Tour Dujour- After BHOF from SLC to LAX

We’re skipping the Trashing of Wilbur the Dinosaur by Hilton Story for now- Still in Insurance Negotiations with Hilton- We may need some help?!

 

Timeline Monday June 8th-  Las Vegas

 

Tatah:  Monday evening we were invited to Luke and Laura’s (the BHoF producers)

 house for a end of BHoF weekend party. We were met with sincere condolences

Tatah Dujour- end of BHOF 09

 over Wilbur’s untimely death as well as food and drinks. We spent time hanging with Tiger!, Dirty Martini, Darlinda Just Darlinda, and our dear friends Roxi and Darci d’Lite. Indigo Blue cooked these amazing figs and offered us a place to crash in Seattle while I talked about one of my favorite places – San Fran – with Kelita.  At midnight we all headed over to the Square Apple for this monthly variety show that Laura knew about. A bunch of performers from different shows in town use the night to workshop some of their personal performances. One performer put on an amazing shadow puppet show while a group of guys did this hip hop – tap – rap- step – fusion number. Pretty awesome!

 

 The evening ended with gracious goodbyes and fond thoughts of seeing each other very soon.

Marky:  We attended a chill post festival pool party picnic at Luke & Laura’s crazy close to the Vegas strip house.  Crazy Close- Lots of great people- Met new friends- Indigo Blue was all cute with her glasses and figs.  Cute doggies, naked Swimming, Tigger,

Tigger & Marquee Vonfister

 Dirty, Roxi, burgers and hummus- all in all a great time!  The Nanda man boys show up and are all nice and sweet and charming.  All the girlies think they are so cute.  Laura proposes a group venture out to The Square Apple for something of a variety night…lots of great stuff!  A great closer to an awesome weekend!

Timeline: Tuesday June 9

 

Tatah:We got a late start heading out of Vegas due to the loss of our car top carrier – we had to repack and leave some things at the hotel in Vegas with plans to pick up the items on our way back down to LA.  We stopped by the Orleans to have a quick bite at the hotel’s buffet.  We got there to late to have brunch with Dirty martini and co. before we headed up to SLC but the food wasn’t a bad deal for only $9.99 per person.  I really wish that there was a vegan natural food buffet in Vegas for 9.99 – that would rock!

 

We got on the road to head to SLC around 3 pm. It was slow going with a blown head gasket, but we made it! My family was hanging out waiting for us when we arrived.  We all chit chatted a bit and headed off to bed.

 

Marky:  Hilton Suxx!  No car top carrier for all of our luggage- I was a bit out of sorts and in a post BHOF lull.  We drove out of the desert and up into the mountains of Utah.  Arrive late with rain- lots of unusual Utah Rain… so far no polygamists sightings.

 

Wednesday June 10 -  Sunday June 14 -  Salt Lake City

 

Tatah:  All family time! My mom, Auntie Rhonda, my brother and his family and my sister Cheryl’s ex-husband were all in town for my nephew Collin’s high school graduation. Half of us stayed at Cheryl’s, while the other half stayed at a neighbors house.  

Tatah's Nephew Collin- w Sis Cheryl & Momma Dujour

Tatah Dujour & Nieces Tara & Anna

   I hadn’t seen my mom in almost a year, so I was super stoked to get to hang with her for a couple of days.  Wednesday was pretty bad ass! A bunch of us went on a hike upMillcreek Canyon. We started out at around 4000 ft and hiked up to about 7500.  Auntie Rhonda, Mary – my sister in law – and I were all a little winded. We stopped at one point and all did the Bikrim yoga  ”head to knee” pose to regain our breath and slow our heart rate. Crazy – it really worked. hat night my nephew graduated. I had never actually seen him that happy!  I am very proud of the little turkey.  Thurs. we were supposed to go to Antelope Island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake, but the weather was kind of crappy so we just went to the edge of the lake to say that we

