The International Leather Sir/boy contest and the International Community BootBlack contest weekend was held in Dallas, Texas, on August 30-31. Yep, they're crazy. And a few hundred crazy people packed their formal leathers and joined them in the air conditioning inside and the 109 degree heat outside. I love all these crazy people - they're my family.
We flew in on Friday and (eventually) made it to the hotel. Yep, I screwed up on setting up a ride, but it was an honest and well-intentioned screw up. Luckey and I shared a room with our friends Tank and Lizzie, the current Mr and Ms Atlanta Eagle titleholders. Luckey, Tank, and I arrived about the same time at the hotel and got everything squared away at the front desk, got our keys, and headed up. Lizzie arrived the night before and had the whole night in the room to herself. I suspect it was her favorite night, lol. Then Daddy and two puppies arrived. The kitty had carefully unpacked and stacked her luggage before we arrived. Then the puppies rolled in and ESPLODED in the room. I was lucky to get a drawer and a place to stash my suitcase. So yes, we determined that puppies ESPLODE all over a hotel room. Two puppies do not double the esplosion - it goes up exponentially. Ask anybody who rooms with one. And as word got out which room we were in, puppies began arriving to bark out a HELLO. Unfortunately, we were right next to a conference/class room, and all the barking disturbed the Sirs & boys Roundtable discussion - Sorry about that, Sir John!
The contest started on Friday night with a blessing from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence that was tailored to the occasion - very well done. Then it got down to business. The producers introduced a new format to keep things lively - they mixed hotwear, fantasy, and speeches into a constant stream instead of grouping them together. It was new and fun, and kept the pace moving. Afterwards, most people headed for the shuttle to the Dallas Eagle, but I knew it was going to be a long weekend, so it was early bedtime for me.
Saturday was MOSH day, sponsored by the DFW Pups & Trainers. After a good breakfast, I set out to visit the Vendor Market and get ready for the mosh. What a fun time! We had quiet pups and rowdy pups, gentle pups and rumble pups, leather pups and rubber pups, male and female bodied pups, and WE HAD FUN! Well done, DFW Pups & Trainers! You secured a safe area for the pups to play and set it up well. We did have a few runaway pups scurrying through the vendor mart and under tables, but fortunately nothing was broken or upended. We had a great deal of visibility as well, and a couple of friendly kitties stopped by to say Meow. Afterwards, I helped Rylee and Loki with the tear down and mat transport out to their vehicle - they were tired pups! It was great to get the time to visit with these fine young men who are heading up the DFW Pups & Trainers organization. After dinner at Joe's Crab Shack, it was time to get dressed up again for the second half of the contest. It was 109 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and unfortunately, the air conditioning was too overburdened to keep up on Saturday night in the ballroom. It was one hot night. The producers kept the same routine going and we heard speeches from the bootblacks and also from the hotwear/fantasy routines from the night before. Those who gave speeches the night before were in hotwear and fantasy routines tonight. Once again, it kept the audience on their toes. We were also blessed to hear Sir Jack, Boy Bamm-Bamm, and Ruin deliver their step-aside speeches. Made me cry... And, it ran long, as contests are wont to do. I met many of the contestants through the weekend, and I can honestly say I did not envy the judges their work. A strong field of men and women stood up and represented their communities well. In the end, Sir George took home the title of International LeatherSir 2013, Gattor went forward as the International Leatherboy 2013, and Paul proudly carried the International Community Bootblack 2013 title back to Seattle! Congratulations to everyone who represented their communities, and best wishes to the new titleholders! Off to the shuttle and the Eagle to celebrate! When that was done, I introduced Dominic, the Eastern Canada Leatherboy to a true delicacy - tamales - purchased from the nice lady outside the bar. These were exquisitely tasty, light, flavorful without being too spicy, and damn good at 1:30 am. I think they'd be good at 9am, noon, and 4pm as well. I tried to explain how to make them to Dom, but he just looked at me blankly. "Eastern Canada!" he says. "Just eat!" was my reply. He did, and we were happy. Bedtime came late that night after long conversations. Sleepytime!
Sunday - oh, Sunday. How early you arrive. How bright your sunshine and how miserably hot you are. 109 again. There was an entire day of activities at the Dallas Eagle once again, and shuttles to get you there. I haven't sweated so much since I lived in Oklahoma. Bleagh. But the people were great and the drinks were strong - so we had a fun time. Dinner came at a place called Hunky's in the gayborhood, and we stopped to pay homage at JRs in our leather afterwards. A long night of fun lay ahead, but I could not bring myself to get dressed again. The heat and humidity cooked me - I do not do well in heat. My leather title vest was heavy and wet with sweat. eeew. So I stayed in, napped, and visited with Lizzie. She's an amazing woman, and I learned so much from her this weekend. I promise there will be at least one post that comes along later to address some of our discussion. Thank you, Lizzie, for sharing your life and your weekend with us!
Monday was an easy, lazy day. Tank and Lizzie left for the airport about 11, and Luckey arranged for our transport (so I couldn't screw it up). We spend the day with Lawna Jocqui and had a really fun time. Lunch at Hunky's again (yum!) and a trip to a HUGE underwear store in the gayborhood, followed by dessert at the Black Eyed Pea with some of his family. Good times! Then it was airport time, so he dropped us off at DFW. Thank you Lawna!
Waiting on the plane, my thoughts turned to IPTC 2013 and our return to Dallas in one short month. Luckey and I will sit on the judging panel and we will get to speak our last time as the current International Puppy and Trainer before we pass the titles along to our successors. This has been an amazing year, and we're so thankful to everyone we've met along the way.
Great Job to all the good people who poured their time and their money and their sanity into moving this event to Dallas and making it a great time for everyone! I know it was hard work, and it paid off. Congratulations ILSb/ICBB team!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Seattle Visit
Luckey and I have been wanting to visit the great northwest all year. We see all the pups and handlers in Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle are working together and building a strong region. So we talked to Ruin Awaits for contact information and timing advise and approached SEA-PAH about visiting for a weekend. They were very gracious and we discussed the classes we could offer. The schedule was set for August 22-26 and tickets booked. Let the fun begin!
Luckey and I have never visited the region, so they offered to show us around the city. We arrived on Thursday and Josh picked us up from the airport and away we went! It was a beautiful sunny day in Seattle, and we made the most of it. He took us to a local bar for lunch, and the food was fantastic! Then we headed downtown to see the Space Needle and the parks and museums around it. Fun fun fun! Then he drove us up to a vantage point to see some skylines and harbor views - it's such a beautiful city. And the streets - wow. I thought San Francisco had some steep streets!
On Friday, Matthew took us to the Market and out touring again. I was blown away again by the beauty of the city. The people watching was great and the food (yes, eating again) very tasty. We found some phenomenal hot sauce in the Market based on the Scorpion Pepper - hotter than a Ghost Chili - it's the next generation of POW! I was impressed by the flavor plus the heat. One tiny taste made my tastebuds sing with joy and the heat lingered at the back of my mouth for 20 minutes. We bought some. Matthew invited friends over for dinner so we did some shopping for that, walked past the Original Starbucks, toured the Underground City, and ran all over the place. Dinner that night was great fun with new friends, and the food was amazing. These guys know how to put together a night of good food and Cards Against Humanity! Thanks to Baus Yukon, Pup Gadget, Pup Squeak, and Pup Amp for a great night of fun and to Matthew and Josh for hosting the evening!
Saturday arrived and we set out early to The Cuff, where we were presenting Trainer/Handler 101 and Obedience Training 101 classes. It was a pleasure to meet Daddy Jeff as we got things set up and ready for the class. He's a great guy! Before we started, we visited Doghouse Leathers just around the corner. My jaw dropped. It's got EVERYTHING! All the brands, all the names, all the sizes, all the styles, and it's all high quality merchandise. I Love This Place! While we were there, the fine folks from Raven's Hollow stopped in to visit and drop off a couple of gifts - chain maille collars for Puppies In The Mountains door prizes and the International Puppy and Trainer Contest auction basket. They drove up from Tacoma to deliver them. Thank you guys - they are beautiful! After a bit of shopping, it was time to head over to The Cuff. It's got a great space for teaching right on the dance floor, so we all got down to business. The day was well-attended and everyone was friendly and contributed to the classes. One pup even drove down from VAN-PAH to join us. Afterwards, it was time to catch a short nap/rest, and get dressed to go out for the night. We went out in our leathers and visited a great Tapas bar for dinner, and then off to The Cuff and CC Attle's. ooo, you gotta watch that Killer Kool Aid - it's potent stuff. The night was fun and social and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.
Sunday rolled around and we were back at The Cuff for Puppy 101 and a Mosh Pit! The class was fun, as always, and the mosh was a lively one. Those pups are lively! Then we stopped by Ruin Awaits' party, because her step-aside was the following weekend in Dallas. We met some nice folks there and were grateful to be included in such an intimate gathering. Dinner was next (of course) and the options were pizza or burritos. Matthew decided to exercise his vocabulary and change out the conjunction. Why not pizza AND burritos? I love these guys. After dinner settled, we had some rope time with Matthew, Pup Squeak, and Josh. Look out, guys - that puppy has got a knack for rope!
The last two days were both sunny and cloudy, but Monday rolled in with rain - the stereotypical Seattle weather. It was really beautiful. We were set to fly out that night, and we had offers of early coffee, lunch, and social time - and we had to decline them. We were pooped! Those guys ran us ragged with fun. Even with the plentiful oxygen there at sea level, we just needed to sleep and relax and pack our bags and be lumpy. The day passed with a beautiful easy pace, and we were rested and ready for the trip home. Fortunately, the flight home was easy - no problems at all. Then, once again, it was time to unpack the bags, do laundry, repack, and head to Dallas the next weekend for International Leather Sir/boy and International Community Bootblack weekend!
Many thanks to the good people of Seattle for their hospitality, friendship, and kindness. We are always amazed and blessed to find such wonderful people in the puppy community. Their hearts are big and full of fun and laughter, and we are better men for knowing them. Thank you all!
Luckey and I have never visited the region, so they offered to show us around the city. We arrived on Thursday and Josh picked us up from the airport and away we went! It was a beautiful sunny day in Seattle, and we made the most of it. He took us to a local bar for lunch, and the food was fantastic! Then we headed downtown to see the Space Needle and the parks and museums around it. Fun fun fun! Then he drove us up to a vantage point to see some skylines and harbor views - it's such a beautiful city. And the streets - wow. I thought San Francisco had some steep streets!
On Friday, Matthew took us to the Market and out touring again. I was blown away again by the beauty of the city. The people watching was great and the food (yes, eating again) very tasty. We found some phenomenal hot sauce in the Market based on the Scorpion Pepper - hotter than a Ghost Chili - it's the next generation of POW! I was impressed by the flavor plus the heat. One tiny taste made my tastebuds sing with joy and the heat lingered at the back of my mouth for 20 minutes. We bought some. Matthew invited friends over for dinner so we did some shopping for that, walked past the Original Starbucks, toured the Underground City, and ran all over the place. Dinner that night was great fun with new friends, and the food was amazing. These guys know how to put together a night of good food and Cards Against Humanity! Thanks to Baus Yukon, Pup Gadget, Pup Squeak, and Pup Amp for a great night of fun and to Matthew and Josh for hosting the evening!
Saturday arrived and we set out early to The Cuff, where we were presenting Trainer/Handler 101 and Obedience Training 101 classes. It was a pleasure to meet Daddy Jeff as we got things set up and ready for the class. He's a great guy! Before we started, we visited Doghouse Leathers just around the corner. My jaw dropped. It's got EVERYTHING! All the brands, all the names, all the sizes, all the styles, and it's all high quality merchandise. I Love This Place! While we were there, the fine folks from Raven's Hollow stopped in to visit and drop off a couple of gifts - chain maille collars for Puppies In The Mountains door prizes and the International Puppy and Trainer Contest auction basket. They drove up from Tacoma to deliver them. Thank you guys - they are beautiful! After a bit of shopping, it was time to head over to The Cuff. It's got a great space for teaching right on the dance floor, so we all got down to business. The day was well-attended and everyone was friendly and contributed to the classes. One pup even drove down from VAN-PAH to join us. Afterwards, it was time to catch a short nap/rest, and get dressed to go out for the night. We went out in our leathers and visited a great Tapas bar for dinner, and then off to The Cuff and CC Attle's. ooo, you gotta watch that Killer Kool Aid - it's potent stuff. The night was fun and social and we enjoyed ourselves tremendously.
Sunday rolled around and we were back at The Cuff for Puppy 101 and a Mosh Pit! The class was fun, as always, and the mosh was a lively one. Those pups are lively! Then we stopped by Ruin Awaits' party, because her step-aside was the following weekend in Dallas. We met some nice folks there and were grateful to be included in such an intimate gathering. Dinner was next (of course) and the options were pizza or burritos. Matthew decided to exercise his vocabulary and change out the conjunction. Why not pizza AND burritos? I love these guys. After dinner settled, we had some rope time with Matthew, Pup Squeak, and Josh. Look out, guys - that puppy has got a knack for rope!
The last two days were both sunny and cloudy, but Monday rolled in with rain - the stereotypical Seattle weather. It was really beautiful. We were set to fly out that night, and we had offers of early coffee, lunch, and social time - and we had to decline them. We were pooped! Those guys ran us ragged with fun. Even with the plentiful oxygen there at sea level, we just needed to sleep and relax and pack our bags and be lumpy. The day passed with a beautiful easy pace, and we were rested and ready for the trip home. Fortunately, the flight home was easy - no problems at all. Then, once again, it was time to unpack the bags, do laundry, repack, and head to Dallas the next weekend for International Leather Sir/boy and International Community Bootblack weekend!
Many thanks to the good people of Seattle for their hospitality, friendship, and kindness. We are always amazed and blessed to find such wonderful people in the puppy community. Their hearts are big and full of fun and laughter, and we are better men for knowing them. Thank you all!
Monday, September 16, 2013
Dore Alley Adventures
Hmmm, it's the end of July and the amazing Up Your Alley event was approaching and we hadn't planned to attend. But as it got closer and everyone was announcing their travel plans, I got an urge to run away to San Francisco for the one day event. Well, ok, the street fair is a one day event, but the weekend of dance parties and social events has grown to keep people busy from Friday until Sunday night. Our friend Jake offered us buddy passes for an event when we first started the title year, and it looked like a good opportunity to take him up on the offer. So Thursday afternoon, we booked for Sunday morning and evening. Yes - a one day trip. Fly out at 6am and home at 7pm. Yes, we're crazy, but it's going to be fun! And fun it was! We had an adventure!
So, as I progress through this year, I continue to make mistakes in travel. I'm still alive, but these little things make me appreciate how well my boy handles all the details when we travel together.
Little things like - weather. It's summer. It's 90+ degrees in Denver all the time now. Why check the weather unless you're leaving the northern hemisphere. wrong. Mark Twain was alleged to make a comment about the summer weather in San Francisco, but nobody has been able to prove it.
We're traveling on buddy passes, so, we assume, full leather fetish attire would be inappropriate. So would the usual summer fare of shirtless and very little else. We opted for a classy compromise - kilts. Black Utilikilts - Mocker version, to be exact. Add nice heavy boots and a button down shirt, and we were set to travel in style. The title vests, phone chargers, and a few other essentials went into one backpack - our only luggage.
Luckey got off work at midnight, home by 1, and then to bed, only to be roused by my 3:30 alarm so we could get ready and off to the airport to catch a 6am flight. He was not the most cheerful puppy. We learned something new at the airport - the body scanners don't like kilts. Something about all that extra fabric makes them flag us as needing more attention. So we got patted down/felt up by the gate staff. The guy did not look thrilled with life at that moment. But we got to our gate, and there was room on the plane for standby tickets, so off we went to San Francisco!
