It all started at a college fair.
Collin and I met at a college fair at College of San Mateo. Our paths crossed again across the state a year later at a college fair at Imperial Valley College. And it wasn’t until a college fair at Moreno Valley College another year later that I finally got his personal number.
Our romance blossomed in community college cafeterias, courtyards, and classrooms. Our first meals shared together were boxed lunches and mini water bottles purchased from Costco.
So it was only fitting that this edition of the newsletter, the last one before we get married, takes place at a college fair.
This interview took place on September 30, 2024 during the San Diego Miramar College fair. Please enjoy the following interview, which has been edited for brevity and decency.
Alberto (A): Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with Well-Read and Overfed today. How does this interview find you today?
Collin (C): It finds me standing outside in the sun at a community college.
A: What do college fairs mean to you?
C: You really don’t want that answer and I really don’t want it published.
A: Okay! I got your contact information five years ago by asking you if you were interested in collaborating on a presentation. That presentation has now turned into planning a wedding together. How do you feel about that? Was it expected?
C: It was unexpected, but also completely expected. Let me explain. It was expected because I remember you checking me out at IVC. Not Irvine Valley College…
A: Imperial Valley College.
C: Yes, that one. You’re leading the witness right now.
A: This is more like a fireside chat.
C: He laughs. I remember looking at you and being like, “watch this be the man you end up marrying” and I envisioned our future together. Because I was watching you check me out while I was standing there, checking you out, while looking stunning, naturally. So, like, it was expected. I manifested this. Like there would be no Casa McLavalos without Casa Collin.
A: Speaking of Casa McLavalos, can you tell me more about this project you’re promoting?
C: Casa McLavalos Presents: The Wedding is an experience. It’s ethereal. It’s iconography viewed through the lens of disco. It’s not current, but it is. It’s a legends ball. It’s everything.
A: Wow, sounds expensive.
C: It absolutely is!
A: What would you say to the literal dozens of people who we love that we were unable to extend an invitation to?
C: I hope no one’s feelings are hurt. Not being invited was nothing personal and I hope our loved ones understand that hosting a wedding in America’s most expensive city pushed us to make some very tough decisions.
A: I agree. I wish we had enough money to invite our enemies, too. I want them to see how happy we are.
C: Wow, what a very normal thing to say right before our wedding.
A: Any other things you’d like to plug while you’re here? Oh, wait. I have a student at my table. Bye.
September Book Reviews
What You Are Looking for is in the Library: 4 stars
What I liked about this book: I loved how charming and sweet this book was. It was a lovely reminder that a new attitude can change everything. It was inspiring, sweet, but not cheesy. I also love books that have interconnected story lines and this one had an overall formula for each character, but it never felt stale or boring.
I try to read a few translated books a year and this is my favorite one of 2024 so far. If you haven’t checked out Japanese literature yet, I highly recommend it.
Who I’d recommend this book to: People who are in a rut; people who needed to be reminded of the power of new perspective; people who want a quick read; people who love the library.
Medium of the book: started with the hardcover but pivoted to an e-book borrowed from the library
Judging a book by its cover: It’s the reason I bought the physical copy! Love it very much. I’d buy that artwork as a print for my home.
The Last Ranger: 3 stars
What I liked about this book: This book was fine. I don’t think I would’ve finished it if I weren’t listening to it. I persevered because I love that it takes place in Yellowstone, my favorite place on earth.
Who I’d recommend this book to: anyone who has ever watched a video of a tourist getting too close to a wild animal and rooted for the wild animal; anyone who has ever been to a National Park.
Medium of the book: audiobook
Judging a book by its cover: I like the painting of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone but the wolf superimposed on it makes it look a bit cheap to me. It would’ve been more effective for me if the wolf was taken out.
The Horse: 4 stars
What I liked about this book: This book was bleak! Not enough horses, in my opinion. The last third of the book was my favorite and elevated it to 4 stars.
Who I’d recommend this book to: people who want a quick read; people who have ever thought about the internal lives of lounge singers and their bands; people who have been to the casinos in Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Las Vegas; anyone who likes stories about addiction.
Medium of the book: e-book
Judging a book by its cover: I love yellow books and horseshoes so this cover feels like it was made for me. The drink in the middle is important to the story but it bums me out. I would not buy this as a print.
