Vodka is a Breakfast Food, Right?

Shaunna Rai, Miss E'on, Katie, and Lorena.

Sunday morning started, much the same as the rest of the weekend.  Get up, run to Cumberland Farms, and pick up breakfast. (This is when I finally realized that their homemade peanut butter/chocolate rice crispy treats were my new favorite food.) While I got breakfast, Benni and Dan got into E'on and Shaunna Rai, respectively.

By now, we had things down to a science.  By the time faces were on, I had everything extraneous, that wouldn't be needed later, packed in the car.  And, just like that, it was time to head to Bessie's for the Drag Brunch.

Shaunna's Taking Orders

This was the final part of the fund raising for Frannie Peabody, for the weekend.  We got there, and there were already quite a few people.  The menus were handed out, and people were told that they got their choice of a Mimosa or a Bloody Mary with each meal they ordered, and that part of the proceeds from the meals went to Frannie Peabody.  And, then, the Bessie's staff disappeared.

I found myself a corner, per my usual, and hid out there, while the girls socialized with the customers.  And, then, Shaunna jumped behind the bar, and got a quick rundown on "how we do it here".  So, drinks started going out.  But, still no meals.  All the while, I keep thinking, there's something really weird going on here.  

The lady who ran the golf cart taxi for the AIDS Walk came in with a couple of friends, and we started talking a little bit.  She kept telling me how much fun she had had with taking us around the day before, and wanted to make sure that if we were back in Ogunquit that we looked her up, for any travel needs.

Lorena, Katie, Joe and DJ

The next thing I knew, Shaunna was back on the customer side of the bar, saying that she was told she needed to get out from behind the bar, as she was not employed at Bessie's.  Shaunna's mouth tends to be one of her more endearing traits, and one of the most cringeworthy traits (from my perspective.)  After all, this is the same mouth, that one of the first times my parents met Shaunna, said that she was going to "fuck my boyfriend doggy style, because he says I look like a dog," after I made the mistake of drunkenly saying that she reminded me of a husky, because one of her colored contacts was missing.  But, anyway, the same lady who told Shaunna that she couldn't be behind the bar, made the mistake of saying that she was volunteering her time, and not getting paid for being behind the bar.  Shaunna took her down right after. She went off about how, "you may be donating a couple hours of your time, but I've donated 5 days of this!" The customers loved it.  And, so did I, because, quite frankly, Shaunna is the voice that I wish that I had, in real life.

Shortly thereafter, the meals started to come out, and Bessie's got quiet. Because, let's face it,  whenever food is involved,  people stop talking until it's gone.  So, while everyone was eating, I spent time trying to figure out ways to make sure that I didn't eat.  The weekend had been a long one, and so much traveling had been done, that I didn't want to even think about how much money had been spent.  And, the last thing that I wanted to do was to spend more money, just to feed myself.

Katie, from Frannie Peabody, and DJ and Joe from Gaycation Magazine came in for their brunch, and invited me over, to hang out with them for a while.  The Gaycation boys started talking about the magazine, and how they were considering having people doing some freelance work for them, via YouTube.  Which, I think is an amazing idea...people would go to events, and report on them, and they'd get recognition from the magazine.  And, then I got bummed.  Because, this is something that I would love to do, but I hate how gay I sound on recordings.  And, I feel like I do better writing about my experiences than I ever do talking about them.  This was also when I found out that the boys had bought me a drink to try to break me out of my shell of silence.  And, I felt foolish, because it totally backfired, because I didn't know what to say, aside from "thank you," when I got the drink.

Jimmy and the girls. Shaunna sporting Jimmy's Red Party hat.

The end of the weekend fast approached.  The guys left to go home.  Katie took off.  Jimmy, who is one of the driving forces of the entire weekend, stopped by, and bequeathed the hat that he wore to the Red Party (in drag) to Shaunna Rai.  And, put brunch on his tab for the three of us. (Me, E'on and Shaunna)  Thanks Jimmy, the food was great!

Then, the faces came back off, and it was time to take Benni home, and come home and crash.

The Girls and Chris, the waiter at Bessie's.

