Monday, February 22, 2010

Have you done your taxes yet?

When The Countess is not being a Countess, she is an accountant...or maybe an 'a'ccountess!


The IRS keeps accountants in business and, in spite or many years protesting against the government, I never protest against taxes.  It is guaranteed employment, people!  No matter what you do, what you make, what your service is.....you have to report it to the Federal government and most states.  Oh yes, it is money in the bank for all of us who make a living helping you report it.  Not only do we prepare your tax forms but we advise you during the year about what decisions you should make to save you money when you report your earnings.


For instance, a simple little transaction involving a donation to the Arts, can save you money on your taxes.  Did you know that, depending on your income, a donation to the theater company of your choice can reduce your tax liablity up to 35% for the equivalent amount of income, depending on your tax bracket.

So please click on to the Berkshire Theatre Festival and give a donation to not only help them to continue to give you quality entertainment, but to help you reduce your tax liability for the year ending 2010.



Take it from a tax professional....and a lady who loves to find a loophole in the law so that we all can have a good time!!!!  Give to the theater company of your choice. 
Countess Bedelia 2/22/2010 09:35:00 PM | 0 comments |

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Preparing for South Beach...

My dear friend, The Mrs. Astor, has been busy arranging receptions for my pending arrival on South Beach.  She has regular meetings with her court to be sure they have their weapons polished.




Unfortunately this year Officer Brian, my Chief of Security, has been called away on important state business and will not be able to offer his protection as he has in years past....


We shall have to call in the reserves, Baron Bob and Count Terry....


There will be parties every day and night.  Needless to say, The Countess does not stand on ceremony.....


There will be dancing in the streets with drag queens....


And there will always be the hottest bartenders to serve my Glenlivet....


The jewels have come out of the vault and the designer gowns have been delivered.  Just another week and The Countess will make her Royal appearance!!

But first, a State Visit to New York City is pending.  Oh my, it's hard work being a Countess  :)
Countess Bedelia 2/21/2010 09:26:00 AM | 1 comments |

Thursday, February 18, 2010

There's a new Mii in town...



The Countess has been adbucted by aliens and taken aboard the Wii Console.  Strange beings are poking and prodding her and speaking in annoyingly cheerful voices.


But after I gave them a glass of Glenlivet, they took 4 years off my age and overlooked the sad state of my old body....


But then DungeonMaster Don took over the torture and told me right away to put down the scotch glass and Get.To.Work...


He has no sense of humor obviously and somehow he can see me from inside that little console box.  How does he do that????


A girl just needs to powder her nose now and then, Don.  Don't be such a hardass....


I do like the pretty purple dress they gave me to wear though.  I wonder if I can take it to South Beach?
Countess Bedelia 2/18/2010 09:43:00 AM | 1 comments |

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A Varla Valentine !!


The Countess had a fun time with Duke Davo, Big Daddy, and Chip at the Varla Valentine show.  Miss Varla Jean Merman is a class act and if you have never seen her act, make sure you get a ticket for her new show, "Phantom of the Oprah", at Machine from Feb. 26 to March 28.  Varla gave us a sneak peek at a number from the show and it is to die for!!  Varla has an amazing voice.

Varla is a tall gal.....I was standing on a step to take this picture.....


Duke Davo was a very handsome date.....


After the show, we went to Jae's in the South End for a delicious dinner.  A very sweet Valentine's Day for The Countess.
Countess Bedelia 2/16/2010 03:50:00 PM | 0 comments |

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day!

Roses are red,
Diamonds debauch,
Gift me with neither,
I'd rather have scotch!

A handsome admirer sent The Countess a Valentine's bouquet....so sweet!


And, WATCH OUT WORLD, The Countess has also received Wii Fit Plus.....


The Grand Duke will be over this afternoon to hook it up for me and then I will be in great shape.  Can't wait!!   Oooooooh.....do I actually have to excercise with it?  Isn't just having it in the house going to work?  Darn, I KNEW there was a catch!


Tomorrow I have a Valentine's date with Sir David, Duke of the Davoshire, to see Varla Jean Merman's show at Machine in Boston.  Varla's fictitious pedigree boasts that Ernest Borgnine is her father and Ethel Merman is her mother. You might have seen her recently in an episode of Ugly Betty.



