Meet Marcia Randall Day

KPTV - FOX 12

Thursday, May 28, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
7:30am	8:30am	Headquarters	Start the Day Meeting
9:00am	10:45am	Shriner's Hospital for Children	Visit Patients
11:15am	12:00pm	Elmer's Restaurant in Tigard	Rose Meal Fundraiser Program and Lunch
12:00pm	1:30pm	Elmer's Restaurant in Tigard	Serve/Greet/Seat guests during lunch
1:30pm	2:00pm	Elmer's Restaurant in Tigard	Court Photos
2:15pm	3:00pm	Randall Children's Hospital	Tour
3:30pm	5:00pm	Randall Group	Meet Marcia Randall, scholarship donor
5:30pm	6:00pm	Headquarters	Dinner with the Court Committee
6:00pm	7:30pm	Headquarters	Breast Friends "Girls Love Mail" project
7:30pm	8:00pm	Headquarters	Debrief

Story of the Day

The now familiar faces of KPTV followed us to Shriner's Hospital for Children today.  I was out visiting patients room to room with Amber Shackleford and Sierra Hosea.  I enjoy being able to brighten someone's day, and these kids are brave and full of hope.

At Elmer's we had to work as waitresses.  We had a super fan try to talk to us at Elmer's.  According to the handlers, he shows up at Elmers every year to try to talk to the court.  In anticipation, Frank Chinn was on hand to keep him away from us altogether.  We all felt extremely sorry for this mentally challenged man who wasn't even allowed to say hello to us.  Princesses were crying on the bus as we watched him being manhandled by the staff.  When asked if he had ever been inappropriate in the past, we were told "no, but he might."  

Next we went to Randall Children's Hospital and mistakenly went on the tour without Marcia Randall.  

Apparently, every year the court meets Marcia and then tour her hospital together.  Every year Marcia tours her hospital with us. This year, we just started touring without her. 

Back at headquarters I was assigned to dish duty during clean-up.  

A Day at the State Capitol

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
7:45am	8:40am	Headquarters	Start the Day Meeting
9:00am	11:00am	First Baptist Church	Breakfast
11:30am	1:30pm	Lloyd Center Doubletree	Lions Club Luncheon and Final Judging
2:45pm	4:00pm	State Capitol Building Rotunda in Salem	Court invited on the Senate Floor by State Senator Bill Hansell, (Princess Naomi's Uncle) representing Oregon District 29   Visit Governor and Capitol Tour
5:00pm	6:30pm	Headquarters	Curriculum
6:30pm	7:00pm	Headquarters	Debrief

Story of the Day

Princesses at the final judging Lion's Club luncheon

Day of the final round of judging!  We had a delightful lunch with the Lion's Club.  Women are allowed to join now and they do a lot of good work.  I might look into this later!  For my final question I was asked about my fundraisers, and that is fun to talk about!  Also, we all got a second "easy" question, and I truly feel sorry for the princess who had to tell us all what vegetable she would be if she was suddenly produce.  Props to Elli!

Next, we drove the Royal Bus to Salem and visited the Capitol Rotunda.  Governor Kate Brown was unavailable to meet with us.  So, we hung out like lobbyists pushing Rose Festival.

Judging is over now, and the new Queen has been chosen.  We'll find out who she is on June 6th.  

At 108 Years Old, Portland's Rose Festival Balances Tradition with Evolution

A view of City Fair from brewcaster

Check out the latest news about the Festival from Oregon Live!

This is an awesome time lapse video of Fleet Week over a 2 day span in 2012!!!

Portland Airport Day

This is your Captain, Elli Simotas and deadhead Tabitha Ivan speaking.  Please remain in your seats and stay calm while we conduct an strictly hypothetical poll.  Does anyone know how to fly this plane?  Please come to the cockpit immediately.

Thursday, May 21, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
7:45am	8:15am	Headquarters	Start the Day Meeting
8:15am	11:00am	Headquarters	Group Interviews, Second Judging, Curriculum
11:30am	5:30pm	Portland Airport	Tour and Lunch
6:00pm	6:10pm	Headquarters	Get yelled at
6:15pm	8:30pm	Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel	Third Judging for Queen and Royal Rosarian Dinner Meeting
9:15pm	9:30pm	Headquarters	Debrief

Story of the Day

In case you are wondering if we really spent 6 hours at the Airport, we did.  But first, we participated in our second round of judging to see who will wear the crown of Rosaria on June 6th.  Similar to last night, we were interviewed in groups.

