For those who might be wondering, my column in the Gay & Lesbian Times now runs the second week of the month. Even though it’s a bit late, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year. It’s time to put money away in your IRA account for 2008.

“Are you crazy?” That was my reaction when my sister called months ago to tell me my nephew Matthew was getting married in Rochester, Minn., on Dec. 22. Not only could I not use my frequent flyer miles, the airfare was more expensive during the holidays – and who travels to Minnesota in the middle of winter? Being the good Auntie I am, I opted for a tuxedo rather than a gown to save my sister the heart attack, and I booked a flight to Rochester, via Chicago, on American Airlines just to earn the mileage – big mistake!

If there was one thing I learned from my travels, it’s this: Always take a direct flight during the holidays. Northwest has a direct flight from LAX. And, if you have to make a connection, avoid heavy snow cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver.

When I landed in Chicago, I discovered my flight to Rochester had been cancelled, and American Airlines had so kindly booked me a flight the following day. Were they kidding? There was no way I was going to stay overnight in the Chicago airport. After telling a sob story, I was put on a flight to Minneapolis right away, and then I had to take an hour-long shuttle bus ride to Rochester. Somewhere in the mix, my luggage was lost.

Without my Dolces and Armanis for the wedding, I was forced to buy granny briefs from Target to get by (my luggage was finally delivered five days after the wedding). Here’s a useful tip: file a claim immediately and get a locator number. Then, insist the airline approve an emergency stipend so you can buy essentials in the meantime. Make sure all receipts are itemized or you won’t be reimbursed. And, do not get frustrated when you call the 800 number and no one answers. The best time to call is after midnight. Don’t expect an update via telephone or online. In fact, as I write this column 10 days after my luggage was found, the Web site still says my luggage will be delivered to Rochester. I also learned that American Airlines does not have a luggage tracking system, so the bar code on your luggage tag means squat.

I’m still fighting to get reimbursed for my shuttle trip to my destination and for a small drug store receipt. I did get $37.75 for my Target purchase, however, after waiting for three and a half hours at the baggage service center at LAX. After taking my money for my trip, and not taking me to my destination, and losing my luggage, American Airlines is nickel and dime-ing me. After I use up whatever mileage I have left with American Airlines, which I’ve been flying with for more than 20 years, it is history in my book.

Those of you who follow my column know that I always try to catch a Broadway show every time I’m in New York. I also try to see some obscure, off-Broadway show when I can. Naturally, I couldn’t turn down a free ticket to The Public Theatre to see David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face. You may remember Hwang as the author of the Tony-Award winning play M. Butterfly. Yellow Face is sort of an autobiography of Mr. Hwang during the period after M. Butterfly. The plot focuses on the controversy of casting a Caucasian man (Jonathan Pryce) in an Asian role for the Broadway musical Miss Saigon. As a leading Asian playwright, Hwang played a pivotal role in the protest. Actors Equity, who initially agreed with protestors, finally granted a waiver after successful British producer Cameron Mackintosh threatened to pull the show from Broadway. Later when Mr. Hwang was in the process of casting an Asian in his own play, he had great difficulty finding the right actor and ultimately convinced himself that the actor he really wanted, Noah Bean of FX’s “Damages,” was pseudo-Asian. The play also portrayed the conflicts and trials of being an Asian immigrant in America. The ensemble cast was superb, especially Hoon Lee who played the role of Mr. Hwang.

The next day, I went Downtown to the South Street Seaport to try and secure half-price Broadway tickets. Surprisingly, for the holidays, there were quite a few shows to choose from, but I jumped at the opportunity to see the 2007 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Spring Awakening. Set in a provincial German town in the 1890s, the stirring musical is about the coming of age of a group of young school children, who discover their sexuality. The show is minimally staged, with three rows of audience seating on both wings of the stage. The story included a masturbation scene (under nightclothes, of course), gay kissing and simulated sex acts on stage. The main character, a boy, even pulls down his pants and shows off his nice bubble butt – twice! It’s all for the sake of art, though. One would hope that parents take the time to read up on the show they take their children to, instead of fidgeting in their seats during these scenes. I watched that unfold when I saw Take Me Out and The Color Purple. People actually walked out during the glorious locker room shower scene in Take Me Out (I saw it a second time at The Old Globe), and many were surprised by Celie’s lesbian relationship with Shug Avery in The Color Purple. What would parents do when Daniel Radcliffe, dear Harry Potter, takes it all off on Broadway in Equus?

By the way, the legendary Chaka Khan and “American Idol’s” Lakisha Jones are joining the Broadway cast of The Color Purple (the U.S. touring company is currently at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles); Clay Aiken is joining the cast of Spamalot, and John Schneider (“Dukes of Hazzard”) will play Billy Flynn in Chicago. Other noteworthy plays currently on Broadway include August: Osage County and The Farnsworth Invention.

Celebrity D-lister Kathy Griffin performs live at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Jan. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster locations or at LiveNation.com.

America’s gay Asian posterboy Alec Mapa (seen in TV’s “Ugly Betty” and “Desperate Housewives”) performs an all-new solo evening of “No Fats, Femmes or Asians” at the Renberg Theatre at the L.A. Gay Center, to benefit The Center’s programs and services for homeless youth. Showtimes are 8 p.m. on Jan. 11 and 12, and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13. Tickets are available at LAGayCenter.org/boxoffice.

Lorenzo Lamas, the age-defying hunk from “Falcon Crest,” performs in concert at the Samueli Theatre from Jan. 17-20 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The New York Times compares him to Dean Martin. Tickets are available online at OCPAC.org. Who knew he could sing?

Over at the McCullum Theatre in Palm Springs, Broadway diva Patti Lupone teams up with Mandy Patimkin, appearing together for the first time after their Tony-award winning performance in Evita. The one night only show is on Friday, Jan. 18, and tickets are available at McCullumTheatre.com.

Hillcrest Mardi Gras, the mother of all bead-tossing block parties, returns on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 5, in Hillcrest. There will be lots of hot guys who would do just about anything for cheap beads. More information is available at HillcrestMardiGras.org. Save the date!