Four Squares: 4 stars
What I liked about this book: I liked the imperfect protagonist and how it provided a window into what aging as a queer man could like. I also liked how it reminded me of the importance of experiencing “new feelings” in order to spice up one’s life. The comfort zone is nice, but there’s a whole world out there.
Who I’d recommend this book to: anyone who struggles with survivor’s guilt; any queer person who has ever considered what it will be like to age; anyone with a chosen family; any gay man who has ever fallen in love with a “straight” man; anyone who has struggled to make friends as an adult.
Medium of the book: e-book
Judging a book by its cover: Simple, but cute.
My Favorite People’s favorite things.
I love the Celebrity Shopping lists on The Strategist and the “10 Essentials” videos on GQ’s YouTube channel. I think you can learn a lot about people based off of their favorite things. This recurring segment highlights some of My Favorite People’s favorite things.
Please enjoy my future husband’s favorite things as told by him.
It’s delicious to be back gracing the September issue that is actually published in October. Can we believe that I’m the first favorite person to be featured here for a second time? Be careful where you step, slaydies, there’s broken glass all over the floor! Sure, I know I’m quite actually marrying the legend behind this newsletter and that automatically qualifies me to demand permanent residence in the September Issue, but we have to live for the pure iconography of it all.
Since our last chat (see last year’s legendary September Issue), I have traveled, eaten, and served “See You Next Tuesday!” in a god fearing way. Through that journey, I collected a celebrated list of things that I’m beyond obsessed with and will share with you now. Because if you're not obsessed with your own life, diva… who will be?
10 Things to Embolden the Delusional Diva Within
Snail Mucin: If you ever watched and were horrified by that one early aughts commercial on Spanish language television in which hundreds of snails crawl all over the faces and bodies of youthful models, then this one's for you. No, the cream they were advertising was not made of blended snails (I was an imaginative 9 year old). It was snail mucin, which is also known as snail secretion filtrate, which is also known as filtered snail trail. I know. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. This stuff hydrates, plumps, and evens out my skin in a way that no moisturizer has been able to before. Make sure the snail mucin you buy is snail-friendly by the way. Commercial trauma be damned!
Gua sha: For those of you who are also incredibly late to this beauty trend, gua sha is a traditional Chinese practice that involves gently scraping the skin with a smooth-edged tool to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote lymphatic drainage. Never have I ever felt more like a selfcare baddie hunty diva than when I take my gua sha out of the freezer for a gentle facial massage. Say that sentence five times fast.
Collagen Supplements: I started mixing collagen powder into my coffee in my mid-20s to prevent early signs of aging (hold that eye roll-- I’m literally stunning) and loved the effects I saw in my complexion. I did not love the way it made my coffee taste and smell like the liquified contents of an urn, though. I abandoned collagen altogether until recently when I decided to pick up the pill form in preparation for our upcoming legends ball. What I love most about the pill version is their convenience—you can just pop them daily and let them work from the inside out for plumper, more radiant skin. As always, I’m not a certified expert-- consult your doctor before adding any new supplements to your diet.
I’m expecting a check, NeoCell! Your marketing team could never.Shannon Storms Beador: I am here once again begging you to watch the Real Housewives-- specifically Orange County, starting from Shannon’s first season. Watching Shannon is more than just indulging in drama—it’s about seeing an imperfect, deeply emotional person navigate the ups and downs of an incredibly unusual lifestyle. This season, she is SHINING and finally getting the recognition she deserves as a top tier Real Housewife-- despite her gross ex’s attempts at tearing her down further after her widely publicized DUI earlier this year. She clipped a house, exited her car, and pretended like she was on a walk with her dog Archie when police found her. I never said these are good people, but they do make for hilarious entertainment.
Very Delta: Do you want to see me go off? I think you want to see me go off. For the culturally blind, Delta Work is a drag queen from Southern California who made it big on season three of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. She is the ultimate Karen-not-Karen, sharing witty quips and observations about the current state of customer service, pop culture, chain restaurants, and all things Diet Coke. Her podcast is themed after a 90s daytime talk show where she “looks gorgeous, speaks extemporaneously, invites fascinating people on the couch, and gets Very Delta.” She makes me proud to be from Southern California and unabashedly proud to not take shit from anyone at any time for any reason. If you don’t believe me or in the magic of drag, you definitely shouldn’t watch her pass a blind taste test of Diet Coke.
