Mid-Atlantic Women's Motorcyle Rally

Rocking some sexy hose as a newbie at MAWMR

Temporary tattoo by a facepainter at MAWMR

June 21-23, 2013 - Sir and I drove up to Gettysburg PA for the Mid-Atlantic Women's Motorcycle Rally (MAWMR), which has been held yearly as a fundraiser for local charities involved in breast cancer support.  This year was the first year that Tracey Black, Mid-Atlantic Bootblack 1999, asked another bootblack to help her out with working the event and raising funds.  I asked if it would be okay for me to raise funds for B.A.C.A., as well as the other charities, and she was okay with that.  We ended up raising $419 for HOPE and PinkOut and $145 for B.A.C.A.  The entire weekend resulted in the event raising over $37,000 for breast cancer support, while having a lot of fun.

Tracy and me, ready for Friday dinner

Parade of Lighted Bikes Friday Night.

Many of the bikers included stuffed animals as riders!

It was awesome to be amongst approximately 200 women and their bikes.  I even got to ride as "bitch on back" for the Parade of Chrome.  I brought a pair of black boxers I had snagged from Derrick at the Triple L and wore them with my new leather chaps and a tank top.  We rode about 10 miles and it felt so wonderful to be riding a motorcycle again.  I have missed riding with Sir Tatsujin Paris on his bike.

Trip and I before the Parade of Chrome

I loved being on Trip's bike!

Spike, a very butch veteran, was fun to flirt with and she liked my work on her New Rock boots that she came back with the other two pairs of boots to have me work on them as well.  I also worked on some purple Ariat cowboy boots, which was my first time working on this brand of boot.  I had some Meltonian shoe cream that matched the color exactly!  Then there were the flame boots that needed a lot of love and a bit of repair.  The owner was not ready to give them up.

Final result on the flame boots.

Cbecking the damage

Conditioning the boots

Cleaning some pretty brown cowboy boots.

Cleaning one pair of Spike's New Rock boots

Spike's boots match her name!

Baltimore Pride Parade

Mid-Atlantic 2013 Leather Family on the march.

June 15, 2013 -  Once again, the entire Mid-Atlantic Titleholder Family for 2013 was together for an event.  I had brought the huge Leather Pride flag with me from Philadelphia PA and Sir Hooker gathered enough Leatherfolk to carry it in the parade.  It looked so awesome going down Charles Street behind the titleholders.  I found it interesting to try and march behind the Leather color guard, while waving and throwing beads.  It is a lot harder than it looks from the sidelines!  I had found some rainbow tights at Hot Topic and I wore them in the parade.  I received a lot of compliments on those tights.

Boy David in the color guard.

Ready to march with my beads.

Leather Pride Flag in Baltimore MD. YAY!

Before the parade started.

Jaki and me, sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for the parade to start!

 I was happily surprised to see my son on the sidelines and he even met up with us afterwards and hung out with us.  In fact, I learned later that he had hung around with Hooker & Boys for a while at the Pride Block Party.  I was too tired and went home to rest.

My son is so tall!

Even when he slouches, he towers over me.

My son, Sir Hooker, and boy quinton

Mr. Triple L Contest

June 14, 2013 - I was asked by the owner of the Triple L (Leon's Leather Lounge) in Baltimore, Maryland, if I would work as a bootblack during Baltimore Pride weekend.  On Friday, the Mr. Triple L Contest was held so that the winner could march in the Baltimore Pride parade on Saturday.  This was the second time the contest was being held and there were two contestants, Boy Joe and Pup Billy.  Since this is a new contest, it was really short and the contestants were asked two questions, with two types of gear demonstrated (formal leather and jock strap).  The contest was judged by five members of the Baltimore community and the bar was packed.  The winner and titleholder for 2013 was Pup Billy.

Working on boots prior to the contest.

Working on boots after the contest.

Pup Billy and Boy Joe (waiting for the tally)

Boy Joe, me and Pup Billy, with Sir Robert and Sir Ed behind us.

Philadelphia Pride Parade

June 9, 2013 - Sir and I drove up to Philadelphia so that I could march in the Leather contingent headed by the Philadelphian MC.  I joined with the Keystone Boys of Leather, the New Jersey Amazons, and other titleholders to march in the PRIDE parade.  It was awesome to meet up with Doc (American Leatherwoman and Pittsburgh Leatherwoman 2012) and her Sir, as well as Cowboi Jen and Tina, and so many others.  I was honored to meet James (the Leather Bat man from South Africa!), who came to the US to see how we celebrate PRIDE in here.  The marching music was a lot of fun and I was one of the people who got to carry the huge Leather Pride flag through half of the parade.  It was made for Cowboi Jen by the Leather community in South Africa and we had fun with it: flapping it up and down so folks could run underneath it, as well as rolling a red ball on it from side to side.  The day was nearly perfect for a parade - hot but not sweltering and no rain in sight.  This time, I did not get sunburned!  I guess the 100+ sunscreen worked as advertised. *grins*

Some of the Keystone Boys of Leather.

James from South Africa is next to me! Leather Batman and the Boot Bat.

Doc, boy quinton and me.

Boy Roger of Keystone Boys of Leather.

The Philadelphian MC banner holders. WOOF!

Early in the parade.

The Bootblack Brigade flag in the parade.

Cheering on the crowd.

Marching with boy chris.

Blowing kisses to the crowd.

The Leather Pride flag from South Africa, on display.

Marching down the street with the Leather Pride flag.

Folding up the flag at the end of the parade.

Just before the grandstand!

DC Latino GLBT Pride Fiesta Dance

June 6, 2013 -  I was invited by Jose Gutierrez to attend the Fiesta Dance for DC Latino GLBT Pride and I was happy and proud to do so.  As a Boricua on my father's side, celebrating my heritage is always a pleasure.  Since I knew there would be drag queens in attendance, I did my best to dress up to the occasion, wearing a long gown with sparkly beads on it, slits up both sides to show the legs, and a low cut back to show off my back tattoo.  The title sash went around my neck and the outfit was complete.  Sir came in a nice suit with a purple shirt (as a tilt of the hat to my love of purple!).  I met the local Latino titleholders and even got a  picture with Mr. Latino GLBT Pride for 2012 and 2013, who was a hot young thing!  The Mayor of DC showed up and kicked off the festivities and it is just possible that there will be a picture of me in the Washington Post!  I had a lot of fun, dancing with fellow Latinos and celebrating the inclusive nature of the City of D.C., where even the police officers there for security enjoyed the music and laughter of the GLBT crowd.

Que guapo!

DC Mayor Gray

Jose Gutierrez and me

The volunteers from AIDS Walk.