FLEET WEEK

While I'm terrible at pre posting post like Travel Penguin, this is my third prescheduled post, and by time this post the Mistress should be back from Rehoboth and a family Fourth of July picnic by way of Valley Forge. I may or may not find myself back up in New York City for Fleet Week, with three days to spare before heading to the Pocono's to the Woods Campground for the Drag Me to the Woods weekend. How much more could be going on in NYC and Philly? With what, World Cup games, Gay Pride festivities, America 250th Birthday Celebrations, Fourth of July holiday, and now Fleet Week all but in two weeks of each other??

I have always loved Fleet Week and common sense says to stay home the three days before the weekend, but men in uniform, live in person... damn it! Fleet Week celebrates the US Navy, Marines Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines and the week-long event features a Parade of Ships, aerial flyovers, public ship tours, military demonstrations, and cultural festivities through the city. While many fantasize about sailors and seamen, they are practically worshipped by gay men, including myself. They are after all part of gay history, too. There is nothing like seeing all these men in uniform. We fantasized about the young men exploring their sexuality at sea, having ephemeral relationships in a blissfully naive period of their lives, and then docking in civilians' towns and having fun with us too. Several years back, I was up for Fleet Week with a bunch of the clan, and met a seamen named Jason. He was tall, blond, with a handsome, fresh face, and his smile was as fresh as his uniform... and what looked like a nice build of a body. The first night turned into a whole date weekend, and I and the clan showed him around NYC and showed him as much as we could, in between the very hot sex we had. I can remember vividly peeling his uniform off to this day.  We actually stayed in touch for a few years after. Another year and time, I met a really sexy guy in the Navy at Boots and Saddles, who appeared to be by himself. After two hours talking and multiple libations, one of his other ship mates, who later came up to us, all went back to MM#1 Fans apartment at the time. The dear flipped me his keys and said have fun! We made tracks quick. After all, they needed to be back on the ship by 2am! I think that may have been the first time I was ever spit roasted and learned some fancy knot tying!! Never let it be said I don't entertain our boys and do my part to help with morale!!!

And besides, I'm overdue for a Seamen

We should be returning sometime next week!

Tootles....

THE LATE NIGHT PRIDE PARTY

What... with it being Pride Month what would it be without letting ourselves go and dancing our asses off! In the tradition of our good friend and great ally, Anne Marie... and I being a creature of the night...it's time for Saturday Night Pride  Dances! Listen or hit play while you're doing whatever it is your doing around the house....and just move children!

 

PRIDE INTERLUDE

Take a Tuesday break with Chicago's Queen on the Year, Allura the Doll with her new dance song just releasing in time for Pride month! Along with Kara Mel Ville and Anya K Thundrkat at the iconic Roscoe's Tavern! 

Did anyone notice if Sixpence was in there dancing???

Happy Pride!

REMEMBERING ANNE MARIE

It has been five years already since we, I, and the blogging community loss a swell person. Not much time goes by that I don't recall her, think of her, or when I hear someone say Fuck yeah, or any multitude of fucks in a sentence that I don't think about Anne Marie. She would be beyond massive heart attack if she were here now to see the current climate of the times. I had the pleasure of calling her a good friend, fellow gin guzzler, and loved our four-hour lunches. Many knew her name but may have never got the chance to meet her face to face...but one still was able to feel the spit fire, the warmness and the slap stick, humor sassiness, and feistiness in her spirit. She was an unforgetable force. From blogging community to knitting groups, to pubs, benefits, dance floors and dinner tables she touched many. Today is a little ode of songs in her honor and songs that remind me of her. Now if she were here, she'd say; Stop fucking talking for Christ sake and hit the fucking play button!!!!

Get up and Shake dat ass!!!!!!!!!

And yes, she may strike me dead for spilling some tea, but at one lunch she did indeed admit to the last song as her one and only ABBA song she liked. Or maybe it was just the gin talking. But it suits.

MEMORIAL DAY

Don't let the current regimen ruin the holiday for those who the day is truly meant to be for. Today we should come together as a nation to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate price to protect country and freedoms.

LATE NIGHT...MELANIE C

 I always love the Spice Girls, even better with solo works. 

Melanie C's newest from a couple months ago.

I don't hate it.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE- RUNWAY

What with the Devil Wears Prada 2 about to hit Friday...I have become completely obsessed with a song from the movie already hitting big. Lady Gaga, who I'm not the biggest fan, but will admit loving in this song and video, and Doechii have teamed up to deliver Runway, a very bold, high haute couture anthem with a bevy of safety gays from across the LGBTQ, some touches of ball, and club kid vibes. The video is jaw droppingly gorgeous!

 If I never did drag before this would WANT to make me a drag queen.  The high camp and nostalgia drenched fashion of the video mimics the precedent set by the forth coming film's press tour, and features Schiaparelli ball skirts and Givenchy leather capes, not to mention ode's to many pass and present fashion house!

