However, I have gathered co-horts and gained some very solid friendships through such introductions.  For instance, my gal “Red”, a bad ass Renegade Roller Girl.  She and I sat down to coffee the other day and tried to remember how me met and “Wow, was it actually seven years ago?” at another coffee shop for a ska show, as we made fun of the way my boyfriend danced.

This incident has inspired me to try and gather some “How I met Lady Borgia” stories.  I am sure there are some extraordinary circumstances, so please share yours in response to this bLog.

Cheers,
Lady B

The  overall theme is in the vein of love, lust and lack of reciprocation, the idea being that you’re either a exhibitionist or a voyeur, and now I’m curious as to what people feel they are, so take my poll and let me know!

How? Why? What the….?!

Well, lets start with my friends going away party at the Ken Club the night before.  Need I say more? No, but I will.  “I can only stay for one cocktail and I am heading home at 12:30” turns into being a little over served and in bed at 3am.  Up at 8:30…. ok, really, it’s 9:30, gotta get out of bed and pack for the shoot.  Entire wardrobe maneuvered to the truck (moderation has not been my specialty lately), hot rollers in hair, coffee in hand, let’s go!

The Photo shoot was a BLAST!!!  My photog, and the co-owner of X-Sanguin Studios, Shawn Healey is my hero.  I tried to use my “overserved” excuse for being late, but got schooled.  That man had gotten a tattoo AND partied the night before in LA then arrived two hours before me!!  Hey, he didn’t have wardrobe issues…

Back to the reason I need a full body massage… Corsets, fetish heels, and balancing on a tiny foot stool. (Note: check out my blog on Raggare Corsets, loving them)  Toss in a chaise lounge, cammo netting, a ukulele, and some big guns…

…hehe, we should have the shenanigans available for your viewing pleasure by Valentines Day!

XOXO,
Lady Borgia

Since my start in burlesque five years ago, I have made most all of my costumes from the rhine stoning of gloves to fashioning panties, constructing corsets to styling my wigs, bunching bustles to building thigh high boots.  The main reason was that I had a bit of sewing skills, finances were not in abundance, and I have a hard time explaining exactly what I want then being disappointed with the end result.  This is time consuming, exhausting, and stressful (usually because I give myself two weeks to get it done).  No more!!  At least when it comes to corsets.

Though I apprenticed with a corset maker I have never honed my skills as a pattern maker. I have been in need of a different fit than the civil war era pattern I currently own. I truly appreciate the skills and materials it takes to make just the right fit and “WOW” factor.  With Raggare the fit is snug, not pinching, has the even “bind” and lift of the torso.  A solid shape with maneuverability.  They have beautiful fabric choices, 3 layers, an internal waist band (which serves two purposes, structurally it reduces stress in the outer layer, and visually contributes to the tiny, tight waist), Steel boning (no “corset” should buckle or pinch), and my favorite special touch… a beautiful inside!  Why is that important?  It means attention to detail and an extra “pop” when you flash that bit on stage, or when it is seen lying on the floor the next morning!

Custom work?  You Bet!!  I am currently working with them on designing my next piece for the show Feb 20th.

Check out their current selection at   http://www.myspace.com/raggareclothingco .  Also,  in the soon to be posted  photo gallery I am sporting the leopard sweetheart as well as the under bust styles (rhine stone pasties hand crafted by yours truly and also available to order).  Let ‘em know Lady Borgia sent ya!

Borgia X O X O

I was the only kid of four who needed the stupid string.  If you don’t know about the stupid string, you never lost the mittens your great aunt spent six months of the year knitting for you.  This clever device is merely a string with suspender clips on the end.  Clip one on to the left mitten, slide the string up the left arm, across the back of your jacket, down the right and end with the other clip hooked to your right mitten.  Now mittens were not designed to give you the mobility to mold the perfect snow ball, so you must remove said obstacle for the task, or get your ass kicked for not having an ample arsenal.  Only problem being the loss of your mittens!

Why am I telling you this?  Because today was officially a stupid string day.

I missed the bus by 30 seconds, starting the chain reaction that caused me to be 20 min late to my first class in, yup, Career Development.  Um, yeah, demerits for punctuality?  Then they give 50 students 20 minutes to eat, all vying for the one (ew gross, but it’s the only choice for hot food) microwave.  Late five minutes from break.  Class ends and I watch the bus drive by as I am once again just shy of the stop.  At this point my roommate and i have been texting, and she agrees to meet me at the grocery store to pick up some wine and me, we both need to decompress.

