Pixes!

http://pitchfork.com/news/36045-pixies-set-dates-for-us-idoolittlei-shows/

So excited.

Monday is not

Yesterday was a fun, sun, burn, burnt, beer, bears, hairs, heads day at the Up Your Alley street fair. While seemingly tame compared to last year, it was a gloriously sunny day. I forgot to sunscreen my chest, so I have weird burns on shoulders and chest in the shape of a porpoise.

Some pics and anecdotes later....

Ticketweb Twitter

http://twitter.com/Ticketweb

Twitter and the bastardization of language

I'm having conflicting considerations about Twitter. I dusted my personal Twitter off because of the Social Media - Integrated Marketing Class that I'm taking. I also reclaimed the orphaned Twitter account for my work TicketWeb.

I find the use of Twitter for business purposes and marketing something like a product or event most useful. But there's a dialect, a language - a lingo that Twitterers or whatever they are called, that directly parallels to our short-attention-span society. At the same time, I believe that the hyphenation, abbreviation, and bastardization of language is the prophecy that George Orwell dreamed about in "1984." In the novel, the government or "Big Brother" instituted "Newspeak" or "the only language in the world whose vocabulary gets smaller every year".

Many elements of Twitter convey a tone of casual fun. But I think there's an intangible and sinister undercurrent that is readily absorbed and assimilated by it's users. Is Twitter "Newspeak" the new form of cute?

Fridays were made for Saturday

Lots lots going on. Too much. Presumably a long day of class tomorrow. Tonight it's stay in and relax, get to bed earlier. After class tomorrow meeting Nick and friend Joel to visit my cousin on Bernal Heights. We're having a potluck dinner and Nick is cutting her hair.

Sunday will be a long day....Dore Alley Fair is Sunday and I'm working a donation gate from 9AM to 1PM.

Right now there are two things on my mind.


Everlasting Gobstoppers & this cover of a Michael Jackson song by Shivaree

"Don't Stop Til You Get Enough"

El Perro Del Mar

Change of Heart - a great single

French is the new French

Found this band Mikado on Youtube when I was looking for something else. Nifty. They're kind of like Kraftwerk had a baby with Deee-Lite.

Video test.....test

Here's a video from the June 6, Big Idea party. The Sisters presented "Project Nunway" fashion show. (may not be safe for some works...you decide).

Wednesday....a new stage. Literally.

Today has been kinda nutty. I got a post/request from La Monistat to help her co-host Chaser at the End Up in San Francisco. The night she wants me to help with is going to be her "Bear Beauty Pageant" on August 25th. "Bear" for those of you unfamiliar is a general gay man of a hirsuit or bruin psychical nature.

So the "Bear Beauty Pageant" will consist of 4 categories: Bear Bear, Evening Bear, Bear Realness (the question and answer portion), and Bear Talent.

A number of judges have been enlisted to judge the contest. I don't exactly know what I'll be doing except perhaps dishing with La Monistat and cracking jokes and drinking cocktails. She wants me to appear as Sister Tuna, and I gotta keep my beard.

The second fun thing today is La Monistat also wants the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to basically take over Chaser for a night and run the door, run the show, DJ, etc.... We will get 50% of the door, performer pay, tips, and if we wish to do a raffle, the proceeds from that. All of the funds we raise will go to a charity of our choice. Since I am likely to be the point nun for the event, I decided that it should go to the Transgender Law Center.

I think we've already nailed down our co-hosts Sister Viva and Sister Mable. Hopefully Sister Flora and Sister Maud will DJ and we'll have about 5-6 performances.

La Monistat

Twitter

I dusted off my Twitter account and have been updating. To check it out:

http://twitter.com/dblplus

Sparkle Patty...sparkle!

Last night at the Castro Theater was a lot of fun. I started my manifestation at work and had to get a little help from a co-worker to zip up - heh. Walking out of the office in a floor length pale green polyester gown with sheer wing sleeves and a wimple and matching veil with my face completely made over was pretty fun. The veil blowing in the wind walking up to the F Line was intense (and cold).

