The countdown is on!!

Hola, Poppers! I hope you've all had an awesome day! It's been a productive one at work for Halle. I'm doing all I can to not completely check out, but the bottom line is this...in 39 hours your gurl Halle will be bookin' her flabby butt to Las Vegas!! I'm so excited I just can't stand it!


The breastest part is that I'll be travelling with some of my favorite people in the world, FitnessNerd, Blanche, Maestro and (Indy) Mom! We fly out at 8:15 Wednesday morning and arrive in Sin City at 9:25. On the schedule after getting off the plane are cocktails, a little bit of gambling and an afternoon at the spa for a facial and massage. O MI GAWD!! All kinds of fun and frivolity are planned, but I just prefer to go where the day takes me.


As I mentioned last week, we'll be updating our blogs while we're out there so stay tuned!


I just wanna put a little idea in my Poppers heads...Halle and Helpers are in the process of planning a lil fundraiser to take place in September. If you haven't heard, plans are being laid for a GLBT community resource center in our lil town of Indy. When I heard about it, the first thing I wanted to do was get on board and do some fundraising for it. Mark your calendars now for September 20, 2008. Yours truly will be hosting a lil Louisiana style fish fry with all the fun and trappings of Mardi Gras. You'll hear all about it during the next few months and I'd love to have you there. Keep your fingers crossed that all the sponsors can be lined up and that the event goes off without a hitch.


I'm sure I'll do a quickie post tomorrow before I jet for the day, but wanted to throw these few thoughts out there.


Before I close out for the day, I just want to send a big hug and positive energy to someone very special to me. Sequoia Pentecost will be undergoing major surgery this week and will be under doctor's care for several weeks after. Sequoia, doll...you know Halle adores you and WILL be thinking of you and praying that everything goes well. I'll see you when I get back! Love you, sister!

That's it for today, Poppers! Enjoy the evening and I'll holla at cha later!

Keep it spicy, babies!

Halle

It IS the Lord's day after all...

Hola, Poppers! I hope everyone's having a great day! Last night I attended the 4th of July Week Kick-off Fundraiser for Step-Up at Cosmos. It was a great time and I'll have some photos to share with all of you tomorrow. Two snaps and hugs & kisses to all the performers: Cadillac Barbie, Holly Luyah, Donna Rhea, Portia Lynn Van Buren, Ricki Summers, and Jillian James. I'll let you know exactly how much was raised for Step-Up by tomorrow.

I had a dream last night of my old church. It may surprise some of my Poppers to know that yours truly was, in another time, at another place, involved in the ministry. I grew up in the Church of God ~ a non-denominational church based in Anderson, IN. It has a world-wide membership and boasts well-known Christian entertainers such as Bill & Gloria Gaither and Sandi Patty as its proponents.

In my 20s, I was involved with the Wesleyan Church which has its international hedquarters right here in Indy. As a member of the ministry team for my church, I was responsible for enhancing the religious experience of everyone from the infants & toddlers all the way up to the senior citizens.

As a young, married youth pastor/praise team member/featured soloist/choir member, I lived with the fear that any day my deepest thoughts, feelings and emotions would come roiling to the surface and cause my outing. I remember sobbing and sweating at the altar begging God to take away the feelings, attractions and temptations I felt and faced every day; all of which I was convinced (by others) were wrong and reason for my banishment to hell. After 10 years of faithful service through music, ministry and giving, I finally gave up. My feelings weren't going away and after 8 years of marriage, I came out as a homosexual.

As expected, the news caused a tizzy in my church as well as my eventual "excommunication" via group cold shoulder. Since moving to Indy in 1990, the church had been my life & my family. I was faced with the daunting prospect of starting all over again in what was, in essence, a new world. I had to make new friends, establish new relationships, learn a new language and understand a new culture...at the ripe old age of 31!!

Long story short (perhaps too late), I've finally come into my own in my new world. Detractors will say the gay community in Indy has a reputation for not being the most welcoming group. In its defense I will say however, that if you step out of your corner and extend yourself to actually meet some new people, your efforts WILL pay off. It's worked for me.

The gay world in Indy really isn't all that different from life in a mega-church. You have your teens (IYG); your men's ministries (501); your music ministries (Indy Men's Chorus/Indy Women's Chorus/Pride of Indy Band); and your women's charities group (the Bag Ladies).

A couple of times a week, we all put on our best Sunday (Friday/Saturday) attire, wash behind our ears and get our hurr did (or douche) and prance ourselves down to church (Greg's/Talbott Street/Club Indy) to commune/worship/socialize with others of a like mind in a safe, welcoming place (even if it's a dark corner or a steam room).