I can't decide if I am here to enter into a lifelong sorority with the other princesses, or to be Queen.  It may be we all need to pick one direction or the other.  On one hand, I don't want to disappoint the people who helped me get here and afforded me this opportunity, so I want to try my best.  On the other hand, it's hard to get really competitive because no one knows what it takes to win the title.  Queen.  Hmmm.  Part of me feels we are all competing with each other to win an abusive husband.  I know, right?  Answering a group question too long gets you evil stares, and not answering is not impressive.  What.  Ever.  Just shoot me.

At PDX we checked in at Alaska Airlines for our boarding passes and began our tour!  We were boarded on a plane, checked into baggage claim, served a first class lunch, and cruised around with the high altitude of being Royals of the Rose City.

Then, back at headquarters, we all got in trouble this time.  It's nice to share the attention with others....

With the increased negativity within our group, the chaperones are also on edge.  Supervising is not for everyone.  The "higher ups" had everyone in tears.  And that's saying something.  Most of these girls are not emotional types and have probably never cried, even as infants.  

One of the princesses has calculated that we are being paid (with the scholarship) less than $2.50 per hour and we are working over 60 hours each week.  A few princesses wonder if the experience is worth the expense.  We are missing the best part of our senior year. The Court handlers are very stingy with letting us go to Senior Awards and Proms and even graduation ceremonies.  Want to go to your yearbook release and signing lunch?  Forget about it!!!!   It is implied that we do as we're told or the scholarship is in jeopardy.  We are never home and our friends are distant memories.  

Another laments that we are treated like 5-year-olds on a field trip, not as adult women.  (Princesses need a bathroom buddy, need permission to speak to people outside the group, need to behave in a "princess-like" manner, etc.)  And the funny part is, they revamped the entire program in the 1990's for the women's equality movement.  I wasn't around much in the 1990's, but I'm guessing they were grateful for what they got.  Sigh.

First Judging Day for Queen of Rosaria

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
7:30am		Wildhorse Resort, Pendleton	Start the Day Meeting
8:00am	9:15am	Wildhorse Resort, Pendleton	Breakfast and Photos
9:15am	9:30am	Wildhorse Resort, Pendleton	Pack and Board the Royal Coach
9:45am	10:15am	Hamley's Western Store in Pendleton
1:45pm	3:00pm	Headquarters in Portland	Write Pendleton Thank-you notes
3:00pm	4:30pm	Headquarters	Mary Kay consultation
5:30pm	7:30pm	Queen Emma Waibel's house	First Judging for Queen and Dinner
8:15pm	8:45pm	Headquarters	Debrief

Story of the Day

Woke up in Eastern Oregon.  We were already on our way back to Portland before the morning was complete.  We stopped at Hamley's Western Store before we left town for good.  This store is everything cowboy.  

I have decided I want to own horses one day.  This is a huge step forward for me, since I was kicked by a horse at a riding stable when I was 3.  The accident split my tongue open and gave me my 4th or 5th concussion...Can't remember.  At the hospital, as the drugs for the stitches kicked in, I told my Mom that there were 86 of her in the room.  Good times, gooooood tiiiiiimes.

The rest of the day was dedicated to judging or preparing to be judged.  We went to Queen Emma's house for the dinner and to meet the judges.  Queen Emma Waibel was not allowed to attend the dinner at her own house due to a conflict of interest.  Her parents are very connected to the Rose Festival, and we see them at a lot of events.  Dinner was really good and her mom made this purple dessert with oats on it.  It was dope.

With the first round of judging for Queen came the first rumblings of discontent within the court. We are being interviewed in groups of five and some girls are monopolizing the answers.  Group Interviews are a difficult way to be interviewed, and if this is a test to see if we will claw at each other in order to survive and dominate, it's working.  It's like a warm-up for the Jerry Springer Show...After each round, the princesses have begun to criticize each other over what was said and by whom.  Sigh.  My theory is this is actually a test of psychological  fitness in which I am failing....

Have you ever held your breath and stood still long enough to calibrate your position in the universe, so that you might ask yourself what in the freak you are doing with this precious second of your existence?  Yeah, me neither.  Obviously.

A Day in Pendleton

Rose Court, Happy Canyon Court and Pendleton Round-Up Court at Pendleton Museum

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
6:30am	7:30am	Headquarters	Start the Day Meeting
8:00am		Portland Marriott Hotel	Pick up Pendleton Court and drive to Pendleton
11:30am	1:45pm	Tamastslikt Cultural Institute at Wildhorse Casino, Pendleton	Hosted Lunch and Tour
2:15pm	2:45pm	Wildhorse Resort in Pendleton	Check-in
3:00pm	3:45pm	Pendleton Underground	Tour
4:15pm	7:00pm	Pendleton Round-Up Pavilion	Museum, Horseback Riding, Roping, Wagon rides
7:00pm	9:30pm	Let'er Buck Room, Pendleton	Dinner/Music/Western Dancing
10:30pm		Wildhorse Resort, Pendleton	Sleep Over

Tabitha Ivan visits Tamastslikt Museum with the 3 Courts

Story of the Day

We picked up the Pendleton Courts early and took the Royal Coach out the I-84, through the awesome Columbia River Gorge, and up to Pendleton at the foot of the incredible Blue Mountains.  Nestled in ranch country, this western town has an almost spiritual energy that welcomes us with a sense of comfort and home.  It is a small town with simple wholesome philosophies, permeated with the wisdom and common sense of good, hard working people.