Looking back, at the weekend, as a whole, this was probably the most fun that I've had.  And, it's the first time that I've really felt like a part of the gay community in Maine.  I spent time with people I didn't know, and people who I do know, but haven't really ever spent time with.  And, I got the chance to document it all, both with pictures, and with the blog here.  And, it finally occurs to me that this is the reason that I actually do the blog.  It's not because I want to get rich and famous from it...although that would be nice...but, it's because I want a way of looking back at my life, later and being able to say, "Look, I was there.  I was a part of that."  I may be 45 years too late for being a part of Stonewall, but I'm a part of the current fight for equal rights.  And, if that just means attending events, so be it.

Daytime Drag

This ended up being one of the most emotional days for me.
Snapping this picture, I got caught up in what it all meant.

Saturday was the longest day of the entire weekend. Saturday brought about the AIDS Walk, and Lewistunning Dragapalooza. So, the day started in Ogunquit, took a road trip to Lewiston, and then returned to Ogunquit.

The morning started with me making a coffee run, while faces started to go on. As usual, I got to sit and watch both faces go on.  And, as usual, I was impressed by the difference in how the makeup gets applied.  Because, neither of the ladies puts on their makeup the same way.  And, oddly enough, this will not be the last time that I'm impressed by the differences in makeup application.

Because I get to be in the same place with them, while they're putting on the makeup, and, at this point, we're on day 4 of putting on a face, it seems like the time just flies by, and the face is ready.  And, then, I do the "husbandy" thing, and fix bra straps, and tuck fabric flaps, and then, my job is done.

And, they're off!

We walk to the beach.  The girls are getting attention, and if it were anywhere other than Ogunquit, I'd probably be worried about the fact that they're getting attention because of the daytime drag.  But, because it's Ogunquit, and I realize that the majority of the attention that they're getting is from people that I know, it's all good.  We arrive at the parking lot, where Frannie Peabody has set up, to give out numbers, and the race is going to start, and I start snapping pictures like crazy.  Chulani, one of the karaoke singers from Friday night sings the national anthem.  The girls pose for some pictures with runners/walkers.  The race starts.  And, we get to go ride on a stretch golf cart, to cheer on the runners.

Our Limo Awaits!

The girls originally got in the way back, which faces out away from the driver, until Shaunna pointed out that maybe it would make more sense, for me, with the camera, to be facing that direction, to take pictures of the runners.  So, we do a short Chinese Fire Drill, and I end up in the way back.  And, within minutes of the switch, I almost fall off, when the taxi starts to move.

Miss E'on, Shaunna Rai, Leanna Love

We only go to the halfway point, because the taxi isn't allowed on the beach, which is pretty much (from my understanding) the rest of the course.  We cheer on the last of the walkers, and then head back to the parking lot, for lunch, and more pictures.  Then, it's tear it all off, pack up the car, and get on the road!

We stop home long enough to repack bags, with new outfits, for Dragapalooza, throw clean clothes in the overnight bag, and then we're off again.  We pick up Cherry Lemonade, and book it for Lewiston.  And, it hits me while we're driving to Lewiston, that I totally need a bigger car!   Between the passengers, and the drag, we're packed. Fully.  And, I'm supposed to be fitting one more person into the car.  It's impossible.  And, I stress about it for a little bit, on the drive.

ClubKid MizzDiveena

Once we get to Lewiston, I get to relax again.  There's not a whole lot going on, other than reminiscing, and discussing the show.  This is Cherry's first year doing Dragapalooza.  And, this is really the first time that I've spent much time with Cherry or her male alter, Conor.  This is also the first time that I've really caught myself being judgmental about people that I don't really know.

I've always tried to not make snap judgments about people in general.  Give people a chance, before you decide for certain that you like them, or not.  This has a bad habit of backfiring on me...when I give people the chance to prove that I shouldn't dislike them, they prove to me just why I should dislike them.  Fortunately, this was not the case this time.

Because Cherry had hosted Cherry's Drag Race, and had taken a former friend of mine "under her wing," I had a preconceived notion of the type of person that Cherry is.  Read as, someone that I'll be social with in a social situation, but not someone that I would spend much time with.

