I'm not sure how many may know much about the inner workings of my club, but Mons is picky. You have to be near the top of your game, physically, to work here. It took me five years to manage that. But, I've recently found that just because I'm here now doesn't mean I get to totally relax. As a good friend pointed out recently, I'm not gonna look hot if I keep up with the junk. No, not just candies and sweets, though that definitely part of it. She's convincing me that I've gotta cut out most of my fast food, which is hard for me. I mean, at the heart of it all is that I'm a lazy bitch! I'm trying to work on it, but it's damn hard. So, I'm trying to take baby steps. Like, another thing she told me was to nix the sodas. Apparently not even diet helps. She even threatened to throw out any sodas I bought! Tough, but she's a good friends and knows I need it tough. No juices either, but I already knew most of them are just sugar water. Speaking of water, can't stand it most of the time. I mean, I'm fine with it when I'm at the gym, but try and have me drink it any other time and I, well, I usually go for the Diet Coke. I just can't stand the taste (or lack thereof), so my friend has some of those Crystal Lite drink mixes you shake in water and it's like 10 calories, so I had a few of those in my waters yesterday and manages 6 or 7 bottles, so at least it's a start! So that's one thing tackled. Fast food? Probably can nix it all but for the chicken nuggets. And I'm sorry, but me and her will have to agree to disagree on the no alcohol gig. I can definitely make sure I'm going for the lower calorie thing, like white wine and Bacardi and Diet once in a while, but I'm working hard to control it, and I've never been one that's good at cold turkey anything. But, here's to me trying!

But, all in all, that's easy compared to the real monkey on my back. Not many know that I have something called celiac's disease. (You can find more info about it at celic.org.) This means my body attacks any gluten in my system. So not only to I have to watch what I eat, diet wise, I have to make sure said food has no wheat, rye, or barley. So, it's not all fun for this lazybones- I mean, most diet regimens encourage the eating of whole grain this and that- not helping, people! *sigh* It's just that this is something I've struggled with following for a while now, and I guess I just thought if I posted my thoughts and concerns here, maybe there might be someone out there who can help encourage me along the way. Though, I must say that I do regret not believing more in my number 1 cheerleader and I do apologize to them for that...I'll work better at remembering you were there to cheer me on before anyone else ever knew about me. :)

Here's the article from TBO.com about the Hillsborough County Commission's proposed new ordinances that will be debated downtown on August 2nd, 2006 at 9 am. Here's the article in its entirety:



Published: Jul 11, 2006

TAMPA - Just weeks before public hearings are held on tough new regulations for sexually oriented businesses, Hillsborough County and the adult entertainment industry are preparing for a battle familiar to both sides.

County commissioners and legal staff are compiling reports and lining up experts to testify about what they say are negative effects from adult video stores and bars with scantily clad dancers.

The owners of those businesses are retaining lawyers and hiring their own experts to dispute what they say are stereotypes and misconceptions about the adult entertainment industry.

"These are long, tedious, very expensive fights that waste public resources," said adult entertainment industry attorney Luke Lirot.

Lirot has made a career of fighting adult industry regulations, which he says are aimed at closing the businesses and harassing workers and patrons. He said legal battles can last for years and cost both sides hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the county loses, he says, taxpayers could be stuck with part of the bill.

County officials and conservative activists say that's a scare tactic and that the adult-oriented business industry won't have much room to challenge well-crafted ordinances.

"We are not trying to regulate free speech," County Attorney Renee Lee said. "I feel the county is pretty safe with the constitutionality of these ordinances."

For several decades, the county has regulated the adult industry through land-use rules by keeping X-rated movie theaters away from neighborhoods and in four commercial or industrial zones.

The proposed new rules would add business licensing requirements such as criminal background checks for workers, and they would prohibit dancers from getting within 6 feet of their customers.

Each side claims legal decisions in other cases bolster their own.

Lee said she hasn't set aside a special fund to fight legal challenges by the adult industry, but she has access to a $500,000 reserve fund for such cases.

"We could make short work of any lawsuit that might be filed," she said.

