VagueAss Memories: Highlights of Divinity Part II

When I left you ladies and germs in Part One (Click Here), I was galavanting around Caesar’s right after having my photo taken with the Divne Miss M, Bette Midler. And here is the picture to remind you once again that it did happen…it’s also my visual pinch:

Now anyone who has been in Caesar’s Palace knows it’s like a maze trying to find your way around there. I usually have a great sense of direction and even I got lost most of the time. After I met with Bette, I was so excited and quite ashamed to say, a little inebriated, that I could not for the life of me find my way back to the room. But then I remembered, I knew where David’s (the statue) penis was…and I knew to go gayly forward from there and that would take me to the elevators to my room. Well, of course, I found it and headed to the Palace Towers. Yes, I lived in a Palace…could you imagine less?

(David’s penis points the way)

Well, I made it up to the room and was on such a high I couldn’t go to sleep, so we all watched “Zombieland” which was about DittoHeads who infiltrated Vegas because Rush Limbaugh was one of the judges that night for the Miss America pageant….of course, we, the good Americans, had to slay them all. At least I think that’s what the movie was about…I was having a hard time concentrating.

Oh I forgot to tell you guys that I met a wonderful BetteHead by the name of Ron who brought me some rare Bette gifts that I hope to share on Bootleg Betty eventually. He came over the night I was to meet Bette and we had a nice chat…great guy. We shared some Bette stories, drank a few drinks, and then we went our separate ways. I just wanted to mention him, because he was so nice. We’ll run into him later again.

The next morning I was a big baby and didn’t want to do anything. I wanted to look my best for the BetteHead dinner and for Bette’s last night. Plus I was supposed to meet with Bruce Vilanch. I run his official website, so we were going to get a photo together and chat for a minute. I was also supposed to meet with Eric Kornfeld although I had no idea how this was going to happen. All three of us seem to run into each other naturally so I had no worries there. Maybe I should have. Anyway, Becky and Barry kept pestering me to go look at the lions, cubs, and dolphins, so I tried to pretend I had a piercing pillow headache. This is my acting technique which did not work….:

(Mister D with a piercing pillow headache)

I was a good sport, however, and went with my friends walking in Vegas…but I ate and drank a lot. I knew by the time we went to the BetteHead dinner there would only be room for drinks and that was okay with me. Drink, Drink, Drink, Drinking Again was my theme song in Vegas….having a few, buying a round for total non-strangers….just to get them off my back. I really enjoyed the two for one places…joyous times. By the way, here’s one of the tigers I think Bette Sussman took care of….My God she has a hairy thumb:

Anyway, let’s move this story along…we got back to the palace and got all spruced up for the dinner at Lago’s Buffet in Caesar’s Palace that BetteHead Becci had arranged. She also had arranged for the Harlettes, Jordan Ballard and Kamilah Marshall, and Bette’s background singer, Shayna Steele, to surprise us at dinner which they so kindly did. It was great meeting everybody (yes, I’m going to attempt naming everyone): Becci, Troy, Kim, Peter, Ron, Jennica, Christina, Rebecca, Barry, Janine, Jenny, Larry, Kathy, Jordan, Kamilah, and Shayna….a few were missing in action and I blame the maze that is Caesar’s. But thank you Lago’s for being so kind to us. Our waiter even took our photo:

Anyway, everybody was so kind and I’m so glad I got to meet all that I did…there were even a couple of more in the venue who introduced themselves. Just really cool. Thanks for a great night. Also many thanks to Janine Wilson for giving out some of her CD’s. Check her out she’s awesome!

Here are some more photos of me with the goils:

(Showing some love: Kamilah, Mister D, Shayna, and Jordan)

(Mister D and Shayna Steele: After she signed her CD and gave a few away)

After this little lovefest, we all headed to see Bette’s final performance. This time I sat with Barry and Becky about 4 rows back in section 5, I believe, a very odd angle, but interesting. Very close. I still considered my seats the night before that were further back, center, much, much better. Before the show started I spotted Bruce Vilanch and Marc Shaiman, later Marie Osmond sat in the row behind us. Becky ran around to get her autograph cause she’s a little bit country and so is Marie, ya know? Wayne Newton made a grand entrance by walking all the way to the front and then back to the back where his seat really was….guess he wanted to be noticed. Others spotted were Paula Abdul…oh well, I can’t remember anybody else. That’s enough.

The show was flawless and you couldn’t have asked for a better audience. There were several standing ovations. I have to say the only disappointment for Betteheads that night was that “Hello In There” and “WAMLAW” were both cut to make room for Jake Shimabakura and Bette’s “In My Life” and his solo of George Harrison‘s “When My Guitar Gently Weeps.” It was awe-inspiring. Not many stood up, but I sure did….it was breathtaking. Bette did get emotional during “Glory of Love” and could not finish the last few notes. She also cried while introducing Gladys Knight and while singing “Wind Beneath My Wings.” The crowd ate it up! You could hear people from different corners screaming “I love you Bette” or “We love you Bette!” It was enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes. And in a flash, it seemed the show was over…all 2 hours of it. Yet, like all Bette shows, you clamored for more! But this time The Showgirl was gone for good. Yet we all know she will reappear again better than before. Long Live Bette Midler!

After the show, we chatted with a few Betteheads….I ended up missing Bruce and Eric. Bruce got mixed up about the night we were supposed to meet and Eric scolded me because he said I should have called him after the show. Frankly, I forgot I had his number. Oh well, there’s always Hulaween or the Spring Picnic. Slowly, but surely the night winded down with a few Betteheads heading to Paris for drinks and fun until we could hardly speak. Everybody was leaving the next day, so there was an air of sadness or that old feeling of here we go “back to reality.” Yuk!

(Homeward Bound: Becky and Mister D)

All in all it was a great time and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. The next day we headed back to Nashville where it was cold and snowbound. No pants on the ground (suspenders!), no penises to lead the way home….it was just like a click of the heels and we were, well, HOME……and even that felt good.

PS: Eric did send me the lyrics to It’s Getting Hot In Here (Eric Kornfeld/Bette Sussman):

Love, Mister D

(Entertainer Bette Midler accepts handkerchiefs from her show girls during the final performance of Midler’s “The Showgirl Must Go On” on Jan. 31 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Photo by Duane Prokop.)