Wednesday, December 31, 2008

L Word Coming Soon


For the L Word's final season, Lipstick & Dipstick will be emceeing the big L Word premiere at the Baghdad Theater in Portland, Oregon again this year. Last year's event sold out and they had to turn a bunch of people away, rsvp today on HRC's website.

Details
Sunday, January 18
5:30pm - 9pm
Bagdad Theatre
3702 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.
Portland, OR 97214

After they open the doors, Lipstick & Dipstick will be entertaining you for an hour as people get popcorn, brewskis and find seats. You do NOT want to miss this Season Six premiere of the L Word--apparently something really big happens in the first few minutes that will set the scene for the rest of the season. To whet your pallet, see below...

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Join Us in Whistler for WinterPRIDE 2009


Come one, come all! This year at Whistler's WinterPRIDE, Lipstick & Dipstick will be hosting a crazy retro gay Bingo + Games night. The annual week-long celebration will be held the first week of February and our game night is sure to be one crazy time! And that's not all of it; we'll also be hosting the Pampered Pussy Party on Friday night, an evening of sexiness and dancing. If you live in the Pacific Northwest and have a passport, all you have to do is hop in your car and head to the border. If you live far away, book a flight now!

This is Lipstick & Dipstick's second year at Whistler's WinterPRIDE and let me tell you, we had a BLAST last year!

Details
February 1 - 8, 2009
Whistler, BC
www.gaywhistler.com

Follow this link for more info about the women's events this year at Whistler's WinterPRIDE.

See you in the snow!


Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas with the Dipsticks


Well, I didn't make a fancy video, but the Dipstick clan had an amazing Christmas too. My twin sister Mary and her girlfriend Meg came into town on Christmas Eve in what Tiger calls "The Christmas Miracle" because the weather was so bad and the airport was closed for days.We had a great dinner with Tiger's brother and sister-in-law and then opened presents from her Mom, which was the Tiger family tradition.

Christmas day we relaxed, spent hours on the phone with family and far away friends and then had 17 lesbians, two gay men and one bisexual for the annual Dipstick & Tiger Christmas dinner/white elephant gift exchange.  
We had to borrow tables, chairs and plates from neighbors to fit everyone around the table. The ham was good,  and we also had Christmas crackers, but the highlight was the yankee swap gift exchange. 

If you don't know what a yankee swap is, it's where people go through their closets and find the craziest, crappiest stuff that they can't stand to look at, wrap it all nice and then you and your friends fight over it.

The hit of yankee swap this year was the "Rejuvenique" mask, which is supposed to make you look 20 again. I tried to win it, but of course the fags won out. To console myself, I found this video on youtube.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Looking for Someone to Kiss This New Year's Eve?


If you're trolling the internet for a little angel to kiss this New Year's Eve, consider this a late Christmas present. I recently posted this blog on Curve's website: Lip's Tips: Curve Personals Advice. If you're new (or even old) to the online dating scene, you must heed this advice.




Friday, December 26, 2008

Vancouver Christmas

So, it's Boxing Day here in Canada and it's still snowing. A lot. They expect rain tonight, so we'll see if the "Arctic Blast" for the Pacific Northwest is indeed over.

Since we couldn't get the car out of the garage, I made this little video, recapping our Christmas fun. I'm trying to teach myself a few new tricks in Movie Maker.


Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Falling For Whistler


It's been snowing like crazy up here in Canada, too, and I'll be sure to get some video later today as the sun is shining bright. Much more snow is expected tomorrow and into Christmas.

After Boxing Day, Patty and I will be heading up the mountain into even more snow--Whistler! We'll spend New Years Eve amidst the other revelers in the Village and I'm super excited to get some runs in. In honor of where we're headed, I thought I'd post this article I wrote, published in Passport Magazine this month.








Monday, December 22, 2008

Saving an American Coot


Friday morning when Tiger and I were at the park, we noticed the dogs paying a lot of attention to something in the bushes. The dogpark is up near a wildlife refuge and we often see coyotes, bunnies and other animals, so I thought they were just smelling a spot where the animals go under the fence.

