This page originally published at www.jenipurr.com/meow/090301.html

09/03/01: Klingons and Jedi and Goths, Oh My!
by Jennifer Crawford

This year I knew I couldn't miss the Miss Klingon Empire pageant (I missed it last year due to conflicting dinner plans).  The talent competition included the usual singing and dramatic readings, but our favorite was the one who demonstrated the making of blood wine--a presentation which involved the "death" of not only a stuffed sheep, but also a small stuffed Barney dinosaur.  She took second place (and the one who took first deserved it hands down--her Klingon costume was one of the few that actually looked "real"), receiving a plaque for her efforts instead of the first place prizes of crown, banner, plaque, and of course the requisite Romulan love slave (led--protesting--to the stage on a chain).  It was well worth going.