Once there, we rode the BART to Civic Center station and had a lovely conversation about kilts and Burning Man with a stranger on the train. Then when we arrived, we emerged to WINTER. No jackets, no pants. It was in the low 60s, with wind and humidity. BRRRRR! First stop - Starbucks for hot drinks! Nothing started until 11, so we had time to kill, if we didn't freeze to death first. We wound up at Wicked Grounds and fell in love with the place. We chatted with the staff and looked at the art and took refuge from the cold in their warm little kinky cafe'.
When 11 rolled around, we headed for the fair and began seeing friends from around the US. There were far too many to mention, and it was great to hug and share their space and energy and be with them. The San Francisco K9 Unit had a booth set up with play mats and space to visit. It was so much fun to meet them and hang out, and we made their booth our home base for the day. We ventured out to meet the bootblacks and Luckey got his boots done by Nick Elliott- there were so many good friends there it felt like home. We met new friends as well, like Matthew and Pup Sky from Seattle. We'll be staying with Matthew when we make a visit to Seattle in a few weeks. As the day passed, we ventured out to get some lunch and explore the booths, find other friends, see the fair, but we kept coming back to the puppies and meeting new people.
All good things must end, so around 4:30, we headed back to the BART to make our way home. Once again, we were felt up by security personnel and got to our gate. Hmm, the standby list is HUGE. What's up with that? Oh, an earlier flight was postponed, and people are scrambling to get to Denver. What does that mean? We wait. And we waited some more. We knew that it was a gamble, and we chose standby flights...and this was my first time to do that. So we kept waiting until 11pm when the last flight went out. There was only one seat available when they got to us, and we didn't want to separate.
We grabbed a hotel room for the night and crashed hard. Luckey was a really good sport for running on 2.5 hours of sleep in two days. But when the alarm went off at 3:30 am so we could get to the airport by 4:30, he was less cheerful. Through the morning, we moved from gate to gate to gate, setting up camp near the desk and in sight of the video boards. Luckey napped and I watched people.
We had some amusing experiences while there. I discussed our kilts with two older Chinese women who were studying Scottish dancing. Their English was limited, and their husbands spoke even less. No, we are not Scottish. We are from Denver, Colorado. No, we don't dance. We like kilts because they are comfortable. No, they are not wool. They are very lightweight cotton (insert mental image of four Chinese adults examining the fabric of my kilt without exposing my bits). The husbands were amused and fielded a few questions through their wives. Nobody asked about underpants. I visited with flight crews and desk agents. I fielded more kilt questions. We sampled more food from the variety available in Terminal 3 of SFO. Six flights left without us. The seventh flight was our lucky one - we got the last two seats and headed home.
So our adventure concluded. We spent much more time in the SFO airport than we did at the street fair, and that's ok. The two day trip actually felt like an extended four day weekend, but getting home to our own beds was great. Time to wash the kilts and prepare for our next adventure!
So, as I progress through this year, I continue to make mistakes in travel. I'm still alive, but these little things make me appreciate how well my boy handles all the details when we travel together.
Little things like - weather. It's summer. It's 90+ degrees in Denver all the time now. Why check the weather unless you're leaving the northern hemisphere. wrong. Mark Twain was alleged to make a comment about the summer weather in San Francisco, but nobody has been able to prove it.
We're traveling on buddy passes, so, we assume, full leather fetish attire would be inappropriate. So would the usual summer fare of shirtless and very little else. We opted for a classy compromise - kilts. Black Utilikilts - Mocker version, to be exact. Add nice heavy boots and a button down shirt, and we were set to travel in style. The title vests, phone chargers, and a few other essentials went into one backpack - our only luggage.
Luckey got off work at midnight, home by 1, and then to bed, only to be roused by my 3:30 alarm so we could get ready and off to the airport to catch a 6am flight. He was not the most cheerful puppy. We learned something new at the airport - the body scanners don't like kilts. Something about all that extra fabric makes them flag us as needing more attention. So we got patted down/felt up by the gate staff. The guy did not look thrilled with life at that moment. But we got to our gate, and there was room on the plane for standby tickets, so off we went to San Francisco!
Once there, we rode the BART to Civic Center station and had a lovely conversation about kilts and Burning Man with a stranger on the train. Then when we arrived, we emerged to WINTER. No jackets, no pants. It was in the low 60s, with wind and humidity. BRRRRR! First stop - Starbucks for hot drinks! Nothing started until 11, so we had time to kill, if we didn't freeze to death first. We wound up at Wicked Grounds and fell in love with the place. We chatted with the staff and looked at the art and took refuge from the cold in their warm little kinky cafe'.
When 11 rolled around, we headed for the fair and began seeing friends from around the US. There were far too many to mention, and it was great to hug and share their space and energy and be with them. The San Francisco K9 Unit had a booth set up with play mats and space to visit. It was so much fun to meet them and hang out, and we made their booth our home base for the day. We ventured out to meet the bootblacks and Luckey got his boots done by Nick Elliott- there were so many good friends there it felt like home. We met new friends as well, like Matthew and Pup Sky from Seattle. We'll be staying with Matthew when we make a visit to Seattle in a few weeks. As the day passed, we ventured out to get some lunch and explore the booths, find other friends, see the fair, but we kept coming back to the puppies and meeting new people.
All good things must end, so around 4:30, we headed back to the BART to make our way home. Once again, we were felt up by security personnel and got to our gate. Hmm, the standby list is HUGE. What's up with that? Oh, an earlier flight was postponed, and people are scrambling to get to Denver. What does that mean? We wait. And we waited some more. We knew that it was a gamble, and we chose standby flights...and this was my first time to do that. So we kept waiting until 11pm when the last flight went out. There was only one seat available when they got to us, and we didn't want to separate.
We grabbed a hotel room for the night and crashed hard. Luckey was a really good sport for running on 2.5 hours of sleep in two days. But when the alarm went off at 3:30 am so we could get to the airport by 4:30, he was less cheerful. Through the morning, we moved from gate to gate to gate, setting up camp near the desk and in sight of the video boards. Luckey napped and I watched people.
We had some amusing experiences while there. I discussed our kilts with two older Chinese women who were studying Scottish dancing. Their English was limited, and their husbands spoke even less. No, we are not Scottish. We are from Denver, Colorado. No, we don't dance. We like kilts because they are comfortable. No, they are not wool. They are very lightweight cotton (insert mental image of four Chinese adults examining the fabric of my kilt without exposing my bits). The husbands were amused and fielded a few questions through their wives. Nobody asked about underpants. I visited with flight crews and desk agents. I fielded more kilt questions. We sampled more food from the variety available in Terminal 3 of SFO. Six flights left without us. The seventh flight was our lucky one - we got the last two seats and headed home.
So our adventure concluded. We spent much more time in the SFO airport than we did at the street fair, and that's ok. The two day trip actually felt like an extended four day weekend, but getting home to our own beds was great. Time to wash the kilts and prepare for our next adventure!
Friday, September 13, 2013
OKC Kink Weekend
Now we're off to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to participate in the Kink Weekend OKC July 19-21! Yes, Oklahoma in July. The only worse thing is Texas in August, right? And yes - in leather. But we were totally excited to go see what our friend Nate Benner was up to as Mr. Oklahoma Leather. This was a kink education weekend at the (In)Famous Habana Inn in Oklahoma City. There were classes during the day on Saturday and a contest for Mr. Heartland Leather on Saturday night. Pup Loki joined Luckey and I for this trip - he flew with us to CLAW earlier in the year, and he wanted to go to the Kink Weekend. He was a great traveling companion and an easy pup to room with.
Friday night started off with a party, and what a fun time! These boys know how to throw a good one. This was extra special for me, because my sister lives in OKC, and she was able to join us at the bar for the opening night party and fetish ball. Hi Sis! She got to hang with us and watch people shoot each other with blowgun darts, hang weights from their scrotum, swallow swords, and snap mousetraps on all ten fingers at once. Good times. Then she declined to staple a $5 donation to the nice man's cheek or forehead, opting instead for his abdomen. I would have gone for the tongue or something lower, but I don't think he would have been so keen on ME abusing him, lol. We had a good visit and she's looking pretty darn amazing these days!
On Saturday Loki and I got up fairly early and caught breakfast at Braum's (amazing food) which was a short walk from the hotel. We knew this because we went there for dinner as soon as we arrived on Friday. Once fortified, Loki and I wandered over to the Vendor Mart (held in a church!) and then grabbed lunch for Luckey. He was up earlier than us because he was serving as a judge in the contest and interviews were EARLY! Like 9am! Post lunch, it was time for Puppy Boot Camp! Pup Hercules, Midwest Puppy, presented a class on wrestling moves. It was really nice to hear him teach and demonstrate his knowledge (don't scrap with him!) in an intimate setting. Then I presented Trainer 101 and had great class participation. At one point, the handlers were on the floor with the puppies getting a view they may not have experienced before. Then Sir Justin presented his Puppy 101 class, and we closed things out with a MOSH! Good times all around. It was good to hear Sir Justin present his class - I always learn from attending other classes. After a quick rest and some time in the pool, it was time to get some food and get dressed for the contest. Three brave men stood up and bared their hearts to the judges and their bodies to the crowd as the day progressed. Strong contenders all, the show was a pleasure to watch. Emcee's Lawna Jocqui and Alexandra StJames Gray, though they only met that day, were a powerhouse duo and kept the show entertaining and the audience engaged all night - great work ladies! In the end, as always, there can be only one Titleholder. I firmly believe that all three men are winners, because they stood up and presented themselves to their communities. The title of Mr. Heartland Leather was ultimately awarded to Michael, aka Pup Ryker, and I believe he will do well.
Ummm, did I mention the Hospitality Suite? Oooooh, the fun those four walls saw all weekend. The local community gave it 110% all weekend to support Nate and the event. They deserve a big round of applause for showing us all how to have a good time. I enjoyed a fantastic visit with Karri Plowman from Twin Cities Leather on Saturday night. What a great guy! If anybody gets up to Minneapolis, go to their shop and buy something!
Breakfast on Sunday was a bit sluggish - I'm not sure how many people actually slept since the contest. It was still loads of fun, but it was...calmer. As soon as we finished, Nate headed over to set up for a Shot Party fundraiser. Hmmmm, that was nothing but trouble too - but only the good kind. As the afternoon passed, it was time to head back to Denver. Many thanks to Shae and Bradley for airport rides!
Thank you to everyone who planned, worked, attended, barked, howled, served, and participated in any way to this great event. This is one you should put on your calendar for next year!
We all got home safely and rested up from a long hot weekend in OKC - Next stop...hmmm. What is our next destination?
Friday night started off with a party, and what a fun time! These boys know how to throw a good one. This was extra special for me, because my sister lives in OKC, and she was able to join us at the bar for the opening night party and fetish ball. Hi Sis! She got to hang with us and watch people shoot each other with blowgun darts, hang weights from their scrotum, swallow swords, and snap mousetraps on all ten fingers at once. Good times. Then she declined to staple a $5 donation to the nice man's cheek or forehead, opting instead for his abdomen. I would have gone for the tongue or something lower, but I don't think he would have been so keen on ME abusing him, lol. We had a good visit and she's looking pretty darn amazing these days!
On Saturday Loki and I got up fairly early and caught breakfast at Braum's (amazing food) which was a short walk from the hotel. We knew this because we went there for dinner as soon as we arrived on Friday. Once fortified, Loki and I wandered over to the Vendor Mart (held in a church!) and then grabbed lunch for Luckey. He was up earlier than us because he was serving as a judge in the contest and interviews were EARLY! Like 9am! Post lunch, it was time for Puppy Boot Camp! Pup Hercules, Midwest Puppy, presented a class on wrestling moves. It was really nice to hear him teach and demonstrate his knowledge (don't scrap with him!) in an intimate setting. Then I presented Trainer 101 and had great class participation. At one point, the handlers were on the floor with the puppies getting a view they may not have experienced before. Then Sir Justin presented his Puppy 101 class, and we closed things out with a MOSH! Good times all around. It was good to hear Sir Justin present his class - I always learn from attending other classes. After a quick rest and some time in the pool, it was time to get some food and get dressed for the contest. Three brave men stood up and bared their hearts to the judges and their bodies to the crowd as the day progressed. Strong contenders all, the show was a pleasure to watch. Emcee's Lawna Jocqui and Alexandra StJames Gray, though they only met that day, were a powerhouse duo and kept the show entertaining and the audience engaged all night - great work ladies! In the end, as always, there can be only one Titleholder. I firmly believe that all three men are winners, because they stood up and presented themselves to their communities. The title of Mr. Heartland Leather was ultimately awarded to Michael, aka Pup Ryker, and I believe he will do well.
Ummm, did I mention the Hospitality Suite? Oooooh, the fun those four walls saw all weekend. The local community gave it 110% all weekend to support Nate and the event. They deserve a big round of applause for showing us all how to have a good time. I enjoyed a fantastic visit with Karri Plowman from Twin Cities Leather on Saturday night. What a great guy! If anybody gets up to Minneapolis, go to their shop and buy something!
Breakfast on Sunday was a bit sluggish - I'm not sure how many people actually slept since the contest. It was still loads of fun, but it was...calmer. As soon as we finished, Nate headed over to set up for a Shot Party fundraiser. Hmmmm, that was nothing but trouble too - but only the good kind. As the afternoon passed, it was time to head back to Denver. Many thanks to Shae and Bradley for airport rides!
Thank you to everyone who planned, worked, attended, barked, howled, served, and participated in any way to this great event. This is one you should put on your calendar for next year!
We all got home safely and rested up from a long hot weekend in OKC - Next stop...hmmm. What is our next destination?
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Thunder In The Mountains
Our amazing local weekend - Thunder in the Mountains! - was July 12-14. This was the first big event that Chris and I attended, and it was the first event that Chris and Luckey and I attended together. It marks a special place in our hearts. Packing for Thunder is an adventure. We like to stay at the host hotel for the weekend and save a 45+ minute drive each way for the three days of the event, so we just load up the car with all the things we think we'll need. No weight restrictions means LOTS of toys. Do they all get used? No. Are they available if we want them? You bet! Somehow, during Registration, Luckey wound up wearing a PINK Leather Tiara, bedazzled and bejeweled, custom made just for him by Shazzy. I need pics!
Friday night starts with a meet and greet, introduction of the presenters and staff, and a quick review of the rules. Thunder is amazingly low on rules for an event this size. Practically anything goes in the dungeon (with a few notable exceptions) and the classes are always an amazing lineup. After a quick dinner, we joined the meet & greet time, and then socialized for a while afterwards.
This year, Friday night in the dungeon hosted HOWL AT THE MOON! - a two hour puppy mosh pit sponsored/staffed by the Puppies In The Mountains organizers and friends. Ten pm rolled around and we were given free reign of the mats set up in one end of the dungeon space. Last year was our first year, and it was very well attended. This year there were fewer puppies, but they moshed long and hard. One of our local pups, Pup Loki, was there when it started and played until we shut down at midnight. I started calling him The Iron Puppy for his endurance. We had some first timers join us on the mat - one willingly and the other was encouraged/dragged in by the first and Loki. Overall, there was much fun and puppy frolic. When it was done, we collected our toys, water bottles, and gummi snacks and loaded them back to our hotel room. Luckey took the time to have a light and fluffy rope scene with Ruin Awaits. (Next day, she started calling him Cujo. I wonder why?)
I wasn't tired yet, so I wandered back to the dungeon to watch things unfold as scenes continues into the late hours. As it turns out, I spent almost two hours talking with one of our local guys that I really had never visited with before. We commented on one of the hot and sexy young men wearing a pony tail, and that conversation became an exploration of our histories and opinions on many topics until we realized it was getting late (bedtime). We both attended many of the same classes through the weekend, and continued visiting each time. Thanks, Doctor Bob! It was a great to finally get to spend time getting to know each other better.
