tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52289208344641606752024-03-14T01:31:26.524-07:00The Life and Adventures of a Twirly Boy!Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-43847875524050650952016-02-22T14:16:00.000-08:002016-02-23T20:23:24.936-08:00Can't Does Not Belong In Pole!So, there is a debate that is going on in the pole community about sex workers and pole competitions.<br />
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What is happening is that there are competitions telling people that are strippers or people that have worked in adult films or along that line that they can not compete in their competitions. </div>
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Well, this is my take on it.</div>
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When I started pole dancing, there was a word that was really discouraged from saying, if not removed from using in the studio at all. The word was " <b>can't </b>". I was not aloud to say "I can't..." whenever a new trick or move was being taught. I always gave it a try, and if I had troubles with it, we modify it. But " <b>can't</b> " was never an option. That didn't go for just my studio, but in any workshops that I took, weather at another studio or Pole Expo or wherever. Every instructor I had did not like to hear that word.</div>
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That was something that I like about being in pole, they push me. They told me "I can".<br />
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Now there is a small group of people that are stating to use that bad word. They are telling people "<strong>you can't</strong>". You <strong>can't</strong> be in our competition, you are <strong>not </strong>welcome. We <strong>don't </strong>approve of you. If you have been in an adult film, if you are a stripper, you <strong>can't </strong>compete, you <strong>can't </strong>perform. That ugly word is rearing it's head. It should not matter if someone's job falls under the sex worker category, if they want to pole and put their heart and soul into a competition piece, let them. They should not be told they <strong>can't</strong>. They should not be told no to their passion.<br />
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And here is the thing about the word '<strong>can't</strong>', it's a seed, a bad seed. As it grows, it builds a thorny barrier. It starts to grow discouragement. It grows resentment and negativity. It grows into the foundation of unity, cracking it, making it crumble. It will divide and weaken. It will destroy.<br />
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So, simply put, there are two sides here. Those who say you 'can' and those that want to say you ' can't '. One side for unity and one side for division. What side would you want to be on?<br />
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As for me, I am tired of hearing the word '<strong>can't</strong>' thrown my way.<br />
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-63049821713487865562016-02-20T18:29:00.001-08:002016-02-20T18:31:29.566-08:00My Pole Community....<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Why did I fall in love with pole? It was
the pole community, just that plain and simple. </div>
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It is almost four years now since I first walked thru the
doors of Twirly Girls Pole Fitness and took my first pole dancing class. I had
no idea what to really expect and I was totally stepping out of my comfort
zone. But, it was that day that I found a new group of amazing people and a
continuing growing group of friends in this amazing community. </div>
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What I loved about this community was that it was so
accepting. Here I was a somewhat over weight, awkwardly shy guy and none of
that mattered to anyone. If I was there to learn pole, that was all that
mattered. As time went by, their simple acceptance actually boosts my
confidence. As my confidence grew, I put myself out there more in the pole
community. And it just seemed to grow from there. </div>
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Now, here is something that really amazed me. I went to my
first Pole Expo in Las Vegas sometime in my second year of poling. It was kind
of a last minute decision. Here I was with pole dancers from across the country
and around the world and I still felt the same. This same acceptance that I
felt from my pole studio, I was getting it from these complete strangers. That
feels pretty amazing!</div>
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Pole Expo also was a hub of who’s who in the pole industry.
The pros, there to perform and instruct. The pole business, clothing, poles,
grip aids and everything else pole related. I got to meet so many of them! I am
lucky that I have an awesome friend that had already worked hard at making a
lot of these great connections. But I can say, it was great to feel this since
of respect that came from all of these people when I met them! I felt it with
the Bad Kitty owners, Jack and Trisha, or Joel at Mighty Grip. Or when Josiah
Grant gave me my stage name and when Zoraya Judd was helping me invert in her
workshop. Even getting to sit down with Suwasit and have lunch. Best way to
describe it, they made me feel like I was someone, the same respect that they
gave to the pros, they gave to me and that feels pretty amazing! And each Pole
Expo, that experience has continued to grow. </div>
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All of this continued, even after Pole Expo. I can’t say how
great it feels that I have been able to go to these people for support in my
AIDS LifeCycle fundraising I have been doing the last few years. The pole
community has helped me raise some major money in the fight against HIV and
AIDS, from either monetary donating directly or donating product for the
fundraisers.</div>
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I guess what I am getting at is that I have always felt that
the pole community was every accepting. It didn’t matter where you came from,
what you looked like, what abilities or disabilities you had. If you had the
heart to pole, they had the heart to help you achieve your goals. It always
felt like a group that was always united together and there to help everyone. </div>
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It was a group that was united as one family and supported
everyone.</div>
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I wish it would stay that way. </div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-71853005572306525472014-04-28T23:11:00.000-07:002014-04-28T23:11:09.243-07:00There is no crying in Pole Dancing... ok, sometimes there is.
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes, you just need to take a moment to yourself and
shed a few tears… Then get back on the pole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, the other day I was in pole class and having a hard time
with getting the moves that were being taught. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was getting frustrated with myself. I know
some had to do with my lack of flexibility on one of the moves, but the other I
should have been getting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I realized that I do have a lot going on in my life
right now and it is adding stress on me. The law firm I work for is merging
with another firm. I know I am keeping my job, but there is still stress there.
I also have the AIDS LifeCycle coming up in June and that is weighing on me.
Plus add a couple of other stress factors, well it starts having an effect on
you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That stress starts to build up and
your health, mentality and even your poling can be affected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now back to the other night, we were working on getting into
a Martini and I was just not having any luck. I was giving up. I had to sit
down. I getting really frustrated with myself and feeling like a failure. As I sat
in that corner I started to cry. Surprisingly, no one noticed, or at least let
me have my moment in peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just sat
there feeling the tears running down my cheeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The thing was it felt good. It felt like a little bit of
stress was released with each tear. I could feel the tightness in my muscles let
up as I let my emotions out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took my
moment to myself and just let it happen. When I was done crying, dried my tears
and was ready to rejoin the class.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got on to the pole, did my side climb up, swung my leg to
the other side, grabbed that leg and there I was, in the Martini. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am also lucky to have a great instructor, one that knows
when to push me and when to let me have my moment in the corner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So when life starts to get in your way and weigh down on
you, that that moment to yourself and just let the tears flow. There is nothing
wrong with it. Just let the stress out then dry them and get on with life. </span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-7970931628896175272014-04-20T21:52:00.006-07:002014-04-20T22:15:55.516-07:00The Emotional Spirituality Of Pole <span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember watching a movie called ‘The Man in the Moon’
back in the early 1990’s. In the movie, the father would go fishing down at the
lake every Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His family referred
to this as him going to his church. It was his way of finding God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess we all have our own church that we attend and
regardless of what religion belief you follow, the true nature of any
spirituality is to find yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
me, at this time in my life, that has been pole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you look at religion or spirituality, there are basic
elements that a person is looking to find. They are also looking for the
guidance to find these elements in themselves. Surprisingly, I have been guided
to find these same elements in myself with pole dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strength, Balance, Courage, Determination are
all things that I have found in pole dancing. The scene of community, the
support to achieve your goals and the desire to help others achieve theirs,
again all elements of spirituality, yet found in a church that had poles
instead of pews. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, when you get to
the point where you are comfortable dancing around with others in your
underwear, you have truly reached a higher plane! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pole has also been an emotional outlet for me, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a place I can let my guards down and not
have to worry about judgments from other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has become my sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very therapeutic being to dance my
emotions out. I do notice that my emotions do come out in the way I dance
depending on how I am feeling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also like to pick music that I can emotionally connect to.
I think that is one reason I like country music, I can relate to it and I find
it emotionally activating. That is why I perform to a lot of country songs. I
want to shear that emotional connection I’m feeling with my music with my audience.
I like it more when someone says that my number made them cry or happy or even
reminded them of someone rather than how well I pole danced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I guess the main thing is that I am at home with pole
dancing. I am with family every time I walk through that door and that is what
really counts. </span><br />
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-85114285117725415982014-03-17T18:13:00.000-07:002014-03-27T11:48:00.011-07:00Am I ready to make a big reveal?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every morning you look in the mirror and see yourself, all of yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is what do others see when they look at you. Even more specific, what do you hide when they look at you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I myself like to say that I am pretty much an open book, but I know that is not completely true. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all keep things about ourselves secret, whether it’s our insecurities, our true feelings, a physical imperfection or even our sexuality. After you do that for so long, it becomes even harder to pull those covers off the mirrors and allow your full reflection to show to others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One reason we keep things secret is that we don’t want them to be used against us. On that same note though, how much power do those secrets have over us once we reveal them ourselves? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s see if I get enough guts to make my own big reveal by the time I am finished writing this blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Awhile ago I did a blog on things that people did not know about me. You can read it <a href="http://twirlyboy.blogspot.com/2012/03/twenty-five-things-you-may-not-know.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Some of the things that are on the list were reveals about my, while others were more of things that I would just call un-known facts about me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saying that, I guess a big reveal is something that would make you look at a person differently. It could be good or bad, but never the less, your view of that person is changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One reveal I recently did, and caught on video was a lap dance! I have danced plenty of times in my underwear in front of other people, but this was the first time on another person. Plus it was my first real number I have done that was so sexual in nature. I will now share that video for all of your enjoyment! You can watch it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU--0bn-XL0&list=UUcsS-TGDFT-X4Bi6-fRvwnQ" target="_blank">here</a>. I was afraid to watch it at first myself, but when I finally did, I have to say that I was not that bad! Ha-ha! Was that enough of a big reveal? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another thing about big reveals is who learns about them. You might not mind one group of people knowing who you might have a total pole crush on, but then there are others that is just none of their damn business. Even as I write this, I wonder who might read it, or watch the video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the end, I guess we all make our reveals when we are ready. It’s part of life, learning to know when it is time to open yourself up. Eventually, you will realize that you are no longer looking in the mirror, but out the window… and not care about all those who are looking in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s your life and let the sun shine in!</span></div>
<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=227958" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-33309691902785697432014-02-26T19:33:00.000-08:002014-02-27T12:30:18.207-08:00Finding Myself In Pole Dancing<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been trying to write a blog about men in pole dancing, and not having very much luck getting my words to come together. Further below you will see what has taken me over three weeks to come up with. As for right now, I am going to say this. It applies to a lot of things in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you do not allow men that want to pole dance into your studio, you are shutting a door. You’re not just shutting the door on that man; you are shutting it on yourself too. You or your business can not expand behind closed doors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been poling now for two years. It is kind of hard to believe how far I have come. I lived a life where I did not get much exercise and was slowly putting weight on. I do not want to think where I would be weight wise if I did not find pole dancing… better yet, if pole dancing did not find me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am now down over 35 pounds, I have greater confidence in myself and I have more strength. Most importantly, I have found a place where I feel I belong, a place I can call home and a group of people I can call family. I have found courage to put myself out there. I was even the Face of Mighty Grip for the month of February. Plus I am a new member of the Pole Dancing Bloggers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am happy that I can pole dance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, what if that door was shut on me? I might be sitting on the couch watching a bad horror movie on the SyFi channel, weighing 200 to 225 pounds. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My self confidence would be less, and maybe just following in others ways instead of making my own way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about the pole studio? The things I have achieved, those are notches that the studio can boast about. I mean what is greater than being able to say, “Hey, we helped Robert find himself and look how far he has come!" They can say, “The Face of February for Might Grip is one of our students!” How cool is that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have had doors shut on me before, it’s not fun. It has you walking away feeling even less of yourself. So, just remember, when you open that door, you will most likely be changing someone’s life and that will change yours!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, here is what I had been working on what seemed like forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just having too much trouble getting it to come out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finding my place in pole… as a man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I first started poling, I have to admit that I was a little intimidated. I was walking into what I thought was a woman’s world. I know there were a couple of the ladies that would not have a problem with me in the studio, but not sure about the one that did not know me. I have to say that I was quickly relieved that I was wrong on those thoughts! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I pole at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness in Pleasanton, California. Despite the name, this is a pole studio that allows men and shows them just as much respect as the woman. As a matter of fact, a couple of the instructors are guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone there seemed perfectly fine with me in their pole class and quick to welcome me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a matter of fact, in my two years of poling, I have not felt any judgment against me from the pole community…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ugh…. I have been trying to write this blog for several weeks now and I am not getting the words to flow. You would think it would be an easy topic for me to write about, since I am man that pole dances. I think I will just do a quick run through of the thoughts I have been having.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First thing that popped into my head is pole clothing. I have found that most the companies that sell pole clothing really don’t have a lot for men, if they have anything at all. Finding a pole outfit to perform in is near impossible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do feel that this is a market that is just waiting to be tapped into in the pole industry. There seems to be more and more men getting into pole dancing and they are going to need a place to spend their money. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do have to say that I do like dancing in the PoleFit Fold Over Pole Fitness Shorts from Bad Kitty. But like the Capezio dance shorts I also wear, they are also a woman’s cut. I have heard some talk that there are a couple of lines for men that might be coming out, but not sure when. Until then I guess I could always perform in my Andrew Christian Ass-less Underwear and cowboy boots. I wonder who would like to see that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another thing I was thinking, how many studios have actually had men sign up and pay to take a pole class just to check out the women? I know I have only been poling for two years, but I have yet to hear about this actually happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I was in some pain in my first class and left swore and bruised. I am sure that would be a deterrent to any men that just wanted to gawk at the woman. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, most women are intuitive enough to know when a man walks through their studio door if he is legit in wanting to learn pole or just a creeper. I guess what I am getting at, is don’t let this be a reason not to allow men into your studio. I am sure, if you run a man through a regular pole work out, he will not come back if he is not really there to pole dance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, here are some photos of this man in pole dancing...</span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-86495464219448217952014-01-20T14:05:00.000-08:002014-01-20T14:05:58.272-08:00My 2014 Pole Goals!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My pole goals for the year of the horse, 2014!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First on my list, is more of a continuation from 2013. I
want to continue working on my flexibility. I have been slowly getting a little
more bendy with the help of AJ at <a href="http://www.twirlygirlspolefitness.com/" target="_blank">Twirly Girls Pole Fitness</a>, but I really want
to push myself this year. I know I have it in me, as I have seen how far I can
flex in some areas when AJ pushes on my body. I just need to get to where I can
do it on my own. Oh, and remember to breath while I am stretching myself out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next on the list is getting into Superman, on my own. This
will be happening soon I hope. I can get into Superman out of Jasmine with a
little help now. When I say a little help, I mean someone grabbing my ass and
pushing me thigh over and popping into position. I know I can hold the position
once I get into it. Then, of course, I want to keep working on other moves as
well. I can only get better, right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The third item on my list is dealing with choreography. I am
lousy at learning choreography and coming up with it. I think part of this has
to do with my dyslexia. I seem to get moves switched around or backwards. So,
right now, when I perform, I do it free style. One thing that I have planned to
do to help me get over this is a pole number with Jade for the Lovely Rita
Fundraiser later this year. I am hoping this will build my confidence with
choreographed numbers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What you will see next on my list is I want to just continue
to have fun! I enjoy my classes, dancing with my fellow pole dancers and promoting
pole. That fun also includes looking forward to going to <a href="http://www.poleexpo.com/" target="_blank">Pole Expo</a> in Las
Vegas! I have to wait till September for that though. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last thing on my list is actually a goal for 2015. I
want to be the <a href="http://www.mightygrip.com/" target="_blank">Might Grip</a> Guy of 2015. First step is becoming the Face of
Mighty Grip for a month in 2014. I am on my third try, for the Face of
February. At least I know I have 9 or 10 more tries if I don’t get February. After
I win a month, I go on to the next level for Mighty Grip Guy 2015. Don’t you
think a Cowboy would make a good Mighty Grip Guy? I do have to say I love all
the support I have gotten from the folks at Mighty Grip, especially Stephanie!
