FRESH OFF THE 2002 SALT LAKE CITY WINTER OLYMPICS, ANOTHER JUDGING SCANDAL ROCKS THE WORLD!

As previously reported, I was in a Cutest Baby Contest Saturday. Just as I was about to take the stage, they changed emcees to this really scary guy that just wanted us to get up there and get out (the guy before had the parents introduce themselves and their children and gave the kids a chance to really ham it up - my specialty).

So, there I am, decked out in my Army uniform, with Mommy in her Army sweats, lookin' all cute and patriotic. I'm thinkin' "No Sweat!", I got this cute thing nailed! HELLO Finals!"

Well, they were supposed to call the Finalists between 8 and 9 PM EST, so I kept Daddy occupied with a movie and Mommy wasn't feeling good, so I sent her to bed, just so neither one of them would be on the computer tying (ha! Ty-ing - I LOVE that word!) the phone line. Eight-O'clock rolled around - 8:30 - 8:45 (now I'm getting nervous) - 9 PM - 9:30... Finally, Daddy was ready to give up - the movie was over and no phone call. I begged him to wait just 15 minutes more! If no one calls by 10, I'll do my best Al Gore imitation and admit loss, but know in my heart that I was a jilted winner. Sadly, the phone never rang.

Undaunted, I told Dad to get online and check out the website just in case the organizers dialed wrong or had the wrong number or ANYTHING! So, he went to the Finalist page and I wasn't one of the eleven listed. In a move that screams Franco-Russian figure skating judging, I was knocked out of the contest. Mommy would have to go to Reserves on Sunday, Daddy and I forced to sleep in and play at home and some little flat-faced freak of nature is going to win my prize! But, I'm not bitter! I understand that trying to narrow down thousands of entries down to 11 (Why 11?!?! Twelve's a nice number! I would have been #12, right?!?!) is a hard and grueling job.

Oh well, another mall in the area will have a contest in three weeks with an even bigger prize. Besides, I'll have two more chances, all be it in the Toddler category, instead of the Infant division, in this contest.

I guess we'll all have to wait until March 2003 to celebrate THIS victory. Keep your fingers crossed for March 23, 2002 (ironically, if Greatgrandma Villier were alive, it would have been her birthday)!