The event "Sparkle Patty Sparkle!" was a really fun affair; a near sold out crowd filled the Castro theater. Before the gala event began, a compilation reel of clips from Patty Duke's film and TV career. Then a few musical and skit numbers recreating scenes from "Valley of the Dolls" with Matthew Martin as Helen Lawson and Connie Champagne as Neely O'Hara. They were a riot. Matthew pulled off a Susan Hayward flawlessly.

After the musicals, Patty Duke was brought out (after another video reel of clips including her amazing performance in "The Miracle Worker") with Bruce Vilanch who conducted the interview. Patty (aka: Anna) was charming, funny, and quite down to earth. She spoke about her growing up, having been taken in by a couple who effectively adopted her from her dysfunctional household only to use her for her talent as a child actor.

Before the screening of "Valley of the Dolls", my partner Nick (aka Sister Mary Juanita High) and myself were called up to take the producer of the gala event, Marc Huestis on stage as we Sainted him in front of the audience. "Sainting" is the Sisters way of recognizing people in our community who do a lot of good, be it philanthropy, volunteerism, supporting our friends and loved ones. Marc has been active in arts and film in San Francico's gay community for many years. He was a founder of the Gay Film Festival which is now Frameline, a world reknowned festival in SF.

Patty's son McKenzie from her second marriage was there, and during an intermission he came up to Mary and me to get a picture. He was a nice guy, and kind of a cut up. I looked him up on IMDB.com today to discover that he's been in a number of films and a lot of TV. He's also the brother to Sean Astin (Patty's other son from the second marriage) who played Samwise in "Lord of the Rings."

The evening was rounded out with the screening of "Valley..." which was a lot of fun to see (again) on the big screen with a full house hooting and hollering at the tackiness and fabulousness of the overdramatic portrayal of three wannabe celebrities in the 60's amidst the proliferation of "dolls" aka - downers or uppers.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow....the same only different

This is a placeholder for Monday. Today. I am so busy and rushed with a work deadline, then out early to an event. Having multi facets of my life intersect at times can be great, and sometimes a big stress ball.

I have to manifest today (at work) in order to make it to the Castro Theatre tonight by 7:30 which means starting to face at 4:30pm.
Tonight is "Sparkle, Patty, Sparkle!" a production of my client and friend Marc Huestis. He produces some grand camp events, with a famous film, and the star or often stars of the movie. But the evening is a gala of pre-show interview, entertainment, musical numbers, and the classic camp film "Valley of the Dolls." One of the feature starts of the film, Patty Duke will be the guest star being interviewed before the film. About 7-8 years ago I was at the same film with another star Barbara Parkins as guest.

Tonight as well, a special surprise from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be bestowed upon Mr. Huestis for his contributions to the Queer community if the forms of arts, entertainment and philantrhropy.





I will report more tonight when I get home. And I will report yesterday's events after that, today, tonight....

Placeholder for today (it's still before midnight)

Sisters at the SF Aids Walk

Sister Tuna Noodle Cocktail at AIDS WALK San Francisco

Sisters Maudlin Mascara, Sister Tuna, Postulant Midgie Boo, & Sister Mary Timothy cheer on the walkers at the 2009 San Francisco AIDS WALK. (Pay no attention to the bigots and haters in the background.)

At Eagle with Midgie, Chris (aka Tastycakes) and Sister Sharon

Sunday: today is still under deconstruction.....
Post traumatic face disorder.

