Lightning Bug Watch Party

Christmas Photography

2012-01-10T16:55:00.000-06:00

Clothes I Bought For $0.80 Total

2012-01-10T16:48:00.000-06:00

Red Dress. It has ruching or something on the shoulders. Needs to be cut off and hemmed, but that's all.

Paisley dress. Also needs to be made shorter. Belt added.

Vest. Looks much better not with this sweater. lol.

For instance - here's me wearing the vest over a blue dress at Brown Egg.

Rambling II

2012-01-03T09:10:00.000-06:00

This morning I woke up to a crazy message from my ex. Ugh. She thinks Nicole and I are trying to start some drama. It's upsetting to me to think that someone is saying I said things that I didn't say. But that's life I guess. I need to just put it out of my mind. We keep going back and forth between being cool and not cool. I just need to know that she's making payments on the credit card that's also in my name and that the dogs that used to be our dogs are not starving and are getting their shots. I can't imagine what it would be like to have kids with someone who you separate from and really dislike. I'm so lucky that I have Nicole. I never have to go through stuff like this ever again.

A friend of mine told me that she always thought my ex wasn't right for me. Her intuition told me she was going to mess with me. I wish she would have let me in on this nugget of knowledge maybe.. a year ago? lol.

The hard truth about it is once we were engaged it never felt right. My ex cheated on me and I took her back. We got closer after that. She worked hard to regain my trust. Then one day six months after she'd cheated, she spent an entire day that we were on a date in Branson texting another girl things like, 'I'm hanging out with this girl all day but I don't want to be. I wish I could see you.' She never told that other girl she had a girlfriend. I was crushed that she would do something like that again. But rather than be a grown up and leave her, rather than have some self respect, two days later we got engaged. I think I thought having that commitment would keep it from happening again. But then things starting feeling weird. We moved and I felt uncomfortable. I would look at my engagement ring and want to take it off. I didn't want to kiss her. She just looked ugly to me. Then, worst thing ever, I became close friends with someone else and started having feelings for this new person. It made me realize that I didn't love my fiance anymore. And so, I broke up with her. What happened after that is a big, huge mess of fighting and lying and me being the bad guy and her trying to get back at me.

There's more to the story than this. It's much more complicated than I can even say. But this is the story from my point of view. Her story is completely different. Her story is that I broke up with her to sleep with my friend rather than trying to work things out between us. And while those things did happen, that was never my reasoning to break up.

Okay, I needed to hash this out a little and now I'm done. I just want all this to be over. But I have to talk to her and see her. It sucks. If I could sever all ties with her I would in a heartbeat. She's just not even someone I want to be friends with anymore. Not even acquaintances. She's horrible and vindictive and mean. She says it's my fault, I think, for breaking her heart. But not everyone has it in them to be so awful to another person, no matter how badly you feel they treated you.

Vlog 2 Jan 2012 - Rock Show Engagement

2012-01-03T08:37:00.001-06:00

First vlog of the year. Hopefully not the last!

These Things Happen

2011-12-31T19:39:00.000-06:00

Thursday night, I played my first serious real rock show at the Outland Ballroom. I killed it. Performing like that was amazing. It was the best time I've had in so long.

Later in the night, I went in the bathroom with Nicole to hold the door for her. It was a ridiculous ghetto bathroom with tons of stuff written on the bathroom walls. It took her forever. She knocked on the door for me to let go, pushed it open, and pointed to the door. This was there.

I said, "Are you serious?"
She said, "Yes."
I said, "Are you serious?"
And she said, "Yes."

Then she got on one knee, in that bathroom, and asked me to marry her. I said yes. She gave me her great grandmother's ring. She's never even shown anyone the ring before.

People say, "How do you know?"
Everyone says, "When it's right, you just know."
I always thought that was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard until I met Nicole. I just know. I know she is perfect for me and we're perfect together. I have never been so happy in all my life.

Facebook Wifey

2011-12-28T07:51:00.000-06:00

Nicole is now my Facebook wife.

I think people really think we got pretend lesbian married. Oops. Last night we were at Vibe and just decided to be married on Facebook. I don't even know how it came up in conversation. Then it took about fifteen minutes to get Facebook Mobile to let us do it. When we got back in the bar, Kelsea ran over to me immediately and checked my finger for a ring. I had to explain that we just got Facebook married in the alley behind the bar. Classy. lol.

Anyways, we're not going to get pretend lesbian married. We're going to get real lesbian married. But we'll be engaged first. I'll keep you updated.

But for now:

Ramblings. Literally.

2011-12-27T18:28:00.000-06:00

My head hurts because I have a sinus headache. My ear is crackling and popping which makes me think I have an ear infection. I'm sitting on Nicole's bed, staring at the computer and my guitar and the L Word DVDs and thinking that actually, I should get off the bed. I should put on something other than boxers and a white undershirt and go do something. But inevitably, I would only leave the house long enough to buy smokes and take Nicole milk for her coffee at work because she's out of milk at work and she won't drink coffee without milk. There aren't very many things she's as particular about as her coffee, let me just say.

I got complimented today at work. I get complimented fairly often at work, not complimented like 'Oh your hair looks nice under your hat' but complimented like, 'I like working when you're working' or 'You're never in the dining room but you're dominating it.' That's nice. I work hard. I don't know why I don't work as hard at learning to pick guitar or keeping my clothes on hangers as I do at juggling a million tasks at work. Speaking of work, I've been late a couple (lot) of times and if I'm late again, it's bad news bears. I've gone a week only being late once. I think that is something of an improvement, but it's not enough. Not at all. I'm super nervous because I open the bakery this weekend - that's 5am on Saturday morning (New Year's Eve) and 7am on Sunday (New Year's Day.) Guess I won't be partying too hard this year. But Nicole's birthday is the weekend after so I have partying to do then anyway.

It's nice to just write and write and write and clear your head. I know it may not be fun to read, but I don't really care, to be completely honest. Honey badger don't give a shit. I hate that meme, actually. It's not that funny. But it's fun to say.

Since I'm already just putting myself out there, let me also let you see what I look like right now. Such a mess.

Enjoy the rest of your day. I'm going to go blow my nose.

My mouth is open because I can't breathe out of my nose. Seriously.

A Date Night Miracle, or, The Time I Won At Bowling

2011-12-10T21:02:00.000-06:00

So last week, on my birthday, Nicole decided we should go on a date once a week. I'm pretty sure we shook on it. So this week was the first week we had a once-a-week date night. We made plans to cook fajitas, watch White Christmas and look at Christmas lights. Naturally, we instead ate at IHOP, stopped by Melissa's going away party and went bowling.

Here are the bowling photos. I won spectacularly. It was a date night miracle. I'm really not a good bowler.

Beer is very cheap at the bowling alley.

Proof that I won! 111 to 95. :)

Watching Baseball Through a Fence - 20 Sept

2011-12-09T09:30:00.001-06:00

Funny how you remember things, how certain things trigger memories. Sept 20 was a Tuesday, and that day I was bored at home so I went to the park by my house, where I watched the Drury baseball team play. First through a fence, then in the stands because it didn't cost to get in. All the time, I was texting a girl I'd met at the bar the Friday before. And that girl was Nicole. Fun, right?

Playing Catch Up: Halloween

2011-12-08T09:26:00.000-06:00

So as I mentioned earlier, I went this Halloween as Tom Cruise from Risky Business. You know, this famous scene:

Like I also mentioned, everyone thought it was really shocking that I wasn't wearing pants. Maybe also because I wasn't wearing shoes? I'm not sure. But everyone definitely thought a girl in a men's button down with her breasts slightly out was pretty hot. I wasn't even mad.

Here are some photos of all the Halloween shenanigans.

Me & Jesus.

Five-O, Jesus & George Michael.

Big Bad Wolf & Red Riding Hood.


Sexy Alex (Clockwork Orange) and Jesus.

Bob Ross paints a picture.

Hipster Harry Potter will start hunting horcruxes once his band takes off.

Hipster Severus Snape.

Bellatrix Lestrange.

Happy Happy Happy Things

2011-12-08T08:43:00.000-06:00

I have a new girlfriend. (See above.) She is beautiful and smart and funny and ridiculous and secretly nerdy and it's like we've always been together. It's pretty amazing. I'm, suddenly, really really happy. Like I've never been before with anyone else. Every day we spend together is the best day ever.

Just as cool as that news, I dressed as Tom Cruise from Risky Business for Halloween. I was surprised at 1. How many people were shocked that I was not wearing pants. B. How many people thought it was really sexy that I was not wearing pants. Exciting stuff.