But when they wouldn't come when I called them, I went to investigate and noticed an injured bird. Well, if any of you know Tiger, there's one thing you know about her is her love of animals. She's like Ellen that way.

We called the Audubon Society and they said if we could bring it in, they would take a look at it. So we took the coat off our old dog and gently wrapped it around the bird and picked it up. It looked like some kind of duck. She struggled a bit, but settled into Tay's arms.

It took us about ten minutes to walk back to the car and another 30 to make it to the Audubon Society.

The volunteer there took the bird and told us it was an American Coot and she had a badly injured foot. The veterinarian was going to be in later in the day and they would try to help the coot.  We haven't heard yet, but we hope she is safe, warm and healing up for a release this Spring when the pond thaws.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Snowstorm in Portland

Wow! We're having quite the snowstorm here in Portland. It reminds us of the snow belt back in New York.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Ellen and Britney go Caroling

If you missed the Ellen show this week, you'll get a huge Christmas kick out of this. She and Britney head to the streets of Hollywood and knock on doors Christmas caroling. Can you imagine opening the door and having it be Britney Spears and Ellen Degeneres? Classic!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Melissa's Blue Christmas

I love Meilssa Etheridge for so many reasons. And here is yet another. Melissa was on "The View" this week. She does so well talking about Prop 8 and articulating why civil rights should not be put up for a popular vote. And then Melissa called Elisabeth Hasselbeck to the table for misleading voters about how priests would be prosecuted if they refused to marry people. I love how Melissa can make her point with a smile on her face. And then get up and sing such a lovely rendition of "Blue Christmas."

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Curve Magazine :: Under the Mistletoe


We thought you'd appreciate seeing our column here on our blog, in case you've been too busy Christmas shopping to pick up Curve Magazine yet. Or if you live in New England and the postman hasn't been able to get to your ice storm house. It's Curve's holiday issue and this is one of my favorite pictures of Dipstick and I.

Happy Christmas and Merry Chanukah!

XO
L & D



Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Flashback: Bike Disaster Zone

I was going through old photos and I came across these old ones that made me smile. Lipstick & I were in Chicago for the Gay Games in 2006. We rented bikes and were making on our way down the Chicago streets to see some women's basketball. Suddenly I heard a loud crash behind me.

My first thought was Lipstick was going to be face down in pavement, her brains on the asphalt because she refused to wear a helmet. "I don't want to mess up my hair!" she insisted. "How about messing up your life, forever?" I argued back. But she would not listen.




Luckily, when I turned around I didn't see mash of blood and brains, only the girly basket on Lipstick's bike had somehow come flying off when she hit a bump.


Look at her poor banana on the ground. And notice what shoes she's riding in. For the record, I did not approve of those either.




Monday, December 15, 2008

Help Save In Other Words

A Portland treasure is in danger of closing its doors. In Other Words is one of the few feminist bookstores still open and the only not-for-profit women's bookstore in the country. If they don't raise $11,000 by the end of December, they will be forced to shut their doors. 

In addition to selling books and magazines that you can't find anywhere else, In Other Words hosts a slew of community events, like weekly yoga, feminist films and Dirty Queer, an X-rated open mic night.  It's worth saving,  if only for that. Even if you don't live in Portland. don't you want to support a bookstore with a dirty open mic night? 

Lipstick & I had a great reading there in February with fellow queer writers Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshall and Gabrielle Goldsby. 

Please contribute what you can.  All donations are tax-deductible. This is a non-profit organization. 

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Rose City Snow Day

Oh I love Portland when it snows. Since snow is kind of a novelty here, everyone gets so excited about it. Seriously, it’s all people talked about for days. And forget trying to find out any news on TV. Nothing else in the world matters as “Live Team Coverage” takes over. Seriously, there was a dusting on my porch this morning and when I turned on the TV, all news staff was dedicated to “Artic Blast” with a special graphic and reporters dispatched to all parts of the city, just to tell us everything was clear.



