interview

So, my interview with leatherati was posted today - if you'd like to give it a listen!

I've had a busy few weeks. Lots of local events to make appearances at. 2 weekends ago, though, I was at International Ms. Leather - the 25th anniversary of the IMsL contest, and 13th for the International Ms. Bootblack contest. If you've never been to IMsL, I can't praise it highly enough. It's a small enough "big" event that it doesn't really feel super-overwhelming (IML was fun, but holy crap - the PEOPLE). And if you're into that sort of thing, there are SO many hot queers of every gender variation you can think of!

This was my 3rd IMsL. IMsl 2009 was my first big out-of-town leather event. I only knew 4 people - TOTAL - that would be in attendance. I've been kind of an event slut since then, traveling more and meeting lots of folks. The fact that I somehow end up hanging out with the Cool Kids (titleholders, perverati, etc) means that some folks actually know who I am. It's kind of odd. And neat. So this year (and last year too), I got to see and hang out with a lot of my favorite kinksters. Cute ones, too. OH man. I can't get over the cute.

This year was a lot of fun. I got to share a room and spend time with pony, my dategirlfriend. We have an interesting relationship, and she summed up thusly - we're like 7th grade boyfriend and girlfriend. We hang out and cuddle and watch TV together (seriously - we have a texting date on Wednesday when Survivor is on!). I got to have a breakfast and lunch date with two really awesome folks who I've been crushing on for a couple of years now. I helped a friend of mine in and out of his nasty pig chaps in the Mr. S. dressing room (yes, I took my time).

I met a very cute boy who I spent a good portion of the weekend snuggling and making out with - and through him, I met a gorgeous young lady who has somehow managed to turn me into a pile of squee.

Oh, and I got interviewed for Leatherati. (it hasn't been posted yet, but when it does, I'll make sure and link it)

I'm trying to dwell on the YAY of the weekend, but I keep having regrets... the "aw man, I totally should have..." syndrome. I totally should have:
*taken even longer getting my friend out of his chaps
*made more attempts to play
*eaten more/healthier so I wouldn't be so damn exhausted all weekend
*given the cute girl my number so maybe I could have maybe pounced on her before she flew back home
etc etc etc.

My next big trip - hopefully - will be to ILSb in July. So far, airfare prices are being shitty and not cooperating with my (low!) level of restraint at putting a ticket on my credit card. Yes, me, Mr. Irresponsible Spender (Especially If I Might Get Laid In The Process) thinks they are too expensive.

This coming weekend, I'm headed to my Leather family reunion: Tribal Fire in Oklahoma City. IMsL and TF are my two favorite events, and they really couldn't be more different. IMsL is very capital-Q Queer, TF skews more het/pan (but that's most everything in this part of the world). Definitely not as much eye candy at Tribal. But, Tribal Fire seriously feels like walking into a big, kinky hug. It's also the 1 year anniversary of my collaring - and my induction into Mama's Family. So Tribal Fire will always hold a dear place in my heart.

This year is the 10th anniversary of TF, so they've invited some of the folks who have presented over the past 9 years to come back and teach again. So the lineup is pretty stacked with some awesome people. I can't wait.

I can't believe it's been since October that I updated over here. I'd say that I haven't had anything to write about, but I'm pretty sure that's bullshit. A lot has happened over the past few months.

I ended up moving from President to Webmaster in my Club. I was up for both spots during the election, but lost the Presidency by 1 vote. Part of me was upset about it... well, no. a lot of me. I don't like losing. But I have to assume that what happens is what is supposed to happen. Webmaster is definitely a lot less intense than being el presidente. I don't have to lead meetings, I don't have to do a lot of communication on behalf of the Club, etc etc.

So I should have a lot less on my plate, right?

You DO know me, right? ha. I've somehow ended up on the board of another event happening here in Tulsa this September. I'll probably end up being DesignDude/Webmaster(ish) for them, as well as using my connections & friendships to help get the word out about the event. I've been trying to wrangle up folks to present as well. I've also been helping out some other friends with their website for an event this weekend.

I'll also be doing the design stuff for OML this year. Our other graphic design skilled member has taken a step back due to his involvement with some other groups. So I'm kind of the lone man.

In two weeks I'll get to do something I've never done before... judge a Leather contest! I was asked to be a judge for the Tulsa Mr. Leather contest and of course I accepted. I had been toying with the idea of running for TML, but decided judging sounded like a better gig.

Sadly, nothing exciting to report on the relationship/sexxytimes front. Lots of crushes though.

A friend of mine told me today, "you know, you really should update [your blog] more."

Since I try to be a good boy, I'm doing just that. ha.

I've survived 3 different Leather/kink events in the past month and a half, two of which were only 2 days apart. For the other one, I was the event coordinator. I am a little on the exhausted side.

I've been feeling a weird mixture of burnt out and left out lately. The burnout I completely understand, I've been head-first active pretty much non-stop for the past 3 years. And Left Out might not be the most precise way for me to explain how I'm feeling. I really like my local community & my local peeps. I've made some good friends. But being the only (out) transguy in a sea of cis-gendered cis-sexual folks gets rough. Especially when none of them are particularly interested in pursuing any sort of physical/sexual relationship.

