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!
Showing posts with label class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label class. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
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?
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 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!
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.
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