Tacky Party Part Deux

 The first Tacky Party was such a success that a sequel was surely bound to happen. Many of the characters from the first party staged a repeat performance, but we also added several  new characters to the cast (similar to the introduction of Cousin Oliver on the Brady Bunch...risky but it certanly paid off).       

The party evolved a bit to include a "Guess the Carmen" game.  Those that know Rusty best, know that he is obsessed not only with celebrity, but with the tabloid newspapers printing half truths and full on lies about celebrities.  There have been many times Rusty has picked up an Enquirer, a Star, or even People Magazine, where I pretended not to know him as he browsed the articles in the check out line. Somehow?...we had a Carmen paper doll book.   We clipped all of the Carmen outfits, scoured the old celebrity rag sheets we had lying around the house for head shots that would fit, and put new celebrity heads on the Carmens.  People had to "Guess the Carmens" and the person that got the most right was awarded the grand prize.  

This really is the first party that prizes were awarded for what-ever categories satisfied our fancy at the time.  Categories included best food, best outfit, and more...all determined by how many prizes we managed to pick up at the downtown Ventura thrift stores.  This is the year the rule that everyone receiving a prize must take it home was strictly enforced.  

Another new addition to the Tacky Party repertoir was the introduction of the appetizer wig head.  Typically, I'm a solid right brain person.  Analytical, logical, a slow but deep thinker.  In my younger days, flashes of creativity would surface. Sitting at the dentist's office, I was reading an already aged Better Homes and Garden featuring "Christmas Entertaining". On the cover was a styrofoam cone shaped "tree", covered in lettuce, skwered cherry tomatoes, and skewered cocktail weenies.  Genteel Readers, In my young creative brain, I thought if one can do so with a styrofoam cone, one could certainly accomplish this with a styrofoam wig head.  Our second Tacky Party and most every party after incldued a successively more elaborate wig head, including drag queen level make up.  In fact, I eventually branched out from just doing appetizer skewers on the wigeheads and in later years for  several of Med Byrd's gallery openings, covered the wig head in frosting and candy...this is much more difficult than it sounds but very impressive in presentation. 

Genteel reader, put on your "Now That's What I Call Music, '92" cassette tape, including Sir Mix Alot "Baby Got Back", Annie Lennox "Why", and the Cure "Friday I'm in Love", and let's take a visual stroll through our Tacky Party Part Deux.  

Party prep in cut off shorts, just to prove that my tackiness extends beyond just the party. 

This tapestry drew the lovely ladies like moths to a flame, you would've thought we had one of those Kodak Picture Spot plaques in front of this! Our favorite midwestern tourist, Val, contemplating the sinful Califronia ways.  

Amelia hoping to win this piece of fine art.  

Dancing to the song stylings on En Vogue, "Free Your Mind", among other classic hits.   

Now, this is an award winning outfit. Ed certainly went above and beyond.

A very popular party...we're not always sure of who wanders into this crazy delusion...In the background are Eddie and Mike...both have come to subsequent parties in San Francisco as well. 

Ellen sporting the side pony tail of a mid '80's junior high school mean girl.  

Darren chatting up our host with the most for the evening.  

Bob, sporting a definite gold chain east coast vibe...we weren't exactly sure this outfit was actually meant to be part of the theme... 

Amelia's not afraid of fashion even when it is already 20 years out of style in the early nineties.  Amelia assured us she didn't need to purchase any of these things, just pushed aside the skeleton's in her closet to find an outfit.  

The incomparable Mark Flores, a definite non tacky artist vibe...

Ellen and Monique comparing make up tips and discussing Cosmos latest "Who is my perfect man?" self quiz, or plotting World Domination... 

Social dynamo but elusive, Sam makes an appearance! 

A moment of rest and reflection for our host and the amazing Monique.  (How does Monique look exactly the same today as she did in 1992? - There's a velvet painting of her in her attic somewhere...that's how.)

Lucia with a guest ennjoying the festivities and the punch! 

As with any awards show, the audience is tense with anticipation to see if they will be taking home a prize....

The triumverate of tackiness, Val, Frankie, and Amelia...waiting expectantly for prizes. 

Rusty, our host and prize master, handing out this thrift store find...the classic board game, Twinkies and Trolls, by Milton Bradley. Perfect for family agame night.  

Who doesn't love Garfield and Odie Book ends...apprently Val, I seem to remember this was one of the prizes that was "accidentally" left behind.  

Monique, winning the hand shaped drink caddy (I believe it moved via remote control and is still sitting in Monique's living room in West Sacramento to this day. )

Outdated Beefcake calendar, always a coveted prize...

Ed, going home with a stuffed...ummm..."Owl?!?!?"  for best outfit. 

And for the grand prize...the "Guess the Carmen's" game (I'm sure most of the disguised celebrities were Madonna, as one of the hosts was and is completely obsessed with her...). 

These "Guess the Carmen" game winners received a black velvet Elvis painting complete with gold colored frame...I really wished we hadn't given away this gem.  

Even after awards, the party does not seem to be dying down...ahhhh, youth, most of the pary goers were about to take a walk over the Wild Goose, the only gay bar in Ventura at the time, and just a few blocks from our house...a place you can have cheap drinks, breathe cigarette filled smokey atmosphere, play pool with butch lesbians, and get into a fight in a few short hours...I miss the Wild Goose and dive bars of that ilk.  

So,Tacky Party the Sequel was laid to rest.  Soon after we would be making the move to Northern California as Rusty got a job in SF and I was off to school at Chico State.  Next up, our third tacky party, Bay Area edition.