Saturday's classes started about 9am and continued on until 5ish. We enjoyed a range of lighthearted presentations to very serious and focused scenes presented. You have to choose carefully at Thunder - there are so many classes that we often end up splitting up to attend more. Saturday night's playtime started at nine pm, so we grabbed dinner with the International Titleholders Dinner Club and got dressed for the evening. Yes, I said Dinner Club - not Breakfast Club. Too many schedule conflicts in the mornings.
Saturday night was the 7th Annual Game Night at Thunder, sponsored by the Denver boys of Leather. It's a fun time in the Hospitality Suite with lots of friends, cheesy poofs, and games. There were two separate games of Cards Against Humanity going on, and maybe a little Trouble too. The newly formed Denver girls of Leather announced their presence that night as well, and were welcomed into the community with open arms.
Saturday night I enjoyed delivering an impact scene to Chris and a caning scene to Pup Tugger - thumpy and stingy - all in one night! Added some bastinado into the caning scene for fun. <Evil laugh> Boy Bamm Bamm watched the caning scene, and joined in to deliver some good whacks of his own before we were done.
Sunday morning came all too early. Breakfast, load the car, classes, and a visit to the vendor mart. There's some great shopping at this event. A casual conversation outside the Truly Sin-Cyr corset booth turned into a line of men all waiting to try on a corset for the first time. Pup David (aka Wiggles or Bacon) went first, and it provided the support he needed for his sore back...and it looked HOT. Corset discussions continued, and the line formed. Luckey, Mark, Tugger, me, Loki, BammBamm - we all got laced in and spent a few minutes in them. It was interesting. I didn't hate it - but I don't know when I would wear it. Yes, they provide amazing back support. And some breath control too. Plus posture reminders - you shall not slouch.
We finished out the day and went to the Eagle to decompress and relax. Nick Elliott showed up and he spent a good long while talking with my boy. Later we fed Nick and returned him to the hotel. Time to go home, unpack the car, put away the toys, and go to bed.
To Rich and Brian - GREAT JOB! Thank you for all your hard work through the year. Thank you for letting the Denver boys of Leather host Game Night, and Thank you for supporting HOWL AT THE MOON! Aroooo!
To all the presenters - Thank you! We learn so much every year and come away inspired.
To all the vendors - Thank you for tempting us with your wares. My credit card fears this event.
To all the volunteers - Thank you for contributing and donating your time to make this event great.
To all our friends and family - Thank you for making this an amazing weekend for us all.
Much love to you all!
Friday night starts with a meet and greet, introduction of the presenters and staff, and a quick review of the rules. Thunder is amazingly low on rules for an event this size. Practically anything goes in the dungeon (with a few notable exceptions) and the classes are always an amazing lineup. After a quick dinner, we joined the meet & greet time, and then socialized for a while afterwards.
This year, Friday night in the dungeon hosted HOWL AT THE MOON! - a two hour puppy mosh pit sponsored/staffed by the Puppies In The Mountains organizers and friends. Ten pm rolled around and we were given free reign of the mats set up in one end of the dungeon space. Last year was our first year, and it was very well attended. This year there were fewer puppies, but they moshed long and hard. One of our local pups, Pup Loki, was there when it started and played until we shut down at midnight. I started calling him The Iron Puppy for his endurance. We had some first timers join us on the mat - one willingly and the other was encouraged/dragged in by the first and Loki. Overall, there was much fun and puppy frolic. When it was done, we collected our toys, water bottles, and gummi snacks and loaded them back to our hotel room. Luckey took the time to have a light and fluffy rope scene with Ruin Awaits. (Next day, she started calling him Cujo. I wonder why?)
I wasn't tired yet, so I wandered back to the dungeon to watch things unfold as scenes continues into the late hours. As it turns out, I spent almost two hours talking with one of our local guys that I really had never visited with before. We commented on one of the hot and sexy young men wearing a pony tail, and that conversation became an exploration of our histories and opinions on many topics until we realized it was getting late (bedtime). We both attended many of the same classes through the weekend, and continued visiting each time. Thanks, Doctor Bob! It was a great to finally get to spend time getting to know each other better.
Saturday's classes started about 9am and continued on until 5ish. We enjoyed a range of lighthearted presentations to very serious and focused scenes presented. You have to choose carefully at Thunder - there are so many classes that we often end up splitting up to attend more. Saturday night's playtime started at nine pm, so we grabbed dinner with the International Titleholders Dinner Club and got dressed for the evening. Yes, I said Dinner Club - not Breakfast Club. Too many schedule conflicts in the mornings.
Saturday night was the 7th Annual Game Night at Thunder, sponsored by the Denver boys of Leather. It's a fun time in the Hospitality Suite with lots of friends, cheesy poofs, and games. There were two separate games of Cards Against Humanity going on, and maybe a little Trouble too. The newly formed Denver girls of Leather announced their presence that night as well, and were welcomed into the community with open arms.
Saturday night I enjoyed delivering an impact scene to Chris and a caning scene to Pup Tugger - thumpy and stingy - all in one night! Added some bastinado into the caning scene for fun. <Evil laugh> Boy Bamm Bamm watched the caning scene, and joined in to deliver some good whacks of his own before we were done.
Sunday morning came all too early. Breakfast, load the car, classes, and a visit to the vendor mart. There's some great shopping at this event. A casual conversation outside the Truly Sin-Cyr corset booth turned into a line of men all waiting to try on a corset for the first time. Pup David (aka Wiggles or Bacon) went first, and it provided the support he needed for his sore back...and it looked HOT. Corset discussions continued, and the line formed. Luckey, Mark, Tugger, me, Loki, BammBamm - we all got laced in and spent a few minutes in them. It was interesting. I didn't hate it - but I don't know when I would wear it. Yes, they provide amazing back support. And some breath control too. Plus posture reminders - you shall not slouch.
We finished out the day and went to the Eagle to decompress and relax. Nick Elliott showed up and he spent a good long while talking with my boy. Later we fed Nick and returned him to the hotel. Time to go home, unpack the car, put away the toys, and go to bed.
To Rich and Brian - GREAT JOB! Thank you for all your hard work through the year. Thank you for letting the Denver boys of Leather host Game Night, and Thank you for supporting HOWL AT THE MOON! Aroooo!
To all the presenters - Thank you! We learn so much every year and come away inspired.
To all the vendors - Thank you for tempting us with your wares. My credit card fears this event.
To all the volunteers - Thank you for contributing and donating your time to make this event great.
To all our friends and family - Thank you for making this an amazing weekend for us all.
Much love to you all!
Monday, August 5, 2013
2013 AIDS Walk Colorado Donations
I'm taking a break in posting the travel updates to let you know my upcoming plans. This next Saturday morning, August 10, I'm going to be decked out in my Corcoran Boots and Title Vest (and probably a little more clothes) to participate in the 26th Annual AIDS Walk Colorado event. I'll be walking with the Denver boys of Leather on their team.
Yes, it's a fundraising event. If anybody has some spare dollars that they'd like to share with a good cause - please do. And if anybody has a LOT of dollars they want to contribute towards a good cause - please do. Colorado has a great in-state support system and network for people affected by HIV. This fundraising will impact many, many lives.
I've set a reasonable goal, and would appreciate any support that you can give. There are only five days left until the event, so if you read this and feel inclined, don't hesitate. Share what you can. Even if you cannot afford to donate, please send your love and your best wishes to support all the individuals walking or running or working to promote and run the event.
My fundraising page is RIGHT HERE.
Thank you, everyone, for your support.
Yes, it's a fundraising event. If anybody has some spare dollars that they'd like to share with a good cause - please do. And if anybody has a LOT of dollars they want to contribute towards a good cause - please do. Colorado has a great in-state support system and network for people affected by HIV. This fundraising will impact many, many lives.
I've set a reasonable goal, and would appreciate any support that you can give. There are only five days left until the event, so if you read this and feel inclined, don't hesitate. Share what you can. Even if you cannot afford to donate, please send your love and your best wishes to support all the individuals walking or running or working to promote and run the event.
My fundraising page is RIGHT HERE.
Thank you, everyone, for your support.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Minneapolis Pride Weekend
How much fun can you have in one weekend? We were pushing all the barriers to find out.
The last weekend of June found us back in Minneapolis with friends to celebrate Twin Cities Pride Weekend. Once again, we stayed with friends and were welcomed in as family. They enfolded us into their pack and off we went for a wild ride. Friday lunch was all-you-can-eat sushi, and that night was Flog-A-Palooza and a visit to the eagleBOLT bar. Saturday we walked around Loring Park and enjoyed the festival as spectators (fried cheese curds) and then visited the eagleBOLT bar again for more time with friends.
Sunday came and we were on the parade route bright and early. Minneapolis leads their parade with two giant flags - the first one is the Gay Pride rainbow flag and it is followed by the Leather Pride flag. We joined local titleholders and community leaders and community members to carry the giant Leather Pride flag. These flags are huge. They are heavy. They are beautiful. And the mood that day was jubilant. You see, the Supreme Court ruled on Proposition 8 in California and on DOMA the prior week. And there we were, carrying one of the largest Leather Pride flags in the country, right up at the front of the parade. Several times when we stopped on the route, I turned around and looked up and down the lines of people carrying that flag. So many faces, so many backgrounds, so much diversity and history among the kinky locals - it brought tears to my eyes and a bigger smile to my face. As we walked the parade route, people threw money onto the flag - it was donations towards their fundraising goals for the year. Children threw handfuls of change, adults wadded up bills, and two people scampered out to collect the cash each time we stopped along the route. When we were done (all too soon for me) we navigated onto a grassy area with the flag and took pictures, folded the flag, and stored it. Then we joined Ryan Brown and quickly walked back to the parade route start point to jump on the eagleBOLT truck and do it all over again! This time we sat in the back of a truck with waterguns and a huge tub of water and Ryan sat/danced on the hood through the parade route. By the end of it, my face hurt from so much smiling. Seriously hurt. But I couldn't help it.
Back to Loring Park and the bondage booth! Yes, they had a booth set up with information and a partitioned off area for light bondage demos. What was the catch? You couldn't hit anyone. That means you can put someone over the spanking bench and pretend to spank them, but not actually hit them. Flogging could happen, but really not happen because you were flogging the air behind someone. Amazing thing about rope bondage - getting tied up doesn't HIT anyone. Luckey did four demos (three in the cage, one under the tent) and kept the crowd entertained.
When we were ready to collapse from exhaustion and heat, it was back to the house for a quick shower and GAME NIGHT! We ordered in pizza and relaxed with our family. Oh, the shenanigans. There is far too much evidence of that night on Bud's facebook page, and most things went undocumented. That's probably for the best, though.
Monday came too soon, and we headed back to Denver - happy and exhausted.
I am thankful for all of our friends and extended family in Minnesota - you guys rock my world!
The last weekend of June found us back in Minneapolis with friends to celebrate Twin Cities Pride Weekend. Once again, we stayed with friends and were welcomed in as family. They enfolded us into their pack and off we went for a wild ride. Friday lunch was all-you-can-eat sushi, and that night was Flog-A-Palooza and a visit to the eagleBOLT bar. Saturday we walked around Loring Park and enjoyed the festival as spectators (fried cheese curds) and then visited the eagleBOLT bar again for more time with friends.
Sunday came and we were on the parade route bright and early. Minneapolis leads their parade with two giant flags - the first one is the Gay Pride rainbow flag and it is followed by the Leather Pride flag. We joined local titleholders and community leaders and community members to carry the giant Leather Pride flag. These flags are huge. They are heavy. They are beautiful. And the mood that day was jubilant. You see, the Supreme Court ruled on Proposition 8 in California and on DOMA the prior week. And there we were, carrying one of the largest Leather Pride flags in the country, right up at the front of the parade. Several times when we stopped on the route, I turned around and looked up and down the lines of people carrying that flag. So many faces, so many backgrounds, so much diversity and history among the kinky locals - it brought tears to my eyes and a bigger smile to my face. As we walked the parade route, people threw money onto the flag - it was donations towards their fundraising goals for the year. Children threw handfuls of change, adults wadded up bills, and two people scampered out to collect the cash each time we stopped along the route. When we were done (all too soon for me) we navigated onto a grassy area with the flag and took pictures, folded the flag, and stored it. Then we joined Ryan Brown and quickly walked back to the parade route start point to jump on the eagleBOLT truck and do it all over again! This time we sat in the back of a truck with waterguns and a huge tub of water and Ryan sat/danced on the hood through the parade route. By the end of it, my face hurt from so much smiling. Seriously hurt. But I couldn't help it.
Back to Loring Park and the bondage booth! Yes, they had a booth set up with information and a partitioned off area for light bondage demos. What was the catch? You couldn't hit anyone. That means you can put someone over the spanking bench and pretend to spank them, but not actually hit them. Flogging could happen, but really not happen because you were flogging the air behind someone. Amazing thing about rope bondage - getting tied up doesn't HIT anyone. Luckey did four demos (three in the cage, one under the tent) and kept the crowd entertained.
When we were ready to collapse from exhaustion and heat, it was back to the house for a quick shower and GAME NIGHT! We ordered in pizza and relaxed with our family. Oh, the shenanigans. There is far too much evidence of that night on Bud's facebook page, and most things went undocumented. That's probably for the best, though.
Monday came too soon, and we headed back to Denver - happy and exhausted.
I am thankful for all of our friends and extended family in Minnesota - you guys rock my world!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Kink U - Cincinnati Road Trip!
What's a title year without an epic road trip?! We were invited to present a Puppy Obedience Training class at Kink U in Cincinnati and to present rope suspension demos at the bar during the social times. How could we say no? Flights were prohibitively expensive, and we almost did. But we looked at the calendar and a map and decided to make the drive.
We started out on this ever-changing road trip on Wednesday morning. Before we left to head east, we had to detour north to Boulder to pick up Luckey's phone that he left in his friend's car the night before. This set the tone for the entire trip - be flexible and have fun! Our original plan was Denver to Kansas City, MO, then Indianapolis, IN, then Cincinnati, OH, Kink U, and reverse the directions. Needless to say, that changed about two hours into the trip. We decided to swing over to Columbus after Kink U was done and visit our friend Pup Dino. Then take the northern route to the west and drive to Des Moines in one day, and finish up with a quick jaunt to Cabelas in Nebraska on our way back to Denver.
The roads were easy and the weather was great. We got to Kansas City with no issues and stayed with Chad and Richie for the night. Next morning we were driving and thinking about lunch and realized we'd be close to St. Louis. Luckey contacted Auntie Karen (Karen Ultra) and we met her for lunch before finishing up the drive into Indianapolis and staying with our friend Kyle. The next day was a short drive, so we went out to the 501 Eagle for a visit after dinner. Met some great people out for the pool tournament - Pup Spaz showed us around the bar, and the Falcons made us feel at home. After breakfast (amazing red velvet pancakes with chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting) we made the quick drive into Cincinnati.
Now, I'm going to say this, and I may take some grief for it. But if you ever visit Cincinnati and they offer to take you to eat Cincinnati Style Chili - DON'T DO IT. We ate Skyline Chili, a local institution. It is the stuff of legends. Legendary gas and legendary gastric distress. I enjoyed the taste, but I could not live with the results. I was terrified that I would accidentally sneeze and totally explode for the next three days - and I have a strong system. Just don't eat it.
Friday night continued at On Broadway bar, where our friends brought in a portable sling stand. Luckey tied and tied and hung several people up in rope that night.
We kicked off Saturday at Kink U with our Puppy Obedience Training class at the Below Zero Lounge. That was a lot of fun! We had a good sized room and several pups and handlers right up front. After talking through the class part, we had demo time and put the ideas into practice. Classes continued through the day on dungeon furniture, rope bondage, flogging, shackles and handcuffs and restraints, relationship dynamics - three bootblacks worked the entire day and night - there was much fun for everyone. Le Chateau brought their store so there was shopping available and Alexis to squeeze. Once we got everything loaded out from the education area, it was time for dinner.
