It's Not Too Late To Meet Us in Canada!

We are headed up to Whistler next week for WINTER PRIDE and to host "An Evening with Lipstick & Dipstick" on Tuesday night for the Winter Pride folks. If you haven't already booked your flights or loaded up your car, it's not too late. Come join us for a little snowy Canadian getaway.

Also, while Dip and I are in British Columbia, we will be doing a reading on Monday night at Little Sisters and a TV interview earlier that day on Urban Rush TV (more on the TV interview later).


Photo by Bob on Flickr

Sisterhood of the Travelling Candidate

Check out this great interview with Hillary Clinton by actors Amber Tamblyn and America Ferrerra. It's very sweet and candid.

Weekend Good Times

Dipstick and I had a very busy weekend. On Saturday, we emceed Hot Flash Dance Party, which was a ton of fun. I'd never been to a Portland Hot Flash before and was very pleasantly surprised at a what fun we had. A very warm reception by the crowd and its organizers (here we are with a fellow femme/one of promoters, Brenda). And we also almost sold out of books!

Yesterday, we spent much of the day doing a CURVE Magazine photo shoot with our beloved photographer, Maggie Parker (itsmaggie@gmail.com) and CURVE Executive Editor, Diane Anderson Minshall.

And then last night, what a treat: Tina and Bette! If you haven't seen the L Word, do NOT read on...

FINALLY! What a delicious way to end last night's episode! That Jennifer Beals is such a stellar actor. And that kiss...DAMN!

Come to Hot Flash Tonight!

Join Lipstick & Dipstick tonight as we ring in the 4th anniversary of Hot Flash at Barracuda (9 NW 2nd Ave) in Downtown Portland, Oregon. We will be emceeing the evening's entertainment.

Party starts at 5pm and goes until 9. The party, which is geared toward women who are 36 and over, is sure to be a blast. Lipstick will have to sneak in the back door, since she is underage. But she sure loves her some middle-aged lesbox!

We will be reading from our new book, Lipstick & Dipstick's Essential Guide to Lesbian Relationships.

Come on down!

Windy City Queercast

Dip and I were on the Windy City Queercast with Amy Matheny (aka Dyke with the Mike) and Peter Mavirk (Queer in your ear) this week. They were a blast and the interview was, too.

You can listen HERE.

Success at Powell's

Thank you to the 110 people who showed up last night at Powell's City of Books! It was bone-chilling cold outside, too, but you girls arrived in droves (Powell's even had to bring out more chairs, which, they said, is something they rarely have to do). So, THANK YOU!

We read from our book -- after a little old fashion lesbian drama/audience participation -- and signed them afterwards.

It was great to meet so many of you and we hope you enjoy the book.

xo
Lip & Dip

PS: An extra special thank you to Tina and Mardy -- aka "Martina" (purple tops) -- and Dionne and Tracey (rainbow gloves). Also a special shout out to Post Mistress Sandy for doing such a great job delivering our mail and Maggie for being so wonderful and faithful. You're all awesome.

Lipstick & Dipstick Reading Tonight

Dipstick and I will be reading from our new book tonight at Powell's City of Books in downtown Portland, Oregon. If you're not busy, come one down. If you are, cancel your plans and head on over.

The reading -- which will include a little bit of audience participation -- begins at 7:30pm

Powell's Books
1005 W Burnside
Portland, OR 97209

Come say hi!

PS: I thought I'd add this window shot of our cover at Powell's. I tripped and almost fell on my face when I saw it in the window in the Pearl District. Very fun.

It May Not Be Rolling Stone

But it sure was fun to come home to this cover feature in Just Out yesterday.

To read the whole article, go HERE.

I've been out of pocket for the last week on a little Southwest Holiday in Arizona. More on that later this week, but Texas and I had a wonderful time catching up with my family and old friends. Now--God help me--I'm trying to catch up on work.

Enjoy the article. Dipstick and I are excited about this one, as it's our hometown.

Thanks Just Out!

xo
Lip

You know you've made it big when...

You are mentioned in a "Chance Meetings" ad. This was posted on Portland's Craigslist.

Hi,

We met a Common Grounds Coffee on Hawthorne, I was reading 'Lipstick and Dipstick's Essential Guide....'