At the Tamastslikt Museum we furthered our curriculum on the Native Nations of the region.  I am surprised by the rich cultural heritage of our state, and I wish every Oregonian would learn about these things before leaving school.  Although they did not choose to become part of our great melting pot, the Native American contribution to our country is brilliant and should be a proud part of our story.

Pendleton Round-Up President Bill Quesenberry pets a Belgian draft horse named K.C. with Portland Rose Festival Court Princess Tabitha Ivan from Lincoln High School on Tuesday during a social event at the Round-Up Pavilion in Pendleton. The Pendleton Round-Up Court and the Rose Festival Court have spent the last two days together hosting tours of their respective cities.

We are staying at the Wildhorse Resort, which is also a Spa, Casino, and Nightclub.  Whatever you want to do, you can do it here.  So we checked in and changed into our cowgirl duds.  10 gallon Hat, Stuff Kicker Boots, Belt Buckle the size of Texas?  Check,check, check.  This gear gives me serious country attitude!

Off to the Pendleton Underground for a tour of the 1890's in the wild, wild West.  I love city tours.  My all time favorites include Pendleton, Philadelphia bus tour, Paris Seine boat tour, and the Portland Walking Tour. 

In the afternoon, we headed over to the Pendleton Round-Up Pavilion and Hall of Fame.  I had ridden out to Pendleton next to chaperone Bill Quesenberry, but was surprised to see him in the showcases!  This quiet, unassuming man was a freaking cowboy rock star and is now in charge of the entire Round-Up.  We hung out most of the day while the courts went horseback riding, wagon riding, and learned some roping techniques.

Bill Quesenberry and I made the front page of the local paper, the Eastern Oregonian!!!

At the Let 'er Buck Room, we had dinner and danced into the evening.  Of course, being official cowgirls now, it was Swing dancing and Line dancing for us!!!!

Lights out at 10:30.  Another 16 hour day goes into the blog...

Pendleton Wagon Ride in Reality

Pendleton Wagon Ride I was expecting in my head

...seconds later

Our Room at Check-In

Touring with the Pendleton Court Day

Monday, May 18, 2015 Rose Court Schedule
ARRIVE	DEPART	LOCATION	EVENT
8:00am	8:45am	Headquarters	Start the Day Meeting
8:15am	6:00pm		Police Escort
8:45am	9:00am	Portland Marriott	Meet the Pendleton Court
9:15am	12:15pm	Oregon Zoo	Personal Tour
12:30pm	2:00pm	Old Spaghetti Factory	Lunch
2:30pm	3:30pm	Lan Su Chinese Garden	Tour
4:00pm	5:15pm	Portland Aerial Tram	Ride Tram to OHSU Observation Deck
6:00pm	8:30pm	The Lundberg/Reed Private Residence	Royal Rosarian Dinner with Pendleton Court
8:45pm		Portland Marriott	Return Pendleton Court
9:00pm	9:30pm	Headquarters	Debrief and Thank-you notes

Story of the Day

Rose and Pendleton Courts in Washington Park

 

Another 14 hour day as a Princess comes to a close!!  We met the court of the Pendleton Round-Up this morning and we all went on a personal tour of the Zoo in Washington Park.  Their court are all about 25 years old.  And tall!

Last month we were regaled with tales of last year's court petting the penguins.  We did not get to pet anything!  Sad Face.  

Lundberg/Reed Home sports an unusual architecture

On to lunch at the Spaghetti Factory.

Then we enjoyed the zen of our local Chinese Garden on Everett Street.

Once we were up in the air we had a fabulous view of Portland and our newest bridge, Tilikum Crossing, from the Aerial Tram.

The Rosarians treated us to a private dinner at the Lundberg/Reed home.  I saw my escort from the Blessing of the Festival again, Denny Baker.  He's a good guy.

We dropped off a very tired Pendleton court back at the Portland Marriott and then continued to headquarters to finish our tasks and go home.  I know why they suggest we bring pictures of our families into our cubicles at headquarters; because that's the only place we see them.