Thanksgiving Timelining Day

2011-11-24T11:35:00.001-06:00

2010

2009

2008

2007

BLOG ENTRY:

EIGHT Last's
1. Last cigarette: today
2. Last beverage: Diet Cranberry Limeade
3. Last phone call: from Justin
4. Last text message: "Well it may be an hour but you'll get it"
5. Last song played: "Baker Baker" on the piano
6. Last bubble bath? Sometime in the last 2 months?
7. Last time you cried: Not sure
8. Last meal? grilled cheese and an apple
EIGHT Have You’s
1. Have you ever dated someone twice? yes
2. Have you ever been cheated on? yes
4. Have you ever kissed someone & regretted it? Not really
5. Have you ever fallen in love? Yes.
6. Have you ever lost someone? Yes
7. Have you ever been depressed? yes
8. Have you ever been drunk and thrown up? yes
Name EIGHT things you did in the past three days:
1. Made a tripod into a Christmas tree
2. Sang and played piano
3. Made a videoblog of break
4. Ate Raisin Bran
5. Saw Blessed Union of Souls
6. Worked tres jobs
7. Ate Tuesday night PSub with Jess & Steve
8. Paid a parking ticket

List THREE people you can tell pretty much tell anything to: Steve
List THREE favorite colors: Yellow/Purple/Green
List THREE things you want to do before you die: Be happy/Write an opera/Travel

2006

2005
BLOG ENTRY:

Quote Shakespeare Week Day Two

blow, blow, thou winter wind:
thou art not so unkind
as man's ingratitude;
thy tooth is not so keen,
because thou art not seen,
although thy breath be rude.
heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
then heigh-ho, the holly!
this life is most jolly.

As You Like It, Act II Scene vii

I think that one quite appropriate today.

I almost bought a strange floppy hat last night. I should have gotten it.

***This last post seems boring, but here's the cool thing: my ridiculous black floppy rain hat that I wear... when it's raining? That's the hat I'm talking about here. I went back and bought it after all. :)

On The Catcher In the Rye (John Green quote)

2011-10-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

There's this sociologist I like named Peter Burger and he wrote in one of his books the difference between dogs and people is that dogs know how to be dogs. And it seems to me that one of the ways that we don't come in to this world knowing how to be a person is that we don't really know what to do about empathy. Like the weird thing about self consciousness is that you become aware of the fact that you can never fully feel someone else's pain and that someone else can never fully feel your pain. The fact that empathy is a limited human talent is a good thing. Because our brains are too small and too primitive to function if we're feelings everyone's pain and everyone's joy and everyone's excitement and everyone's loneliness and everyone's boredom all at the same time. The question is how do we get to a place where we can empathize with each other enough to care about each other enough to get through this veil of tears.

Boozing and Binging, or, How The Detox Went

2011-08-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

My detox went really well for four days. On the night of the fourth day, or more like, midnight of the fifth day, I had a beer. On day five, I had half a piece of cherry pie, a few beers, and I binge ate a cinnamon crunch bagel. On day six, I had a half pitcher of margarita and chips and salsa. On day seven, I binge ate all day. It sucks that I lost at the detox with drinking and binge eating, because those were the main reasons I wanted to do this thing. Now, I'm just trying to stick with this as my eating habits, just this eating very healthy, but then I binge eat really horrible things I never would have eaten before. Deprivation and will power are not my strong suits.

Here's what I've stuck with, though, through the detox. And I do feel better overall when I eat good things. I can feel my body slowing now after I eat unhealthy foods. Anyways, I haven't had any caffeine in over a week and I hadn't taken any meds until today when I took Sudafed for the cold I awoke today with. I'm also going back to my old habit not having sugar, but this time I'm including artificial sugar substitutes like Splenda. There's just rarely nutritional value in sweets.

So that's that.

During my detox, I also tried to think about things I always want to do but never do cause I'm lazy. That led me to the Nature Center. Here are the photos.

Detox! Day One

2011-08-08T23:14:00.000-05:00

My life is a mess right now. So I'm controlling the one thing I can, my body and things I put into it. I've been taking caffeine pills, drinking espresso and alcohol excessively and eating too little of the wrong foods. So, here's what I'm doing.

I read about detox diets this morning. There are different ones - raw food detox, vegan, vegetarian, liquid, and the crazy ones like the Master Cleanse where you drink the scrumptious sounding mix of maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemon juice. Yikes. So something I heard in a video said you should take two steps away from your food comfort zone. If you eat a typical American diet - processed meats, dairy, caffeine, sugar - you should eat a healthy vegetarian diet for a week to give your body time to regroup. If you're vegetarian, you do vegan. If you're vegan, you try raw foods. Etc. It's not about depriving your body of calories, which is what I used to think, it's about giving your body good stuff so it can kinda shake off the damage you've done.

Here's what my goal is

No meat (except possibly fish)
No dairy
No sugar (I already try do this) or sugar substitutes (I'm bad about this)
No refined carbs (bread, pasta, etc.)
No caffeine (omg what am I thinking!?)
No alcohol (this makes me the saddest)
No medicine (I take a lot of Excedrin)

So you might be thinking - Carly, are you crazy? Yes, I am, but not for my eating habits. You also might be thinking, well what can you eat? Vegetables and fruits mostly. Also whole grains. And I'll be drinking lots of water and decaf herbal teas. I read something about not eating beans and things of that nature, so I think I'll stay away. I want to not do meat but I think I should have fish so that I'm getting that protein and those calories.

So today, here's what I ate/drank.

Breakfast
Frozen Mango (one mango blended with ice and water)

Snack
Baby carrots

Lunch -
Orange Ginger Kale (I just cooked kale with ginger, garlic and orange juice)
Grape Tomatoes and Fresh Basil
Salmon
1/2 whole grain roll

Dinner -
Thai Carrot Ginger Soup

Drinks
To substitute my need for a hot caffeinated drink in the morning (usually coffee or tea) I had hot water with lime. It was shockingly awesome. I also had mint chamomile tea, hot water with lemon, and plain old water. I tried to be aware of how much I was drinking and actually drink a lot.

So that's that. I may or may not keep posting, but I thought it was interesting so far.

How Very

2011-08-07T16:33:00.001-05:00

Last night I watched Heathers for the first time. It was magnificent. Also, have I mentioned I'm on DailyBooth?

This is my most recent Dailybooth photo.

Also, quotes from Heathers. If you don't know what Heathers is, btw, it's a 1988 dark comedy cult classic with a 16-year-old Winona Ryder.

Dear Diary: Heather told me she teaches people "real life." She said, real life sucks losers dry. You want to fuck with the eagles, you have to learn to fly. I said, so, you teach people how to spread their wings and fly? She said, yes. I said, you're beautiful.

If you were happy every day of your life you wouldn't be a human being. You'd be a game-show host.

Heather, why can't you just be a friend? Why do you have to be such a mega-bitch?

Last (Friday) Night

2011-08-06T07:36:00.000-05:00

My night was a lot of chatting and less dancing on table tops and taking too many shots like the K.P. song, but I did drink this ridiculous cherry whipped vodka which was at least a little exciting. Now I'm awake after getting up at 5:50am, approx. 2 hours and 10 minutes before the shift I picked up at work today. So here are two photos from last night.

Today, 3:16 a.m.

2011-08-05T16:22:00.000-05:00

Four Years Ago - Exactly

2011-08-04T15:38:00.003-05:00

Adventures in Pizza Delivery I
The sun never sets on being a badass.

And while we're at it, I feel like exposing myself.
Here are a couple more.

Adventures in Pizza Delivery II - where I talk to this guy I dated for maybe a minute then talk about breaking up.
"Breaking up is hard. Even if it's mutual. Even if the relationship was really not long at all. Even if you know it wasn't going to work out. It sucks. It feels like rejection. And failure."

Adventures in Pizza Delivery III
I actually talk about work and making money. Boring. But gas was $2.58!

Show #6 of Devion's Drag Race REVIEW "Black Tie Affair"

2011-07-19T21:26:00.000-05:00

Springfield, MO - Martha's Vineyard - Devion's Drag Race - Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m.

Challenge: "Black Tie Affair" Also props had to be used.

Lashanti Ray

Material Girl
Queen of the night

Carly: First number - classy, but boring prop. Second number - love this song. Good dress. Using prop - is that a light wrapped in feathers?

Holly: Good dresses this week. Overall good performances but just not memorable.

Jordan Paige
Happy, Leona Lewis
If I Was A Rich Girl, Gwen Stefani

Carly: Good costume and lip sync on both performances. Just carried a tiara in the first number, maybe not a good prop? Great lip sync. Good butt. (That's in my notes.) During the second number, the extra was cool. I was bored, but it wasn't bad. It just wasn't diva and I wanted it to be.