I mentioned their booksigning a Powell's downtown, would you care to go?
Since we both ride the bus and the signing is after dark in downtown Portland, well, there's safety in numbers, and I think it would be fun. So far the book is quite entertaining. I can't help but to LOL.

Cordially,
K

This totally made my day. If you two do meet up, please come and say hi to us!!

Listen to us on KBOO

Lipstick wrote earlier in the week about our interview on the Out Loud show on KBOO. The show was broadcast Wednesday, but if you missed it, you can listen here.

We love KBOO! Thanks Carla for a great time.

We Love to Meet You

We love it when you come up and say hi to us when we're out and about. And we love it even more when you ask us to pose for pictures. (Yes, we're hams!) And we jump out of our seats when you actually send us those pictures.

Here's one we received today from Elita, who we met at Crush at the post L Word party. Thanks for the sugar Elita and we hope you're enjoying the book!

The Straights Can Learn from Us

Many of my straight friends have read our book.  A few of them have told me that we should write a book for them or that our advice is good for straight couples too.  

Well, turns out, the hets do have lots to learn from the queer couples of the world.  A study out of the University of San Diego says so, anyway. 

Even if we identify as butch or femme, we're much better at shunning domestic roles.  Butches cook and do dishes. Femmes can change the oil and take out the trash.  Amazing.  We gays are way better at sharing household chores and childcare.  And apparently that makes our relationships happier. 

"It all comes down to greater equality in the relationship," said Robert-Jay Green author of the study. "Research shows that lesbian and gay couples have a head start in escaping the traditional gender role divisions that make for power imbalances and dissatisfaction in many heterosexual relationships."

Well, Robert-Jay Green must have read the chapter in our book entitled "I hate unloading the dishwasher."  Lip & Dip could have told you all this.  So all you straighties out there, go get a copy of our book and see what you can learn. 

_{Photo by Altaf Hussein}

A Day to Play

I love my job. But no matter how much your work feeds your soul, everyone needs a day off from time to time.  I hadn't taken even one day off since the first of the year and I was beginning to feel it.  I as getting cranky with my girl and every request Lipstick made, I just wanted to say "No!" 

So, Friday I took a much needed day away from work and headed up to Mt. Hood for some playing in the snow. With my best girl and my snow dog, we strapped on our snow shoes and headed on the trail to Trillium Lake. Just as we arrived, a light snow began to fall and I felt the tension leave my body with each breath of mountain air.  I laughed as my dog did his kooky "snow dance." We stayed until dusk, watching the trees go from white to pink and stopped for a hot drink on the way home. 

And now I sit back at my desk, all refreshed and ready to work. No matter who you are, or what your job calls you to do, make sure you take some time off to refuel. Everyone will be much happier. 

L Word Pictures

Ya'll, these pics just came in from our magnificent photographer, Maggie Parker. If you'd like to get a hold of her for shoots or events, you can reach her at itsmaggie@gmail.com.

As Dipstick wrote last week, we had such fun at the L Word premiere on Sunday. Over 600 of you showed up and we so appreciate all the audience participation that the butch and I insisted upon. Including the door and the t-shirt auction (which many women took off their tops for!), the event raised LOTS of money for HRC, an organization who is out there fighting for our rights. If you missed it and still want to contribute, give to HRC today.

Calling All Portland Writers!

Tonight is a very special night. My friend/fellow scribe, Jeffrey Selin, is realizing one of his dreams by opening Writer's Dojo in Portland. And tonight is the launch party.

It's a sanctuary for writers: part sacred creative space, part lush clubhouse, part wifi coffee bar. Think bamboo floors, loft, garden, cozy conversation pit... along with amenities like a kitchenette and showers.

Other cities have writers' rooms, so why not Portland? Jeff was influenced by places like The Writers Room in New York, The Loft in Minneapolis, and The Grotto in San Francisco.

If you go to their website, you'll see they will soon be offering interviews, podcasts, parties, blogs, essays, artwork, workshops, and more.

The first podcast they produced (on their home page) is a a conversation between old friends Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club) and Chelsea Cain (author of Hearstick). Very soon, you'll get to hear Lipstick and erotica writer/poet Shanna Germain (we're also great friends) discuss the writing life and how very differently we approach the page.

