The Floating World

August 16-18, 2013 -  This was my first time at The Floating World and I went there to present three classes, one of which was on leather care.  I did very little bootblacking and that was a different experience for me.  Generally speaking, I spend most of my time at an event working at the stand and spreading the love for leather to those who sit in my chair.  However, it was my skills as a presenter that were on display this weekend.  AND, I got to attend some of the workshops!  Whee!  I attended a class called "Sacred Touch Experience" and it was interactive.  Very interesting class and one of the participants revealed that he found me to be an "old soul" who was a "healer in a past life."  The experience of touching someone that I did not know and opening myself to see beyond the outer shell was very informative and I enjoyed it a lot.

I got to attend part of Laura Antoniou's class and bought her latest two books AND she signed them for me.  That was a good time and the participants in her class were lively in their interactions with her. *smiles*

I found that two of my classes were well received - Leather care 101 and Legal Issues for LGBT relationships.  Both classes were small but the participants asked a lot of questions and I believe that they came away from the classes with new information and a need to follow up on what they learned.  I am a happy teacher!

May 17--19, 2013

Last week was, once again, an interesting week medically in our household.  This time it was my foster mother, who has lived with us for the last 10 years and is in her 80s, that had medical issues including acute renal failure.  I was not sure if she would be hospitalized and had to worry about cancelling the plans I had to travel during the weekend.  Eventually, she began to eat and drink again and a trip to the hospital was averted.

Friday, May 17th, was supposed to be my opportunity to present a leather care class to a combination of kinky and vanilla folk through the Touch of Flavor festival.  However, the manager of the venue in Baltimore MD decided that they were not comfortable with the fact that the classes being taught were edgy and sexy and breached the contract entered into by the prior management company with Touch of Flavor producers.  While the case is before the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, the preliminary injunction trying to enforce the contract terms was denied and the producers will fight on for the right to have the festival sometime in the future.  I am certain the breach of contract will result in punishment legally of the management company but it saddens me to see the mainstream folks still trying to step on the civil liberties of those who are not like them.  *sighs*

Saturday, May 18th, Sir drove me to Camp Ramblewood in Darlington, Maryland for NDDS BootCamp V.  I presented a class on leather care, as well as working the cigar social.  We also had the opportunity to sit in on a class on inverted suspensions and came away with some interesting ideas.  I loved the campgrounds, which are amazingly huge, and we took advantage of the time between my class and the cigar social to play in the open dungeon.  I was excited by the thought of a place where a person can play at any time that the dungeon's doors are open and the lights on (as long as there are no classes going on).  Such FUN!  The people attending my class were very interested and asked many questions.  The class was only supposed to be for 90 minutes but we went on for two hours and some of the attendees came to the cigar social to continue with their questions.  I spoke about my charity, B.A.C.A., to those who attended the class and there was talk from some Delaware residents about setting up a chapter in that State since there is no chapter of B.A.C.A. in Delaware.  All agreed that it was a worthy charity and that it was too bad more people did not know of its existence.   YAY for bootblack love!

Sunday, May 19th, I was supposed to go to Asbury Park, New Jersey to help raise funds for Mr. New Jersey Leather 2013 in his send off for IML.  Unfortunately, I was too tired from the cigar social and Sir had to work the day shift anyway.  I hope that the New Jersey Leather community will forgive my inability to help out with this fundraiser.  I will be there for other events, including New Jersey Pride.

Presenting at Black Rose

Last night (April 23, 2013), I taught a class on the legal issues within the LGBT community and how to protect the relationships that do not meet the binary heterosexual "norm" recognized under the legal system in the United States.  I focused specifically on the differences between the state laws in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.  There were handouts and approximately 20 people attended.  In spite of the serious nature of the class, there was laughter and some jokes exchanged.  I enjoyed the banter and the questions posed by the attendees.  I hope that those who attended learned and had as much fun as I did teaching. Yes, this is a part of what I do to serve the community that is different from being a bootblack.  While this class is not a skill  that is part of my Mid-Atlantic Community Bootblack title, I feel that it is an important service to the Leather community.