One of the best parts of the weekend for me, was finding out how much of an ass I was, when I found out that Conor/Cherry was nothing like I thought.  It was decided that I needed to go pick out something for lunch, because, with my specialized diet, I should be the one to do the looking for something gluten-free.  And, Conor decided to go with me.  The first part of the walk was quiet, because I didn't know what to say.  And, then, there was a bit of bonding over, of all things, the blog.  From there, conversation came pretty easily.  I actually realized that this is someone that I have a lot of respect for.  He does the drag thing, he works for a magazine, and dj's at Styxx.  He puts me to shame.  Lol.  I work in group homes, and write a blog...

After eating, I felt better, and faces started going on.  And, with Shaunna, E'on, Leanna Love, and Cherry Lemonade, there was no shortage of differences in how the faces were done.  Some of it's war paint, some of it looks like geisha face paint.  The eyes are all different, even when the same colors are being used.  Tips are traded.  Upcoming shows get discussed.  And, then it's time to go...and I'm lost. I have no idea how to get to Bates College, from Benni's (E'on), and thus have no idea how to get back.  And, I know that I can't fit four drag queens, all their hair, outfits and makeup in the car.  So, I end up taking two trips, with Leanna as my co-pilot.

Prodigy

Returning to the college, to drop off Shaunna and Cherry and park myself, I get the first hint that the weekend is catching up with everyone, because some fool has decided that since the queens get to park by a side door, that so can they.  And, my parents are walking up, trying to figure out where they're supposed to get their tickets from.  And, I just want to run screaming away from the whole thing, at this point, because I'm having a hard time staying focused on what I need to do first...which is get the costumes/hair back to the dressing rooms.  So, I dismiss my parents, and tell them I'll be right back, because I still have to park...two blocks away.  And, by the time I get back, they've already got their tickets, and mine as well.

Shaunna Rai

We go get seats, and it hits me that, I've been using my camera all day.  I have no idea how much battery I have left.  And, I start panicking.  What happens, if I killed my battery during the walk, and can't get any pictures during Dragapalooza?

Cherry Lemonade

The show starts, and there is a request for no flash photography.  So, we can still take pictures, but not with a flash.  On the one hand, this is a good thing, because the lack of the flash is going to save the battery life.  But, on the other hand, it's going to make it harder for the camera to focus on what's going on on stage, because we're kind of far away from it, and it's not like the stage is super well lit... So, I start snapping away, and I have changed the speed to action, so that I can get more pictures, with less work.  And, then I realize that I'm taking too many pictures!  Because, the battery starts to flag, quickly.

Jacinda

And, 2/3's of the way through the show, it dies on me.  Mentally, I begin to curse the camera out, for having wronged me...because, apparently, this is a Leo trait, or so I was once told.  Then, I spot it.  At the end of our row, is a plug.  And, I have my charger!  The night's not a total loss for me.  Not that it would've been, even if I wasn't able to take pictures...but, I like having the record.  Finally, it's intermission.  Hopefully the battery will charge enough in the 15 minute break, to survive through the rest of the show.

Sara Tonin

Unlike last year, I never made it outside to snap pictures, thanks to a dead battery.  So, I sat with my parents.  And, this is when I find out that there's a good possibility that my dad is going to need to go in for back surgery.  ('Cause, of course, I'm not stressed out enough already, I need something else to throw in the mix.)

Intermission is nearly over, and Shaunna comes looking for me.  I try to gauge how much longer the show is going to be, because I'm going to have to leave, literally, as the last number ends, to get the car, and get it back to pick up all the drags before the lot empties, and I'm stuck in traffic forever.  As we're halfway through the show, there's no real time given.  So, I make it known, that this is my plan for the rest of the evening.

And, lo, the battery has charged enough to get me almost all the way through the show.  This year, there were far more first time performers, both picked from Outright, and established performers who haven't done the show before.  And, I was blown away by how good they were.

And, somewhere in here, Shaunna made the announcement that we'd been waiting for all weekend.  Frannie Peabody Center's fund raising had broken the record by more than double last year's numbers.  They had in fact broken $100,000, and there was still money coming in.

