MOOD BOARD

 

It just can't be Monday. It just can't! After two and half weeks off kids, it's back to work today. But how bad can it be? It's only three weeks till the next jaunt and more vacation time. And it's overcast, which makes it all the more hard to get up and ready. A nice time was had with a start at the Gay Pride festivities with the clan in NYC, followed by 8 days at the seaside and rounded out with a weekend trip at the Woods up in the Poconos. Very much relaxed and was nice to be offline for the most part...next to no news. But fear not, much happened while away. The old hypocrite Jimmy Swaggart kicked the bucket. Good. And the Dump and his minions continued to wreak havoc and pass their damn Big Ugly Bullshit Bill. Curses. And Rosie O'Donnell sent the Dump a rip roar of a response to him. Chuckles. And one of my Patron Saints, Dame Anna Wintour announced she was finally stepping down as Editor in Chief of Vogue. But this isn't the end. Oh no. She is going to have even more say and power within Conde Nast and I'm sure will still have her two cents in the mag, not to mention will still host the Met Gala. I say good on her!!! And one of my favorite things was when I got a few pics on my phone from Warbucks who was in the massive crowd in Budapest on defying a government ban that marked a major pushback against LGBTQ rights in the European Union. He sent me incredible pictures on the Liberty Bridge, which he showed me on my trip there, and was in awe of the huge crowd on the bridge and filling the streets. The good people of Budapest are to be applauded for giving such a huge middle finger. I will add that Budapest was a very lovely and stunning city, and a trip I enjoyed.

But it's Monday.

TWO TONS OF FUN

Well, the Mistress got in yesterday, but for one day, as tomorrow I'm leaving again up at, and my first of three shows on weekends of the season, at the Woods Campground. So, I will be back to regular posting on Monday. But couple of days ago I saw a swell mini docu on The Weather Girls. I have always adored Martha Wash and Izora Armstead, who started as back-up singers. The clip is truly from a different time in 1980. Today, I don't think many shows would feature footage of overweight gals eating. Then again, I doubt if the girls minded--their name was then Two Tons of Fun, and the segment was probably arranged by their publicist. Izora always seemed like a hoot, and Martha has the prettiest face, and she went on to a pretty big solo singing career of her own, not to mention lent her vocals to C&C Music Factory and Black Box. I don't care how they look when they sound so heavenly. You can believe if I have to put together a DJ list, one of their songs will make the list. And I'm sorry, no one, Todrick or RuPaul can ever come near the original It's Raining Men, in sound, vocals or the god awful cheap campy look of the video.

And of course, they got a name for themselves after Sylvester used them as his backup singers.

SUMMER POSTCARDS

 As we have two days left, some summer postcards...

Pimm's Cup

A candid shot of the Mistress on the boardwalk.

Drag pal, Magnolia Applebottom in Rehoboth always on point.

Drag March at NYC Pride. With our very own Fat Sissy right at the front line!

Now what trouble can I get into with two days left?

FOURTH HOPES

The Mistress and company are still beach bound and I'm sure having a much sin filled time as this scheduled post goes to publish. As America enters the patriotism week of the Fourth of July and it's arrival, with an unpopular president behaving in a myriad of un-American ways, it's worth wondering what patriotism will look like in this moment. Is saluting the flag, displaying the flag and dutifully respecting the office of the presidency looking past the actions of the great buffoon and his party and administration to celebrate our imperfect and dangerous nation? We can love this country and still loathe the people and the supporters in charge. We can be simultaneously proud of this country and highly embarrassed and depressed of the things being done in its name. Had I been home, there would be no flag displayed. And while I'm sure we are having a good time at the beach, this Fourth of July, my patriotism looks like two middle fingers.

Wherever and however, I hope you're having a day for the Fourth of July that way you want it! We will be back in about another week.  

And for those interested in the Pride tee shirt give away, there is still time to cast your bid!

PRIDE, SIN & SAND

How nice that Travel Penguin was here to capture by departure for my holiday jolly! The dear. 

We are packed, strapped, and tied and ready to go. First up is New York City Pride for the weekend, and then off with the Capital Street Duo and Lad to Rehoboth Beach for a long overdue seaside frolic. Since I won't be here to close the Pride month with a bang, to be featured later...time for a PRIDE give-a-way!!!! The tee shirt I designed and sent to print returned...except I had to order a minimum of 12! So let's have a damn give away in honor of Pride.  The perfect shirt to show your Pride, make a protest statement and show off your tits all at once!!!The shirt....

If you're interested in a tee shirt, just leave a comment in the comment section that you're interested and why you'd like this ho to return. Just kidding kids about the last part! Unless you insist. I have two smalls, 3 mediums, 3 large and 3 XL. So when you comment let me know the size you want. They seem to be very true to size. I have on a small. Once back, all the names like before, will go in a cock-a-tail shaker and pulled by the houseboys. I'll announce the winners once I'm back.

Which should be in two weeks, or there of!!! See ya then!

Toodles!