Holly: Looks very cute and classy for the first number. Good breasts. Not so classy for the second number - dressed stripper-worthy. Didn't understand why she was carrying a tiara for the first 30 seconds of her first song other than she had to have a prop. I'm not sure what the prop was in the second number.

Ryder Good

Caught Up Usher
Feeling Good, Michael Buble

Carly: Choreo on the first number wasn't bad but needed more energy. The prop wasn't neglected and the kick was really cool. Great classy costumes on both numbers. Second number -production number was well planned but boring. Watching people have a pretend dinner date isn't that exciting. The girl was hot and not awkward but Ryder looked bored during both performances. Also you have to drink when you cheers someone and Ryder cheers'd his lady and didn't drink.

Holly: Classy costumes for both numbers. I wasn't loving the dancing in either number, it was a little bit awkward. For the first number I was unsure of what the prop was until the hat kick and even then I was unsatisfied. For the second number, the girl was attractive. Good dip at the end. Overall, I was a little bit bored. Ryder just didn't keep my attention this week.

Tiffany Star
Bound To You, Christina Aguilera

Edge of Glory, Lady Gaga

Carly: Just carried her rose prop in the first number. Pretty boring. Not sure the hair is totally classy, but she looked great. Awesome makeup on the second number (also great lips on the first.) Loved Edge of Glory - me and the guy behind me were singing and having an awesome time and it was also a great performance. The second costume was a little more figure skater and a little less classy. Overall, I liked Tiffany as always.

Holly: Tiffany is such a good diva. She also had great breasts tonight. She chose good songs. I think she can make almost anything good.

Aaron Skyy

Sway with Me Michael Buble
My Love, J-Tim
Carly: First number was definitely actually classy. Good dance! Great extra - she was not giggly like some other extras. Dance was sexy. Second number was cute and classy and the perfect type of song for Aaron. Good hard hitting dancing. Found someone else to rap which I really liked after the bad rapping last week, although I would have liked Aaron to have stayed in the spotlight with the rapper.

Holly: First number - this was the first performance I didn't get bored for at all. It was fun with a great actual dance. Aaron is always so cute and had a sexy girl who left at the end so we could focus on Aaron. Second number - I really liked this song and Aaron is actually a good dancer. Knew the words well. I didn't love that someone else came in for the rap.

Janessa Highland

Cruella Deville skit with Fashionista, Jimmy James
It's All Coming Back To Me Now, Celine Dion

Carly: The skit for the first number was a little long but it was cute and like a creepy classy I think. The switch to the song (which everyone knows because they play it to signal the start of every show) was so clever. Great costume and cigarette prop was cute. Second song - I wrote "classy bitch." I was a little confused about whether or not she was still Cruella. I love this song, and again, the guy behind me and I were having a great time singing along to it.

Holly: Janessa is always classy, so this must have been an easy challenge for her. Great clever first performance although I did think the intro was a little long. Second number - is she still Cruella? I liked her costumes and overall she was great this week.

Tiana De La Croix

Mommie Dearest production number
Como la Flor, Selena

Holly: This must be a really popular drag performance, we've seen it before. It's always a crowd pleaser and Tiana did a good job. Pulled out a Pepsi as the prop at the end, which was cute. Liked the dress for the second number.

Carly: I think that Tiana usually always looks classy but with a perfect little slutty twist. This week, she actually looked really classy. I was bored by the Mommie Dearest because I didn't know what it was (I googled and now I know.) People really loved the production number and she did a good job with it. I loved the hair. The second number was really great lip sync on the Spanish and I love that song. Big smiley face.

Angelina Deveroux

Didn't Know My Own Strength,Whitney Houston
Think of Me, Phantom of the Opera

Holly: Really liked the first number - this was the one from last week that we didn't get to see. It was a very moving performance about abuse. It was really great. Second number - the boy just stood around in the background which was awkward but he's a phantom so I guess he's allowed to do that. Cute number. I'm surprised by how much the crowd liked it. Overall, good performance.

Carly: This dress I thought was odd for the first number but I thought she looked great as usual. She was diva but it was so sad. I teared up for sure. It was moving and really great. Think of Me was super classy - I wrote - Are you kidding? Maybe too classy? No, she's an opera diva! What up! lol.

Top Four
Janessa
Aaron
Angelina
Tiffany

Bottom Two

Ryder

Jordan
Lashanti

Eliminated

Jordan

Overall Thoughts:

Do you agree with the bottom three and the elimination?

Carly says: I think so.
Holly says: I agree with the bottom three. I'm not sure about the elimination.

How did you think the contestants did regarding the Black Tie/classy part of the challenge?
Holly says: I think most of the contestants did a great job keeping it classy.
Carly says: I think some people were really clever about their classiness, some were boring.

How did you think the contestants did with their prop challenge?
Holly says: I was really disappointed in the majority of the "props." There have been props in other numbers from other weeks that were much better than props week props. When your challenge is props, I think you should probably focus on that aspect of your performance and not add it as an afterthought.
Carly says: Thinking back, I think a lot of people's props were a little throw away or last minute. I don't remember any really great props. The only cool prop I can think of is Angelina's flag from maybe three weeks ago.

Favorites this week?

Holly says: Aaron and Janessa.

Carly says: Aaron, Angelina's survivor number, It's All Coming Back, Edge of Glory and Como la Flor, but I really mostly liked those songs because I was going to town singing along.

Best performance of the night?

Carly says: Angelina's survivor number. I think I almost cried. But, since it was a number for last week, I'll also pick a performance from this week, and I think that's Aaron's first number.
Holly says: Agreed.

Gone this week (but she'll be back!) - Marissa

She was sick.

Come see it for yourself - Tuesday nights @ 11:30pm at Martha's Vineyard in Springfield MO. No cover for 21up. $4 for minors.

The opinions stated in this blog are just that, opinions. Also, we are in no way affiliated with Devion's Drag Race or Martha's Vineyard. Photos are Creative Commons licensed and can be used with attribution, CC, Carly Wilburn, 2011.

Survivor Night - Show #5 of Devion's Drag Race REVIEW

2011-07-09T15:30:00.005-05:00

Springfield, MO - Martha's Vineyard - Devion's Drag Race - Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m.

Challenge: "Survivors" - I'm pretty sure both numbers had to be related to the theme 'survivors' and one had to be a production number.

Aaron Skyy

Imagine cover
Not Afraid, Eminem

Carly: Good lip sync on Imagine. The production part of it was simple and sweet. Cool that all the people weren't just standing there at the start. I think the Eminem maybe wasn't the right song. It was good for the theme but not a good lip sync, which is hard for me to say because I adore Aaron.

Holly: That's almost exactly what my notes say.

Miracle Monroe
Giddy On Up, Laura Bell Bundy
When You're Good To Mama from Chicago

Carly: Same as last week for me with Miracle - the performance is good, the attitude is fierce, but the costumes just don't compare to the other contestants.

Holly: What does a production number consist of because neither of her performances seemed like a production number.

Lashanti Ray

The Warrior Patty Smyth
Run The World (Girls) Beyonce
Carly: Is this an avatar costume? It totally, somehow, worked with the song. Run The World is a song I don't love, but I tried to ignore that. I loved this production number. The dancer could actually dance and I really loved that he left during the verses so that Lashanti could do her thing without us being distracted by someone else.

Holly: She did two upbeat fun songs which I liked. I liked both of her outfits. Overall, she did really good this week.

Tiffany Star
Haven't Seen The Last of Me Cher
Defying Gravity from Wicked

Carly: I'm not a huge Cher fan but this was a good choice for the survivor challenge I think. Defying Gravity got cut off, but Tiffany did it up right with the full crazy green makeup. Dry ice was an awesome detail. Another queen was playing Glinda which I was excited about. It was from the actual show, not just the song, which made it a little confusing. I think it could have just been the song and still been epic. But I think it will make a difference seeing the whole thing, which we will this week.

Holly:Tiffany looked pretty as usual. Even though I'm pretty over Cher, this was actually good Cher drag. I was really disappointed that the second performance got cut off. Looking forward to seeing it this week.

Tiana De La Croix

Superstar
Independence Day, Martina McBride
Carly: Tiana was full of surprises this week. She did a great job with the first number. I was excited about it being from Superstar but I haven't seen that movie in probably ten years so I was a little confused here and there. I think I could have appreciated it more if I was a big fan of the movie. But it was cool and very well rehearsed. Independence Day was a crowd pleaser, good survivor song, and classy.

