Art Walk LA

At the end of the night at the Cancer Schmancer show, I was approached about submitting artwork to the Lewiston/Auburn Art Walk. It was totally out of the blue, and unexpected. But, Grayling asked me specifically to participate,  and show off my photography work.

Scarrlett 

Because most any kind of exposure is good exposure, I figured that I would try it. It would do one of two things...it would make me feel better about being an artist, or it would make me decide never to do it again. The whole time, my mind went back and forth about the ultimate outcome.

Deadlines flew at me, and at the last minute, it was a scramble to narrow down my thousands upon thousands of pictures to just 15.

Wanting to do things right, I did a mass tag of Facebook friends who I have photographed in the past in hopes that a few of them would say yes. The response was overwhelmingly yes, with a few, "yes, but let me see it first. I just want to approve of it."

Jacinda

Once I got all the approvals, I saved all the pictures to my desktop to save to a memory card, to take to be printed. In the meantime, I had Dan go to Goodwill to pick me up frames...which he did with little to no knowledge of what I was using for pictures. The night before delivery, I literally was finishing putting the pictures in the frames, hoping that it was all going to work out ok. 

Porcia Chanel

The night of delivery, almost didn't happen. Dan and Larry (Shaunna Rai and Leanna Love) had taken a trip to Boston in Dan's new (used) car. As I was getting ready to take the pictures to the venue, at 46 Lisbon Street, I got a call from Dan. "Hey, I know you have to drop off your pictures,  but we need to get a tow, and a ride home, we're broken down outside of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire border, by the bridge that they're fixing that I always mess with you about."

So while waiting for a message to see if I could get in to drop the pictures off earlier,  I made phone calls, and got the tow on the way. I dropped off the pictures, and made a flying trip to Massachusetts...it all turned out ok, except for the car, which was kind of a lemon.

Rainbow Frite

After much freaking out, because I had submitted 14 photos, and only delivered 13, because I had forgotten to save the final one on the laptop, I ended up with it in hand for the night of the walk.

I didn't know what to expect from the space, as it was an abandoned looking shop front, which, incidentally,  happened to be where my mom purchased her wedding gown. (Talk about a small world, right?) I waited outside for the doors to open, after grabbing the clipboard and lanyard, that said I was an official volunteer for the night.

Shaunna Rai

Finally the space opened, we got my final piece situated and food and drink set out, and people started arriving. Our venue had boxed wine, and I knew that if I was going to make this better for myself, I at least needed one glass of wine, to keep from being the guy standing in the corner trying to be as small as possible so nobody would talk to me.

The wine worked.  I was sharing the space with another photographer, who does landscape type photography and what she called her "twirl" photos (when you focus the camera on something and then twist it, making it look like you were rolling when you took the picture.  She had also come out to volunteer. The other lady, who was showing, did not come out, but had three paintings on display.

Leanna Love

The first few people who came through, just looked around, like they were in an art gallery, then left. Ivy, the other photographer and I, started talking about our work to each other. I was surprised that none of her stuff was for sale, because it was really good. She told me that her goal was to let people see what they could do themselves, with Goodwill frames and a point and shoot camera. That was why she wasn't going to sell them. Well, that along with the feeling that art is a very personal thing, and sometimes it's hard to part with.

Cecelia Grace

She asked me, and I was asked many times through the night, how I got into the field of portraiture. I did a bunch of plugging for the blog, which as of now, appears to not have done any good...(Probably because, with everything I remembered,  the business cards were what I forgot.) I went on to explain that the pictures had chosen had been my favorites out of a ton of choices over the last four years or so.

Miss E,on

People finally started asking me questions, or just talking to me. One gentleman, an older guy, I had to correct his terminology, and explain the difference between drag, cross dressing and transgender. This was a very long conversation. He had heard a story on NPR, about a drag queen, who became addicted to her drag personal so much, that she basically had to kill her drag career, to keep her real life. (It seemed far fetched to me, but, what do I know. Stranger things have happened.) We then moved on to trans women. He told me the story of a professor at Bowdoin College (I think) who had written a book about her transition, and this gentleman thought that the whole thing was amazing. I thought it was cool that he told me the story.  He eventually moved on, and left.

Lili Whiteass

A bear couple (for anyone not in the know, a burly, gay couple, presumably with a lot of body hair, and usually facial hair) came up and told me how great the pictures were, and asked where they could see a show, without having to drive all the way to Portland. They explained that they had moved from down in the south (Baltimore, I think), where they could go to a show anytime they wanted. I explained that the drag scene in Maine is dwindling, but promoted an upcoming show at the Elks Club in Lewiston. I'm hoping to see them there.

