23 September 2008 3:03
Seattle, WA – With all the travel and events I’ve engaged in lately, I’m enjoying a little down time here at home in Seattle. I’ve been catching up on work, taking care of some much needed house-keeping, spending some time with my family and missing the two boys I’m most connected to.
The training business is picking up a bit. I’ve been slamming a full month of sessions into two weeks because of my little Inferno vacation, revamping client programs for fall and networking to bring new clients into the pipeline. Work with the two non-profit boards I serve on continues. I’ve pulled out of helping to prepare our Northwest titleholders for the International competition because I’ll be judging the contest in San Francisco next month, but Generic Leather Productions of Washington has several other projects I’m involved with and our annual meeting for the Washington State Mr|Ms Leather Organization is coming up in a few weeks. And, last Friday I taught a class on single tails for Tribal Instincts, Seattle Men in Leather’s educational series.
Side Bar: The class wasn’t very well attended. It might be that I’m just getting used to presenting to audiences of 50 (the needle demo Derek and I did at Inferno this year) to 100 (the class with Midori in Chicago), but I’m afraid it is more a reflection of SML’s floundering as an organization. I know a couple of months ago, the Dragon Clan (my leather family) were informed that our play at the leather socials, with all the whip cracks and noise from flogging scenes, was disruptive to peoples’ conversations. Give me a fucking break. SML has always been welcoming to both the leather/Sm and the leather/S&M crowds (go ahead, ask me about the distinction), but I’m getting the impression that the organization is losing its soul. This tears me apart because Dave Lewis, my Daddy in Seattle until he died, invested so much into SML and I don’t want to just walk away from the organization. We’re having another social at the Cuff this Wednesday. The Dragons will be there. Hopefully, other players will be too.
Speaking of the family, I met my brothers Gene and Odie out at the Cuff Sunday night. It was a pretty slow night, but a good opportunity to touch base and talk about the stuff coming up. And some of the boys were there too, including Danny (pictured above) a new boy to Seattle who was brought to my attention by my boy Derek. I got to meet Danny a few weeks ago during Northwest Leather Weekend and invited him to join Derek and I at the play party the Saturday night. Since then he seems to have found a comfortable home within the fold of our crew.
All in all, it’s been a good and productive period but I’m missing my boys immensely. Derek is home in Chicago and Jeff is on vacation in Hawaii. Both close to my heart and always on my mind but thousands of miles away. With busy days and close friends here in Seattle to occupy my time I shouldn’t feel so lonely but I do nonetheless. I’m looking forward to seeing Derek in San Francisco this weekend and thrilled that Jeff will be joining us at the street fair on Sunday. I’m going to be one very happy man.
Tags: BDSM, Boys, Dragon Clan, GLPW, Rigging, Service, SML, WSMLO
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31 August 2008 17:28
Seattle, WA — Yesterday was my thirty-eighth birthday. This weekend has also included the events associated with Northwest Leather. And while those of you who read my blog regularly may grow tired of reading it over and over, I must state again how truly blessed I am by the people with whom I share my life.
My boy Derek and his partner of twelve-plus years, Doug, came out from Chicago to be with me for my birthday. You can imagine my joy in having Derek with me; the connection we share is probably the strongest in my life right now. And my relationship with Doug has grown beyond my expectations. Although the relationship Doug and I have is not of the D/s variety, I still consider him one of my boys and the bonds we three share create a kind of family. While it may not seem familiar to many, it is my core.
Of course there is another boy I’ve been trying to court into this strange family of ours for almost a year now. Jeff and I have had some challenge over the past couple months but I am cautiously optimistic of the future. He’s out of town this weekend but we had a chance to reconnect before he left. I’m not sure how things will progress but I do know I am very much in love with him. It’s clear he loves me in return, too. I think this may scare him a little but with time we’ll figure out what to make of our relationship.
Then there is my foundation, the Dragon Clan. My brothers and our whelps form the base of what I consider my community. Gene and Odie (pictured above) in particular are sources of inspiration and support. I can’t count the number of times over the course of the past year the Dragons have offered their encouragement and compassion. These have been my first responders when I have sought counsel and comfort.