Holly: Tiana had fun costumes this week. You could tell that Superstar was well rehearsed. It was pretty epic. Loved the costume change.

Luckily we spoke to someone about this week's theme in advance, so we knew this would be happening - Natalia and Jordan were given the opportunity to return - both fighting for one spot. Hence the survivor theme. A fun twist.

Natalia (fighting to return)

Battlefield Jordin Sparks

Carly: Her movements are a little spastic, but her outfit wasn't terrible. She was wearing a cool veil. The song choice was cool; I think everyone likes this song. I wrote down 'Oh. No.' because a collective groan seems to go through the bar when Natalia performs. I tried my best to not let the crowd influence me this week.

Holly: I also thought it was a really good song choice. She was actually better this week than earlier weeks.

Jordan Paige (fighting to return)

I Wanna Know What Love Is, Mariah Carey

Carly: So first of all, is this a Lady Gaga dress? No one just has a red lace dress lying around that isn't a Lady Gaga dress. Either way, it's a pretty cool dress. Jordan was very pretty again this week. The performance was classy.

Holly: That's exactly what my notes say. She was back to the beautiful Jordan we saw the first week. I really liked the costume. It was a classy performance.

Ryder Good

Keep Your Head Up, Andy Grammer
Never Gonna Leave This Bed, Maroon 5

Carly: Costumes were good, production number was cute and clever and lip sync was good as usual. Also, I noticed this week that Ryder just has a great face. Despite all that, I think I was a little bored with Ryder's performances this week. Like the hot girl in the production number looked.

Holly: Good costumes. Cute girl prop. This week, I don't think there was anything that kept my attention during the first performance.

Marissa Campanella
Black Eyes, Blue Tears, Shania Twain
Unknown

Carly: I don't know that I'd heard this first song before, but it was a great choice for survivor and the production part of it was really great. Awesome, but also sad. Well played on stage - the extra didn't take away from the performer, which is something I pay attention to because I do get easily distracted. This was one of my favs of the night and definitely my favorite Marissa performance so far. Second number was classy but got cut off.

Holly: I love this hair. Fun costume. This was the best presentation of the theme. It was clearly about overcoming domestic abuse. I agree with it being well played on stage and overall it was a great performance. I don't have notes on the second number because she was cut off so quickly.

Angelina Deveroux

Dear Mr. President, Pink
I Didn't Know My Own Strength, Whitney Houston

Carly: Hello crowd pleasing song. I don't think I'll get tired of seeing Dear Mr. President done by queens or kings. This song isn't particularly diva in the way that Angelina is but she made it diva anyway. PS - is that Tiffany's Evanescence dress? I think the second number was going to be about bullying. I wish we could have seen it.

Holly: I love this song. I always love the songs she picks. Are we the same person? Fun outfit for the second performance. I really wanted to see what was going to happen but she was cut off too soon.

Janessa Highland

Heroes Live Forever, Vanessa Amorosi
Eye of the Tiger and Another One Bites The Dust

Carly: Love the first outfit. I heard someone shout "Janessa for President" at the beginning of the number. I wasn't sure how this song fit into the survivor theme because it kept talking about heroes and I don't know that heroes and survivors are necessarily the same but I don't think anyone else is being that picky. Second number was kinda silly (in a good way,) very sassy and really fun.

Holly: Janessa was classy and pretty as always. I liked her costumes. She is a supermodel. We got to see more of her production number than others, maybe because she tore up pictures of the other contestants and that's a crowd/judge pleaser.

Carly: I think the tearing up of the photos is a little gimmick-y.

Holly: It might be gimmick-y, but that's what people like. Because it shows confidence and attitude. And that's what all drag queens need.

Returning to the Competition
Jordan

Top Four
Tiana
Tiffany (5th week in a row)
Marissa (3rd time)
Angelina (3rd time)

Bottom Two

Miracle (1st time in the bottom)

Aaron (third time in the bottom)
*Tiana (chosen by the other contestants to lip sync for her life)

Eliminated

Miracle Monroe

Overall Thoughts:

Do you agree with the bottom two and the elimination?

Carly says: I wasn't excited that Aaron was in the bottom, but I wasn't as mad as Holly who I thought might storm the stage. Miracle going home made sense, but I really hoped to see her become awesome, because I think she could have.
Holly says: Um, I was drunk. I'm glad Miracle went home over Aaron but I do think she has a lot of potential.

How did you think the contestants did regarding the challenge?
Carly says: Domestic violence. Bullying. Wicked. Avatar. All great survivor stuff. I don't think the Girls Rule The World or the staying in bed song were quite survivor-y. A few others were more inspirational than about survivors.

Holly says: I thought it was really hit or miss. The songs were either clearly about surviving or I didn't get them at all.
Favorites this week?

Holly says: I can't pick a favorite because we didn't see half of the people's numbers. Of the people we saw, I think Marissa's was my favorite production number but I feel bad picking a favorite at all.

Carly says: Marissa. I can't really judge the numbers that weren't finished, but I think I would have put Tiffany and Angelina here if I'd seen their full numbers.

Best performance of the night?

Carly says: Marissa's Black Eyes, Blue Tears
Holly says: The best performance we saw was Marissa's, but I think Angelina's and Tiffany's would have been epic as well.

Gone this week - Jude Louie

He left before the end of the show last week then wasn't back this week. I saw him mouth "What the f***?" at Lashanti when their goth prom production number was cut off. Perhaps he dropped out because of this? We'll probably never know.

Glitter - It's Here, It's Everywhere

2011-07-04T15:55:00.001-05:00

A couple weekends ago we went to St. Louis for Pride. I wrote a post about the schedule, but since we got back I hadn't had the time to edit photos for posting. But now they're edited, and they're all on Flickr! Here are a few.

View the entire album here.

Laumeier Sculpture Park

View the entire album here.

Pridefest

Queen of Pride

King of Pride

Kimberly Locke

View the entire album here.

Pride Parade

Condom dress!

View the entire album here.

Five Ways To Make Bad Beer Taste Better

2011-07-03T16:51:00.000-05:00

Cheap beer isn't awesome, but sometimes, it's all you can manage. For example, I just bought a 12 pack of Hiland Ice for just $5. I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any cheaper than that. We've been buying these type of beers lately and have come up with a few ways to make them taste less like metal, vodka and fizz.

Add lime. Beer companies charge you more when they add lime flavoring to your beer, so why not do it yourself? One lime costs less than a dollar most times of the year and can be enough for 6-12 beers, depending on how much you need. Lime juice, which keeps for much much longer in your fridge, costs even less per squeeze.
Add lemon. A slightly less tasty alternative, but adding lemon juice to your beer can take away the rubbing alcohol sting of a crappy beer.
Add orange juice. This sounds weird, but when you add a splash up to half orange juice to your beer, it becomes a kind of delicious trashy Mimosa. Orange juice isn't super expensive either.
Make Summer Brew. (photo below) Summer brew sounds gross but is actually a pretty delicious way to use your cheap beer. Summer brew = 1 part beer, 1 part lemonade, 1 part ginger ale, 1 part vodka (we use whiskey) and some slices of lemon, lime and orange (if you want to get fancy.) Put it all in a pitcher and enjoy.
Make Beer Popsicles. You basically sweeten the beer, put in some sticks and throw it in the freezer. You could use those little popsicles makers too. This recipe uses agave nectar, but if you're strapped for cash, grab some free sugar/Splenda/Sweet and Low packets and you'll be set. Recipe and directions here.

Summer Brew

Countdown to Deathly Hallows Blog Giveaway!

2011-06-30T14:25:00.003-05:00

The Countdown Continues -

One lucky winner will receive the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Mystery at Hogwarts Board Game!

Contest will run until the previews start on HP7 Part 2 - that is, until July 14th at 11:59pm.

How To Enter:

Comment on this post with your favorite Harry Potter character! One entry per person. Anonymous comments will not be counted, for obvious reasons.

To receive bonus entries (up to three) -

Tweet it! "I just entered the Countdown to Deathly Hallows Blog Giveaway! tinyurl.com/hp7giveaway @theorum7 "
Follow the blog or subscribe via RSS and comment to let me know you have.
Follow me on Twitter and let me know - @theorum7.

*This collectible Harry Potter board game is used and sells for $50-60 new. Winner will be chosen randomly and will be notified via email within 48 hours of the end of the contest - July 15-16.

Prom Night - Show #4 of Devion's Drag Race REVIEW

2011-06-29T01:46:00.003-05:00

Springfield, MO - Martha's Vineyard - Devion's Drag Race - Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m.