Lee said the county has spent about $15,000 for an outside attorney to draft the proposed regulations and for private investigators to visit nine adult video stores in unincorporated Hillsborough and Showgirls Men's Club, a Valrico bar featuring dancers in skimpy attire.

These are the businesses that would have to comply if the county adopts the regulations.


Pressuring Tampa
For the most part, the video stores are in industrial or commercial areas 2,500 feet or more from schools or homes.

Most sexually oriented businesses in the area, including clubs with nude dancers, are within Tampa city limits. The city makes its own rules and doesn't have to follow county regulations.

That's why the county also plans to hold a nonbinding referendum in the Nov. 7 election asking whether voters want all local governments to regulate dance clubs and adult bookstores "to the fullest extent allowed by law." Commissioners hope a strong "yes" vote will force Tampa leaders to take stronger action against adult businesses.

The question would be on ballots countywide, whether voters live in Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City or unincorporated areas.

County officials and others say the sexually oriented businesses create "adverse secondary effects," including criminal activity and threats to public health. They also say adult businesses harm property values and stymie economic development.

"This industry has a tremendous impact on business and public health," said Terry Kemple, executive director of the Community Issues Council, a conservative Christian activist group in Valrico. "This isn't just a church thing; this is about what's good for the community."

He said the adult businesses spur sexually transmitted diseases, broken homes and other social problems. "Most people aren't aware of what the sex industry has done to create damage," Kemple said.

Lirot said such accusations are easy to make but difficult to prove. He said up to 5,000 dancers, bartenders and other Bay area workers with ties to adult businesses could be harmed by the ordinance.

"If they are disenfranchised, the economy is in such a state that they can't be folded back in," Lirot said.

The county plans public hearings Aug. 2 and 16, with commissioners voting on new ordinances and changes to existing codes before the November referendum. Kemple is trying to raise as much as $75,000 for a public awareness campaign of television ads and billboards about the referendum.


Private Eyes
Adult Book Store II on South 50th Street is among the businesses that would be affected by the regulations. The store stocks videos, DVDs and magazines, and patrons can watch X-rated movies in private screening rooms.

Store owner Vonelle Cook, 62, was arrested at his home in May and charged with unlawful sex with a minor, possession of child pornography and use of a child in a sexual performance.

A month earlier, private investigators visited his store and others like it in the county to begin building the case for more regulations. At nearly every stop, they found evidence that men had ejaculated inside the private booths, according to sworn affidavits.

Cpl. Luther Core of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office vice section said undercover deputies patrol the businesses and issue citations for lewd behavior.

Lirot said most owners try to prevent lewd conduct.

"Rather than punish the entire industry, they can close those places down," he said.

The proposed regulations would require the store owners to knock down walls and add more lighting so movie watchers are visible to store clerks. Business owners also might be required to mop the video booths with bleach every 90 minutes, though county officials hope the open booths will eliminate lewd behavior.

Lirot said Cook's legal problems away from his adult business "are strictly personal and not a reflection of the entire industry."
Dancing Girls

An investigator also visited Showgirls Men's Club on June 3.

He paid $10 for a couch dance and $20 for a bed dance by a female performer named "Sage," wearing a red T-back (which covers the pubic region and the crack of the buttocks) and waist-length top opened at the front revealing a white bra.

"I laid on a small mattress area and Sage straddled me, grinding her groin and buttocks against my groin area," the investigator's affidavit states.

The proposed ordinance would prevent physical contact between dancers and customers.

Core, of the sheriff's vice squad, said he wasn't aware of any prostitution or drug arrests at the club. "The main problems are girls soliciting drinks," a violation of state beverage laws, he said.

There haven't been many problems at the club since it opened in January. A sheriff's spokeswoman said deputies have been called four times, including a disturbance between an employee and a patron that didn't merit a report, a fender-bender in the parking lot and a stolen bicycle.

Business owner Jamie Rand said he welcomes visits by deputies and was pleased by the affidavit.

"I would have been upset if she offered sex or there were drugs," he said.


