Sometimes a company and humans can surprise me and not very often. This story was too nice to not share. At the Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage, an extraordinary moment unfolds when a tiny hummingboid picked an unexpected place to build its little nest-right on a door handle in the main entrance of doors. Rather than move it or knock it down, the Ritz chose a different path; they closed off the entire front set of entrance doors, across the front on the main side of the building and redirected guests into a secondary door on the side, putting the bird and it's two young, safety above the convenience of getting in the building. A great story and it spread fast, capturing attention as a rare example of a luxury brand choosing compassion and respect for nature even at the cost of disrupting daily operations and people bitching about walking the whole way around to use the secondary door. A billion-dollar a year hotel...doing right by a creature small enough to fit in the hand of a baby. I have read stories of other places knocking nest down once built, or even after eggs are in it...but this is nice to read...
Yet another country gets it right, takes care of its own and stops spending billions on war. This is what it looks like when your government cares more about you then serving its financier donors. In the US only progressives want to regulate banks so that loans are less predatory. Yet progressives within the Democrat party seldom do anything they ran on, let alone the Republicans do any good for anyone. Mexico's President Sheinbaum says "We are removing all unpayable debts. The credits were designed as a business for a few." 5 million predatory mortgage loans issued during neoliberal period to be restructured or eliminate.
Heavens forbid our politicians did such a thing here to help the less fortunate in these hard times. It seems if we stay on track we will have no benefits to living in this country soon. Look how the party in charge is gutting the voting rights act and moving or cancelled primaries. Yet people don't seem to see it or even in states where We the People have spoken, that state is totally disregarding what the people want. It's time me thinks to vote and remove 90% of sitting politicians. We should be more than mad as hell.
How can it be Monday again...I would swear the weekend jar must have a leak in it. Meanwhile another great weekend, weather wise, and one spent in the garden, finishing up with some annuals being planted, now being safe from frost, and a lunch and dinner out with different friends. My next-door neighbors moved out this weekend, their house sold within three days. They told me they listed me as a feature as one of the houses selling points, lol!!!!! They were a swell couple and he was hot...a dead ringer for Travis Kelsie. Not sure who bought it yet but I'm hoping for a hot gay bachelor!!! Who is at least 6"5", waist 33" and brings a sausage factory, tanned skin, mischievous looking and happens to be a fitness instructor and hails from South America with a name like Miguel. Too much to ask for? All told not a bad weekend, except for the carnage. Sophie Lucille is still in confinement awaiting judgement.
It has been quite a rewarding spring this far in the garden at the Casa du Borghese. This week's stars of the show, and I suspect next week's, will be the peony and irises! Blooming in all their glory. I have already cut three vases of peony for the indoors, with at least another 80 buds ready to open.
And here's a overview video of the back garden...as of this morning. Forgive my video skills, I never said I was a Chi Chi LaRue with the camera, or maybe it was because of what's at the end of the video.
The morning started out with Sophie Lucille not only eating another bird, but later she caught and killed a fallen from the nest baby squirrel, which she ripped to shreds before I could get if from her. The scene was grisly.
In this feature, I'll share a guest with you all each week,
and you tell me in only three words what comes to mind.
In Three Words...
Rex Reed
A funny story I recalled with Rex Reed's passing this week. One of the clan, Preston, about ten years back was out one night getting heavily cruised by Mr Reed, And I wouldn't blame Mr. Reed, because Preston is very easy on the eyes with many redeemable assets. As it was told to me, after some time, Rex came up to him, copped a few feels, and invited him home, to which Preston declined. Of course, being young, Preston had no clue it was. Had I been present I would have thrown myself to the wolf.
When I went to NYC recently, the main reason was to visit the clan, and we all had plans to go see the Broadway show Cats: The Jellicle Ball. New York City on a Saturday night and the excitement was building as show goers queued up all the way down the block, for Broadway's latest sensation.
This revival I found to be a vibrant, queer-centric reimagining of the iconic 1981 musical. Instead of felines at a literal junkyard, the show sets the production in the underground LBTQ ballroom and house scene rooted in New York City. The characters still compete to be chosen for a new life, but they do it through fierce vogueing, runway and dance battles judged by "Old Deuteronomy. The stage is transformed into an underground ballroom. The songs become competition categories where "cats" perform on a runway to win favor with the judges, who rotate each week with different celebrities. The show pays homage to the legendary real life ballroom community. And the cast! It gave a new reason to cheer! For costumes, voguing and even for the laughs. Not to mention, I've never seen any live production with so many trans people, more important than ever. Here's an idea: have more roles for gay/trans/drag! Give them a chance to shine and they will. This production proves it!
I am Tempress plays Grizbella and to the hilt!! She is styled as an older trans woman whose silicone has dropped...and the makeup team actually painted her face crooked so that her mouth drooped. Tony winner Andre DeShirlds ruled as Deuteronomy. He holds one note that lets you know right ways why he's a Broadway legend. It was also nice to see Junior LaBeija, from Paris is Burning who played Gus and Tempress who is from the House of Margiela. It's a huge bonus to see the ballroom community showcased and thrilling the mainstream I say. And DON'T get me started of Sydney James Harcourt who plays Rum Tum Tugger!! That man and his moves gave me the vapors honey!!! Excuse my French, but that man is fucking scorching, sexy as hell. Nina West is friends with him, I must get the tea on him darlings. Another reason I liked the show was to see costumes by Qween Jean, who has gotten raved over her costume designs.
My own critique, the story is told through song. But the music is louder that the cast's vocals. If you can't hear the lyrics, you can't quite follow the plot. The good news? It doesn't matter. Don't over think it. The show is fun, electric and spine tingling to watch. This version of Cats is arguably superior to the standard one, wrote one review. I agree. Go see it if you get to NYC. Now it remains to be seen if it will be hot and crazy or a huge hit...but the nominations say different, and are a good sign, as the show has only been open for a little over a month.
Sad news arrived to hear that beautiful queen Pepperica Swirl has passed on unexpectedly, a queen who designed wigs and costumes for many of us queens. A stunning and talented queen herself, she became known as a fixture in the New York City queer life and theater communities. Pepperica was known for her sharp wit, high camp, and immaculate costuming, not to mention her perfect hip pad business in later years. Other words that come to mind are generous, hilarious, compassionate, and shady in the best possible sense. She made quite a few of my pool gowns too. Always the fun one at a drag show, and she had a little bit of that Anna Nicole Smith vibe going on. Perpperica also had the privilege to attain a post on the college of monarchs of the Imperial Court of New York. She served as Empress XXV and her empress tile was "The Empress of Caftans and Cocktails." If you have never been to a Night of Thousand Gowns...go once! It makes a drag show look amateur. She's survived by her sweet teacher husband, Vincent. Very sad to say goodbye to yet another legend and fun sister this year. She has left a massive mark on the city's drag scene, and a huge hole within the Imperial Court community. Arise for the Empress!
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