Challenge: "Prom Night" - Contestants were paired and had to perform a number that told a story related to their given theme.

Jude Louie and Lashanti Ray

Production Number - I Got You Babe and part of Love The Way You Lie

Holly: Was Lashanti impersonating a raptor this week? I'm not sure why else she would be holding her arms that way. But she knew her words well for all songs. I don't have much to say about Jude because I'm pretty sure the mix got cut off before he got to do his part.

Carly: When I think of this theme and this performance, I am reminded of an unrelated Harry Potter quote - "Pathetic, pathetic! With the whole world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?" With the whole world of goth, rock and all other related music they go for Sonny and Cher? I know it was supposed to be ironic, but the performance just didn't play it up enough. I wish they would have at least moved around the stage. I thought the costumes were great, but why not some weird goth love song? A zombie prom Thriller performance? I would have even settled for Evanescence.

Aaron Skyy and Tiffany Starr - Prom King and Queen
Production Number - (I've Had) The Time of My Life and Bottoms Up

Holly: Very prom-worthy costumes. Cute. Well rehearsed. Tiffany was a whole foot taller than Aaron which always seems to happen when kings and queens are paired together. Tiffany looked really beautiful in the opening song and then super hot in the next. They both knew the words well for Bottoms Up. Tiffany rocked the rap. This whole performance was a crowd-pleaser. Overall a great performance.

Carly: Cute and well rehearsed. Tiffany's dress was really great. Great choreo and use of the stage. I was hoping for a Dirty Dancing worthy lift but I can't win them all. lol. The whole first part of the performance just made me smile. Aaron and Tiffany are both just really easy to watch. The after prom stuff was fun. I always love a good quick change. I just wrote YES! in giant letters - I think that was after Tiffany tore up the Nicki Minaj.

Anti-Prom: Janessa Highland and Ryder Good

Production Number - Come What Mayclip from Moulin Rouge, I Don't Want You Back male and female versions

Holly: Janessa's actually two feet taller than Ryder I think. Cute classy first song. They both looked nice. Underwear for Ryder? Nice move. Janessa's second dress was cute. I know I always say this but Janessa's just so pretty. She had a really good bitch face, like "Yeah, I'm a bitch. What?" Overall this was a good performance full of win.

Carly: I thought they did a great job of telling a story. It was clever. Outfits were good. I wrote down, "Cool! Entertaining. Classy. A+." I will say though that when I heard Moulin Rouge and saw the other guy on stage I thought it was going to go into Roxanne and they were going to tango. I was obviously really off base. What they did was more creative anyway. Well planned and well rehearsed. Also cool that they added in their own speaking parts.

Tiana and Marissa: The Lesbian Couple

Production Number - Take Me For What I Am from Rent and Against All Odds, Mariah Carey

Holly: As a lesbian of course I love this fun Rent song. They both knew the words well. Does Marissa not have breasts tonight? Right before the song change, she had a nip slip. Oops. She also wasn't quite ready for her second entrance and had to hold her dress up the whole time. As an audience member, that's not fun to watch, but as someone who knows there's more to this than just what we see, I understand that sometimes you just run out of time and have to improvise. Tiana looked really beautiful tonight in a semi-classy see-through dress.

Carly: I think I was too busy singing along to this total crowd-pleaser of a song to take a lot of photos or a lot of notes. The props were good. They were both totally diva and the performance was great. A plus plus. One thing though - do lesbians wear sweatbands with their see-through applique dresses? Is that why Tiana was wearing one? Also, they had some wardrobe malfunctions but diva-ed through which is commendable.

Angelina Deveroux: Stood up at the prom then got revenge

Stood Up Song - Hopelessly Devoted To You from Grease
Revenge Song - Bust Your Windows Glee version I think

Holly: First song - Cute. Good prom dress. Cut hair on stage which was an awesome crazy girl move. I'm pretty sure she also rolled on the floor at some point. I was a little bored by the song choice because Angelina usually does something upbeat and fun but I realize she was confined by her theme this week. Second song - Angelina looks good as she beats her boy prop with a bat, which is pretty badass. Overall good performance.

Carly: I love a lot of things about Angelina but what I loved this week were the little details in her performances (the jacket, the zits, the haircut) and also her theatricality. I know it's only 3-4 minutes, but that's plenty of time for someone to get bored and tonight, Angelina kept that from happening. I mean, Hopelessly Devoted isn't that exciting of a song but she made it exciting and fun and yeah, a little crazy. Same thing with Bust Your Windows - I might have gotten bored, but then she started beating up Prop Boy Robbie which was a little disturbing but unexpected and, somehow, totally diva. Loved it. Also, I think I have that same prom dress but she totally wore it better.

NEW THIS WEEK: Miracle Monroe

Solo - Burlesque from Burlesque

Holly: I like the song. She knew the words well. Terrible Cher wig.

Carly: She had some serious good attitude going on. She was comfortable on stage and very well rehearsed. There was something odd about the outfit but I also kinda liked it. If she can get a wig that isn't in her face I think she has the potential to be pretty fierce.

Top Two

Tiffany Starr (4th week in the top)
Aaron Skyy (finally out of the bottom)

Bottom Two

Marissa Campanella

Lashanti Ray (also in the bottom in week 2)

Eliminated
No one, because Nympho dropped out.

Overall Thoughts:

Did you think someone should have gotten eliminated?

Holly says: The competitor in me says yes but it doesn't bother me that no one got eliminated.

Carly says: The lip sync for your life always somehow turns into someone else lip syncing, which is usually pretty entertaining. Once that happens, I don't really care any more about who gets eliminated.
How did you think the contestants did regarding the challenge?
Holly says: I think they did pretty well overall.
Carly says: I thought this challenge would be awful but I think they (almost) all did a great job.

Favorites this week?

Holly says:Aaron, Tiffany, Janessa and Ryder

Carly says: Aaron, Tiffany, Angelina, Ryder, Janessa and Tiana's sweatband.

Best performance of the night?

We both agree on Aaron and Tiffany.

Gone this week - Nympho

It was announced this week that Nympho dropped out of the competition. He was assigned as Angelina's partner which is why Angelina got to do two numbers and was alone. I'm pretty indifferent about this.

Come see it for yourself - Tuesday nights @ 11:30pm at Martha's Vineyard in Springfield MO. No cover for 21up. $4 for minors.

The opinions stated in this blog are just that, opinions. Also, we are in no way affiliated with Devion's Drag Race or Martha's Vineyard. Photos are Creative Commons licensed and can be used with attribution, CC, Carly Wilburn, 2011.

JK Rowling Makes An Announcement

2011-06-27T23:06:00.001-05:00

The Countdown Continues - 17 Days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt2!

We wanted JK Rowling to say that the epilogue was crap, cause we all know it was crap. Instead, she announced Pottermore, a website with additional information from JK Rowling and what Mandie says will be something like fanfiction from readers. I shudder to think. But it's new Harry Potter stuff and so that's exciting. Watch the video if you haven't then check out Pottermore.

Also, isn't Pottermore a dumb name? lol.

Show #3 of Devion's Drag Race REVIEW

2011-06-24T02:25:00.002-05:00

Springfield, MO - Martha's Vineyard - Devion's Drag Race - Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m.

Challenge: "Greek Night" - Contestants were put into fraternities/sororities (groups) and had to do production numbers together along with solo numbers that fit into their frat/sorority type.

Deltas - The Nerdy Fraternity
Aaron Skyy, Jude Louie and Tiffany Star

Production Number - The Sesame Street theme, Conjunction Junction and Teach Me How To Dougie

Carly: The dancing during Sesame Street was cute, but then I was disappointed that the focus was on Louie. I was a little bored until the Dougie part, which was unexpected and fun. But it was cute and the nerdy costumes were great.

Holly: All cute costumes. Overall fun performance.

Omega- The Sporty Fraternity
Ryder Good and Janessa

Production Number - Mickey, Toni Basil and Soccer Practice, Gay Pimp

Carly: Janessa doing Mickey was fun, cute choreo and good costume. I liked it and the 'prop' (a guy, who was in everyone's performance it seemed like.) Ryder's Soccer Practice was unexpected and funny. The choreo looked good and the omega on the shirt was a good detail.

Holly: Janessa knew the words well, is really pretty and had a cute costume. She also did choreo and danced for the first time which was a great change. I hope to see more of that. Ryder's part was cute.

Alpha - The Snooty Fraternity
Marissa, Nympho and Tiana

Production Number - Barbie Girl, Aqua

Carly: I'm going to go ahead and say that if I never hear the song Barbie Girl again it will be too soon. Despite that, I liked this performance. Cool costumes, good attitude. Evenly dispersed parts. It kept my attention, and my attention had been waning.