PROPOSED RULES
County ordinances regulating sexually oriented businesses are stricter than those in Tampa. Unlike the city, no nudity is allowed in establishments in unincorporated Hillsborough County. Now the county wants to adopt even tougher rules. Some of the proposals being considered are:

•Adult business owners and people applying for jobs at sexually oriented businesses would be required to undergo a criminal background check and obtain a license.

•Alcohol sales and consumption would be prohibited. Existing clubs with alcohol licenses would be allowed to serve until their license expires.

•Private viewing booths in adult video stores would be prohibited. Patrons viewing adult movies would have to be within sight of an employee.

•Adult store owners would be required to provide overhead lighting anywhere patrons gather.

•Store owners would be required to wash the floors within set periods of time.

•Dancers in bikini bars would be required to stay at least 6 feet from customers while performing.

•No fences or walls can obstruct views of the parking lots of sexually oriented businesses.

•Dancers in seminude clubs would be prohibited from touching customers or their clothing.

•Nudity would be prohibited inside so-called adult mobile cabarets, a reference to the recreational vehicle parked outside a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game last year by the owner of a dance club.

•Parking lots would have to be inspected by an employee every 90 minutes to discourage lewd conduct.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at mholan@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

Okay, where do I start? Well, how about with the fact that the band cancelled the Vegas gig, so I'm not going out there any more. *round of cursing ensueth* Then, on top of that, since it's May, and the start of summer season in a lot of lazy girls' minds, we've had less than stellar number of girls lately. Not that I don't mind picking up the slack, but if I hear ONE more guy say "There's only two of ya? Where's all the girls at?" I'm liable to haul off and smack him upside the head with my 7" heels! I'm sorry, but it's been like this girl-wise (til about 6 tho- then they come in in droves!) ALL MONTH!!! WTF? I'm sorry- those of you who've been reading this blog for a while know I generally don't go off on a tear like this, but I've had it up to here with these girls' bullshit...and it's not like it's any one girl or anything I'm mad at- just this damn stripper mentality that, come May, there's no money to be made on dayshift. Well, I'm sorry- but there would be if you stupid bitches could get up off your asses and come in once in a fucking blue moon.

I'm ranting in the hopes that it'll calm me down and I won't piss off any more customers into leaving like I did today. It was just that this guy kept complaining about how expensive our prices were for dances and how he could get it much cheaper with his girl in Sarasota. So, after about 20 minutes of coaxing, I got him into the back, but he kept hemming and hawing and went off on about the other chick, and I got so fed up with it that I told him that if he didn't like Tampa prices, he was welcome to go back to Sarasota. Well, that went wrong and he and his friend, who was all ready to play with a coworker of mine, left. It was all my fault, and I had no right to lose my temper like that, but I feel it's cuz it's been like this all month and I feel like they're depending on me to come in like I normally do, and I wonder if the girls don't mind taking their time on the weekdays cuz they know I'll be there or what...it's just stressing me out bigtime...anybody wanna come cheer me up and bring me/take me out for sushi? It would be greatly appreciated. :D

Okay, I haven't done this in a while, but I really feel the need to vent. I mean, I'm the only girl at work for the first 4 hrs of the day, but after Davon, this big fake tittied fake blonde came in, she got two champange rooms within an hour of coming into work. (Read: she gains $350) Not only THAT, but the second guy she got back there, I'd been talking with first, and when I asked him if he'd like a dance, he said he wanted to get a dance with her! What the FUCK?!? Am I so fucking ugly that they prefer the fake tits over me? I'm sorry, I know I'm being a bitch, but how fair is it for me to bust my ass for 6 days a week and get next to nothing out of it except guys complaining cuz I'm the only girl there half the time (not my fault these bitches don't know the meaning of work ethic), but what's up with people being able to waltz in halfway through my shift and grab all the guys who want to spend money? Ya know what, maybe I should just strip out the black from my hair and dye it blonde, since blondes seem to be what the moneymakers go for, and I am in serious need of money for car insurance and this month's mortgage payment. Not only that, but new GM is raising the dayshift house to $15. This sucks ass. And, on top of all that, I had thought the doorman heard me when I asked for something from Chili's. But NO! He says that he didn't hear me give my order, even though I told him three fucking times. I'm sorry, but it's just been a pisser of a day, and I'm upset and have had a couple beers, so hopefully I'll either mellow out or pass out...whichever comes first.

