The trip West to Phoenix, AZ

I will begin at the start, as it's a long tale...

The packing up on the 24th was rough to say the least.  Very hard physically and emotionally, but I got as much done as possible.  I relied heavily upon good friends to help clear up my final mess at the apartment - a process which continues tonight.  

I stopped in Dayton for one repair, which turned into 2 more jobs and 2 trips to auto parts stores.  But my brother is great and fast though he's so injured, and I was on my way to visit my sister one last time for Xmas before leaving.  All in all, I left Dayton 6 hours later than I planned.  So I had to do my best to not lose more time on the way West.

I stopped in Decatur, TX so a new friend Brent could do a look over the unit.  He sealed the leaks, helped diagnose a few issues and granted me the hospitality of parking there at his place and plugging in.  He suggested we walk down the dark, quiet country road a few paces to see the rodeo happening... so that's just what we did.  It was a smallish gathering since it was the day after Xmas, but it was fun to watch at any rate and I got a real taste of Texas.  Very nice to get to know new people and go for a short adventure just a walk away.  Wish I'd taken my cell for pics though!

Then I was on my way the next morning, but had to really hurry and drive non-stop for about 18 hours.  I arrived in Phoenix at 7:30am on Sunday... tech rehearsal was 11am-4p.  I had an hour nap then watched the whole show in essence while there were breaks to tweak this or that.  It went very nicely and professionally.  I was very warmly greeted and treated so well!!  I am digging this crew of people so much already!  I can't wait for the show tomorrow night and the start of the New Year!

Last night I got to meet more new friends in person for the first time, though we'd been getting acquainted online.  Tom and Aida are super nice and we got to spend a good deal of time talking.  I can't thank them enough for their hospitality as well, and for taking so much time to help get things sorted, diagnosed and working on the RV!  They referred me to a friend of theirs who does repairs that need done, so I'm going on the 2nd to attend to some of that. 

There is a LOT of water/mold damage up in the cab up front, over head... so I'll be getting an estimate on what it will be to rip that all out.  I can't live with mold... it'll make me SO sick.  But the soonest I'll be able to attend to that is at the end of the month when I return to Mesa, AZ to see Karma To Burn play.  

So I've been getting things done as much as I can, getting mobile WiFi, finding out how to work things in the unit more (the books are Really moldy and gross, so must be copied).  All in all, it could be worse, it could be going more smoothly as well.  But I have to move forward and be positive that this is a good path.

Cleveland and Tease the Season

I had the best time catching up with my good friend Nina La Voix who I rarely get to see in person anymore.  She rode with me in the "maiden voyage" in the RV... my first guest!  

Nina La Voix can be found 
at her site:
http://www.ninalavoix.com/
here on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/misslavoix?fref=ts

It was a bumpy ride so to speak, as I had no time to read manuals or figure out anything.  The cigarette lighter didn't work, so we couldn't charge our phones... which created a bit of hassle.  It takes WAY longer to travel via RV... so we were later than I'd said we'd be, which wasn't ideal but everyone worked with us.  

I love Bella Sin and the crew at the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern!  They set up cones by the club so I could park right there and it was more than enough room.  I felt so welcomed and loved as I always do with this fine group of folks.

Bella Sin can be found here
at her site:
http://bellasin.com/
on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/bellasincle

Beachland Ballroom & Tavern can be found here
at their site:
http://www.beachlandballroom.com/
on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/beachlandballroom

It was the first time using my ride as dressing room... with no power.  And I really didn't think about asking to plug in until the sound/lighting man said people had parked in a different spot out back and done just that... good to know for the future! Anyhow, it was chilly but definitely a nice thing to be self-contained.  

The show was a lot of fun and for surprisingly for a Monday night it was a full house to boot!  A very fine time was had by all, including myself.

I was sad not to have any time after the show to visit with friends and one girl in particular... she knows who she is... and that kinda broke my heart a bit. 
But there really was no time to spare... the final packing/sorting remained for me in Columbus, and Nina had to get home as well.  So to all those I missed hanging with at the end of the night... I love ya lots!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1509847109282008/

The Great Southern Exposure Burlesque & Variety Arts Pageant 2014

 http://greatsouthernexposure.com/

I had a fantastic time in Charlotte, NC at my first pageant!

I was treated very well and even given a separate space in which to dress on short notice.  My RV had only been picked up the night before I left for the show - which meant there was no time to de-winterize it, get tags, insurance and all that jazz.  I am extra thankful to Deanna Pendragon and everyone involved in making this event happen and for all the personal kindness! I felt all kinds of love and it was just plain fun to be part of this weekend. I saw some friends I knew and made many new ones. 