Diamond Dunhill

There were a lot of people who legit thought that all the pictures were of real women. There were a few who, upon realizing that the pictures they were looking at were male, turned and booked it out of the venue. And, an overwhelming amount of people who either knew the queens or had actually been to the shows. These were the ones I enjoyed talking to the most. These were the people asking how did you get such good pictures, and where can I see them in person? I took that time to plug upcoming shows, and lament the lack of shows in the area. This was when I realized that I want to do something about the lack of drag in Maine. (Not that I know what to do, where to start, or how to make something happen, but it gave me a starting point. )

Cherry Lemonade

As the night wore down, and came to a close, I stopped for a minute to think about all the stuff I had accomplished. First, I had a showing of my work, for the first time ever. Second, I did all of it on my own. Third, I talked about what I do with total strangers, and didn't get much of a negative response. And, last, but certainly not least...I'd on fact, most important, I had a hell of a lot of fun. And kind of want to do it again next year.

Bunny Wonderland

Yes, occasionally, I need someone to light a fire under my ass, to get me going. And, there's a good possibility that I may buck it the whole way, because I'm scared. But, I really need to just remember that I am my own worst enemy, and that I need to just do things, instead of worry about the bad things that could happen. Because, truthfully, the things I worry about rarely come to fruition,  and then I've spent so much energy worrying that I have none when it comes time to have fun.

ClubKid MizzDiveena

Oh, and Bunny Wonderland, just so you know, this picture of you actually sold.  Granted, it was to my mom, but...

Cancer, Schmancer

It's very rare that a show comes along that I'm just not that into... Unfortunately, this was one of those rare shows that I probably should've stayed home for.

With the events of the previous night's show I was more or less exhausted and physically in pain, as I had apparently hit both my hip and my face on the way falling to the ground at the Breezeway.

In the middle of the day, I took a cake, along with a bunch of cupcakes to the Elks Club in Lewiston, so it would be there for Leanna Love, and be a surprise, as she didn't know that we were making her a cake.  Other than that, I did pretty much as little as possible.

I may have milked the sore and exhausted thing a little bit, but, I needed the rest, because there was still one more day of shows to go.

We got there, and I did the usual thing, being bag boy, grabbing my "dresser" ticket, and meeting up with my parents.

I hated the setup of the Elks Club. For a show, it was set up poorly. People wanted to tip, but the tables were too close to get through comfortably and there were so many people that it just looked awkward for the performers.  The stage was in a corner, far away from the audience, and there was little to no lighting, which meant that pictures were not very good from the night.

Knowing the girls in the show, I knew that the bar girl in each of them wouldn't allow most of them to stay on the stage, and figured that the best place for photos would be from across the room. I was mostly right, although, I should've used a flash, instead of relying on the low light settings on the camera and hoping.

I caught hell from stepping in front of the ladies in the concession stand, until they realized that during the show, nobody was getting up, and that they could move out from behind the counter.

Carol, my lobster smuggling friend from Zumba and her husband came, and I had them sit with my parents. Although, my mom followed me around with her camera...and Carol and her husband left...and dad followed us to the front, finding an empty chair, and getting the Shaunna treatment that I normally get, when she throws pieces of the tear aways at me...

Because I wasn't that into it, it felt like it took forever, I couldn't understand the need of Jacinda and Natilee to climb up on the tables and crawl around. (I mean, if that's what you want to do, fine, but, I just didn't get it.)

There were a couple of things that stood out for me though, and it wasn't all bad.

The show itself was a fund raiser, for two women who were battling cancer. Benefit shows are a good thing.

Over the years, I have often heard of Malibu, a queen that used to do shows all the time. I had never met her, and as far as I knew, she was no longer performing...only she did for this show.  My only issue with her performances, as a photographer, was that she kept turning her back to me, and even when she was looking toward my camera, her hair covered her face.

Jersey Couture, (who I have to fight myself to not call Jersey Shore) performed. It's rare enough to get her out out of drag, and even worse in drag, much less performing.

I don't remember if it was the sound,  the audience, the tipping or what, but, for the first time ever, in the time that I have been with Shaunna, I spotted a mistake in a number. So many of the numbers I have seen her do enough that if I wanted to, I probably could perform it spot on myself...so, when a rip away was missed, and then a double rip away happened, I kinda freaked out...like, what happened?