Category is....Sass, Class and high-fashion Campery. darlings..

MISS LADY DJ

She got her Gemini Mixer with the funky cross-fader

And her two 12 hundreds just ready to let us have.

I walk into the joint

The club was jumping, people pumping they was grooving to the sound shaking booties to the ground

I looked up to the booth to see who was TERIN' off the roof.

Something different this Friday...just in time....to start the weekend off with. My good friend Bridget, or just Bridge, who is a phenomenally entertaining DJ in NYC, is a mix of old school disco and house. She is another reason I'll always have the club scene and dance in my blood and have some damn serious worship when it comes to the dance floor. I can and still do go out dancing and can go for hours. There is nothing like the club scene feel, which I doubt will ever leave my blood stream. She continues the legendary feel of the club scene from the 80-and 90's, and what I love the most...she is sometimes the show itself, while DJing, and being right down where the action is happening. This was from one of her sets back in February. Her motto- Come for the music. Be open to unfamiliar music and sounds. Respect one another. Face each other instead of the DJ. No phones allowed on the dance floor. Dress to express yourself...and DANCE your hearts out.

So while you're working, doing housework or just in the mood to dance when no one is watching just hit the play button darling...and tell me she is not an entertaining DJ! And trust, when I caught this, I was UP! Love ya girl!

AFTER HOURS INTERLUDE....

 ....with Philadelphia's fabulous homegirl...Sapphira Cristal!

Werk it girl, but don't break it.

CATEGORY IS.....

Pink-a-licious Cotton Candy Fabulousness

DD FUEGO

A DIFFERENT WORLD

Boy, the old saying what a difference a day makes comes to mind, 

Or in this case, a week.

Just last Monday, this was the scene out the boudoir window. 

Grey, white and cold.

A sunny, mild and low 60 degrees greeted us this weekend.

 Oh, happy hour... why not. Take it away Dinah.

LATE NIGHT...SAMARA JOY

Have you heard of her? If you haven't, Samara Joy is simply sublime. She is the current mood around here lately.

MUSICAL INTERTUDE....

 ....Just a little obsessed with Jessie Ware's newest.

And who could forget this oldie but goodie from three years back?

LATE NIGHT...LEDISI

Ledisi is in the top tier of postmillennial singers with a highly acclaimed catalog of music that combines traditional R&B and jazz with modern finesse. This New Orleans native has been a successful independent artist for years now and has a couple of well-regarded albums under her belt. One of her latest songs that has caught my attention, and a timely title. This is from her upcoming" For Dinah" album... her deeply close tribute to the great Dinah Washington.

IN THREE WORDS

In this feature, I'll share a weekly guest with you all, 

and you tell me in only three words what come to mind. 

Our first guest of the New Year.

In Three Words...

Herb Albert

And since we have the talent with us still at 90....why not enjoy a few of my favorites.

Time for a cock-a-tail me thinks.

MOOD BOARD

 

Bah Humbug to getting up today! The bed was all cozy and warm, and I sure didn't want to get my naked body out of it!!!! But to my delight it is only to be a two-day work week this week, and next week, a three-day work week. That's all the Christmas gift I need. I'll drink to that. This week is always a favorite of mine...it will be extra relaxing...we only have 5 coming for Christmas supper, and I have three friends in on Christmas eve for the "family recipe" of eggnog. Otherwise, I will take my baked goodies, candles and greens around to friends and neighbors this week. Let them know they are cherished. It's nice to let people know they are friends., so as all of you are, I feel friends too. For to be without friends is a serious form of poverty.

 

My current mood above...the Ghost of Christmas Present portrayed by the entertainingly good Edward Woodward. When I can finally eat again...this will sum it up!!!! And now...one of my favorite seasonal songs, sung by one of my all-time favorite people...the beautiful Vanessa Williams... she sings it beautifully.

IN THREE WORDS

In this feature, I'll share a guest with you all each week, 

and you tell me in only three words what come to mind. 

In Three Words...

Luciano Pavarotti

Since it's the season...

MOOD BOARD

This weekend found me decking the halls finally. I never decorate to early as I keep my decorations up generally till after the first week after New Years. I love decorating, and it's often a process of joy, making me happy and can be melancholic. For me, Christmas is a time to enjoy with family and friends, good food and drink, relaxing, and doing the decorating. I love the decorations of yester year the best, and almost all my decorations are from friends, and past family members that passed on to me or inherited. So... when it comes to decorating, unwrapping, and placing items, it seems everything has a great memory, a story, an ode to a certain person. So... in a way Christmas for me is an ode of sorts to many past and present, and some great memories and traditions. Many I find sadly let traditions go and sweep them under the carpet these days. More to come from the Casa soon.

Happy Monday All.