Holly: I, on the other hand, got bored. I'm totally over this song. They did however have good costumes but I don't think they had evenly dispersed parts.

Lambda- The Ghetto Fab Sorority
Angelina and Lashanti
Production Number - Unknown (I think it was a Beyonce song)

Carly: Baller! Finally! Serious choreography and matching costumes. It was great.

Holly: True story dot com. Dancing! Awesome. I did think Angelina outshined the other two a bit, but this performance was all win.

Angelina Deveroux
Solo Song - Itty Bitty Piggy, Nicki Minaj

Carly: I seem to have missed the Nicki Minaj train, but people like her and like when people do her songs. This was a rap (does she only rap?) and rapping is always impressive to me. Angelina's dancing was great, the outfit was great and the lip sync was crazy. I drew a heart in my notes.

Holly: Balla! Knew the words well. Bad bitch? For sure. Worked it out with the dancing. Looked hot also.

Sebastian

Song 1 - Don't You Wanna Stay, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
Song 2 - Don't Want You Back, Eamon

Carly: Don't you wanna stay? It kinda seemed like Sebastian didn't want to stay with his choice of duet partner. It was with the first eliminated contestant, Natalia, who stormed off when she was eliminated. It made the performance a little uncomfortable. I really liked the costume in the second performance.

Holly: He seems to know the words to both of these songs and be a bit more comfortable on stage this week. He still doesn't have much stage presence. For the second song he actually seemed mad which made the performance more relatable.

Tiffany Starr
Solo - Last Friday Night, Katy Perry

Carly: I was really excited about this when I heard the song start because I really love this video (see my quick things a few days ago.) There was a cool reveal, the dancing was fun and awkward. But I think it didn't have the drama that Tiffany's performances usually have. However, she was doing nerdy and she did it well. Overall, it was really cute.

Holly: Awesome stage presence. She kept making what I assume was a "nerdy" face which was really cute.

Aaron Skyy

Solo - I'm Awesome (Nerdy parody), Horrible Fiction

Carly: French the llama this was awesome. Being a nerdfighter, I loved it. However, I don't think this particular bar had many other nerdfighters in it, so the humor was lost to the majority of the crowd. It was like me wooing for the Harry Potter references over crickets. This is the second song I've listened to on repeat after hearing it first from Aaron. He didn't forget to be awesome.

Holly: You are indeed awesome, Aaron. However, the song was so long that I got a little bored.

Jude Louie

Solo - Girl All The Bad Guys Want, Bowling for Soup

Carly: I love this song. I thought it was a subtle choice for the nerd theme and he did a good job with it. It was cute and funny. There was a little too much awkward thrusting for me though.

Holly: Why does he stand and dance like that? Is it a gimmick? He knew the words well and I like this song.

Ryder Good

Solo - I Love College, Asher Roth

Carly: So we used to live down the street from some preppy frats and I feel confident in saying this was perfect. The props were good. I still don't want to like the drinking-on-stage gimmick but I do.

Holly: Looks really good. Love the tie. Knew the words well. Used fun props.

Lashanti Ray

Solo: Dip It Low, Christina Miliam

Carly: Liked the outfit. Skirt maybe too short again. Good performance. But I don't remember it.

Holly: Boring but a decent performance. I feel like I've seen all that Lashanti has to offer so until she surprises me I think I'm going to keep being bored.

Janessa

Solo: I Won't Say I'm In Love, from Disney's Hercules

Carly: A clever take on the Greek theme. Good costume and backup dancers. Good lip sync. I really liked this.

Holly: I think Janessa was really fun this week. She had backup singers for this performance and she was very classy

Tiana

Solo - Genie in a Bottle, Christina Aguilera

Carly: Great classic pop song. Good snooty song I think too. Cute costume (though we could see stripey underwears!) and good dancing, as usual. Covered a stumble really well.
Holly: Nice costume although maybe a little too short. Good song. First time we've seen her with her hair down which made her prettier. Knew the words well.

Marissa Campanella
Solo - That Don't Impress Me Much, Shania Twain

Carly: I wish the costume would have been a little more country and a little less disco but otherwise, good performance. She used guys as props successfully, although they were pretty giggly. The first guy looked like I imagine Edward Cullen should have looked.

Holly: Don't like the costume but it's a fun song. Cute boy props. Overall decent performance.

Nympho

Solo - Unknown

Carly: I wrote, "Ok. Good." I don't remember this all except for his shirt being open, which looked good.

Holly: Did Nympho perform again? Because I don't remember this happening.

Top Four

Jude Louie
Tiffany Starr
Marissa
Janessa

Bottom Four
Tiana
Nympho
Aaron (2nd week)
Sebastian

Eliminated
Sebastian

Overall Thoughts:

What did you think of the elimination?

Holly says: Eh. I agree with it.

Carly says: Makes sense I guess.

Favorites this week?

Holly says: Janessa and Angelina.

Carly says: I liked the production numbers all in all. Also Angelina's crazy rapping, woo-ing for Dumbledore during Aaron's performance and Janessa's Disney song.

Best performance of the night?

Holly says: Either Angelina's rap or Janessa's Mickey. Or the ghetto girls group performance.
Carly says: I don't think it was the best performance, but I just can't get over the nerdfighter stuff. Holly says I'm ridiculous but I don't care! I guess the ghetto girls were my favorite otherwise.

Edward Cullen on right. Look at that puff!

Gone This Week - Aliyah

She just performed as a guest this week. The host of the show mentioned she is transgender. No wonder I didn't think she was a female impersonator. I feel bad about not considering that, but we see drag and we make assumptions.

Gone this week - Christina Jackson

Will she stay gone, will she be back? Who knows. But I enjoy her dancing and her sass.

Come see it for yourself - Tuesday nights @ 11:30pm at Martha's Vineyard in Springfield MO. No cover for 21up. $4 for minors.

Disclaimer - We are in no way affiliated with Devion's Drag Race or Martha's Vineyard.

St. Louis Pridefest Event Schedule Details & A 2009 Pride Flashback

2011-06-22T18:33:00.002-05:00

This weekend, we're going to Pridefest. Last time (2009, see video below) we had a pretty good time but we aren't good at going to festivals. As in, we eat awesome festival food, get free stuff that will sit in a bag for a year and then it's hot and we're bored and we don't know really how to pass the time.

So, instead of just hoping for the best I decided to do some research. I checked out the list of the events on the main stage from the Facebook event. I googled every single person (for Saturday) to see who they are and what they do. I mean, these people could have been anything - queens, kings, comedians, singers, ventriloquists. So now, I'm excited about seeing some of the entertainment and I have high hopes that we will not get bored and drink too many beers.

For anyone else interested in the St. Louis Pridefest line-up or event schedule, here's what I found.

STL Pridefest Entertainment Line-Up on the Bud Light Main Stage

Saturday – Hosted by Dieta Pepsi and Trish Busch

National Anthem - Noon

Music, obviously.

Pride Idol Runners-Up after

More music, I'm presuming.
Michele Ralston – 12:30 – 1:00pm

This is the one person I couldn't find.

CHARIS – 1pm

Charis is a women's chorus. Their mission statement: CHARIS is a diverse group of women united in our mission to perform music that celebrates and encourages women and the LGBTQ community.

Gateway Men’s Chorus – 1:30

Self-explanatory - a men's chorus!

Joshua Klipp – 2pm – 2:30pm

Jazz vocalist. Tyra Banks called him, "a hot and talented musician."

Paper Dolls – 2:45pm – 3:30pm

Piano cello pop rock, according to their Facebook page.

Anti-Gravity – 3:45pm – 4:00pm

Dance! A St. Louis Dance Team, with a style of Theatrical Hip Hop. Talents ranging from Cheerleaders, Hip Hop, Modern, and Jazz. (according to Facebook.)

Pride STL Royalty – 4:15pm – 4:45pm

Drag! Hopefully performances, not just strutting, although that's cool too.

Summer Osborne – 5:00 – 5:30pm

Singer/Songwriter.

Underdog Syndrome – 5:45pm – 6:30pm

Progressive pop punk band.

Dieta Pepsi – 6:45pm – 7:00pm

Drag. Her name links to a video - "The History of Dieta Pepsi." Seems she hosts a web show. It's fun.

Kimberly Locke – 7pm

Pop, R&B singer. American Idol runner up. You may remember her single "8th World Wonder."

Hope that's helpful. And here's Holly's & my vlog documenting our 2009 trip to Pridefest.

