Atta Girl! - of the Week.

Julia Carson

Julia Carson lost her battle with lung cancer last Saturday.

She was the first woman and first African American ever elected to congress from Indiana.

She was a tireless supporter of the poor and the minorities and gave the Indianapolis political scene a show that it will likely never see again.

Known as much for her outrageous Hats, scarves and wigs as she was her politics she was always entertaining whether you agreed with her positions or not.

Despite their best efforts, the Republican Party could not defeat her. She would somehow manage to rally center township into showing up at the polls in numbers the republican party could only dream of.

She was always doing or saying something that was borderline crazy and the local media ate it up! (on a side note, i applaude the local media for the stories and tributes they ran following her death)

My philosophy has always been that her support by the people was due in large part to her willingness to "Show Up" whether it was a pancake breakfast at the first baptist church or a ribbon cutting ceremony at Sylvia's beauty shop. She put herself in places where she was accessible to her constituency. She also is the highest ranking elected official to ever participate in the Indianapolis Gay Pride parade back in 2006. You Go Gurl!

Considered a Saint by some and Satan by others she always stood up for those whom she felt needed a voice. The black, the gay, the poor, the Jews and the elderly all consider her a friend.

I'm sure that Heaven is a lovely place and that God treats everybody with love and respect. But imagine if you can if God accidentally forgot about somebody one day and the visit he would soon be paid by Ms. Julia Carson!

The Little Drummer Boy...

I was just out at the smoking lounge (aka - the loading dock at the south end of the building) and i overheard a gentleman discussing the electric guitar he bought his 7 year old son for Christmas.

It reminded me of a Christmas memory long, long ago...

Picture it: French Lick, 19 early 80 something...

My brother (who is 2 1/2 years older than me) unwrap our presents to find a brand new toy drum for each of us. They were pretty with red sparkly paint on the sides, gold accents and crisp papery white material making up the drum head. They were the best gifts in world until we opened the next gifts...

Anywho, The follow Saturday morning brother and i were up early around 7:00 am and decided we were going to be Peter Chris from the Rock Band KISS and play our drums as such. We beat and we banged with all our might not giving a care in the world to the fact that mother was asleep in the room across the hall from ours. When suddenly, our bedroom door flung open and there stood mother! Nightgown, beadhead and eyes half open, she grabbed one of the drumsticks and proceeded to punch holes into each of the papery white drum heads! (picture Joan Crawford with her wire hanger) Then without a word, she turned around and went back to bed. Brother and i were left staring at each other and our punctured paper drum heads not sure what had just happened. Needless to say, that was the last time we ever got a drum for Christmas.

As i grow older and work 40+ hours a week while not getting near enough sleep, I can appreciate and even laugh (now) at mothers reaction however, i can't help but wonder what i might be had i had a drum to practice on when i was younger... The next Phil Collins perhaps?

So, to the boy getting the electric guitar on Christmas morning, Enjoy it while you have it and if you like to play it real early in the morning... It's not your fault that it's lost when one day you can't seem to remember where you left it.

Stop the Press!

The other night I was flipping through the channels and paused on PBS just long enough to become interested in something. It was a news program of some sort and they were doing a story on an upcoming FCC vote to loosen media ownership laws. More specifically, this new rule will allow publishing companies to now be able to purchase broadcasting companies within the same market. Put simply, One person could control every local news source you have access to. Imagine if you were a Liberal and that person was Ann Coulter or if you are a Conservative and that person was Al Franken. The thought of Ann Coulter ruling over me made me shudder so I continued to watch.

The program focused on a member of the FCC (Martin I think was his last name) who traveled around the country to conduct public hearings in different cities to gauge citizens response to this proposal. The response was overwhelmingly NOT in favor of the proposal. Yet despite the outcry the FCC moved forward with it's plan.

All of this made me think:

This is kind of a Big Deal isn't it?
Isn't a monopoly of the News basically the same as Communism?
Why is nobody talking about this?