Saturday oh Shaturday

Oh dear, it's 1:20AM and I'm finally free of "face" (that's makeup) and veil. Today was a long, lovely, and exhausting day. Starting with a sleepy wake-up and frantic throwing of everything together and into the car, off to SF to drop Nick (Sister Mary Juanita) off at the Sisters archives to do some work with some of the "newbies"; those would be our initiates Novice Sister Tammy Faye Bakersfield and Postulant Midgie Boo. I had to get ready to meet Sister Mary Timothy at the GLBT Center for a blessing at the SF Pride Parade Volunteer Appreciation reception. I did a face out in the hallway of the dark and dimly lit Red Brick building, outside the archive space (which is not large enough for 3 Sisters and one sitting down to face up.

The Pride reception was really nice, with some noshes, cocktails, and a silent raffle giveaway for volunteers. We had 7 or 8 tickets to drop in to the prizes we wanted to try to win. The selection ranged from pet supply packages to t-shirts and gift certificates to two cruises and one $1000 voucher for two flights on Virgin America airlines. Unfortunately neither Mary Tim nor I won; but we did our quick blessing of the volunteers and the event.

From the afternoon there, it was on to the Eagle to offer a libation and blessing to a member of the community who was on the Stop Aids Project's staff. He is moving to "P-town" (Provincetown) to go to school.

A while at the Eagle, and a few pitchers of beer later, it was off to Cell Space for an art opening and reception for a show of an artists drawings and watercolors; one of the paintings is of 4 Sisters. The artist has depicted many "groups" in the SF area who represent the diversity and creativity that is San Francisco. I am sure a number of the groups are Burning Man collectives. A litte while at Cell Space, an opening ritual and blessing for the space and it was time to scoot.

An all day face awaits me tomorrow when I meet Sister Mary Tim at her place (affectionaly known as "The Convent") to join other Sisters as we meet the AIDS Walk in Golden Gate Park to offer a blessing and cheer them on. Then it's on to the Eagle where Sisters are hosting the beer bust (I'm making a massive pasta salad to bring to the bbq portion of the afternoon. Sister Sara Femme is taking care of the kabobs [yum] that will go on the pit grill.

How do these things happen?

I'm exhausted. Last night had to take an antihistamine for allergies and I'm wiped completely out today. I definitely need a disco nap because I'm going out to The Cinch tonight for Anna Conda's weekly drag show Charlie Horse . Tonight's theme is "Lost In Translation" a tribute to 4AD band The Cocteau Twins. This should be a fun and obscure show since nobody really know what the heck Liz Fraser is singing anyway. DJ Bear Z Bub is on the decks, Juanita Fajita's taco stand will be serving it up, and the best mix of wackos in the city converge on the NO COVER night. Drink up kids! Show at Midnight.

I guess I'll sleep sometime later.

Follow up: The show last night was a lot of fun. After a hazy disco nap, I met my friend Joseph at his place in West Oakland, got on the bridge and headed over to the Polk. Arrived fairly early for a midnight show, so had a bite at this corner diner which was so depressing and scary, I dare not honor it by mentioning it's name.

The Cinch was not full, but a comfortable crowd started to gather on the patio and around the bar. As the show neared, we snagged a spot on a bench across from the stage that is most likely against some zoning ordinance or civil code.

Anna Conda started and introduced the show and the reason she wanted to do a Cocteau Twins interpretive drag show; because for her growing up in a Midwestern conservative area, she would listed to their music while her Christian parents would rant on about her sinning. And if she smoked just the right amount of grass, she thought she could understand what Liz was singing. Not so. In a pale satin blue and chocolate brown evening gown, with a wig twisted and wired to appear like roots of a tree she lip synced maniacally to "Pandora."

One of the best numbers was La Monistat's incredibly dreamy interpretation of "Pearly Dew Drops Drops" which is one of my favorite tracks. In a mass of white tule and plumes, a white face, and gauze wrapped head, a white parasol top for a hat and crystal blue fairy lights about her neck, she gesticulated frantically in a whirlwind of confetti snow blown by a fan. Her number brought loud cheers and awe.

