Last night...

...totally gets its OWN post.

After missing out on Violet's thrift shopping, I was fairly certain I wasn't headed out for Morgan's birthday or anything, but Jorge told me we'd been invited over to christen Joshua's new place. We left around 10p, and after driving around, parked in the usual lot in West Hollywood. We walked the numerous blocks to Joshua's apartment building, and then went up for the party, which was nice and relaxed. After a while, we left, and lo and behold.... trapped in the elevator. Eight gay guys, a lesbian, and a black woman, and let's estimate that four of those gay guys are fairly drunk. In a small elevator, those five or so have the brilliant idea to jump, so they do, and the elevator gets stuck between floors, and the most shocking thing is that they were surprised. When you meet new people, it's very telling about a person to see how they act under pressure. Granted, intoxication can skew the behavior, but for the most part, I'd say it's fairly accurate.

There were definitely some queens in there who aren't winning Survivor anytime soon.

There's a lot of juicy goings-on to mention, but we'll just say that in the ~45 minutes or so of our imprisonment, there were impromptu photosessions, Facebook uploads, Twitter updates, and a flask of Vodka. Looking back, it was kind of a fun time; at the moment, it was much less entertaining. Once again, though, this is totally proof that we should have a Reality show.

Afterwards, we went to "Hot Dog" which is apparently some theme night at the Palms. I ran to Here around 1:30a, barely got in, and wished Morgan well. I said hey to the ladies and queens and briefly met Chi Chi La Rue, who obviously was done for the night. :)

Anyway, I meet up with the remaining crew who've wandered over from Hot Dog for some pizza, and then we head back to Josh's so Jorge can sober up a bit and we can just hang out some more. There was talk about us spending the night, but we eventually left. When we finally headed for the parking garage, it was pushing 5a... and the garage was closed. A few attempts at contact [and breaking and entering] later, we went back to Josh's. I had to uh... jump the fence, but we got into the building just fine and stayed there for the night. 

This morning, we woke up, had a lovely brunch at some place on Melrose (Le Pain Quotidien, or something like that), and then got the car! There was some worry, since they had no Sunday hours posted last night, but we made it. An eventful 16 hours, to say the least.

I think I'm going to walk to the thrift store that's SOMEWHAT close to where I live (like, 45 minutes away :/) and then hopefully hit Target...? We'll see what happens.

It's a Quickie ...ok, but it ended up being long. haha

OH MY FUCKING GOD, what the hell, today??

I slept in far too late, and Violet's Monday debut has me worried now for multiple reasons. I don't know if she's getting a sound check or just going on a one-shot, come hell or high water. I need to get her something to wear, but have no idea what. She does need new shoes, that's a given, but the less money I can spend on everything else, the better. Hello, rent is coming due. But the thrift store I want to hit is closed Sundays and Mondays, and it'll be closing in forty minutes, which is not enough time to get there, let alone shop. 

Facebook literally has Down Syndrome or something, because EVERYTHING on there takes forever now, when it doesn't take any longer for me to do anything on almost any other website.

Erika has taken LITERALLY three days to revert to her apparently normal policy of flakiness. I worked two days, and then she strung me along for one day, repeatedly putting off our getting together until she just stopped getting back to me. Now it's the weekend and she apparently has to take some miniature trip, though when it's happening or if it has already, I've no idea. If I'm supposed to be her assistant, she's keeping me from fulfilling any part of that job requirement, and if I'm just another employee, I am outraged that she has basically ignored my repeated requests for a sit-down about my money, her money, and how our partnership is going to work--let alone her not giving me hours after repeated unfulfilled promises of work to pay my rent.

*****SUPER EDIT*****

So, there was a bunch of stuff here yesterday, and though I still have the same qualms and will, I'm sure, repeat the same frustrations, I just don't feel like having it written up. There was your glimpse, and I doubt people read this really anyway, so I'd bet no one saw it--which is fine. As expected, I was totally over it within the hour.

And we're back!

The computer: fixed. It took three days. The pickup took two weeks.

The job: is back on, and I'm optimistic. After just over a month out of work, my fingers are crossed that I'm back to do a lot of work, which will result in a lot of money. However, I'm anxious. Erika isn't giving me the impression one way or the other what I'll be making, but she's not making me certain I'll make enough money. I think I'm going to have to be a little harsh and simply ask her how the other employees are making their money (i.e. I do more in that store than they do, and if they're being paid hourly, why wouldn't I be also). Fingers crossed.

