Hootchy Kootchy Honeys

I know I have left my blog to die as quietly and as depressingly as the last embers of a fire are turned to filthy slush under the building weight of oncoming rain. But to be honest, that is how I have been feeling myself a little.

Perhaps it is anaemia, but I think it is just the daily rut of routine which has drained away the last of my imagination. I am used to this. Sometimes I will go through a stage where for several months I am up until the wee hours of the morning, tapping away at the computer. These are the moments I cannot stop for the story flows into and through my mind almost faster than I can commit it to record. At the moment I have 5 different stories saved onto this computer. I have probably about 3 on an old hard drive from my desk top which I think I will never be able to access again and countless more on paper written at work when there is nothing else to do, or school when there is nothing else to do, or when there is an important exam to study for and I'd really rather not. One of these stories some of you may have read earlier on this blog. Another (my favourite) is saved into four different files in Microsoft Word, each consisting of about 70-75 pages in justified, hyphenated text.
But sometimes, like now, I go through stages where I feel like I have come out of the swimming pool after swimming laps for hours. Drained. Washed out. Unrefreshed. Times like these I like to read everyone else's blog. I have forced myself to comment because though I have things to say, I can't be bothered loading the comments pages.

I complained about it at work;

TOOLS: How have you been Sez?
SEZ: Alright. Do you really want to know or are you just starting conversation?
TOOLS: Go on then.
SEZ: I'm sick of it. Sick of the same days, the same faults. I don't do anything in the weekends. I'm even over hockey - it's long past time the season should have ended.
TOOLS: Well I might be going surfing this weekend. Do you want to come?
SEZ: Do I have to surf?

Tools laughs at Sez and takes another drag on his cigarette.

TOOLS: No, but it could be good to get out to the beach, get some sea air. It's a bit of a drive out there too, always good.

Sez shrugs at Tools
Entrance Sergeant

SERGEANT: Have you finished those functionals on zero-five?
SEZ: Nah, just having a cuppa. Should be finished by lunch though.
TOOLS: Yeah, I better get back to my faults too.

Tools stubs out cigarette and places in ash-tray. Exit Tools
Sez drains last of drink.
Exeunt.

But the surf-trip never happened. (I was paraphrasing, by the way) Instead, something better happened. My friend texted me. She asked if I was interested in joining her at The Classic on Saturday night to go see Hootchy Kootchy Girls Burlesque Show, $25? Well now - after all my bitching I could hardly turn her down - could I?

So to see New Zealand's up and coming Burlesque Dancers, I was about to go.

Hootchy Kootchy Girls

Burlesque is making a come-back!

There weren't many of us in the little theatre, but we had lots of fun!

The show actually started before we made it from drinks in the foyer to the main stage area. We were drinking our wine/juice/bourbon and happily minding our own business before the show. There were five of us and we were watching the two girls at the door. One appeared to be selling posters and the other candy. Hmmm. As the room became more crowded we noticed another lady who appeared different to the rest. She was in a trench coat and a pinstriped Dick Tracey hat. She had a large camera and was taking photos of everyone. Finally she came to our dark little corner.
"And 'oo do we 'av 'ere??" She asks in a heavy but well-executed French accent. "Four, non, Five people 'oo are 'ere to see the Hootchy Kootchy girls!! Canaoui 'av a photo of you all togtheur?"
I laughed to myself that we, five individuals, allowed ourselves to be directed into place by a woman we had never met for a photo we would never see. Human nature never ceases to amaze!

Finally the show was on! We moved into the main room and were politely informed that cameras were not allowed. But Peachy la Rue, their photographer would take many photos on the night, and we could leave our emails addresses with Miss Print in the Foyer so that we may be informed later how to view the photos she took on line. Miss Print was also selling posters.

Throughout the night we were entertained with corny jokes, hilarious 'dance offs,' sexy dancing, good fun and even a reverse strip. It was a great evening and during the break one of my party and I managed to drag Peachy la Rue out into the foyer to take photos of him (the friend) and a Kiwi Comedian (there to enjoy the show). This was because my friend is always told he looks like this comedian and he wanted photographic proof they looked nothing alike. Peachy was more than happy to oblige, but declared they did look the same.

I bought a poster, and for the same price as a plain one ($20) I could get one signed by the girls. Peachy (of course), Coco Martini, Pacific Passion, Crystal Night-Light, Judy Garment, The Hootchy Kootchy Queen (their director) and Tony (the MC).

We bugged Peachy, Judy and the Queen during intermission for personal autographs to accompany the show-names. After the show we bugged the rest of the performers.
Coco Martini was astounded to hear we had managed to get the personal autograph of Peachy. She told us the woman almost NEVER broke out of character. (We gleefully informed her we had actually heard her speak (for only a few moments) in a Kiwi accent.) CM laughed and said for the first two months of their acquaintance she had believed Peachy was genuinely French.

Hockey

The next day was a very important hockey game. Although I am getting pretty sick of the season we have been playing better and better these last four games or so. And this was no exception. Before the weekend the tables had been:
Howick-Pakauranga = 39 points
Sommerville Blue = 32 points
Western Districts = 31

We are Western Districts, and we needed to win this game to beat Sommerville and play the Howick Pack in the final. As always, we played like champions (because we are!) and won the game 3-1
It's the finals this weekend. The points are now out the window. If we win on Sunday we take out the whole competition. It's getting big! I am very excited again!

There's always more...

AND!!! I have a farewell party to go to this Saturday, an old friend contacted me and we'll go out for some food and a movie next week. My sister - YES, JU! - and I spoke over the internet, web cameras and all for the first time ever. It was the first time I've seen her happy smiling face in over a year! (Ju is in the UK and I am here in Kiwi Land.)
Also... Peachy pulled us aside as we were leaving The Classic and invited us to another party later on in the year! It could be because we hassled her and her friends all night, or it could be because one of us (the one who looks like a well-known NZ comedian) happened to be sitting at a table with friends of the organisers. It's who you know!!!