Canva: If you’re a professional graphic designer, feel free to skip this one. Alberto and I are throwing a legends ball in a little less than two weeks and I used Canva to create all of the advertising materials for it. It is so easy to use and I’m actually so proud of how everything turned out! I’m not sure I will keep my subscription after the legends ball is over, but I feel so much more confident in my abilities as a designer! I’m thinking about taking a class some time next year when I have the mental space again.
MOO.com: I learned about MOO when I was working at my last workplace; our marketing director used them to print our business cards. When it came time to start printing marketing materials for the legends ball, they were the first company I thought of because of their quality, decent pricing, and quick turnaround. Actual feedback we have received on the marketing materials: “Ooh this feels RICH,” “ I’m gagged over these [marketing materials],” “Collin, YOUR MIND!” When I needed to change the address of the ball after the materials were printed and shipped, they were kind enough to let me edit and reprint at no extra cost! I think they mostly serve corporations, but we love creatively avoiding overpaying for legends ball marketing materials-- the legends ball industry itself is wild!
Gavin Turek: Gavin Turek (pictured above) is an LA-based singer, songwriter, and performer who specializes in melding the genres of funk, disco, and pop music. I was introduced to her by an old friend, about ten years ago, when Turek released the “Frontline / Don’t Fight It EP.” Her early music is part of the soundtrack of my early 20s when my innermost diva began to emerge from the depths of self-loathing and into the greener pastures of self-love. Now, as I’m exiting my 20s this December, she is back with “Diva of the People,” an album that explores loss, grief, and self-love over vibrant and synthy disco beats that transport you to a time in which you never lived, but that you wish you did (watch out, Jessie Ware). If you want to cry on the dancefloor, listen to “Heaven Knows.” If you want to get over a bad break up of any kind, listen to “IOU.” And for those of you who have been down and out over being wronged, listen to “Back on the Market.” Alberto and I got to see her perform at a bar in San Diego last month! I got to talk to her, hug her, and thank her for her music. She is truly a Diva of the People.
Kindle: I was an avid reader as a kid, but that love of reading was snuffed out of me in high school and college when required readings became a thing. Alberto got me back into reading when we got together, but I really only focused on audiobooks because I found myself over analyzing the text of visual books. Earlier this year, Alberto stepped on and cracked a Kindle that I had for four years and only used once. My beautiful future husband took it upon himself to replace it, so I now have no choice but to use it. I find meditating before reading very helpful in shutting up my inner literary analyst and can proudly say I’ve visually read most of the almost 25 books I have read so far this year.
The Field of Cosmetic Dentistry: If you tragically live and breathe in a black and white world, you believe that veneers are an absolute monstrosity that only the most vapid and self-absorbed airheads buy into with terrible, unnatural results. Well, let this vapid airhead paint your world with every color of the rainbow for a few minutes:
I spent the majority of my childhood, teens, and early adulthood absolutely loathing my smile. I grew a set of adult teeth that required help not just for vanity purposes, but for health purposes. My parents didn’t have the money to improve the situation when I was growing up, so I spent the majority of my early life thinking that orthodontic care would always be out of my reach. Yes, I even felt this way when I landed a job with dental benefits after graduating college. Talk about imposter syndrome!
In early 2021, I broke a baby tooth (yes, a baby tooth) on a frozen chocolate chip and rushed to the dentist. Naturally, the dentist took one look at the inside of my mouth and told me I needed to see an orthodontist who took my insurance. When we moved to San Diego months later, orthodontic care was first on my priority list and I kicked off a two-year journey of improving my smile. During the journey, I learned that I have peg laterals, which means the teeth closest to my two front teeth are abnormally tiny. I was already elated to have braces, but when my orthodontist told me I could manage veneers, I actually cried. When the braces came off and the veneers went on my peg laterals, I was on cloud nine. I looked in the mirror and felt like I was finally seeing my real (hot) face after years of not loving what was in the mirror.
I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Cheryl Guerrero and her team for making me feel so safe through the journey and to Dr. Victor Tran and his team for their attention to detail. Most importantly, I am grateful for Alberto seeing me and loving me through good teeth and not-so-ideal teeth. I am so happy this version of myself gets to marry you and that I get to do so smiling without fear.