Is there a better way to spend Valentine's Day than at a drag show in a gay club?  It's my idea of heaven!!!!
Countess Bedelia 2/13/2010 12:39:00 PM | 1 comments |

Friday, February 12, 2010

In Honor of National Freedom to Marry Day....

Thanks to Uncle Matt for the following item:

Kitty Lambert and her longtime partner Cheryl attempted to apply for a marriage license yesterday in Buffalo, New York. When she was denied, she turned to the crowd:


"With news cameras rolling, Kitty then turned to the crowd and asked for any male who would be willing to get married to her. A gay man named Ed stepped forward and volunteered. They briefly exchanged information and presented the appropriate documents along with $40. City staff verified the information, and proceeded to give them a marriage license. Kitty’s point in approaching the City Clerk for a marriage license is that there is no religious basis for marriage, and it serves only as a legally binding contract in our society. Instead of being offered the ability to receive a license with her long-term partner, she was able to secure a license with a virtual stranger, strictly based on their gender."

You can also read the story in Buffalo, New York, news.





The Countess commands you to click on the Buffalo link and watch the video that accompanies that article.  How can anyone deny people the right to marry the person they love?

Also check Father Tony's Blog.  He was there on the scene recording the historical confrontation at the New York City Marriage Bureau today.  Stonewall is reverberating in our minds.  It is time to rise up and today is just the tip of the iceberg.  Look around people.....the man at the desk next to you is queer, the woman who is waiting on you at Starbucks is queer, and the family in the house next to you has two moms or two dads.....The Times They are a'Changin!!!!!
Countess Bedelia 2/12/2010 10:49:00 AM | 2 comments |

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

South Beach dreaming on a winter's day....



As the snow swirls around outside the windows of the Castle Bedelia, I dream of South Beach, palm trees, warm breezes, and drag queens at The Palace Bar.  In 3 short weeks The Countess will be back in Paradise to once again hostess her legendary party at the Winter Party POOL PARTY! 


The invitations have gone out, the food has been ordered, and the bottle of Glenlivet is waiting!


Last year we were visited by the legendary Ditmar.....


The Baroness Vickie and the lovely Penny came down from Ft. Lauderdale....


And my dear friends, Alexis and Leo, the King and Queen of South Beach Society graced the VIP Cabana....


Once again The Countess will wave to the boys from her Royal Balcony....


This year looks like it will be another fabulous time.  I can't wait !!!!
Countess Bedelia 2/10/2010 03:26:00 PM | 1 comments |

Monday, February 08, 2010

Corey Tut...making it on TV!!

Hey blogoshere....Tune in tonight and watch the CW at 9 pm to hear Corey Tut sing "So What?" on Life Unexpected tonight on the CW!


Support our boy!!!


ETA:  Corey made a booboo :)  His song is on next week's show!  So tune in next Monday night to hear it.
Countess Bedelia 2/08/2010 09:10:00 PM | 1 comments |

"Happy Now?" NYC, Chapter 3.....


The Carrier Pigeon delivered the message to the Castle Bedelia on a sunny winter day....

Hello dear Countess,

I know this isn't your beloved FaceBook, but I thought I would give you your own personal e-mail with a shameless plug from yours truly. This is my next show. I hope you can come and we can grab a drink after the show. Happy New Year! Let me know when you're coming.


Cheers,
C. J.

When C.J. Wilson asks you to his next play and puts you on the 'Family Discount' list, you don't say no!  And when Tommy Schrider says he will be your date, the evening is twice the fun!  Actually Tommy's beautiful and talented wife, Nurit Monacelli, was supposed to join us but she had a play reading to perform in that night ...Next time, Nurit!   Then Kyle Fabel (who just finished directing 'Fabuloso' at Merrimack Rep)decided to come and bring two friends who were visiting from England.  In the theater lobby I heard "Countess??" and Emmy Frank and Kerry Stinson gave me big hugs.  A BTF reunion!!  New York City can be such a small town some days.


"Happy Now?" is playing at the 59E59 Theater until March 6th.  It is a fun play about a woman's struggles to balance personal freedom with family life, fidelity and a demanding job.  The Off-Broadway cast of the New York premiere of Lucinda Coxon's Happy Now? met the press at Primary Stages rehearsal studios Jan. 14.