I’m not cynical. I love the snow. And eventually it did start falling. My dogs love the snow too, Alaskan Malamutes that they are. Rocky and I walked to New Seasons twice today. When you have a snow dog and it’s snowing out, everyone has to make some kind of comment. But I’m nice. I just laugh and pretend like it’s the first time today I’ve heard, “This is his kind of day, huh?” Because it is. And we’re all out enjoying it. Here are some pics from Portland’s snow day.


Friday, December 12, 2008

Let Your Answer Be Heard in Curve Magazine


Dipstick and I are taking our questions to the street. We recently received a question from a reader and we want your help. We'll be answering this question in the April issue of Curve and we want your input. Vote on the sidebar this weekend and let us know what you think. The poll closes on Monday, so get in your vote today!

<<<<<<----------------------- VOTE ON SIDEBAR POLL----------------------------------- Why do lesbians feel the need to be friend with their exes?

- It’s all about pheromones.
- Separation anxiety is too intense.
- They’re still sleeping together, at the least still spooning.
- It’s all about sharing the Subaru.
- It’s simple: plan B.
- Lesbians are programmed this way, for better or worse.
- Sappho the dog and/or Pussy the cat.

Coming Soon :: The Lipstick & Dipstick Show Webisode #1

This is a project we've had in the works for some time, but we're getting close uploading our first webisode to Curve's website. You'll also get them here on our blog.

In our first webisode (also know as a vlog), Lipstick & Dipstick will be helping Rainbow Closet Girl, pictured here in our initial sit-down with her. You'll have to wait and find out what her problem is and why she contacted Lipstick & Disptick for help, but it will surely entertain and maybe teach you a thing or two. (And yes, that's a bible on my lap.)

We had so much fun shooting our first webisode this week. Special thanks go out to Diane and Jake Anderson-Minshall for camera-work and all around inspiration.

This is a still shot of our show, clicking on it won't get you anywhere.

Stay tuned for more soon....

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Tofino, Canada II


Well, I'm just getting around to posting another blog about our amazing time in Tofino.

First, I must talk about the Pointe Restaurant. WOW! Normally, hotels don't have the best restaurants and the food is typically sub-standard. Even the Fairmont's food usually blows. But The Pointe Restaurant at the Wickanninish Inn is stupendous! Patty is a foodie and, of course, I've always got an opinion to share (especially when it comes to lesbians and food) and we both give their nosh five stars. Some of the highlights include: brioche french toast, the warm spinach salad with Hillier's bacon dressing, their amazing clam chowder made with local fish, the pork belly appetizer, and their wild salmon with potato gnocchi. All of this deliciousness is couched so close to the sea you don't need to salt anything as the air itself is so salty. At high tide, the waves crash within feet of the big windows.

Beyond the gourmet cuisine, the service was sterling, too. Our favorite waiter was Danny. He's pictured here. We got to know the wait staff pretty well, as there really isn't anywhere in town to eat, so we ate most of our meals at the Inn. We did venture out for lunch one day, only to find one restaurant open--the Dockside Pub, a local haunt for fisherman. It was quite the experience. It was full of salty dogs and you could have heard a pin drop when Patty and I walked in. As pretty much the only women in the pub, the entire sea of unbathed, scruffy men watched us walk through the door and to our small table with a view of the bay. "We don't see many like you coming to these parts."

On our way back to the ferry at the end of the trip, we saw a black bear fishing in a river by the road. Gawkers that we are, we stopped and took pictures. We decided it was time to go after we opened a bag of beef jerky and he started walking and sniffing our way.

Thanks for the great birthday Patty!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Hanging Christmas Lights

The sun was out on Saturday, so Tiger and I decided to hang up our Christmas lights. After pulling all the lights out of the basement I discovered that almost every string was bad. So, it was off to Fred Meyer to buy new lights. 

We borrowed the tall ladder from the neighbor and Tiger climbed up on the roof...

