Drag Season - Doing the Little Show That Could

Thanks for coming back to see how it all ends!!

I don't know if you have put together that BEST IN DRAG SHOW happens on the weekend of my birthday every year.  So, when I am doing the BIDS, my birthday celebrations are very limited.  I like to travel somewhere far away for my big 5 birthdays, but that hasn't been an issue, yet.  This time, I was more than fine limiting my celebration to a local setting, but thanks to muh DAB, Dudley, I got the blow out the candles on my cotton candy (Thanks Lulu!) in Palm Springs!

You see, this past birthday was the big 50 for Dudley, which we celebrated quite brightly with a Solid Gold themed birthday party.

Not letting a big 5 birthday fade out too soon, Dudley decided to keep the celebration going by arranging for friends to spend fun times in Palm Springs for a weekend.  He was gracious enough to invite me and and let me celebrate my actual birthday with him and the guys.

Here we are at Lulu...

...where I actually blew out the candles on my cotton candy.

After a special birthday and a couple of hours of sleep, I hopped in my car and headed back to LA for our final rehearsal before the show.

Finally, October 5 rolled around and I was ready to go!

Glen Alen was there to get my face on.

You can see for yourself, I did a decent job of coloring my own wig, but it could have been redder, methinks.

After we were all dressed up & stuff, Kay Sedia and I went out to enjoy some preshow stuff.

Step & repeats are fun!

Step & Repeats are fun!

Preshow "Hellos" with 2 of my favorite people, Frank DeCaro & Jim Colucci!

There wasn't much time for schmoozing before we had to get backstage and start the show!
The moment the curtain went up, my happy level shot up!  It was such a treat to see the dancers executing what I saw them rehearsing for the past couple of weeks.

It also marked start of the fun and exciting evening I had been looking forward to ever since I got that surprise call asking me to be in the show.  It wasn't very long until it was time to do the color commentary with Kay.  Sharing the stage with Kay is always a lot of fun and things usually turn out well.

So far so good...

Look at the beautiful dress Carol the quinceanera-dress-maker-lady made!!

Aye! Ju don't know our lives!

So, the color commentary we provide covers the contestants in their swimsuits and it is ALL SHADE, but funny.  Maybe all of the jokes didn't land, but Kay and & I usually have fun with audience reactions and a list of other people to blame for the clunker (like the current administration!). Overall, the bit went well and we moved on with the show.  

In between events & such I stalked the contestants and got pics with them backstage.

Miss Florida - Palli-tiv Claire

Miss New York - Mi'a Morr

Miss Wisconsin - Bailey Barnum

Miss Missouri - Daisy Jane

Miss New Jersey - Bree Mandela

I also got

Salina Estitties

and Director, Jeffrey Drew

Before long, it was time to perform our interview duties. (I wore a dress I already had made by Carol the quinceanera-dress-maker-lady.)  I think I did a pretty good job reading from cards!

Miss New Jersey will not be stumped!

Soon it was time to crown the winner and I must say, because this is a fundraiser, it's nice to see all the money literally raining onto stage

The audience throws money on stage when they get excited or really guffaw at something and that's why it's important to put on a really entertaining show.  I feel honored that I have been trusted to be a part of that.  

The crown went to Miss Wisconsin, Bailey Barnum whose circus theme was over the big top.

After the crowning, the total raised in during the evening was revealed.  

A quarter of a million dollars is pretty good!  I wish it could be more, considering the current administration's apparent goal of obliterating funds for organizations such as Alliance for Housing and Healing and APLA.  Finally, as we posed for the final group shot of contestants, hosts and judges I prepared for one of my favorite past times.

That past time is stalking the stars!!

I enjoy capturing magic moments with celebs, especially those who donate their time to charitable organizations... give them their due, you know?

Katherine LaNasa

Grant Show

Cheri Oteri

Camryn Manheim

Dan Bucatinsky

As we wrapped up, I was exhausted, relieved and very happy.  It was a good night and it felt like a job well done. I wondered if I could ever do the competition part again.  Sure, it's a blast and a great way to give back, but it's also months of preparation and many little sacrifices of time and space and sanity.  Why would I ever think that?  Would they even ever want me back in that capacity?  I don't know, I'll just be glad to be a part of it in any small way, again.  

So until we see what's happening in October 2026, I bid BIDS goodnight. 

Wait. Is that the phone..?

Thank you WeHo Times for these wonderful image I lifted from you!!

Drag Season - I could do the Little Show That Could

 Hello, loyal reader!  Remember that time I went to see the documentary about The BEST IN DRAG SHOW and I lamented about how I felt like Lucy Ricardo trying to force her way into the Ricky's show?  It was in that post that I realized that it was best for me to let go, because I understood more about the show and its origin and the just how involved the people involved are.  Well, it seems that once you let something go, if it likes you, it will come back!  Out of the blue, I was asked if I would like to return to the show to do color commentary with Kay Sedia!  I must admit that I'm a little ashamed that I didn't even pretend to think about it, I just yelled, "YES"!