Vincent's cousin Tom just visited, accompanied by his girlfriend Marianne. They brought Justina's boyfriend Avi with them as a happy surprise. This was immediately after Justina and Eva went back to the East Coast for a few days, which almost coincided with Jorge's return to Savannah. Our house went from 3 occupants to 9 in a 48-hour period. They were here for about five days. In that time, we saw the Jimmy Kimmel show and this happened...

Yep, I was in that audience. So fun.

Oh, and that night, I saw Marilyn Manson inside a Hot Topic.

In Recent News...

Violet marched last night in L.A.'s Protest Rally against the recent court decision to honour Prop 8. ~6.5 miles of long declines and short runs in black patent Payless Pumps that are too small. My feet have nine distinct individual blisters, and they are STILL swollen (after almost twelve hours without shoes), but it was totally worth it. All the pain and struggle endured for these some 35 years, I can tolerate achy feet. Besides, I doubt there's anything close to long-term damage, right? 

Also, we passed Lance Bass getting into a car in front of a hotel! Very cool.

I finally met Adam Bouska, who wants to shoot me (well, HER) for the NO H8 campaign. I was going to head in today, but Jorge didn't want to get up so early (as in, before 1:30p haha). Maybe we'll head in later this evening? I am DYING to be a part of this thing. 

Actually, Violet's taking over my life, which is fine. If she's going to make that money and pay my rent, I won't complain ONCE. June 1st is her official performance debut, singing LIVE at Detox's birthday party at HERE Lounge. Please come (and PLEASE tip, since I'm not being paid by the bar haha). Assuming that goes well, the owner Patrick might add me to the regular weekly lineup, or at least feature me as a recurring performer. How marvelous!

The collection has PAUSED momentarily, but it's still a-goin'. One of these days, I'm going to hijack Vincent's printer while he's at work and scan my things right quick. Suppose that's all... oh, I've also taken to my new favorite Lunch Food. it's a salad with Ranch and a little lemon juice, but the topper is tuna with Seafood Seasoning, Lemon Juice, Breadcrumbs, Salt, Black Pepper (a fair amount), and pinches of seasoning salt and poultry seasoning (since it makes everything better). That's, of course, pan-fried and then placed on top of the bowl of fresh, cold, tossed salad. So good. I think that's almost a Salad Nicoise, but like, the American version? Regardless, so tasty.

Learning about those Angels...

Ah, the gay boys of Los Angeles prove to be a very fickle sort, indeed. Well, the ones that seem to want to date me, anyway. Or don't, hence the problem. haha

About last time:

          We had our house meeting and things are going pretty well. I'm... not sure how things changed, or what specific things did, so it may just be a different mentality on everyone's behalf... but we're doing well, and that's kind of marvelous. I revived the magical Rose--three times, actually--but it's still a few weeks old, and the bloom is certainly off of it by now. Also, while it could be brought back to life for a time with a fresh trim and some Sprite, I haven't heard from Josh since the night after I might've met RuPaul, which was the night  after he gave the flower to me. Hopefully I'll bump into him soon, though what I hope to accomplish, I've no idea. I also met Tracer, a very hot L.A. DJ, who seems to have since given me the brush-off. LAME. I did have one nice date at the Getty with Ricky. I'm... not sure how that went. I mean, I think we both had a good time, but I know now that a museum is a weird date in the first place, let alone as a first date. Although technically, we were just hanging out, but still. He's very busy very frequently, so hopefully I'll see him again soon.

          As usual, the nice guys keeping up with their messages to me are over 30, with the random really nice really overweight guy from 22 to 40 thrown in the mix. I hate to be so shallow and even think of that as an inhibitor, but...well. Now, the exception to prove I'm not a horrible person is that in PERSON, you can tell if there's that connection, and I don't care WHAT you look like if we have that... but online, those guys are the ones that tend to try really hard and as a result... kind of don't make you think about them 24/7, you know? Not that I'm some flawless diamond in a thrift store myself, I'm just saying. There are still a handful of guys I haven't met out here yet following our conversations, so I'm hoping to have cash to do that soon.

And now for something completely... new:

Three more weeks down (up?) here in Los Angeles. Much has happened, but nothing too exciting. Problems with the bank have left my Credit Card payments and overall finances in a bit of a confusing shambles currently. I've got a significant payment to make soon (like, Friday), and silly me, I chose to pay the rent first... AKA, I chose to pay it only. We'll see how that decision plays out.

Speaking of money, I still have a job, though I've not been in for almost four weeks. Is that right? Maybe just three... yeah, maybe that's more accurate. My boss had some surgery I wasn't even told about until I asked a coworker about her whereabouts, only to find out she was in the hospital at that very moment. Suffice to say, I've not been paid in... quite a while. Tuesday, though, I head back in. Hopefully I will get some immediate cash, but we'll just have to cross our fingers. I've been repeatedly assured that I am about to start a lot of work for her and make a lot of money assisting, crafting, and selling. We'll see.