What's that? Tiger on the roof? Shouldn't that be your job, Dipstick? Isn't the butch supposed to be the one climbing up on things and wielding the staple gun? 

How sexist of you to think such a thing! Besides, the one year Tiger let me up on the roof to hang the lights, well, let's just say, they didn't turn out exactly straight. Or even. White strings didn't end at exactly the end of the rafters. Blue strings didn't quite make it all the way around the window. Extension cords dangled in the wind. 


Quite frankly it looked shabby. And the neighbors still remind us of the year Dipstick hung the Christmas lights. Or as they like to say, "It looked like a drunken, color-blind five-year-old climbed up there, and then got lost."

So, now, every December, I lovingly hold the bottom of the ladder while Tiger climbs on the roof and painstakingly lines our home with white and blue lights. 

Because, as you can see, I can't even take a straight photo.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Tofino, Canada!


*sigh*

What an amazing birthday I am having! Patty has whisked me away to Tofino, BC to stay at the Wickanninish Inn. The hotel is right on the turbulent Pacific Ocean and breathtaking. (Earlier this week, I knew she was taking me somewhere--she'd let me know that much---but had no idea where.)

This place is beautiful! Seriously amazing. The little video below is from the road from Nainimo, where the ferry docked from Vancouver. Also, the pic of me in my red vest was taken on the ferry deck. If you look closely, you can see the Vancouver city center.

The other photos oozing relaxation and zen were taken while we were waiting for our Sacred Seas massage. Foot soak, salt scrub, jetted tub soak, full body massage. *Double sigh*

More to come later...























Friday, December 5, 2008

Mi clase de español

I've been taking a Spanish Class, sort of a review of everything I learned in high school and college. Last night we learned how to say Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year. Of course, most of us already knew how to say this from the song of the same name.

Our teacher wanted to record us to show how natural we all sound. Coincidentally, I had my camera in my bag.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Happy Birthday Lipstick!



Today is Lipstick's birthday. I can't say how old she is, but it's younger than me. She is in an undisclosed location celebrating, but I want to make sure she knows she's loved and appreciated.

Enjoy your day, Lip!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Check Out Bonnie Ste-Croix


I met an amazing lesbian singer/songwriter this weekend. Her name is Bonnie Ste-Croix (she's French Canadian, big surprise by her name) and her voice is like butter. Be sure to check out her website, but also listen to the moving words in her song "You're the Reason." I tried to embed the Youtube link here, but it's not working.
Check out here instead: YouTubeBonnieSte-Croix


You can buy her cds on CDBaby.









Tuesday, December 2, 2008

A Day Without Gays


A friend of mine sent me this Facebook Invitation (thanks Meesh!) to participate in "A Day Without Gay." Get this: it's a nationwide strike and boycott in support of marriage as a right for all americans on December 10th, International Human Rights Day.


The diretive is clear; here's what you do:

STRIKE! Call in gay. (That just means close your business, call in sick, or take the day off)

How fantastic! I'm going to ring Curve on December 10th and call in gay.

BOYCOTT! Don't buy anything, spend money or support the economy.

On your day off, however, you're not supposed to just fix your leaky faucet (butches) or get a pedicure (femmes and fags), you're suppose to PARTICIPATE! Give back, fight back or help roll back marriage discrimination.

For more, go to http://www.daywithoutagay.org/ to volunteer, petition or protest.


Monday, December 1, 2008

Question:: Secular in San Jose

Dear Lipstick & Dipstick: My buddy “Karen” is a sweet and loving friend to me and the whole gang we run around with, but unfortunately, even though she looks like a bulldyke, she is the most inner-homophobic person I know because of her Christian upbringing. How can we help our friend accept herself? —Secular in San Jose

Dipstick: My guess is Karen enjoys feeling bad about herself and she feeds on the sympathy you give her. I just did a quick search on gaychurch.org and found 637 gay-friendly churches in California, 19 Christian ones in San Jose. So feeling bad about being gay because of religion just doesn’t cut it anymore. Times have changed. Everybody knows that Jesus was a radical and if he were alive today he would hang out with the drag queens, butches and peace activists. Tell your friend to check out a gay-friendly church and get over her victim complex.

