The pressures of palace life

When we last left Mr. Waste, he was running for empress of the Imperial Court of the Rocky Mountain Empire. Having cut his teeth on Denver political campaigns all his life, the election was like shooting fish in a barrel.

And now that Mr. Waste, aka Lushus La’Rell, is nearly half way through his reign, it’s time to see the effect Her Most Imperial Majesty is having on the Waste household.

The biggest question I get is, “How are you doing now that Mr. Waste is Empress?”

Quite fine, actually. It gets him/her out of the house so I have more time at home to play my video games. I told Mr. Waste I would support him but I would not attend every single little drag show and fundraiser.

Lushus did bestow upon me the title of Entertainer to the Reign. So that means I do have to show up for some of the more important events. Besides entertaining, my skills as a graphic designer are also being commandeered for Court major events like Coronation 41 and Snow Ball 40. (Be sure to save the date for Snow Ball on Nov. 16 at the Exdo Event Center. Tickets are online at ICRME.org; it’s a benefit for Urban Peak.)

Lushus does try to rope me into attending more Court events. It is a lot of work for her to be out so much all the time. Combined with her job as director of boards and commission for the City of Denver, plus being on the board of Planned Parenthood, staying at home to relax does have a lot of appeal.

But I tell her, “Put on your big empress panties and suck it up.”

It’s a form of tough love.

Honestly, once you put on the makeup and jump into a pair of heels, the adrenaline kicks in and everything turns out just delicious.

You should see our drag dungeon now. The sparkle has gone into overdrive. I did a quick survey of Lushus’ treasure trove of rhinestone jewelry, neatly organized on five large shelves, and realized I should have bought stock in Swarovski crystals. Pirates have started marking X on their maps where our house sits. Well, an empress has to shine and Lushus will blind you all the way to the throne.

I am quite proud of my husband/empress. He/she has really carved out an amazing year of fundraising and helping the Denver community in his/her role as Her Most Imperial Majesty. Where some have let the crown go to their head, literally and figuratively, Lushus has become a servant to her realm, making the world a better place for all of us. It’s not about being queen or being seen. It’s about service, caring and helping.

And I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to the second in command, Her Royal Highness Gabriella Butz’In. I did not lose a husband to the Court. I gained a sister in

Gabbie who has been there selflessly helping Lushus through the thick and din of it all.

So, when life seems to be a bit overwhelming and you think you cannot do any more, just put on your big empress panties and go.