So if you see my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=604165112952170&set=a.604165109618837.1073741836.130998766935476&type=1&theater" target="_blank">photo</a> post from Mighty Grip on FaceBook, please ‘like’ it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, I think that ends my list, for now. I know as the year
progresses, I will want to add more to it. I will keep you up dated as we
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Keep it wild!</span></span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-7359079068326117332014-01-18T21:11:00.000-08:002014-01-18T22:17:31.901-08:00My Pole Family<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have heard that Armistead Maupin once said “there is your
biological family and then there is your logical family.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lucked out and my biological family is part of my logical family. Today, however, I am going to talk about the
non biological family, my pole family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I started pole dancing, I figured on a couple of
things. One, I would be getting some exercise and probably shed a few pounds. I
also know I would have some fun doing it. The biggest thing I got out of pole
dancing, and unexpected, was the sense of family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the first time entering the pole studio, I was a little apprehensive.
I was entering what I thought was the girl’s club house. That feeling went
right out the door. I was immediately considered one of the girls and family
bonding time had begun. I was just blown away by the instant support at was
shown towards me over just the first few pole classes I had taken. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sense of belonging just continued to grow
from there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Ok, I have to interject here… As I am writing this blog
about pole family, I am also dealing with my pole show I am doing February 1
for my AIDS LifeCycle fundraiser. They say family is there to help you out,
well, Diana, one of the instructors from the studio I go to, just volunteered
her stage pole for us to use at the show. This is what I am talking about! Ok,
now back to your regularly planned blog.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JwlG8lvVdLv-VEzSaEJSk_7edL5TRrcWA9kSOUFsIBY59LW_aKFa0J_B3Yfu0W4cHzaCuulUKJDcyQPZUHkry2sWLKsB8Go-8qf1xxJNtT8133slLlnlPh164Wtgh4F2fAlo2yHpWNM/s1600/602891_10202262991843670_833829843_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JwlG8lvVdLv-VEzSaEJSk_7edL5TRrcWA9kSOUFsIBY59LW_aKFa0J_B3Yfu0W4cHzaCuulUKJDcyQPZUHkry2sWLKsB8Go-8qf1xxJNtT8133slLlnlPh164Wtgh4F2fAlo2yHpWNM/s1600/602891_10202262991843670_833829843_n.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, this new family all belongs to the same studio. I did a
pole show last year as a fundraiser and I cannot tell you how lucky and proud I
was to be a part of this group. The performers volunteering their time and
donating their tips, it was amazing! Then there is the learning. If someone
thought of something that might help me progress in pole dancing, they let me
know, even if I was not in one of their classes. And again, the support is
amazing. I am not a great pole dancer but the way this group cheers you on, you
can’t help but feel great about your performance. But like I said, this was my
pole studio family. It wasn’t till I went to Pole Expo that I saw how big my
whole Pole Family was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pole Expo was amazing for me! (Thanks to my hubby for paying
for me to go! Love You!) I got to meet so many people. How can I describe it?
It was like every person I met, regardless of what level they were at in pole
dancing or how well they were know, I was on that same level, I was just as important.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like, ‘oh, you pole? Then you’re
family’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the connections continue
on, even after the expo was over. Most of it might be on FaceBook, but the
communication continues. The notes of support, the comments of encouragement,
all of it makes me feel like I belong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there are even the people in pole that I have not met
in person, but treat me like family. It makes me feel good and appreciated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last thing I’ll say about my pole family is you have all
affected me one way or another. Because of you, I push myself harder and
further. Not just in pole, but in all aspects of my life. I feel that I can’t fail;
I have too many hands holding me up and pushing me higher. I can only imagine
what this world would be like if more people were this accepting and giving and
caring as my pole family. </span></div>
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Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-30718535041756796102014-01-05T22:24:00.000-08:002014-01-06T12:42:55.869-08:00Putting on a Small Pole Show!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I want you to know pole dancing! How do I do that? I put on
a show! </div>
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I am about to put on my third pole dancing show on February
1<sup>st</sup>. This one will be a benefit for my AIDS LifeCycle ride in June.
I am doing the main chunk of the organizing for this one. The other two, I had
a lot of help from my friend and fellow pole dancer, Lori Myers. She has shown
me the ropes for getting these little shows organized.</div>
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The venue for theses shows have been a little club in Walnut
Creek called Club 1220. We set up a stage curtain for the performers to get
ready behind and one or two stage poles on the dance floor. It makes for an
intimate evening of pole dancing. </div>
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I have been lucky, because the club does not charge for use
of the space and lets us keep the money that is made at the door. The door
money has all gone towards the fundraiser or invested into putting on future
shows, like the one coming up. </div>
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I like the small venue for these shows. It gives a place for
the pole dancers to perform without the pressure of a big audience. This is a
great chance for the ones that want to show what they have learned in class to
friends or family. </div>
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Then there is a show that I just went to last night, Volare
Variety at the Stage Werx Theater in San Francisco. This was a Burlesque style
show with singers, a drag queen and of course, pole artists. The wonderful Kate
Cotruvo produced this show. The theater seats 70 and also makes for an intimate
atmosphere. All the seats had great views without feeling far away from the
performances. I look forward to more of Volare Variety show there.</div>
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I guess what I am getting at is these small venues are great
for putting on a pole show. And these small pole shows are a great way to introduce
new people to pole dancing and see what it is all about. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-81189398001270090142014-01-03T21:20:00.004-08:002014-01-06T12:36:32.361-08:00Becoming Superman<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m becoming Superman! Well, I am doing Superman. The pole
pose ‘Superman’ that is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been poling for a little under two years now at
Twirly Girls Pole Fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
moves that I have been working on is the ‘Superman’ pose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where you body is horizontal to the
floor, the pole squeezed between your inner thighs, legs extended, one arm
reaching back and gripping the pole and the other arm extended out in front of
you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a few ways to get into
this position. As for myself, I have been working on getting into ‘Superman’
from a ‘Jasmine’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, my first attempts did not look that great. One thing,
it hurts like crazy on the inner thighs. My legs were bent to where I looked more
like I was in a horizontal squat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
needed help getting flipped over from the ‘Jasmine’ into the ‘Superman’.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj52oz6LN2Gk7feU-vnuHSQOC9axdukxoUsgWT7SdnWsYHxxeaLxQJc2-B-UuprYthsUVk9ICqXoCTjM63KuVN3BUQ0CLX6WT8VySCHEf7mjmMkDAun06-iGpaM7JklcpZ7K_aMkaqO8/s1600/superman1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj52oz6LN2Gk7feU-vnuHSQOC9axdukxoUsgWT7SdnWsYHxxeaLxQJc2-B-UuprYthsUVk9ICqXoCTjM63KuVN3BUQ0CLX6WT8VySCHEf7mjmMkDAun06-iGpaM7JklcpZ7K_aMkaqO8/s320/superman1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just needed to practice more at it and that’s what I did.
The pain has become less on the inner thighs and I was able to extend my legs
longer. I still needed help getting flipped over into position, but I was
getting closer to it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQdRodt8N1fv1jZAHo-rybyXS_ZsOZLMFCTGcgdTw14sa3JB5J14HxjUFMSmIidKjkUrF0xkchgE4Dqu6rj_12-1Nj51uyRuxCeZ6_RMZaOVfkdU2qo_HgY-6P93tvKrmyL-r8_J2lK0/s1600/superman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQdRodt8N1fv1jZAHo-rybyXS_ZsOZLMFCTGcgdTw14sa3JB5J14HxjUFMSmIidKjkUrF0xkchgE4Dqu6rj_12-1Nj51uyRuxCeZ6_RMZaOVfkdU2qo_HgY-6P93tvKrmyL-r8_J2lK0/s320/superman2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, just a few nights ago, we worked on ‘Superman’ in
pole class. I still needed the help on getting flipped over, but I got into the
position. My legs were extended long and toes pointed with my arm reaching out
for the sky.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgfmUS54-ZARr25evts1mBLCfwuJcbEkQZZRXXVQZ_T0OZH3_yTVM8BgKuwkEP4AoNTolSBSfrNFpzedIFh7ZQHTtoMQoFJjjDxIs_jgjOKY3AwOHf7Nfud5qWbigjMFRGymA39J5tFM/s1600/superman3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgfmUS54-ZARr25evts1mBLCfwuJcbEkQZZRXXVQZ_T0OZH3_yTVM8BgKuwkEP4AoNTolSBSfrNFpzedIFh7ZQHTtoMQoFJjjDxIs_jgjOKY3AwOHf7Nfud5qWbigjMFRGymA39J5tFM/s320/superman3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to give a big thanks to one on my instructors, AJ,
for getting me this far. I know with a little more push and a little more effort;
I will be getting there on my own. I will have become Superman!</span></div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-39472282414453867232014-01-01T23:44:00.000-08:002014-01-01T23:44:33.814-08:00Poling in 2013
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a great year 2014 is going to be! How do I know that? I
just look back at what I accomplished and where I was in 2013!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yeah, I have to say that 2013 was a pretty great year. I got
to meet some amazing people and see some fantastic performances. The thing is
that none of this would ever have happened if not for pole dancing. I have come
a long way in 2013 in my pole adventures, especially in the last four months.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the first big events for me was my fund raiser for
the AIDS LifeCycle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so amazed by
the turn out and the unbelievable support from my fellow performers. Unfortunately,
I injured my knee not too long for the bike ride and I was unable to do it. I
am gearing up to do it this year and have another fund raiser in the works.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">March, 2013 had me reaching my first year of pole dancing.
