calories normally:
17,500

There are 3,500 calories in a pound, so I ate nearly three pounds more in food than I normally do.

You can see my week started out strong. Right off the bat I was hitting over 4,000 calories. I hit a bit of a stall in the middle of the week, bottoming out at 2,715, I eat more than that during a regular week sometimes! But I finished strong. I think next year I will shoot for 30,000 calories. I know I can do it.

I have “fat week” every year for a couple of reasons. One, because I eat pretty healthy all year long and this is my reward. Two, mentally I think we need these kind of breaks. Not only does this let us get away from the pressure and stress of eating healthy all the time, it reminds us why we eat healthy in the first place. Let me tell, you, I felt pretty crappy by the end of the week and it was because there was essentially no nutrition in my diet whatsoever.

Although I could feel the difference, the physical effect of this fat week was essentially zero. I ran a couple times during the week and biked once but I really didn’t exercise much. Despite the limited exercise and excessive eating, I feel the same physically. I still have abs, nothing feels like it got soft on me and although I didn’t weigh myself before and after, my clothes all fit the same. I went for my first hard run yesterday and I ran as fast as I usually do and felt great. My point is that you shouldn’t beat yourself up over a cheat meal or snack. I cheated all three meals and then some for a week and I’m living to tell the tale. If I can eat 15 Oreos for breakfast, close my day out with a bowl of ice cream for a week and see no results, you can splurge on a bagel every once in a while.

As y’all know I worked SUPER hard on my body getting ready for Miss WA. It was fun to lift in a way that I never had before and see what my body could do. I didn’t win swimsuit and I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t disappointed but I am so proud of not only the way I looked at Miss WA but how I got there. Anyone who tells you that pageantry doesn’t often cause eating disorders and other body issues among contestants is lying. I wanted to make sure I didn’t fall into that trap and that the body little girls would see on stage was a healthy and strong one. What you see is me. No body contouring (yes that’s a thing), no 1,000 calorie diet, no waist synching, I made sure to do this the right way.

IMG_4793(1) — Miss Washington 2012 If you look closely you can see the faint hoof mark left by my horse after he kicked me three years prior!

I wanted to share a couple photos, one of me competing in 2012 and one this year. Same swim suit, but this year I was 10 pound heavier than in 2012. Yep, 10 pounds. And guess, what, I look better this year! I can especially tell in my legs, the area my awesome trainer Josh Stancil and I focused on. There was always a little jiggle where my glutes met my hamstrings but it’s hard to find now. A scale can be useful but it by no means measures fitness. I made it my goal to gain weight, muscle that is, for Miss WA and I am so glad that I did. From winning Miss Columbia Basin to competing for Miss WA I gained five pounds and then cut about a month out from the pageant to lose about three of those five before competing. Since Miss WA I haven’t weighed myself and quite frankly I don’t care how much I weigh, I care about how I feel and how I perform at my next triathlon.

I do in fact, have some races approaching and I am getting back in the swing of training this week, with regular postings starting up again next week. Josh and I are going to set up a plan to meet some of the non-pageant or triathlon related goals I have for myself so the challenge continues. Some big changes are coming up in my life so stay tuned!

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