Stay tuned for more on that, but in the meantime, if you're not busy tonight, come on by the Writer's Dojo and check it out. This evening, there will be finger food, wine, music and special readings by some of Portland's finest: Chelsea Cain, Kim Stafford, Tom Spanbauer, Alison Clement, and James Bernard Frost.

And be sure to wear cute socks! The Dojo is a sanctuary so no shoes allowed.

Our Book Around the World

How exciting to hear from fans who have found out book in their local bookstores from coast to coast. Nohodyke sent this pic on the right of our book on the shelves at Pride & Joy in Northampton.

And Regina was excited to see it prominently displayed at a Different Light Bookstore in San Francisco where we'll be having a reading on March 13th.

Thanks to all of you for your enthusiasm about Lipstick & Dipstick's Essential Guide to Lesbian Relationships.  We're just kicking off our promotional tours, so be sure to come up and see us when we read in your town. And if your local bookstore doesn't have our book, ask for it. 

If it does, snap a picture and send it to us! 

On the Radio

This week, Dipstick and I have two radio interviews. We did one last night -- a local radio station -- and had a great time. Since the release of our new book Lipstick & Dipstick's Essential Guide to Lesbian Relationships, we have done myriad interviews like this and have finally actually gotten pretty good at them -- or so we think. This interview will air on January 15th at 6pm. You can Listen LIVE. And also, you can listen to it HERE afterwards. The producer shot this picture of us during the interview.

I remember our first radio interview, I was like a deer in headlights. It was live and it was scary. Not exactly the Lipstick & Dipstick you're familiar with -- bitchy and funny. I imagined, for those listening on the other end, that we sounded like we were teaching a cooking lesson on NPR's Delicious Dish. Do you remember that Schweddy Balls skit from Saturday Night Light? To refreshen your memory, check it out HERE .

Much Love to The L Word & HRC

Lipstick and I had a blast last night hosting the premiere of Season 5 of The L Word. What we are most proud of is the amount of money were were able to help raise for an organization we whole heartedly belive in: The Human Rights Campaign. This video was taken from pretty far away, but it was during our L Word Trivia.



In case you missed our show, and I know there were about 75 of you who were turned away at the door, we auctioned off some L Word t-shirts with the help of a few local Portland gals. Some of whom took the shirts right off their back for the highest bidder. Now that's dedication to a cause. Thanks to our volunteers models. Here's their bios:

Hard Up in Hillsboro
This suburb dweller recently competed in American’s Next Top Soup Chef. She has 16 German shepherds and loves to get crazy with her friends on the weekends hitting up used bookstores and fabric shops.

NW Nymph
She’s a Scorpio who enjoys shopping, pedicures and her weekly knitting circle.
In her spare time, she plays on a professional topless tetherball league.

Hottie on Mt. Scottie
Hottie is a proud member of the zoo bombers, who rode her tricycle here tonight. She enjoys champagne, naked snow shoeing and is a Beth Ditto groupie.

Mighty Fine on Skyline
This black belt in jujitsu is also an avid kite boarder. She’s run the Boston Marathon six times and keeps a box of Hot Tamales by her bed. When she’s not modeling L Word t-shirts, she’s selling houses in the West Hills.

Spank My Popo in NoPo
Spanky is a feisty young thing who spends her spare time trolling the internet for trolls and hopelessly leading them on. She has her PhD from Harvard and is considered by many political analysts to be Hillary’s number one choice of a running mate.

Mississippi Minx
Standing 5’11, this former model now spends her days walking the dog park instead of walking the cat walk (although she really does favor pussy). After fifteen minutes in a Jacuzzi, she can do all three splits and do a back flip. The Minx loves wine, sushi and cozy night by the fire.

L Word Premiere TONIGHT

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!

The Human Rights Campaign and Showtime present the season 5 premiere of The L Word. Join thousands of women across the country at a party for equality near you. Tonight at the Portland premiere party, Lipstick & Dipstick will be your irreverent hosts at the Bagdad Theater.






DETAILS
Tonight
6:00pm
Bagdad Theater
RSVP today

*After Party at Crush, where Lipstick & Dipstick will be hanging out and signing books.