Second food warning - if the locals take you to Kentucky for Mexican food, listen to your hosts about portion size! Luckey and I decided to split an order of fajitas for dinner, so we ordered it for two. They warned us that we could not finish the giant order for one, but we were silly and didn't listen. Oh my. We got the most enormous plate of food ever! We ate and ate and ate, and maybe put down a quarter of it. It didn't look like we ate anything! Leftovers for days!
After eating more than we should, it was time to get dressed in tight leather for the Black & Blue Ball. The locals at the Below Zero Lounge were a bit surprised by the leather invasion, but good natured about it. When it was time to wind down and cool off, the temperature cranked up at The Serpent. We wrapped up the night at this sexy men's hot spot. Brunch on Sunday was back at Below Zero, and then it was time to hit the road. Congratulations to Matt and John and all the local team that pulled together Kink U in Cincinnati! You guys did a great job!
Pup Dino was excited that we were coming to visit, and we decided to go to the zoo! There was a dinosaur exhibit, lots of hot and sexy men, and a stingray petting exhibit! You could even feed them! That was a blast! Then we headed back to his place in the Short North for dinner and some bar time. Turns out, it was Columbus Pride weekend. Luckey grabbed some rope, and soon Dino was tied up and paraded around Exile, shirtless and helpless to resist. I suspect he loved it. The bar was crowded and friendly and I had some great conversations with people. Fun times!
Early on Monday, it was time to leave. Far too soon for my taste, but we had a long day ahead of us. This day brought us some weather as we approached Iowa. There was some serious rain. The kind where we were white knuckle driving slowly with both of us looking for the white lines to make sure we stayed on the road kind of rain. But we made it through safe, and enjoyed grilled kabobs and an amazing baked cauliflower dish with Jeremy and Aaron and friends while watching True Blood and relaxing.
Tuesday put us on the road to Denver, but we had a quick side trip to Sidney, Nebraska to visit Cabelas. It was fun to see such a huge outdoor sport store and stretch our legs for an hour. It seemed that the last leg took far too long, as my bed was calling me. Safely home, we unloaded the car and had a quick dinner, and crashed into sleep.
It was great to spend the week with Luckey on the road. It was awesome to spend time with Chad, Richie, Jay, Kyle, Demarius, Nuzz, Vidhra, Dylan, Hercules, Matt, John, Bella, Gabriel, Zech, Rocky, Bryce, Dino, Jeremy, Aaron, and Evie. I'm sure I've missed some, but please know we love you all. Thank you for making this such a wonderful trip.
We started out on this ever-changing road trip on Wednesday morning. Before we left to head east, we had to detour north to Boulder to pick up Luckey's phone that he left in his friend's car the night before. This set the tone for the entire trip - be flexible and have fun! Our original plan was Denver to Kansas City, MO, then Indianapolis, IN, then Cincinnati, OH, Kink U, and reverse the directions. Needless to say, that changed about two hours into the trip. We decided to swing over to Columbus after Kink U was done and visit our friend Pup Dino. Then take the northern route to the west and drive to Des Moines in one day, and finish up with a quick jaunt to Cabelas in Nebraska on our way back to Denver.
The roads were easy and the weather was great. We got to Kansas City with no issues and stayed with Chad and Richie for the night. Next morning we were driving and thinking about lunch and realized we'd be close to St. Louis. Luckey contacted Auntie Karen (Karen Ultra) and we met her for lunch before finishing up the drive into Indianapolis and staying with our friend Kyle. The next day was a short drive, so we went out to the 501 Eagle for a visit after dinner. Met some great people out for the pool tournament - Pup Spaz showed us around the bar, and the Falcons made us feel at home. After breakfast (amazing red velvet pancakes with chocolate chips and cream cheese frosting) we made the quick drive into Cincinnati.
Now, I'm going to say this, and I may take some grief for it. But if you ever visit Cincinnati and they offer to take you to eat Cincinnati Style Chili - DON'T DO IT. We ate Skyline Chili, a local institution. It is the stuff of legends. Legendary gas and legendary gastric distress. I enjoyed the taste, but I could not live with the results. I was terrified that I would accidentally sneeze and totally explode for the next three days - and I have a strong system. Just don't eat it.
Friday night continued at On Broadway bar, where our friends brought in a portable sling stand. Luckey tied and tied and hung several people up in rope that night.
We kicked off Saturday at Kink U with our Puppy Obedience Training class at the Below Zero Lounge. That was a lot of fun! We had a good sized room and several pups and handlers right up front. After talking through the class part, we had demo time and put the ideas into practice. Classes continued through the day on dungeon furniture, rope bondage, flogging, shackles and handcuffs and restraints, relationship dynamics - three bootblacks worked the entire day and night - there was much fun for everyone. Le Chateau brought their store so there was shopping available and Alexis to squeeze. Once we got everything loaded out from the education area, it was time for dinner.
Second food warning - if the locals take you to Kentucky for Mexican food, listen to your hosts about portion size! Luckey and I decided to split an order of fajitas for dinner, so we ordered it for two. They warned us that we could not finish the giant order for one, but we were silly and didn't listen. Oh my. We got the most enormous plate of food ever! We ate and ate and ate, and maybe put down a quarter of it. It didn't look like we ate anything! Leftovers for days!
After eating more than we should, it was time to get dressed in tight leather for the Black & Blue Ball. The locals at the Below Zero Lounge were a bit surprised by the leather invasion, but good natured about it. When it was time to wind down and cool off, the temperature cranked up at The Serpent. We wrapped up the night at this sexy men's hot spot. Brunch on Sunday was back at Below Zero, and then it was time to hit the road. Congratulations to Matt and John and all the local team that pulled together Kink U in Cincinnati! You guys did a great job!
Pup Dino was excited that we were coming to visit, and we decided to go to the zoo! There was a dinosaur exhibit, lots of hot and sexy men, and a stingray petting exhibit! You could even feed them! That was a blast! Then we headed back to his place in the Short North for dinner and some bar time. Turns out, it was Columbus Pride weekend. Luckey grabbed some rope, and soon Dino was tied up and paraded around Exile, shirtless and helpless to resist. I suspect he loved it. The bar was crowded and friendly and I had some great conversations with people. Fun times!
Early on Monday, it was time to leave. Far too soon for my taste, but we had a long day ahead of us. This day brought us some weather as we approached Iowa. There was some serious rain. The kind where we were white knuckle driving slowly with both of us looking for the white lines to make sure we stayed on the road kind of rain. But we made it through safe, and enjoyed grilled kabobs and an amazing baked cauliflower dish with Jeremy and Aaron and friends while watching True Blood and relaxing.
Tuesday put us on the road to Denver, but we had a quick side trip to Sidney, Nebraska to visit Cabelas. It was fun to see such a huge outdoor sport store and stretch our legs for an hour. It seemed that the last leg took far too long, as my bed was calling me. Safely home, we unloaded the car and had a quick dinner, and crashed into sleep.
It was great to spend the week with Luckey on the road. It was awesome to spend time with Chad, Richie, Jay, Kyle, Demarius, Nuzz, Vidhra, Dylan, Hercules, Matt, John, Bella, Gabriel, Zech, Rocky, Bryce, Dino, Jeremy, Aaron, and Evie. I'm sure I've missed some, but please know we love you all. Thank you for making this such a wonderful trip.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Denver Pridefest 2013
June! It's the season of pride. Time for parades, sunscreen, rainbows, festivals, socializing, and celebrating the advances we've made for social justice and equality, and maybe getting laid too. For us, it was a time to celebrate with our local family.
Denver's celebration spans both Saturday and Sunday, with the parade on Sunday. Saturday we took a turn at the Leather/Kink booth, supporting their first year. At least five local groups pitched in funds to rent the space, and carried literature and information from all groups locally. Den-PAH (Denver Pups and Handlers) had a time slot, as did the Denver boys of Leather. There were other titleholders there as well. Colorado Bootblack Erik joined Luckey and I while we spoke to the crowd and engaged people in friendly dialogue. There were many children present, and they loved the outfits they saw. "Can I have a shirt like that, mommy?" was met by "Maybe when you're older."
For about five years now, the Rocky Mountain Leather Alliance has sponsored a Leather Contingent in the Pride Parade. It started small, with less than twenty people that first year. But by the end of the parade, people had joined us out of the crowd and marched proudly with the leather folks. This year, we had about 60+ people at the start, and right in the middle of it was a bright yellow convertible with me and Luckey sitting in the back.
What a ride! We were probably going to be walking when our original red convertible was not available. That's really not an issue, but it was to our friend Shazzy. She was going to be our driver, and had her heart set on driving us down the parade route. So, she rented a car for the day. Dang, it was bright and pretty and she was a fantastic driver - didn't dump us out once! We were joined by Praxis, International Mr. Olympus Leather, who was in town for the weekend.
My good friend Brad is one of the most knowledgeable non-medical people I know concerning HIV, and one of his favorite sites to share information is The Stigma Project. When he participated in the Mr. Leather Colorado contest, Brad promised to bring a campaign to Denver to raise awareness about HIV and the stigma surrounding the virus. He named his project "Marked for Awareness" and the effort began on Sunday. He brought bright red latex body paint and foam brushes, and painted "+" "-" and "+-" symbols on volunteer's arms, legs, chests backs, foreheads, anywhere we would allow it. Then we walked the parade and spent the rest of the day with the symbols on our bodies. If anyone asked, we could discuss that they are to bring awareness to HIV and the stigma, and we encouraged people to be HIV Neutral in their attitudes. I had the "plus over minus" on my right forearm and my left bicep throughout the day, parade and all, and had several good conversations.
We had a dozen puppies following our car in the parade, with an assortment of hoods, paws, harnesses, squeaky toys, and tails. They barked and howled and enjoyed all the attention, stopping at one point for a water break by the side of the street. The car following them had fun too, because they got to hear all the comments from the people along the entire route
"Isn't that cute?", "Look at them!", "Is that a TAIL?", "OMG, I think it is a tail", "How does it stay?", "Where does it...", "Oh no it doesn't", "I bet it does - look at it move", "oh my!"
The sun was shining and the mood was upbeat along the parade route. There were only a handful of protesters in a couple of places, and the crowd either totally ignored them or carried large signs to block them. Overall, it was humbling to sit in the middle of the attention like that. There was so much love and support. I smiled and waved and made eye contact with so many people on that parade route that I had to take a long quiet lunch afterwards and soak it all in.
We walked through the fair afterwards to visit with friends and watch the people. A short rain cooled things down during lunch, so it was not as hot as previous years. We closed out the day with Beer Bust at the Denver Eagle and then headed home to rest.
Denver's celebration spans both Saturday and Sunday, with the parade on Sunday. Saturday we took a turn at the Leather/Kink booth, supporting their first year. At least five local groups pitched in funds to rent the space, and carried literature and information from all groups locally. Den-PAH (Denver Pups and Handlers) had a time slot, as did the Denver boys of Leather. There were other titleholders there as well. Colorado Bootblack Erik joined Luckey and I while we spoke to the crowd and engaged people in friendly dialogue. There were many children present, and they loved the outfits they saw. "Can I have a shirt like that, mommy?" was met by "Maybe when you're older."
For about five years now, the Rocky Mountain Leather Alliance has sponsored a Leather Contingent in the Pride Parade. It started small, with less than twenty people that first year. But by the end of the parade, people had joined us out of the crowd and marched proudly with the leather folks. This year, we had about 60+ people at the start, and right in the middle of it was a bright yellow convertible with me and Luckey sitting in the back.
What a ride! We were probably going to be walking when our original red convertible was not available. That's really not an issue, but it was to our friend Shazzy. She was going to be our driver, and had her heart set on driving us down the parade route. So, she rented a car for the day. Dang, it was bright and pretty and she was a fantastic driver - didn't dump us out once! We were joined by Praxis, International Mr. Olympus Leather, who was in town for the weekend.
My good friend Brad is one of the most knowledgeable non-medical people I know concerning HIV, and one of his favorite sites to share information is The Stigma Project. When he participated in the Mr. Leather Colorado contest, Brad promised to bring a campaign to Denver to raise awareness about HIV and the stigma surrounding the virus. He named his project "Marked for Awareness" and the effort began on Sunday. He brought bright red latex body paint and foam brushes, and painted "+" "-" and "+-" symbols on volunteer's arms, legs, chests backs, foreheads, anywhere we would allow it. Then we walked the parade and spent the rest of the day with the symbols on our bodies. If anyone asked, we could discuss that they are to bring awareness to HIV and the stigma, and we encouraged people to be HIV Neutral in their attitudes. I had the "plus over minus" on my right forearm and my left bicep throughout the day, parade and all, and had several good conversations.
We had a dozen puppies following our car in the parade, with an assortment of hoods, paws, harnesses, squeaky toys, and tails. They barked and howled and enjoyed all the attention, stopping at one point for a water break by the side of the street. The car following them had fun too, because they got to hear all the comments from the people along the entire route
"Isn't that cute?", "Look at them!", "Is that a TAIL?", "OMG, I think it is a tail", "How does it stay?", "Where does it...", "Oh no it doesn't", "I bet it does - look at it move", "oh my!"
The sun was shining and the mood was upbeat along the parade route. There were only a handful of protesters in a couple of places, and the crowd either totally ignored them or carried large signs to block them. Overall, it was humbling to sit in the middle of the attention like that. There was so much love and support. I smiled and waved and made eye contact with so many people on that parade route that I had to take a long quiet lunch afterwards and soak it all in.
We walked through the fair afterwards to visit with friends and watch the people. A short rain cooled things down during lunch, so it was not as hot as previous years. We closed out the day with Beer Bust at the Denver Eagle and then headed home to rest.
IML
Memorial Day, end of May. This trip was a lesson in patience; a walking meditation in keeping your eyes and heart open.
The universe set out a special set of lessons for us that weekend - many dealt with stress and patience. We had airline issues, baggage issues, hotel issues, relationship issues, time management issues, and more. What was the point? I believe it was to simply stay calm and keep working to move forward. This is not going to be a post to complain about everything that happened to give us stress, but I'm going to acknowledge that things happened, and ultimately, we made it through due to the kindness of our friends and strangers. Was it easy? No. There were moments that truly taxed my hypertension medication. And yet here I am, alive and healthy, a little wiser, and certainly grateful for general human kindness and helpfulness.
International Mr Leather weekend in Chicago is an experience like no other - you can make the weekend anything you want.
We wanted to have fun, reconnect with our friends and family from around the world, meet new people to add to our family, romp with the puppies at Woof Camp!, and enjoy the great opportunities Chicago has to offer. We got to do all those things.
So many of our friends that we've met this year are local or state or regional titleholders on their way to join the brotherhood of the IML competitors. It was wonderful to see them all and encourage them on their journey all year, and it was fantastic to watch them all through the weekend. It takes a special kind of courage to put yourself out there in one of the biggest competitions around. You should all be proud. Congratulations to Andy Cross, Mr. San Francisco Leather, for taking the International Mr. Leather title back home to the city by the bay and to Oil Tan Sam who took the International Mr Bootblack title home to Portland.
Many other friends are vendors at the various shows and events - it's been great to meet them and see how they pour their hearts into their wares. Support your local vendors, my friends. It may be cheaper to order merchandise from overseas, but the quality is superior here. You will get what you pay for. And if you have a problem, it's easier to deal with a human on the spot instead of a machine or service overseas. Support your local businesses!
Many of our friends do not fall under these categories. They are significant others, best friends, or community kinksters. They are wonderful supportive and loving people who make us feel at home no matter where the road takes us. They love puppies and all things puppy. We love them because they always welcome us into their lives and families anywhere we see them, and that makes our family bigger too.