That made me an ‘OTG!’ an Original Twirly Girl at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very proud of that and looking forward
to reaching two years. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had a great time in 2013, but I have to say, the best part
of the year started in September. First, there was Pole Expo in Las Vegas. That
was an amazing event for me! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got to meet so many amazing and wonderful people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took one of Zoraya Judd’s work shops and
she had me doing some moves that I had never been able to do and gave a couple
of great pole bruises too. I also got to meet and hang out with some of the
most amazing performers, like Josiah “BadAzz” Grant, David Owen, and Suwasit
Ritthiphon. Oh, and I got to meet Timber Brown, who had just come off of
America’s Got Talent. By the way, it was Josiah “BadAzz” that gave me my stage
name Cowboy Wild.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIW-YBdQQNz8qMMhUwogaXQ9yt9hO0SzKCd452KO2KeZit3eLGHVNlfBkg76ck9UCnPFaGPNWofTqWqhhxb2v-lsmIolaG5RdTYhjrON7rsdWWUhnCFUVvScsI6L94UdAyVkr3Y3xacgo/s1600/1239426_10201628906071922_12843776_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIW-YBdQQNz8qMMhUwogaXQ9yt9hO0SzKCd452KO2KeZit3eLGHVNlfBkg76ck9UCnPFaGPNWofTqWqhhxb2v-lsmIolaG5RdTYhjrON7rsdWWUhnCFUVvScsI6L94UdAyVkr3Y3xacgo/s320/1239426_10201628906071922_12843776_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also got to meet some other great people in the pole
industries while at the expo. Of course there was Fawnia herself. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JwMdTr5AdFSO4Q_CBz6szW9XQ2JhNvm04gXgrukHomJRUJpC4FwFXL8WYBEUkKyUJoFJImrklip2yNr-Vu_ZYEdTfxef3zbNPJ501aSPYMmWsUqS8An1qkD2RqHTBX2NqgvjCmMeCC0/s1600/1385452_10201950260745588_2097163195_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JwMdTr5AdFSO4Q_CBz6szW9XQ2JhNvm04gXgrukHomJRUJpC4FwFXL8WYBEUkKyUJoFJImrklip2yNr-Vu_ZYEdTfxef3zbNPJ501aSPYMmWsUqS8An1qkD2RqHTBX2NqgvjCmMeCC0/s320/1385452_10201950260745588_2097163195_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then there were Trisha and Jack from Bad Kitty. I found some
great shorts to pole dance in because of Trisha. I secretly want to be a Bad
Kitty model! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaaipMx5jeTkxTfNfvJJt2anh0hAjXfXAPT7tCun8RKUZLeqjHwZtnFRxX7F0EIInftzM_sVuAWcHh_2vVgAd6u0GgYaP7HE5aBVrfPrqt2FTZjcGjllWBSAdWqCES2B10KWVzgvPRHo/s1600/1185665_10201628928312478_1372533049_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaaipMx5jeTkxTfNfvJJt2anh0hAjXfXAPT7tCun8RKUZLeqjHwZtnFRxX7F0EIInftzM_sVuAWcHh_2vVgAd6u0GgYaP7HE5aBVrfPrqt2FTZjcGjllWBSAdWqCES2B10KWVzgvPRHo/s320/1185665_10201628928312478_1372533049_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were the amazing ladies at Just Pole. They had donated
to my AIDS LifeCycle so I had to personally thank them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh-Djc26HW_-fTFn294DEaxpV9rRFOOJeA_c2-0SVuZxuk2s3mGr8ePmdWEhwADfcDJJomZQb0JK02kr-mVIn1DQBO10GEIyX8aOYiZLnLvOvC4jbHBY1i8RQup0foXJisNlyAsJ_wCs/s1600/1184919_10201628902591835_1746058058_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh-Djc26HW_-fTFn294DEaxpV9rRFOOJeA_c2-0SVuZxuk2s3mGr8ePmdWEhwADfcDJJomZQb0JK02kr-mVIn1DQBO10GEIyX8aOYiZLnLvOvC4jbHBY1i8RQup0foXJisNlyAsJ_wCs/s320/1184919_10201628902591835_1746058058_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also got to meet some amazing photographers, Christopher
Donald and Sam Green. I’m still enjoying FaceBook banter with Sam. He has such
a positive outlook on life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also got to do a photo shoot with Somer Ahonen of LockBox
Studios. I never know I looked that good!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJyALhE1Y4S5jOGhj7DQwN6qUagSbq-lxJujwE28QsFq_zk83uqGv5KnsRWgA7Dr4nRT3WyM65J58CfUt9LeN7cy8fztcXWD1CghYtqBpSMdUCY0FR06hoOGSd1i3d8CDfJfa3n7AwOE/s1600/60604_10201676675906138_605349371_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Ubnr9pCtv8ZnZKAe3Dquqg-gVdKvgkhAjozbbq3AHyYTcY34WSi78MhAY6HbeVxzeqhJg0MeVuPgUvo1v1pvIhN9SHkEKkVLmtnVvXv4cOt3JFAp9P5XD0Z-4YFUc_PvTBGi2uOEq0/s1600/733849_10201676678866212_1850241473_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1Ubnr9pCtv8ZnZKAe3Dquqg-gVdKvgkhAjozbbq3AHyYTcY34WSi78MhAY6HbeVxzeqhJg0MeVuPgUvo1v1pvIhN9SHkEKkVLmtnVvXv4cOt3JFAp9P5XD0Z-4YFUc_PvTBGi2uOEq0/s320/733849_10201676678866212_1850241473_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApVJVk3nsfLgrZljkWAmLylWeTkOLyh_RMOa7b9XWWEaOdoPquCKZJNMyheTmttb5Jy3jZ8YMuqFcCNa10K2AS4A7C4THTaTMhrzfLTNwhp1PS0PDQ-yJk0DZhMWkHE22qIfs4QqU9Mg/s1600/549556_10201676679266222_1740169588_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApVJVk3nsfLgrZljkWAmLylWeTkOLyh_RMOa7b9XWWEaOdoPquCKZJNMyheTmttb5Jy3jZ8YMuqFcCNa10K2AS4A7C4THTaTMhrzfLTNwhp1PS0PDQ-yJk0DZhMWkHE22qIfs4QqU9Mg/s320/549556_10201676679266222_1740169588_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All I know is that I had such a great time at Pole Expo that
I am going again this year! Everyone I have meet there has been so supportive!
Pole Expo has even donated two passes to my fund raiser on February 1, 2014.
Speaking about support from being at Pole Expo, I can’t forget to mention the
crew at Mighty Grip! I didn’t get to meet Stephanie Brinlee, from Mighty Grip while
at the last expo, but I am sure we have a date at the next one! She has been a
great FaceBook friend and can’t wait to meet her in person!</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3NiH26cdyZBJpfRU2SU63ToTa9N9Lh9LEgUfebqwU_qlynBSY0c1ryNFiCyjy8tnLU6h0DtDYMwQz86kjmnKWmMVcAZBBgUfW5G3YxTFukr7jTpMU2415Ty186PVVNhhGd6XwEjycFs/s1600/1229920_10201628898391730_1809811317_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3NiH26cdyZBJpfRU2SU63ToTa9N9Lh9LEgUfebqwU_qlynBSY0c1ryNFiCyjy8tnLU6h0DtDYMwQz86kjmnKWmMVcAZBBgUfW5G3YxTFukr7jTpMU2415Ty186PVVNhhGd6XwEjycFs/s320/1229920_10201628898391730_1809811317_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other big thing for me in the last part of 2014 was
meeting AJ. I started taking one of his classes at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness
just a couple months ago. With him pushing my boundaries and body, I have come
a long way in pole dancing. His encouragement and support is amazing and I am
glad he doesn’t let me get away with me saying “I can’t do that.”</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ytuQVFaUzQpGFoo6CwlG1jtq50jY1aTkJzFlZGgURua2HyMFpTGHZMY1eu-61ARFbLqtFitDmIyRbxF6sM2FLLYED0DNK_-ZTCLGiybBppSNif6Z61WDCT_h0efJi3e9_mVsD17YyE/s1600/1004544_10202178489011152_95451041_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7ytuQVFaUzQpGFoo6CwlG1jtq50jY1aTkJzFlZGgURua2HyMFpTGHZMY1eu-61ARFbLqtFitDmIyRbxF6sM2FLLYED0DNK_-ZTCLGiybBppSNif6Z61WDCT_h0efJi3e9_mVsD17YyE/s320/1004544_10202178489011152_95451041_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOdUG5kiUIWmqUTFZKKDG_24ylcZUzMTe3pXOtVhkbrD72Y06Ukjuv2OUyS14_ZeaHqUHPvdUr6-dz-smcF-M_xA_OXbjMl21GlMbPf9n31xsThOWpqA99fbMCGgn5XatFslLisJWK-s/s1600/1557581_10202480001588778_1477752851_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOdUG5kiUIWmqUTFZKKDG_24ylcZUzMTe3pXOtVhkbrD72Y06Ukjuv2OUyS14_ZeaHqUHPvdUr6-dz-smcF-M_xA_OXbjMl21GlMbPf9n31xsThOWpqA99fbMCGgn5XatFslLisJWK-s/s320/1557581_10202480001588778_1477752851_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, while all that was happening in 2013, I continued to
have a blast with the Viking Warrior, Lori, in her Boys, Girls and Twirls
class. The place and person that got me started on this great adventure in Pole
Dancing!</span></div>
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So, as you can see, 2013 has been a pretty amazing year for me. Now, lets get going and make 2014 even better!</div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-83910894198932582682012-06-11T10:48:00.000-07:002012-06-11T10:48:10.866-07:00It Was The Summer Of 1982...<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just nine years old when I got my first look at a Reese’s Pieces eating guy that was afraid, totally alone and three million light years from home. It was the Summer of 1982 and his name was E.T. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was released into the movie theaters on June 11, 1982. Happy 30<sup>th</sup> Birthday E.T.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>E.T. was not the only character that we were introduced to that summer that left an impact on American culture. We also met a barbarian, a madam, a red headed orphan, disgruntle ghosts, some fast moving teenagers, a couple of androids, some mice and rats and another alien that was not quite as nice as E.T. We were also reunited with some of our favorite characters from past films. We saw the return of Rocky, Jason Voorhees, Captain Kirk and Spock, and Mad Max as the Road Warrior.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several critics have said the Summer of 1982 was the best summer of movies ever. If anything, it took audiences on a whirlwind tour of locations, from the Antarctica in The Thing, to the inside of a computer program in Tron and then into outer space with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a list of movies that kept audiences in the theaters that summer compiled by John Sanchez , a Yahoo contributor, in an article published May 1, 2007. Now grab your popcorn, Goobers, and a large coke and enjoy!</div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MAY</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CONAN THE BARBARIAN</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Universal; Director - John Milius) This action packed adventure film gave Arnold Schwarzenegger his name in movies before he became a superstar with his next film <i>"The Terminator."</i> Here Ah-nold plays the title character, a warrior seeking revenge on those who destroyed his village and enslaved him. This was a violent and brutal R-rated film with terrific <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/theme/1605/photo.html" title="photography"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">photography</span></a> and a terrific musical score that critics dismissed but clicked with audiences. The film wasn't a major hit but made a respectable $22 million and spawned a lesser sequel.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Universal; Director - Carl Reiner) Those of us old enough to remember know that Steve Martin was a hugely successful film comedian in the late 70's through the late 80's. This was Martin's first comedy after his successful starring debut in 1979's <i>"The Jerk"</i> and his disastrous serious turn in the musical <i>"Pennies From Heaven."</i> Here director Reiner fashioned (along with Martin) an interesting gimmick to go with a story of a private detective trying to solve a totally uninteresting mystery. The gimmick was having the detective interact with clips from several film noir and mysteries from the 40's. The film was shot in glorious black and white but the one joke note starts out fun but gets old quickly and without an interesting original story the film runs dry, especially in its last 30 minutes. Die-hard Martin fans came out in droves but the film only appealed to true film buffs and the film only grossed a disappointing $17 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ROCKY III</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (MGM/UA; Director - Sylvester Stallone) The third film in the enormously popular series saw our title hero take on nasty Mr. T while former foe Apollo Creed became his manager after the death of Mickey (Burgess Meredith). The winning formula for the series was starting to wear a little thin here but audiences made it another smash at the box office as it was one of the highest grossing films of the year taking in $66.2 million.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JUNE</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ANNIE</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Columbia; Director - John Huston) The smash Broadway musical made it to the big screen with veteran director Huston an odd choice to direct a musical, a genre he had never before attempted. Huston made the immediate mistake of casting a little girl in the title role who came off as cloying and annoying and Carol Burnett as the villainess who comes off as cartoonish instead of threatening. Albert Finney nearly saved the day as Daddy Warbucks but the film faltered because the musical numbers were mostly forgettable while being lifelessly directed by Huston. Critics weren't kind to the film but audiences showed up to the tune of $37.8 million. The problem was the over inflated budget crept up to $50.5 million making this musical a flop.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUTHOR, AUTHOR</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox; Director - Arthur Hiller) Al Pacino found himself in his first career slump having bombed in 3 consecutive films (<i>Bobby Deerfield; And Justice For All; Cruising)</i>. Pacino decided to take a different path in his career by playing in this comedy in which a playwright suddenly finds himself a single parent of several kids (all of hers from a previous marriage) after his wife walks out on him. The film wants to be a funny version of <i>"Kramer vs. Kramer"</i> while still trying to make serious points about <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/theme/1441/parenting.html" title="parenting"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">parenting</span></a> and marriage but fails in all counts. Pacino is hopelessly miscast in the role after having become one of our great actors playing brooding, dark characters. Critics and audiences agreed and the film bombed taking in only $10.6 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BLADE RUNNER</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Warner Bros; Director - Ridley Scott) No film has divided audiences more then this Sci-Fi adventure/thriller starring <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/topic/37377/harrison_ford.html" title="Harrison Ford"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Harrison Ford</span></a> (fresh off the original <i>"Raiders"</i>) as a futuristic former cop assigned to hunt down androids who have made their way to Earth. Based on Philip K. Dick's story <i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? "Blade Runner"</i> is a triumph of visuals and music but has a difficult script that makes the film hard to follow. While the film did make a respectable $27.6 million and is now a cult film, there are as many detractors as fans. Director Scott released a director's cut in the 90's that eliminated Ford's narration (which was added by the studio to try and eliminate some of the confusion), added deleted scenes and included a vastly different and very abrupt ending. True fans of the film hail this cut as an improvement.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">E.T.