* SPACE IS LIMITED, ARRIVE EARLY - THIS EVENT IS EXPECTED TO REACH CAPACITY

A TEASER...Behind the scenes of Season 5

Remind Me Never to Go to Iowa

The last time I was in Iowa was in the 1980s. It seemed like a nice place. The people were very friendly and welcoming. As a matter of fact, when the peace organization I was with rolled through the corn state, we were greeted with church potlucks, offers of warm showers and places to stay. It's shocking to me then that those same warm and welcoming church people could vote for Mike Huckabee.

You know who he is. He's the candidate that GQ had this to say about, "Unlike most of the GOP field, he isn’t just trying to woo the religious right. He is the religious right." And not right in a good way. Right in the way that comes out with statement like these: "I feel homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk."

So I guess we don't need to ask his stance on gay marriage do we? And it's not just the gays. It's women too. He signed his name to a full page ad in USA today in 1998 that stated his belief that a wife should graciously submit to her husband. His wife signed it too. He probably made her.

No, Iowa, don't take it personally. What I'm really trying to say here is that I'm fucking scared someone like him could actually get his party's nomination. And even more scared that the Republicans will steal another election from us. Personally, I'm getting my riot gear ready. Because if it happens again, I'm not going to just sit in front of the TV in shock this time. I'm taking to the streets. Who's with me?

Upcoming Events

Ladies, Dipstick and I have a flurry of events coming up in Portland.

Mark your calendars!


Click on it to make it bigger.

I hate the Right Wing

I just don't understand why some people are so threatened at the thought of others getting rights. Earlier this year the Oregon legislature passed two amazing laws. One finally makes it illegal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in the workplace, housing and public accommodations. The other was to have granted gays and lesbian domestic partnership benefits.

Today should have been the day that we headed down to our county courthouses, paid $50 and gained some of the rights married couples take for granted. But no. See, after our elected officials did what we sent them to office to do--passed these two great laws--some religious, right wing, wide-stance bathroom stall cock suckers thought they could collect enough signatures to put the issues on the ballot. That's the way the law works here in Oregon. If you don't like something, just collect a bunch of signatures and put it up for popular vote.

Well, guess what? The vote collectors fell short. Many signatures were invalidated for various reasons. We were told we were going to have our domestic partnerships on January 2, 2008. All looked good. Or so we thought.


But in December, lawyers for an out-of-state group, Arizona’s Alliance Defense Fund, filed suit to challenge the decision about the number of valid signatures. They got a hearing with a Bush-appointed judge and he made the decision to put a hold on any domestic partnerships until the case can be heard.

“Basically, we have an out-of-state group that doesn’t like the outcome of a fair and well established process in Oregon - and so it wants a special exception to be made for its failed campaign,” said Basic Rights Oregon Executive Director Jeana Frazzini.

So now we're in limbo. Or back where we started, I guess. It pisses me off. And going to some candle light vigil is not going to make me feel better. But if it will help you, Basic Rights Oregon has a few organized around the state. Visit Basic Rights for a list of vigils.

My New Year's Resolution

I've never been a big believer in New Years Resolutions. I'm a goal setter and dream manifester, but that is a daily ritual fully-embedded in my life, not a list I whip up on January 1st.

But this year is different. This year I've made one resolution and I'm going to stand firmly by it. It's simple: To make sure this man to the right, Mike Huckabee, or anyone like him, is NOT elected as our next President. He's an even more alarming choice than George W (dare I say) and he could do even more damage to the fabric of our basic rights as Americans...especially to the homos. And guess what, people, he's in the lead in Iowa. See what he's got to say about homosexuals (is there a separation of church and state?) and about criminalizing abortions in this video clip.


Now, I've never really been a political person. Sure, I give money each year to various causes, and Texas and I asked for donations to HRC in lieu of presents for our wedding, but I'm not really a soldier. It's just not in my genes. Dipstick, on the other hand, is a soldier. Growing up, she was spoon fed activism by her parents and has lived her life according. I respect this tremendously about her. For me, however, this next election is different because I know fully realize what's at stake. As Americans, it's our happiness; it's our quality of life. And in the end, it's our future.

If you've already made your New Years Resolutions, throw out your weight loss goals, or your resolutions to do yoga more often, and join the cause! And let's do everything we can to make sure someone like Mike Huckabee doesn't take the reigns after Bush leaves office. No matter who wins the nomination -- whether it's Hillary, or Obama or Kuccinich (I wish!) -- get behind them and fight the good fight.