Overall, today was disappointing. I miss Fridays, where did they go? They used to be such nice, dependably lucrative shifts. And now I face having to work during the day on Saturday and Sunday, too. Ack. Damn summertime slowdown. I believe I will go to Palazio tomorrow but first I have to make sure I've go some clean regulation thongs and trim myself down.

I don't have to be quite so scrupulous about shaving when working in the nude club. Wait, that sounds wrong. I do shave daily, but I don't shave off as much as I would if I had to make sure that nothing peeked out of a tiny thong. That is why so many strippers are totally bald or have tiny little landing strips; the area that a t-back covers is at most a couple of inches. I know, I have measured some before. Generally, when you are looking at me, the part that is right at my crotch is about two inches wide, and underneath it tapers down to an inch or three-quarters of an inch. Hence the need for more trimming than when I am dancing nude and it doesn't matter if some hairs down below are poking out. I happen to like leaving the hair on my lips alone; there's more to play with that way. Not at work, but in bed. Or when I'm watching TV. I don't mind having to shave more, but I do like the compliments I get at work. Because I am au naturel compared to most of the girls there. Wait, I have a recent picture I can show you:

mikehickeyphotography.com

As Trey and Matt would say, that's my bush. I know, it's so huge it demands comment, doesn't it? I wouldn't think so, but I am routinely complimented on my "natural" appearance. That's the kind of natural that of course requires that I shave more than half of my hair off. I never cease to be amused.

There was a very kind man in the club this afternoon who asked me what I was thinking about when I danced for him. I told him, "I'm thinking about whether or not you're enjoying this, trying to make sure you like what I'm doing," which is the truth. Unless you're somehow inhibiting my enjoyment of myself while I'm dancing by being grabby or stinky, I'm thinking about you, dear customer, much as a massage therapist would. Except dirtier. "I wonder if he's tired of my ass yet. I'd better show him my boobs. Does he like the eye contact or is it intimidating him? Oooh, it looks so good when I arch my back like that, I'd better do that. Is he smiling yet?" That's pretty much what runs through my head, unless I'm doing a hell of a lot of dances in a row. If it's Sunday night and I'm on dance number 47, then yes, I probably am going to think at some point about what's for dinner. Round about the fifth consecutive dance for a single patron is when my mind starts to wander. First I start thinking, "He has to be getting bored with this," and then I start trying to invent new moves.

Anyhow, his question invited one of my own. "What are you thinking about?" I asked. "I'm thinking about you, and how honest you're being," he said. I'm still trying to figure that out. Did he mean how honest I was being as in "Wow, you sure are being honest in this dance," or did he mean, "I'm thinking, hmm, how much of this is stripper shit?" Nonetheless, he gave me some really terrific compliments on my dances.

He should have been thanking Mya, the ultrablonde who danced for me at Palazio, for the inspiration.

Not much work going on this week; Sunday and Monday weren't so hot, and I had Wednesday off. Completely off; no work, no school. Plenty of catching up on Sunday and Tuesday's television. But I did head out to Palazio last night, to meet another dancer and some folks I know from a message board. I was very entertained. One of my friends, a customer, came by. He'd promised a night of dances and fun for a reward for all of my hard work so he met up with me there and I had a few laps; a couple from girls I knew from the Show Palace days and one absolutely incredible dance from Mia? Mya? This girl was great. She caught my eye on stage with her pole work and her legs so I went to tip her. She grabbed my hands and ran them over her body over her stomach and waist up to her breasts. It was so incredibly hot. Her dance was even better; she did the same move, putting my hands, covered with hers, on her breasts and squeezed 'til it looked like it had to hurt. Still, so hot. I don't know if I can be that bold with the women I dance for but it inspired me to learn a few new tricks.

Palazio was lovely; I may be there tomorrow.

Today I'm meeting with a personal trainer. I think it's the only way I'll possibly be able to motivate myself to work out, and I want to be strong! I wanted to find a woman, since I think I'll be more comfortable, so I asked around, and I think I found a good one. Can you picture me in the gym? Wait, don't, I'm pretty sad in there.

On Saturday we went to see the George W Bush Singers. It was entertaining, but I think you get the point after a couple of songs. Then dinner at the Roaring Fork, which is fast becoming my favorite restaurant in Austin.

It was a nice night off, but I probably should have spent it at work and taken Sunday off, which was pretty damn slow. I hate slow Sundays because I'm so used to them being busy and good.

I also took some new photos with a very nice photographer on Saturday. Give me another week and they should be up. The photog's name is Mike Hickey and he does a lot of boudoir-type work. I'm still learning how to take photos in which I appear natural, which is really hard for me and why I like action shots (like the burlesque photos) the most.

Here's a story about an IRS employee who went the extra mile for a stripper. And then he got busted.

I had a couple of pretty good days at work Sunday and Monday. Sunday I met an internet acquaintance, but I wasn't really up to speed since I was worn out from Girl on Girl on Girl Burlesque, so I don't know if I made a good impression or not. He was really, really sweet, though.

