<-- Me with Jean-Claude Van Damme in Prague. Bloodsport was not discussed, but JCVD was.

Dear Readers,

I would like to begin this go-round by correcting an error in my last blog entry concerning Roustam Tariko. Mr. Tariko is not a chocolatier. He is, in fact, a businessman who has had dealing in the importation and sale of chocolate. According to Wikipedia, a chocolatier is someone who makes confectionary from chocolate. Curiously, this is different than a chocolate maker who creates chocolate from cocoa beans and other ingredients. Childhood viewings of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, featuring a great performance by Gene Wilder, had lead me astray in my chocolate definitions, for that, I am sorry.

Speaking of Russia, the video featuring Miss Universe and her visit to Russia is up on the Miss Universe website. It is available to view here

My video detailing Stefania’s adventures in Panama and the Czech Republic is currently awaiting final approval. We traveled to Panama for a Sony event for the countries South American vendors. 3D TV people, it’s gonna be big. The trip was quick and before we knew it we were back on a plane. We flew from Panama City to Houston, Texas and then from Houston to Frankfurt, Germany. Germany is not without their sense of humor as their airport is filled with bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad and soft pretzels with mustard. We dined like Kaisers. The plane trip from Germany to Prague was only 45 min and was refreshing following the non-sense of crossing one and a half continents and an ocean.

Prague is a beautiful city as anyone who has been there, or has read about it, will tell you. The Miss Czech Republic pageant that our group was attending was being held in an ancient looking factory. The inside, however, was done up in grand fashion for the evening. The idea behind the event was putting something glamorous into something ugly, much like Megan Fox in the Transformers movies. The event was intense and featured Fear Factor challenges for the contestants to complete and a stage element that shot flames into the air during the swimsuit competition giving audience members a visual metaphor laden performance. Stefania announced and sashed the new Miss Czech Republic immediately following Jean-Claude Van Damme kicking a bottle off the hosts’ head. If that sounds ridiculous check out the video that will most likely be posted tomorrow on www.missuniverse.com.

The trip home was smooth sailing as I was bumped up from coach to first class due to overbooking. The amble foot room and my chairs uncanny recline mode gave me a one-way ticket to R.E.M town. When I awoke to find myself in New York, I realized what teleporting would feel like if it were real. If you are wondering, you feel slightly groggy and have a kink in your neck.

From Miss Russia With Love.

Dear Reader,

I recently returned from a trip abroad to Russia. Miss Universe, Roston Ogata, our security guard Nelson and I were put up in the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow, which beautifully overlooked the Kremlin. After a day of getting settled and adjusting to the time difference, we sat for a barrage of interviews from the best and brightest of the Russian press before we recollected ourselves and prepared for dinner.

We were whisked away by town cars with our lovely guide, Irina. Our mission was dinner and out host was a mister Roustam Tariko, a wealthy chocolatier and owner of the Russian Standard brand of vodka as well as the Miss Russia Organization, among other things. The dinner was held in a room adorned with hundred-year-old woodwork and included a gigantic fireplace adding cozy warmth to the Russian bite outside. Champagne and conversation flowed as we met the soon-to-be former Miss Russia as well as Preston Mendenhall, the coordinator of the coming night's event. Roustam made his appearance, and the feast was on. We dined on a delicious assortment of caviar, latkas, dumplings, salads and cooked lamb all the while being serenaded by gypsies. Heaven existed, for a night at least, in that room in Moscow.

The next day our group received a tour of the Kremlin and Red Square. We viewed, inside and outside, the famed Russian Orthodox Churches with their golden rounded tops and ancient paintings of epiphanies and miracles. These churches and the beautiful architecture of the buildings around us provided ample opportunities for snapshots. We moved onto Red Square and viewed the Tomb of Lenin. Red Square was packed with men and women old and young alike making a day of it with an ice skating rink and various balloon and tchotchke vendors. Due to the freezing air and the impending event, we retired to our hotel to freshen up and prepare for Miss Russia.

The pageant was held about thirty minutes outside of Moscow. Stefania, Miss Universe, was to be a judge in the pageant, a first for her. The pageant was much more visual and entertaining than I imagined it would be. Towering LED panels covered the entire stage and blasted out tele-pop light beams while Russia’s finest rockers shredded and pounded the collective viscera as goddesses walked amongst us.

After a long night out it was time to pack up and leave for a ten-hour airplane flight where, left with my thoughts, I could only wonder if the past two days were real or a very lovely dream.

New York, New York

Dear Reader,

Haven't posted in awhile because, well, we have been really busy here in New York. We have trips to Russia, Czech Republic, Panama, and Puerto Rico coming up so excitement is in the air. Having moved into permanent housing, and with a month of work under my belt, I finally feel settled here for the first time. New York is like a playground for adults having a community for any niche of music, food or culture. Exploring these niches has been extremely rewarding in the short time I've been here.

One of my only gripes with the city is the extraordinary measures one must go through to complete mundane tasks such as shipping a package. Having to plan so much, however, has helped me tighten up my life and become more organized as well as increase my ability to look ahead to events. Hopefully, I can continue moving towards a more proactive lifestyle and eliminate reactionary elements of my day-to-day.