Tatah's Family at the Smelly Salt Lake

had all been there.  PS – the Great Salt Lake is a bit smelly and crappy -  not all that great. We opted for shopping later that day and a little Sushi that evening.  Fri. My mom and auntie left in the morning. The rest of the family went up to Snowbird to hang out for the afternoon while Mark and I stayed at the house to take care of work stuff. I was actually disappointed that day – Snowbird was supposed to still be open for snowboarding that weekend, but we found out they had closed the lifts the weekend before we got there. However – had we taken the tram up the mountain we would have been able to make a run down. It was only one run, but it would have been so worth it!  Sat. the rest of the family left and I went to do antigravity yoga – I’m now obsessed!  We

Tatah & Momma Dujour @ Great Salt Lake

 repacked the car, left a bunch of “stuff” in Cheryl’s basement, and hung with Cher and her friend Allen.  Sun. morning Cheryl, the dogs and I went on a great walk thru City Creek Canyon. It was so beautiful!  We returned home and grabbed Mark and headed to the local hot spot – Blue Plate Diner – for breakfast. I highly recommend checking this joint out if in SLC. The super friendly staff and hip atmosphere make the gigantic portions and great tasting food all the more appealing. The homemade vegan burger was a bit bread-y but still fab- o!  Mark ordered a side of vegan biscuits and gravy per my request – It F-in ROCKED!  Though we ordered mainly vegan Veggie fare, Cheryl promised that the meaty dishes were just as delicious!

 

Hiking in Utah

 

Marky:  Salt Lake was very clean and nice and … nice.  I stayed in a lot and worked on whatever I work on.  The weather was unseasonably rainy and the family had to stay in or go shopping much more than they wanted.  Great food- funny family stuff- and lots of sleep for me!  Thankful for rest and a house to set up shop in for a while…the van was getting crazy!

Timeline Sunday June 14th- SLC

 

Tatah: We rolled out of SLC a bit later then expected – thankfully so! The car was not doing so well on the drive from SLC to Vegas. 2 am and 100 feet from the “Welcome to AZ”  sign we thought the trip was over. The temp gage was way above red and not going down. We pulled over with AZ in our sights, sat staring at the stars for 15 minutes and then continued on hoping Vegas was all down hill from there. By the grace of the Universal Pink Powers – we made it to the Walmart on Charleston just north of Sahara Blvd in Vegas. Mark found some sort of radiator sealant that I would love to do an add for right now because the shit has really helped us out!  We stopped by the Hilton that had thrown out the dino and was holding our camping gear due to them also throwing out the brand new car top carrier. We picked up our stuff and headed to LA.  It was slow going for the next 4 hours . Mark had to pull over every 50 miles to put water in the radiator. Somewhere in the Mojave Desert near Barstow-  the sealant kicked in and we were on our way!  

 

 Marky:  We keep thinking the van is doing fine then she goes crazy… similarly to myself, our dog and our beloved Tatah.  So Pinky the van is merely mocking us? I don’t know.  Sitting in the desert with the hazard lights flashing on the Welcome to Arizona sign, I stumble around in the tumble weeds contemplating the unplanned end to our tour.  We let Pinky cool off and hope the engine isn’t warped or something the kind mechanics along the way have warned us of.  I phone Laura BHOF and let them know

Maddog Navigates

 we may need to stay in Vegas and work on the van in the am- possibly needed a place to crash.  We are supposed to be pushing on through the night as Moana Amore is at the airport in LA in the morning.  2 more gallons of water in Pinky and she hobbles her way down to Vegas- Purchase radiator anti leak gunk and dump lots of it in.  Our best chances of making it through the high desert is at night.  1am we decide to press on to LA. Tat’s wanted to go to a mechanic in the am but we didn’t really have

Moana Amore

 money anyways- so per our original decision- when pinky stops moving the tour is over.  Pinky needed water every 50 miles but if I gave it to her she kept cool.  The sun started coming up over the San Bernadino Valley and again I was sure Pinky would make it to Toronto…maybe NYC..maybe back to Key West.  Many people will believe in many things if Pinky makes it back to Key West.  Pinky runs on possibilities and positivity; she seems to get better gas mileage if we are in good moods.  Seriously.  