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Universal; Director - Steven Spielberg) How many of you guessed that this was the film that supplanted <i>"Star Wars"</i> as the highest grossing movie of all time? Spielberg's classic about the relationship between a stranded extraterrestrial and a little boy warmed the hearts of children and adults alike with seemingly each screening ending in wild applause. The film would play in first run right up to the Christmas movie releases and played in second run until the following spring. The final box office take was $228 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FIREFOX</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Warner Bros; Director - Clint Eastwood) The Clint film of the summer was this espionage thriller about a pilot who is hired and trained to go into Russian territory and steal its new prototype plane. This was an unusually silly but action packed Eastwood movie and back then most Eastwood movies made good money no matter what the reviews. The reviews for this film were generally negative but the box office take was an impressive $25 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GREASE 2</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Paramount; Director Patricia Birch) Don't you look at the title and just how this film turned out? Birch, the choreographer on the original made her directorial debut and promptly returned to choreography never to direct again. The film is filled with mostly unattractive and lifeless characters (remember the dynamic that <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/topic/4349/john_travolta.html" title="John Travolta"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">John Travolta</span></a> and Olivia Newton-John brought to Danny and Sandy?) with Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield (who?) taking on the leads. The musical numbers are forgettable and the paper-thin story simply borrows from the original. Critics and audiences could smell this turkey months before its release and it bombed with a $6.5 million gross.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HANKY PANKY</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Columbia; Director - Sidney Poitier) Gene Wilder starred in this comedy/thriller about an everyman who is mistakenly accused of murder and has to go on the run to clear his name. Richard Pryor was originally signed to co-star with Wilder (it would have been the third time) but had to bow out after his tragic burning incident and the part was re-cast for comedienne Gilda Radner, who would fall in love and later marry Wilder. The film was a pleasant mix of thrills and laughs and received generally positive reviews from critics. Oddly, despite the good reviews and the popularity of its two lead stars, the film tanked at the box office earning a mere $10 million. The film had the bad luck of opening the same weekend as <i>"Poltergeist"</i> and <i>"Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan"</i> and one week before <i>"E.T."</i> It is generally acknowledged that the film simply got lost in the shuffle of three big hits.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">POLTERGEIST</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (MGM; Director Tobe Hooper) This adult ghost story was surprisingly rated PG to attract a bigger audience and the results show it worked. It's the simple story of a suburban family whose lives are turned upside down when their youngest daughter disappears seemingly at the hands of vengeful spirits. With Steven Spielberg's name on the film as producer audiences flocked to see the film and see if they would be frightened out of their seats. The film fell somewhat short of ultimate scares but provided good entertainment. The behind the scenes story seems just as interesting as the film itself. Though it has never been officially admitted to it is widely known that Spielberg was unhappy with horror master Hooper's humorless direction of the film and took over directing duties himself while Hooper remained on set as more of a consultant. Spielberg cannot ever confirm this as he was also directing <i>"E.T."</i> at the same time and had to split his time between the two films - an official no-no with the director's guild. Hooper has never publicly commented and has never taken part in any programs in regards to the movie. Spielberg's touch is seen throughout the film, especially in the first half as we see the suburban family life. The film went on to gross over $38 million and spawned two lesser sequels and a television show.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">STAR TREK: THE WRATH OF KHAN</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Paramount; Director - Nicholas Meyer) The second in the successful series was considered a major step up to the 1979 original and is regarded as one of the best films in the series. <i>"Khan"</i> (note that in its release there was no "2" in the title) tells the story of Khan (Ricardo Montalban) taking his revenge on Captain Kirk, who was left abandoned on an isolated planet by him in the original television series. The film appealed not only to the most fervent fans (Trekkies) but also to general film fans and became a hit making over $40 million.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JULY</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Universal; Director - Colin Higgins) Based on the hit Broadway musical, director Higgins wisely chose superstar Burt Reynolds and <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/topic/22851/dolly_parton.html" title="Dolly Parton"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Dolly Parton</span></a> (fresh off her smashing debut in <i>"9 To 5"</i>) to head the cast in the story of a sheriff being pressured to close a local Chicken Ranch whose madam is his love interest. The musical has its moments but suffers from not being quite naughty enough considering its title and being based on the bawdy play, and the fact that its two appealing leads have much less screen time then expected. This fact is a bigger shame when you consider that the few scenes Reynolds and Parton have are the best in the film. Despite this and mostly negative reviews, the film was a big hit grossing over $47 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SEX COMEDY</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Orion; Director - Woody Allen) A Woody Allen movie opening in the heart of summer? Allen's films are designed for specific audiences and summer is the last place you'd expect to find one. He did have marginal success in 1979 with one of his masterpieces, <i>"Manhattan,"</i> but this is one of his minor films that is fun but no classic. The film centers on 3 couples spending a summer weekend in the country circa 1900. Still the older crowd came out and took a film with a $2 million budget and grossed $9 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Paramount; Director - Taylor Hackford) The sleeper hit of summer was this love story for adults that seemed better suited for a fall release but found its audience with a terrific set of reviews and leading performances by rising stars Richard Gere and Debra Winger. This hard and properly R-rated film told the tale of an outcast who <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/theme/872/dreams.html" title="dreams"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">dreams</span></a> of being a fighter pilot and goes through training to become an officer while falling in love with a local girl who wants to make him a gentleman. The film clicked on all levels and received a terrific set of reviews and would receive 6 Academy Award nominations including one for Winger and a win for Best Supporting Actor for Lou Gossett, Jr. as the drill instructor. The film also features an Award winning song (Up Where We Belong) and one of the best endings to any movie ever made. The film came out of nowhere to be a smash hit and grossed $55.7 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE SECRET OF NIMH</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (United Artists) The only animated family film of the summer was this non-Disney film about a young widowed mouse that comes across a society of rats of advanced intelligence. The film was created by a group of former Disney animators who left to form their own company and the result is a film that is nice to look at but thin on story. Children (along with most critics) appeared bored and frightened by the film and it grossed a disappointing $14.7 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE THING</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Universal; Director - John Carpenter) <i>"The Thing From Another World,"</i> (1951), was remade by <i>"Halloween"</i> director Carpenter into this stylish and bloody tale of a group of scientists in the Antarctic where a creature comes in the form of a dog and soon starts to take over the humans one by one and makes monsters out of them. The theme of trusting your fellow man is illustrated well here and the reviews were mixed, mostly due to Carpenter's excessive use of violence. Universal decided to release this film in July instead of October and, sadly, this film bombed at the box office despite having a huge cult following today. The film grossed $13.8 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TRON</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Walt Disney; Director - Steven Lisberger) In 1982 Walt Disney pictures announced its intention to become hip with today's audience by creating this PG-rated adventure about a computer programmer (Jeff Bridges) who gets sucked into one of his video games while trying to save his programs from being stolen by a greedy businessman (David Warner). While inside the game he has to fight for his life playing on various levels as he tries to escape. This was the directorial debut for 32 year-old Lisberger who announced himself with this film as a director to watch. Sadly he has never lived up to that billing. <i>"Tron"</i> was a sleeper hit that critics mostly adored and the film grossed over $33 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Warner Bros; Director - George Roy Hill) If any film belonged in the fall releases and not in summer was this adaptation of John Irvin's novel about a young man's unusual journey through life - a life made all the more unusual by his mother (Glenn Close). Along the way Garp bites the ear off a dog that has bitten him, witnesses a plane flying into a house he then insists on buying, becomes close friends with a transsexual former pro football player (John Lithgow), and becomes a novelist only to see his mother write a book that becomes a phenomenon. Robin Williams showed his true talent in the dramatic role of Garp in this brilliant adaptation directed by George Roy (<i>Butch Cassidy; The Sting; Slapshot)</i> Hill. Both Close and Lithgow were nominated for Supporting Oscars but the film failed to find its audience no doubt due to the odd marketing ploy of trying to make it look funnier then it was and for releasing it in July when it should have come out in October or November.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AUGUST</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Universal; Director - Amy Heckerling) One of the earliest successful teen sex comedies was this surprisingly smart comedy based on the novel by Cameron (Almost Famous; Say Anything) Crowe, who wrote the script. The film tells multiple stories of teenager in a California community and uses frankness in covering such issues as teenage pregnancy, sex, masturbation, drugs and abortion. The film introduced us to the talents of such future stars as <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/topic/6487/sean_penn.html" title="Sean Penn"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sean Penn</span></a> (priceless as Jeff Spicoli), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Nicolas Cage, Judge Reinhold, Anthony Edwards and Eric Stoltz among others. Crowe based his book on events he witnessed when enrolling in high school in his 20's and being able to pass himself off as a student. The film clicked with its intended audience and grossed $27 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FRIDAY THE 13<sup>TH</sup> PART 3 (3-D)</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Paramount; Director - Steve Miner) The third installment in the never ending series with mass killer Jason Voorhees stalking his human prey on a campsite benefited from the recent re-birth of 3-D. The 3-D effects in this film turned out to be some of the best of all the films made in the process at this time and the film was a big hit amongst the teenage crowds clamoring for murder and mayhem. The film, with a $3 million budget, went on to gross an amazing $33 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NIGHT SHIFT</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Warner Bros; Director - Ron Howard) Howard left <i>Happy Days</i> to become a film director and brought along co-star Henry Winkler for this comedy about a city morgue clerk forced to take the night shift and soon relishes the quiet until his new rambunctious assistant comes in and livens things up by scheming for them to become pimps. Michael Keaton made his film debut as the new assistant and promptly stole the movie and became a star in the process. Winkler gives his best big screen performance here in the subtler role wisely allowing Keaton his space. The film had more negative reviews in a mixed batch but the film still eeked out a mildly respectable $23.6 million but nowadays there are few people who admit to not having seen it and even fewer that dislike it.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE ROAD WARRIOR</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Warner Bros; Director - George Miller) This high powered, action packed sequel to the cult hit <i>"Mad Max"</i> starred still relative unknown <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/topic/5083/mel_gibson.html" title="Mel Gibson"><span style="color: #3d1e6c; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mel Gibson</span></a> as Max who, in this film, aids an oil producing community against a band of baddies out to steal the oil. The film is filled with amazing stunts and chases but failed to find its potential audience in 1982 despite strong reviews. The film only grossed $11 million but soon became a cult hit on video and would lead to another sequel in 1985.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIX PACK</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox; Director - Daniel Petrie) This was the film fans were clamoring for that wanted to see country singer Kenny Rogers as a stock car racer who winds up with a clan of kids. This is strictly family fare for those not minding an unoriginal script and seeing children's antics over and over. The film received mostly scathing reviews but still made a respectable $20 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SUMMER LOVERS</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Filmways; Director - Randal Kleiser) Kleiser, director of two previous smash hits (<i>Grease; The Blue Lagoon)</i>, finally got tripped up with this ill-conceived and mostly sexual teasing drama about three friends on summer vacation on a Greek island who constantly hint at having a threesome and then spend 90 boring minutes consistently teasing the audience. The photography was stunning but there was little else to enjoy, as audiences dislike being frustrated for longer then a few minutes at a time. The film was a bomb at the box office.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (Columbia; Director - Thomas Avildsen) Believe it or not but back in 1978 Cheech and Chong, two comedians whose forte was drug comedy, became movie stars with their film <i>"Up In Smoke."</i> From then on moviegoers were treated to one movie a year from C&C until their humor became a thing of the past. This was their fourth and least successful movie and indicated what was about to come when each subsequent movie would gross less then the one before it. Here C&C play duo roles, their usual roles plus Arab brothers (with make-up so convincing you barely recognize them) in the story of two idiots who drive a Cadillac from Chicago to Las Vegas not realizing there is $5 million in the car. Not surprisingly there is little more to the story that depends on the two leads to carry the humor with stupid comments and situations. Not surprisingly critics savaged the film but it still made a nice $21 million considering the budget was just over $3 million.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">YOUNG DOCTORS IN LOVE</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox; Director - Garry Marshall) <i>"Airplane"</i> in a hospital is the best way to describe this comedy that is all over the map with gags flying at you left and right. Depending on your mood probably depended on your opinion of the film. Yes it is stupid but in the right frame of mind you might never stop laughing. This film <i>really</i> divided critics with some lauding its audacious humor and some resentful at its silliness. A bonus for moviegoers was that many soap opera stars (including a pre-fame Demi Moore) make cameo appearances throughout the film. With its meager budget, the film turned a healthy profit grossing over $30 million.</span></div>
