The last few months have been a whirlwind. I've missed blogging about so many events, and, I'm not sure that I could keep up, even if I tried.
May was full of the Southern Maine AIDS Walk, Dragapalooza (and I feel like there was something else...) June was full of Pride stuff. July was all about moving. August has been about settling in, loss, and the beginning of a second run of the Midsummer Night Queens show in Portsmouth. September is going to be about my brother's wedding, and a night to "Remember the Underground" (the previous incarnation of Styxx in Portland...before I was "allowed" to go out to the gay bars, so before my time...)
The AIDS Walk was three days of awesome. Porcia Chanel and Scarrlett Couture came from New Hampshire, and spent the weekend in Ogunquit with us. As usual, because they were essentially, new people, to me, I was kinda freaked out. But, they made me feel like I belonged there, which is always a big thing for me. The fundraising part of the Walk bypassed last years $100,000, which will go to benefit the Frannie Peabody Center, and all the work that they do with local people who are coping with HIV/AIDS and the struggles that come with it. And, as it always does, the weekend itself makes me proud to know the people who I know, because they make me strive to be a better, more understanding person.
Dragapalooza was a huge show this year. Like 39 numbers, or something like that. As always, it was a fundraiser for Lewiston/Auburn Outright, and there were quite a few student entries, in conjunction with the professionals. A couple of returning acts from last year. I'd brought two cameras, because I knew that I was going to need them, for pictures...and I wasn't wrong. I drained the batteries from both cameras before the end of the show. (Which, prompted me to go Ebay shopping, and bought myself two extra rechargeable batteries for my good camera, for less than I could buy them in an actual store.)
June started off with the Great Gatsby party, to kick off Pride. It was a great time. I looked like a cross between Mario and a News Boy from the 20's...Apparently, I can't pull off a mustache properly, and should probably just give it up...
Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on were asked to perform for a cruise out on Portland Harbor. In spite of the fact that I am deathly afraid of drowning, I went, and had an amazing time.
I came thisclose to actually getting to go to Pride, but stupidly decided that I needed to work that day. The closest that I got was that I drove by the set up sites, while everything was getting set up for the parade...and then I got to drive by the park at the end of the afternoon, when things were starting to be taken down. I think I learned my lesson.
July was the month that I didn't expect to make it through. The old apartment had begun to leak, badly, in places that it shouldn't have been leaking, especially, since it was in the ceiling of the second floor of a three story building... Dan and I ended up in a time crunch, and I'll just leave it at there being a lot of yelling. Things have since calmed down. But, it was a very stressful time.
August sadly, marked the passing of Ariel Maranda Gibbs. She's one of the few people who Dan/Shaunna talked about a lot, who I never actually met. When things calm down, I would like to talk to a few people about her, so that I can get some idea of who she really was, and give her a nice "send off."
We're finally getting settled into the new place in Lewiston. Dan has a car of his own again, for the first time in three years. And, although it's had a couple of issues, he appears to be less stressed out than he has been in a long time. Shaunna Rai's drag rooms are still in transition (no pun intended) as Shaunna is still half packed away. I've claimed myself a corner of the garage for doing my own thing. I have my drafting table set up for drawing, a 300 disc CD changer set up for music (that I need to update with some newer drag-ish music), and more space than I will be able to use...at least when the car(s) aren't parked in it.
Which brings us to the Midsummer Night Queens. Last year was a blast...Manila Luzon, Jessica Wild and Joslyn Fox, along with Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on. Tonight, August 16th, starts the Ru-Turn...another three part, weekly show. It starts off with Jujubee (one of my favorites), and will feature Joslyn Fox (week 2) and BenDeLaCreme (week 3), along with Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai, Lili Whiteass, Rainbow Frite, and Cherry Lemonade. I will again be taking pictures of the three evenings, and am looking forward to sneaking a little bit of backstage time with the queens, to say hi, and geek out...(and hopefully creep BenDeLaCreme out less than I did when I met her after the BOTS tour.)