Timeline:  Monday June 15  LAX

 

 

Monday Night Tease

 

 

 

 

Next Update: “We were performing at Monday Night Tease…

 

 

Burlesque Hall of Fame 09 w Key West Burlesque

Timeline: June 4th 8pm –

Tatah: As always, the weekend was a blur but a blast!  Here’s what  I remember:

We were finally off to the Orleans for bowling and burlesque. Though Chris was hesitant and skeptical at first, we all dressed in our sailor attire and rocked out at the first annual Barecats invitational!  By the end of the evening we had bowled our asses off, hung out with our amazing Burly-Q  friends from all over the world that we hardly ever get to see, and walked away with two trophies for “Best Style” and “2nd Place” in the tournament.

Marky: The Barecats Invitational was a rockin event!  Swinging tunes, fishnets, bowling, gorgeous ladies and some of the funniest characters on earth! Shultzie bowled a Turkey for gods sakes!  We Pulled out a 2nd place trophy for our super awesome bowling skills and award another gold statue for being the Best Styled Bowling Team. Crazy Fun!

Tatah Dujour & Crew "Best Style"

Later That Night: Tigger Hosts the opening festivities- so funny and relaxed on stage. Thursday night shows were not on the original line up but as Tigger poignantly noted, “There are just too many stage whores! ”   Here are some of my favorites performers who cannot get enough stage time- Darlinda Just Darlinda as Bearlinda- Amber Ray with all her curvy purple awesomeness- I love Amber Ray- Manchego’s number left me on the floor-  simple idea but well executed and effective number- 16 pairs of underwear removed in record time!  Nasty’s Groucho was inspirational once again- and tons of UK girls with lots of great costumes.  My “Fake Japanese Girlfriend” -Violet Eva and Co made me smile and laugh my ass off..Great shows!

Love At First Light- Amber Ray

PS – I thought Midnite Martini killed it! (Tatah)

Timeline:  Friday June 5th

Tatah: The Legends Night – an amazing evening celebrating the women of the burlesque era. Very awesome and moving show.  Highlights- Joan Arline, the Sexquire Girl wore the same costume she made famous 55 years earlier.  Michelle L’amour and Frankie Vivid were married on stage in a very beautiful ceremony and we all enjoyed the company of our burlesque brothers and sisters.

Marky: The Legends are spectacular!  Pioneers and a fearless bunch of ladies who dare to bare and be themselves often times against great opposing pressure.  They are all crazy cheekas and I love em all!  World Famous Bob is so hot and I want to snuggle her so bad!  She didn’t get a chance to “Shush” us…a little disappointing.  Candy Carmello is wacky nuts and makes me laugh regardless of what she says.  So funny- there is no stopping Candy Carmello!  Satan’s Angelrocks so hard-  she performed her infamous Indian Girl number.  Modern Icons Dirty Martini, Catherine D’lish, and Immodesty Blaize kept all of us transfixed and enthralled- total pros in every way.   My first D’lish experience- I had heard so many great things- I was just WOW about Miss D’lish!

Burlesque Legends 09

Michelle L’amour brought out a gigantic purple heart prop and after a series of dynamic poses- gets oiled and her remaining cloths removed by 2 sets of hands that pop out of nowhere! Very Hot!  Which reminds me of the very best wedding ceremony I have ever witnessed.  Miss Astrid is genius.  I wasn’t all the way on the Miss Astrid train- until this wedding ceremony!  So Funny! So funny!  I could not hold the camera straight to save my life…great night!   I love all of these ladies!

Timeline: Saturday Night : Reining Queen Pageantt -

Tatah: I spent most of the day getting ready for this night and still ended up leaving my glittered cave girl club back at the hotel. I had to send Mark there mid show to retrieve it. There were so many great performances but I didn’t get to see many of them after the debut and boylesque – amazing!!! –  performances. Backstage was super fun and full of supportive people and great energy.  I was a little worried my video would not match up with my performance as the stage and video screen was so big.  I forgot all of

Tatah Dujour & Cave Boys

my choreography as I do moments before I go on stage-  it all instantly came back when the big lights came on.  It was so fun!  The audience was cracking and laughing hysterically at my backup dancers on the big screen. I could see Bob and Dixie sitting in the front row smiling the entire time. Wilbur and I rocked it and over all I felt pretty good about my performance.  Although my performance with its interactive film was innovative- I did not place.  It was such a thrill and great honor to have been chosen to compete!  For those who don’t know the results are as follows:

