Guavaween in Ybor - October 2016
Normally I wouldn't be attending Guavaween but my friend Estragos *really-really-really* wanted to go and he wanted me to go with him, so I agreed. I won't lie to you. It wasn't that easy to convince me. I changed my mind several times but eventually the part of me that actually doesn't hate the entire human race and mildly tolerates annoying things like people breathing near me...that TEENY-TINY, ITTY-BITTY part of me said yes. Of course knowing that a costly outing, plus handling annoying people would turn me off immediately, my friend generously paid for parking and a few drinks. I might seethe inside but whiskey and coke does take the edge off my social anxiety.
Earlier in the day I had to run errands and pay bills, so I was running late schedule wise. Being a responsible adult actually put the kabosh on going to the day-long "Dia de Los Muertos" event at Casa Tina. It turns out that if I'd been at the event in the sun and heat, I'd have never made the night-time festivities in Ybor. Estragos was starting to worry if I would make it out at all and texted me a few times, so I began the long process of attaching pearls to my face with Spirit Gum. Even with a flat side, the pearls were incredibly difficult to manage. I still haven't found all of the different sizes that flew out of my hand and onto the floor. You can rest assured though, the vacuum cleaner will find them and that will be a joy. Anyway, adhering the pearls and painting my eye sockets black - those two things took me nearly four hours. There was a bit of cursing my costume choice and cussing...lots and lots of that.
By the time I completed my face, I decided that my elaborate Halloween outfit was simply NOT going to happen. I wanted to be comfortable, so I wore a black lace top, black jeans, ankle boots and a leather industrial belt. The overall look was definitely creepy and intimidating. I know because big men who normally scare others, those men were stepping off the sidewalk to walk in the street and get away from me. Quite amusing. A lot of people took my photo. It's strange to think that someone will be talking about my skeleton face and wondering if they could do it? My answer is YES, but it takes more time and patience than most people will dedicate to a costume or a Cosplay character. The red flower headpiece and the crystal skull that I had designed the previous year was far easier.
Estragos and I hung out at a few places with his friends and then we all went to the Castle to dance. It was a nice evening. By the time I got home, peeled-off all of the pearls, took a shower, washed my face, and crawled into bed it was 5:30 AM.
Here's the ugly aftermath of attaching hundreds of pearls to your face and dancing the night away. Suffer for your art.