Expanding beyond this foundation is my broader community of family and friends. Having the Northwest Leather weekend coincide with my birthday gives me the opportunity to spend the time with them as well. Leather/Sm events in Seattle tend to attract the best players from throughout the Pacific Northwest, many of whom I consider among my closest friends. I got to see some of the women that contribute so much, including Lynnda, Alycyn, Tobin, Alyxx and Matisse. I had a chance to thank Malixe for all the photos he’s taken over the years (including those posted with this entry). I got to visit with guys outside the men’s community like Max and Monk in addition to the many gay and queer men I know from Seattle and Portland. I even got to play a little with my favorite girl from Toronto Gloria (pictured left) who came in to judge the contest.
All in all, it was a glorious weekend that also produced three new titleholders for the Northwest region: Rich Bryan as Northwest Leather Sir 2008, John Trueman as Northwest Leather boy and Shell Bishop as Northwest Community Bootblack 2008. Congratulations to each of them.
Next up on my schedule: Inferno XXXVII. I leave for Chicago on Wednesday then drive out with Derek. This will be my third Inferno and our second anniversary. To say I’m excited would be an understatement.
Tags: BDSM, Boys, CHC, Dragon Clan, Events, GLPW, Inferno, Service
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31 July 2008 19:23
Seattle, WA –- It appears August is going to be a busy month filled with events at home here in Seattle and out of town.
First up on the calendar is Oregon State Leather Pride Week in Portland. I’m traveling down with several of my Dragon Clan brothers on Saturday for the Oregon State Mr & Ms Leather Contest on the 3rd and will be teaching a class on Interrogation Techniques subtitled Confession is Good for the Soul with brothers Gene and Odie for ‘Sunday School w/Bad Girls’. Click here for more information on this year’s Oregon State Leather Pride events.
On Saturday August 9th, I’ll be co-hosting the Queen City Cruise with (direct from Miami Beach) Marina Dennis. Marina and I will be introducing our lineup of performers for the Pre-Boarding Show including Poison Waters, Alexis Champagne, Chablis and Mark ‘Mom’ Finley. Then we’ll provide continuing color commentary aboard the cruise. I’ve been volunteering time to the cruise for several years now and always have a great time. The Queen City Cruise is produced by the Seattle Chapter of Tacky Tourist Clubs of America, an organization known for its imaginatively outrageous events and excursions. Since 1981, Tacky Tourist Clubs has donated over $275,000 to other non-profit groups. This year’s beneficiaries include Gay City Health Project, Gay World Series Organizing Committee and Action Northwest’s Backpack Project. I understand we still have some tickets left to this typically sold out event so you still have a chance to get yours now.
On the 22nd I’ll be heading to Indianapolis with my boy da Silva for the Great Lakes Leather Alliance Weekend where we’ll be presenting Shibari with Male subs. Fellow CHC brothers Rob and Joey will be stepping down as 2008 Great Lakes Leather Sir and boy (respectively) that weekend and I’m looking forward to seeing them and several other friends while I’m there. Brother Gene will be judging the contest and brothers Odie and Mark are planning to go as well so I’m sure the Dragons will find some trouble to get into.
Finally, Derek and I are back in Seattle over Labor Day weekend for the Northwest Leather Sir/boy & Community Bootblack Contest. The Meet & Greet will be held at the Cuff Complex on Friday the 29th from 9pm to 11pm. The main event will be on Saturday the 30th at the Cuff starting at 7pm (doors at 6pm). It’s my birthday that day so I’m intent to have a good time that evening and at the play party afterward. To learn more about Generic Leather Productions of Washington (GLPW), the producers of these events, check out What We Do and Why. Yes that’s me, naked in Cal Anderson Park smoking a cigarette. I am a whore.
Tags: BDSM, Boys, Dragon Clan, Events, GLLA, GLPW, Northwest Leather Sir/boy, Oregon State Leather Pride Week, Queen City Cruise, Service, TTCA
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24 July 2008 18:15
Seattle, WA –- Shortly after my last past while in Chicago, I learned that David Caldwell had passed away. David was a beloved member of our leather/Sm community and had been serving as Northwest Leather Boy this year. He was also a regular client and dear friend. Without going into the details of his death, I will simply state his passing was a senseless tragedy that left many of us emotionally wrecked… myself among them.
I haven’t felt much like writing the last few weeks. Truth be told, I hadn’t felt like doing much of anything.