Debut – Melody Mangler – VC, BC

Boylesque – Hot Toddy

Variety - Gigi and Pop

Group – Nanda

2nd Runner up – Perle Noire

1st runner up – my good friend – Roxi Dlite

Reigning Queen – Kalani KoKonuts

Marky: I was running 2 cameras so I didn’t get to see as much as I would like. Filming an event is so very different than actively

watching. There were so many great performances. Tatah forgot her Cave Girl Club and realized this just before the

second act, so I had to run back to our hotel to grab it.  I missed most of the group numbers.  I wanted to see Harvest Moon

with her Aerobella performance- but I didn’t make it back in time.   Filming- Filming- Filming.  Trixie Little, The Evil Hate Monkey, and Indigo Blue were all performers I had to film perfectly with a super fancy pants camera.  I was assisting Kirsten Dandrea with her documentary filming of the dangerous Baltimore duo and friends.  

Highlights: Peekaboo’s Titter Tat was very sexy- Nanda put on quite a bad-ass show- not quite burlesque by their own admission- but a kick-butt inventive show that brought the audience to its feet!  Hot Toddy’s Devil had most females in the crowd all giggly and excited- The Evil Hate Monkey exploded onstage and rocked out with more energy than a herd of wild boars.  Yes Boars, they are crazy.  Roxi D’lite was all business and she killed her number flying above the stage on her huge diamond ring.  Technically stunning.  Trixie Little in her little and industrial ways, cutely cuted herself around the stage and dazzled with her imaginative inventions and cheeky humor.  I like Trixie its true.  (see also sewing glove at finger and thumb trick)  Miss Dujour killed it with her throw-back number with an ultra modern twist.  The audience was laughing and watching the movie- which ended up being way bigger that we figured- and in some respects upstaged her.  Tatah did what Tatah does best! She glided across the stage bumping and smiling.  She was glowing and I was so happy for her to be on that stage.  The Burlesque Hall of Fame and MEW were events she told me she wanted to be a part of long before I was aware of any of this Burlesque awesomeness.  I was proud.  Melody Mangler was in the Best Debut category but we would soon find out she was not new to any of this- she killed a Venus number.  Angie Pontani’s farewell performance was stunning- the audience was silent – It was a beautiful and simply elegant number.   All in all it was a great night- I was tired but somehow still not burnt out on Burlesque!

Timeline Sun: Pool Party

Tatah: – It was so hard to wake up Sunday morning. Exhausted, emotionally drained – with a post performance hang over – I drug myself out of  bed and into the shower. Marquee had been looking forward to the pool party all weekend, so we headed to the Orleans as quickly as we could. Chris opted to go to brunch with  friends that were in town from Key West. Having only spent a few months performing burlesque, the portion of Chris’s brain that was dedicated to burly-q had not expanded enough to handle the 24/7 bump and grind of the BHoF weekend.  We arrived at the pool around 1:30 – just as the biker convention started to arrive. We hung out with friends in the company of a few leather bound strangers, had drinks and kicked back.  Marky wore his white speedo – totally see thru – so  I spent some time searching for a towel to keep him from being fully exposed.

Marquee & Tatah

We dried off and ran up to the Legends Panel. The panel was soooo amazing! The women spoke of stories form their  burlesque past and reminisced  while a large group of us sat quietly dreaming of how it would have been to  tour around the country with these great women in their  day. I remembered having similar moments and stories when I was a feature exotic entertainer, but their stories seem so much more authentic and inspiring. I’m hoping that I will be able to convince my old agent, Eleanor Bucci,  from my feature days to come out next year and share some of their past.  She was a performer in the 1960′ s and is still in the adult entertainment business at age 80!

We went back to the Hilton after the panel to prepare for the evening. By that time Chris was missing his burly  buddies and got ready for the night with us.  Always bitter sweet, the last night was amazing! We hung with friends and watched more kick ass performances.  Saturday night’s co-host, El Vez and his band played this crazy set and I fell in love with a gay Mexican Elvis ! Who would have guessed?

