Holiday 2009-10
Dear Friends,
In an effort to go more “GREEN” (OK, I know... it's actually
RED! I like red!) this
year, I have decided to post my annual Holiday Letter online.
It seems, when I look back, much of
my year was spent following the fun and hysteria of the pageant industry, but
it didn’t start out that way I missed a planned trip to Las Vegas for Miss
America due to illness, but I soon recovered and was still able to watch TLC’s
fun live telecast. TLC will again broadcast “Miss America Live” from Las Vegas
on January 30, 2010.
Anyway, it was not long before
“pageant people” invaded the PLANET HOLLYWOOD LAS VEGAS to crown Miss USA 2009.
And this time, I was happily among them. Despite the “Larry King” moments that
followed the event itself was a lot of fun. Special thanks to Nevada-USA director,
Maureen Atwell of the Atwell Group for holding her fabulous “True Beauty Expo” & “Fashion
Rocks the Universe” events where a
good time was had by all!
Another highlight was the Coronation
Ball after that now famous NBC telecast. Many, many thanks to my amazing
friends at the Miss Universe Organization (especially Paula Shugart, Rachel
Frimer, Lark Anton, Gail Holmes, Esther Swan and all the rest for everything
they did, so we could enjoy this amazing poolside party at the Planet
Hollywood….
We're looking forward to returning to
the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas for the crowning of Miss USA 2010, again
telecast live on NBC on Sunday Evening, April 18!
Another fun event we attended this
year was “General Hospital Fan Club Weekend!” Mom and I really enjoyed all the
events planned by our good friend, Debby O’ Connor, a bittersweet moment
occurred Sunday afternoon, as our dear Rick Hearst hosted his final GH fan
event. Earlier this year Rick re-joined the cast of “The Bold & The
Beautiful” as “Whip Jones” We’re so excited that Rick has been given this
wonderful opportunity, but were sad to come to the end of a great GH Weekend
tradition!
Rick and his family are so sweet,
however, that Mom and I have been able to stay in touch and hope to do so for
years to come!
One of Mom's dreams came true this year as we visited my brother &
his wife, Kevin & Felicia, in Missouri and they took us to Springfield, IL where we visited the Abraham Lincoln Museum
& Library.
Finally, November rolled around and
it was time to crown Miss California-USA 2010 at the Agua Caliente Resort in
Rancho Mirage. My wonderful friends Shanna Moakler, Keylee Sanders, and Keith
Lewis not only got the show on the road—but for the first time in 15 years on
statewide TV as well!
I was especially proud when Tami
Farrell finally received the crowning moment as Miss California-USA that she so
richly deserved. Congrats Tami and thank you for uplifting the image of Miss
California-USA!
And congrats and best wishes to Miss
California-USA 2010, Nicole Johnson. Good luck @ Miss USA 2010…
I also wish the best to US Figure
Skating Team as they prepare for the Olympics in Vancouver, Canada this coming
February – Especially Tannith Belbin & Ben Agosto – GO FOR GOLD!
…And our best to everyone. May 2010
be the year all your dreams come true……….
Love Always,
The Bakers
John, Joann & Shandi