There were so many conversations, so many hugs, meals shared, friendships formed, kindness shared, hot boys tied up, and good times - I could not begin to list them or even give highlights.
If you haven't figured out by now, let me make it clear - IML for me is all about my great big kinky leather family. I love them all, and I am honored to call them my friends and family. Hugs to you all!
The universe set out a special set of lessons for us that weekend - many dealt with stress and patience. We had airline issues, baggage issues, hotel issues, relationship issues, time management issues, and more. What was the point? I believe it was to simply stay calm and keep working to move forward. This is not going to be a post to complain about everything that happened to give us stress, but I'm going to acknowledge that things happened, and ultimately, we made it through due to the kindness of our friends and strangers. Was it easy? No. There were moments that truly taxed my hypertension medication. And yet here I am, alive and healthy, a little wiser, and certainly grateful for general human kindness and helpfulness.
International Mr Leather weekend in Chicago is an experience like no other - you can make the weekend anything you want.
We wanted to have fun, reconnect with our friends and family from around the world, meet new people to add to our family, romp with the puppies at Woof Camp!, and enjoy the great opportunities Chicago has to offer. We got to do all those things.
So many of our friends that we've met this year are local or state or regional titleholders on their way to join the brotherhood of the IML competitors. It was wonderful to see them all and encourage them on their journey all year, and it was fantastic to watch them all through the weekend. It takes a special kind of courage to put yourself out there in one of the biggest competitions around. You should all be proud. Congratulations to Andy Cross, Mr. San Francisco Leather, for taking the International Mr. Leather title back home to the city by the bay and to Oil Tan Sam who took the International Mr Bootblack title home to Portland.
Many other friends are vendors at the various shows and events - it's been great to meet them and see how they pour their hearts into their wares. Support your local vendors, my friends. It may be cheaper to order merchandise from overseas, but the quality is superior here. You will get what you pay for. And if you have a problem, it's easier to deal with a human on the spot instead of a machine or service overseas. Support your local businesses!
Many of our friends do not fall under these categories. They are significant others, best friends, or community kinksters. They are wonderful supportive and loving people who make us feel at home no matter where the road takes us. They love puppies and all things puppy. We love them because they always welcome us into their lives and families anywhere we see them, and that makes our family bigger too.
There were so many conversations, so many hugs, meals shared, friendships formed, kindness shared, hot boys tied up, and good times - I could not begin to list them or even give highlights.
If you haven't figured out by now, let me make it clear - IML for me is all about my great big kinky leather family. I love them all, and I am honored to call them my friends and family. Hugs to you all!
Friday, July 19, 2013
High School Days
If I knew all I know now, would I take that knowledge and go back to high school?
Nope.
I was not happy in high school. There were some serious secrets I was keeping from the world. But that was the early 1980's, and things have changed.
Now there are gay-straight alliances, clubs in high school where people can talk and learn and be themselves and not feel so alone. While it's not a perfect system, it's certainly better than NOTHING, which is what I had growing up in a small town in the bible-thumping south.
So when my friend asked me to come and participate on a panel discussion at a local high school's GSA meeting, I was happy to go.
It was their first attempt, so they invited almost 20 people and hoped that a few would show up. Well, almost everybody showed up - the panelists nearly outnumbered the students.
As a panel, we spanned an age range from 24 through 60+; sporty, academic, engineers, teachers, leatherfolk, drag queens, and parents of grown children too.
We introduced ourselves down the line and told a little piece of our personal stories. Then there were some basic questions that bounced around, and some Q&A from the students. With a panel that size, that was all that could happen in the 90 minutes they scheduled for us. The kids were amazing - they were engaged and respectful. The faculty was supportive and even the principal attended, spoke her full support, and declared no tolerance for bullying.
There were refreshments afterwards, and more visiting among everyone present.
Based on respect and confidentiality, that's about all I'm going to say.
But what really hit me was this - those kids are alive and hopeful and honest about their sexuality. At their age, I was barely living, despondent, and lying to myself and everyone around me. I dated a really sweet girl, but knew it would never go anywhere. I spent my time in church knowing that they would never accept me. I entertained thoughts of dying because it would hurt less than living.
And honestly, if the 2013 me had ever visited the 1984 me, grownup me would scare the crap out of high school me. I don't know if I would have believed that I could be happy, not be alone, find love, be at peace with my Creator, live publicly, and experience such joy. But I am, and I do. And I hope that what we did will inspire those kids to be the best and most amazing humans they can be.
Thank you for the opportunity!
Nope.
I was not happy in high school. There were some serious secrets I was keeping from the world. But that was the early 1980's, and things have changed.
Now there are gay-straight alliances, clubs in high school where people can talk and learn and be themselves and not feel so alone. While it's not a perfect system, it's certainly better than NOTHING, which is what I had growing up in a small town in the bible-thumping south.
So when my friend asked me to come and participate on a panel discussion at a local high school's GSA meeting, I was happy to go.
It was their first attempt, so they invited almost 20 people and hoped that a few would show up. Well, almost everybody showed up - the panelists nearly outnumbered the students.
As a panel, we spanned an age range from 24 through 60+; sporty, academic, engineers, teachers, leatherfolk, drag queens, and parents of grown children too.
We introduced ourselves down the line and told a little piece of our personal stories. Then there were some basic questions that bounced around, and some Q&A from the students. With a panel that size, that was all that could happen in the 90 minutes they scheduled for us. The kids were amazing - they were engaged and respectful. The faculty was supportive and even the principal attended, spoke her full support, and declared no tolerance for bullying.
There were refreshments afterwards, and more visiting among everyone present.
Based on respect and confidentiality, that's about all I'm going to say.
But what really hit me was this - those kids are alive and hopeful and honest about their sexuality. At their age, I was barely living, despondent, and lying to myself and everyone around me. I dated a really sweet girl, but knew it would never go anywhere. I spent my time in church knowing that they would never accept me. I entertained thoughts of dying because it would hurt less than living.
And honestly, if the 2013 me had ever visited the 1984 me, grownup me would scare the crap out of high school me. I don't know if I would have believed that I could be happy, not be alone, find love, be at peace with my Creator, live publicly, and experience such joy. But I am, and I do. And I hope that what we did will inspire those kids to be the best and most amazing humans they can be.
Thank you for the opportunity!
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Colorado Leather Weekend
Home at last after three weeks on the road! But not to rest - The Mr. Leather Colorado Foundation weekend of contests is here! During this first weekend of May, we select the new Mr. Leather Colorado, Mr. Colorado Rubber, and Colorado Bootblack titleholders.
I was honored to be able to judge this contest for the second year in a row, and I had the distinct honor of serving as head judge. Luckey served as one of two Talleymasters - the folks who collect the scores from each judge and do all the math and ultimately tell us who won.
Friday night started with a meet & greet at the Denver Wrangler. This is a chance for the contestants to interact with the public and the judges and show off their social skills. For the general public, it's a chance to socialize and meet the contestants. But for the judges - the game is on. We are watching everything the contestants do and how they do it. Social interactions are a major part of being a titleholder, and most of it occurs in a bar setting.
After the night slowed down, it was time to sleep and get ready for the contest on Saturday. Interviews started around 4pm, and we had three contestants for Mr. Leather Co, two contestants for Mr. Colorado Rubber, and one for Colorado Bootblack. The panel of judges were no pushovers - they were local and regional folks, most were titleholders, but all were experienced and had strong views of what kind of person they wanted to send forward to represent Colorado.
There were hard questions asked; emotions were high with some contestants, others were peaceful.
When it was all done, Lonnell took the title of Mr. Leather Colorado, Boy Paul will represent Mr. Colorado Rubber, and Boy Erik will serve as the Colorado Bootblack. Congratulations to all three of these fine men!
Sunday brought us back to the Denver Wrangler for a Victory Beer Bust, which served as both a party to celebrate the winners and a fundraiser towards their travel funds.
I want to thank the panel of judges - Michael, Dayton, Nate, Fox, Treasure, and Marty - it was a pleasure to work with all of you!
Thank you Rocky and Luckey - you kept us all on track and made sure our scores were legible.
And I want to thank the producers of the contest, the Mr. Leather Colorado Foundation, for the opportunity to serve on the panel and for their hard work every year.
There are some pics of the event here!
Now it's time to rest for a few weeks and pack for IML!
I was honored to be able to judge this contest for the second year in a row, and I had the distinct honor of serving as head judge. Luckey served as one of two Talleymasters - the folks who collect the scores from each judge and do all the math and ultimately tell us who won.
Friday night started with a meet & greet at the Denver Wrangler. This is a chance for the contestants to interact with the public and the judges and show off their social skills. For the general public, it's a chance to socialize and meet the contestants. But for the judges - the game is on. We are watching everything the contestants do and how they do it. Social interactions are a major part of being a titleholder, and most of it occurs in a bar setting.
After the night slowed down, it was time to sleep and get ready for the contest on Saturday. Interviews started around 4pm, and we had three contestants for Mr. Leather Co, two contestants for Mr. Colorado Rubber, and one for Colorado Bootblack. The panel of judges were no pushovers - they were local and regional folks, most were titleholders, but all were experienced and had strong views of what kind of person they wanted to send forward to represent Colorado.
There were hard questions asked; emotions were high with some contestants, others were peaceful.
When it was all done, Lonnell took the title of Mr. Leather Colorado, Boy Paul will represent Mr. Colorado Rubber, and Boy Erik will serve as the Colorado Bootblack. Congratulations to all three of these fine men!
Sunday brought us back to the Denver Wrangler for a Victory Beer Bust, which served as both a party to celebrate the winners and a fundraiser towards their travel funds.
I want to thank the panel of judges - Michael, Dayton, Nate, Fox, Treasure, and Marty - it was a pleasure to work with all of you!
Thank you Rocky and Luckey - you kept us all on track and made sure our scores were legible.
And I want to thank the producers of the contest, the Mr. Leather Colorado Foundation, for the opportunity to serve on the panel and for their hard work every year.
There are some pics of the event here!
Now it's time to rest for a few weeks and pack for IML!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
CLAW
It's the third weekend of April and we're heading east again, but northward to Cleveland for the ever-growing Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW). There was no contest during the weekend, but it was a puppy bonanza! Classes for an amazing variety of interests (including puppy) held in multiple locations, silent auctions rocked the nights, the vendor mart was large and the selections were wide. It takes an army of volunteers to keep this event running smoothly, and they did an amazing job.
One night offered a puppy obstacle course, complete with an MC to keep the crowd involved and the action moving. I volunteered to handle any pups without handlers so they could participate, because it was a team event. I was paired with a wonderful young pup whose handler/partner was busy volunteering and could not make the event. We had a chat about things and I learned that this was his first time as a puppy outside their house - big step for him! We talked about things and got comfortable with each other, and then he eased into headspace. Once we hit the floor of the agility course, he was ready and romping. He did a great job and we had a fun couple of minutes out in the middle of the room with a whole crowd watching. Later, his partner joined us and we had a friendly visit about how well he did. They were both proud, and they should be.
I was fortunate to spend some time with Boy Matt from New Jersey. This sexy man really helped me balance the needs of my introvert against the stress of the third weekend in a row traveling to larger events. I was worn a bit thin, and sharing time with him helped me recharge my batteries. Thank you Matt!
The second night offered a puppy mosh pit for the pups at CLAW. The attendance vastly outgrew the allocated space, long before it could begin. Wow. They were incredibly under-spaced. The mosh crew did their very best with what they had, and I was pleased that they were able to run and control the pit, but it was super crowded. Hopefully the event organizers will take note and triple or quadruple the space allocated before next year's event. Luckey did not join the mosh - it was impossible to control the snacks with such a large attendance, and his honey allergy makes him vulnerable to far too many things. So he stays alive for now, and we're ok with that.
We saw so many people, so many puppies, talked, visited, took photos, laughed, ate, and bonded. This really is an event that can be about anything you want it to be - so round up a group of your best dozen traveling friends and start planning to attend in 2014!
One night offered a puppy obstacle course, complete with an MC to keep the crowd involved and the action moving. I volunteered to handle any pups without handlers so they could participate, because it was a team event. I was paired with a wonderful young pup whose handler/partner was busy volunteering and could not make the event. We had a chat about things and I learned that this was his first time as a puppy outside their house - big step for him! We talked about things and got comfortable with each other, and then he eased into headspace. Once we hit the floor of the agility course, he was ready and romping. He did a great job and we had a fun couple of minutes out in the middle of the room with a whole crowd watching. Later, his partner joined us and we had a friendly visit about how well he did. They were both proud, and they should be.
I was fortunate to spend some time with Boy Matt from New Jersey. This sexy man really helped me balance the needs of my introvert against the stress of the third weekend in a row traveling to larger events. I was worn a bit thin, and sharing time with him helped me recharge my batteries. Thank you Matt!
The second night offered a puppy mosh pit for the pups at CLAW. The attendance vastly outgrew the allocated space, long before it could begin. Wow. They were incredibly under-spaced. The mosh crew did their very best with what they had, and I was pleased that they were able to run and control the pit, but it was super crowded. Hopefully the event organizers will take note and triple or quadruple the space allocated before next year's event. Luckey did not join the mosh - it was impossible to control the snacks with such a large attendance, and his honey allergy makes him vulnerable to far too many things. So he stays alive for now, and we're ok with that.
We saw so many people, so many puppies, talked, visited, took photos, laughed, ate, and bonded. This really is an event that can be about anything you want it to be - so round up a group of your best dozen traveling friends and start planning to attend in 2014!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
IMsL
From the warmth of the south to the chilly mornings in the city by the bay, three days later we arrived in beautiful San Francisco for the International Ms Leather and International Ms BootBlack contests. Our own local Colorado Bootblack, Foxfire Boots, was competing and we were there to cheer her along.
San Francisco is a wonderful city, and we walked our little legs off from the time we arrived until the time we left. Our friend Shazzy joined us for the weekend for a mini vacation and some shopping. Once we settled into our room, we set off on a mission - boots! Luckey needed a pair that fit him better, and my poor zip-side combat boots are showing their age. I was looking at Corcorans, and Luckey was looking to find something that fits well - he has lean calves, so fitting can be a challenge. Mr. S Leather was a great resource and we had lots of fun there, and followed on with a visit to Stomper's Boots. We finished our day with Shazzy ordering a custom pair of Wesco Boots for herself from Stomper's, Luckey finding a pair of oh-so-gently-used Wesco boots in Stomper's consignment section, and I found a pair of Corcorans at Mr. S. Success!
After a fantastic dinner, we joined our brothers and sisters at the host hotel for a Burlesque/Boylesque show - we had so much fun! There were amazing presentations, costumes, reveals, and people. As men, we were certainly in the minority at the event, and we were treated wonderfully by all the other attendees. There were classes, dungeon times, shopping, and so many wonderful people to socialize with that time flew by all weekend.
And yes - true to form - we ate. Blueberry pancakes in a wonderful diner, next to a tasty Indian restaurant just two blocks from the hotel - they got our business twice. Japanese/Sushi for lunch, tasty dinner - we ate well.
I made the time to sit in on the public interviews for the bootblack title, and enjoyed that very much. Shazzy and Luckey had a blast with the corsets in the vendor mart, and she came home with three new ones. (It was buy two, get one free!) We enjoyed the contest for both nights, and were blown away by so many amazing speeches - I did not envy the judges their job to select only one!
When the scores were tallied, Sarha carried the International Ms Leather title forward to a new year, joined by Bella with the International Ms BootBlack title. Congratulations to them both!
And congratulations to each and every one of the brave individuals who stood up and were willing to put themselves on the line for the opportunity to represent their community. The experience is a learning time for each one, and not always the easiest weekend. It takes guts and heart to stand up, and each one of them should be proud of themselves.