Throughout the year we have fundraising events to help out the local charities and care-giving organizations which warms our hearts and reminds us that we are in fact, a community that cares about each other...even if we don't all know each other on a first name basis.

Poppers, as evidenced by the numerous benefits held almost monthly, the gay community in Indy does care about and for its own. There are sooo many opportunities for involvement. There are sooo many ways for you to give back. There are sooo many ways for you to enhance the life experience for someone else, and in turn yourself.

How are you going to get involved?

*kiss kiss*

Halle

Whew...

Good mooooorning, Poppers!! After a couple of days out and about, your gurl Halle is back for a minute.

I tell you what, I was off from work yesterday and I sooo needed it! Thanks for your faithfulness in checking my blog for updates, babies. I see it every time you pull up Halle's Happenings and I send out major air kisses to you. Love you, babies. *kiss kiss kiss*

I've actually been working this morning since 6:00. Some co-workers and I handed out 600 breakfast bags to an apartment community's residents to advertise our available services. It was nice to see their smiling faces but I tell you what...it is sooo humidity out there already! My hurr products went and failed me, so my coiffe is as limp as Summer's/Aurora's wrist. Love ya, babies!

Anyhoo...another big work day ahead so I'm keeping things short. Wednesday night I was out for a minute and ran into Erica King and Anastasia Demoore. They both have benefits and pageants coming up, so stay tuned for further information.

I want to send out big hugs, kisses and positive energy to my very first drag momma, Carma Blake. Carma (aka Carl DeLong) is having some serious health issues and needs all of us to keep her in our thoughts and prayers. I'm going to do a profile of Carma very soon, but want all my babies to be mindful of Carma. Carma...you got me started. Love you baby!! *hug kiss hug*

Last but not least Poppers, I want to make you aware of a Bag Lady show coming up. Holly Luyah and Cadillac Barbie both asked me to mention the 4th of July Week Kick-Off Show at Cosmos. The show is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday June 28th at 9:00 p.m. Cover charge is $5 with all cover charges and tips going to benefit Step-Up. You know how I feel about Step-Up and their services, so I would consider it a personal favor if you would come out and support the cause. Featured performers include: Cadillac Barbie, Holly Luyah, Donna Rhea, Audrey Heartburn and Portia Lynn Van Buren.


Hope to see you there, Poppers!

The next few days will be a flurry of activity for yours truly as I and the other Mean Gurls prepare for our trip to Vegas. We leave on July 2 and we'll be there until July 6. We just happen to be out there for Las Vegas Gay Days!! I'm sure we'll all have much to (drunkenly) report while we're out there so be sure to check us out at least every other day.

Gonna close things out for now, babies! I hope you allll have a great weekend!

Keep it spicy!
Halle

OMIGAWD!! Halle's busy...

Hey, honies. I'm sorry I haven't posted for a couple of days, but a crazy little thing called work is keeping your muy caliente Halle muy atareado (busy).

I have a couple of shows to tell you about coming up this weekend so I'll get those listed as soon as I can. Stand by, babies!

There are just two days left on Halle's poll, so if you haven't voted (or know Poppers who haven't voted), exercise your unalienable right!

(get out and enjoy the weather today if you can!!)

*kiss kiss*

Halle

Halle's Public Service Announcement

Good afternoon, Poppers! It appears that we have a little afternoon shower going on today, but all I can say is, "at least it's not snow!" I hope everyone celebrated the summer solstice in some super hot Hot HOT manner last night! Yay SUMMER!!!

When I considered the intent of Halle's Happenings, I hadn't really planned on any sort of advocacy, but I want to talk for just a moment about something I hold near and dear to my heart. Let's talk about your HEALTH!

There are few things in life over which we have any control, but one of them is our health. Now, we can't control our genetics, but we can do things to ensure that we're not endangering ourselves any more than we need to. That said, I want to shine the spotlight on two organizations that exist to make sure the gay community is taking care of itself.

First up is the Damien Center. The Damien Center is located at 26 North Arsenal Indianapolis, IN 46201.

The mission of the Damien Center is to lead the fight to prevent the spread of HIV and to empower persons in Central Indiana affected by HIV/AIDS to move forward each day with dignity. The Damien Center offers vital supportive services to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS so they may live abundant and productive lives. {They} also promote comprehensive HIV prevention services, including HIV testing, prevention counseling, education and advocacy. {They} believe passionately in the dignity and worth of every person who seeks their services. {They} strive to be a safe and welcoming place so that no barriers separate people from the services they need to prolong and enhance their lives.