Okay, I guess it has something to do with the fact that April 15th is this Thursday or something, but where the hell did all the customers evaporate to?? I mean, I understand lower numbers, but I went home with $30 on Sunday and $10 yesterday. (Today more than made up for it, but still!) I guess people plan on celebrating on the 16th after everything's all gone and done. (Me, I already sent mine off Monday.) Anyways, today would have been even better if it weren't for the fact that, for most of Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm the only chick there because the other two main day girls have college classes those days. So, for the first half of the day, I kept getting the idiots who were complaining about how bored they were with only one girl in the place. (So, you take me in the VIP, and you wouldn't be bored much longer, genius!) Anyways, had this one guy that I'd talked to on myspace come in and get dances, and he was really nice to talk to and considerate, which was really cool. But, this fucking DJ had better shut the fuck up about whether or not I make money. I mean, this is the only DJ I've ever worked for in 3+ years who keeps asking shit like "So, how come you keep getting them in VIP, but not the Champagne Room?" Um, excuse me, but if they don't have the time, money, or inclination to do a half hour deal with me, who the fuck are you to say one way or the other? I mean, if I really pushed for more money, like you want, I'd be more liable to push them away to another girl or even out the door. God, if I didn't know better, I'd think this guy was a rookie at djing strip clubs. I mean, how asinine can one guy get?!? (Sorry, but this has been bugging me for about two weeks now.) Anyways, hope the rest of the week looks up more than today did.

Well, the good news is that most of the paperwork to prove that Dirty D's claims are bullshit came in on Saturday, so now I can show it to people as concrete proof that D was lying to them. However, it's been surprising how many people have said they don't need to see any proof for the reason that they didn't trust Dirty D anyway and/or his claims were so outrageous it didn't make any sense to them anyway. Still waiting for Wankus to get off the fence and choose a side, but at least he conceded there was something wrong with Dirty D's claims. It's obvious that Dirty D wanted to prevent me from doing future mainstream work. I find it funny that little ol' me and my boyfriend, basically nobodys, can take up so much of his time and effort. It's really flattering that a rich man, who could continue his life without a second thought with or without my site, feels the need to try and hurt us and steal from us. We have recieved a check for the website this week (for $33), and am unsure if we will continue to recieve checks or not. When I refer to stealing, I am not talking about money from the site. Dirty D, in retrospect, has stolen so much from us it's beyond money. At least I'm entertained that his sites have been down for a few days. I had nothing to do with it, but I'm sure he'll blame me for it if he can't find out what's wrong. Oddly enough, a lot of people call it karma. It's funny that I didn't think of karma as much until I met Shawn, otherwise known as Graphic Dude, who is a big believer in karma. Shawn is turning into Dirty D's bitch-in-training, who is changing for the worse and doesn't even realize it yet. I shouldn't be surprised about Dirty D, for we have been warned about him for years now, but refused to see reality. Partially because of our friendship with Shawn. It's truly Shawn who has turned out to be Brutus. "Et tu, Brute?"

Sorry I don't have the time to write one of my typical lengthy posts, but my life's been topsy turvy the past couple of weeks, hence the lack of updates. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off what with the Gasparilla Night Parade and Valentine's Day all in the same weekend. Then, on top of that, as way of a sicko valentine's "gift", I found out that a former associate of mine was posting slanderous comments about my bf Rich. I have mostly kept quiet about this issue we've been having with him, but after what he posted on his website, well, let's just say the gloves are off, and he'll find out how dirty I can and will fight. I'm sorry, I guess he doesn't understand the maternal instinct about protecting what's mine, but he'll find out soon enough. You threaten my boyfriend, you threaten me. Since I found out about this, I have vacillated between utter fury and bouts of crying. But, more and more, for some strange, odd reason, I seem to be more prone to the pissed off side rather than the crying side. Any help and hugs would be greatly appreciated- just wanted to give everyone a heads up as to my life this month so far.

