nailed v3

I hope everyone had a wonderfully happy holiday of your choice...
I have to start off by saying that, in the words of the great Mark Twain, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Apparently, there has been a rumor going around that I had met an untimely demise. I haven’t gotten all the details as to how I croaked but I assure you,I am alive and kicking and full of the proverbial piss and vinegar. If any of you have heard how it was that I shuffled off this mortal coil, please email me and let me know...

I was very privileged to have an opportunity to attend the anniversary celebration of The American Dime Museum in Baltimore. In conjunction with the anniversary, MICA (The Maryland Institute College of Art) had a Side Show gathering. The great Bobby Reynolds set up a genuine, old school side show and museum, complete with tent and banner line. It was an amazing sight to behold on a busy downtown corner near the college. The tent was filled with wonderfully bizzare museum pieces, as evidenced by the photos.

On the night of the American Dime Museum anniversary celebration, there was a performance at the tent that was absolutely amazing. Featuring Todd Robbins, Harley Newman and Red Stuart, It was a wonderful spectacle presided over by Shocked and Amazed magazine guru James Taylor. Todd and Harley were their usual spectacular selves and Red closed the show with a human pincushion acts the likes of which I had never seen. He started puncturing cheek and neck with skewers and then invited audience members to bring up cash, the largest denomination of their choice, and staple it to his bare flesh. He probably had nearly $100 stapled to himself, all of which he graciously donated to the Museum. What a class act!

Recently, I was asked to perform at a child’s birthday party at a gay bar which features drag queen performers. No, that is not the opening line to a bad joke. The owner of the bar, which has featured my act in the past, called and asked if I did any kid friendly acts that would go over at a birthday party for a young lad who was suffering with AIDS. Let me tell you it was some kind of an experience.
The Cabaret, Episode 2 sponsors a couple from Columbia, TN who is caring for 26 children, ranging from babies to mid teens, all of which are suffering from AIDS. They get little help from any organization or the state so they have been relying on donations and fundraisers. The birthday party was for a lad named Shaffin, who was turning 14, and sadly, had to be released from the hospital just long enough to attend his party. He informed the doctors that he was NOT having his party in the hospital, so they bundled him up and came to the party with him. After the party, he was right back in the hospital which, unfortunately, will probably be his final trip.
All 26 children were in attendance and had a grand time as did caretakers, doctors, queens and the SideShow Bennie posse.