I was more than surprised, thrilled and very honored to win a trophy for Edgiest Performance 2014! Apparently, Queen B got into the judges hearts nicely.

Great Southern Exposure 2014 Winners!

QUEEN of Southern Exposure Tora Torrid
PRINCESS of Southern Exposure Egypt Blaque Knyle
KING of Southern Exposure Pretty Boy Rock
PRINCE of Southern Exposure Dante The Inferno
Most Glamorous Southern Exposure Apathy Angel 
Most Classic Southern Exposure Lucy Buttons
Best Group Southern Exposure Greater Atlanta Goddess Society
Funniest Southern Exposure Meredith Sparkles
Edgiest Southern Exposure Miss Theresa 
Best Variety Southern Exposure Scarlet Starlet
Mammas Choice Southern Exposure Miss Satine

the winner's circle

Aside from the pageant, it was an unusual adventure down south.  This was partly due to how events at home unraveled during the week prior and a cascade of events that followed.  I experienced a nice, full range of emotions in the span of a few days.  A quieter trip would be most welcome for all future destinations, that is for certain!

I should say that I began my trip on the heels of a fresh, mild concussion that I received the night prior. It was an accident that I had in the new RV... let's just say, I learned the hard way to always duck lower than I ever thought I needed.  It really made things trickier, as my thinking wasn't terribly clear, or fast and my head hurt something wicked.  I made sure to take time to hit a JoAnn's and get 1/4" foam and fabric to match my hair so I could make a little pad to go under the headdress and on top of my skull - it worked out pretty well and didn't make me want to drop with pain.  All things considered with the head trauma... I'm pretty proud that I was able to go thru with the trip, be fairly functional AND win a title. 

back at the hotel after the nice win

On the way home, my beloved 89 Cadillac decided that it could do no more and started to quit on the highway about an hour north of Charlotte on Sunday the 7th.  I ended up spending the night in a Best Western and getting a cab the next day to rent an SUV from a Budget car rental two towns over. Budget would rent to me with a debit card, which was impossible with other companies in the region.  I took Sunday afternoon, evening and well into the wee hours of the morning trying to find a solution that was feasible.  Either way I looked at it, it was more than I could spend to get my sick car back home and then pay to fix her as well.  I did the only thing I could in a hurry and scrapped her for $200... which broke my heart and I'm still in a bit of mourning.  

The last picture with my Caddy... taken by the Reaper... I mean salvage man.

In closing, all I can really say about my experiences is that they were profound and altered my life... I have to say for the better.  The Great Southern Exposure was WONDERFUL!  The loss of my companion/Cadillac was inevitable I know.  I must look at this in a positive light and simply see it as clearing away and making room for newness.  As this week draws to a close, this is going to be a theme.  I will be getting rid of a whole lot of my physical possessions and storing only what I must keep.  

Streamlined - that is the new word of the day for me.

Buying the RV

It was certainly an adventure just buying the new home.  

I would have like for the whole purchase process to go quicker and to the original plan, as a cascade of events followed the delay in acquiring it which were pretty hard to take:

I lost a lot of money on various related tasks like -  
1. cost of a hotel in Charlotte, NC since I wouldn't have the RV to sleep in
2. an extra search for another RV in IN which was fruitless
3. my 89 Cadillac decided that it was NOT taking me back to OH this past weekend and died on me in Statesville, NC (an hour North of Charlotte). This was on a Sunday and everything was closed, so I had to get a hotel.  I had to take a taxi on Monday to get to a rental agency that would rent to me with just a debit card.  AND - I had to scrap my Caddy for $200 (and I LOVED my car).  

On a related note, when I got the RV and went to sit in the driver's seat to leave, I bashed my head on the over cab bed support (HARD plastic!) and gave myself a nice mild concussion.  It was with this fresh injury that I had to drive it about an hour South to Columbus.  The next morning, I was due to drive to Charlotte and perform the next day... it was all a trial but I did it - and won a trophy!  The Great Southern Exposure was my first such competition and I was thrilled to win Edgiest Performance!  So even though the days leading up to and after the event were stressful to say the least, I'm so happy I followed through and made the trip and walked away with a prize for the efforts.

Now, a few days later, my head still is reeling from the concussion and will do for at least another week. I've had 5 mild concussions now in my life... a bad trend indeed!  But I know what to expect at least.

Anyhow, in the next two weeks, I have to do all that I can afford to do to upgrade the RV.  I will at least have someone add Solar Panels and a Back Up Camera/Monitor.  

And there is a LOT of stuff to do to clear out my apartment!  I'm selling/bartering or giving away a lot of my life to keep it as simple as possible.  

I'm really, really looking forward to starting out once and for all on Christmas Day.  I will have a few hours to visit family in Dayton, Oh on the way West then it's just me and the road.