Pittsburgh Leather Pride Weekend

September 20-22, 2013: Sir Tatsujin Paris, Raquel and I went to Pittsburgh on Friday to spend the weekend enjoying the Leather community, as well as presenting classes on Saturday.  Ann Robertson opened her heart and her home to us, giving us a place to spend Friday and Saturday night (as well as naps between the afternoon and evening events).

Friday night was the Meet & Greet at the Blue Moon bar.  It was a packed house and I loved seeing so many Pittsburgh folks whom I had met in Washington DC and Baltimore, Maryland at prior events.  This is the fourth year for the Pittsburgh Leather & Fetish competition and it was clear that the Leather community in Pittsburgh is growing and excited.

Raquel, me and Nina Love at Blue Moon

At the Meet & Greet Friday night.

Saturday, Raquel and I presented classes at the Blue Moon bar in the afternoon.  I started with Leather Care, trying to cram my years of experience as a bootblack into a 1.5 hour class.  I discovered afterwards that I actually went 2 hours.  Raquel then presented a class on how to be a top, as well as a bottom, while working as a bootblack.  It was an eye-opener to many that a bootblack could be a top and that a scene that is hot and sexy could be incorporated into having leather worked on while a person is wearing it.

Working on Mike's chaps

Sir's cowboy boots

A boot on the chest is a wonderful thing!

Saturday evening, we went to Cattivo for the contest and to be available as bootblacks for anyone who wanted to have their leather worked on.  There were four contestants for Mr. Pittsburgh Leather & Fetish and one contestant for Ms. Pittsburgh Leather & Fetish.  I was amused by the fact that at least two of the male contestants had attended the bootblack classes after their interviews.  Clearly, the draw of leather, as well as bootblacking, is strong in Pittsburgh.

Doc is in the house!

Mike and Ron (OMG is he TALL!)

Instant Minion and her mother (she is awesome!)

Doc and her Sir, and me.

Raquel, Johnny Flex and his boy.

Johnny muffles his boy!

Sir Tatsujin Paris gets into a picture with us!

Sunday morning we all woke up with symptoms of the flu so Sir decided we should just go home and skip the BBQ at the Leather Central which was scheduled for the afternoon.  We arrived home safe and glad to crawl into bed after an amazing weekend.  I look forward to more trips to Pittsburgh PA. Yinz  be safe and have much fun, Pittsburgh Leatherfolk!

Black Rose - Leather Panel

September 17, 2013 -  I was privileged to be part of a panel discussing our Leather journeys with Lady Cherly and Sir Ed Moore.  Being the only s-type in the panel, I was told to sit in the middle of the panel.  Both Lady Cherly and Sir Ed Moore had earned their covers and I felt a bit overwhelmed to be there since my personal Leather journey is still short in comparison to theirs.  It was interesting to learn that there is more heterosexual Leather activity in the West and Mid-West than on the East Coast.  Sir Ed Moore spoke of his decades in the DC gay Leather community (including how he got railroaded into becoming 1995 DC Drummer at the DC Eagle) and his wish to see the various parts of the BDSM and Leather communities come together to strengthen each other and learn from each other.  Lady Cherly talked about the cross-pollination between the gay military and the bikers after WWII.  I tried to bring hope into the discussion by talking about what the bootblacks in the community are doing to preserve Leather history and traditions, as well as crossing various lines to ensure that all persons who wear leather know how to care for it (or to at least come to us bootblacks for such care!).  There was a good crowd for the class and the questions asked were thoughtful and I personally think we could have gone on for hours!

Interlude

September 15, 2013 - Just a quick note to show off the "caveman" flogger that Sir Tatsujin Paris designed and that was built by him and Papa Scott of "Floggers know best", as well as the Mid-Atlantic Community Bootblack 2013 medallion, the ICBB contest medallion, and the ICBB 2013 First Runner-Up medallion.

Sir Tatsujin Paris holding the "Caveman" flogger

The three medallions I have earned in 2013

ILSb-ICBB - Ending of a weekend

September 3, 2013 -- On Sunday, I woke up tired and a bit numb from the "go, go go!" pace of the contest.  The contest itself was over and I had won 1st Runner Up in the ICBB portion.  I looked at the medallion in wonder, knowing that I had worked hard and, while I had not won the ultimate prize, I did my best and held nothing back in my efforts.  I also remained true to myself during the contest - feeding my fellow bootblacks with chocolate/bacon muffins and dark chocolate covered pomegranate drops to keep us all going, and giving hugs and energy where needed.  I am, ultimately and most deeply, Mama Bootblack, a title I have earned over the years and of which I am very proud.