Lipstick: Oh Dip, you need a vacation — all that pent up energy is making you narrow-minded and insensitive. Internalized homophobia lives in all of us, even you. It’s one of those things that creeps up on us when we’re least expecting it, too, like a yeast infection or an extra ten pounds.

Dipstick: Or a broken crankshaft.

Lipstick: A broken what?

Dipstick: It’s in your engine.

Lipstick: [shaking her head] Internalized homophobia manifests in many different ways. It could be the reason you haven’t come out of the closet: you’re ashamed and think it will hurt your relationships and/or career. It could be why you avoid Gay Pride or why you don’t want to have kids. Regardless of how it rears its ugly head, internalized homophobia grows from unresolved issues, those that were conceived at church, the dinner table or on the evening news. How to get rid of them? Get under the root of those prejudices (especially ones about yourself) and unearth them. There’s nothing wrong with being gay — just ask a pastor at one of the queer-friendly churches Dip recommended.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

My Insurance Bill


I can't remember another time that receiving a bill in the mail made me smile.  But today I got a notice of some changes to my auto insurance.  Here's what it said:

Please be aware that effective with your next renewal, the following changes have been made to your policy: Paragraph A.2. The term spouse has been expanded to include the "named insured's" domestic partner, as defined by Oregon law, throughout the policy and attached endorsement.

These changes are provided due to the passage of Oregon House Bill 2007 which recognizes domestic partnerships in the state of Oregon for those couples who choose to register with the state for recognition or form a legal domestic partnership contract.

These changes grant registered domestic partners and civil union partners the same rights as those granted to married couples within the State of Oregon.

Yippee!! 

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Lethal Lesbians

I don't anything about any of the films showing this weekend at the Clinton Street Theater, but the title of the festival is enough to make me want to go:

Lethal Lesbian 3, a collection of Israeli lesbian short films, will be held on Sunday, November 30 at 1:30 pm at the Clinton St. Theatre, located at 2522 SE Clinton St.  Reception and after party will follow the screening at Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St.
 
The program includes 7 shorts and one 50 minute drama, The Other War, by Tamar Glezerman.  Before the screening, QueerVideos, a 5 minute video-art piece by Shiri Blumenthal, will be screened.

Check it out if you can!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Dreaming of Martina Navratilova

I went to see Suzanne Westenhoefer on Saturday night. As you know, I’m a big fan and had many a good laugh. As part of her set, Suzanne tells this long involved joke/story about Martina Navratilova coming to her show and the havoc that ensues.

I went to bed that night with a few of Suzanne’s jokes fresh in my mind. Wouldn’t you know it, I have a dream about Martina. Here’s how it goes:

I was at a conference or something and Martina was there. We started hanging out together, very casual. But then, I was standing by my car and Martina went to kiss me. I didn’t think anything of it. I mean, Martina doesn't like butchy girl, right? She was just playing around.

And then, Alix Dobkin came up, and I wanted to tell her it meant nothing. But suddenly I realized it did. Not for me, but for Martina. I was feeling  no chemistry. But I was becoming aware that Martina was.  I think I woke up after that. 

Any dream analysts out there want to take a stab at this one? 

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Silly Video of My Dog

It's Sunday, so I thought I'd post a silly video of my dog Rocky. We got sick of feeding him, so we taught him to forage for his own food.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Itty Bitty Titty Committe

Itty Bitty Titty Committee is one of all time favorite lesbian movies. Looking for something good to rent this evening? (Dipstick hopes your not really staying in on a Saturday night!) This movie is it. Cute girls, direct action, domestic terrorism. What more could you want in a film?

Friday, November 21, 2008

We Need Your Help! Fred Phelps is Coming to Town


This just in from an activist friend of mine:

As some of you may have heard, Fred Phelps (of "god hates fags" and westboro baptist church infamy) is picketing PSU's queer resource center and Silverton, Oregon's recent election of Stu Rasmussen (The first ever openly transgendered Mayor) on Monday, November 24th.

