Whirlwind Tour

The last of my promises during my title year have been fulfilled. With the count down being 2 weeks until my step-down I was cutting it close. I was asked about 10 months ago by Lady Meri to teach my HAWK class (Health Awareness Within Kink) for a group called Life in Nassau. What an amazing group it is! Many of them volunteered for Philadelphia Leather Pride Night... yes they came to Philly to help me last Nov and even more of them had volunteered for The Floating World. Events big and small you can see their membership.
As the life of this Cowboi would have it I just can't do one thing when I travel so the last 2 days were stacked. It started with me doing something quite unusual and I took the bus to NYC.... yes bus... they offer free Wi-Fi and I could use the extra time to work on my major project. Upon arrival a very good friend picked me up and off we went to stop #1.... the MET... not baseball as those who know me would think.. but the Metropolitan Opera House. Another friend has set up a backstage tour for us. What can I say but WOW... it was amazing. To see the in's and out's of how the productions happen and somehow the building is bigger on the inside then it is on the outside. The tour was well over 2 hours with one of the highlights being holding a flaming sword... fire play to the extreme!
From the MET we drove to Long Island to the Life in Nassau group. I designed the class to be interactive and work off of participation. I can not thank the group enough for helping support my travel fund for IMsL. They made me promise to come back if I win... or not... smiles.
Back to the big city for us and stopping by a party called IMPACT thrown by the New York Fetish Tribe. As we walked into the door I was accosted by a friend and saw many more inside. I didn't realize just how many people I would know there. My purpose for going was to have my boots done. Luna who is running for International Ms Bootblack was there and this was a fundraiser for her travel fund. Luna and I share common interests and one VERY special woman and I wouldn't miss an opportunity to help in any way I can. Overnight in the big city and a lazy day filled with friendship and laughter until the bus ride from hell home...... next time Amtrak!
One last stop on my whirlwind day and that was to Pergatory...Stern style. It was one of the largest groups I had seen yet at the Adobe. I sold the 50/50 tickets in ways that had people lined up for the boots to hummmmm. The guys were loving me on my knee's and I learned who my secret fet-stalker is...grins.
Today 3 things in 3 different states... thinking to myself I am supposed to be winding down.. not winding up. I look forward to being surrounded by friends and those I call family.

South Plains Leatherfest

What a weekend. I had no idea if I was even going to make it to Dallas with the storm that was slamming Philly last Thursday. I was on one of the last flights outta there and it was a puddle jumper just to get me to Washington DC then onto Dallas. I have flown well over 200,000 miles in my lifetime and I found it hard to believe that I was never on a plane that was being deiced. The spray hit my window and I just looked on. This was going to be an adventure. The blizzard was starting to hit and I just held my breath praying the flight didn't get canceled last minute. We finally took off and it was a EEE ticket ride with the winds. When we landed in DC I was quite shocked, the sun was shining and the birds singing. After a couple hour layover off I went to Dallas! Easy flight, easy shuttle to the host hotel, easy check in.... it was a good day!

My role at SPLF was unique. Though I had a full weekend package I had stepped forward to be the handler for our Northeast Master and slave team who were competing that weekend. Master Steve and slave tami are 2 of the most honorable people I know. They housed me for the weekend and in return I was at their beck and call. They barely used me and I stayed out of the way as much as I could. Saturday morning I went to get them breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Instead of box's I had a full serving tray filled with plates, utensils, etc... as I was carrying it thru the hotel the looks were priceless. In a land far far away I used to be a waitress and very few are aware that I was owned property at one point. What I learned I carry with me thru life!

During the course of the weekend I met some amazing women and rekindled friendships. With my running for IMsL I was excited to spend some time with Lady Fae and Gabrielle. I was able to ask them about their experiences as IMsL and their answers were everything I expected and more. Lamalani and Pony were also present and just as enlightening. I also got to spend some quality time with 2 of my classmates, Cathy and Lady Minx. Minx was a gem and with Syr Evan took me out for a night on the town at the Dallas Eagle where we hooked up with Gypsey while Cathy pulled together a gathering of IMsL women. I can't wait to spend more time with them!

Throughout the weekend I was there every step of the way for Steve and tami. I am not a judge on this track but what I saw I really liked. They are a genuine couple...about as real as you get. I am proud to be on so many board of directors with them. Their story is very touching. I have known them for years and they speak truely from their hearts. The pop questions were perfect for them with whitty answers. I was holding my breath.....

When they announced the winners... Master Obsidian and slave namaste from the Southwest region the audience roared. They were on fire all weekend and will be amazing representatives for our community. I was able to talk to them for a short bit during the weekend and look forward to seeing them around the country.

My friends... my family made us all proud. I don't think they could have done anything different. They are winners in my book and our region has won also. We do not lose them to the community at large... we get to be greedy!

All in all what a weekend. Master Jim, Cougar, slave marsha.. thank you for all that you do. Celeste your skills are amazing, Master Larry.. rock on...rock on!

I walked away from the weekend with amazing friends, a weekend at Leather Reign in Seattle and a question of why I had never attended South Plains before.

I will not make that mistake again.