With such fun and so many friends, and some of the best blueberry pancakes I've ever eaten, it was hard to leave San Francisco. But it was time to go home, do laundry, repack, and head out one more time...
San Francisco is a wonderful city, and we walked our little legs off from the time we arrived until the time we left. Our friend Shazzy joined us for the weekend for a mini vacation and some shopping. Once we settled into our room, we set off on a mission - boots! Luckey needed a pair that fit him better, and my poor zip-side combat boots are showing their age. I was looking at Corcorans, and Luckey was looking to find something that fits well - he has lean calves, so fitting can be a challenge. Mr. S Leather was a great resource and we had lots of fun there, and followed on with a visit to Stomper's Boots. We finished our day with Shazzy ordering a custom pair of Wesco Boots for herself from Stomper's, Luckey finding a pair of oh-so-gently-used Wesco boots in Stomper's consignment section, and I found a pair of Corcorans at Mr. S. Success!
After a fantastic dinner, we joined our brothers and sisters at the host hotel for a Burlesque/Boylesque show - we had so much fun! There were amazing presentations, costumes, reveals, and people. As men, we were certainly in the minority at the event, and we were treated wonderfully by all the other attendees. There were classes, dungeon times, shopping, and so many wonderful people to socialize with that time flew by all weekend.
And yes - true to form - we ate. Blueberry pancakes in a wonderful diner, next to a tasty Indian restaurant just two blocks from the hotel - they got our business twice. Japanese/Sushi for lunch, tasty dinner - we ate well.
I made the time to sit in on the public interviews for the bootblack title, and enjoyed that very much. Shazzy and Luckey had a blast with the corsets in the vendor mart, and she came home with three new ones. (It was buy two, get one free!) We enjoyed the contest for both nights, and were blown away by so many amazing speeches - I did not envy the judges their job to select only one!
When the scores were tallied, Sarha carried the International Ms Leather title forward to a new year, joined by Bella with the International Ms BootBlack title. Congratulations to them both!
And congratulations to each and every one of the brave individuals who stood up and were willing to put themselves on the line for the opportunity to represent their community. The experience is a learning time for each one, and not always the easiest weekend. It takes guts and heart to stand up, and each one of them should be proud of themselves.
With such fun and so many friends, and some of the best blueberry pancakes I've ever eaten, it was hard to leave San Francisco. But it was time to go home, do laundry, repack, and head out one more time...
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Atlanta Leather Pride Weekend
Four events in four weekends in four different states - yep, we're crazy. But we kicked it off by heading to beautiful Atlanta, Georgia, for Atlanta Leather Pride Weekend and the Mr./Ms. Atlanta Eagle Contest.
We flew out of cold Colorado weather and landed in warm Georgia weather - a welcome change of pace! Our hosts for the event were our friends Jeff Donaldson and James Menge. Jeff is the outgoing Mr. Atlanta Eagle 2012 AND the current American Leatherman 2012. James is his wonderful partner - such a pair of darling men opened up their home to us. We did, of course, have to pay tribute and pet the dogs as much as possible - they do run the house, you know.
The good people of the Atlanta Leather community took us into their pack and we ran with them for the weekend. In those busy days, we visited the Atlanta Eagle many times, ate great food, drank so much sweet tea that our mothers got diabetes, met folks in person that had previously only been online friends, snuggled with as many people as possible, spent time with the Panthers Leather/Levi club, ate amazing homemade peach cobbler, made new friends, participated in a photo shoot for a fundraising calendar (stay tuned for details), watched an amazing contest, and had a wonderful time.
Congratulations to Pup Tank, Mr Atlanta Eagle 2013, and Lizzy, Ms Atlanta Eagle 2013, and best of luck to them in their title year.
We were met with such warmth and kindness that it warmed our hearts all the way back to frigid Colorado. Our flight home was delayed - snow in Denver, but eventually we did get home. Time to unpack, do laundry, repack, and get ready for the next adventure!
We flew out of cold Colorado weather and landed in warm Georgia weather - a welcome change of pace! Our hosts for the event were our friends Jeff Donaldson and James Menge. Jeff is the outgoing Mr. Atlanta Eagle 2012 AND the current American Leatherman 2012. James is his wonderful partner - such a pair of darling men opened up their home to us. We did, of course, have to pay tribute and pet the dogs as much as possible - they do run the house, you know.
The good people of the Atlanta Leather community took us into their pack and we ran with them for the weekend. In those busy days, we visited the Atlanta Eagle many times, ate great food, drank so much sweet tea that our mothers got diabetes, met folks in person that had previously only been online friends, snuggled with as many people as possible, spent time with the Panthers Leather/Levi club, ate amazing homemade peach cobbler, made new friends, participated in a photo shoot for a fundraising calendar (stay tuned for details), watched an amazing contest, and had a wonderful time.
Congratulations to Pup Tank, Mr Atlanta Eagle 2013, and Lizzy, Ms Atlanta Eagle 2013, and best of luck to them in their title year.
We were met with such warmth and kindness that it warmed our hearts all the way back to frigid Colorado. Our flight home was delayed - snow in Denver, but eventually we did get home. Time to unpack, do laundry, repack, and get ready for the next adventure!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Colorado Master/slave Contest
About one week after we came back to Denver with the ITPC titles, I attended the Denver Danse of Life. It's a hook pull event with live drumming held in sacred space - bliss.
Afterward, one of the organizers, Master Trent, asked if I'd consider serving on the judging panel of the Colorado Master/slave Contest he was organizing. I looked at him and cocked my head. "You know how I feel about that track, right? I don't really get it." Yes, he knows. We've had many discussions before. He asked me to bring my Leather viewpoint to the panel and contribute that way. I agreed.
Friday night, March 29th, we met at the Denver Eagle for the introductory Meet & Greet with the contestants, judges, and general public. There were two contestant pairs, and both represented well. I sent a "mystery person" who was not dressed very leather-y to visit with the contestant pairs and report back to me later, and I made sure to spend some time visiting with each pair as well. It was a fun night and the turnout was great.
Saturday the 30th rolled around, and the judges and contestant sat down for Interviews at 2pm. That is always an interesting dance, and this one was open to the public. I was honored to sit on a panel of highly respectable judges from the local community, and I learned a great deal from them over the weekend. The interviews were fun, spirited, and intense. Afterwards, we broke for a snack/meal, and returned at 5 to begin the contest. When it was all done, Lady Marquetta and Slave Leonis carried the patches home with them and will represent their community for the next year. We all wish them the best.
While I don't "get" the entire Master/slave dynamic, I'm always learning more. This weekend exposed me to people who are willing to educate and share their lifestyle in a very public way. I appreciate their dedication and thoughtful discussions. They listened to me as I expressed some of my perceptions and opinions based on personal interactions; we laughed about some really funny bad examples of how NOT to approach this lifestyle, and they opened up their hearts to me so I could better understand a dynamic I haven't yet grasped. I am grateful and blessed. Thank you all.
Afterward, one of the organizers, Master Trent, asked if I'd consider serving on the judging panel of the Colorado Master/slave Contest he was organizing. I looked at him and cocked my head. "You know how I feel about that track, right? I don't really get it." Yes, he knows. We've had many discussions before. He asked me to bring my Leather viewpoint to the panel and contribute that way. I agreed.
Friday night, March 29th, we met at the Denver Eagle for the introductory Meet & Greet with the contestants, judges, and general public. There were two contestant pairs, and both represented well. I sent a "mystery person" who was not dressed very leather-y to visit with the contestant pairs and report back to me later, and I made sure to spend some time visiting with each pair as well. It was a fun night and the turnout was great.
Saturday the 30th rolled around, and the judges and contestant sat down for Interviews at 2pm. That is always an interesting dance, and this one was open to the public. I was honored to sit on a panel of highly respectable judges from the local community, and I learned a great deal from them over the weekend. The interviews were fun, spirited, and intense. Afterwards, we broke for a snack/meal, and returned at 5 to begin the contest. When it was all done, Lady Marquetta and Slave Leonis carried the patches home with them and will represent their community for the next year. We all wish them the best.
While I don't "get" the entire Master/slave dynamic, I'm always learning more. This weekend exposed me to people who are willing to educate and share their lifestyle in a very public way. I appreciate their dedication and thoughtful discussions. They listened to me as I expressed some of my perceptions and opinions based on personal interactions; we laughed about some really funny bad examples of how NOT to approach this lifestyle, and they opened up their hearts to me so I could better understand a dynamic I haven't yet grasped. I am grateful and blessed. Thank you all.
Catching up
I have been absent.
Situations and experiences overwhelmed my motivation to share, but I believe that it is important to discuss where we've been and all the wonderful people we've met. So instead of picking up now and leaving a two month gap, I'm going to backtrack and start filling in events as they occurred. Sorry to disappear like that.
Situations and experiences overwhelmed my motivation to share, but I believe that it is important to discuss where we've been and all the wonderful people we've met. So instead of picking up now and leaving a two month gap, I'm going to backtrack and start filling in events as they occurred. Sorry to disappear like that.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Minneapolis Getaway
Who goes to Minnesota in the cold of Springtime? We do!
Pup Luckey and I made some fantastic connections while we are at MAL, and our friends invited us to visit Minneapolis if we could find the time in our schedule. So we found a weekend that worked and confirmed with them - then booked it. Feb 22-25! Our excitement grew as we looked forward to reuniting with our friends and meeting new ones. In the meantime, the amazing Ryan Brown worked with the eagleBOLT bar to secure some time for a hands-on rope class. We sent him some photos and he put together a flyer the Monday before we left, so they had 5 days to publicize the fun.
Once we landed, the wonderful Puppy JP picked us up at the airport and swept us away to the Mall of America. Holy crap, this place is big. Commerce everywhere. More stores than you can shake many sticks at. And hot men with their wives, children, or friends galore - we are talking some serious eye candy here, people. We grabbed lunch and then wandered for a bit. After we unpacked and got in a quick wardrobe change, it was time to visit the eagleBOLT bar for buy-1-get-3 drinks and start meeting the good people of Minneapolis. We had a great night, and then walked up the street for some food (a recurring theme in this blog). Finally it was time to crash and head home to Bud&Randy's (our gracious hosts) for the night. Surprise! Our friend Robbie drove in for the weekend and popped out of the basement to surprise me. He's so sweet! (and he snuggles good too!)
We tried not to stay up too late because Luckey and I had a photo shoot the next morning.
Robbie cooked us all breakfast on Saturday morning, and then it was time for us to head out for pictures. Richard Yates is an amazing photographer. He has a fantastic eye, and loves to shoot leather, rubber, neoprene, fetish, and hot men. Well, I had neoprene and leather, so I got to play. We've seen some preliminary shots, and he has blown me away. Then it was time to grab a quick bite and get back to the eagleBOLT for rope class. 55 people showed up. holy crap. 45 people were actively grabbing rope, losing their shirts, getting tied up or tying someone up. Luckey had his debut as the main teaching voice in this presentation, and he did a great job. I circulated in the crowd, helping and pointing out things they were doing right. Such a great group of guys - they had fun and so did we.
As the hands-on portion finished up, Luckey demonstrated a rope suspension and hung up one of our friends. During the lift, I pulled the slack unevenly and we got a little snarl in one rope. Once tension was on it, it locked in and wasn't going anywhere, but it meant we were going to have fun taking him down. Once the demo was done, we worked our way back through the ropes to release him, but the main line was tightly snarled. Two options - physically lift him up to release the tension and try to untangle the rope (which may or may not be successful) or cut him down. It only took a few moments to decide, and we got to try out our handy belt knife we each carry for any kind of rope play. Two people supported the suspended individual, and a third cut the problem rope quickly and simply. Then we set him down on the ground and finished untying him. Afterwards, Luckey and I discussed what happened to cause the snarl and we'll be watching out for that scenario in the future. We always state in class that the person is more important than the rope. While he was in no danger, it was best and smartest just to cut the rope and move forward.
After a wonderful dinner, we returned to the eagleBOLT for the Bear Dance. The president of the local club invited us to come and do more suspensions during the event, with one caveat - he was the first to get strung up. So we did! Luckey tied and suspended people from about 11 until 2. Such fun! (I really need to work on my speed so I can contribute more.) While he tied, I was fielding questions and chatting up the crowd.
Sunday morning we broke our fast at Fat Nat's with some really tasty food. Robbie hit the road after that and we were sorry to see him go. Soon we were guests at the Atons spring rush party. Again, we met so many nice folks and had great conversations, ate tasty food, and really enjoyed ourselves. Then it was time to unwind at Bud&Randy's place. Off went the boots and we kicked back for sandwiches, margaritas, and board games. Ryan joined JP, Luckey, and me for a simple evening of fun with Bud&Randy. I was a big time geek in my teens, loved Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - I'm totally hooked on Munchkin now. And Say Anything is very interesting too. (Have another drink!) All good things must end, and some people had to work in the morning, so it was bedtime all too soon.
Randy shuttled us to the airport the next day, and we passed the time before flying with bacon wrapped tater tots and delicious burgers. (yes, eating again) One of our new friends met us for a while in the airport, and was kind enough to bump our seats up to Exit Row for the flight home - more legroom - THANK YOU!
Minneapolis was beautiful and sunny the entire weekend, and it snowed a lot in Denver while we were gone. I'm ok with that. It was sunny in Denver when we got home. I'm ok with that too. We had such a great time in Minneapolis, we'd love to return. Our hosts were kind and generous, their home warm and friendly, and even their cats were sweet! (like Piewacket, who snuck in a nap on my chest while I was napping.) The community was so welcoming, open, friendly, and nice! Again, we came home tired but recharged, encouraged, and excited to be part of this community. Thank you to everyone in Minneapolis for a wonderful trip.
Pup Luckey and I made some fantastic connections while we are at MAL, and our friends invited us to visit Minneapolis if we could find the time in our schedule. So we found a weekend that worked and confirmed with them - then booked it. Feb 22-25! Our excitement grew as we looked forward to reuniting with our friends and meeting new ones. In the meantime, the amazing Ryan Brown worked with the eagleBOLT bar to secure some time for a hands-on rope class. We sent him some photos and he put together a flyer the Monday before we left, so they had 5 days to publicize the fun.
Once we landed, the wonderful Puppy JP picked us up at the airport and swept us away to the Mall of America. Holy crap, this place is big. Commerce everywhere. More stores than you can shake many sticks at. And hot men with their wives, children, or friends galore - we are talking some serious eye candy here, people. We grabbed lunch and then wandered for a bit. After we unpacked and got in a quick wardrobe change, it was time to visit the eagleBOLT bar for buy-1-get-3 drinks and start meeting the good people of Minneapolis. We had a great night, and then walked up the street for some food (a recurring theme in this blog). Finally it was time to crash and head home to Bud&Randy's (our gracious hosts) for the night. Surprise! Our friend Robbie drove in for the weekend and popped out of the basement to surprise me. He's so sweet! (and he snuggles good too!)
We tried not to stay up too late because Luckey and I had a photo shoot the next morning.
Robbie cooked us all breakfast on Saturday morning, and then it was time for us to head out for pictures. Richard Yates is an amazing photographer. He has a fantastic eye, and loves to shoot leather, rubber, neoprene, fetish, and hot men. Well, I had neoprene and leather, so I got to play. We've seen some preliminary shots, and he has blown me away. Then it was time to grab a quick bite and get back to the eagleBOLT for rope class. 55 people showed up. holy crap. 45 people were actively grabbing rope, losing their shirts, getting tied up or tying someone up. Luckey had his debut as the main teaching voice in this presentation, and he did a great job. I circulated in the crowd, helping and pointing out things they were doing right. Such a great group of guys - they had fun and so did we.