We received news that two more OU interns will be joining us for the spring quarter. We cannot wait. It will feel good to have more people to reminisce about Athens with.

Stay Healthy everybody,

Andrew

Work, work, work at MUO

Life here in New York is still very busy, but in the best possible way! Andrew and I have been following the three title holders around to all kinds of charity events, appearances, and volunteer trips. Now we are working hard to catch up on all of the editing work that needs to be done in the office. Here are links to four new videos that Andrew and I edited.

Fadil Shoot Part 1 (shot by Andrew and Nicole, edited by Nicole)
Fadil Shoot Part 2 (shot by Andrew and Nicole, edited by Andrew)
Same Sky (edited by Nicole)
Salsa Part 2 (edited by Andrew)

On Thursday of last week I got to go with Miss USA on a trip to West Point, which was amazing! The campus was beautiful and filled with history. The cadets led our tour and told us all about what life is like at a military academy. It was very inspiring, but it also made me happy that I go to a normal university and not a military one. One of the highlights of the trip was the train ride up the Hudson river. It was refreshing to get out of the city and see all of the beautiful scenery that surrounds the academy. Video coming soon!

The other cool event I went to last week was the Viennese Opera Ball, which was the fanciest event that I will probably ever go to in my life. Held at the Waldorf Hotel, there were all kinds of foreign dignitaries, debutantes, and celebrities there. Even some of the cadets we had met at West Point the day before were invited. Right now, I'm working on a video about Miss USA learning how to waltz for the event. The night was filled with ballroom dancing and performances from opera singers and ballerinas. I even got to snatch a steak dinner from an empty seat at Miss USA's table. It was a long night, but I got a lot of great footage! Again, video coming soon! Keep watching Missuniverse.com for more content.

I hear that everyone back in Ohio got covered in snow last Friday and then again today! We luckily missed the first snow storm, but we definitely got hit today. The MUO office had to close early so that everyone could make it home safely. The snow is still falling, so let's hope that tomorrow we can still make it to work. So much to do!!

Fadil Shoot and More Videos

Hello everyone! Andrew and I had a great week last week at Miss Universe. On Tuesday we got to go to a big photo shoot with all three girls, which was a long day, but a lot of fun. The photographer was Fadil Berisha who has shot all kinds of celebrities. Andrew and I were there shooting video all day and got a lot of great footage, which he is editing now. I took these pics with my phone:



There was also a lot of press there. Here are a couple of articles about the shoot:

NBC New York
TMZ

Another project the MUO film/web team (consisting of me, Andrew, and our boss Colin) started is a Video Blog series with all three girls. Here are the blogs that we posted today:

Miss Universe
Miss USA
Miss Teen USA

Other videos Andrew and I have created or helped create lately include:

Salsa Lesson - Part 1 (edited by Andrew)
Hearts for Haiti (shot and edited by Nicole)
Fan Contest - Twitter (group effort)

So as you can see, MUO has kept us busy with lots of great projects! This week, Andrew is going with Miss Teen USA to a couple schools upstate while she talks to various D.A.R.E. programs. I am looking forward to Thursday when I go with Miss USA to West Point Military Academy. Keep watching www.missuniverse.com for more videos!

Bahama Breeze

Hello, Dear Readers, Andrew here. I just got back from a 5 day 4 night trip to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. Miss USA traveled to the sunny local of Paradise Island to work and pal around with kids from the islands who were benefiting from the Butch Kersner Foundation charity which helps at risk youth in the Bahamas…Oh and Michael Jordan was having a golf tournament as well. The Michael Jordan charity golf tournament invites sports and entertainment celebrities to come down to the Bahamas to raise money for foundations like The Make A Wish Foundation and the Butch Kersner Foundation. Oversized checks were dropped like dollar bills on good causes. The weeks events included a Versace Fashion Show, Jerry Seinfeld stand up, Michaels eponymous gold tournament, and a celebrity softball game pitting two teams of well known’s against each other with coaches A-Rod and Jeter calling the shots. Yes, I saw Spike Lee round second and slide into third only to be tagged out by Jerome Bettis and yes, it might be the most ridiculous I have ever seen in my life.

The Atlantis resort is a Vegas hotel located in the Bahamas instead of a desert. It is supposed to be the uncovered city of Atlantis featuring artifacts, sculptures and ancient paintings. They even have Casino’s and rocks that have speakers in them so you can listen to Jimmy Buffet, just like the ancient Atlanteans. We were treated to an exceptional stay overseen by our most gracious host Cecile. Alas, there was video work to be done so the dolphins will have to wait until the next time I’m back to swim with me. I’ll miss you guys.

Look for the Bahamas video to be up within the next couple weeks at www.missusa.com. The pictures from the trip should be up within the next day or so.

-Andrew

Links!

Where I was Wednesday night:

SPiN

Hearts for Haiti

Also, here are a couple of videos we have been working on.  Much more coming soon!

The Pose Off

Miss Teen USA's Music Video