Miss Mina Murray

Dear Constant Reader,

Almost exactly six years ago, I filmed this reading and then abandoned it. Yesterday, I decided it should finally see the light of day, filmed a new intro, and edited it. As usual, Scratch gave me a hand, finding the music and the fireworks for the credits. I do wish I had thought of this before we were having massive heat wave and I had to turn off the AC to film the intro. If I look a bit haggard, it’s because I’m actually melting before your eyes.

The reading is from Inside…

Dear Constant Reader,

After not feeling terribly motivated for a while, I did a bunch of costuming in June. Most of it was improvements to existing acts, which I had been meaning to get to for a while.

I’ve been using the same pair of gloves for a couple of acts and I wanted Mina in Furs, one of my most performed numbers, to have dedicated gloves. I found a pair of plain white satin gloves in my closet and Devastasia had some great embroidered net fabric, which I cut out the motifs to make appliqués…

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday everyone! It’s been hot and humid these days, which inspired this tip.

You know to stay hydrated, but also keep your electrolytes in mind.

When you’re sweating, you’re losing minerals, like sodium, even if you’re drinking enough water. If you lose enough of them, you can feel pretty terrible (ask me how I know!). You’ll be in no shape to perform if that happens.

The easy solution is to keep some appropriate snacks on hand during hot weather. Nuts, potato…

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I hope you’re enjoying Juneteenth and reflecting on the day. This week’s tip is a thoughtful one:

There is always more to learn.

Even if you are an expert (or think you are an expert) in a subject, it’s worth learning from someone else. You’ll see new perspectives and perhaps information you hadn’t seen before. A class, a book or article, a documentary, a museum exhibit — it doesn’t matter. Expand your horizons and get out of your comfort zone.

Just this week…

Dear Constant Reader,

In 2007 one of our troupe members needed to take the summer off. Only a few of us knew what she was going to be doing and we had to keep quiet about it. In the fall we could finally reveal that she was a contestant on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 9. She has shared a little of the behind the scenes with us over the years, but now she’s letting everyone know what happened on ANTM in her new book

You Wanna Be on Top? A Memoir of Makeovers, Manipulation, and Not Becoming…

Dear Constant Reader,

When spring arrives, so does my desire to host a tea party. Alas, when the day arrived, it was chilly and rainy. Such is spring in New England. Nevertheless, the tea and companionship were warm.

As usually I had a dozen guests and made three kinds each of sandwiches, scones, and sweets, plus tea.

Tea
Since I have four tea pots, there were four teas. A black tea my sister brought back from Hong Kong, The Earl in Grey, blooming green, and an herbal spice blend from my…

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday and I don’t know about where you are, but it is unpleasantly hot & humid here, which inspired today’s tip.

Air conditioning can be very dehydrating. Prepare for it.

It’s great that AC helps when it’s humid out, but it can have a negative effect on you. Perhaps you wake up with a headache or a sore throat. Your skin feels dry. It can happen especially badly in hotels where you have little control over the climate control.

As you might expect, drinking plenty of…

Dear Constant Reader,

Hey, it’s Friday!

For a fun surprise, wear gauntlets under your gloves.

The audience thinks they’re about to see your bare arm, but there’s another layer of decoration instead! And since gauntlets don’t cover your fingers or palms, you’ll have dexterity for your following removes. You can leave the gauntlets on for the entire act or take them off later.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 18 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go…

Dear Constant Reader,

Here ’tis Friday again. Here’s your tip!

When gluing rhinestones, put your fabric on a silicone mat or piece of parchment paper.

Gluing rhinestones is a bit like baking. You don’t them to stick. I mean, you do, but you only want them to stick to the surface you’re decorating. Not to your work surface. Not to the layer of fabric underneath. Putting either parchment paper or a silicone mat under the piece you are decorating will prevent glue soaking through and sticking to…

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again! Here’s your tip!

Naps are nice.

I don’t know about you, but at heart I am an old lady who would like nothing better than a good book, a cup of tea, some cats, and an early bedtime. However, I have chosen to be a showgirl and some of those shows start pretty dang late.

To stay perky and focused, the answer might not be more coffee, but, if you can swing it, a nap. The key is to get enough sleep that you are feeling refreshed, but not so much that you’re…