I am in the Bay and loving it!  I love performing here.  The diversity.  The passion.  The variety of acts and performance.  It’s great and heart warming.  I am appearing at the following locations-

• Little Minsky’s, Club Deluxe-1511 Haight St. (SF).  Show @ 10p
• Red Hots Burlesque, El Rio-3158 Mission St. (SF).  Show @ 7:30p
• Debauchery, White Horse Inn-6551 Telegraph Ave. (OAK).  Show @ 9p
• Bombshell Betty’s, Uptown Club-1928 Telegraph Ave. (OAK).  Show @ 9p

Come out and say hello!

XOXOXXX

I am sad this morning.  A dear friend of mine just called and I spoke with her for hours about depression and reasons why she SHOULD NOT kill herself.  She is a bright and loving person.   She has a great family that loves her and children who adore her.  She is a very successful business women and travels all over.  But yet and still she is depressed.  She hates her life.  And she can’t manage to find anyone to listen or who cares about her issues.

1 in 17 people in the US suffer from depression.

It is estimated that 850,000 people are hospitalized for suicide attempts in the US.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death of those 15-24.

Women are more likely to ATTEMPT suicide than men (do to the manner is which women go about it)

Men are more likely to COMMIT suicide than women ( Men are more likely to use a weapon)

I work with many who suffer from depression and can’t function without their medication.  I have seen first hand how a person can change dramatically with depression.  A person who is normally organized, full of life, energetic, and playful can become someone who stays in the house, pulls away from things they once loved, and becomes anti-social.  Without help, they continue to fall.

It’s really important to notice the signs.  Many times those suffering from depression will reach out, but in very subtle ways.  It’s hard to reach out when you feel no one cares about you.  But if someone does reach out, be ready to be a friend-even if you don’t know them that well.  You may save their life.  Offer to meet for tea or lunch.  But don’t take on all their problems.  Guide them to the right help.  Sometimes all it takes is for that one person to have that needed compassion to pull them out.

Warning signs of suicide include:

• Observable signs of serious depression:
  Unrelenting low mood
  Pessimism
  Hopelessness
  Desperation
  Anxiety, psychic pain and inner tension
  Withdrawal
  Sleep problems
• Increased alcohol and/or other drug use
• Recent impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks
• Threatening suicide or expressing a strong wish to die
• Making a plan:
  Giving away prized possessions
  Sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm
  Obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications
• Unexpected rage or anger

Although most depressed people are not suicidal, most suicidal people are depressed.

Offer to give them resources for help.  You don’t have to be their rock, but turning your back on them could be the worse thing you could do.  Even simple emails/texts/calls saying, “Just thinking about you, hope all is ok.”, can make that person feel like there is someone who cares.

That’s what it comes down to.  Feelings of hopelessness and uselessness.  Feeling like there is no one in the world that would miss them if they were gone.  Feeling like they are a bother to all and just feels it would be better if they went away.  That simple contact can make them feel like there is someone who cares.  Inviting them over for a social gathering can be good to.

Juat a little bit about my world at this time!  Enjoy!

I found my book, ‘The Four Agreements’ the other day and started reading it again.  I have never been to much of a reader, but there are a few books that I enjoying reading and re-reading.  The Four Agreements is one of them.  If you have never read this book, I suggest you find the time to do so.  It really puts things into simple and easy ways to live.  Basically, EVERYTHING we do is based on agreements that we have made.  Whether to ourselves or to others.

Be impeccible with your word.

Understand that you must be a person of your own word and follow through with what you have spoken.  Avoid using your word to speak ill of others.  We all fall victim to this, I am no exception.  But I realize this and work on it everyday.

Don’t Take Anything Personally.

This is a hard one for me.  I am a person who internalizes.  Because of this, it is an effort for me not to take things personally.  I must realize that nothing anyone does is because of you.  They make their own decisions based on their own reality.

Don’t Make Assumptions.

