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 the 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 the 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 - Palm Springs Pride

It feels like there are Gay Pride events

happening all year around!

I don't think that's wrong,

especially now, as the far right

is trying to drag us back decades

to when all the hard fought for

rights and acceptance for us did not exist.

This November, 

I celebrate Gay Pride by donning

accidentally deranged drag

and hopping on a float.

What had happened was this;

Last year I got a text asking if I would like to join 

The Best In Drag Show queens

on their float.

As excited as I was, I could not, as I was dog sitting over the weekend.

(Ironically, I was dog sitting for guys who went to Palm Springs for the Pride weekend.)

 This year,

I made note to keep Palm Springs Pride open on my calendar

so that I could excitedly reply, 
"Boy Howdy, Yes! I would love to!"

Well, I didn't get an invitation,

prolly 'cause they had plenty of queens.

But I kept the weekend open...

so I invited myself.

Look, I won in 2018 and I wanna do my part

to continue helping out the organization and 

The Alliance for Housing and Healing.

Usually the group of queens

stay in a house, get a good night's sleep

then wake in the morning, slap on their faces

and head over to the parade.

Since I invited myself,

I wasn't privy to the fancy housing.

So, I stayed in West Hollywood, woke up extra early, beat my face,

(it looks literal)

and drove two hours to Palm Springs 

before the 9:30am gathering time.

Let's discuss the drag...

Reba Areba looks deranged!

Now, I didn't really look at my "look"

before putting it together the morning of...
it all worked in my head:
Float is a boat, swim/lounge wear, 

sun hat,

wig that accommodates hat. 

Got it.

Maybe it all started going wrong when I decided to add

the lower lashes just 'cause...

also, it doesn't help that I can't ever get my right lashes to not flop forward.

Actually, it doesn't look all that crazy until I add the 

the super curly red wig

and the hat.

Anyway, my look went from 

"Possibly cute" to

"This is what happened to Baby Jane" 

I must remind myself to put everything together before I leave the house,

just in case I have to make some mitigating adjustments.

Instead, I changed into my swim suit next to a porta-potty

outside the Palm Spring Visitor's Center

and didn't put the wig & hat on until I was parked on Indian Canyon Drive.

So, there was really nothing I could do at that point,

but embrace it and enjoy a deranged ride on a boat float.

This is a photo I stole from someone.

Anyway, that's us

Best In Drag Show;

Glamour & nutz!

Here are the fab gurlz who were gracious enough to let me ride the boat:

Madison Square Garden,

Best In Drag 2022 winner!

And here are some lovely people I saw in the street,

who didn't run when they saw me...

After the parade,

we made our way over to 

Eight4Nine

for a delicious brunch!

Afterwards, they headed off for more Pride events

and I headed home before I got spotted & committed.

All in all, it was a lovely day

and I got some shots

of parade goers and shirtless men.

You may enjoy these photos, if you'd like.

Just remember,

as you peruse the pics

that we CAN NOT take for granted

the rights, freedoms and level of acceptance that we have today!

Please, VOTE!

Vote for the people who will actually represent you and your best interests

and vote AGAINST oppression!

And now, this:

Jason Stewart & Terry Ray

Luis Camacho Xtravaganza