Glo Konieczny Visits Section 36!

Photo: Uneven Pavement Prod

Section 36 has another visitor! Glo Konieczny is passionate about fighting brain cancer, and the current Miss West Allis. I was excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. I was also thrilled that she is the first titleholder to visit from the state of Wisconsin!

So, let's see what happens when Glo Konieczny visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss West Allis crown?

This is still a blur to me, I remember them saying my name and then nothing until it was over! My parents came over to me and they had been crying and gave me a hug. It was not real! Afterwards I called my grandma, then got some ice cream with my family! 

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss West Allis competition that will help you when you compete for Miss Wisconsin? 

I learned a lot from having this crown for over a year now, I know that I just have to trust the process and know that what is meant to be will happen and not to put too much pressure on myself. There is a reason I won when I did and recognize that my experiences make me, me and not try to be anyone else!

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss West Allis?

Especially with holding this title for two years, there is so much time to really make a difference in the community and leave a lasting impact which is such a unique opportunity that I feel so blessed to have! One appearance I was especially excited for was the Wisconsin State Fair which is held in West Allis so I am hopeful to have the chance to participate this year. I would also really love to increase the overall number of appearances that I do, so it will make it easier for the next Miss West Allis to continue being present in the community. Finally, I'd love to make a connection to local businesses, schools, and other places in the West Allis area as it is truly a bustling city with a lot of things to do and fun experiences. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Fighting Brain Cancer: Together We Can Win”?

I have a huge connection with cancer initiatives. My Dad passed away from Brain Cancer when I was 7 and it has taught me a lot about understanding grief, living in each moment, and how to grow up in a unique situation. My SII has evolved since I won Miss West Allis and I have started to use it as an educational opportunity to help kids understand grief overall especially when it comes to terminal illnesses like cancer and how we can speak to kids about grief. 

What is your favorite part about performing your talent on stage?

I really have always enjoyed being on stage! There is something so fun about the adrenaline of performing and connecting with the audience. My goal on stage is to help the audience leave whatever is happening and just enjoy something different for a few minutes! It is something we don't get often so I love getting out of my comfort zone and getting lost in the moment. 

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

oooo.. I could see myself enjoying being Rapunzel from Tangled for the week (once she is released from the tower of course!) I love the animal friends she has, the kingdom is amazing, plus I have always wanted to learn how to be good at painting like she is! Rapunzel is also fiercely independent and will do whatever her mind is set on which I love and feel connected to. 

You run your own photography studio. What do you enjoy about being behind the camera?

I really love capturing moments that people will keep forever.  They will look back at these photos and be transported back to a time when they were happiest. Pictures are meant to make people feel amazing and I enjoy getting to give that to someone, it is so special. I also love getting to be creative as well, where I get to see an idea I have come to life. 

If you had an extra ticket to a Red Sox - Brewers game, who would you take with you? Why?

This is a hard one because I am one of the biggest Brewers fans I know! I would take either my best friend from childhood because we have been to so many Brewers games together so it is one of our things - we have also visited the outside of Fenway before so if we were able to be in such a historic park it would check that off our list. If not her, probably my step dad! He would also love to go to Fenway for a game and he would deserve it! 

Is there a feature or activity in a game at American Family Field (formerly Miller Park) that you’d especially like to experience?

As any good Milwaukee gal, I would have to say participate in a Racing Sausage race during the bottom of the 6th inning! While I may be short in the costume, I think it is such a fun and historical event! If you have never heard of the racing sausages... I would say look them up! A close second would be Polka on the top of the dug out during the 7th inning stretch to Roll Out the Barrel, which is a tribute to our old team name! 

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That would definitely be a lot of fun! 

As always, I want to thank Glo for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Glo continues her time as Miss West Allis, I encourage you to follow her official Instagram and Facebook accounts. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss Wisconsin title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Glo, and good luck!

2020 Topps Stadium Club Blaster!

It's time to open another blaster! This time we'll go back to 2020 Topps Stadium Club! I know. What am I doing talking about 2020 cards still? Well, it's my blog so I get to talk about whatever I want! Don't worry, though, it's a short one today. So, how'd I do? Let's see!

Here are the highlights...

And, by highlights, I obviously mean "A picture of the box"

And "All the packs lined up in a row".

Which I showed you because this is far and away the best card in the box. It's not even a Red Sox card. Although, it's closer than most. I bet Mike is glad he got his first visit to Fenway out of the way early in his career. Maybe now he just go ahead and be "Mike" as opposed to "Carl's grandson" for a little bit longer. Although, this is a pretty nice picture of the two of them.