Maybe I can call it "weird fish/small pond" syndrome. I'm not too big for the pond, in fact, the pond and I are a great fit in a lot of ways. For the most part, everything is good. I am just tired of not having any date possibilities. A boy needs to get laid sometimes.

So I'm starting to try and formulate a plan. It's definitely in its infancy right now, but I'm thinking about moving. Moving somewhere where there are new and different opportunities. I'm also thinking of stepping back a bit from the Club, taking a less high-profile position on the executive board, and trying to chill some for this coming year. Maybe work on organizing community events - bar nights, etc. I need to have more fun and less stress in my life.

things & stuff & i am bad at writing titles.

I have a busy couple of months ahead of me. I'm kind of looking forward to it. The contest weekend I'm heading up is a little over a month away. In the meantime, I'm attending 2 events - a local event next weekend, and then the following Monday I fly out to DC to spend time with someone I have an awesome connection with & also go to my first Dark Odyssey event.

It's going to be an interesting one, I think. I'm going to be in service to her for the entire time I'm out there. I am a little rusty at that, so I need to find my good boy hat and make sure it's packed and ready to go. We've been doing a little long-distance service stuff: I made up a spreadsheet for her/my schedule for the week and a list of stuff we are taking to the event.

The local event is going to be a lot of fun too. 4 of my favorite people are going to be there - my Sir & his pup, and a couple fantastic folks that I just got to see a couple weeks ago at another event in Wichita. I'm hoping to finagle a playdate with them but we'll see if I'm actually brave enough. I haven't gotten to play in quite some time. Of course, I have a couple dates lined up at DO....

My contest is revving up. Most of the Big Things are taken care of, it's just the little shit that you don't think of until the last minute that's getting to me. That, and money. We have been kind of lackluster with the fundraising this year, so I'm hoping our next one goes really well. I'm going to be out of town for it, which is stressing me out a little. Mostly because I am feeling really overprotective about everything having to do with the Club, and it's hard for me to let go and trust that it's going to get done - and be done in a way that I'd like.

If all goes the way I hope, though, it should be an awesome night. We're coordinating with the bar to have a CODE night. No restricted entry for folks who show up in their civvies, but gear/fetish/leather/etc is highly encouraged. and I think the bar might be making a CODE only section, but I'm not 100% sure.

I'm working on some ideas to try and get some of my local community more out and about. Last month I organized a DIY leather bar crawl, which actually had a pretty good turnout. We did it on a Friday night, and we had probably 30-40 people at the first bar. It fizzled a little as the evening went on, but I was still pretty pleased with it. I may try and do another one and hopefully get the word out a little more.... I really only advertised via fetlife, facebook and a little word-of-mouth.

I'm also talking with the DJ at the Eagle on having a dress code night. I think it's silly that we need a reason to show up in leather/gear/etc but half the time when I go out to the bird, most of the people there are in flip-flops and abercrombie shirts. Which, yknow, we're a small town so if it was only a Leather bar it would probably fizzle and die pretty quickly. But I like seeing my fellow leathermen and women in their gear. So hopefully that will pan out.

We have a couple local events coming up too, one in September with some awesome presenters, and my Club's contest in October which I still have a lot to work on in the next couple of months.

I am tired of feeling distant and underwhelmed by the local community, though. I definitely feel like the odd man out most of the time, being a queer trans guy in a city full of het/pan players, gay gay gay men, and lesbians.

It's been a while since I updated here. Not for lack of activity... just motivation, I suppose.

I ended up going to IML after all. It was fun, but a little overwhelming. I think if I had been staying at the host hotel, I would've been even more overwhelmed. But I stayed with my ladyfriend and her Master at their apartment, so we had a little respite from the Leather Craziness. I think that IML is just too big of an event for me. The leather market was awesome, and the eye candy was nice... but I think, unless I'm competing (ha ha) I will probably not make the trip to IML again.

The contest itself though was pretty awesome, and I am so thrilled about Tyler taking home the sash.

I am somewhat of an emotional masochist - I can't help reading comments on articles where I know there are going to be obnoxious/uninformed/bigoted comments. I do it a lot with the local paper, and for the first couple of weeks after IML I was actively searching for writings on Tyler's win. There have been a lot of of them, that's for sure. Some positive, some negative, some ambivalent. Thankfully the prevailing theme has been "let's see what he does with the title before we condemn him outright."

The next weekend I went to our local pride. It was stupidly hot outside... I think the heat index was in the 100s. I honestly did not have a very fun time. I've been feeling really disconnected to the local community. I know a lot of people, but I don't feel like I have a lot of friends. I ended up spending a lot of the afternoon alone, sitting and people watching. I bailed on marching in the parade because it was hot and I was feeling crabby.

Things are starting to gear up for my/our contest. It's only 4 months away, and we have a lot to do.