Sorting it out

Fantasy Fest preparations so far have involved a trip to Home Depot for some tubing (where our clerk didn't even bat an eye to learn it was being used in a costume), to the fabric store (where the seamstress asked with only one raised eyebrow whether we were planning to wear underwear, and of course urged us to go commando) and to the chemical supply house -- its counter sales guy is running for queen (as Miss Southernmost Gay), and we were making a donation.

The royalty campaign proceeds go to AIDS Help, after all, and it's really inspirational to know that the whole town gets behind the effort, and that so many talented people put so much of their time and effort into the cause.

Not that we needed Miss Southernmost's Playboy sunglasses, topped off with a pair of bunny ears. I mean, given the beads we've accumulated from previous Fests -- which I color-sorted on Wednesday from the grocery bags they live in the rest of the year -- we don't really need much of anything new for a costume; but every little bit helps.

And who could argue with a new pair of sunglasses?