QUENCH YOUR THRIST

I'm now readying myself for the next excursion...P-town! It then dawned on me and shame on me, for never doing a post of the fabulous, P-town queen, Thirsty Burlington.

When I think of Thirsty, she to me is what embodies a true drag queen experience. She had a rough life growing up, and has the rare, raw talent to bring the house down, while still giving us that old school drag that I absolutely love. I have seen her once in Ptown, and she is NOT to be missed, in what seems a endless line of drag residency's in Ptown for the summer. She is one I highly recommend to catch. 

Thirsty "s quirky sense of humor always carries the day; there is a certain self-awareness to her performance that is a totally enchanting irrespective of her surroundings. The performance I witnessed had a mediocre turnout and technical difficulties,  but Thirsty was not fazed. She is a consummate performer, quite confident in her delivery and brash in her demand for endearment. Her show works because she is cognizant of her strengths, an above-adequate singing voice, killer comedic timing, a penchant for acting out, and the best Cher impersonation on the Eastern Seaboard. Cher herself has even said "Thirsty does Cher better than I do Cher." In a career spanning more than twenty-five years, Thirsty is regarded as one of the finest celebrity impersonators in the world. From his signature Cher, to Judy Garland and Michael Jackson, Townsend raises the bar when it comes to taking an audience on a fantastical ride of music and comedy. Raised in Cambridge, MA, Scott began performing as a teen appearing on local television talent shows and starring in countless school productions. In his twenties, he discovered an instinctive ability to impersonate Cher like no one else, and from that point on his star began to rise. Clubs from all over New England and New York eagerly hired him to perform to capacity crowds. Over the past twenty years Thirsty has continued to wow audiences throughout the United States and Mexico. But of all his charters, there is no other Thirsty Burlington.

This past season starting in May Thirsty had a all new show at the Crown & Anchor, The Cher Show, a  stage with a show packed with live vocals, comedy, glitz, and glamour. A salute to Cher you’ll never forget I'm told. So I was tickled when pal Pearl Gates told me she procured tickets to see it. I was very excited. I also highly recommend the documentary of Thirsty' s life that was released to very little fanfare back in 16'. Thirsty,  if you haven't seen this gem. It should be another of those required gay viewing movies.

The film starts from a tender age, Scott Townsend’s life is ruled by his slippery gender. Growing up a girly-boy in the projects of Cambridge, MA, under the watch of his abusive father, and Doris, his alcoholic, dysfunctional, single mom, Scott is prey to extreme bullying and assault. Already a talented singer and performer at a young age, Scott grows up to be revered drag queen, Thirsty Burlington and delights club goers in Provincetown, MA, with his spot on impersonation of Cher. But even in this gay mecca, being Thirsty comes at a price.Inspired by Scott/Thirsty’ s life, Thirsty spotlights the power of gender identity to both endanger and work its magic. The journey moves through dramatic, fantasy and musical sequences coming full circle when Scott realizes what he wants most in life, “To be safe and comfortable in all his skins,” and loved for all that he is.

Thirsty Burlington- The Cher Show can be seen at the Crown & Anchor all through till early September yet. Tickets here.

HUMP DAY FOR DEEDLES

Just for the lovely Duchess Deedles......

It's Hump Day!!!!!

Cause of my humps, my hump, my hump, my hump
My lovely manly lumps
In the back and in the front
My hump, my hump, my hump

How's your hump looking today?

TOXIC

The Lad inspired this post. He knows I love flowers, and saw an article and said it reminded him of me. After reading it, I didn't know whether to take it as a compliment or insult. He always tells me I'm pretty but deadly, or he'll tell people I'm a Penis Fly Trap!!!!!  I apparently lure men in then suck them in?!?! That might be true, but deadly???  The article did surprise me though and fond it interesting. When it comes to nature, the general rule of thumb is this: The dangerous stuff looks scary, and the harmless stuff looks beautiful (or, at the very least, unassuming). So it might be a surprise, then, to learn that some plants and flowers in our own gardens—often beautiful, always unassuming—rank among the most dangerous things on the planet. Did you know about some of these?