One of the next performers, "Downey" recreated a number she'd done a couple of years ago at a 4AD tribute night (the record label the Twins are on). Her funky, bizarre rendition of "Sugar Hiccup" included a bowl of cheerios topped with a box of sugar, some M&M's candy, some grape soda or something similarly sugar-laiden. After a few spoonfuls for herself, she offered up tastes to the audience.

One of the most brilliant performances was a queen in a black and gray mohawk wig, a sleek red and black boustier who juggles three red chifon scarves. Even with the bouyancy of the fabric, it was clear that she knew how to juggle. The airiness of the performance matched the lilting nature of the song.

A few other numbers in between, and a Cocteau Twins "name that song" trivia contest, it was back to the punk/new wave grind from DJ Dirty Knees. Other things happened but having got to sleep at 4:30AM and up at 9AM to start the day, it's just not that happening.

Sister who?

I'm a fully professed member of the San Francisco house of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. (501c3) (note: page is safe for most work, but may have mature content). I've been a "Guard" with the Sisters since 2007, and transitioned to full Sisters about a month ago. My partner is Sister Mary Juanita High.

My name is Sister Tuna Noodle Cocktail. The Sisters are an order of Queer nuns (which today includes gay men, lesbians, transgender, and yes, heterosexual men and women). We take vows to "Promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt."

Our work is based both in the Queer community and the community at large with education and fundraising around such issues as AIDS, breast cancer, social justice, homophobia, health rights, risk assessment and harm reduction. The history of the SPI can be viewed here (beware of artistic license, or one nun's story differs from another due to two-for-one cocktails).

The Sisters published the first safe sex pamphlet which addressed the community's concerns in simple, everyday language. As well, the first "benefit" for the then-unnamed AIDS was held by the Sisters.

The history on the site goes to 2007, but we recently celebrated our 30th anniversary starting around the Easter/Equinox time which is when the original Sisters manifested and became public. The 30th Anniversary included over 150 Sisters from other orders; both US and foreign houses. The events started with exhibits and programs at the Hormel Library at the SF Public Library and a three month residency at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. The celebration continued with the Sisters annual Anniversary/Easter in Dolores Park, at which it was estimated about 50,000 people attended for the festivities.

Just a few weekends ago the Sisters hosted their 11th or 12th Pink Saturday in SF's Castro district. The "event" took place for over 20 years as simple spillover into the streets from the bars and clubs on the night before the San Francisco Pride Parade and festival. This year Pink Saturday expanded dramatically taking in over $150,000 in donations which are in turn granted back out to community organizations and other non-profits.

This Sunday, July 19 at the Eagle Tavern, the Sisters will host a "beer bust" which will benefit another organization. This particular beer bust will also see us give away grants from Pink Saturday donations. For $10 patrons can get beer (or soda) and refills from 3-6pm; a barbecue is also included in the cover.

Watcha Clan - the next day

Watcha Clan were AMAZING! Gorgeous female vocals, beats by laptop, keyboard, sampler, stand up double bass, oud, guitar. Very Trans global sound from North Africa, France, Israel, Morocco, Spain, West Indies, dub, and more. I hope they come back to SF soon; they are playing some festivals in the Fall on the west coast. The Rickshaw was not packed, but they had the crowd on fire.

Watcha Clan @ Rickshaw Stop

I'm heading over to the Rickshaw Stop to see the Watcha Clan, a band that a friend wants me to check out. They are apparently French world style Ragga etc.... Chow first, then music!

It's an image. It's a lifestyle.

I work at TicketWeb. I've been a call center operator, a call center supervisor, a Client Service Rep, and now I am a Project Manager.

This is my newer than new blog. It's newer than the old one which exists somewhere else.

I'm taking a class as San Francisco State University College of Extended Learning. The certification course is in Integrated Marketing. The course I'm taking now is Integrated Marketing: New Tools and Trends.

Part of our course work is to maintain a blog for 12 days straight. Whoooo hoooo!!!!!!

We will be following Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, and possibly more social networking arenas.

I'm sure I'll be back here in a few minutes. Time to pay attention.