There is a planning meeting tonight Friday, November 21, 2008 7:00pm - 8:30pm at Outside In at 1132 SW 13th Ave. Portland, OR 97205 (between Jefferson and Main)

In the meantime, the organizers of the counter-protest have put together a unique way to fight Phelps and his traveling band of hatemongers. Please read on, and re-post, and please TAKE ACTION.

We would like to fight the WBC by raising money for Outside In. You can see the services that Outside In provides to homeless youth, with lots of services for queer/trans youth, by visiting (www.outsidein.org). We are asking our local businesses and any individuals interested in participating, to donate any amount of money from $.05 and up, for each minute that Westboro Baptist Church protests in our community(with a minimum donation of $10.)

Want to help raise money for this action? Email dmm1976@gmail.com for a sample letter that you can email to friends, family and businesses to help solicit donates.

Help stop the hate!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Funniest Lesbian in America is Coming to Portland

Her head is still big from winning voted Curve magazine’s funniest lesbian in America contest. But we don’t care, because really she is that funny.

We love Suzanne Westenhoefer for many reasons. #1. She’s Hot. #2. She makes us laugh. #3. Her head's not really big, it's just her hair. #4. She’s super sweet. #5. She loves butchy girls.

Back when Lipstick and I were trying to figure out if we really were funny, Suzanne graciously met with us, on a hot summer day in her downtown hotel room and helped us craft a few jokes and make the ones we had funnier. And she wanted nothing in return. Except a lift to her girlfriend’s soccer game.

She was one of the first OUT lesbian comedians, making us laugh for 18 years. I’ve seen her so many times over the years, I’ve lost count. And I can’t wait to see her again. Suzanne never lets me down.

Suzanne Westenhoefer
  • Saturday, November 22
  • Aladdin Theater
  • 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave
  • Portland, OR
  • Ticket Price: $25.00 adv / $25.00 dos
  • Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM




© Tokyphotography.com

A Conversation with Two Writers


A number of months back, one of my favorite writers/friends, Shanna Germain, and I met at a downtown Portland recording studio like we have been meeting for years in coffee shops around town. But this time was different; there were microphones, headsets and padded walls.

Jeff Selin, founder of Portland's Writers' Dojo, asked us to sit down and talk about the writing life, and here it is.

It's a conversation (an on-going one) we've had dozens of times. A constant exploration of the written word, its process and -- of course -- sex, death and lesbians.

If you'd like to hear the 20 minute interview, go HERE.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Did Scarlett Johannson Kiss a Girl?


Scarlett Johansson recently gave an interivew to Allure Magazine and during the interview, the writer asked Scarlet if she knew she'd inspired Katy Perry to write "I Kissed a Girl." See video below.

While the celebrity sexpot who just married Ryan Reynolds (who used to be married to bisexual Alanis Morisette--he must like girls who kiss girls) didn't confirm knowing she was the inspiration, apparently, she didn't want to talk about it. She cut off the conversation. "Nobody knows," Scarlett said. "It's private. It's our story."

I suddenly like this straight girl's homage to girl-on-girl action a whole lot more! Scarlett is yummy!



Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Prop 8 Protests

Like many of you, I took part in our local protest against California's anti-gay Prop 8 on Saturday. We had a great turn out in Portland, as you can kind of see from these crowd shots. Unfortunately, it was really hard to see and hear because we didn't have a good stage or sound system.

But we did have at least 1,000 people show up, a very diverse crowd. And it was so amazing to be there knowing that people all over the country were doing the same thing.


Portland Mayor Speaks in Favor of Gay Marriage



Here's a Photo Gallery from many of the protests across the country.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Wanda Sykes Comes Out of the Closet


Go Wanda! Wanda came out in support of the rollback of Prop 8 today, as well as her love for women. She just married her girlfriend in October.

I hope this prompts other high profile celebs to come out of the closet, as well. Come out, come out wherever you are!

Read the article HERE....