</span>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-64632022930575185572012-05-31T22:54:00.000-07:002012-06-02T10:17:07.763-07:00Continuing Confessions Of A Twirly Boy<br />
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Yes ma’am, I do know how to handle my pole. </div>
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This is becoming one of my responses when I am asked if I am any good at pole dancing. In addition, you should see the faces I get from people when I tell them I pole dance. Some people look at me like I am an alien and I have had a few the look as if they would like a private pole dance from me. Regardless of how they look at me, none of them ever expects it. </div>
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Pole Dancing has become a way for me to have fun, get exercise and push my boundaries. I am doing things on a pole that I would never thought of being able to do just a few months ago. I am actually even starting to get inverted on the pole and just did my first hand stand ever a couple of weeks ago. With that being said, I do not get too surprised by some of the looks I get, because I am a little surprised that I am pulling some of these moves off myself. </div>
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One thing I have noticed is that when most people learn that I pole dance, I have just thrown their whole image of pole dancing off kilter. While pole dancing has been rapidly growing in popularity as a great form of exercise, most still think of a topless girl spinning around a pole in a seedy strip club. Now they are looking at a man who is almost forty and far from having the physique of Channing Tatum and… well, they are not sure what to think anymore. It is now that they are interested and want to know more and start asking questions. </div>
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“Do you like it?”</div>
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“How long have you been doing it?”</div>
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“Where do you go to do it?”</div>
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“Have you lost weight?”</div>
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And, of course, “Are you any good at it?”</div>
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Now if it is a guy I am taking to, I also get the questions like, “Isn’t that for girls?” and “Are you the only guy in the class?” I inform them while male pole dancer are outnumbered by women there are several that take pole dancing and even compete in pole competitions. I also have been the only guy in my class for a couple of months but a couple of other guys have joined in the last month. If a guy tries giving me a hard time about pole dancing, I just tell him I spend my Monday evenings with a group of fine ladies working out some hot and sexy moves. I then ask them that do they do with themselves on a Monday night.</div>
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I also think that I get some strange looks from people that know me, because this is a little out of the norm for me. A lot of people have come to expect me to be out with my husband, Dale. I guess in a lot of ways, I have always let him take the lead on things we do together. So, now people are seeing me do something without Dale and that I think, kind of surprises them.</div>
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I know I have sparked people’s interest. I can see in their faces that they are even thinking about if they can do it. Still, most respond, I wish I could do that or I don’t have the strength to pole dance. I respond if I did it you can do it. In a few months, I have gone from hardly getting any exercise to being able to get myself into an inverted position. </div>
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At the end of the day though, it does not matter what others think or what kind of looks they give me. This is about me, this is about me bettering myself and doing something I enjoy. The sore muscles, the bruises, the sweat is all worth the end result. It all shows that I know how to work my pole. </div>
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<br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-31920002003615620872012-04-25T18:48:00.001-07:002012-04-25T18:48:25.763-07:00More Confessions of a Twirly Boy...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I Won! I won the Pole Dance Off against Lori!</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait, I
better back up a little here. You may not know what I am talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was challenged
to a Pole Dance Off by my friend Lori to win the heart of Dwayne “The Rock”
Johnson. We had been going back and forth, for a while on which one of us The
Rock wanted. Lori thought that she would be able to seal the deal by
challenging me to a Pole Dance. She had two years experience on the pole and I
had none. Well, I was not going to let that stand in the way, so I accepted. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Pole Dance Off was set to happen at the Lovely Rita Fundraiser, which only gave
me nine weeks to get in shape and learn to pole dance. I got signed up for my
first class at Twirly Girl Pole Fitness and my instructor was…. Lori. Crap, I
am going to lose The Rock forever!</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, let me get back to
my pole training. I had a great instructor in Lori! She had me doing sways,
fairies and lotuses in no time. I cannot forget Bel either. Bel is the owner of
Twirly Girl Pole Fitness. She is an amazing person and was so patient in her
teaching. At any rate, after some sore muscles and a few bruises (aka Pole
Kisses); I had the basics down and was on my way to being a Twirly Boy.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next, we had
to pick a song to dance too. Lori was gracious enough to let me choose and I
went with Pink’s F**k’in Perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then we had to choreograph the number. At this point, I started going to
Twirly Girl twice a week so we could rehearse the number. Again, this great
group of ladies was there to help in the process, from suggesting movies to
filming us while we worked on the number. Rita, as in The Lovely Rita, was a
big help and so encouraging to me. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point,
I found that I was able to climb the pole while it was spinning. Lori and Rita
said that I should use that in my solo part of the dance off. I worked on the
climbing and then on the decent. I ended up with letting my legs swing out and
slowly slide down the pole. I also continued to work on a few parts of the
routine that I kept getting hung up on.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the
big day arrived. Surprisingly I was not nervous about the performance. However
there was one little glitch in the day. The air conditioner had gone out in the
studio. It was hot!</div>
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Amazingly, nobody let that hold them back. I watched every performer
give it their all. Then came time for Lori and me to do our performance. We
were given an introduction by Bel and Rita and we took to the poles.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We nailed it!
I loved hearing the audience cheer when I climbed the pole, but my favorite
part of our routine is near the beginning. After walking around the pole a few
times, Lori and I would come face to face. At that point, Lori would always get
a big grin on her face. It is at that point you realize that the most important
part of the routine is to just have fun. And that is what we did. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we
finished our performance, we were greeted by The Rock! Ok, it was Rita’s
husband holding a Rock mask in front of his face. Then both Lori and I were
given photos of The Rock that Rita had photoshoped us into. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I had won
the pole dance off, but here is the real thing; I had already won in several
bigger and better ways by just signing up for pole dancing. One of the wins, or
should I say loses, is my wait. I have lost around twenty pounds. That is a
good ego boost right there. The biggest win is that I have made new friends
thru this whole process. I have found that everyone at Twirly Girl Pole Fitness
is really supportive and encouraging. I was treated just like one of the girls.
I have gotten to meet or know better some amazing people. I am even going to
keep on taking pole classes. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is that
old saying; it is not the destination that is important but the journey there. It’s
true, and I am continuing on in my journey.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj9Zh0qKu9A&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Here is the video of our Pole Dance Off</a></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com2Twirly Girls Pole Fitness, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA37.6628377 -121.874683937.6502677 -121.89442489999999 37.675407699999994 -121.8549429tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-52763081162910425412012-03-28T14:26:00.001-07:002012-03-28T14:26:06.830-07:00You are annoying me...<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">So, my last blog was a list of things that most people may not have known about me. Here is a list of things that annoy me. Mostly this is just venting for me, but if you happen to find yourself doing one or two of these things listed below, I will let you know directly that you are annoying me. So, here they are, in no particular order. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1. Leave a voicemail. I am a receptionist at a law firm and I am always getting people that call for an attorney or paralegal and do not want to leave a voicemail when they are not available. They then get upset after trying several times and then find out that the person has left at the end of the day without speaking with them. Even if you are unreachable, leave a voicemail so that the person you are calling knows that you are trying to get hold of them and why you are trying to reach them. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. Telemarketing automated phone systems. Ok, telemarketing is annoying in general, but I get really annoyed by the ones that do not connect a person onto the line until after you answer the phone. I just find it really tackles and it guaranties that you will not be getting through to the person you are trying to get hold of. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3. Facebook will offend you at some point. If you are easily offended, then I suggest you just delete you Facebook account. That is all I am going to say on that subject. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">4. Westboro Baptist Church. Ok, this group is more than an annoyance. They are a disgrace.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">5. Litter Bugs. Please do not litter! Just look around and you will probably find a trash can close by. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">6. Magic Mountain?!? Are you kidding me? People really think that Magic Mountain is better than Disneyland? That is almost blasphemy! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">7. Use your blinkers!!! No, wonder your car looks all beat up.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">8. Taking behind your back. I honestly think the world would be a better place if you expressed your issues with someone face to face. Usually you will find that there was not really an issue in the first place. Anyways, it does not matter how far behind their back you are talking, it will get back to them. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">9. People that mix politics with religion. It is just as volatile as mixing fire and gasoline. If you look at most wars, you will find this at the beginning. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">10. Those people that make lists of the things that annoy them. </div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-19793100373034374472012-03-17T13:29:00.003-07:002012-03-17T18:29:05.139-07:00Twenty-Five Things You May Not Know About Me...<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"> So, my friend Lori blogged about twenty-five things people may not know about her. I decided to do it myself in my blog. I came up with the list before I wrote this introduction and found it hard to come up with a list of twenty-five things. I mean there are a few things that I left out; a boy has to have a few secrets about him self. I am also now thinking of other interesting things that are not on the list that that I could put on there. One thing was about my Opa, grandfather, on my dad’s side. He served in the German Party during World War II in which he was killed. Now, this is something one really does not boast about, but it is part of my family history.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZHPqqVNdp-EqcCJpiTGxz2mLfbAScwMCcmUfKiTqDisJArlKVR5UFd9DcfwgVA4rCO4YVArg_3oSZ9wdeXEBvCVcvzhOs_ahyphenhyphenWnS8Y3bd6OoiuzE0B_dtBoXBJdAgI-GPjKfHYVHpPA/s1600/DSC00102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZHPqqVNdp-EqcCJpiTGxz2mLfbAScwMCcmUfKiTqDisJArlKVR5UFd9DcfwgVA4rCO4YVArg_3oSZ9wdeXEBvCVcvzhOs_ahyphenhyphenWnS8Y3bd6OoiuzE0B_dtBoXBJdAgI-GPjKfHYVHpPA/s320/DSC00102.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Opa in his German Party uniform. He was declared missing in action in 1943 in the Cape Falcon area of Algeria while serving under German Commander Rommel in World War II, leaving my Oma to raise five boys on her own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the list of twenty-five things in no particular order.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">1. I was in Special Ed. From second grade to sixth grade, I would spend part of my school day in Special Education. I am dyslexic and I would spend that part of the day learning to adjust my thinking process to counter the dyslexia.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">2. I have had the opportunity to photograph a few celebrities including Will Smith, Ted Danson, Bruce Vilanch and Leslie Jordan.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">3. I am a published photographer. I have had a couple of my photographs published in newspapers and print ads that were in magazines. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQr6uPelBwX3n-W-YxFHT-naq-kilqz9tExo3OB3WdjUvbKzPtV0pcDIObJFXnY56-JZpF1URiDUWVSm8f0SHl4sXfSDQF7UVpj6wRuOQAsBHGPVenQIv5MaljGtQIizQxZGq9N20MXI/s1600/4634_1006727708858_1844892092_9148_7036554_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQr6uPelBwX3n-W-YxFHT-naq-kilqz9tExo3OB3WdjUvbKzPtV0pcDIObJFXnY56-JZpF1URiDUWVSm8f0SHl4sXfSDQF7UVpj6wRuOQAsBHGPVenQIv5MaljGtQIizQxZGq9N20MXI/s320/4634_1006727708858_1844892092_9148_7036554_n.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is my photo of Holotta Tymes used in the print ad for Sunday's A Drag.