So I was relieved this morning when I had message in my inbox from Moveon.org. Now I don't endorse everything that Move on stands for and I sometimes feel they are a little too radical but when they asked me sign an on line petition to reverse the FCC decision, i clicked without hesitation.

Conservative News or Liberal News? Whatever your preference is, you have the choice.

They each provide the service of giving us the Other side of the story whether we agree with it or not.

If you feel the same as I do about this topic you can click here and sign the on-line petition. If you don't feel the same and want another side of the story, there is always another outlet or source for you to get the other side of the story from... For now anyway...

For more on this story from someone smarter than me, click here

Tuesday Ramblings

It's Tuesday Already!

Happy 60th Birthday Mother Blanche!

We all survived the Snow storm over the weekend (at least i think my friends survived anyway... all of their blogs have been updated)

Julia Carson lost her battle with lung cancer over the weekend. I'll talk more about her later in the week.

The fact that Maestro is knitting and baking cookies for children has really rocked my core belief system!

I still need to Christmas Shop.

BD is taking us all out to dinner tonight! Whoo Hoo!

Hillary Clinton rose from 39% to 45% in the latest USAToday Poll - You Go Gurl!

Whatever happened to Fred Thompson? Is he still running?

Hey Mean Gurls! - The Holiday Dom just arrived!

Talk to you all tomorrow!

Something Wicked This way Comes

There's a Snow Storm heading our way! We're All Doomed!

Not really but that is the way some people are caring on. Somebody posted on the IndyStar message board that this is Gods way of punishing us because we are a Red State so I guess the storm has now reached biblical proportions!

Depending on who you listen to, we are expecting anywhere from 3 to 10 inches which leads me to believe that nobody really knows. This Map justifies that theory.

The Gurls and I are planning on hitting yet another holiday party tomorrow night so a pile of snow on the ground should make that interesting. (note to gurls: wear good sock in case we are expected to leave shoes at the door)

I like the Snow. It's pretty when it falls and for some reason always seems to bring out the 3rd grader in me. That is until I have to get out and drive in it along with all the other lunatics.

That's it for now. Everybody be careful out there this weekend. I'm off to stock up on my bread, milk and Eggs!

Atta Girl! - of the Week

Adessah Reed!

For her ability to turn this:

Into This:

Merry Christmas from Dolly Clause!

Seriously Gurl...

http://www.dollypartonmusic.net/site.php?content=splash

Nothing to talk about

I have nothing to talk about today so I'm just going to ramble.

Dolly Parton is going on Tour! Whoo Hoo!
Check out http://dollypartonmusic.net to see if she's coming to a city near you!

The lesbian here in the office just notified me that Jodie Foster came out of the closet.
I guess lesbians are a little slow when it comes to pop culture.

The Golden Globe nominations came out today and for some reason, I don't care this year.

There is a chance of 3 - 6 inches of snow over the weekend. I wonder if my friends would be interested in going sleigh riding?

Congress voted to extend the retirement age of airline pilots to 65.
Old people can't drive cars, let alone, fly planes!

I miss "Dancing with the Stars" (but not Marie Osmond)

Madonna is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame... Really ?!?!

Who in the Hell is Romeo so angry with in his Blog http://postingofthepic.blogspot.com/ today???

Somebody told me Tuesday night that they had read my blog. up until that point I was certain that only 5 people were reading it.

and lastly:
I have no strong candidates for "Atta Girl! - of the week" tomorrow... Any Suggestions?

Behind the Make-up... A Drag Queen Expose`

Ok... One more post about Sunday night and I'll quit talking about Drag Queens otherwise, some random reader to this sight might think it's a sight devoted entirely to Drag Queens.

But anyway...

I wanted to take a moment and report on the events and observations that I witnessed first hand "Behind the Scenes" of a drag show. Romeo touched on the topic a little recently in his blog.