Sir and I went to the Dallas Eagle for "Dallas Alley" in the afternoon and it was so much fun talking to my brothers/sister in the Class of 2013 as we greeted each other while playing the games there and tried to relax.  It was extremely hot and we did not stay very long.  Sir and I needed to pack all of the clothes we had brought so I could change my clothes MANY times during the contest.  *giggles*  We hit the road at about 8:30 p.m. and drove straight through to Baltimore, Maryland.  We did stop for a couple of short naps so he was not so tired that he drove us off the road but we made it in 25 hours.  Not bad at all considering the lightning storm and hard rain that drove us out of Texas.

Today, Sir and I are very tired and sore from a fun-filled weekend.  I will try to be productive but I suspect that I will not accomplish much until tomorrow.  My mind is blurry, as well as my eyes, which I strained a bit during the contest.  Blessings to the maker of eye drops!

ILSb-ICBB - Day 3

Working on the blog in my room.

August 31, 2013:  Today is the day.  I cannot believe they set an 8 a.m. mandatory workshop for the contestants to meet with the 2012 titleholders about their title year.  It was very informative, although a lot of us were yawning and trying to wake up.  I was stunned to learn that Boy Bamm Bamm spent $10K of his own money during his title year traveling to the various regions.  I knew that it would cost a lot of money to travel as a title holder but not that much money.  I will need to plan more fundraisers so I can accomplish the traveling I want to do whether or not I win the title.

Outfit for Open Shine

After the workshop, I went to the bootblack stands to set up my kit for open shine and to work on the mate to my technical boot.  I was supposed to rehearse the Mid-Atlantic fantasy but Sir Robert Bowden decided that he had explained my role well enough that it was not necessary for me to be there since I was involved in an activity for my own title.  He is a very caring Sir!  Ruin was one of my customers and I chose the leather bra \she was wearing with cut outs to work on.  It might have taken a bit longer than necessary to work on it but we were having some fun with it. *evil grin*

I am not sure it was such a bright idea to sequester the contestants from 3 p.m. through the time for us to go on stage to hear who won.  The pups went a bit crazy and were chasing each other and stealing Philthy Pup's squeaky toy.  *giggles*  We did appreciate the dinner that was served buffet style in our area but the staff were not sure what to think when they brought out the food.

Sequestered contestants. (taken by boy quinton)

Sequestered contestants  (taken by boy quinton)

The Mid-Atlantic family fantasy was a lot of fun and I am glad that I was included in it.  Sir Robert had cast boy quinton as a newbie to the scene who did not really understand what he was asking for.  Boy Ivan was the boy in service to Sir Robert and I was his girl.  At the beginning, I stood by his chair, holding his vest, while he played with Boy Ivan.  We noticed boy quinton at the edge of the stage, asking to be a part of the family.  Sir Robert took off his shirt and put on the vest and Boy Ivan brought boy quinton to him.  Sir Robert threw him onto the table and I handed him the caveman flogger (made by Papa Scott of "Floggers know best"  and Sir Tatsujin Paris, who had designed for our own use).  The crowd really liked the flogger when it was used on boy quinton.  Sir Robert gave it back to me and I put it in its case.  There was more play, including wrapping boy quinton's head in saran wrap.  The finale was when Sir Robert shoved boy quinton's head under my skirt.  I went with it and grabbed the chair so I could grind against his face.  The men walked off the stage with boy quinton on a leash; I waited a beat or two and then used the mop I was holding to sweep some of the debris from the playing off of the floor.  There was a lot of laughter at that part. *giggles*

The bootblacks gave their speeches after the intermission and Syr Evan held both my cane and the microphone for me during my speech.  I used eight languages during the speech, including ASL as a part of the introduction.  It was under the two-minute time limit and I did not stumble during the speech.  I feel that I did my best with it and with everything that I did this weekend.

I won First Runner-up and, while I am disappointed, I gave everything I had and left it all on the field.  I had so many wardrobe changes that some people commented positively on it, wondering how I had been able to bring so many clothes.  If Sir Tatsujin Paris had not driven us from Baltimore, it would not have been possible to do.  Thank you, Sir, for your love and support this weekend.  I would not have been able to concentrate on competing as I did without it.

2013 ILSb-ICBB titleholders (Sir George Saltzman, boy Gattor Bate, and Paul William Grosart)