BOOKED I was on Facebook and noticed that there was a suggestion that I become friends with Willie Nelson. Well, Willie and I have met a couple times, and he’s been exceedingly kind and gracious, and I’m certainly friends with the adorable and talented Paula Nelson and with the gorgeous and chic Connie Nelson, so I thought, “Why not be friends with the legendary Willie himself?” So I clicked on the link and it took me to Willie’s page. I clicked again to send a friend request, and the message came back, “Sorry, this user has too many friends.” What? Too many friends? Who the hell is Facebook to decide that someone has too many friends? How many is too many? Didn’t we just read about Barack Obama having more FB friends than anyone else? Maybe Willie decided that he had too many friends?
BOOKING On the charity circuit, upcoming events on my radar include Celebrity Bartender Night (Thursday, July 15, 5:30-7pm at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 107 W. Sixth) with all donations going to the Red Cross. I’ll be participating – though not actually mixing drinks. My job will be to engage and entertain the attendees and urge them to tip more. I think I can do that, don’t you? Please come out and be generous – the Red Cross needs you, and you never know when you may need the Red Cross!… Needless to say, I’ll be attending Oilcan Harry’s Red Hot 2010 Casino Host Party on Friday, July 16, 7-11pm. It’s OCH’s annual AIDS fundraiser, and I think I’ve been attending for 10 years or so. Anyway, you’ll have the opportunity to pose with me in the photo booth and have a souvenir photo that you can use for … you know, dart boards, cat box liners, effigies, whatever you choose; I don’t care, as long as you attend this terrific fundraiser… And Skot Tulk puts his own twist on the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival‘s annual fundraiser, Bloom: A Celebration of Groundbreaking Artists, on Friday, July 23, 8pm-12mid at Action Figure Studios, 3000 E. Cesar Chavez.
BOOKISH I’m humbled (imagine!) to be listed among the Out & About 500 (formerly the Fortunate 500) in the Austin American-Statesman. I know it’s not supposed to mean anything, but it does to me. This past year has been devastating for me. I behaved very badly and am paying the price. Having moved out of the city to recapture my sanity has further distanced me – yet it’s been wonderful for me to get away from everything else I knew. These days, I’m practically a ghost socially; I generally go into town one night a week. Of course, it’s not like I’ve been forgotten or anything like that, but the constant refrain is, “We hardly ever see you anymore!” Here’s to a better year.
BOOKERS I didn’t really have the room in my column last week to say anything else about the Worldwide Maniac Foundation (www.worldwidemaniac.com) that brought us the tres glamorous Richie Rich fashion show two weeks ago. So I will now: Worldwide Maniac proposes a world where creators pay it forward. “Paying it forward” is such a hip phrase these days that I think people ought to be fined for using it. But the concept, while hardly new, is a lovely one. Worldwide Maniac, founded by the handsome and charismatic Michael Torres, is a local enterprise dedicated to connecting fashion and entertainment with environment and humanity, believing, as Torres says, that “our creations have greater inspiration and a deeper meaning.” That’s all well and good, but what interested me was that they brought some fun talent to Austin and put on a hell of a fashion show. I did think it was funny that a couple of the sports celebrities that were in attendance declined to wear Richie Rich’s designs on the runway. Something about already being associated with apparel companies. Huh. Too bad for them, I say. Richie and his collection were the stars of the evening. Another star in the Worldwide Maniac world is the glamorous and audacious Lauren Elliott, aka Lala, the marketing manager. This dame is an impressive powerhouse who will go very far in her chosen career. She is the entire package. Anyway, apparently Worldwide Maniac helps provide sustainable housing for those in need. With so many worldwide disasters in the news lately, thank God for Worldwide Maniac. Go to its site. Make up your own mind. I did.
This article appears in July 2 • 2010.