Drag queens in general are labeled as being catty, bitchy and very self absorbed and they generally wear that label proudly accompanied by quick wit and stinging one liners. However, take them out of the spot light and away from an audience and an entirely different specie evolves. One that is helpful, giving, and not the least bit concerned of any outward appearances.

All of this was evident as soon as I arrived before the show Sunday night only to find local train wreck and sub-par performer LaDonna sitting at a table as if she had made a point to arrive early to greet the performers as they entered the venue. She was eating her Sloppy Joe and demanding that we all share in the pint of strawberries she had brought along with her. (they free!)

Next was the time, service and products provided by Adessah & Naomi who took every bit of an hour (if not more) out of their evening to painstakingly practice their art form on Romeo and myself so that we could participate in the event. I don't know about Naomi but Adessah flat out volunteered and insisted to help me out, I didn't even have to ask.

Then there was the act of Vickie St. James that has stuck with me since Sunday and inspired this posting. She came out of her dressing room and instructed LaDonna "Gurl! Throw away that wig and let me give you some of my old ones" She then gave her not 1 but 4 wigs (and wigs ain't cheap) and then proceeded to place each wig on LaDonna's head and style it for her. Say what you will about LaDonna but the look of gratitude and sheer happiness on her face at that moment almost made me cry had I not been crying already from the eyeliner pencil poking at my eye.

Throughout the preshow festivities all 3 of the "professional" drag queens were working the dressing area asking if anybody needed help, complimenting costumes, fixing wigs (mine!) and giving away eyelash adhesive. One of them even gave away an outfit for one of the Bag Lady performers to use that evening.

So, say what you will about Drag Queens (and we've all said plenty) but Drag Queens are what give the gay community its color and sparkle. They give us stinging one liners to repeat. They give us something to make fun of and something to cheer loudly for. They give us hilarious toast to use over and over again and they give us a reason to travel two hours if for no other reason than to see _____ (insert favorite drag queen here). But most importantly, they give of their time, talents and tips. Whenever any cause needs to raise money for any reason ranging from AIDS research to a furnace for the Youth home who do they call on and who always shows up? Drag Queens.

So to all of the Drag Queens everywhere on the behalf of many, I have one thing to say..

Thank You and... You - Better - Work!

Do Something Once in a While that Scares You.

The annual Pride Bag Lady Holiday Show has come and gone and I'm happy to report that Romeo and I survived... With our dignity intact!

I gotta tell ya though, I was scared shitless and chain smoking right up until the final moment before I walked out on stage.

The process started at 6:30 that night when i met my friend Adessah Reed. Adessah is a local drag queen in town who had graciously agreed to paint my face so that I wouldn't look like a man in a dress when i took the stage. This make-up process was pure agony! I've had dentist appointments with less discomfort than this required. At one point I had tears coming out of my eyes as Adessah ran the point of an eye pencil along the edge of my eyeball in order to fill in the eyeliner. As this was occurring, some random stranger was banging my wig from just ordinary flat hair to a quaff worthy of the red carpet.

45 minutes later and the preparations were complete, the face was painted, the hair was banged and the dress was slipped on.

I gasped and clutched my pearls when i saw my completed self in the mirror! Kitty Dusharme was born and she was stunning! I stood there for a good minute in disbelief of the image staring back at me (with her pearls clinched as well)

But there was no time to stare at myself in the mirror any longer! I was number 8 in the rotation and we were already at number 3 (ok... maybe just one more minute in the mirror...there.)

Suddenly we're down to performer number 5, then 6, then 7, then, Up next... Kitty Dusharme!!!!

Would I freeze? Would I fall?

I couldn't think any longer about "would I", the music played and I started walking towards center stage. The spotlight hit, I lifted my chin and I jumped into it heels first! It wasn't perfect and at times it wasn't pretty but whatever it was, it wasn't God Awful.