Caffeine + Liquor = Love (Local Review - Mud Lounge)

2011-06-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

Bogtrotter - Guinness with a shot of espresso.

I have spent many a night and many a dollar at Mud Lounge in downtown Springfield, MO (321 E. Walnut St. to be exact.) I'm going to have to go out on a limb and say it's one of my favorite bars in Springfield. I think I've been going there for about five years now. It has great alcoholic drinks but something I actually really love is that if you don't feel like drinking, or you're the DD (which inevitably everyone will be at some point) or you just are done drinking for the night, they have options - bottomless coffee that's actually good, coffee drinks and tea. And looking at the price of a latte next to the price of a martini, it actually looks cheap. They also have really great food. See some of my pros, cons, favs, tips and tricks of Mud Lounge below.

Irish Cognitive

Fav "More Than Mud" Drink: Irish Cognitive

Double shot of espresso, Jameson Irish Whiskey, & Bailey’s Irish Cream. Tastes a little like a liquored up iced latte. $5.50

Fav Martini: Wired Russian

Espresso, vanilla vodka & Kahlua. $8 ($6 during Happy Hour)

Fondue!!

Best Snack: Garlic Swiss Fondue

I wish I had $10 because I would go get some right this second.

Fav Non-Alcoholic Drink: Bottomless Coffee

What can I say, I like coffee. $2.50.

Pros	Cons
Fondue - I would give up my first born for this stuff. Couches. No smoking - if you prefer a non-smoking bar, this is a pro. Quiet enough to talk. Good non-alcoholic options.	Limited seating - if it's during the college season and after 11pm on the weekend, don't even bother. No smoking - if you prefer a smoky bar, this is a con. High probability of running into someone you don't want to run into. (At least, in my experience. This might not apply to you.)

Tips to Ensure Your Best ML Experience

Ask for your tab when you order your last drink, otherwise, you might have to wait a while.
Tip your server and don't be a jerk - the odds of him or her being your server again are very high.

Best Times To Go

If you want to drink cheap(er) - Happy Hour, 4-7pm M-F and all night on Wednesday for 1/2 off wine, $2 off martinis & $1 off domestics. Thursday night for $5 (fruity) martinis or Monday night for 1/2 off wine.
If you want to see what may feel like every hipster in Springfield- Thurs-Sat after 10pm.

Yay for Mud Lounge!

The Taney County Fair

2011-06-20T13:02:00.000-05:00

Friday I took Holly on a surprise date about 45 minutes away to the Taney County Fair. I hoped it would be really cool but it was basically just a carnival. It was fun though and I got some cool photos of strangers and carnival-y stuff.

See more photos after the jump -

OMFG Harry Potter Can Dance!

2011-06-19T09:05:00.001-05:00

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Countdown - 25 Days

Finally got around to watching some of the performances from the Tony Awards. I hadn't really considered that How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying is a musical, and that's the show Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter, in case you're way behind) is doing on Broadway. They did a snippet at the Tonys and WOW-WEE HARRY POTTER he can dance! Oh my Rowling!

Check it out:

Quick Things - 18.6.11

2011-06-18T16:47:00.000-05:00

Blatantly stealing this blog format from A Blog About Things. Sometimes, things don't warrant an entire blog post but I make one anyway, because something is that cool. Instead, here's a list of some things to check out.

Harry Potter on the big (and small) screen.

2011-06-17T13:02:00.003-05:00

27 Days Til HP7 - Part 2

I am not a Harry Potter purest. Clearly, or I wouldn't be so excited about the last movie coming out. I hate that people hate the movies because they left out this storyline or because the castle has a tower where there shouldn't be one. Get over it. They managed to make these eight great, watchable movies in ten years without switching actors or actresses (except Dumbledore, but that wasn't preventable) and I think that in itself is a feat. They couldn't even make one Silence of the Lambs sequel with the same original actress. C'mon. It's cool. Not to mention every other thing that makes the movies great.

Anyways, in case I hadn't mentioned this before, I own all the movies on DVD (Holly got them all for me last Christmas - see excited photo on left) and I adore them. They're the kind of movies I can watch over and over. I actually seriously never get tired of them. When we moved into our new house we didn't have cable for a few weeks and I watched one HP movie every day for two of those weeks - randomly for one week, then in order the next week.

I mentioned before a theater in St. Louis is playing all the movies on one day. Well, Campbell 16 is playing them all the week of the premiere. We probably won't have the money or time to see any others, but it would be cool to see them on the big screen again. In case you have the money and time, here's the list of when they're showing.

Monday, July 11
Sorcerer's Stone, 12pm, 6pm
Chamber of Secrets, 3pm, 9pm

Tuesday, July 12
Prisoner of Azkaban, 12pm, 6pm
Goblet of Fire, 3pm, 9pm

Wednesday, July 13
Order of the Phoenix, 12pm, 6pm
Half-Blood Prince, 3pm, 9pm

Thursday, July 14
Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2, 9pm (Both films are included in the cost - $5 plus regular ticket price)

Show #2 of Devion's Drag Race REVIEW

2011-06-16T01:56:00.004-05:00

Springfield, MO - Martha's Vineyard - Devion's Drag Race - Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m.

This week, we have photos. Unfortunately, we were also late, which meant we didn't know the challenge so we won't be commenting on that aspect of the show.

Challenge: Contestants were given a song and had to perform that song along with another song that was the opposite of the assigned song. I think.

Aaron Skyy

Song 1 - Barbie Girl, Aqua
Song 2 - Love Me Dead, Ludo
We came in while Aaron was performing Barbie Girl and really didn't get to see that performance at all. Sad day.

Carly: Love Me Dead was really awesome - he was really emoting and fun to watch, knew the words, was really comfortable on stage. I wrote down "fav." Great performance.

Holly: Love Me Dead - Good costume. Good song. Knows the words well. You could tell he was having a good time which makes it enjoyable to watch. Overall good performance.

New This Week - Aliyah

Song 1 - Tainted Love, cover
Song 2 - Till The World Ends, B. Spears

Carly: Huh? Who is this? Honestly, I didn't think she was a female impersonator until Holly decided she was. Her second performance was pretty ass-heavy. Her outfits were stripper worthy (not necessarily a bad thing.) But all in all, I was just confused about her so I don't have too much else to say.

Holly: Who is this? Not cute... I was also really confused. I didn't think she was part of the competition until the second round.

New this week: Dude Louie

Song 1 - Dumb Love, Sean Kingston (left)

Song 2 - She Hates Me, Puddle of Mudd
Carly: Song 1 - Again, who is this?? A little awkward, but really loved the outfit. Well rehearsed. Song 2 - Good song, it was a crowd pleaser. People like break up songs with the F word in them I think. Fun performance. There was a crazy headbang at some point that made me a little uncomfortable, it just lasted a little long I think. The dancing (in both numbers) was kindof an interesting spastic dancing.
Holly: I think our take on this person was completely different. I thought the first outfit was terrible. Needs to know the words. Very awkward dancing. No swag but seemed comfortable on stage. I like the second song. I don't think he is passable. I just don't love this guy.

Aiden Brooks

Song 1 - Toxic, cover Song 2 - unknown
Carly: Had a cool costume for Toxic - shirt with a tire print on it. Cute. Fun. Cool swag. I missed his second performance because I ran to the other side of the bar to tell Kristi how he reminds me of our boss Mike. Which he totally does.

Holly: Toxic - less awkward than last week. Bad facial hair this week. Knows words well. Decent performance. 2nd song - Good song. Needs to be more epic to keep up with the epicness of the second song. Needs to show some diversity - always does the same "song and dance" but I still really like him.

Christina Jackson

Song 1 - Rude Boy, Rihanna (right)
Song 2 - Heartbreaker, Pat Benetar (left)

Carly: I would sum up Christina this week as sassy. Loved her dresses (I want the first dress.) Great dancing and strutting on both songs. This is the Christina I love. She always seems to have top trouble, like her dresses or straps fall down, but this week she covered her top trouble with a lot of sass which was awesome. I really loved Christina this week.

Holly: Really liked the first outfit, hated the second. Was that a slip? Good dancing on both songs. Knew the words well for first song, not for the second. Overall good performances.

Jordan Page

Song 1 - Believe, Cher (left)
Song 2 - How Do I Live, not the Leann Rimes version (right)

Carly: Bad lip sync on the first song. Distracted by her holding her cover up closed. Every time she sang I can feel something inside me it kinda looked like what she was feeling was indigestion. She was also doing this odd walk like an Egyptian thing over and over (see photo.) Awkward. Boring second song. Disappointing over all, considering how gorgeous and diva she looked last week.