Okay, was all set to post the Saturday Smiles post, and my genius friend said he'd helped clean up and had taken the trash out, with the paper in it! Argh. But, did find this interesting article in the Commentary section of the Sunday Tampa Tribune, and I'm repeating it in its entirety, though with an lj-cut for those who may not wish to read it.
( How to Remain a Minority Party by Darryl Paulson )

As for the rest of the weekend, Saturday was pretty calm...spent most of the day on the computer playing a Law & Order game, and then went and saw National Treasure, which was, as many reviewers had stated, a good movie, but basically Da Vinci Code-lite. Sunday, I was all gunned up and ready to work another home game (the Bucs won, btw, 35-3), but karma just had to shoot me in the foot yesterday- there's no other way to describe what happened. At one point, the DJ announced a 3 for 60 special, so I'm going around to the guys who aren't already talking to girls, and asking them if they'd be interested. Well, I go up to these two guys, and ask the younger one if he'd be interested. Well, his older friend looks at me and goes "Oh, I remember you from two weeks ago." While I'm trying to digest that, he turns to his friend and goes "You don't want to waste your money on her. She gives the worst dances here." Then I remembered the one guy last time who'd said that- he'd been rather piss ass drunk and had tried to cop such a full on grab, I thought he'd been trying to finger me and I jumped up and told him we were done. So, I shrugged my shoulders, walked down to the other end of the bar, and started to ask the next guy, who had just come in. Well, asshole has the audacity to walk over next to this guy and say "don't go back with her- she gives horrible lap dances." Well, I wasn't going to let this one guy ruin my day, so I go around to the other side of the bar, and start talking to this guy. He noticed I wasn't in the keenest of moods, and bought me a drink while I told him what had just happened. Just then, the bartender hands him a napkin, saying it's from the gentleman on the other side of the bar. Guess who. Well, at this point, I'd had enough, cuz this guy made three. I went and told my boss and explained it from start to finish, stating that I hadn't wanted to come to him just because he didn't want his friend to dance with me, but two complete strangers?!? Well, my boss later told me he went over and talked to the guy and told him that, though he had a right to express his opinion to his friend, to express it to any other customer that he did not personally know was unacceptable. Well, he had to have one last parting shot with the fourth guy I walked up to and explained the situation, and this guy ended up having me in stitches, because after the guy left, he looked at me and said, "I wish he would have stuck around long enough for me to tell him you're still better than his wife at it!" lol omg, he was such a sweetie! After that, my day just got better and better, but I just had to vent about mr. vendictive.

Hope everyone had a good, safe celebration today, first of all. Now on to the regularly scheduled bitching: I must say that I am getting a lil tired of being the only girl here right at noon. I mean, yeah, Marisa is HERE by one pm, but she still takes a lil while to get ready. *sigh* It's just a lil aggravating is all. Kinda like something that happened yesterday that I forgot to mention: this old regular of mine from WAY back came in. Now, like I said, I've practically known this guy the whole two+ years I've been dancing, and I've known him, from time to time, to bring something a lil extra in with him. Well, since I was in a semi-official capacity as bartender yesterday, I felt it was my duty and obligation to let him know that we had a zero tolerance policy on alcohol in the club. But, then, I have to get on stage, and then I saw him go in the bathroom with his drink like he normally did! So, I had to go tell the manager what was going on; I didn't want to, but when you directly go against something I've tried to tell you nicely, I really have no other choice. And, if that weren't enough, I'd just finished my stage set at one point in the day, and the dj had switched to break songs, since the other girls were busy in the back. Well, this one guy, (who, by the way, hadn't even bothered to tip me), complains to the manager about no girls dancing, so, dj has to put me back up. But, once the guy realizes it's me again, he gets up and walks out. WTF?!?!? I'm SORRY the other girls were a lil too busy with PAYING customers to come out and dance for your sorry ass......