It was without a doubt one of the most terrifying things I have attempted in quite a while. That fear combined with a spot light, a live audience and whatever other forces were in the building that night led to an absolute feeling of being alive and in the moment.

Then, Just like that, the song was over. My debut was done and the fear was gone.

It wasn't Mt Everest or even the mini-marathon but it was a hurdle and it was something that I was afraid to try. But now that fear has been squashed and the hurdle has been cleared... and I did it all in a skirt and 3 1/2 inch heels no less!

So the moral of the story is this; if there is something out there that you have always wanted to try don't let fear and what other people might think hold you back. Run that race, apply for that new job and ask that boy out on a date. you might wobble on your heels and you might even fall down but with enough guts and friends to put you wig back on straight for you, you can stick out your chest, hold up your chin and declare to the world, I did it!

T.G.I.F.

The weekend is upon us and quite honestly, I'm not sure I wouldn't rather stay at work!

The holiday season kicks into full swing this weekend beginning with the annual White Elephant party at J&J's house this evening followed by a party tomorrow night at Leach's house with a visit/party at our friend Melba's house somewhere there in between. All of which I'm looking forward to!!!

Then comes Sunday. (cue evil music)

Sunday is the annual Pride Bag Lady Holiday Show and for the first time ever, I am performing in it as a full blown Drag Queen - Tits and All!

Granted, this ain't my first time in a dress... far from it. but it does mark the first time I've gone all the way, so much so as to have boobs and my face semi-professionally painted and perform not one but 2 numbers in front of an audience.

It's not the performing that i have a problem with. I perform at Karaoke almost every week (give or take perform) It's the "Trying Something New" without knowing if you're any good at it or not that has me nervous.

And then there's the problem of if I suck, then every body's going to say "He Sucks" and if I'm good then every body's going to say "He's Good" and I'm not sure if being called a "Good Drag Queen" is really a compliment??? (nothing against Drag Queens or course)

Anywho

Romeo is doing the show with me and while I've been hesitant about the whole thing, he's dove into the project Wig First! to which I say, "You go gurl! Represent!

So, with all that said, Wish us both luck and if you can make it by to see us, please stop by!

Have a Good Weekend Everybody!

Atta Girl! - of the Week:

Jodie Foster!

Finally (sorta) came out as a Lesbian this week!

Better late than never!

The Voices in my Head

Day 2 in Blog world and my mind is overwhelmed with topics to talk about.
I literally could not fall asleep last night because my mind was racing with ideas and stories that I wanted to discuss like;

• What's the big deal if Mitt Romney is a Mormon?
• Who will be Barbara Walter's most fascinating person tonight?
• Is Sherri Shepard serious?
• Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer really IS the Best Christmas special of the season (Bumbles Bounce!)

Even driving out to grab something for lunch today, Everything I observed turned into a potential blog topic in my head like:
That lady wearing a fur coat while taking out the trash looks odd.
or
Why is the Steak & Shake advertising ice cream when it's 20 degrees outside?

Hopefully, I can get these voices..er, thoughts inside my head organized and post about a single topic in the blogs to come.

Tomorrow will be the first of a weekly feature to this Blog. "Atta Girl! - of the Week!"
The Atta Girl! is a woman that made waves or headlines in the world that week for one reason or another and who i feel deserves a Shout-out!

Check back in tomorrow to see who it is!

I'm Here!

Well, here i am! (not that too many people care right now) but hopefully that will change and my words will one day change hearts and minds and move nations!
but who am i kidding?
This will be a simple and light hearted blog to talk about whatever is on my mind at the time whether it's a TV show I watched last night, That "God is Pro-life" bumper sticker I saw yesterday morning or that nasty tomato soup i had for lunch today. This is my space, My voice.

So with that said, I proudly plant my flag in the cyber soil of the Blog spear and claim this small space as my very own to do with whatever I please.

Let the Conversation Begin - Hillary Clinton