I show up at the store and proceed to run around shouting “MARCO” not caring that everyone is staring at the nutter in the pink Jackie Onasis coat.  Mind you, my roommate and I must be psychically connected, she just texted me the same shout!  This is only really funny because she was NOT at the same grocery store as me.  Location figured out, wine purchased, out the door, hippity hoppity, let get home.  A bit chilly, I reach into my coat pocket only to realize… I am missing my left glove.

Sandra Serrano commented that since the nightlife has been run by men and the majority of them well known dj’s, our mission was to be the voice to our female Dj’s and talent, giving them the opportunity to be recognized and respected.

Our events go from the well-known nightclubs in Downtown San Diego to the neighborhood spots in the city..bringing Sexy Back to the Nightlife!”

One of their monthly events “Peep Show” is held at Kadan, in North Park (San Diego).  I joined forces with them for the Dec show and was once again met with the overwhelming support and respect this ladies community shows for burlesque!  So much so that I will be returning to perform Jan. 16th!

Wondering if you should skip it since you are not a lady?  Well, honestly. I can’t say that I am a lady all the time either… This event is open to everyone GLBT and yes even the straight folk!

For more info on all SHE Production events, Dj’s, and performers, visit their website www.sheproductions.com also on facebook and myspace.

Well, ok, maybe that is not THE most important thing. That would be the fact that he never had the landlord fix any of the plumbing problems, probably because he only used booze, not the water supply. It’s a sad state of affairs, mostly because I now have no water.

So, I wake up this morning, no classes to attend, no important or even unimportant meeting, hit snooze and grab another hour or dream time, hopefully with the blue Avitar guy making a guest appearance. Well, almost an hour before the power tools next door so rudely wrenched me back to this reality. Out of bed, brush teeth (not that it will matter in 5 min after I guzzle down the first of many cups of coffee today), no shower since i already said I had no serious need as of yet. Off to coffee shop, coffee consumed, much online geeking out accomplished, it is now 1pm, need a change in environmental inspiration, so head home. After several cups of coffee and a decent walk, what is the first thing you reach for? You may reach for a bottle of water, not me my friend, I ain’t afraid of the big bad tap water! …when it’s there. Nada, nothing, zip, ZILCH!!!

I go chat with the landlord, who is in the apt nextdoor doing all his own fix-it’s, he says just a few more minutes. Two hours later he says it will be “just” another hour. 7:30…. knock on door… “The plumber came by, we need a part, he can’t get it until tomorrow…” WTF!!! It is only 7:30!! I KNOW Home Depot is still open, I KNOW they have EVERYTHING!!! …including the kitchen sink… Forget that this is ILLEGAL, I have now been sweating coffee for the last 8 hours, have moss growing from my teeth, and a toilet filled with ….well, you get the picture. Damn good thing the only hot date I have tonight is with my laptop. Now, since I have every excuse I need….

Where did I put my cocktail?

Well, for this gal there is no sitting by the phone, checking every 5 min to see if you missed the text, or perusing the local bars looking for a date. No way babe, I got a hot date with rhinestone pasties and a gallon of glitter! Instead, I go cruising for the perfect venue and event in which to slip out of something a little bit dazzling.

A week before the big night (yep, just like prom), it happens! “Of all the gin joints, in all the towns…”, I walk into La Gran Tapa. I am there to watch a fellow Burly-Q Baby visiting from New York. Now, I am the type of gal who cannot bring herself to attend any show in a low key capacity. So, there I am, a hybrid of Victorian Steam Punk elegance and just a step above Saloon Wench. Lily Von Schtupp (both of Mel Brooks infamy and the modern day Burlesque Queen) would have been proud! Did it work? You bet yer bump-n-grind bottom it did!! Magically the owner appears at my side and leads me in the dance of negotiations. This is where they “honor” you with the chance to perform at their “Big Event” for a few free drinks and a guest pass. Hey, I was planning on paying to attend this party, but they don’t know that! And let’s face the facts, getting prepped to just go out and play for the night is completely different from prepping to perform (that story will be saved for another rant… I mean, story). So in the end I am getting paid to play, enough guest passes to host my very own VIP table, a few bottles of champagne, and my choice of tasty beverage, and a beautiful partnership for future fabulous events. I’ve come a long way since prom, which consisted of purchasing my own ticket, dinner at Red Lobster, and a date who managed to speak two complete sentences the entire night. Forget the champagne, a bottle of Boone’s Farm would have been welcome that night!

Curtains down on 2009. In the words of Ol’ Blue Eyes (and the most over used prom title)… “The Best Is Yet To Come”!