Last Saturday we held a memorial at the Cuff for David. It gave us an opportunity to come together, remember and celebrate his life. I can’t say I’m not still angry, but I must say it’s time to let go.
Tags: Boys, Dragon Clan, GLPW, Service
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1 July 2008 22:13
Seattle, WA –- It’s been a while since my last post, I know. The past month has been occupied by my work with clients, another ‘art film’ with Titan, community events and reconnecting with my boys Derek and Jeff.
Business has been slow but the clients I have are all enjoyable to work with and incredibly understanding of my travel schedule. The economy sucks. There, I said it. I’m convinced the present leadership in the government (at least two of the three branches) has really fucked things up. I still have client openings and prospects are thin so I’m working to build (and diversify) my business.
Speaking of diversification, I did have another shoot with Titan last month. According to Brian Mills in the June issue of GayVN Magazine, Funhouse has been pushed off for a Halloween release date. This necessitated the production of another fetish release for the Folsom Street Fair in September, so I was brought down for a scene in early June. My scene partners were Dirk Jager, Frank Philipp and Tyler Peters. It was a challenging shoot because of the amount of action we captured but I’m confident we delivered. I’m sure I’ll post more on the subject once the movie is released.
Derek and I got to spend two extended weekends together without any official responsibilities last month. It was important for us to reconnect at that level after the extensive amount of time we’ve spent engaged in outside projects. The first weekend we attended BootCamp, a BDSM retreat sponsored by the San Francisco Men of Discipline. Held at Temptation Ranch in San Luis Obispo CA, the run was intimate, relaxing and filled with a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie. Derek and I got in several good scenes including an opportunity to co-top one of our best friends from San Francisco. If you hear one of the Men of Discipline talk about a fairly bloody needle scene during the closing hours of the run, be sure to ask him about the Family Recipe Rubbing Salts. The following weekend, Derek joined me in Seattle for some down time. Since he re-injured his medial collateral ligament while on maneuvers at BootCamp the week before, we didn’t get a chance to play too hard but we did manage to have a great few days together.
This past weekend I spent with Jeff. We went to the GLPW sponsored Seventh Deadly Sin Play Party Friday night and Twisted Family Picnic Saturday afternoon. On Sunday we attended the festivities downtown. It was actually a pretty low-key weekend. I’m not sure if Jeff has as good a time in my company as I do in his, but I hope so.
I’ve been reading through some reviews and will post some choice snippets tomorrow. Until then, I’ll leave you with the photos I promised from the performance at the House of Blues taken by Jerome of Chapter 9 Photography. You should check out his stuff; it’s pretty wack.
Tags: Art Films, Bootcamp, Boys, Dragon Clan, Events, GLPW, IML, MOD-SF, Pride, Rigging, Service, Titan Media
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18 March 2008 18:25
Seattle, WA –- Washington State Leather Pride Week continues with several events scheduled through the week. Here’s a breakdown of the remaining events:
Daddy’s Leather Tag Sale
Wed 19 Mar 2008 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm
In conjunction with Washington State Leather Pride Week at the Cuff Complex Black & Blue Room, the past Seattle Leather Daddy titleholders and Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Organization host a Leather Tag Sale during the March Community-Wide, Dress Code Leather Social, with the proceeds benefiting the Leather Archives & Museum. Donations may be made year round. Contact Daddy Jeff at lthrdaddy@aol.com.
Coming Out in Kink (above)
Thu 20 Mar 2008 from 9:00 pm to Midnight
Titanmen Tony Buff & Derek da Silva host a kinky night out at the Cuff sponsored by TitanMen.com to benefit the Scott Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St Joan’s Sisters’ Charity Fund with TitanMen product raffles, demos and twisted surprises.
Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Contest Public Meet and Greet
Fri 21 Mar 2008 from 8:30 to 10:00 pm
To be held at Lifelong Seneca Conference Room, 1002 East Seneca Street, Seattle, WA 98122. (Entrance via sunken parking lot. Cross streets - 10th Ave and Madison). No Charge. More Info at www.wsmlo.org.
The 26th Annual Washington State Mr. & Ms. Leather Contest (left)
Sat 22 Mar 2008 from 7:00 to 9 pm (Doors at 6:00 pm)
To be held at The Cuff - Dance Club, 1533 13th Ave, Seattle, WA. $8.00. More Info at www.wsmlo.org.