But not really enough to carry this dud of a box.

How did your box turn out?

Lilly Coveney Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Lilly Coveney is passionate about brain injury awareness, a talented singer, and the current Miss Greater Carolina. I was thrilled that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

 
So, let's see what happens when Lilly Coveney visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Greater Carolina crown?

I was crowned at the last prelim of the season in South Carolina, which is the night before workshop weekend officially begins, so I really got to celebrate all weekend from having a crowd of people come to the stage to congratulate me to attending workshop weekend and meeting people that had been rooting for me on my journey to get there. It was the best way to celebrate joining this organization.

What part of the upcoming Miss South Carolina competition are you most nervous about?

Most of my nerves are related to this being my first time participating in the Miss South Carolina state competition. The Miss South Carolina Organization has a little over 50 miss candidates and puts on a phenomenal show that resembles something out of a movie. So that is enough to strike up some nerves of any newcomers. 

What has been the most pleasant surprise about your time as Miss Greater Carolina?

It has been so pleasant to see how truly supportive other people involved in the Miss America organization are. It’s been amazing to join this nationwide community of genuine friendship and support. 

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Change Your Mind: Brain Injury Awareness”?

I chose my social impact initiative based on my own life. In November 2016, I acquired a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a moving car as a pedestrian on the sidewalk, but I wasn't diagnosed with a concussion until 2 weeks later when I couldn't remember things in my daily life. Through my recovery, I learned how common these injuries but how uninformed we may be about common signs and symptoms. That's when I decided I was going to make a difference by raising awareness of what they are and signs to look for to help aid in easier diagnose and treatment for everyone.

What is your favorite part about performing your talent on stage?

My favorite part of performing my talent (singing) for me is embracing how far I have come. When I was younger, anytime I would have to sing in front of anyone I would be so nervous and literally shake. Now to be performing on the Miss South Carolina stage is something that little girl would have never believed she could do. 

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I would be Marie from the Aristocats. I recently got a kitten and I'd love to see life from his perspective, plus everyone loves a good cat nap.

What is your personal fitness routine?

Currently I have a simple routine of walking and light yoga while I recover from TMJ surgery. Once I recover, I'll go back to my normal routine of yoga, weights, and swimming. 

Who is your favorite current Red Sox player? Why?

My current favorite Red Sox player is Jackie Bradley, Jr. I grew up near The University of South Carolina and would semi-regularly attend games when he was a player there. So it's been really awesome to go from seeing him at local games to making his mark in the MLB as a Red Sox player.

Is there a feature or activity in a game at Fenway Park that you’d especially like to experience?

I'd love to watch a Red Sox game at the window inside the Bleacher Bar, its a restaurant built into the green monster and has a full length window looking out onto the field. I fell in love with the view after visiting the last time I was in Boston (when there was not a game happening) and would love to watch a game from that angle.

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That would definitely be a great experience! (I hope she's ok with the news breaking after our interview that JBJ is now a "former" Red Sox player.) 

As always, I want to thank Lilly for visiting with us, and for sending along the amazing pictures to go with the interview.

As Lilly continues her time as Miss Greater Carolina, I encourage you to follow her on Instagram. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss South Carolina title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Lilly, and good luck!

1975 Topps Page by Page: Page 49 (433-441)

 I'm sure that you all remember that I finally completed my 1975 Topps set.

Now that it's done I thought it would be fun to look through the set and talk about it. Going page by page seemed like a good way to go about it. Hopefully you find it interesting to read what I have to say.

How about we continue with page 49?

Red Sox Cards on the Page  

0. Not this time.

Cards that make the 1975 Topps set cool 

Cards with an all-star logo are cool. 

My favorite card on the page 

I'm going to go with the Larry Demery. Why? Because of the signature placement going up the left side of the card. It really stands out as an unusual placement. I can only assume that Topps did that because of the dark jacket he's wearing. They knew you'd never see the signature in the usual placement. So, that's an impressive amount of thought put into the design even if it looks a little weird. It's also the only reason I noticed they did something similar with the Bobby Heise, although not as dramatic. They shrunk his signature and tucked it over his white jersey to make sure it stands out. In fact, all the signatures are in different spots, with varying levels of success in displaying them. Something I never noticed before.

What would your answers to those last two categories be?