As the hands-on portion finished up, Luckey demonstrated a rope suspension and hung up one of our friends. During the lift, I pulled the slack unevenly and we got a little snarl in one rope. Once tension was on it, it locked in and wasn't going anywhere, but it meant we were going to have fun taking him down. Once the demo was done, we worked our way back through the ropes to release him, but the main line was tightly snarled. Two options - physically lift him up to release the tension and try to untangle the rope (which may or may not be successful) or cut him down. It only took a few moments to decide, and we got to try out our handy belt knife we each carry for any kind of rope play. Two people supported the suspended individual, and a third cut the problem rope quickly and simply. Then we set him down on the ground and finished untying him. Afterwards, Luckey and I discussed what happened to cause the snarl and we'll be watching out for that scenario in the future. We always state in class that the person is more important than the rope. While he was in no danger, it was best and smartest just to cut the rope and move forward.
After a wonderful dinner, we returned to the eagleBOLT for the Bear Dance. The president of the local club invited us to come and do more suspensions during the event, with one caveat - he was the first to get strung up. So we did! Luckey tied and suspended people from about 11 until 2. Such fun! (I really need to work on my speed so I can contribute more.) While he tied, I was fielding questions and chatting up the crowd.
Sunday morning we broke our fast at Fat Nat's with some really tasty food. Robbie hit the road after that and we were sorry to see him go. Soon we were guests at the Atons spring rush party. Again, we met so many nice folks and had great conversations, ate tasty food, and really enjoyed ourselves. Then it was time to unwind at Bud&Randy's place. Off went the boots and we kicked back for sandwiches, margaritas, and board games. Ryan joined JP, Luckey, and me for a simple evening of fun with Bud&Randy. I was a big time geek in my teens, loved Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - I'm totally hooked on Munchkin now. And Say Anything is very interesting too. (Have another drink!) All good things must end, and some people had to work in the morning, so it was bedtime all too soon.
Randy shuttled us to the airport the next day, and we passed the time before flying with bacon wrapped tater tots and delicious burgers. (yes, eating again) One of our new friends met us for a while in the airport, and was kind enough to bump our seats up to Exit Row for the flight home - more legroom - THANK YOU!
Minneapolis was beautiful and sunny the entire weekend, and it snowed a lot in Denver while we were gone. I'm ok with that. It was sunny in Denver when we got home. I'm ok with that too. We had such a great time in Minneapolis, we'd love to return. Our hosts were kind and generous, their home warm and friendly, and even their cats were sweet! (like Piewacket, who snuck in a nap on my chest while I was napping.) The community was so welcoming, open, friendly, and nice! Again, we came home tired but recharged, encouraged, and excited to be part of this community. Thank you to everyone in Minneapolis for a wonderful trip.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Survey time!
Lately I've had some interesting conversations about the Trainer/handler role, and our place in the community. It brought up some questions that I'd like to submit to a larger pack than those I personally know (both online and locally). To this end, I created two surveys on SurveyMonkey, one for Pups and one for Trainers/handlers. I'll keep them open for a month, and then post the results. Sharing just a few minutes of your day will help create a larger view of our community. Thank you!
Fill out the Puppy Survey
Fill out the Trainer/Handler Survey
As an additional note, the biggest issue that drove this survey was the statement "Most of the puppies out there don't want a handler or trainer. They're happy to be strays." While I do not agree with this, I cannot speak for all, or even most, puppies. So I'll ask as many as can to please bark and make your voices heard. Thank you!
Fill out the Puppy Survey
Fill out the Trainer/Handler Survey
As an additional note, the biggest issue that drove this survey was the statement "Most of the puppies out there don't want a handler or trainer. They're happy to be strays." While I do not agree with this, I cannot speak for all, or even most, puppies. So I'll ask as many as can to please bark and make your voices heard. Thank you!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Respecting Honesty - Let's talk about sex
Last week, a young man named Kyle Bella posted an article on Buzzfeed entitled "Why It's So Hard To Talk About Bareback Sex". It was, in my opinion, a well-written and honest article about a highly important topic. Take a few minutes to read it. Then take a few more minutes and read through the comments that follow it. By simply posting this article, he as demonstrated WHY it is so hard to talk about bareback sex. The reactions I read came in hard and fast. They were not nice - I heard anger, fear, shame, guilt. How are we to have an honest and meaningful discussion about this topic when the knee-jerk reactions are so negative?
I immediately question the motives of the individuals who post so quickly and use hurtful language. When I was younger and deeply in the closet, I had a ready arsenal of gay jokes and hateful words to deflect attention from myself, and it ultimately reflected my own inner guilt and shame.
If I ever share anything personal with another person, and their reaction follows those lines of negativity, guilt, and shame, I tend to shut up and get very quiet. Conversation stops, sharing stops, and I will be highly reluctant to bring up that topic again - ever.
There's a banquet of food for thought in this HuffPost Live Video - it's an interesting 30 minutes if you have the time.
I'm not going to declare and defend a position on bareback sex. That's not the point. The point is that I think it's important to pay attention to what's going on in the world around us, assess what we're seeing, and form opinions based on educated critical thinking, not on emotional biases.
The article quoted a recent survey stating "With more than 50% of gay men no longer using condoms consistently,..." and that is, according to one person, "an appaling statistic". But I always remember the quote popularly attributed to Mark Twain "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." There are unknown factors behind that 50%+ number. Without direct access to the raw data, it's hard to accurately determine if that's a realistic number that correlates to the opinion presented. It appears to say that half of gay men have abandoned condom use. But the reality could be different.
If a committed couple in an open relationship do not use condoms with one another, but do use condoms with others, that would qualify as not using condoms consistently. It would also be an approach adopted by many couples in open relationships to protect themselves and to more fully enjoy their sex lives and mitigate the risk of contracting STIs from individuals outside the relationship. Is that a responsible and intelligent choice? I think so. But it also feeds into that statistic and fuels emotional responses. That's just one of many options to consider when viewing the statistics - there are so many other ways to dissect the data, but that's a basic example.
If I were to get on a soapbox in the middle of this posting, it would be this: Condoms do not equal Safe Sex. Condom use is a factor in SAFER sex, but the presence of a condom does not that sex will be perfectly safe. I'd like to see that verbage changed. It seems to engender a belief that sexual behavior without a condom is dangeous and unsafe, when safer sex practices exist that do not involve a condom. Condoms are useful and valuable in protection from a number of STIs, but the inclusion of a condom in sexual behaviors does not guarantee that you are SAFE from contracting an STI.
But back to the intended topic - how do you have an open and honest conversation about a sensitive and emotionally loaded topic? I think it needs to happen with honesty and respect and humility. If someone shares an intimate and vulnerable piece of their life with you (or the entire internet) and it triggers an emotional response, stop. Exhale, inhale. Look at what's happening. You may not agree, but respect the courage it took to share. Express gratitude that someone opened up their personal life to you. Look at your own reaction - does it wind you up because it hits close to home? And then, when you're able to be objective, join the conversation.
Thank you, Kyle, for sharing a piece of your journey with us. I hope it opens the door to many honest and valuable conversations.
I immediately question the motives of the individuals who post so quickly and use hurtful language. When I was younger and deeply in the closet, I had a ready arsenal of gay jokes and hateful words to deflect attention from myself, and it ultimately reflected my own inner guilt and shame.
If I ever share anything personal with another person, and their reaction follows those lines of negativity, guilt, and shame, I tend to shut up and get very quiet. Conversation stops, sharing stops, and I will be highly reluctant to bring up that topic again - ever.
There's a banquet of food for thought in this HuffPost Live Video - it's an interesting 30 minutes if you have the time.
I'm not going to declare and defend a position on bareback sex. That's not the point. The point is that I think it's important to pay attention to what's going on in the world around us, assess what we're seeing, and form opinions based on educated critical thinking, not on emotional biases.
The article quoted a recent survey stating "With more than 50% of gay men no longer using condoms consistently,..." and that is, according to one person, "an appaling statistic". But I always remember the quote popularly attributed to Mark Twain "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." There are unknown factors behind that 50%+ number. Without direct access to the raw data, it's hard to accurately determine if that's a realistic number that correlates to the opinion presented. It appears to say that half of gay men have abandoned condom use. But the reality could be different.
If a committed couple in an open relationship do not use condoms with one another, but do use condoms with others, that would qualify as not using condoms consistently. It would also be an approach adopted by many couples in open relationships to protect themselves and to more fully enjoy their sex lives and mitigate the risk of contracting STIs from individuals outside the relationship. Is that a responsible and intelligent choice? I think so. But it also feeds into that statistic and fuels emotional responses. That's just one of many options to consider when viewing the statistics - there are so many other ways to dissect the data, but that's a basic example.
If I were to get on a soapbox in the middle of this posting, it would be this: Condoms do not equal Safe Sex. Condom use is a factor in SAFER sex, but the presence of a condom does not that sex will be perfectly safe. I'd like to see that verbage changed. It seems to engender a belief that sexual behavior without a condom is dangeous and unsafe, when safer sex practices exist that do not involve a condom. Condoms are useful and valuable in protection from a number of STIs, but the inclusion of a condom in sexual behaviors does not guarantee that you are SAFE from contracting an STI.
But back to the intended topic - how do you have an open and honest conversation about a sensitive and emotionally loaded topic? I think it needs to happen with honesty and respect and humility. If someone shares an intimate and vulnerable piece of their life with you (or the entire internet) and it triggers an emotional response, stop. Exhale, inhale. Look at what's happening. You may not agree, but respect the courage it took to share. Express gratitude that someone opened up their personal life to you. Look at your own reaction - does it wind you up because it hits close to home? And then, when you're able to be objective, join the conversation.
Thank you, Kyle, for sharing a piece of your journey with us. I hope it opens the door to many honest and valuable conversations.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Sin In The City
Las Vegas - Sin City - I'd never been before. Not until our travels took us to a first-time event in the Nevada desert. We traveled with our friends Shazzy and RaggedKnot to explore the fun offered by this pansexual event and explore the city as well. I was the only Vegas Virgin, and they popped my cherry good. We arrived on Thursday and settled into the hotel long enough to get changed from warm clothes to shorts and t-shirts. Denver was in the 20's and Vegas was in the 70's - woo hoo! We launched ourselved towards the Strip with much gusto, and dove into the mob to find lunch. Was I overwhelmed? Yes. Vegas has a strange energy to it - feels like a deep hunger underneath a hyperactive shiny man-child. It honestly took me a few days to get my bearings. But I was with friends and we had fun. There were gay bars (not what I expected) and there was shopping (shoes!) and there was eating. Plenty of that.
We tried America in New York New York, and found it ...lacking. Lacking service, lacking a consistent kitchen, lacking a manager who cared. I would not ever suggest anyone visit unless you have a large party of very hungry drunken friends who cannot decide on one type of food to eat. It does have a wide menu. Too bad it wasn't that great, and they cancelled our OpenTable reservation because we were early and were unable to add it back because their computer went down. Bah.
Our culinary highlight was Border Grill in Mandalay Bay. Wow. The service was fantastic, the drinks tasty, and the food was amazing. We tasted a variety of appetizers, cheviche, grilled skirt steak, Pescado Veracruzano, Yucatan pork, and sauteed shrimp. Everybody tasted around the table, and everybody was happy. Then came dessert with Tres Leches Cake, Pastel Rufina, and Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake. Oh my - all we needed next was a blanket and a nap. Luckey thought it was better than Frontera Grill in Chicago, but I'm not so sure. I would rank them very close, with Frontera just a little higher.
But we didn't go to Las Vegas simply for food - there was a leather event! Sin In The City!
My favorite class was a hands-on class in florentine flogging. Two floggers going at the same time means double the whack-factor for your lucky submissive. I've always wanted to learn, but never pursued it much. This class gave me the basic exercises to develop the muscle memory to go like a pro. We'll see how much I practice and how this works out.
Luckey and I were not scheduled presenters at the event, but we reserved the Hospitality Suite for a Saturday afternoon session and presented out Puppy 101 class there. Shazzy brought a big batch of her AMAZING cookies and we had about 16 people in attendance. It was a lot of fun, and we made new friends and contacts. After class, we were both wiped out. Luckey fell back into headspace in the room and slept for about four hours, and I napped and dealt with some stomach-yuck that had pestered me all weekend. Unfortunately, we missed the Southwest Olympus Leather contest that night. <sad>
Another great part of this trip was the time spent connecting and reconnecting with friends. We had great visits with Mistress Simone and Brenna, Master Z, and Master Tallen. We also met a new friend out at The Buffalo on Friday night, and we'll be seeing him in a few weeks in Minneapolis when we visit. Shazzy and RaggedKnot were great traveling companions and I would be happy to travel with them again anytime.
Great job and thank you to the entire staff of Sin In The City! It was a great first year, and we wish you many happy returns!
We tried America in New York New York, and found it ...lacking. Lacking service, lacking a consistent kitchen, lacking a manager who cared. I would not ever suggest anyone visit unless you have a large party of very hungry drunken friends who cannot decide on one type of food to eat. It does have a wide menu. Too bad it wasn't that great, and they cancelled our OpenTable reservation because we were early and were unable to add it back because their computer went down. Bah.
Our culinary highlight was Border Grill in Mandalay Bay. Wow. The service was fantastic, the drinks tasty, and the food was amazing. We tasted a variety of appetizers, cheviche, grilled skirt steak, Pescado Veracruzano, Yucatan pork, and sauteed shrimp. Everybody tasted around the table, and everybody was happy. Then came dessert with Tres Leches Cake, Pastel Rufina, and Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cake. Oh my - all we needed next was a blanket and a nap. Luckey thought it was better than Frontera Grill in Chicago, but I'm not so sure. I would rank them very close, with Frontera just a little higher.
But we didn't go to Las Vegas simply for food - there was a leather event! Sin In The City!
My favorite class was a hands-on class in florentine flogging. Two floggers going at the same time means double the whack-factor for your lucky submissive. I've always wanted to learn, but never pursued it much. This class gave me the basic exercises to develop the muscle memory to go like a pro. We'll see how much I practice and how this works out.
Luckey and I were not scheduled presenters at the event, but we reserved the Hospitality Suite for a Saturday afternoon session and presented out Puppy 101 class there. Shazzy brought a big batch of her AMAZING cookies and we had about 16 people in attendance. It was a lot of fun, and we made new friends and contacts. After class, we were both wiped out. Luckey fell back into headspace in the room and slept for about four hours, and I napped and dealt with some stomach-yuck that had pestered me all weekend. Unfortunately, we missed the Southwest Olympus Leather contest that night. <sad>
Another great part of this trip was the time spent connecting and reconnecting with friends. We had great visits with Mistress Simone and Brenna, Master Z, and Master Tallen. We also met a new friend out at The Buffalo on Friday night, and we'll be seeing him in a few weeks in Minneapolis when we visit. Shazzy and RaggedKnot were great traveling companions and I would be happy to travel with them again anytime.
Great job and thank you to the entire staff of Sin In The City! It was a great first year, and we wish you many happy returns!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Heart of America part 2
Saturday brought us back to Missie B's for a very different view. No day-glo to be seen, but there was leather. This year's Judging Panel featured Stan Dibble, Jeremy Morris, boy Tony, Pup Luckey, and me. The judges had interview time with the contestants while classes ran in the upstairs bar. The two contestants were both running for LeatherMan; unfortunately there was no Leatherboy contestant this year. These men are very new in the leather community, and they have a great future of learning and fun ahead of them. Both men were intelligent, presented themselves well, and faced the questions with grace. We didn't even make them cry! Then it was lunchtime (delicious buffet) and time for more classes. Luckey and I tried out a new class presentation we call Digging Deeper, which is more of a Puppy 201 class. No floor time, all talk time. It was our first time to present this, and there were some bumps, but we were well-received. There was good feedback, and I know where we'll be making some edits and changes for the next time.