Marky:- The Pool Party was very chill and well attended- I just relaxed and left the camera at the hotel..or I wanted to anyways..we just chilled with Marquee- Roxi Dlite & D’arcy and Trixie & Monkey- Highly anticipated burger from  Fudrucker’s- which was delish-

Dr Lukki & Tatah Dujour

and a quick jump in the pool before I ran up to film the Legends Panel-   I had filmed a few interviews facilitated by Dr Lukki with some of the legends on an individual basis.  The interviews were very interesting and insightful and made me love these women of burlesque so much more.  I will definitely promote the Legends Panel event next year and hope to fill up the theater with these awesome characters and their stories!

Sunday night I finally got tired- El Vez put on a crazy awesome show and Tatah fell in love with the “Mexican Elvis”.  Overall an overwhelmingly successful event for Luke-Laura and the whole production staff of the Burlesque Hall of Fame 2009!

Next Post:

Hilton Trashes Wilbur the Rhinestone Dinosaur!

“Tour Dujour” The Road Trip Begins

 

Bon Voyage Party @ ART BAR

 

 

Timeline: Sunday May 31 11:00p

Tatah: We left KW much later then expected. We were still painting our 407 Caroline St. apartment and taking stuff to storage at 7pm. Then we had to run by TSKW to grab a couple of Mark’s things. It was at that point we realized that our tire had a leaky valve.  Against our better judgment we headed out because we were already one day behind schedule. By the time we got to FL City – only 120 miles from KW – the valve had given out. So at 3 am and only 3 hours away from Key West we had to get a hotel.

Marky: After painting the our apartment, our favorite apartment in Key West and giving it a final clean up we attempted to stuff our last items in and attach to the van.  The newly purchased mini van was freshly painted with @ 20 cans of pink paint by Jollyman and Magical Marie.  Marie was still scraping the windows so we could see out of them while we filled “Pinky”   to the gills with 4 months of everything.  We over packed.  Tatah over-packed.  She was nervous about not having a house, a van was our new house.  Everything valuable we owned went into pinky.  All of it.  

Magical Marie w Pinky the Van

Pinky moaned a little and it seemed she needed some new struts, shocks or something.  She was hovering inches above ground with a large glittery dinosaur that Wendy B from Danger Charters helped us strap to her back.  Pinky  was a sight to behold.

 

After a few stops in town I finally felt that I had taken care of all the things I possibly could have before leaving town for 4 months.  Tatah and I were laughing and smiling. We were on the road in a $600 dollar pink mini van headed for amazing new adventures.  Trueman and White St- fuel fill up and fix a flat.  The tire leaked like crazy!   It was now 11 pm and we were not turning back, willpower would fix that leak and nothing else could stop us.  We stopped every 30 miles or so and filled up the leaking tire.  We inched our way up to Homestead and decided that Pinky would not hold enough air to make it across Alligator Alley so we got a hotel next to a Wallmart and planned to get a new tire early in the morning.

Timeline: Monday June 1

Tatah: In the morning we got the tire fixed, bought a new blackberry for me, and the most valuable purchase of the trip – the computer air card.  Around noon we headed to Ft. Myers to pick up camping supplies from my sister Pam and my nephew Zack.  Crossing Alligator Alley was the first time our little Pinky began to over heat and gave us warning of things to come. It was is FM that I realized for the first time that I had far to much crap packed into our tiny little pink minivan and it might be for the best to lighten our load.  Thankfully my sister’s house had a small corner for the three boxes of shoes and costumes that I needed to leave behind. (Thank you and much LOVE to Pam and Zack!!!)

Tatah Redecorates Pinky

 

From FM we drove through the night and into the next day.  We headed up to northern FL then across the pan handle. We drove thru AL, MS, and LA. By Tuesday morning we were exhausted but new that we were behind schedule. We could not stop – so it was on to Dallas TX.

Marky: Morning. Missed the free breakfast that ended at 9.  New valve stem $9 dollars.  Only 36 hours behind schedule we head for Fort Myers to pick up some camping supplies from Tatah’s sister.  Pinky starts over heating but we turn off the air and she regains her composure.  Tatah unloads 3 boxes of stuff at her sisters and we pick up a tent.  Pinky and I sigh with relief.  Pinky drives a bit friskier. I want to get out of Florida.  Mainland Florida is not my thing.