The turning point in the night, for me, was ClubKid MizzDiveena's second number.  In unloading the drags initially, I thought I'd recognized a friend backstage, who I wasn't expecting to see.  But, I wrote it off as being delirious from all the other days that we'd been going.  It turned out, that I, in fact, had seen Tony backstage.  And, he was performing with Diveena, as a demon of some sort.  And, so he came down the ramp around the seats, and happened to be on my side.  Putting things together, and realizing that it was him, made me chill out, and enjoy the rest of the show.

Then, just like that, the show was over.  I booked it to the car, and beat all the traffic.  Then, it was time to load the car back up, bit my parents goodbye, and head back to Portland, to drop off Cherry, and head back to Ogunquit, to rest up for the Sunday Brunch at Bessie's.

Joslyn Fox Guest Bartends

Thursday was the "beginning" of the long

weekend of drag. It came down to the wire as to whether I was even going to be able to participate in the weekend. Fortunately everything worked out.

The ladies started putting on face, and I did my own thing. I did my little flitting around thing and got drinks and stuff for them. And then, they were ready. The suitcases were filled. I loaded them in the car, and then we were on our way to Ogunquit.

We got to Mainestreet, where Joslyn Fox was going to be guest bartending,  and the ladies would be mingling and performing around karaoke songs. We arrived and checked in with Steve and Eddie about what was the plan for the night. So, the first stop was the Gaycation Magazine table. The ladies would be selling tickets for a raffle, with a Maui grand prize and a Key West first prize. This table would end up being my perch for the majority of the weekend.

The Gaycation guys, DJ and Joe were snapping pics all over the place.  And so was Steve. I had liked them on Facebook prior to actually meeting them, but knew nothing about it. Over the course of the night, I heard the story of how the magazine came to be. Apparently, the guys had taken an RV trip cross country,  and upon returning home,  decided to start a magazine.

Shaunna Rai started talking to a lady, which is nothing new. And, she turned out to be a relative of Joslyn, who had come with some other family members.  In the course of conversation,  they bought us drinks. This is one of those weird moments that doesn't happen for me...I didn't want to make them pay for my drink,  but also didn't want to offend them by saying no. So, while I battled it out in my head, Shaunna placed an order for me.  Joslyn's family was super sweet.

Then, Joslyn arrived.  She made the rounds, starting with her family and Shaunna.  When I imagined what she would be like, I thought that she was going to be nice, because that's how she came across on Drag Race. What I didn't expect was how nice she actually was. Who she was on tv is who she is in real life.

Dan talks a lot about how during shows out of state, the audience kinda freaks out because the performers generally hide out until it's time for the show, and leave immediately after. Shaunna will mingle. Joslyn mingled. A lot. Pictures were snapped left and right...some were mine, most were not. And, finally I got my picture taken with her. unlike Jujubee,  I had no idea what to say to her. So, I just asked for my picture,  then spent the rest of the night with a foolish grin.

Shaunna introduced Joslyn on stage, and Joslyn did an impromptu performance, while the ladies were selling raffle tickets and mingling.  And I just spent time in my little corner. Then, before I knew it, the night was over, and it was time to go home. It almost came as a relief, knowing that we were going to be back at it all again Friday.

I Love the Night Life...

It's Monday, and I'm alive. We made it through the weekend of drag.

I went into the weekend not sure what to expect.  Because,  let's be honest.  I'm painfully shy. To the point of standing around in a corner, being perceived as anti-social,  because I just don't know how to go up to someone I don't know and start talking. I expected it to be fun, because Ogunquit is always fun.

I did what I always do at events, and took pictures all weekend. And managed to get them all posted to Facebook within 24 hours...which is a rarity...I still have pictures from last summer that I haven't posted,  I think.

There were so many events to cover, that it will take more than one post to get them all. So as a preview of what's coming, here are some highlights:

*I got my picture with Joslyn Fox.
*I took a Shaunna Rai picture that has received over 100 likes.
*I got to be a part of the Red Party and the AIDS Walk.
*I got to see another Dragapalooza with my parents.
*I got to promote this blog to people I don't know.
*And, I got to have a weekend away where I wasn't worried about the stresses of real life.

For one of the first times in my life, I felt like I was actually a part of something far bigger than myself.  I was part of an event weekend that not only blew my socks off, and made Frannie Peabody fund raising history, but also gave me an opportunity to give back to the community.