The Damien Center offers Housing & Economic Assitance; Food & Nutrition services; and Care Coordination & Counseling. If you or anyone you know is living with or affected with HIV/AIDS, this resource exists for you and them. Even if you don't need their services personally, please consider donating your time or resources. Please take a moment to visit their website at http://www.damien.org/.

The next group I want to talk about is Step-Up, Inc. Step Up's physical address is 8580 Cedar Place Drive, Suite 117 Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Step-Up (Services, Training, Education and Prevention), believes in providing education, training and advocacy and technical assistance to promote health and well-being; with a focus on HIV/STD prevention and diversity.

As a sexually-active, responsible adult, I do take advantage of HIV/STD testing facilities provided in Indianapolis. One of the great things about Step-Up, Inc. is that they bring the testing facility to YOU. I know that it can be somewhat embarrassing to go into a doctor's office or a public health clinic for your semi-annual or annual testing. You can't use embarrassment as an excuse for not being tested, Poppers. Step-Up, Inc. has free Free FREE 20-minute oral swab HIV testing and blood-draw Syphillis testing available at Greg's/Our Place, The 501, Club Indy and The Works.

I experienced first-hand the professionalism and personal touch the prevention and outreach coordinators bring to the testing sites about 3 weeks ago. I was tested for HIV and syphillis at Greg's/Our Place around 11:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night. I took advantage of the testing simply because I was there and it was free. Ryan Nix, the prevention coordinator and I have known each other semi-socially for about 2 years now and under the circumstances we were meeting then, he did everything he could to put me at ease and make me feel comfortable. It felt kind of weird at first, but then it just turned into a couple of friends talking about a necessary evil. I appreciate Ryan, Ramon Reyes and everyone else at Step-Up for their efforts. Chances are you've seen them out and about handing out safer sex kits. Take the kits...use the kits.

Poppers, our community is at epidemic-levels for Syphillis. Left unchecked, it can cause blindness, deafness and dementia. Get tested! If necessary...get treated!

To find out about Step-Up, Inc, to get information about their services, or to find out their testing schedule, please visit their website at http://www.stepupin.org/.

Okay, that's the Momma in me talking to you, kids. Get tested and be healthy. We have plenty of resources at our disposal, but too often, we don't use them. If you're nervous about getting tested, let me know...I'll go with you and hold your hand if you want me to.

Love you, babies!

*kiss kiss*

Halle

Am I missing something?

Good afternoon, Poppers!! It's a GORgeous day in Indy and I hope everyone's enjoying it so far.

Yours truly will be leaving the office at 3:30 today to attend a work-related ice cream social/pool party so I'm TRES excited to have the opportunity to work outside! Plus, I'm hoping that maybe...just MAYbe there will be some pretty boys and girls I can eye from behind my shades. ;-)

Soooo...am I missing something or was there no local print media coverage of Circle City INPride '08? I've looked on Indy.com for fotos on Party Crashers...nothing.

I did a search on IndyStar.com for "Circle City INPride '08," and my search came back with, "Did you mean Circle City inbred '08?" A) Where's the coverage? B) What the hell is Circle City inbred '08? Have a missed a festival? God knows it would probably be pretty entertaining. So, what's the deal? If anyone has seen any print coverage from the parade or festival, would you let me know? Since I was on vaca, I'd love to see what was said about Pride. You can leave a comment below by clicking the "Comments" link OR drop me a line at HallePino@yahoo.com.

Hope you can get out and enjoy the weather!

Love you, babies!

*kiss kiss*

Halle

*update* Blanche informed me that there was actually coverage in the Indy Star. Thanks, Popper! I still don't understand what Circle City inbred '08 is, though.

Halle's Happenings First Poll

Hola, Poppers! Halle has a very busy day at work, so in lieu of a post today she's just going to do a poll.

If you attended any of the events of Circle City INPride '08, would you please take just a minute to participate in the poll I've created? The poll (on the right, just under Halle's fierce foto) is set up to allow you to choose more than one answer, so feel free to do so. The poll will be online and available until 9:00 a.m. next Thursday, 6/26/08. Once the poll closes, I'll be providing the Indy Pride Board with the results.

Please tell your friends about Halle's Happenings and if they were at any of the Pride Week events, ask them to participate in the poll.

Love you, babies!

*kiss kiss*

Halle