So, that's been the summer, in a nutshell. I'll get back in the swing of things. And, hopefully, be less stressed out about everything. I managed to get a new job, where it's highly likely that I will have weekends off, and be able to do more with weekend shows...and have a life, like a real person, in a normal job...
May was full of the Southern Maine AIDS Walk, Dragapalooza (and I feel like there was something else...) June was full of Pride stuff. July was all about moving. August has been about settling in, loss, and the beginning of a second run of the Midsummer Night Queens show in Portsmouth. September is going to be about my brother's wedding, and a night to "Remember the Underground" (the previous incarnation of Styxx in Portland...before I was "allowed" to go out to the gay bars, so before my time...)
The AIDS Walk was three days of awesome. Porcia Chanel and Scarrlett Couture came from New Hampshire, and spent the weekend in Ogunquit with us. As usual, because they were essentially, new people, to me, I was kinda freaked out. But, they made me feel like I belonged there, which is always a big thing for me. The fundraising part of the Walk bypassed last years $100,000, which will go to benefit the Frannie Peabody Center, and all the work that they do with local people who are coping with HIV/AIDS and the struggles that come with it. And, as it always does, the weekend itself makes me proud to know the people who I know, because they make me strive to be a better, more understanding person.
Dragapalooza was a huge show this year. Like 39 numbers, or something like that. As always, it was a fundraiser for Lewiston/Auburn Outright, and there were quite a few student entries, in conjunction with the professionals. A couple of returning acts from last year. I'd brought two cameras, because I knew that I was going to need them, for pictures...and I wasn't wrong. I drained the batteries from both cameras before the end of the show. (Which, prompted me to go Ebay shopping, and bought myself two extra rechargeable batteries for my good camera, for less than I could buy them in an actual store.)
 |
| 1920's Steve and Shaunna Rai Photo by Steven Bridges |
Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on were asked to perform for a cruise out on Portland Harbor. In spite of the fact that I am deathly afraid of drowning, I went, and had an amazing time.
I came thisclose to actually getting to go to Pride, but stupidly decided that I needed to work that day. The closest that I got was that I drove by the set up sites, while everything was getting set up for the parade...and then I got to drive by the park at the end of the afternoon, when things were starting to be taken down. I think I learned my lesson.
 |
| Dan and Ariel |
August sadly, marked the passing of Ariel Maranda Gibbs. She's one of the few people who Dan/Shaunna talked about a lot, who I never actually met. When things calm down, I would like to talk to a few people about her, so that I can get some idea of who she really was, and give her a nice "send off."
We're finally getting settled into the new place in Lewiston. Dan has a car of his own again, for the first time in three years. And, although it's had a couple of issues, he appears to be less stressed out than he has been in a long time. Shaunna Rai's drag rooms are still in transition (no pun intended) as Shaunna is still half packed away. I've claimed myself a corner of the garage for doing my own thing. I have my drafting table set up for drawing, a 300 disc CD changer set up for music (that I need to update with some newer drag-ish music), and more space than I will be able to use...at least when the car(s) aren't parked in it.
Which brings us to the Midsummer Night Queens. Last year was a blast...Manila Luzon, Jessica Wild and Joslyn Fox, along with Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on. Tonight, August 16th, starts the Ru-Turn...another three part, weekly show. It starts off with Jujubee (one of my favorites), and will feature Joslyn Fox (week 2) and BenDeLaCreme (week 3), along with Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai, Lili Whiteass, Rainbow Frite, and Cherry Lemonade. I will again be taking pictures of the three evenings, and am looking forward to sneaking a little bit of backstage time with the queens, to say hi, and geek out...(and hopefully creep BenDeLaCreme out less than I did when I met her after the BOTS tour.)So, that's been the summer, in a nutshell. I'll get back in the swing of things. And, hopefully, be less stressed out about everything. I managed to get a new job, where it's highly likely that I will have weekends off, and be able to do more with weekend shows...and have a life, like a real person, in a normal job...
No comments:
Post a Comment