The show finally ended, and all the queens came out for a bow. And Chris, the emcee, asked Leanna to come back to the stage for a minute. Leanna, knowing that her birthday was right around the corner, tried to book it out of the place. After all the work that we put into the cake, I wasn't going to allow her to leave without at least seeing the cake. So I grabbed her arm, and walked her to a chair, while she glared at me, accusing, "You knew about this and didn't warn me!"

A few more pictures with all the queens, the cake, and a few random fans, and it was time to go. And I was ready...we still had Portsmouth the next day. Leanna invited us to go out for dinner, but we declined, and went home.

This was a bit of a low point in my drag fan career. But, you can't be on point all the time, and keep your physical being from having some kind of effect on your mood.

A Change Could Do You Good

After three years at our Portland apartment, it's time to say good bye to it. This is our last week here. We move this weekend. Tensions are high. We are trying to make sure that we get every thing for that we need to do.

So for the next week or so, it'll be a test of both of our sanities. This could either be the best thing ever for us, or be really super bad. I'm the eternal optimist though, so it has to be good.

Of course, moving means packing. And, I had not taken into consideration when the move was becoming a reality, how much stuff Shaunna Rai actually has. I mean, for real, she has two rooms devoted to her stuff, here. But it wasn't until we started packing her up that it dawned on me, just how much stuff she has either purchased, made, had made for her, or inherited over the last three years. So much clothing and shoes.

While I dread the act of loading and unloading the truck, I have to say, I'm excited about where we are moving. It's away from ocean water (which I am not crazy about), but it's quiet and country-ish. It's near the Auburn mall exit. It's a whole house to ourselves with a garage and two decks and a yard. (It's too bad that we work so much and the landlords don't want pets, because it would be the perfect place to have a dog.) We will be able to grill on the deck, get a fire pit set up. It will be fun. But, that's all dependent on whether we look each other during the move or not.

So here's hoping that a new start in a new place that has just been renovated well be better than the start we got here, that turned into a leaky ceiling on the second floor of a three floor building kind of problem.

Take Me To Church...

Marcus Bennett, for whom the benefit was held.

 The period between December, and June, seems to be the busiest period for drag, in Shaunna Rai's booking schedule.  This is great for her, but it kind of sucks, as far as when shows happen.  Because, any time between December and (to be safe) April, there's a good chance of snow.

Sheneeda Diet opened the show.

At work, they're getting frustrated with me, I think, because, I ask for a lot of time off, for shows.  However, I make it up to them, most of the time.  We had an overnight person, who has given his notice, and so, there's overnights open.  Since I've been going crazy dealing with some of the behaviors, recently, at work, I decided that some overnights, might not be a bad thing...although, they might kill me, because the lack of sleep makes it really hard to recover...

So, Friday night, I did the overnight.  Which is fine.  However, Saturday, the day of the show, when I left work, it had started snowing.  I hate snow.  Yeah, it's pretty, yeah, it's cool.  But, yeah, I suck at driving in it.

Jacinda

The entire drive home from work, all I could think of was, "I hope the storm is over, before we have to leave to go to Lewiston for the show."  When I finally got to sleep, it was still snowing.

It was still snowing, when I woke up a few hours later.  And, texts were flying furiously, about whether or not the show was going to be cancelled or not.  It was finally determined that the show must go on.

I was half relieved that it was still going to happen...and at the same time, I was irritated, because, it meant that I was going to have to drive in the crappy snow, to a show that Shaunna wasn't getting paid for, for a person who I didn't know.

Shaunna Rai

While I processed all that, I realized how much of a jerk that made me.  The show was a benefit, to "Pay it Forward," to the family of a young man who was known for "Paying it Forward."  Really, I didn't have any right to be angry...because Shaunna gave me the option of not going to the show.  I had a perfect excuse...I had worked the overnight, and so, I needed to sleep.  I was the one who chose to go to the show.  If I was going to be mad at anyone, it needed to be myself, not the show.

Leanna Love

I've been getting better, about having things ready to go, before Shaunna is ready to walk out the door...because I've gotten flack for that, in the past.  And, so Saturday night, I was on top of things again.  The car was loaded, and I just had to make sure that Shaunna's door was unlocked before she got to the car.  So simple.

Finally, it was time to leave.  And, the panic started to set in.  I don't consider myself a good driver, in the best of conditions, much less, when there's three inches of slush on the road, and half of the traveling I have to do before I get to the highway is uphill, because, let's face it, Portland is built on a hill, that we live in the middle of.

Miss E,on does "Take Me to Church".