Holly: Believe - Not nearly as cute as last week. I don't like the outfit despite the reveal. I'm totally over drag Cher. Only knew the words to the chorus. No other words at all. How Do I Live - Does she look fatter this week? She totally looks fatter this week. I think this is a result of bad padding. Dislike the dress. Boring performance.

Tiffany Starr

Song 1 - Just Like Jesse James, Cher (right and below)
Song 2 - unknown, Evanescence (left)

Carly: Didn't love the Cher but I appreciated the outfit (see below.) Worked through not knowing the words. She wore what will forevermore be known as her Evanescence Dress on the second song because she wore it last week too for Evanescence. Loved it then, love it again. I wrote one word - Fierce.

Holly: Cher - Initial thought? Oh no... Ended up being an overall pretty good performance. She maybe didn't know the words, but covered well. Evanescence - Same outfit and hair as last week but still hot. Knew the words well. Disappointed that it got cut so short. I think I would have really loved this performance.

Angelina Deveroux

Song 1 - Time After Time, Cindy Lauper (right)
Song 2 - No One Else On Earth, Wynonna Judd (left)

Carly: First song - My notes are as follows; Classy leotard. Dancing! Flag! Love forever! Get it girl! I don't think I've yelled Get it girl at a drag queen since the spring of 2009. Very cool. Second song was also great, cool costume and a nice change from her usual.

Holly: First song, initial thought: Ballet? Yes! Didn't know the words but broke out a color guard flag which made it awesome. Looked attractive. Overall good performance. Second song - is she a pirate? Carly said, if she is, she's a fierce ass pirate. Agreed. Fun song. I really liked the hair.

Lashanti Ray

Song 1 - unknown (left)
Song 2 - Stand By Your Man, Tammy Wynette (right)

Carly: Bored with song one but I think this is the best dress I've ever seen her in. I also want this dress. Liked the second song outfit. Her dresses were all that stood out about her performances.

Holly: First performance - Don't like the song or the outfit. Doesn't know the words. At this point in the show, I'm just hoping that someone, somewhere, will know the words to a song.

Marissa Campanella

Song 1 - Last Name, Carrie Underwood (right)
Song 2 - So What, Pink (left)

Carly: The production part of the first song was really cool and fun. Executed very well. Great energy and lip sync on both songs. Liked the So What costume a lot. I think she angrily pointed at her ex during the My ex will start a fight part and that felt a little too real but otherwise a great night for Marissa.

Holly: Finally someone who knows their words! Thank the lord! Loved both songs. Didn't like her hair this week. Didn't love the first outfit but did like the second but was it a bathing suit? I was confused by her run backstage. I was hoping there would be a reveal but I was let down. Both performances were really fun. She was good.

Tiana (we're just going to keep spelling her name different every week.)

Song 1 - Walking After Midnight, Patsy Cline (right)
Song 2 - I Love Rock and Roll, Joan Jett (left)
Carly: She doesn't really stand out for me this week, but the dancing and outfit was good on I Love Rock and Roll.

Holly: First song - she was wearing a classy dress. She also wasn't belly dancing, which was good because it shows she doesn't just have one niche. Second song - sexy stockings on sexy legs. Surprisingly attractive. Good song. Overall pretty good performance.

Janessa

Song 1 - Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler (left)
Song 2 - Rolling in the Deep, Adele (right)

Carly: Rolling In the Deep was really great and it seems everyone loves that song. Janessa just sat herself on a little thrown-like chair all classy and fierce for the whole song. Somehow, it didn't bug me like it does when Adele does it. Wind Beneath My Wings doesn't stand out for me apart from the fact that I thought she had a chicken on her hand for a second.

Holly: Wing Beneath My Wings - Another person who doesn't know the words and this is an easy diva song. C'mon people, know your damn words. She looks pretty but it's boring. Rolling in the Deep - I really like the song. She looks really pretty and classy. She actually knows the words. I was a little disappointed that she sat the entire performance.

Ryder Good

Song 1 - Bye Bye Bye, NSync (right)
Song 2 - Sweet Dreams, Marilyn Manson (left)

Carly: Both of these got my attention right off the bat - first, because I hear two notes of an NSync song and I immediately get excited and second, because he crawled onto stage with that crazy white makeup for the second number and I was instantly freaked the hell out. He did the real dancing on Bye Bye Bye which is A+ for me and showed good versatility doing the Marylin Manson, though it could have been even creepier. Also, if the challenge really was pick the opposite of the song you were given, he did the most extreme I think. Props all around.

Holly: Bye Bye Bye - Fun first song. The crowd was really excited about it. Did the dance which made it that much more awesome. Good facial hair. Sweet Dreams - Good outfit. Good performance but all I could think about was Dunkin Dame.

Top Four
Ryder Good
Angelina Deveroux
Tiffany Starr
Marissa

Bottom Four
Aiden
Lashanti
Aaron
Jordan

Eliminated (in a surprise double elimination)
Aiden
Jordan

Overall Thoughts:

What did you think of the double elimination?

Holly says: I was disappointed in the judge's decision of the bottom four and really disappointed Aiden got sent home. I really liked him and felt like he had a lot of potential. There were others that did worse this week.

Carly says: Jordan didn't even try to lip sync for her life, so... yeah. I didn't think Aiden was so bad though.

What about the new people? And the people who were mysteriously gone this week?

Holly says: I don't like either of the new people but that's probably because I think it's unfair that they're just joining the second week.

Carly says: Totally weird.

Favorites this week?

Holly says: Aaron.

Carly says: Aaron, Christina, Angelina, Ryder's Bye Bye Bye, Marissa's Last Name and Janessa's chicken.

Why only one favorite this week Holly? What about the flag work? What about the chicken?

Holly says: KNOW YOUR WORDS!!! Aaron did a great job knowing words and was fun to watch.

Best performance of the night?

We agree on Aaron's lip sync for your life (of Rolling in the Deep.) It was epic.

Come see it for yourself - Tuesday nights @ 11:30pm at Martha's Vineyard in Springfield MO. No cover for 21up. $4 for minors.

Disclaimer - We are in no way affiliated with Devion's Drag Race or Martha's Vineyard.

Got the tickets!

2011-06-15T17:01:00.000-05:00

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Countdown - 29 Days

I stopped by Campbell 16 after dropping Holly off from work and got our midnight tickets. Our money is really tight right now - like worse than the Weasley's I think - but it didn't get them down so it's not going to get us down either.

Did they really need to promote Harry Potter tickets? I don't think so. But they did, as a trending topic on Twitter today. Fun.

Hotch & the Heartworm Battle Part 4 - He's Doing Fine

2011-06-15T12:00:00.010-05:00

Sad, crated Hotch.

Last Thursday Hotch had a checkup with his vet. Dr. Jones said we were doing a really great job with him (he seemed a little surprised honestly) and that he's doing fine. Just about ten more days of completely restricted activity. After that it's two weeks of limited activity but not completely restricted.

For the time being, everything is still the same other than the extra reassurance from the doctor, which was really great.

Going out to pee!

It All Ends (in 30 days) - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2

2011-06-14T21:07:00.000-05:00

30 DAYS AND COUNTING

I'm more excited and anxious than Hermione before final exams!

Midnight showing tickets are now on sale. Holly & I will be in our Ravenclaw robes at the Campbell 16 in Springfield all night, playing our Sorcerer's Stone trivia board game and Harry Potter 20 Questions. Anyone interested in joining us is more than welcome. It's gonna be more exciting than the final task of the Triwizard tournament!

If you are in the St. Louis area, there is a mega marathon of all 7 movies - listed as 1035 minutes of Harry Potter madness - playing back to back beginning at 5am Thursday July 14 leading up to the midnight premiere. That's at the Chesterfield Galaxy 14. If you live in Springfield, we will surely be watching all the movies in the days leading up to the finale. :)

(Mostly) Yard Sale Awesome

2011-06-11T00:57:00.004-05:00

Clockwise from top left:

Mushroom Tree House Cookie Jar* $1.50

Flowery Vintage Dress $1

Vintage Red Cross Preparedness Manual, free

Stripey Vintage Dress, $1

Ridiculous Hanging Fish Necklace, $.50

Vintage Catcher's Chest Protector, $1

*From Youth of the Ozarks Thrift Store.

"Saved by the Spell" or "Accio to the Future" by Lucy Knisley

2011-06-09T15:00:00.002-05:00

Harry Potter & the DH Part 2 Countdown - 36 Days

I have posted this before, but I'll post it again cause I love it so much. A cartoon by Lucy Knisley. Click to visit her blog and view full size.