PRIDE INTERTUDE- IM SO GAY!

 

Now... how about another Pride Interlude from trans artist Trisha Paytas with her homage to Too Wong Foo!!! With a bevy of familiar queen faces!

Happy Gay Pride!

NIGHTLIFE AND BALLROOM

Pride usually brings up many different memories and thoughts for me. One of those- my love for the nightlife and the ballroom scene. It seems the LGBTQ I know either never liked the club scene and had no interest, or they did. I fall into the latter.  My, I will always have a fondness, connection and love for the nightlife, clubs, lounges and such, and at one time loved going to what was left of the heyday of ballroom. Even though I was never in the closet, or had any real bullying issues, I fell immediately in love with my first gay club night out and never looked back. It was so nice to have a place filled with people like me, no guards up, and you could act as gay and over the top as you wanted. Everyone was greeted with open arms, no judgements about your sexuality, no one cared. We were all there to drink, dance and be merry, and hell kids, even get laid. Dance the night away. It was like one big family even though you might not even know everyone. It was nice to feel that for a couple hours before returning to reality. I always did and still do feel more alive when I'm in a club and can dance my ass off. 

Ballroom was no different, a culture born from drag balls in the mid 19th century and flourished into house ballroom in primarily black and Latino LGBTQ communities in major cities, where even some of our own cast outs found, love, solace and acceptance in their own houses. For me the clubs and ballroom served as a safe haven and space for self-expression, especially by many who were rejected by their own families. While I did attend quite a few ballroom competitions from the sidelines, no way could I do all those moves. But I'm here to tell you, I can do a very mean walk with attitude on the runway. One of my schticks when out at the club, would be cutting runways to a song called I'm Beautiful, Damn It. While I'm far from a ballroom dancer, I do LOVE to dance to house and am pretty good if I can toot my own horn. I can still go for an hour or two of straight dancing. And don't get me started on some vogue moves. It was years later, once in New Hope, that drag was making a comeback, that I started my own drag house, House of Borghese with shows in New Hope and Philly every couple months. Surrounded here by Duke Borghese, Princess Borghese, Lady Borghese, yours truly in the center sitting, Miriam Webster, Queenie Borghese, Madsion Avenue, Empress Borghese and the Countess Borghese.

I sort of feel sad for the up-and-coming LGBT, that they will never know the feeling of ballroom, the energy of the big clubs, having church to the music, and good fun filled with campery and the magic of it all. If I hadn't had this, I feel I would be a very different person then I am now.  Even now, in my early 50's I can still move and love to hear the thumpa thumpa. 

And THIS is what I'm talking about kids!!! WERK, WALK.... 

And this bitch!!!! This BITCH...Honey Balenciaga

And these trailblazing and legendary MOTHERS.

Happy Gay Pride!!!

If you had a house, what would you call it?

SUMMER HOUSE

I don't know where the week is going. I started packing for my first jaunt of the summer but then Travel Penguin's words came to mind...why pack, it's not like you're going to be wearing many clothes. So I took five square cuts and threw them in a paper bag. The houseboys can deal with my packing...they know my wants and needs. Since it was slow today, I left work early and came home to tend and potter in the garden. I was out there in nothing but denim short cut offs, and I got a "Looking Good" from the neighbor lady. It felt nice, but I would have loved it more from her husband who looks like Travis Kelce. But I digress. I wanted to tend to the garden, dead head things, pull a few weeds, water, and a few other things before leaving later in the week. As hot as it's been, which kids, call me crazy, but I love the heat. The only problem is the boys hang down way low. But that's another story. The garden continues to bring forth new stars of the show.  And two more new residents are bringing delight. And from the picture above can you tell I'm getting in the mood for beach time? Some snaps from the garden this week.

Begonia

The roses have gone insane! And the newest addition from last year yielded its blooms...purple ice.

Straw Flower

First of the wildflowers are blooming!

I also tried my hand at a topiary this year. So far, I have kept all three balls trimmed. And below is one of the new additions doing very nicely...Justicia carnea or sometimes called the Brazilian plume flower or Flamingo plant. Imagine me liking anything from Brazil! 

The coneflower just bloomed today

The other new addition was this agapanthus. I've always loved them. In other news there is currently three family of nestlings. These are baby sparrows below, four of them, in a hanging fern plant. They look like cranky old men, no? Needless to say, once they all fledge, and the others, I am going to have to put Sophie on a short leash. My little bitch got another bird last night, this time a cowbird. 

I say, does this cute face look like the Garden Killer Bandit ???

MOOD BOARD

 Well.... we are on another Monday morning. The weekend whizzed by. Since this was one of my only few weekends at home I spent most of the time out in the garden, sweltering in the heat. I think I lost 5 lb just from sweat. Which is probably good, this being a 3-day work week before I depart for holiday time. After all I have a reputation to withhold and get my cakes into a pair of square cuts. I did gather everything to pack and gathered with the clan for Happy Hour Saturday night. I'm also happy to report Sophie didn't eat any birds.