We drove as long and much as we could. I don’t remember much besides the check engine light came on in Louisiana.  I checked all the fluids and we pressed on to Dallas. Dallas would have a shower.  Happy shower and Tatah’s new friend.

Timeline: Tuesday June 2 4pm

Tatah: My Friend Ginger Valentine is a Burlesque performer who lives and works in Dallas. She and her boyfriend Chris graciously hosted Mark, Maddie and I for a shower and a wonderful Mexican feast!  We stopped only for a few hours in Dallas, but left clean, fed, and happy to have hung out with friends!

By the time we left Dallas, Pinky was in pretty bad shape. We couldn’t go over 55 without overheating and climbing any sort of hill meant going 45 mph.

Mad Dog Navigates in East Texas

 

 

Again we drove through the night and into the next day. We stopped at one point to sleep in a McD’s parking lot when neither of us could go any further.

Marky:  Authentic Mexican barb-q, a good shower and a quick view of Dallas.  Ginger and Chris were wonderful hosts.  We left too soon.  I thought of setting up shop for the summer in Dallas.   Dallas seemed nice and green and friendly, not at all what I imagined.  The van was not where I wanted to be.   24 hours down and half way to Vegas.  Only half way to Vegas!  Texas is Huge. Gigantic. Massive.  We slept in a parking lot under the blaring incandescent  lights.  Mad-dog is finally relaxing.

Timeline: Wednesday June 3

Tatah: I looked on-line using the very handy air-card and found that Pinky’s problem maybe a faulty thermostat. Figuring that was the case we pressed on through NM.  Somewhere in the the middle of the state the faulty whatever it was- decided to give out!  We completely over heated at the top of a small hill. The next 2 hours were spent driving 10 miles per hour and pulling over every 10 minutes until we made it to the small town of Grants NM.  Oddly, the entire town was nothing but auto shops – leading me to believe that there must have been so weird vortex around that area that made cars breakdown. We went to three different

Docs Shop- Blown Head Gasket

 mechanics – each to busy or turned off by the color of our car to help us – before finding the perfect garage. We spent two hours with two of the nicest auto repair specialist I have ever met. The guys at Doc’s Auto were the best! They loved Pinky and enjoyed the writing all over the van. After seeing Wade’s “My other car is a sex swing” message, the one guy felt comfortable enough with us to tell about his fascination with brothels. The owner of the shop was curious about my dinosaur Wilbur that was strapped to the back of the van and asked what exactly it was we were doing driving cross country.  We of course gave him a card and referred  him to the KWBQ website. Amazingly this little stop only cost us $20!!!  The boys warned us that we may have a blown head gasket and gave us a 30% chance to make it to Vegas. There was no stopping us – so we drove on – fingers crossed!

 

Marky:  Driving. Pinky gets temperamental.   She didn’t like hills and heated up if you pushed her over 60 mph.  Sun beating down she suddenly explodes and steam and warning sirens blast all over.   We sit at the top of a hill overlooking vast desert.  I let her cool off  then drive so terribly slowly to the exit a few miles up the road.  We pull in to ask for a garage to put in a new thermostat.  I am told there is an odd number of garages down the road, and a AutoZone.  The garage we called cant get to the van until tomorrow and we are supposed to check in to Vegas in just a few hours.  Figuring I could install the thermostat we purchased one for nothing and some tools from the auto zone.  I couldn’t budge anything.  We drove 3 blocks and pulled into 3 shops where we we didn’t speak enough Spanish and or they were to busy.  One of the last stops was Docs auto repair.  Doc sat in a low riding lawn chair in the middle of his garage.  Doc looked like Wolverines father- X-men Wolverine.  He was gruff, funny and sweet.  He laughed at our van and asked all kinds of questions and told us stories of brothels and pimps in NYC back in the day.  He was hiding out here in the desert.  The other mechanic saw my camera and nicely threatened me not to take his pitcture.  Everyone was hiding out in the desert.  Doc and co replaced our themostat and filled our radiator which was bone dry.  They then informed us of our blown head gasket.  Disbelief. Come on. Seriously- Come on! Mechanic number 2 gave us jugs of water and bet that we wouldn’t make it to Vegas.   What were the odds? Under 20% that we would succeed.   We ate cheap good Mexican and I was sure blown head gasket or not Pinky would get to Vegas.  We were only 3 days in for gods sake.  Pinky wanted to see the Pacific, and I was sure she would. “What is your email Doc?” I asked.  I will send photos of Pinky in Vegas.  Doc laughed and told me he didn’t use e-mail.  He gave us a wink and only charged me 20$ buxx for 2 hours in his shop!  Doc wanted to go with us I was sure.

