The Shiny Thing
Scott and I taught ourselves how to gild things
this summer, so we've been gradually applying this to different
objects: my wallet, his chaps, some of the rocks in the backyard,
etc.
It's not nearly as difficult to do an "okay"
job as you might think, although the cost of materials is
still high, especially for real gold leaf. I've been using
aluminum leaf instead of silver just to avoid the tarnishing
and expense. I'll post some examples shortly.
Tower of Bamboo
What does Wes do when he's bored or Scott needs
a break from keeping me amused? He builds a 17' tower of
cheap bamboo poles and covers them with green christmas lights.
2007 Resolutions
1. Marry for money
For some reason, my boss blurted this out at a meeting
one day, so I've decided to keep this open as an option.
Since I'll basically date anyone that can hold my attention
for more than 20 seconds, this should be pretty easy despite
the fact that if I find out someone "successful" is
just another spoiled trust fund brat, I'll torture them.
2. Be thrifty
Spend more time at home cleaning my floors, making
fun constructions, and writing my book. I'll probably also
concentrate on my job in the coming year, whatever it ends
up being.
3. Get a cat
I can't believe I still haven't adopted a kitty.
Scott is "like kitty," but it's just not the same.
International Mr. Leather 2007
Yes, Scott and I are finally going to Chicago to attend IML
2007 May 24-28. We're staying a couple of extra days for
sightseeing and recovery. I did this mostly because of
my pal Luis at Renegades, who will also be there.
Am I into leather? No. Do I like to attend
gay events and then observe and take notes? Yes! And this
is a big one. There are supposed to be more than 15,000 attendees
from around the planet. That's a lot of leather (and luggage).
I'm taking some of my rope along just to see how people will
react.
I actually can't wait to attend. I used to
spend my summer in Chicago on the northside (Granville station)
when I was a kid, so I want to see what's changed and maybe
drop in on some old family friends.
The Rope Bondage Thing (Shibari)
I was originally going to take this down, but
my photo is ranked #5 in Google because I think I'm the only
male shown in a harness, and I'm nothing if not into gender
equality.
In the latter half of last year,
I became fascinated by knots, mostly because a) I wasn't
allowed to become a Boy Scout by my parents (they thought
it was fascist) and therefore don't know how to
tie even basic knots, and b) I was bored out of my mind.
Luis, one of the bartenders from Renegades,
showed me some of the knots he had learned in relation to
rope bondage SM play. I am definitely not into SM, but I
thought I could use them to figure out how far I could take
my interest. My friend Scott joined in, and bought two 50'
lengths of nylon rope and an illustrated book on sailing
knots. The rest has been an odd mix of using knots traditionally
used for ship rigging in unusual ways and discovering how
to use those knots on people.

The most important goal to me
was, of course, that the results be nice to look at (see
photo above; yes, that's me in some nylon rope and electroluminescent
wires). They had to have structure, strength, and be quick
to tie. So far, the results have been good but not great.
I did succeed in tying a rope harness which I thought met
all of the requirements—it
actually tightened with a simple pull to one knotted strand—but
that was a bit of a fluke since I improvise a great deal.
Here is a photo of someone I tied up about six months ago.
He enjoyed it, I think; I just felt like "daddy."
In early November, Scott and I will
take a Shibari
class by Midori in San Francisco, who is very well
known in rope bondage circles. In that class, we'll learn
about suspension, which I haven't tried due to the fact
that you can kill your subject if you don't know what you're
doing. That would be bad.
Post Rope Dojo update
After the classes this past weekend with Midori,
my understanding of how social customs are used to mask submissive
and dominant behavior are inifinitely clearer. How I interact
with my boyfriend, my bartender, my boss at work, my neighbors...it
all comes down to who you consider a peer and who you consider
"the enemy." Call it an epiphany, call it paying
attention, call it in to your mother on a payphone. The end
result is good.
My relationship with Scott has grown stronger
or at least clearer. It's hard not to get caught up in the
honesty displayed by the other students, and part of
it also stems from my admiration for what Midori was attempting
to convey indirectly to the class. She is far, far more Japanese
than I am in that respect.