When classes were done, we had enough time to grab a shower and head back for All You Can Eat Sushi (eating again) before the contest started. The wonderful Karen Ultra returned as M.C., and Luckey brought her the rocket fuel she consumes from Starbucks. Of course, she was dressed beautifully. The contest ran smoothly; the contestants performed well; the audience was entertained and respectful. In the end, there was a victor. Dom J will carry the title for a year and represent at American Brotherhood Weekend this Fall. In reality, both men won. They shared their hearts and their lives in a very public way, and that is SCARY. I had a good visit with both of them afterwards, and I'm convinced that they will both be involved in the leather community for years to come. With the contest wrapped up, it was time to relax. We headed off to finish the night relaxing with our local pack of friends and family, and eventually fell asleep before heading back to the hotel. Did I mention there was a "Christian Women's Conference" in the hotel? We got some funny looks when we walked through in our leathers, lol.
Sunday morning arrived way too early, and we headed back to Missie B's for brunch. Wow, what a spread! (yes, eating again) Plus we got a surprise - International Leatherboy BammBamm and his pup, Pup Tugger, drove out to join the festivities. It was great to see them and hang out for a while. There was more socializing and flirting, and good visits with both contestants again. Finally, it was time to drive home. It was a bit harder this time - probably because we were so tired from the non-stop weekend of fun. There was an early dinner stop at Braum's near Salina, KS, because it's really hard to drive past one, and both Chris and Hayes had never eaten there. Once again, the February weather was gracious to us and we arrived home safely that night.
Many thanks to boy Elena and the entire Heart of America crew for producing a wonderful weekend. Thanks to Missie B's for hosting, and thank you to our friends, family, and the local community of Kansas City for showing us such a great time.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Heart of America part 1
Since 2009, boy chris and I have been doing our best to visit Kansas City every February for the 2013 Heart of America LeatherMan/boy contest. Last year we took Luckey for the first time, and he quickly found out why we love this weekend. It's the people - the community - the friends. They take us into their pack and we go go go and spend the time with friends. They treat us like family, and it's an amazing time.
Boy Elena asked Luckey and I to serve on this year's Judging Panel, and asked Chris to serve as Talleymaster. We were happy to help and contribute to their weekend. So when Friday the 8th rolled around, we began our great adventure.
See, this was the first time we were all traveling together. And by all, I mean me, Chris, Luckey, and his partner Hayes. Did I worry? A little. I did NOT expect any problems, but adding a new person to the mix for a trip when we're essentially going to be together for three days all the time - it has potential. Gladly, my little bit of worry was in vain.
Eight hours of road time from Denver to Kansas City with four drivers means lots of naptime, unless you want to read the billboards about stating "abortion is wrong" and "jesus loves you" all across Kansas. Leaving at 6am also contributes to plenty of naptime, but dealing with 4 appetites and 4 bladders means that 8 hours drive time became 10 hours of travel time, with an hour time zone shift in there too. No complaints here. It was one of the easiest drives I've ever done, and the weather was perfect. I am thankful.
Elena emailed on Thursday night asking if we wanted to do any kind of demo. We talked and got started texting friends and found a portable sling stand we could borrow for the night, and asked the ever sexy boy Tony if he would like to be airborne. We also texted our friend Travis as we passed Ft Riley to say we were passing by, and convinced him to meet us in KC that night. Once we arrived in KC, it was time to settle in to the hotel room, freshen up, and head off to Hamburger Mary's for a bite to eat before the Meet & Greet Social + Demo Time started for the night.There were introductions and raffle sales, socialization and flirting, drinking and flirting. As the night progressed, the room filled up with kinky folk, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. After we watched a punching/caning demo (ow!), we set up the sling stand and Luckey pulled out the rope. Soon, Tony was hanging around in a face-down horizontal suspension, and catching quite a bit of attention. Flying sheepie! It was a good night. After things wound down, we dropped Luckey and Hayes off at the room and Chris and I went to Missie B's. We met up with Travis and his friend there, and enjoyed the incredibly diverse crowd of people in the bar. There was a neon/day-glo themed event somewhere that night, and it looked like the early 80's had mugged most of the patrons - which was cool because there was apparantly a BUNCH of people at the event. Community support!
Boy Elena asked Luckey and I to serve on this year's Judging Panel, and asked Chris to serve as Talleymaster. We were happy to help and contribute to their weekend. So when Friday the 8th rolled around, we began our great adventure.
See, this was the first time we were all traveling together. And by all, I mean me, Chris, Luckey, and his partner Hayes. Did I worry? A little. I did NOT expect any problems, but adding a new person to the mix for a trip when we're essentially going to be together for three days all the time - it has potential. Gladly, my little bit of worry was in vain.
Eight hours of road time from Denver to Kansas City with four drivers means lots of naptime, unless you want to read the billboards about stating "abortion is wrong" and "jesus loves you" all across Kansas. Leaving at 6am also contributes to plenty of naptime, but dealing with 4 appetites and 4 bladders means that 8 hours drive time became 10 hours of travel time, with an hour time zone shift in there too. No complaints here. It was one of the easiest drives I've ever done, and the weather was perfect. I am thankful.
Elena emailed on Thursday night asking if we wanted to do any kind of demo. We talked and got started texting friends and found a portable sling stand we could borrow for the night, and asked the ever sexy boy Tony if he would like to be airborne. We also texted our friend Travis as we passed Ft Riley to say we were passing by, and convinced him to meet us in KC that night. Once we arrived in KC, it was time to settle in to the hotel room, freshen up, and head off to Hamburger Mary's for a bite to eat before the Meet & Greet Social + Demo Time started for the night.There were introductions and raffle sales, socialization and flirting, drinking and flirting. As the night progressed, the room filled up with kinky folk, and everyone was friendly and welcoming. After we watched a punching/caning demo (ow!), we set up the sling stand and Luckey pulled out the rope. Soon, Tony was hanging around in a face-down horizontal suspension, and catching quite a bit of attention. Flying sheepie! It was a good night. After things wound down, we dropped Luckey and Hayes off at the room and Chris and I went to Missie B's. We met up with Travis and his friend there, and enjoyed the incredibly diverse crowd of people in the bar. There was a neon/day-glo themed event somewhere that night, and it looked like the early 80's had mugged most of the patrons - which was cool because there was apparantly a BUNCH of people at the event. Community support!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Kink U
Our friend Jeremy Morris invited us to come visit Des Moines during the first week of February to kick off a month of kinky and educational weekends. We packed hemp rope and puppy gear and flew in around noon on Friday the 1st. Jeremy picked us up at the airport and it was off to lunch then time to get settled into our hotel room for a nap (and visit to the hot tub) before heading out for the bar crawl that night. The Blazing Saddle was our host bar for the weekend, and their motto is "Never a cover and always a double!" The hospitality in this city reminds me of my hometown - friendly, open, genuine, generous, and warm. It makes the 12 degree weather much easier to handle when your heart is warmed by friendship. There were five bars to visit that night, and a crowd of forty+ leatherpeople migrated around the circuit, finishing up at the Blazing Saddle to close the night. Luckey, Jeremy, and I took a few minutes to toast the memory of our friend George Wong. It would have been his birthday, and in his own way, he touched my life. We remember him with stories, with great affection, and with shots of Jager.
Saturday afternoon found us back at the Blazing Saddle for Kink U. Luckey started the afternoon with a rope suspension demo, hanging Ryan Brown up for display while I handled the talking points and some of the questions. Next came a very smart joint presentation combining flogging and caning & paddling. Two presenters, two bottoms, and they fastened them facing one another across a portable sling stand. The presenters took turns talking and applying their art. The crowd was educated and entertained. Next up was a Puppy 101 class with me and Luckey. He was lively and we had a lot of fun sharing the basics of safe puppy play and handling. We finished up the afternoon with the four presenters up front for a Dom/sub lifestyle discussion panel with Q&A. Then came dinner and we were back to the Blazing Saddle for gear night. Hot men, hot gear, strong drinks, and great fun! We ended up hanging out with Alexis from Le Chateau Exotique quite a bit this weekend, and she held her own in a crowd of gay leathermen.
Sunday was brunch and back to the Blazing Saddle for another beer bust and jock auction. Finally, after all our goodbyes were said and everybody hugged, we went back to Jeremy's house for pizza and some tv. There was football, singing, more football, and I napped through a good portion of it. Monday came and it was time to head to the airport, and then homeward.
My big impressions from the weekend?
Thank you again, Jeremy, for inviting us up and thank you to the Blazing Saddle for hosting us for such a great weekend.
Saturday afternoon found us back at the Blazing Saddle for Kink U. Luckey started the afternoon with a rope suspension demo, hanging Ryan Brown up for display while I handled the talking points and some of the questions. Next came a very smart joint presentation combining flogging and caning & paddling. Two presenters, two bottoms, and they fastened them facing one another across a portable sling stand. The presenters took turns talking and applying their art. The crowd was educated and entertained. Next up was a Puppy 101 class with me and Luckey. He was lively and we had a lot of fun sharing the basics of safe puppy play and handling. We finished up the afternoon with the four presenters up front for a Dom/sub lifestyle discussion panel with Q&A. Then came dinner and we were back to the Blazing Saddle for gear night. Hot men, hot gear, strong drinks, and great fun! We ended up hanging out with Alexis from Le Chateau Exotique quite a bit this weekend, and she held her own in a crowd of gay leathermen.
Sunday was brunch and back to the Blazing Saddle for another beer bust and jock auction. Finally, after all our goodbyes were said and everybody hugged, we went back to Jeremy's house for pizza and some tv. There was football, singing, more football, and I napped through a good portion of it. Monday came and it was time to head to the airport, and then homeward.
My big impressions from the weekend?
- The community is amazing in Des Moines. I met so many wonderful people and had so many great conversations - I am touched and warmed from the time spent there.
- Those people know how to have a good time! oh my...yes.
- Those people know how to EAT. omg. I'll be eating salads for two weeks as penance for all the wonderful things we ate. Zombie Burger late in the night - Walking Ched, Fried Brussels Sprouts; Dim Sum - so many great flavors (chicken feet - they're ok, but the texture is a little gummy for me); Quentin's; All you can eat brunch. oh yes, it was good.
Thank you again, Jeremy, for inviting us up and thank you to the Blazing Saddle for hosting us for such a great weekend.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Take Your Clothes Off!
I'm an introvert - I like my quiet time. I don't do well with small talk - the concept eludes me. And I still manage to have fun and enjoy the crazy busy noisy chaos that is International Mr Leather (and sometimes Mid-Atlantic Leather). How? By having a purpose, a reason, and a direction for conversation. Most of the year, I sit in an office with a computer, doing non-social activities to fund the adventure that is my life. But once or twice a year, I leave the computer behind and become a retail salesperson for one of my dearest friends. Carlos is the designer and tailor of CJ's Leather. He creates the designs and patterns, orders the hides, and makes the garments. What you see in his shop is the work of his hands. It is quality, made in America by a local business that supports his community in more ways than I can count. And when I'm in his shop, the crowds disappear into a dull roar in the background and the only thing that matters is the customers that come in to shop. Here is where I feel safe. I am with my friends. I care about what I'm doing. I want people to look good, to feel sexy, and to enjoy their purchase. In this shop, I have a reason to talk to people, to connect, to ask what they're looking for and help them find the right fit. Every year at IML, I get to dress someone in leather for the first time. They find themselves looking in a mirror and seeing, for the first time, a new sexy image that fills them with confidence. That's an amazing experience to share.
The crowds ebb and flow, there are times we cannot slow down to eat lunch, and there are strange moments of stillness in the middle of the afternoon where we check the racks and try to clean up the shop area, and in those moments, I find the peace that keeps me sane.
And then there are the perks...in order to put the leather on, their clothes must come off. Some men are shy, others are NOT so shy. Some will use the dressing room, and others just shuck their clothes right there. Do I appreciate a beautiful body? Oh yes. Can I remain professional and deal with finding them the right garment? Yes. But I do enjoy it? Oh hell yes.
Customer: I'd like to try on this armband.
Staff: Take your clothes off!
Customer: But it's just an armband...
Staff: Yes it is, but you're going to want to try on everything in the shop, and this just makes it easier for everyone.
Customer: If you say so....
And they do it. And, in most cases, they do want to try on a shirt, a pair of pants, a vest, chaps, a harness, and we help them find the right fit and design for their body. Then everybody's happy. But I am in Denver for 51 weeks out of the year. When I say "Take your clothes off!" they just look at me and walk away. That's the magic of IML - for four days out of the year, they do it!
The crowds ebb and flow, there are times we cannot slow down to eat lunch, and there are strange moments of stillness in the middle of the afternoon where we check the racks and try to clean up the shop area, and in those moments, I find the peace that keeps me sane.
And then there are the perks...in order to put the leather on, their clothes must come off. Some men are shy, others are NOT so shy. Some will use the dressing room, and others just shuck their clothes right there. Do I appreciate a beautiful body? Oh yes. Can I remain professional and deal with finding them the right garment? Yes. But I do enjoy it? Oh hell yes.
Customer: I'd like to try on this armband.
Staff: Take your clothes off!
Customer: But it's just an armband...
Staff: Yes it is, but you're going to want to try on everything in the shop, and this just makes it easier for everyone.
Customer: If you say so....
And they do it. And, in most cases, they do want to try on a shirt, a pair of pants, a vest, chaps, a harness, and we help them find the right fit and design for their body. Then everybody's happy. But I am in Denver for 51 weeks out of the year. When I say "Take your clothes off!" they just look at me and walk away. That's the magic of IML - for four days out of the year, they do it!
Friday, January 18, 2013
MAL 2013 part 4
Monday brought us back to reality with gathering all of our things and packing the suitcases for the trip home. In the spare minutes, I was able to set up lunch with our friend Ivory Mistress Jae, who lives in Frederick. She lived in Denver years ago, and we always love to see her, so she met us at Union Central Station for lunch. Two hours later, we headed back to the Smithsonian to the National Art Gallery to see one of Michaelangelo's unfinished sculptures of David. Of course, it is housed in a wing dedicated to Italian renaissance art, so I tormented Luckey with a discourse of why these portraits are so important to historical costumers. He was less than thrilled until we found a cluster of paintings focusing on St George and the Dragon.
When it was time to head back to grab our bags, we found out that his friends Kelev and Joshua offered us a ride to the airport - OK! That was very kind and saved us quite a bit of time on the Metro. Plus I finally got to meet them - super nice guys!
Reality kicked in on the long plane ride home. Usually it feels like going home is shorter than leaving for an event, but not this trip. The plane was packed and it just felt ...slow...in the air. Chris picked us up at the airport and we met Hayes for a quick dinner before parting ways.
Overall, the weekend was so many things - busy, crazy, fun, sexy, relaxing, exhausting, refreshing, inspiring, and so much more. Thank you to everyone we met, everyone we saw, everyone in the Centaurs for producing a successful weekend. Thank you to Chris and Hayes, for sharing us with the community this year - I know it's not always easy. And than you to Luckey, for taking this journey with me.
When it was time to head back to grab our bags, we found out that his friends Kelev and Joshua offered us a ride to the airport - OK! That was very kind and saved us quite a bit of time on the Metro. Plus I finally got to meet them - super nice guys!
Reality kicked in on the long plane ride home. Usually it feels like going home is shorter than leaving for an event, but not this trip. The plane was packed and it just felt ...slow...in the air. Chris picked us up at the airport and we met Hayes for a quick dinner before parting ways.
Overall, the weekend was so many things - busy, crazy, fun, sexy, relaxing, exhausting, refreshing, inspiring, and so much more. Thank you to everyone we met, everyone we saw, everyone in the Centaurs for producing a successful weekend. Thank you to Chris and Hayes, for sharing us with the community this year - I know it's not always easy. And than you to Luckey, for taking this journey with me.
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