The Leather Emerald & Community Service Awards Victory Brunch
Sun 23 Mar 2008 11:30 am to 1:30 pm (Awards at Noon)
Join WSMLO, Generic Leather Productions of Washington, Seattle Men in Leather, Seattle Women in Leather and the Seattle Boys of Leather at The Cuff Dance Bar for a light brunch and awards ceremony. Enter on East Pike Street side, Seattle, WA. No Charge. More Info at www.wsmlo.org.
Tags: BDSM, GLPW, SboL, SML, SWL, WSMLO
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2 March 2008 10:20
Seattle, WA –- Last night was the show for NW Sash Bash followed by the Extreme Play Party, both hosted by GLPW. My brothers, Gene and Odie pulled together the show and I MC’d. The show itself was cabaret-style with performance pieces, live auctions, introductions of current title-holders and raffles.
The performance pieces included Derek locked in a cage while I worked the microphone, Odie and Gene mummifying Rich (photo right), a flogging by Russell Harmon, rigging featuring my boy Jeff and a fantasy performed by US Daddy and Daddy’s boy, Erik and Earl (respectively).
All the events this weekend were fairly intimate gatherings and the show was no exception. While the audience was small, the enthusiasm and generosity was anything but. Our charity this year was Camp Ten Trees, a non-profit summer camp in the Pacific Northwest featuring a week for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their allies, and a week for children of LGBTQ families.
Since our sponsors covered all our expenses, all the proceeds raised throughout the weekend will go to support this worthy charity. Once again Bear Leather Works, the Cuff Complex and Dog House Leathers have made positive contributions to our community and for that I am personally thankful.
Derek, Jeff and I went back to my place after the show to decompress a bit before the play party. We had a couple cocktails, listened to music, talked and fooled around, laughing the entire time. I know it seems too mundane to even mention here, but honestly it took a play party to pull us away we were enjoying our time alone together so much.
I was happy we went to the play party though. I got in two solid scenes, one with each of the boys. Derek and I hadn’t done our dynamic suspension scene here in Seattle and several of my friends that were in the dungeon had asked to see it, so we acquiesced to the requests. The rigging went smoothly and faster than the last time we did it in December. It still amazes me to watch him move in the rigging; it’s quite the sight (photo left). While there is a part of me that would have liked to do a heavier scene, I’m glad we did the suspension since we’ll be performing it as a demo at CLAW in April and this was probably the last time we’d get the opportunity to practice. Not to mention we have a shoot coming up in a couple of days.
The second scene with Jeff was spectacular; his first flogging. Free standing against a rack, naked except for his boots, I took after him with the Buffalo hide flogger. Alternating through the back, buttocks, thighs and controlled wraps to the front torso (please note I wrote ‘controlled wraps’) I worked him over. His reactions were beautiful to behold and as easy to read as if we had been playing for a year or more. I brought him to the point of breaking and back again as Derek sat on the floor and watched, his dick growing hard as he took in Jeff’s experience. The shudders came. Jeff’s entire body shook uncontrollably, the convulsions marking his limits. I have him count out ten more lashes, each building in intensity. He takes them like the butch little fuck he is.
Derek joined us on the floor afterward. The three of us huddled together in the middle of the dungeon then soon after in bed.
Tags: BDSM, Boys, Dragon Clan, GLPW, NW Sash Bash, Rigging
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1 March 2008 17:58
Seattle, WA –- We got off to a late start on the NW Sash Bash Education Series this afternoon but even help from my adopted boy Rich and his boy Steven couldn’t stave off mother nature. As soon as we got set-up it started to rain and as Derek ran the first needle in his demo the hale started falling. I don’t mean little pellets either; this was a fingernail-sized hale. We were fine continuing until the thunder and lightning. Given the fact we were working under double stack metal scaffolding, I had to call the scene.
It was a cluster fuck to say the least. But, as my brother Odie likes to say, ‘It is what it is.’ If you top scenes frequently enough you know they don’t always go as planed and when shit happens you’ve got two choices. You can call it quits or you can improvise, adapt and overcome. The picture (left) was taken just before we had to move the event inside.