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">4. I was JROTC during most of my Junior High and High School years. I reached the level of Cadet Captain before I dropped out and started taking drama. JROTC will be the reason for some of the other things on this list.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">5. I have flown in a Huey Helicopter and got to see the damage of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake from above.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">6. I have scored expert level in shooting an M-16 military rifle.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">7. I own a Remington Bolt Action Long Rifle. It is stored at my parent’s home and has not been fired for many years.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">8. When I was a kid, I was attacked by a Pit Bull. Ok, it was more like “bit” by a pit bull. It had jumped a fence, ran up to me on the sidewalk, and bit me on the knee. I am actually pretty luck, because if my response was to jerk back, the pit bull would of probably ripped my knee-cap off.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">9. I have a hereditary issue that causes my knee to dislocate easily. While it is not a big issue right now, it may require surgery in the future, but hopefully not. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">10. I was stung by a bee. I know, you are saying big deal, who hasn’t. The thing is, the bee was already dead! I was walking barefoot and stepped on it. I have also been stung eleven times at once when I was caught in a swarm of yellow jackets.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">11. Continuing with the insect encounters, I was stung three times by a scorpion. It somehow got under the covers while I was staying at my parent’s house. It stung me twice in the leg and once in the hand when I reached down to see what was stinging me. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMQZTLnO-h4alxv2Txy_bbjgh13ZJlMZyuxBzYS6BX8U6222SrnOYkVztEGSitmbJtQ6_oOMMatolXAlsvCrUOdiU-b_T7z2_FQvfgYajUzQ2YG_qTAggP4KtzTzA3Nwh1P3Hm26bpA0/s1600/l_631d2754d3d4494d91dbcdad585138f9-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMQZTLnO-h4alxv2Txy_bbjgh13ZJlMZyuxBzYS6BX8U6222SrnOYkVztEGSitmbJtQ6_oOMMatolXAlsvCrUOdiU-b_T7z2_FQvfgYajUzQ2YG_qTAggP4KtzTzA3Nwh1P3Hm26bpA0/s320/l_631d2754d3d4494d91dbcdad585138f9-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the actual scorpion that attacked me.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">12. I do not have a gallbladder. I had to have it removed when it decided to start producing a bunch of gallstones. I actually had so many gallstones that they had to cut me wide open instead of laparoscopicly. I just tell people that the scars are from a knife fight. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQXKKZ_SYUpQH_jixaqZ9MfgBY5vn-62iGNhEbrfk7rAdTPN-wLYTKv687LR_4bfOo8N-xavWdPuzwmUWdluhAZ5FXOTFLZ4PvDqH33iGiLZHwnl0k8ZuNiUK0UD7EHQHMIUHHnTjWhw/s1600/GI-gallbladder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQXKKZ_SYUpQH_jixaqZ9MfgBY5vn-62iGNhEbrfk7rAdTPN-wLYTKv687LR_4bfOo8N-xavWdPuzwmUWdluhAZ5FXOTFLZ4PvDqH33iGiLZHwnl0k8ZuNiUK0UD7EHQHMIUHHnTjWhw/s1600/GI-gallbladder.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That is what it would look like if I still had one.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">13. I have been to Germany. I don’t remember a dang thing about it. I was only a baby. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">14. I can make little origami paper cranes. It is hard to come up with twenty-five things! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">15. I have an interest in Native American history and lore. Specifically, the plains Indians, like the Sioux, Lakota, Crow and others that lived with the buffalos.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRq0YL_1GDnmGSM_hEPLz_s9TH26g9Eb8G-KXe_9Vwf7QKkUxW3KoPGM2BTWVu7nE5oSrg84LA8-cmQpnW71D98ARJWVzD1Auw_4aLNo5-1b3gYvfz8jjrpWcXGZH86DMmT7_YmYBMha0/s1600/JB00078lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRq0YL_1GDnmGSM_hEPLz_s9TH26g9Eb8G-KXe_9Vwf7QKkUxW3KoPGM2BTWVu7nE5oSrg84LA8-cmQpnW71D98ARJWVzD1Auw_4aLNo5-1b3gYvfz8jjrpWcXGZH86DMmT7_YmYBMha0/s320/JB00078lg.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">16. I am bisexual. I bring up anything sexual and they say “Bye”. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">17. When I was a kid, I drank a bottle of Dimetapp. I liked the grape taste, but I got really sick from it and can not stand anything grape flavor now. I didn’t tell my Mom what I did either; she just thought I had the flu. Sorry Mom! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">18. My first boyfriend was ten years older then I. I later learned that he also had dated my husband’s brother at one time, too. In all, my path had crossed many ways with Dale and his family before I ever met him. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">19. Although I have not done it for a long time, I like to go fishing. Oh, the memories of sitting on the bank of some pond or creek with a line in the water. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOg4Igrk3wSA5-5zjvKgVukiOxw8oVPvuQeh0QVCTcF3nwPtlOgkTxZNAvSq1ebo2RmwyMYYoJ-7V6GaiuFCnDUy2rflafNRA05JIQ_JwXRqykfBDMoagLGT6vOLFWY7CMLbDUJPYy_c/s1600/h-armstrong-roberts-1920s-1930s-farm-boy-wearing-straw-hat-and-overalls-sitting-on-log-with-spotted-dog-fishing-in-pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOg4Igrk3wSA5-5zjvKgVukiOxw8oVPvuQeh0QVCTcF3nwPtlOgkTxZNAvSq1ebo2RmwyMYYoJ-7V6GaiuFCnDUy2rflafNRA05JIQ_JwXRqykfBDMoagLGT6vOLFWY7CMLbDUJPYy_c/s320/h-armstrong-roberts-1920s-1930s-farm-boy-wearing-straw-hat-and-overalls-sitting-on-log-with-spotted-dog-fishing-in-pond.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">20. I have had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig's_angina">Ludwig’s angina</a>. Wikipedia it to find out what it is, but it sent me into emergency surgery and kept me in the hospital for a few days and out of work for a couple of weeks. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">21. When I was in collage, I use to do AIDS/HIV prevention out reach with the Contra Costa County AIDS Foundation. That organization is no longer around, but the <a href="http://www.rainbowcc.org/">Rainbow Community Center</a> in Concord does a lot now with outreach programs and testing.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">22. I have four different jobs. My primary job is a receptionist for a law firm in Oakland. I also work for <a href="http://www.karensflowerkottage.com/">Karen’s Flower Kottage</a> at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery location on Saturdays. On most Sundays, you can find me at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sundays-A-Drag-at-Harry-Dentons-Starlight-Room/265559600595">Harry Denton’s Starlight Room for Sunday’s A Drag</a> where I work as a spotlight operator or dresser. The last job is being a Door Whore for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Holottas-Un-BOYlievable-Drag-Show/98056072366">Holotta Tymes’s drag show, Un-Boy-lievable</a>, at <a href="http://club1220.com/">Club 1220</a> in Walnut Creek.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">23. My right testicle is a little bigger then the left. Oh, and I lean to the left, if you were to be fitting me for dress pants. (Really, it is hard to come up with twenty-five unknown facts about me.)</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">24. I was in Boy Scouts. I quit when I moved up to Oakland at the beginning of Junior High School. I learned a lot from the time I was in there, but glad I did not waste any more time with them then I did when I see how homophobic the organization is. I am glad that Girl Scouts are not the same way, because I don’t know what I would do with out my Girl Scout Thin Mints! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">25. Ok, this is not really an unknown fact, but I am taking a Pole Dancing class at <a href="http://www.twirlygirlspolefitness.com/">Twirly Girl Pole Fitness</a>. In fact, my friend and instructor, Lori and I are having a Pole Dance-Off at the Lovely Rita Fundraiser next month. The winner gets to claim the heart of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. You better watch out Lori! I am so going to win!!! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-53780694718358818682012-02-22T18:35:00.000-08:002012-02-22T18:35:26.194-08:00Confessions of a Twirly Boy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Rock is mine!” I said.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No, He is mine!” Lori replied.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that is how it all started. That is what started me on this path with poles, booty shorts, bruises and Twirly Girls.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time I met Lori while she was sitting on a large pumpkin. Our mutual friend Jimmy had invited her to join in on one of the Rainbow Community Center outings, which happen to be a trip to the pumpkin patch. Then after that, I would see Lori every first and third Sunday of the month at Holotta Tymes’s Un-BOY-lievable Drag Show at Club 1220, where I am the Door Whore. Over time, Lori has become a good friend and part of our close-knit little group.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, add Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson into the mix. Lori and I have been bickering back and forth, for a while on whom The Rock belongs to. She just cannot except that The Rock wants me. Well, at any rate, the bickering has been slowly escalating and crossed over into the usage of social media, including tweeting The Rock himself. (For which some reason he has not yet responded to.) Finally, Lori called me out. She challenged me to a Pole Dance Off to determine who wins the heart of The Rock.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV01d5hNTvJERee1YxFZ6YBsbRIp6Fdcwn9dQRucxBalldi9Bw52zN8vhskY794yquN7_0ftRWGWZPXWIaNN2bxbYBHSLLwN6LJ4P_LEciIVtduz7l2-Ja0H7XwKWSkP4NcDJVEJ-eV_c/s1600/dwayne-johnson-the-rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV01d5hNTvJERee1YxFZ6YBsbRIp6Fdcwn9dQRucxBalldi9Bw52zN8vhskY794yquN7_0ftRWGWZPXWIaNN2bxbYBHSLLwN6LJ4P_LEciIVtduz7l2-Ja0H7XwKWSkP4NcDJVEJ-eV_c/s320/dwayne-johnson-the-rock.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then figured that this Pole Dance Off should take place in front of a good size crowd. I knew that every year that Lori was part of the fundraiser for the Lovely Rita Foundation that raises money for the National Kidney Foundation. Therefore, I asked Lori if she wanted to do the Pole Dance Off at the coming fundraiser on April 22, 2012. “Yes!” was her answer. We were set then, I had nine weeks to get in shape and learn to Pole Dance. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a quick check in with Lori on Monday morning, I was signed up for my first class at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness Monday night. Now, I had to take care of a couple of things to make sure I was ready. First was to find a pair of booty shorts. I ended up at A-1 Dance & Theatrical in Castro Valley where I got great service and a cute pair of black booty shorts. The second thing was to trim the leg hair. I was informed that longer leg hair could be pulled while spinning on the pole. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twirly Girls Pole Fitness is located in downtown Pleasanton. It looks like it use to be an old auto mechanics’ shop from the outside. Inside, it is an inviting set-up with several dance poles. The class I was taking was a Taster Class, a great way to see if pole dancing is something that is for you. I of course was the only guy signed up for the class. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did feel a little self-conscious about being the only guy in the class. Pole Dancing is usually only associated with women, all though there are some amazing male Pole Dancers, like Philip Deal, who I recently got to meet. Anyways, I felt a little awkward, as if I was invading the girls’ clubhouse. Lori and Bel made me feel comfortable right away, just as if I was one of the girls. Bel is the owner of Twirly Girls and Lori was our instructor.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lori was a great instructor (even if I have to make sure she does not try to sabotage me for out Pole Dance Off).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got us warmed up and was very good at teaching us the beginning moves of pole dancing. Lori taught us how to make sure our pole was ready to spin on while still looking sexy and then some basic moves to entice out viewing audience. Next, she moved on to teaching some basic spinning moves along with some moves we could do to relax while still dancing at the pole. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me tell you, pole dancing is one major work out. I was feeling it muscles I did not even know I had. The next morning I was really feeling it! Every muscle in my body was aching. I was walking like the Tin-man. Then I notice the bruises on my inner thigh from where I was wrapping my legs around the pole. Lori called them pole kisses, hell it looked like the pole got up and swung itself at me. The thing is, even with the bruises and muscle pains, it was all worth it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a great time in the class and I am looking forward to the next class.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpCDeqqIzcJbC5ggPFbcKnrRf1nTwdfXaijGUzIszE4cRJ4Z91-UCpAfCt7tnJGwzkuY6Ge6vAVf6M8i_Qa1PWO6i-wxO2AGWyC9fMx3ApvP9X6MNiYCP8lzhnj1zAtTiawX8RX3AdsY/s1600/396271_3224275533234_1456869808_3037988_6380410_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpCDeqqIzcJbC5ggPFbcKnrRf1nTwdfXaijGUzIszE4cRJ4Z91-UCpAfCt7tnJGwzkuY6Ge6vAVf6M8i_Qa1PWO6i-wxO2AGWyC9fMx3ApvP9X6MNiYCP8lzhnj1zAtTiawX8RX3AdsY/s320/396271_3224275533234_1456869808_3037988_6380410_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Win or lose the Pole Dance Off, I am excited about taking the pole dancing class. It is a lot of fun and I will be getting the much-needed exercise my body could use. I also have the feeling that it is going to be a great group of ladies that I will be taking the class with. Which reminds me, I first got laughed at by some of the other guys at work when I told them I was taking a pole dancing class, but when they learned I was the only guy dancing with these ladies… well, jealousy did not look good on them. </div><!--EndFragment-->Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-30525320632995290832012-02-17T18:01:00.001-08:002013-04-13T13:10:52.613-07:00The Book of a New Beginning By Robert Carstensen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggicOdRsrFHaDXWqrhEl3K4zAXQO-nU-hFI5uihUyIhTRDefc6iOu3jHCe3mdFFqvyuDAmIux5xDk0efvYb071FUdwP_zwPk4NaMyKkbtXAyHMcv9dO-6DIHFyxEIhBJ33-LVKgO3KhBI/s1600/just-one-tree-hill-mal-bray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggicOdRsrFHaDXWqrhEl3K4zAXQO-nU-hFI5uihUyIhTRDefc6iOu3jHCe3mdFFqvyuDAmIux5xDk0efvYb071FUdwP_zwPk4NaMyKkbtXAyHMcv9dO-6DIHFyxEIhBJ33-LVKgO3KhBI/s320/just-one-tree-hill-mal-bray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Book of a New Beginning </div>
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By Robert Carstensen</div>
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I had a dream. I was sitting on top of a hill under a big old oak tree. Sunlight filtered its way down thru the branches and leaves to come rest upon my face. I sat there watching the golden grass sway in the warm breeze of a summer afternoon. </div>
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“I’m sorry,” said a voice behind me.</div>