Oleander

Known for it's striking flowers in the summer, parts of the oleander plant contain cardiac glycosides that cause acute cardias toxicity and serve digestive issues.

White Snake Root

White snakeroot, is a poisonous herb found in North America that contains a toxic alcohol called tremetol. But just how poisonous is this plant? Well, back when explorers were first settling Indiana and Ohio in the early 19th century, it’s estimated that up to half of their deaths—including that of Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln—were caused by indirectly ingesting white snakeroot. 

Water Hemlock

If you know anything about water hemlock, then it’s likely that you’re familiar with the plant’s claim to fame: killing Socrates. According to the USDA, this plant contains the toxin cicutoxin, which, when ingested, acts directly on the central nervous system. In the most extreme cases, that could result in grand mal seizures and death.

Lily of the Valley

One of my favorites! This perennial outdoor ornamental herb, a popular staple of outdoor gardens everywhere, can actually be incredibly toxic. Its toxicity comes from the cardiac glycosides and saponins present in the plants, which can affect the heart if eaten. Lily of the valley is so toxic, in fact, that the CBIF notes cases where both people and animals have fallen ill by merely drinking water the plant was in.

Foxglove

The foxglove plant produces digoxin, an active ingredient in medications that prevent heart failure. According to the NCPC, by ingesting foxglove, you’re essentially “taking an unregulated dose of heart medicine,” which can, ironically, cause heart failure. As such, you should keep this plant far, far away from children and animals.

Wistria

When it comes to dangerous plants in your backyard, wisteria is one of the worst ones there is. According to one case study from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the wisteria plant can cause headaches, gastroenteritis, hematemesis, dizziness, confusion, diaphoresis, and, frighteningly, syncopal episodes (or temporary drops in blood flow to the brain that result in a loss of consciousness and control of the muscles). These symptoms typically last for five to seven days after eating more than a few berries from the plant—if they don’t kill you.

Daffodil

If you seek help quickly, ingesting daffodils won’t kill you. However, according to the NCPC, ingestion can be fatal to small children and pets if left untreated. And while all parts of a daffodil contain the toxic chemical lycorine, it’s the oxalates—or toxic chemicals found in the plant’s bulb—that do the most damage to your body.

Hydrangea

As far as the poisonous nature of the popular hydrangea plant is concerned, only the flower buds are truly harmful when ingested, according to the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. If consumed, humans can experience an upset stomach, skin irritation, and, in more serious cases, convulsions and coma.

Devil's Helmut

Just a few years ago, a gardener died after simply brushing up against a devil’s helmet plant. And believe it or not, the plant’s exterior isn’t even its most poisonous part. As poison expert John Robertson told BBC News, the most poisonous part of the plant is actually its roots, as ingestion of this specific part causes heart failure. Most fatalities occur within the first few hours.

Tulips

Tulips might make your garden shine, but they also have the potential to poison your pet. According to the ASPCA, this plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses in its bulb especially, and symptoms of ingestion range from vomiting and diarrhea to hypersalivation.

Angel's Trumpet

Angel’s trumpet is a tropical plant known for its Bugle-shaped flowers. And while it’s aesthetically pleasing, the last thing you’d ever want to do is find out what it tastes like: As one 2008 case report published in Pediatrics & Child Health notes, ingestion can cause dangerous hallucinogenic symptoms like loss of consciousness and delirium. 

Poison Ivy

The one I can be compared to, my favorite villain….As its name suggests, poison ivy is, well, poisonous. Found all over the United States, this plant contains a resin called urushiol that causes an epidermal allergic reaction characterized by redness, itching, and swelling. If the plant sets on fire and you inhale the smoke, it can also affect your breathing.

So maybe the Lad is right. Don't judge a book by it's cover. I won't lie, I may be pretty in the eyes, but can be deadly in the boudoir. You know, plants can be deadly if you eat it, but a kiss can be deadlier if you mean it. Coincidence then that Toxic used to be one of my favorite drag routines?

DREAMS

This weekend I had to run into New Hope for lunch to meet Samantha before going to sit poolside and saw this.

So many wasted years.If only I'd known they were so close.