Okay, got that out of my system. Am okay now. Had a very nice gentleman come in named Rick; he spent about 20 minutes rubbing my arms and shoulders either before or during our dances....Very relaxing and very enjoyable, and am very glad he said he was going to come back. Also, it seemed like it was couples day today; had four couples come in between 6 and 9 tonight. Also had this one couple I spent an enjoyable 15/20 minutes just discussing various things. Also, made this free site, so check out the galleries if you're interested: Nude Dancer W/Cucumber

Lisa quit today, and I don't just mean not working at the Pink Pony anymore. I mean she's quitting the industry all together. Don't know what's gonna happen today. Had a nice guy come in today; enjoyed the dances and then he says he's gonna come back and see me next week. Well, if he ends up actually following through on that, that would be very nice. Then, we had this girl, who's been coming in off and on on day shift who has decided that since her given name is Christy that it would be too much for her to go by a different name when she works days, even though it creates confusion in both the stage rotation and amongst the dancers and customers as well. I waited til now to mention her because she really went off the deep end today. First off, when my food that I'd ordered got there, she asked if she could pay for some. After I told her that there was only enough for those who had chipped in, she was like "when did you order, 3 hours ago?" to which I calmly replied that I had gone around and asked everyone if they were hungry or not and that she had said she wasn't hungry. Then later, I'm up on stage, and had been bought a drink from a customer and she decides to sit down and talk to him during my set. Well, since the manager had told me if I have problems with either girls or customers to come straight to him, and so I did. I was leaving the office after explaining things and she comes up and, in the middle of the club, starts yelling at me and calling me a bitch. She says that if I have a problem with her, I need to come talk to her. Well, the manager was right there and corrected her, saying I had done things just as I was supposed to. Then her explanation is that he had asked her to come over. WTF?!? I'm sorry, but even if a guy asks me to come over and sit with him, if there is evidence he is sitting with someone else at the moment (i.e. girl drink, pack of cigs, etc.), I thank him and then tell him I will talk with him when he's finished with that girl, since it is rude to talk with him when it is obvious she is not finished yet. *sigh* Then she proceeds to rant the rest of the time I was there about how bullshit it is and how girls are too bitchy. Whatever. I know I was not wrong in what I did, and if she doesn't like it, she can go back to night shift, bitch.

Had another wonderful (by the end of it) day much like yesterday. Though, maybe I should take it back...the first customer I had was VERY nice and gave me a well needed deep tissue massage for basically two songs. But, then the day started to go a little downhill. I was sitting by the stage with this older gentleman who gave the girl on stage a 10, but then he gave her a 100 dollar bill. Not wanting him to get shafted when he wouldn't be able to find it later, I asked him if he'd meant to give her that bill. He said he had meant to give her a five and had gone into the wrong pocket by mistake. So he called the girl over and exchanged the 100 for the 5. Now, I come to find out later that all the girls at work are now accusing me of "cutting" the other girl by pointing out the faux pas to the customer. They asked if I'd have given the 100 back if I'd been the one on stage and didn't believe me when I truthfully said I would. Their view is that once it leaves the customer's hands, it's their's, whether the guy made an honest mistake or not. Now, I'd love to know what everybody else thinks. Should I have told him about it, or just let the girl have a VERY big tip? And, if THAT wasn't bad enough, then I sit with this other guy later on....having a very nice time discussing a wide variety of subjects with him. Now, from time to time...about every 15 min or so, when it seems appropriate, I asked him if he was ready to go in the back yet. Each time, he said "not right now, but later"...45 min later, I ask him more blatantly if he wants to have any fun today. His response? "Oh, no. Actually, I'm kinda bored, and I think I'm getting ready to leave." 8O EXCUSE ME???? WTF couldn't you tell me this oh, about 40 minutes earlier so I didn't have to waste my time?
Anyways, after all of this, I still have some good news. First, I'm probably going to be bringing that nice, sexy coworker home with me tomorrow. :D I also had a nice customer come in with some boots for me to replace the ones that had gotten stolen about 5/6 months ago. How nice is that? Also, had a savior at the end of the night who's visiting from Chicago for a little while. We had some very nice dances in the back and since he's gonna be over this way tomorrow afternoon for the Yankees game, he said he'd try and stop in tomorrow too. Oh, and one more thing...I had a friend of mine tell me he couldn't find the ingredients for the Hpnotiq drink I'd enjoyed at Flirt, so here's my version again:

• Hpnotiq


• coconut rum


• splash of sour

Enjoy!