It was actually, kind of funny, Occasionally, I hear Shaunna coming out of Dan's mouth, but it's very rare to have the opposite happen.  Driving up High Street, praying that the car would make it, Dan reminded me (using Shaunna's mouth) not to stomp on the gas, and to pump the brakes, and not slam on them.

Once we finally got to the highway, the roads were clear, and I could relax again...at least, until we made it to Lewiston, where the roads were nasty again.

Sheneeda Diet, with the mane.

I wasn't sure quite what to make of the night, given the weather.  A few people had said that they would try to make it to the show.  So, once we got there, and I brought in the suitcase, and some wigs that Dan had re-worked for Sheneeda Diet and Brystal Kreme, I went to find a place to sit.

When you're early for a show, it's kind of boring, sitting and waiting.  Especially, when it's a show, where people might not come out, because the roads are gross.  So, I found my spot, and waited.  People started to trickle in, in ones and twos.  Shaunna came out to get a drink, and while she was out, a friend from school and his friend came.  So, conversation started.  Eventually, I took them both to my table.

In the meantime, another friend of ours came, with a friend of his, who is a huge fan of Shaunna's.  They sat at my table too.  For a few minutes, I felt special.  I had people sitting with me, who wanted to be there, not because they were assigned to be there.

Jacinda

Shaunna's fan, Andrea asked me what time the show was going to start.  I told her, quite honestly, the poster says 9:30pm, but, it'll probably be later than that.  Drag time is it's own time zone.

Finally, the show started.

The first number was the tribute number, by Sheneeda Diet.  A slow, sad song, but totally fitting, considering the ultimate reason for the show was the death of a young man.

Sheneeda Diet

The show went very quickly, once it started.  Jacinda was up next, then Shaunna Rai, Leanna Love and Miss E,on.  E,on's number floored me.  Hozier's Take Me to Church, only it was a female cover.  (I've spent the week since the show, with the song stuck in my head...Thanks E,on!)  Sheneeda Diet was back out, with one of Shaunna Rai's stand by songs...although, which, I don't remember, at this point.  I loved the hair.  I watched it go from an old wig to the giant mane with blonde highlights that it is now.

Leanna Love

The show took a break.  When people came back from smoking, or buying drinks, or whatever, they did a raffle.  When Shaunna got drinks, she also bought tickets.  The goal was to get one of two gift baskets...one filled with candy and tickets to the movies.  The other, was a gift certificate to Lotus Chinese restaurant, which also included movie theater tickets.  Unfortunately, we won neither.  But, at least the money raised was going to go to the family.

Miss E,on's All About The Bass.

Jacinda started the second half of the show.

Then Sheneeda Diet again, with another of Shaunna's usual songs.  It was interesting to see someone else perform the same song.  It was a little weird, because these are numbers that I've seen so often, that I pretty much know what movements happen when...so when they didn't happen, it was a little jarring.

Leanna Love went next.  She's great when it comes to working the audience...but as a subject to photograph, I got frustrated with her.  Since the emcee told us that there was no flash photography allowed, I had to use the existing lighting for pictures.  (When I asked her about it later, she said that she hated the lights, because they're so bright that you can't see anything anyway...so it made sense that she stayed away from them.)

Shaunna Rai

E'on went again, and shocked me.  I have never seen her in anything other than her black and/or purple hair (and blonde once, but only in pictures.)  She came out in red hair.  She did Meghan Trainor's All About the Bass, a song that I immediately thought of her, the first time I heard it.

 Throughout the course of the night, I played with camera settings, in hopes that at least some of the pictures would come out, since I couldn't use a flash.  And, in the process, I would every so often review what I had just taken.  And, I found, at some point, I had changed the settings, so that I could literally hold the trigger, and it would automatically take multiple pictures.  So, when I reviewed it, it was almost like playing back the show, only minus the music.

Shaunna was next to the last number.  And, as usual, had a couple tear aways.  (Reviewing it in reverse was fun, watching her put things back on, as they flew back at her.)

Brystal Kreme

Finally, it was the new girl, who I had never met, much less seen perform...as it was her first time performing.  Brystal Kreme moves fast, and didn't seem to like the light any more than Leanna Love did.  (Neither of which made for good photos.)  She was very much involved with the audience...so much so, that at one point, while visiting our friends, she actually knocked my camera out of my hands into my lap. (No damage was done, thankfully.)

And, just like that, the show was over.

There was a bit of a meet and greet at the end.  The girls made themselves available for group photos with anyone who wanted them.

The crowds cleared out, and it was time to go home.  Lewiston was still a mess, the Turnpike was fine, and Portland was still a mess.  But, we made it home safe and sound.

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.