Pinky Overheats in Desert Sunrise

 

 

Thursday June 4

Tatah: It was around Midnight when we crossed the Hover Dam and 2 am when we got to the hotel. Marquee and Chris had already arrived and checked in. We unloaded the van and headed up to the room. The hotel manager had agreed to let us keep Maddie in the room over night, but she had to leave in the morning.  Mark was back up by 8:30 am to rent a car and drive her up to Cedar Creek, UT. There he met up with my sister Cheryl to make the dog drop and send her on her way to SLC.  Mark made it back to Vegas by 3:30 – just in time to head to the Orleans to get the low down on the evenings festivities.

Marky: Hoover Dam. Pinky gets inspected for bombs.  The new bridge at Hoover Dam is so crazy!  It looms over the deep side of the gorge and towers over the dam.  Crazy!  We checked into the hotel and crashed.  Marquee and Chris were already enjoying Vegas.  The night manager let Maddie stay in the hotel for the night and I was supposed to drive the mad dog 4 hours north into Utah to drop her off with Tatah’s sister.  I rented a car and was able to actually drive 90 mph.  I returned to Vegas just in time for the opening night festivities at the Burlesque Hall of Fame.  Tatah was going to be in the big show in just one day. Crazy. Our adventures had only just begun!

Next Post: Burlesque Hall of Fame 09

The Fantasy… and The Festing- Parade 08

Fantasy Fest is a tremendously wild and dazzling time here in Key West- The Festival brings in people from all over the world to share in the Key West way of life.  I first partook of the Fest paraded 6 years ago and in a small and amazing way it changed my life.  I moved to Key West soon after and the diversely dynamic circus that is Key West keeps me constantly engaged and entertained.   The official idea of  that we are equal members of One Human Family is represented superlatively during the festival climax- the Fantasy Fest Parade-  Key West Burlesque entered a float for the second time and this past year we pulled out a super float award.  The amazing Side Show Circus float with its over 50 actors won the Captain Hook Coordinators Award.  Spectacular as that sounds every participant on said float put in hours of time painting backdrops, making costumes, rehearsing routines simply for the love of the show.  Film/ Editing from Bamboodah Studios

Can I get my Burlesque Intravenous?

While I have gazed in amazement upon all of the amazingly fabulous creatures acting, dancing and stripping off their inhibitions around me,  burlesque  shimmied and strutted  her way into each and every aspect of my life.  Burlesque, ie  Key West Burlesque, has become my official way of life. I breathe, eat, and dream of productions, promotions, photo shoots, tours, movies all in the key of burlesque.  Last night the seductress took over my home.

Upon return home from a hard day of promoting, promoting, and schmoozing, I found that the new rehearsal venue was in my already cramped living-dining-office-foyer-kitchen room.  I crept upstairs and waded through a sea of costumes and underthings and thrust myself on the bed.  After two seconds of crying a realization came over me that this is exactly what I always  wanted.  Being surrounded by witty, expressive, crazy, off kilter, gorgeous, big dreaming, artistic, intelligent people was what I really wished for in my life.  Here they were, all six hundred of them cramped in a tiny room sitting everywhere, cooking up ideas and schemes to make us laugh and think and laugh some more.

I asked for it. I wished for it. Although my couch is now on the back deck, and I have to wait in line to use this computer, and there is no water to drink, and glitter now covers 30 percent of every object in this house, the old crazy girl Burlesque, she always makes me smile.  Much love to everyone who has run with us this far.  We are We, and together everything is possible!