For 4-5 glorious seconds, my relationship
and my role within that relationship were laid bare—basically
how we’ve both subverted their interests and needs
for the past 12 months and replaced them with a sadistic
game of one-upsmanship. Is there love there? Yes. Is it the
kind of love I was looking for? Nope.
To an outsider like myself, it appears that
the
SM community has managed to oust many of the ridiculous courtship
games we play. This isn't unexpected, given that a mistake
in their case can mean literally eating shit. Literally.
Choosing poorly in my world means suffering through a dinner
with a human doorknob; choosing badly in a bondage or SM
scene could mean permanent mutilation, paralysis, or death.
Why they would want to do this, I do not know. But as my
mother would say, it's good to have a hobby.
The rope is still interesting to me. I definitely
have a "fetish" for technique (or as the Chinese
say "kung fu"), which I think is the real fetish of Japanese...the
appreciation and idolization of skillful craftsmanship, not
process. I'll be buying some nicely finished hemp rope, tying
up a few volunteers, and hopefully becoming proficient if
not masterful.
If you have a chance to attend one of Midori's
rope dojos, I obviously highly recommend it. It wasn't
at all what I thought it would be.
Update 11/11/2006 - We took a class from Waldermer
at The
Citadel on suspension, but we ran late and ended up
as observers. Just as well since there were only two other
gay men there. The class was fine; he covered all of
the basics and we learned a bit more about safety and technique,
but nothing really matches Midori's style. I see the logic
in her teaching now...speed, technique, and practicality.
Where to Get Rope for Bondage -
It's true that the best rope is probably what you get from
a shibari instructor. It should be strong, not stretch, and
not have a solid core. I get almost all of my rope from Home
Depot, which has a good selection of nylon rope at a reasonable
cost. Midori mentioned in her class that magician's rope
is also a good choice.
The downside to using nylon rope is that it
stretches, so take that into consideration when you're tying
someone, especially if they will be suspended.
The good part about nylon is that it's cheap,
fairly easy to tie, and soft to the touch. Since I have
a bad habit of giving away the rope I use to tie someone,
the cost is an important factor.
| Family
Affair - Mary J Blige (she's a genius, ya
know) |

The answer to the question, what is Wes listening
to on his car stereo these days.
The answer would be some Mary J Blige. The new album
is amazing. Less pop than No More Drama, but infinitely
listenable.
|
Let's
get it crunk, we gon' have fun
Up on in this dancerie
We got ya open, now ya floatin'
So you gots to dance for me
Don't need no hateration, holleratin'
In this dancerie
Let's get it percolatin', while you're waiting
So just dance for me
Come on everybody get on up
Cause you know we gots to get it crunk
Mary J. is in the spot tonight
As I'mma make it feel alright (Make it feel alright)
Come on baby just party with me
Let loose and set your body free
Leave your situations at the door
So when you step inside jump on the floor
Let's get it crunk, we gon' have fun
Up on in this dancerie
We got ya open, now ya floatin'
So you gots to dance for me
Don't need no hateration, holleratin'
In this dancerie
Let's get it percolatin', while you're waiting
So just dance for me
It's only gonna be about a matter of
time
Before you get loose and start loose your mind
Cop you a drink, go head and rock your ice
Cause we celebrating No More Drama in our life
With a great track pumpin', everybody's jumpin'
Go on ahead and twist your back and get your body bumpin'
I told you leave your situations at the door
So grab somebody and get your ass on the dance floor
Let's get it crunk, we gon' have fun
Up on in this dancerie
We got ya open, now ya floatin'
So you gots to dance for me
Don't need no hateration, holleratin'
In this dancerie
Let's get it percolatin', while you're waiting
So just dance for me
We don't need, don't need, no haters
Just try to love one another
We just want y'all have a good time
No more drama in your life
Work real hard to make a dime
If you got beef, your problem, not mine
Leave all that BS outside
We're gonna celebrate all night
Let's have fun, tonight, no fights
Turn the great track way up high
Making you dance all night and I
Got some real heat for ya this time
Doesn't matter if you're white or black
Let's get crunk cuz Mary's back
Let's get it crunk, we gon' have fun
Up on in this dancerie
We got ya open, now ya floatin'
So you gots to dance for me
Don't need no hateration, holleratin'
In this dancerie
Let's get it percolatin', while you're waiting
So just dance for me |
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