This is very important.  Finding the way to ask questions and expressing what you really want can be hard for some.  But getting a straight forward answer versus living in your insecurities or what others view is always better.  I have been working on this as well.  Sometimes the questions are hard and difficult to ask, but asking will save a lot of headache.

Always Do Your Best.

Do your best for YOU.  Others may judge, but as long as you know you have done your best and put your best foot forward you will avoid self-judgement and regret.

I wish these four things were taught to me growing up.  It would have saved alot of trouble!  I have always been a person who speaks their mind.  Some do not like that because I speak my mind on topics that may stir emotions.  I have always been conscience of others feelings and if I have oversteped my boundries, I ALWAYS apologize and make amends.

We as humans are fragile creatures.  We let others decide how we are going to feel, what we are going to look like, and how we are going to dress.  We are to concerned with societies views of how we should be.  When really if everyone took that energy and fed it into something positive, I truly think suicide rates would drop, self esteem would rise, and the mental professions would be looking for work.  Just my opinion though.

I started this awhile ago.  I let it go by the wayside.

It’s back now.

Most major cities have a blog or website that lists most the burlesque shows/events that take place.  It’s a good resource for locals and visitors.  It’s all in one place.  Portland has a blog and calendar like that.

http://pdxburlesque.blogspot.com

Please spread the word and let those that you know about our blog.  Myself and another local performer (Hai Fleisch) will be maintaining this blog.  If you have an event/show with burlesque as a component, please email us at pdxburlesque@gmail.com.  We will post it to the blog and the calendar for all to see.

IF YOU HAVE A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT, JOIN THIS GROUP-

Portland Burlesque Ensemble

This is the correlating Facebook group to the blog/calendar.  But this facebook group is also a collective.  A collective of burlesque beaties that reside in the City of Roses.  PBE exists to support local burlesque talent, no matter their style.

SUPPORT THE ART!

XOXOXXX

I’m taking a minute to rant!  And I don’t have much time to rant so unfortunately, this will be my first vlog.  I really wish people would stop and think for a moment!

I haven’t been up on my blogs or my Facebook or my Tweets, for that I am sorry .  But I have been very busy making new costumes and planning new ventures.  And one of them isn’t burlesque or performance related at all.  My partner and I have started a blog called Rainy Day Sales.  We have so frickin’ much to get rid of and we of course didn’t have a sale when the weather was nice.  So we have it all ready to sell, but it’s rainy and crappy outside.

Hence, Rainy Day Sales.  Please visit often, as we will post items that are for sale and soemtimes FREE things.  We will have set hours that we’ll be available for items to be picked up.  If you don’t live near here, we’ll have a Paypal set up soon and we’ll mail it to you.

http://rainydaysales.wordpress.com

XOXOXXX

I had another fabulous photoshoot with Madeleine of Supermongral Studios today.  I have known Madeleine for years and I have always been a fan of your art.  From dance to painting to designing to photography.  She is amazing.

Her studio is set up perfectly for a variety of shots and styles.  She is more on the dark, naughty, seductive side of things.  Last time I did a some classic Sahara…burlesque costume and fun slightly trashy look.  I also did some not so classic Sahara…totally naked except for some lace fabric and topless sexy under the bust black sheer lingerie.

This time I did a not classic, not typical, totally not Sahara shoot.  But sexy none the less .  A sexy 50’s style kitchen shoot and a fetish domme shoot (complete with a sweet ass black/burgundy flogger).

Jodi was the make up artist again and she is crazy wicked with her style.  I always feel like a sexy ass porn star getting ready to film with Belladonna, lol!  I have such creative friends.

Photos coming soon!

XOXOXXX

Now is the time.  I am gonna have my own radio show.  On this show, we will feature burlesque performers, performance artists, feminists, artists, LGBT icons, and many other fascinating individuals.  I guess you can say it’s a variety show.  The first show is set to air early October.  I hope that it will be received with open arms and an open mind.

If there are ideas or guests you’d like to see on the show, please let me know.

Stay tuned for more information!