Last week in Las Vegas for the Adult Entertainment Expo, I needed something positive to happen after enduring an endlessly loooong line of folks waiting for taxis at the airport. Out of the sky it happened, just as I was walking into the Press Room. There they were; three of Houston’s guardian angels, standing in line with big huge smiles. Yup, Adult Quest’s president and publisher John Gray, editor Steve Seidman, and super all-around beauty Jade Simone St. Clair. Now, I don’t know why they were so happy (but, I’m guessing they had just arrived via a rental car or limo, not an airport taxi) however, whenever the lovely Jade is in the house, she turns everything into goodness, happiness, and beauty.

After we registered, John whipped it out — his camera, that is (shame on you for thinking I was about to say something else) to take a couple of photos of Jade and me, poses which gave me my first erection of the morning. Jade rocks! And John and Steve are super nice gentlemen who make Texans proud. Before leaving the Press Room, we all agreed that AVN’s Grace Lee oversaw a perfect Press Room operation, as well as all the coordination and planning leading up to the Expo.

Before venturing out to the HUGE exhibit area, I went to the Venetian for breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, where I found beaming smiles on the staff, just like every time I enjoy their service and cuisine. It’s become sort of a tradition that I check in with them each year just to let them know that I haven’t croaked yet. And, of course, I bring them a bag of adult DVDs, which I suspect is why they seem so happy to see me.

The opening day of the Expo is for industry folks to meet and do business before the fans flood the gigantic display area loaded with big name starlets and industry movers-and-shakers. I’ve been attending this event every year since I entered porn in 1994 and I’m still in awe at the beautiful adult actresses. Were I not presently part of the industry, I would definitely plan my vacation around attending this spectacular gathering of adult performers, and others, EVERY year.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing/hugging/chatting/etc with Stormy Daniels, Isabel Caruso (who was my date last year when I was inducted into the AVN Awards Show Hall of Fame), Trisha Uptown, Christy Canyon, Theresa Flynt, and many, many more Adult Industry All-Americans. I also enjoyed extended conversations with John Leslie, Patrick Collins, numerous attorneys and Free Speech Coalition officials, Bobby Rinaldi and his www.WildLifeXXX.com associates, YNOT.com president Connor AVN folks, the people from X-BIZ, and others in the industry who work hard (pun intended) to provide wholesome adult entertainment to the world. I’m personally convinced that God respects and appreciates the people in the adult industry, those who help humans enjoy the wonder of sex among consenting adults.

One observation I especially noted about this year’s Expo was the presence of internet entities. It makes a lot of sense to me for the video and internet components to consolidate and utilize varieties of delivery platforms and marketing methods. After all, it’s all about providing visuals and mechanisms for adult sexual gratification!

The Sunday before the Expo in Las Vegas, I was invited to a classy wine tasting at the home of the owner of the Déjà Vu empire of gentlemen’s clubs. He’s a true American who has a heart of gold and he showed me his draft of a plan he is about to launch to get out the vote BIG TIME this year. As it’s finalized and released, I will keep readers of this column informed. I’d love to see everyone, not just Déjà Vu employees/entertainers/vendors/etc, band together and show the politicians at all locations and levels of government that we fans of adult entertainment vote, and that we want our personal freedoms left alone and our voices heard, too! Stay tuned, and also keep an eye out at FreeSpeechCoalition.com for voting information. We’ve been through hell since Bush took office, now it’s time to use the power of the ballot box for upcoming elections (at ALL levels).

PLEASE do indeed register to vote, become informed voters, and actually vote in each and every future election at all levels where elections are held. You and I, not just the noisy and demanding radical hypocritical religious right, deserve that our opinions, voices, and VOTES count, too! Their God does not frown on adult entertainment, but he might frown on their hypocritical exclusion of OUR rights! Voting is heavenly, so let’s all do it!

I wish everyone a good 2008, filled with happiness, safety, and good health – and, elections of politicians who will do the right thing and represent ALL of us voters. Please register and vote!