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.  

Ten Titulating Tacky Party Years

 Hello Genteel Readers, 

Many of you may be asking yourself, "Where's Waldo?" when it comes to your favorite blogger, moi.  First of all, as you are my closest and most intimate friends, tsk,tsk you know better than to call me Waldo...only one person in my life has my permission  (and the audacity) to call me that moniker - you may be asking yourself, "Am I that person?", if you have to ask then you most assuredly are not - she knows who she is!  My apologies genteel readers, it is unlike me to start this missive with an undeserved reprimand...let's move forward as better friends with well defined boundaries. 

In the fourteen years of writing this blog, I've written as many posts as 17 in one year (2008) and as few as just 2 in a year (2017).  As you, genteel readers would imagine, my reasons for writing differing amounts of posts during the course of a year run the gamut.  This blog is a repository of self deprecating humor, fun photos, lots of sarcasm, a few deep thoughts, and dare I say it, a few pieces of damn good writing.   This blog has also been a place where I challenge myself to be better, and to do better because all of us can and should take responsibility for the world around us through our individual actions.  This to me is a manifestation of my enduring hope in a brighter and better future for all.

 To date in 2020, I haven't written any blogposts.  Why?  Because it's hard to see that hope I've always drawn upon for my posts.  The past year has been tough on us all.  The pessimists in the world get total, "I told you so..." rights.  The pandemic, the undeniable systemic racism perpetuated and supported by a corrupt administration, and California wildfires decimating the state that I love have truly taken a toll.

I know roses are growing in this concrete, I've seen indivduals be fearless and accomplish amazing feats, and often times at great personal sacrifice. Our priorities in America are shifting for the better and hopefully our values are as well.  Individuals are stepping up and making a difference.  I continue to focus on my own individual actions, and this is what is sustaining my well of hope for the moment.  

The thing is, genteel reader,  I haven't been very interested in writing about 2020.  This is truly a case of being in the thick of it and not having the capacity to provide any new insight to this madness. I'm not avoiding my own personal soul searching regarding all of this, but I'm not ready to share with the world thoughts and feelings that are still developing and constantly changing. 

I know this leaves you in a precarious spot...where does this leave you...without the joys, laughter, and dare I say it, tears you've come to rely upon in this blog...(especially my fan club who took out that full page ad in the Enquirer demanding my return - thanks for that by the way).  

Have no fear, I believe I have a nepenthean to our dilemma, a little distraction to bring some joy in these dark times.  Rusty and I were young babes in the world at one time.  Within the first year of dating we had already moved in together, were going through all the trials and tribulations of a new relationship, and decided to throw a big spring party.  Close family friends of mine had recently attended a "Tacky Party" and the premise sounded "an absolute hoot", to coin a phrase of the day, so we decided to adopt that theme.  Being the young and creative gays we were, we extended that theme to include a Hawaiian Luau component.  So, in June of 1991, we called all of our friends (and then some) and threw our very first Tacky Party.  

There have been ten official Tacky Parties.  As a panacea to this pandemic, genteel readers, we will recap the Titulating Tacky Party years for your amusement.  Most everyone in the pictures are friends to this day.  Some will enjoy reminiscing, some will be seeing this for the first time and hoepfully will get a chuckle, and some may be offended enough to unfriend me on facebook.  

Never-the-less, let's push forward with the first of many posts regarding this magical, creative, weird, and mildly offensive time in our lives.  A word of caution, many of these parties happened in the early years when our memories were stronger. Currently dates, facts, and impressions are shrouded in the veil of my flawed recollection, be forgiving on the facts.  

Tacky Party #1: Hawaiian Luau: Aloha (June 1991)

As far as origin stories go, the Tacky Party suffered very humble beginnings.  We threw together a theme, played some old Bandstand music, mixed up fruity cocktails, and asked everyone to bring tacky Hawaiian food.  From humble acorns grow mighty trees.  Every year we added different components, traditions, and strict rules.  

Our party hosts, Rusty, enjoying the California spring air, and sporting a festive outfit ready to hit the righteous waves. (Thirty years later, we still have that thrift store shirt Rusty is wearing.) 

Who could this be? Walter from accounting sporting the Hawaiian Island conference attire.  I wish I still had those pants.  

The full compliment of party goers.  Backyard shenanigans were bound to ensue.  

Party food extraordinaire.  So many people brought Spam filled dishes  (Spam Kabobs with Pineapple, Grilled Spam, Spam Kabobs with Maraschino cherries, Spam Casserole, Spam Kabobs with Marshmallows) that even our two dogs wouldn't eat anymore by the end of the party.  This prompted our very first Tacky Party rule, No Spam!

This party even brought out the reclusive Mark Flores.  

An incredible Aloha themed cake, of which I never received a bite...as Yosiell is always saying, without cake there is no party.  

Someone brought a prize winning tropical flower arrangement.  

Val surrounded by some early nineties love.  Frankie clutches one of the many prizes of which we scoured downtown Ventura thrift stores to give away.  The morning after the party, we implemented our second tacky party rule, if you win a prize you must take it home (almost everyone left their prize in and around our house).  

Amelia, preparing what we are sure is a recipe from a 1950's tiki cook book.  

A Mike Cullen sighting. Mike has a tendency to show up at the oddest moments.  Years after this, we were in a campground in rural Georgia and who should stroll by right in front of me? Mike Cullen...

3-D tapestries were all the rage...for those unfamiliar, imagine a tapestry made by those the two sisters, poly and esther, and sporting a scantily clad woman in 3-D.  

Everyone loves a Catholic school girl outfit...Superstar Theresa! 

Although the photos are great, there is actual video footage floating around out there threatening the politcal careers of everyone in attendance.  Someday soon I'll need to edit the footage and put it out to my public.  

We knew with our quirky friends, something as tasteless and unrefined as a Tacky Party was sure to be a hit.  This party was special enough for us to reprise the theme only one other time, the reception in Vegas after our wedding was a Hawaiian Luau.  

Well my genteel readers, there's no turning back now...party one is immortalized in this blog...next on the list, 1992 the year where Carmen Miranda and Elvis play a signifcant part.