Then another guy who's been in before took be back to VIP for a round of dances, and I thought I remembered him but what I didn't remember was the fact that he tried to snatch a handful, ifyouknowwhatimean. He tried it this time after the sixth dance, whereupon I thought, "I knew this guy tried something last time." I grabbed his hand about halfway up and got dressed. Everyone else was pretty well-behaved, except for the crotch-rubber yesterday.

I don't like to think of my profession as any great benefit to society, but it always makes me happy when someone tells me I've made his day. That's what strippers are here for. We put the spring in Springfield.

Here are some photos from G3Burlesque. Just of me for now. Thanks to the lovely Antastik for the photos!

I don't know what was going on yesterday, but it was one of those weird dead Fridays. I lasted until about 4 before I pulled the chute. it was unbelievable in there. At least Ruby showed up. She did the fliers for Girl on Girl on Girl Burlesque and they look absolutely terrific. I'll post one soon.

A guy showed up at the club yesterday asking for me, a reader of the site. A nice guy, but he had a lot of questions for me. Some people can't really make conversation without asking a lot of personal questions. I'm sure you've all had these types of conversations, where it starts with "What do you do?" and "Where do you live" and goes on from there until you're at "How many children do you want" and "Do you get along with your parents" and, eventually, "What kind of lube do you prefer?" I've learned to have endless conversations without asking a single personal question since a lot of the guys you meet in a strip club aren't interested in divulging that kind of information. I simply assume that they don't want me to know what they do for a living and would rather talk about nightlife in Austin or foreign policy.

And usually I'm good at answering personal questions (as vaguely as possible), but sometimes someone throws something out that gives me pause. Yesterday it was, "It must be interesting for him (the Man), having a girl like you who is a stripper and into women and everything." I just really didn't know how to respond, since there were so many things wrong with this question, and sputtered, "Well, I guess everything feels normal to us."

First off, I make my living as a stripper, but that's not my overall defining quality, I promise you. And the Man has known me as many different things. Years ago, when we got together, I was already a stripper, so yes, that aspect of it feels normal to us. Shit, we're not so intensely self-conscious that we sit around saying, "Wow, aren't we interesting."

Also, I'm not "into" women in the sense that I actively seek to have sex with them. I think they are nice to look at, and some of my best friends are women, so I suppose I'm into them in that sense. But Girl on Girl on Girl Burlesque isn't about being a big les-fest, it's about women getting together to have fun by themselves. (Of course, I will be somewhat disappointed if I don't see any girl-girl action). And I'm not bringing home girls from the club for playdates. Sorry. I am a monogamous heterosexual with a mind that's open to experimentation when the time is right.

Can you imagine getting questions at work that make these sorts of explanations necessary? I know people aren't trying to befuddle me, that they're just trying to chat, but as a comitted introvert I never cease to be amazed at what people will ask.

I'm finally free on a Friday and get to work during the day today! My classes for the first session are over. Halfway through the summer now.

I do have a final tonight at 7pm, but I have studied enough by now.

Next session my schedule's going to change pretty drastically. I'll have early classes and will probably just work during the day, during the week. We'll see how I hold up. I guess I can do anything for five weeks.

I am pleased to announce that Girl on Girl on Girl Burlesque is imminent. I hope that any women in the Austin area who are interested in hanging out in an all-girl, partial-nudity-encouraged environment will make it out on July 17th. Here's the pertinent information. Sorry, guys, but this is a party for the ladies only.

I have fantasized about having an all-girl stripper night for years. A long time ago, a woman who was doing a stripper documentary had a party at her house where we all performed for each other on a stage in her backyard, and it was terrific. I can't even remember her name now; wish I knew what happened with her project. I think she was working on it for one of the access stations here in town.

It was a lot of fun to be around a bunch of other strippers and to strip for fun in a really relaxed environment. This event won't be full of pros by any means, but I still hope to capture the same atmosphere. There will be some gals who peel to pay the bills, some polished burlesque professionals, some amateurs, and some perfomers who are actors and musicians most of the time. But on that night, we'll all be strippers. Audience members will be encouraged to participate in an amateur contest, and we'll have go-go dancing and lapdances available for everyone's enjoyment.

I can't wait.

What a pleasant July 4th weekend. On Saturday my sister took me out to Hippie Hollow as a belated birthday present. It's so nice to be naked in public for fun rather than work. Not that I have a great urge to be naked in public, but I think that swimming and sunbathing are best done in the nude. Nothing feels better than jumping into a nice lake without any clothes on.
Why are there people who go to Hippie Hollow and keep their clothes on? I assume they're just looking. But still, if you can be naked, why not do it?
I had an awful attitude at work yesterday and left after only a couple of hours. The crowd on Sundays is always kind of rowdy, and I have to be mentally prepared for the battle. I wasn't prepared at all yesterday, and then I had to have a guy thrown out. After that, I was pretty much finished for the night. I am looking forward to a much more relaxed setting this evening. Also, if I have an attitude problem, I think I'm just going to roll with it and accept it. It's not like I haven't made money being bitchy before.