Joan MacIntosh, Brian Keane, Kelly AuCoin, Mary Bacon, CJ Wilson, Quentin Mare and Kate Arrington....Photo by Aubrey Reuben


It is worth the price of admission just to see C.J. stripped to his undershorts and rotating his pecs like a stripper as he admires himself in an imaginary mirror :)  LMAO!!!!

After the play, C.J., Tommy, and The Countess went to a nearby pub to enjoy a glass of scotch or two.  C.J. regaled us with a story of a shoot he did for Comedy Central which had us laughing almost too much to give our review of the plot....


C.J. was a little sad about that.


Another delightful night of theater with friends in that wonderful city that never sleeps....just my kind of town!
Countess Bedelia 2/08/2010 03:56:00 PM | 0 comments |

Friday, February 05, 2010

NYC - Chapter Two

I started coming to Our Hit Parade at Joe's Pub early last year because my friend, Jenn Harris, was performing in the show for the first time.  Little did I know then that this show would become not only a favorite cabaret to see but a monthly party hostessed by The Countess.  Not only do I get to see some of the best cabaret acts in the city like Lady Rizo, Molly Pope, Trapper Felides, Billy Eichner, and oh so many others, but I get to gather together whoever on my friend's list is free that night and we have a PARTY!


The Countess with Matt, Travis, Phillip, Ryan, & Arne

You can watch one of the best acts of the night HERE, courtesy of Brendan Kennedy.  Bridget Everett and two adorable little rappers belting out Rihanna's HARD like you've never seen it before.


And don't just take The Countess' word for how fabulous this show is....read the write up in New York Time Out that voted Our Hit Parade.....BEST CABARET IN 2009!!!  And, if you are really, really good, you might get The Countess to buy you a drink at the bar after the show :)
Countess Bedelia 2/05/2010 08:48:00 PM | 0 comments |

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Another lost week in New York City --- Chapter One...

Last week I had the best time in New York City with some of my wonderful talented friends.  I am blessed to have met so many young people who don't seem to mind hanging out with the Countess :)

Joe Jung:   I met Joe one night a couple of years ago when he emceed the Berkshire Theatre Festival DuPont benefit.  We really cut a rug on the dance floor that night and, like most everyone I know these days, became internet friends...first on MySpace and then on Facebook.   Joe is the Director of Project:Theater which is doing lots of cool things in NYC and he usually plays guitar and sings his songs on Sunday nights at the Failte Irish Whiskey Bar on 2nd Ave.


I took the train into the city on Sunday afternoon and that night I headed over to the Failte to see Joe.  There was a football game on the TV in the bar which delayed Joe's act a bit but it gave us a chance to have a drink and catch up on news and gossip before he got up to sing.  Joe recently won The Ultimate Singer Songwriter contest at the Waltz Astoria and will be appearing in their show tomorrow night. 


I wish I was back in the city to go to that show!


Daiva Deupree:  The Countess and Daiva met in a karaoke bar and bonded in a fierce way.  She was appearing in a play at BTF 2 summers ago and when her run was over we made plans to meet up in NYC in the fall.  Lots of times these kinds of plans never happen but we did stay in touch and we've been friends ever since.  There are very few times that I am in the city that I don't see Daiva.  She is one of the stars in a new indie movie, "The Bits in Between".


On Monday night we went to the Red Bull Theater reading of Camus' "Caligula".  These readings are just so entertaining and this one had Michael Urie in the role of Caligula....who was magnificent!  After the reading we headed down the street to the Ritz Bar where we proceeded to get a little tipsy while we talked and talked and talked.  I love you, Daiva <3


John Douglas Thompson:   Obie winner, actor, gentleman.....John and I met one night at a Shakespeare & Co. gala.  He was appearing as Othello that summer and I think I saw the play 5 times.  Every time someone came to visit, we went to see John perform.  He ended up winning the Obie last year for that role.  Now he was appearing in "Emperor Jones" and the run was almost over.  I had tried to see it last fall but it was sold out.  Luckily I scored a ticket and got to see it on Tuesday night.  I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't win another Obie for this role. 

John, the Countess, and LeRoy McClain

Then the night that I had really come into town for....Wednesday night means "Our Hit Parade" at Joe's Pub.  I think that needs it's own post.....tomorrow.....
Countess Bedelia 2/04/2010 10:49:00 PM | 0 comments |