So, now that I was in the show, I had to prepare.  That included getting a new wig and a new dress, something the kids at BIDS had never seen.  I want to stay fresh in their memories!  Things started off a little wonky when I ordered a wig from Outfitters Wigs in Hollywood and ended up with a blonde, instead of red wig.  That was (could have been) a costly mistake on my part, but I was able to fix it at a minimal cost.  You see, I ordered in person by pointing to a brown wig saying, "I want that, 

but this color." and showed her this picture.

This isn't actually the pic I showed her.  You have to click HERE that image

She said something like, "Oh, that's Honey Bladdy Blah..."  and I said, "Okay" and left it at that.  I was mortified when I arrived after receiving my "It's ready!" call and finding myself face to Styrofoam face with this gorgeous BLONDE wig.  

Then I realized that I should actually have been more specific about the color and made sure we agreed before leaving the store that fateful night. I didn't even mention the wig color before leaving the store, because I was so embarrassed.  After needlessly fretting for a time, I popped over to Ulta and bought some root cover spray and sprayed it all a color close to nearly almost what I wanted.  BUT, before that, I had to pull something together for the official BIDS photoshoot, that takes place a few months before the show in October.  I went with my original Miss Texas dress and wig and had my make-up done by trusty Glen Alen, who is very generous with his time & talent for BIDS.

I was pleased to have fun reuniting with the BIDS kids and goofing with Kay between shots.

Patrick Rush (Co-Host) captures the moment

The lovely Salina Estitties

Me & Kay Sedia

Oh, look! A contestant got caught in the background!

That's Miss Wisconsin, BAILEY BARNUM

Lotta Slots (Jeffrey Drew) enjoys a little outdoor break.

Photographer, John Paschal, took our pics and the rest is PR history.

Here is the final product used to promote the show... with a little editing by me

The next step was the rehearsals.  Those were fun to watch because of the fab dancers...

It was nice to sit back, load up on coffee & donuts and observe the goings on to get material for the show.

The dancers had a good time, too, as they followed director, Jeffrey Drew's (Lotta Slots) pointed direction.

All that was left, was for me to contact my favorite quinceanera-dress-maker-lady, Carol and have her whip up a lovely Reba Areba style dress! With all that done, we were ready for the show.  ...Which I'll tell you all about TOMORROW.
Stay tuned!

Gay of a Certain Age - Craft Night 2026

 Well, hello!

Craft Night happened a couple of weeks ago and it was another rousing success!  As a Gay of a Certain Age, I know how important it is to keep friends close and enjoy the good times!  As usual, I had no one for whom to craft a romantic card, but that didn't stop me.  I still make a few cards for family and a few lucky friends.  I also make a few that could be treated as art pieces for display. (That means, they're prolly too filthy to give to a close friend).  Here's an example of a perfectly nice card that is suitable for family or close friend.

And this one, I would prolly give only to someone I'm interested in knocking boots with...

Right?

I'm fairly certain everyone else has a fun time crafting...

Right, Kevin?

Oh, those are nice, Greg!

Is that a naughty card, Mike?

Or at the very least they enjoyed snacking...

There's always sugar on hand for Craft Night!

Speaking of sweet, it's Dudley!

So, there was that.  let's not forget it's all about the friends; Muh DABs, married guys, even girls!  My favorite part is the photo booth thingy I set up in my bedroom.  It's not very roomy, but it does the job!  I hope the others like it as much as I do!

Well isn't this a lovely gaggle of gays?

Paul & Rick, in a real Valentine moment

Rebecca is one of those girls I was talking about...

It's Muh DAB, Dennis & roomie, Penelope!

Muh DABS, Dudley & Mark;
We prolly wouldn't fight over a guy, but a Fruity Pebbles purse is a different matter altogether!

Awww, married folk; Am I Right?
Michael & Tom

Married but hanging solo? I dig that so much, John!

Syd is all heart!

Glenn, is that safe???

"Take a heart, leave heart," I always say!
Thanks, Steven!

Tommy, can you hear me?

Surprise! Mike & I are single!

This reminds me, have you watched HEART EYES this year, Kevin?

Yeah, THIS Mike and & are single, too.

Jesse is a friend...

Now I'm not so sure Syd had a good time!

While not grabbing the photobooth spotlight, guests actually crafted cards!  Here's one of Dudley's

He made a few more, but those are bit naughtier and you'll have to go to the JUMP PAGE to see them!

I was grateful that the crowd was very manageable this year and I had time to sit and craft with the others.  I didn't get very naughty this year, just naughty enough...

Well, that's it!  I had a fabulous time and I'm grateful that I am able to have, at least, one night a year where I get to host dear friends and share the love!

 I hope you had a fabulous Valentine's Day 2026, whether you are coupled, with friends or you own very special love!

BONUS SHOTS!