Happy New Year!

Shaunna Rai

The period between Halloween and New Year's, was kind of a slow time for Shaunna Rai. And, it's been an interesting time for me. 

I gave up my job, in an attempt to eliminate some stress from my life.  Of course, immediately, I picked up some new stressors...like being broke, and the search for a new job.  Because, at the moment, the blog isn't making me any money...nor are any of my other talents.

Right around Christmas, though, Shaunna Rai started making appearances again.  The first was for the USM Drag Show. Then, an event at Styxx to promote World Aids Day in affiliation with the Frannie Peabody Center.  This was a bit of a disappointment, because there was very little interest in free testing. Shaunna and I both got tested, and I believe that Vanila did as well. And, the good news is that the tests came back negative.  This was the culmination of a few other events around town with the Peabody Center.  And, gave me more of a human face to the disease.  This of course, makes me sound like I didn't know anyone who has it.  The truth of the matter is, that the event prior to the Styxx event, held at the Salt Museum, was the first time that I heard a first hand experience of what it was like to have it, from the beginning of the epidemic.  It was the first time that I felt like I wanted to do something more to contribute toward finding a cure, or even assisting people who are afflicted with it.

Mercadies Chanel

Christmas came, and this was when Shaunna started really making her weekly appearances around town. Dan has been working less hours, and has had a lot more time at home, to work with wigs.  So, over the last couple months, Shaunna Rai, and Vanila Honey-Bush have gotten new hair.   I got a new camera from my parents for Christmas, so new pictures will be coming.  And, the new pictures have helped me with a new business venture of my own...

The drawings here, are drawings that I have been doing, as commissions for people.  Dan has been encouraging me to do something with my drawings for almost as long as I've known him. And, for the most part, I've avoided it. Why? The same reason that I avoid a lot of things.  Fear.  Fear of not being good enough, fear of having people tell me that I suck.  And, the stupidest fear of all...the fear that I would actually enjoy it, and start drawing again on a regular, full time basis.  And out of them all, the last was the one that has come true. I've drawn more since the start of the new year, than I did the entirety of last year and the year before combined.  Sad but true. Commissions can be requested via my email: swd8880@yahoo.com and can be paid for via paypal using the same email address. Pricing starts at $25, but varies depending on the complexity of the picture.  The drawings will be totally customisable, to the buyer's specifications.

Mizery

Two out of the last 3 weeks, Shaunna Rai has been out of state performing, with the two other queens featured in the drawings, Mercadies Chanel, and Boston's Mizery.  And, she's in fact headed back there this weekend to perform with them again. At the end of the last show, I got a shout out from Mercadies, for the drawings that I had done of her...she called out my name in front of everyone, and told them to check out the drawing that she is using as her profile picture on Facebook, then told them that I am accepting commissions.  It was an awkward, but awesome feeling to hear my name called.

Shaunna Rai will again be performing with Mercadies and Mizery at Club 313 in Manchester, New Hampshire, this Saturday.  She has a show coming up in March, and potentially may have a show on a cruise out of Portland harbor sometime in May.

Her show schedule is starting to fill up, and that means things get a little busier. I kinda love it, because this means I have more to blog about. I never know what to expect.  Shaunna Rai changes up her look all the time. I can't wait to see what she has in store for 2014!