Because there are no hard points in the Cuff dance bar we had to cancel my Shibari suspension demo and time constraints after the move precluded replacing it with another demo but Russell Harmon was able to deliver a highly educational presentation on advanced flogging techniques and there was a well-attended panel discussion on bootblacking.
Next two stops tonight: NW Sash Bash Cabaret and the Extreme Play Party.
Tags: BDSM, Boys, Demos, Dragon Clan, GLPW, NW Sash Bash
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1 March 2008 11:23
Seattle, WA –- Derek arrived yesterday morning and Jeff joined us shortly thereafter. I couldn’t have asked for a better initial exchange. The physical attraction between the two boys was immediately palpable… a good sign. We broke bread. We had sex. We talked. It was easy and enjoyable.
This was important to me. Derek wears my collar of commitment; there is a special bond between us even though we live two thousand miles apart. I have no boys in collars of consideration and this is only the second time Jeff has worn my scene collar, one I purchased especially for him. I have grown extremely found of Jeff over the course of the past several months and I am ready to invest more in the relationship and perhaps take it further. I know from past experience that this would be very difficult if animosity, discomfort or jealousy overshadowed those efforts, but my observations thus far seem to suggest that that will not be the case.
We attended the NW Sash Bash Meet & Greet last night and then went out to the Cuff. At the Meet & Greet the boys made themselves of service to our guests at this semi-private event by keeping the buffet and bar stocked while getting to know each other better. They are both so good with people and seemed to work well together. As I would mingle with the people I knew from around the country and Canada I would steal glances of the two of them chatting or smiling at one another.
Later at the Cuff, the three of us hung out with the crew and danced until we decided my apartment would be a better venue for the progression of things.
Tags: BDSM, Boys, Brotherhood, Dragon Clan, GLPW, NW Sash Bash
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27 February 2008 11:48
Seattle, WA –- This weekend, Northwest Sash Bash comes to Seattle. The weekend will be filled with events, beginning with a Meet & Greet Friday evening; includes a tour of the city underground, education series, show and extreme play party on Saturday and concludes with a brunch Sunday morning.
It’s going to be a very special weekend for me. Not only do I get to see my friends from across the Pacific Northwest, two amazing boys will be joining me. Derek is flying in from Chicago and Jeff, the local boy I’ve been courting for several months, has agreed to join us. This will be their first opportunity to meet and I’m confident they’re going to hit it off.
In addition to assisting me throughout the weekend, both boys will be featured in the Shibari demos we will present as part of the education series and Derek will be presenting a workshop/seminar on advanced needle play. You can join us at the Cuff on Saturday from 3 to 6 pm for this series of educational workshops that will also include a presentation on flogging techniques by Russell Harmon.
I’ve also been given the honor (read: been drafted) to serve as your Master of Ceremonies for the show Saturday night, so expect a spectacle. For more information, visit the Northwest Sash Bash website.
Sidebar: Check in tomorrow for my Buff Enough Recommendation of the Week.
Tags: BDSM, Boys, Demo, GLPW, Needle Play, NW Sash Bash, Rigging, Service
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by Titan Media
by Titan Media
by Titan Media
by Titan Media
by Titan Media
by Zeus Studios
by Titan Media
Seattle, WA – With all the travel and events I’ve engaged in lately, I’m enjoying a little down time here at home in Seattle. I’ve been catching up on work, taking care of some much needed house-keeping, spending some time with my family and missing the two boys I’m most connected to.
Side Bar: The class wasn’t very well attended. It might be that I’m just getting used to presenting to audiences of 50 (the needle demo Derek and I did at Inferno this year) to 100 (the class with Midori in Chicago), but I’m afraid it is more a reflection of SML’s floundering as an organization. I know a couple of months ago, the Dragon Clan (my leather family) were informed that our play at the leather socials, with all the whip cracks and noise from flogging scenes, was disruptive to peoples’ conversations. Give me a fucking break. SML has always been welcoming to both the leather/Sm and the leather/S&M crowds (go ahead, ask me about the distinction), but I’m getting the impression that the organization is losing its soul. This tears me apart because Dave Lewis, my Daddy in Seattle until he died, invested so much into SML and I don’t want to just walk away from the organization. We’re having another social at the Cuff this Wednesday. The Dragons will be there. Hopefully, other players will be too.