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I looked over my shoulder and there stood a Man, leaning against the trunk of this noble oak tree. If asked to describe him, all I could say is that he looked like a simple man. Even as I try to recall his face now, I cannot. I remember that he seemed ageless to me, not young, but not old either. There was life though; it radiated out of him, a love for life, a giver of life and in the slight shadow he cast, a taker of life. </div>
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“Are you G…?” I started to ask. “God? Yes, I am” he finished. </div>
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“Excuse me, but what would you be sorry for?” I said to him.</div>
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He tilted his head slightly and a slight grin came to his face. He then stepped away from the tree and took the few steps it took to reach me. With a slight gesture from his hand he said “May I sit with you?” “Please” I replied and with that, he sat next me. He crossed his legs and leaned back slightly to rest on his elbows. </div>
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“I’m sorry for the… the pain. The pain that I have let too many cause and in my name none the lease” He said. </div>
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I looked at Him with a confused face, “I am not sure I know what you are talking about.”</div>
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Again, that slight grin came to his face and then a slight chuckle. “What?” I said. “I like that you are confused by my words and admit it. So, so many that are confused by my words and instead of asking for clarification, they make up something they think is what I meant. Most times they are way off target.”</div>
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God then looked me directly in my eye, “I made you.” “And I love you” He continued. He then rose to his feet and extended a hand to help me up. I took it without hesitation and smiled to myself, and as if reading my mind and chuckling again, he said, “Yes, let God raise you up.” </div>
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He looked out over the vast valley and said more too himself then me, “I made you all.” He stood there for a moment, silent. “I love them all, whether they love me or not. My love is unconditional.” </div>
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Then it clicked, “the pain… being gay… you made me gay, brought me into this world gay. Yet so many people cannot see that. That you wanted me to be gay.”</div>
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“Yes” he said.</div>
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“Why don’t you tell them then?” I asked.</div>
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“They don’t listen anymore.” He said as he looked at me. “Let’s be honest, if you were to walk down there now and say that you have a message from the Almighty God… well, they would laugh at you. They would call you crazy, label you with some kind of schizophrenia and want to medicate you.” </div>
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I looked at him for a moment. “I’m sorry,” I said. That got me the look of confusion from God this time. “We all can learn to listen a little better,” I continued to clarify my apology. </div>
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“It’s not you that should be apologizing, it’s… it’s those buffoons down there that need to be apologizing… and not to me, but to you! Buffoons, ha, maybe that is what they need! To be kicked back a few notches on the evolution scale! That would knock the hate out of them!” he said, glaring into the valley. I couldn’t help but laugh. God then turned his glare to me and it only stopped my laughing for a moment. And as they say that laughter is contagious, God began laughing himself. We both shared the image of primates sitting in the pews of his houses of worship.</div>
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“It’s changing though,” I said. “The old ways are dying. The old view of the way the world should be is slowly being buried each passing day.” </div>
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“I know, but there is still so much hurt and pain that is going on and it shouldn’t be. I am getting tired of bring home my children way before their time.” God said. I saw a brilliant tear run down his cheek as he continued. “I bringing each one of them home myself. Those fools say they go to this so-called purgatory, but no, I go to each one and hold them… cry with them. I bring them home.”</div>
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“The ones that could not take the bullying anymore” I said.</div>
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“Yes” he replied. “All of them, everyone that has died out of hate… by their own hands or by the hands of others.”</div>
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We stood there, shoulder to shoulder for several moments without saying a word. The warm breeze continued to come up the hillside, the grass swaying this way and that way.</div>
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“I’ll have to find a way to make them listen, that is all there is to it” again, saying more to himself than to me. “I will find a way.” He looked at me and continued, “You have the same ability to love like anyone else! You deserve to love without barriers. I made marriage as a way of expressing your love to the fullest. It had nothing to do with this marriage is for procreation only bullshit! I want everyone to be able to fall in love and know what it is that I feel for them!” God then turned to the valley and yelled, “I made you all equal! None of you are better then another! You fools need to learn to live your own lives before you try to control others!”</div>
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God then looked at me and a big smile came across his face. He raised his hand and pointed at me as he turned his head back to the valley. He yelled even louder, “I made this man in the likeness of Me! You hear me you homophobic hate mongers? Like Me!”</div>
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“Whoa… Did you just say that you are gay?” I said, staring in disbelief.<br />
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“I am gay… I am straight, I am all,” he said.</div>
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“Wait; wait… what about that stuff in the bible? Man should not be with another man and all?” I said.</div>
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“Never said it,” he said bluntly.</div>
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“What?”</div>
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“Their bible,” he said, pointing into the valley, “is written by man, not by me. Trust me when I say that there are many things that are wrong in that book. Especially the first part!” He continued, “There are some good rules to live by in the bible. Sadly, it has changed so much over the eons. It is used more now to try to control people then actually help guide them.” God then turned again to me and said, “Do you know that Aesop’s Fables were supposed to be part of the bible?” </div>
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“No,” I said. </div>
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“He didn’t like some of the ways that other stories were being changed, the way my word was being changed, so he decided to pull out of the project and put his stories into his own book.” God smiled as he continued, “Probably for the better, I would hate to have seen what that fool King James would have done with them.” </div>
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“The consumption of grapes would be an abomination and swallows would be the barer of doom most likely,” I said. At which God chuckled.</div>
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Once again, we stood there in silence, not awkward, but more of an understanding silence. I found it comforting. Then without warning, God reached out and took me into his arms, his face pressed into the nape of my neck. </div>
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He cried. God cried. </div>
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I wrapped my arms around him and hugged just as tightly back. I then felt it… his pain. It rushed into me and filled my body whole. I wanted to drop to my knees but I knew that I could not. I needed to stay strong at this moment and support him, support God. As I felt the pain, I realized that it was not just his pain. It was everyone’s pain. God takes on everyone’s pain. It did not hurt, but was heavy, so very heavy. </div>
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God then raised his head, with his arms still around me, looked me in the eye and said, “I am sorry.” </div>
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“I forgive you,” I said and I then cried myself. </div>
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“I will make them see. I will show them the errors in their ways. I will make them listen,” he said. God then let his arms fall from me and he took a step back. I could still feel his pain, but no ware as intense and slowly fading. He then raised his hands to my face and wiped the tears from my eyes. “I am sorry you had to feel that, but the burden had become too much for me alone and I knew you would understand. I knew you would be able to bare it.” </div>
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“I must take me leave of you now,” God said. “I know it will be hard, but I need you to carry my word to them, to those in the valley. It will take time but all beginnings do. You just need one to listen and it will grow from there.” </div>
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I turned to look into the valley and said, “Yes, I will.” I then felt warmth grow on the side of my face. I turned to look back at God and he was gone. All I could do was smile at myself and then I woke up. I rose to my feet and reached to brush the lower braches on the old oak tree. I took a few steps and saw the foot prints of where two people were standing. I smiled, “Time for a new beginning,” I said aloud to myself, “It will get better.”</div>
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I walked down the grassy hill into the valley.</div>
Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-71785541374917987092011-11-12T15:32:00.000-08:002011-11-12T15:32:02.979-08:00The Word<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The old string and tin cans… good of way as any to spread the “word”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now, let’s talk about the “word”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I find it amazing how fast the “word” is spread. I know we live in a world with texting, Facebooking, Tweeting, but still, it seems like people know thing before they even happen. Moreover, what is the “word”? Well, I guess it goes by many names, some good, and some bad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might have called it the truth or a lie, a lot might just call it gossip, but it is the “word” and it spreads fast.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now here is what really amazes me about the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know that is spreads faster than a wild fire in a windstorm. We all know that it does not lay down on the grown were it was spoken, but takes to the air and flies to all that will listen. Yet, some still choose to speak things and think that it will never get out. They speak lies and not think it will come back to haunt them. They gossip and think it won’t get back to the person they are gossiping about. Sometimes, they do not even realize the power behind the truth they speak and the vast effect it can have.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now, I know your thinking, where is this coming from? Why is the husband of a drag queen saying this? Well, it is simple. The ability to speak is a great gift. The ability is listen is just as great! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">And let me tell you girl! I have heard it all! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The quiet ones are the ones that are listening. We have learned the power of the word. We know its strength. We have felt its might upon us. We have experienced the word’s power for both good and bad. We may have been bullied by words. We may have been uplifted by words. We have been brought back to reality by words. Even you have seen the power of the word. In the news, there always seem to be another story of a boy who could not take it any more. Yet, then there is the story of the young girl that rallied hundreds to help a great cause. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I guess it really comes down to this. We have all heard it said, “choose your words wisely”. They can be a great weapon, but like a double bladed sword, they can cut both ways. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">So I hope this leaves you with something to think about. Hey, there’s a good word “hope”.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Well, I am out of here!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">WORD!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment-->Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-34804028323214234622011-06-25T12:18:00.000-07:002011-06-25T13:30:55.273-07:00On Exhibit<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cambria;"><div class="MsoNormal"> The other day I went with Holotta Tymes to the Market Street Gallery in San Francisco to check out the Heroes with Bling exhibit. The exhibit is of a series of photos taken by the amazing Jose A. Guzman Colon and the talented Marianne Larochelle and a series of amazing Drag Queen mosaics by Michael Kruzich. The reason we were going is that Holotta was part of this exhibit. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Michael Kruzich had made this beautiful mosaic of Holotta Tymes and when I say beautiful, I mean beautiful. He had captured the image of Holotta so well and brought so many dimensions to it. You can spend forever looking at the piece examining the details, the texture and colors that he used. It is an amazing piece of artwork! Holotta was so honored to be the inspiration for this.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> The thing that amazed me was that Michael used one of my photos as the basis for this great mosaic. I think I was more honored then Holotta was. I still cannot believe how well Michael captured the photo. I might me a little bias, but I have to say that it was the best one! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> This is not the first time this photo has been put out there in the public either. I am lucky to have it used in the advertising for Sunday’s A Drag at the Harry Denton’s Starlight Room. It is on the flyer for the show and gets used in the ads that they publish in local magazines and newspapers. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Also, while at the event, Holotta got to see the photo that Marianne Larochelle took of her for the first time. It is in a great photo book put together by Marianne and Jose A. Guzman Colon called Glam Gender. The book is a series of photos that takes the standard rules of gender and throws them out the door! It is a must for any gay coffee table! The photo of Holotta is of her standing in front of a Victorian home. It is a great image that congers up the ideals of San Francisco, drag queens and the expression of life all into one photo. Jose and Marianne are both great photographers to look up to and are amazingly talented. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> If you have the opportunity to check out Heroes with Bling, you should! It is going on only to the 29<sup>th</sup> of June at the Market Street Gallery at 1554 Market Street in San Francisco. Also, look for the book Glam Gender at Books Inc in the Castro or at Retro Fit. You can also check it out at <a href="http://www.glamgender.com/">www.glamgender.com</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8Nprj5T-nviJfT3UUULArVw1JZxLNYKzF3i7BhrJbxdf7OPJxcbXZclbXBiWqEF_8iMgPmlufyWOePNI2rAsqC5IZVcRF2F12MHBvNn-2i2mQxU1zOGsxmbJi4684z_ytwpPZJe24S8/s1600/art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8Nprj5T-nviJfT3UUULArVw1JZxLNYKzF3i7BhrJbxdf7OPJxcbXZclbXBiWqEF_8iMgPmlufyWOePNI2rAsqC5IZVcRF2F12MHBvNn-2i2mQxU1zOGsxmbJi4684z_ytwpPZJe24S8/s320/art.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div></span>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-62589817708128855662011-06-11T00:10:00.000-07:002011-06-11T00:10:46.547-07:00Drag Queens In Our Community.<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was checking my calendar tonight to see what I going on in the next couple of weeks. One of the events is the AIDS Walk fundraiser that will be happening in a couple of weeks at Club 1220. That got me to thinking about how much money has been raised at the club by all the Drag Queens over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The AIDS Walk fundraiser itself has raised easily over $10,000 in the past five years and that is just one of the fundraiser that happens on a yearly. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been events for all kinds of charities at Club 1220.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have raised money for The Trevor Project, the campaign against Prop 8, different cancer organizations, numerous HIV and AIDS groups and several kids organizations, like the Sunburst Project that puts on a camp for HIV positive kids. I tried to figure how much money has been raised by the Drag Queens at Club 1220 in just the past fourteen years that we have been putting on shows there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not come up with an exact number, but it is over $100,000. I can’t even think of how much has been raised at Club 1220 since it’s opening days over 33 years ago.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, that is just one club in a suburb of the San Francisco area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now think of all the bars and clubs just in and about San Francisco. Think of all the Drag Queens that have organized fundraisers for one organization or another. Now, think of all the Drag Queens across America. That is one hell of a lot of money raised. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fundraising is also just one part of what Drag Queens for done for the Gay Community. They have also been very active in advancing equal rights for gays, lesbians and transgender people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have even come to credit Drag Queens to leading the revolt against police at Stonewall in 1969, an event that has become to be known as the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drag Queens even go back further then that. All the back in 1936, there was a club that opened in the North Beach area of San Francisco. The club was called Finocchio’s and it was on of the first places in America that dazzled their guests with the female illusionist, but I will leave that for another blog.</div><!--EndFragment-->Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-39307563251695076382011-05-24T20:39:00.000-07:002011-05-25T10:00:22.264-07:00Passing Friends<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Passing Friends. That is the title I gave to a photo I took back in 1996. It is of two drag queens sitting at a bus stop on Castro and Market. One was Holotta Tymes, the other was Veronda Lanai. One is still here… the other has passed on. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The photo has come to be one of my favorites, one that I think really tells a story. Two drag queens, crossing paths. One looking out on the horizon, eyeing what might be to come, the other looking down, pondering what has been. Maybe one is ready to head out in the world, while the other is ready to come home. Nonetheless, they are friends, passing each other on their own journeys.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sadly, Veronda’s journey came to an end just a few years after the photograph was taken. She was a fun queen to hang around with and left her footprint on the community around her.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This will be the first of many photos I have taken that I will share and what they mean to me. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This particular one was part of a photo shoot for a drag show that was hosted by Cockatielia at the Bahia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4tQHYd-3-WEma6WAZ59iHwU9yFMRTYdOxQxBs6F-_D9AX3IVV9HZU2DjSwgC0Ft9utAxG6UNnE8Sp5g2MdFW1BWuZ6kTQJ04DT2Trn1GW9rA07mDD8ZYqs9nTCkRgkVHfOSgR_NwftY/s1600/l-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4tQHYd-3-WEma6WAZ59iHwU9yFMRTYdOxQxBs6F-_D9AX3IVV9HZU2DjSwgC0Ft9utAxG6UNnE8Sp5g2MdFW1BWuZ6kTQJ04DT2Trn1GW9rA07mDD8ZYqs9nTCkRgkVHfOSgR_NwftY/s320/l-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-25030737170188582282011-05-16T22:17:00.000-07:002011-05-26T11:28:26.066-07:00Robert The Door Whore...<div class="MsoNormal">One might ask what are some of the responsibilities are of a Drag Queen’s Husband. Well, the list is too long to mention them all, but here are a few of them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Putting away make-up after the face has been painted.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> <b> </b></span>Making sure that the gas tank is full before heading out to a drag show. (Pumping gas in face is not a good thing.)</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> <b> </b> </span>Keeping the Facebook page up to date and current.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> <b> </b></span>Packing up the drag after the show.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And the fifth one is being the Door Whore for the Un-BOY-lievable Drag Show. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Un-BOY-lievable is the longest running drag shows in the east bay and happens every first and third Sunday of the month at Club 1220 in Walnut Creek. The show has been running for thirteen or fourteen years and I have been the door whore since the beginning. You ask what a door whore is? The door whore is the guy that collects the cover and checks the IDs of the bar patrons as they come in.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now, let me tell you, I have seen a lot from the door whore’s position. One of the funniest is when a certain individual, whom shall remain nameless, was so drunk that he passed out on one of the couches in the club. A big mistake when drag queens are present. As soon as Holotta found out, the make-up came out. He ended up with a full face of colorful make-up and “fuck me” written across his forehead in bright red lipstick. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have also seen my share of people being… shall we say naughty. Some of it was, if I am being honest, kind of hot to watch. Others left me wanting to burn the image from my memory. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have to say the best part of being a door whore has been being able to meet all the people that have come thru the door at Club 1220. I have had the opportunity to make some good friends over the years that I still get to see every drag show Sunday. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am also so honored to have had the privilege to have gotten to meet people that will never grace the door of Club 1220 again and so lucky to have had them in my life. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlGC-NNfPikzSJIvBZwvMwePzho7LeCz65J4aPxSaqFseEBUH84jV_kzBHpH15dtcOqbltVbHNmhPsS1PbNgEQEICwjuU1CG-lipOAsDWXfq37NtkOB75AS-LBIqHz86WF4qaGKaf9KA/s1600/14129_1408685984630_1456869808_1096882_902935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlGC-NNfPikzSJIvBZwvMwePzho7LeCz65J4aPxSaqFseEBUH84jV_kzBHpH15dtcOqbltVbHNmhPsS1PbNgEQEICwjuU1CG-lipOAsDWXfq37NtkOB75AS-LBIqHz86WF4qaGKaf9KA/s320/14129_1408685984630_1456869808_1096882_902935_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-79769906093499053002011-05-09T22:45:00.000-07:002011-05-28T13:44:35.623-07:00Training Your Drag Queen Husband.<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">Drag Queen Husband Trainer for hire. Yes, let me whip your husband into shape and make him a valuable asset to any drag show you drag him too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">Over the years, I have heard Holotta told how lucky she is to have such a good drag husband. That they wished that their husbands were as good. Well, it has taken a lot of training to get to the level that I am now at. And trust me, there were a few bumps in the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">One time was when Holotta had a show up in Guerneville, which is about eighty miles north of San Francisco. It was about a two and a half hour drive from our home in Hayward. At the half way point, a disturbing image popped into my head. It was of a make-up case sitting on a counter. At home. Where I left it. Holotta is going to kill me. Lucky for me, I had a witness, our friend and fellow drag queen, Deneka, was in the car with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">Actually, Holotta took the news fairly well and did want any drag queen would have done in the same situation. She pulled off the freeway at the sign of the next Wal-Mart. We were able to get most of everything she needed to get by for doing the show. And that is how I learned never to forget the make-up case again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">There was also the time I forgot the whole garment bag with several costumes in it. Yeah, you are thinking, “Wow, and he is still alive?” At least in this case, it was after the show was over. But, nonetheless, Holotta was not a happy camper, as in the garment bag was an old changing robe that came from Finocchio’s and unfortunately there are a few drag queens that have sticky fingers. Holotta was afraid she might not ever get it back. Thank the gods for the modern social network. I tracked down a couple of the other drag queens that had performed at that show on Facebook and got their phone numbers. With their help, I was connected with Ivy Drip, who was the host of the show. Sure enough, she had gathered up Holotta’s costume for safekeeping until we could pick them up. Which we did the next night, changing robe and all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">I have also been known to fall asleep on the job. When Holotta worked for Finocchio’s, I would go with her on the weekends, not that she needed my help there that much. Sometimes, I would get tired by the time they were getting ready to start the third show of the night and would go lay down in the side bleacher seating that rarely got used. What amazed people about this, was that this was right under the speakers. They could not believe that I could sleep with the music so loud right above my head. When the show was over, Holotta would be looking for me and the emcee at Finocchio’s, Brian Keith, would say, “Check the bleachers”. How Brian had known that I was up there, I never knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">The other place that I use to fall asleep was back stage at Heklina’s Trannyshack. If you ever caught this midnight show at the Stud on Tuesdays, you know that it is really loud. The backstage area was also usually crammed with the performers. But sure enough, to Heklina’s amazement, I would be tucked away in the corner, fast asleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">But even with the mistakes I have made, I have become an expert in several areas of being a Drag Queen’s Husband. I can pack a make-up box in a minute, clear a path through the crowd with the crack of a whip and make a costume change as fast as a stripper disrobing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16pt;">So, there is room still available for Summer Classes but enrolment is ending soon. Please don’t forget to check if you qualify for financial aide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5228920834464160675.post-30272180909447581962011-05-03T22:26:00.000-07:002011-05-04T08:38:11.435-07:00In The Beginning...<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, this is the start. My attempt to blog to let you know what I know, what I think, what I feel, what I see and what I want. And already at a blank of what to write. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I guess I should start at the beginning, and let you know a little about me. My name is Robert, born to my parents in the early morning of September 12, 1972 in a town called Newbury Park in southern California. After several adventures in my neighborhood, I moved to Oakland the year I started junior high and have lived in the East Bay ever since. Though, a little over sixteen years ago, my life as a Drag Queen's Husband began. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It all started when I met a Drag Queen at a bar. The name of the bar was JR's. The name of the Drag Queen was Holotta, Holotta Tymes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My first encounter with Holotta, well, I thought she hated me right off the bat. I was dating a guy named Charles and Holotta was his friend. When Charles introduced me to Holotta, I got the look that I interpreted as "Fuck Off". Drag Queens can give that look quite well. I made certain to avoid her on my other ventures into JR's.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Then it was on one of those ventures that I found myself being offered a job at the bar by the manager, Mark Maguire. I had become part of the security crew and found myself working next to Holotta, who ran the VIP list. It was on one of the first nights working that I had my first conversation with Holotta. As we passed each other in the hall, she said Hello. I said hi back. And that was the ice breaker that started the pieces falling into place. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was still in the early stages of coming out and still not sure want I was looking for. I had dumped Charles only after a few weeks of dating him. And after a few weeks of working at JR's, I went in on my night off. I think it might of been a night that they had strippers performing. The club alternated sundays between drag shows and striper nights. The striper nights were hosted by another drag queen named Kartuna Strip. Kartuna's boy name was Bobby and I thought that he was kind of cute. Well, it was on this night that I tried hitting on Bobby and offered him my personal calling card. Bobby looked at me and asked me "How big is your cock?". I gave him an honest answer and he handed my card back. Ouch. But don't feel to bad, as Holotta was there that night, out of drag, as just Dale. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dale saw the whole interaction between Bobby and me go down. After Bobby walked away, Dale and I had a little bit of a conversation. And then it happened, Dale hit on me. He turned to me and said "This is where you hand me your card and say 'give me a call' ", and that is want I did. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Well, sure enough, Dale called me the next day and asked if I wanted to come over to his parents house that he was house sitting for. I agreed. I have been a Drag Queen's Husband ever since.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, that is how it started. I hope to share more of my adventures as time goes by and give you insight into my view of the world we live in. </div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10240559702486534586noreply@blogger.com2