Luck isn't on my side, though: my computer has started some random vertical blue lines crashing business on me. Instead of having to spend unnecessary dough on yet another external hard drive, Vincent lent me his [which allowed me to give the housemates the rent money we so desperately needed]. Monday afternoon is soon upon the West Coast, and Jorge's going to take me in to drop off my laptop, where it will be sent out for repairs. :( But at least it'll come back and I can finally watch movies and check my Email again. 

Actually, Jorge and I have been spending a lot of time together. He seems to be the unofficial Chaperone of one Miss Violet S'Arbleu... for the time being. We've even started matching when we go out--like, coordinating thematically without looking like Identical twins. Violet is indeed a hit--and not to the wallet, either. She's been a pinch here or there, but overall, not a severe total by any means, even with my currently shaky, limited income. Tonight (Monday), she's going to Here [Bar] to see our friend Detox Icunt host for a bit, and then we're hopping to FUBAR, where Violet might have an impromptu audition or performance or... something. Assuming success, it might well become a regular, PAYING gig. Yay!

As Violet goes out more and more, she's beginning to become a Staple. Two V.I.P. lists so far, and quickly making friends with the local queens, especially Ingenue TheStar (so sweet), and the more surprising budding companionship is with Morgan. Initially, she terrified me... all in white crystals, with ice blue eyes and platinum hair, her heavy black eyeshadow and darkly outlined frosted white lips gave the distinct impression of... a skull. However, deceiving looks aside, she's quite approachable (past the necessary Diva front that accompanies platform Lucite heels, of course). 

Oh, and now I've met Ongina too!!

She was at Super Cherry Pop, the one-year anniversary party for...something. Tiger Heat? Anyway, I spotted her in the crowd and was SO glad I just randomly thought "you know what, I'm going to bring my camera tonight." Score one for random intuition. 

As for Violet though, and the boys who want to make her a STAR, Joshua Miller has proven to be a pure delight. I'll text him when I'm going out, and though he doesn't always reply with any sort of speed (if he does at all), I always see him if we're in the same place, and he has just... well, he's opened some very nice doors for me is all I can say. In fact, he might even do Violet's makeup for tonight's debut. No fingers crossed here, but I can be hopeful...and anxious, so I hope she looks... like she should. haha but he is a true friend, and I'm hoping he stays as such. I'm also seeing more of Mirelle, who is a raging cutie and very sweet, Lanny, and FINALLY more Vincent Vanguard. He invited Violet to a White-and-Purple-themed party at My Place--which is a club built like a slightly-oversized true-to-life house. It's supposed to mimic the casual cool of a house party, and sports even a Master Bedroom and a Hot Tub. We're on the list, so I'll finally get to see it. :) I am not shy to admit I have a RAGING crush on every single thing about Vincent, and I think it was all sparked by the fact that I met him when he was wearing a Tshirt covered in fridge magnets. It was glorious.

So, Violet might start contributing, which is great, because I need to start saving up for SCAD and my HOPEFUL apartment/house with Darcy, Reece, and D.J. Speaking of the triumphant Savannah return, though, I'm hoping all of this work on Violet pays off when I get back to make me some sort of steady income (Resident Venus Drag Queen? You reading this, Bryon?). I've started what I think might become my second (grrr) stab at Senior Collection. I [currently] call it "Disillusioned: The California Collection". You'll get a teaser at some point in the near future, but it kind of chronicles a girl's travel from a small retro town to the flash of Los Angeles... her introduction to the nightlife, a thrust to Fame, and then concurrent fall from Grace after discovering the seedy underbelly of her new surroundings... drugs, promiscuity, and scandal with the likes of PETA and the press are all points on the journey down. I'm excited with its progress, and I think it'll be quite the surprise for Anthony and my professors. They stomped on my dream, so now they can have the aftermath: a darker one, tainted with [glitter/crystal embroidered] blood and distorted body images (surgical scars on dresses and over-proportioned undergarments as the structure for "hip" clothes. It's almost... Violet's story, though I hope hers has a much happier time in L.A.

I am really growing fond of her...I mean, I enjoy escaping into someone else on a very regular basis these days. Any fear I feel in meeting new people is pretty much gone, because they're not meeting ME, they're meeting HER, and if she's too polite for your tastes or too retro or too prim and proper, that's your problem. So in a very real way, all of that Ben Nye I put on my face once or twice a week really is a MASK and now I think when I'm sporting it, it's the most appropriate "L.A." thing I've done since I got here.