Kaitlyn Sparks Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Kaitlyn Sparks is passionate about environmentalism, a talented singer, and the current Miss Metrolina. I was excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more. 

So, let's see what happens when Kaitlyn Sparks visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Metrolina crown?

I celebrated winning how most of the Miss North Carolina girls celebrate after a long night of competing; I went to the nearest Waffle House and ordered the All-Star Special. (For my friends that don't have a Waffle House: It is not what anyone would call a fancy restaurant. It is a dive waffle shop that is open 24/7 and is incredibly casual.) It is definitely not the celebration that you would expect, but those comfort carbs really hit the spot after a long day of nerves and being on your feet all-day.

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Metrolina competition that will help you when you compete for Miss North Carolina? 

I learned how incredibly capable I am of being able to do the job of Miss North Carolina. I realized during my preparation for the Miss Metrolina Competition that I have what it takes to truly do the job well. I am mature enough to understand what strengths and weaknesses exist in the organization, and more importantly how I can fill the voids that the organization has. This is my last year of eligibility within the organization so, if I am ever going to win, my time is now.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Metrolina? 

There are so many things that I would like to accomplish as Miss Metrolina, but I definitely have my eyes set on the goal of winning Miss North Carolina. What is it they say, "Shoot for the moon, and if you miss you will still land among the stars?" I want to continue my advocacy for environmental education and continue working with some of the nonprofit organizations that I have been honored to work with, but I would be lying if I said that the goal was not to win Miss NC.

How did you select your social impact initiative?

I actually changed my social impact initiative a couple of months into my reign as Miss Metrolina. I was originally focusing on advocating for everyday acts of kindness, but I have always had a passion for environmentalism. That being said, when I went on a mission trip to Panama in February of last year, I was walking through the jungle in a remote village to get to the beach when I passed mountains of trash that were taller than I was (I am 5'6 for reference). When I asked the locals what these trash mountains were doing in the middle of the jungle they told me that the locals pull trash out of the oceans and put it here in the jungle area so they don't harm the turtles. As I went back home, all that I could think about is how I never put much thought into where my waste goes after I threw it away. I kept thinking about the number of trash mountains that I must have created over my lifetime and I resolved to do my part to ensure that more people begin asking themselves more questions like these.

As a talented singer, what is your favorite part about performing on stage?

My favorite part would have to be the ability to convey feelings with my music. Yes, being technically skilled is impressive but, I love being able to entertain random strangers, put on a show, and know that I have made people smile. Walking off the stage after absolutely nailing your talent is a feeling that I cannot even put into words; it is simply such a rush.

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I genuinely feel like Disney based the character of Merida off of me, so I suppose I would want to continue being Merida from Brave. I am very much the kind of person that believes that I can do anything and I am at least going to try once to see if I can. I also have naturally curly red hair so, it is a pretty good fit for me already. 

How would you complete the sentence, “I get great satisfaction when …”?

I get great satisfaction when I am at home with my dad watching some form of sporting event. We can not like either team or we can not be the most familiar with the sport (ie cornhole or axe throwing), but nothing replacing that feeling of when something goes really, really great or that feeling when something goes really, really wrong. Sports are such a huge part of my life and always have been, but I never knew how much I needed them until we went in quarantine and there weren't any games on.  My dad is a high school football coach, my brother played baseball for decades, and I was a multi-sport athlete growing up and sports are my comfortable place where I am allowed to cheer, scream, laugh, cry, throw popcorn, and have all of those reactions be completely normal. 

If you had an extra ticket to a Greenville Drive game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would definitely take my dad. While he is not the biggest fan of the Red Sox, he is the person that would make the game the most fun. I would get to go watch some really amazing baseball and I wouldn't have to pay for any of the snacks because my dad would pay for them! It's truly a win-win for me!

Is there a feature or activity in a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience?

I would definitely love to go to the home run derby at least once in my life. My family makes a habit of watching every single year and trying to figure out who is going to win, so I think it would be really amazing to see that in person! That being said, I have never sung the National Anthem at a baseball game or thrown out the first pitch, and those also dream of mine that I would like to see happen before I hang up my crown and sash.

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Those all sound like a lot of fun. The home run derby is a wonderfully unique experience! 

As always, I want to thank Kaitlyn for visiting with us, and for sending along the amazing pictures to go with the interview.

As Kaitlyn continues her time as Miss Metrolina, I encourage you to follow her on Instagram. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss North Carolina title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Kaitlyn, and good luck!