Reign XLII

Emperor XLII Richard Brendlinger

Empress XLII Gabbriella But'zin

As I sit here with the Massive Empress Gabbriella But’zin, we reminisce about our time as the reigning Monarchs of Denver.

We reigned together as Prince and Princess 40. Running for the office of Emperor and Empress was our next step to continue our fundraising journey.

We ran unopposed and were elected Emperor and Empress 42 of the Mountain Court System on April 4, 2015. The next morning at Victory Brunch, Charles Rozanski and LaShay DiMarco were appointed Prince and Princess Royale 42.

Wasting no time naming our lines of succession, Investitures was held 2 weeks later at Club M. Our lines of succession were as follows:

Grand Duke R.C. Michaels

Grand Duchess Vivian LeCher

Czar Aaron Riley

Czarina Andrea Star

Marquis Andrew Johnson

Marquessa Juana Man

Don Daniel Cocker

Reina Ladycat De’Ore

Baron Manny Sexton

Baroness Kitty Angel

Count Obi Obider

Countess Vida VanBuren LeCher

Ladies in waiting: Bella Couture LeCher & Betty Sparkles But’zin

Within the first 60 days, our reign raised over $10,000 for charity. The family came together to help at Free Comic Book day to raise money for White Rose Scholarship and were fortunate enough to entertain none other than the Incredible Hulk himself, Lou Ferrigno, the night before Gabbie went Gamorra for the Cos-Play Pre-ComicCon party which also benefited White Rose.

During that time, we also attended Salt Lake City’s coronation. We were honored to travel with the first 40th year anniversary Empress 2, Scotti Carlye, and King Father to reign 42 Emperor 7, Gary Edwards. We attended along with members of our line Prince Royale 42 Charles Rozanski, Princess Royale 42 LaShay DiMarco, Grand Duke R.C. Michaels, Don Daniel Cocker, Brother to Emperor 42, Ron Atkinson, as well as Emperor 19 John Menchaca, Empress 39 Martini Monroe, Empress 41 Melissa Nawrocki, Prince Royale 41 Jim Babb, College of Cardinals Norrie Reynolds and MJ Rebelez.

On to Albuquerque’s Coronation. In contingency with us were family members Juana Man, Manny Sexton, Obi Sparkles, Ladycat De’Ore, and R.C. Michaels, along with College of Cardinal members Norrie Reynolds & Rodd with 2 D’s, I.C.R.M.E. members Jackie O and Tammy Brunette, and Monarchs Empress 2 Scotti Carlyle, Emperor 7 Gary Edwards, Emperor 13 Chuck Bates, Empress 17 Brittany Michaels, Emperor 18 Gregg Looker, Empress 24 Nina Montaldo and Empress 35 Jackie Summers.  We returned to Denver to begin building our float for Pride. Our theme for the year was all about Steampunk, and our float certainly portrayed this with actual moving gears, incredible costumes and flawless decorations! At the conclusion of the parade, the family all went directly to the bar booth to begin our shift! Reign 41 was gracious enough to have had opened the booth that morning so we were able to enjoy the parade upon our float.

July was an extraordinary month of events beginning with PR Picnic, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, which was I.C.R.M.E.’s first year to have an oversized corner booth with slushies, booze and more! Next came Rodeo, we staffed not only the beer trailer but also a large booze booth, and like always it rained and we were running around in more than an inch of water! Gabbie was lucky enough to have missed out while she was in Omaha attending their coronation with Emperor 39 Ken Bazan, along with College of Cardinal members Cory Wells and MJ Rebelez.

July came to an end only to discover that a horrendous embezzlement had taken place for over 2 years amounting in over sixty thousand dollars lost. Both Gabbie and myself were completely destroyed. The cash that had been raised since the beginning of our reign was gone, our beneficiaries had not been paid, and we were now 25% into our reign. Gabbie sat down with Outfront, letting the community know what had happened, and how we needed their support then more than ever! The determination of Reign 42, along with the community, resulted in Reign 42 re-raising and making whole all of I.C.R.M.E.’s commitments. Reign 42 continued to fundraise for it’s chosen charities as well.

In September, Gabbie attended Des Moines coronation doing double duty not only as Empress 42, but also as the original recipient of the permanent title she received for the Denver Cycle Sluts during her time as their Queen Mother. Princess Royale 42, LaShay DiMarco, was also in attendance. 

In October, our presence was requested by the Queen Mother and the ICS in Portland.

Several individuals from the College of Monarchs were in attendance to show their support for Reign 42. That included Empress 2 Scotti Carlyle, Emperor 5 Bill Olson, Emperor 7 Gary Edwards, Emperor 13 Chuck Bates, Emperor 19 John Menchaca, Empress 17\ Brittany Michaels, Empress 24 Nina Montaldo, Empress 29 Jazmine James, and Emperor 29 Robert Flores. Heir Apparent Empress 35 Jackie Summers was there as well. We were there to provide the entire ICS information on the embezzlement, how it happened, what financial safeguards were being taken to insure it could never happen again.  We also attended Portland’s Coronation, which was held at the Art Museum.  We had to get an Uber or Taxi to take us to the event.  Well, my massive Empress was not happy when the Prius turned the corner.  With much fan fair we shoved her into the tiny car and headed to Coronation.  Upon arrival at the event Gabbie made the drive pull around the block so she could unpack from the car!

November came along to bring the Emperor & Empress ball which had become the combination the Empress’s SnowBall and Emperor’s King of Hearts, named “A Mechanical Wonderland”. We were fortunate enough to hold the ball at Exdo Events Center, our beneficiaries were Urban Peak and Freedom Service Dogs. The following weekend, Denver arrived in force to our daughter court in Colorado Springs where Gabbie was honored with a permanent title of “Benevolent and Inspiring Empress to UCPPE for life”

In December, my Empress attended Las Vegas’ coronation along with Princess Royale 42. That year Vegas had 9 members of the College of Monarchs that shared responsibilities for the past years reign. For the 1^st time in several years, I.C.R.M.E. gave out crystal candy dishes instead of our trademark platters. Gabbie, as always, was in theme to coronation and received the “Best in Theme Female” award!

On January 1st, Emperor 42 along with Emperor 19 John Menchaca, Emperor and Empress 29 Robert Flores and Jazmine James went to celebrate Houston’s coronation. A fun-filled weekend ensued when Emperor and Empress 40 of the Pikes Peak Empire joined in the antics that ensued at all the strip clubs!

In February, Reign 42, along with Salt Lake City, hosted the Seattle In-Town show, raising money for Seattle’s Educational scholarship. Enjoying her 40^th anniversary Empress 2 Scotti Carlyle, Emperor 7 Gary Edwards, Emperor 13 Chuck Bates and Empress 40 Lushus LaRell,, Price Royale 42 Charles Rozanski joined  and Rena 42 Ladycat De’Ore in the festivities.  Richard and Charles missed their flight and came in late, barely making it to the show.  Lushus had another one of those only you girl moments, she hung her wig on the light blub of a mirror.  We were all looking for the light switch to turn on the lights.  We fond it and her wig melted like cheese on a burger!

We began to wrap up our year hosting those annual events such as Awards Banquet, Smack-A-Star, the In-Town show, the Seattle / Salt Lake show. Gabbie and Vida attended the last out of town coronation in Ft. Worth.

Our year ended with Coronation on April 26^th, 2016…the opening of 2^nd set the 42^nd family provided a phenomenal rendition of Madonna’s MTV”s Vogue, 3 months of rehearsals paid off!  Together Richard and I had one crazy ride as the Elected 42^nd Monarchs.  Even with all the difficulty we made our year something that we are both proud of!