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)

ILSb-ICBB - Day Two

Personal Interview outfit

August 30, 2013 - The day began with a trip to IHOP for breakfast.  It was good and hearty with Eggs Benedict and tea for me, and the Breakfast Sampler for Sir Tatsujin Paris.  Then back to the hotel to update my blog and dress for the personal interview.  All of the contestants were gathering in the same waiting room across the hall from my own hotel room, so I got to see some of my friends, as well as the other bootblacks.  We talked and laughed while waiting and, a few times, had to be shushed by the Den Daddy.  *giggles*  I brought over my chocolate/bacon muffins for people to munch on while they were waiting for their own interviews.  Mine went well and I kept my handshakes of the judges firm.  In fact, Queen Cougar mentioned the strength of my handshake.  I hope it was not TOO strong; I was not trying to crush anyone's hand.  I guess it was my nervousness showing through.

Technical boot outfit

Next, was technical boots at the bootblack stand.  THIS was more like it!  All of us bootblacks relaxed into what we knew so well - working on boots that needed some loving.  I concentrated on my boot and, before I knew it, Sir Greg was calling it down on the five minutes.  I finished up with a minute to spare and felt like I had done a good job.

Outfit for the Technical Interview

Writing down on the "tech form" what I had done was very different.  I had never done this before and I had to mentally repeat the steps I had just taken while working on the boot, and then explain why I did it that way.  This was a good preparation for the next event - Tech Interview.  In this interview, I had to explain verbally to the judges what I had done to my technical boot and why I had done it that way.  There were also some questions about my philosophy on being a bootblack and the differences between various regions in the United States.  I made the judges laugh a couple of times and that has to be a good thing, right?

There was another rehearsal for the night's contest.  For us bootblacks, it was going to be easy: walk through the regional family introductions, then watch the contest.  I can do this!  I am glad we went through the change in outfits at home. It made it so much easier to do when the time actually came.  I love it when a plan comes together.  I loved getting to see some friends between my own contest parts.  I have some awesome Leather friends in this community.

Mama Vi kissing her legal counsel

Sir Khiki in her "happy place"!

During the first night of the actual contest, it was half of the Sirs and boys doing their fantasies, speeches and the jock presentation.  Tomorrow night, the bootblacks enter into the mix with our speeches.  We sat together with Sir Greg and watched, enjoying this part of the contest where we could just observe and be entertained by our fellow contestants. 

Outfit for the first part of the contest.

Sir Tatsujin Paris looking yummy.

ILSb-ICBB - The First Day

ICBB 2013 class, with Ruin (ICBB 2012) and Sir Greg (IMBB 2009)

August 29, 2013 -  The first item on the agenda was the Bootblack Brunch in the hotel restaurant.  I got to meet all of the other bootblack contestants (Kyle, Paul, Philthy Pup, Brooklyn, girl Dale, and Scout), as well as the ICBB handler and helpers (Sir Greg, Lady Minx and Syr Evan).  The joke of the day was when Sir Greg could not recall that Syr Evan was ICBB 2009, which was the same year HE was IMBB.  *grins*  I gave out my gift bags and Paul gave out leather bootblack flags for us to flag bootblack if we wished.  Philthy Pup and Brooklyn immediately ate their chocolate/bacon muffins and said they were good.

Brunch outfit (can't rotate it!)

Sir Greg emphasized that we should be early for each scheduled item on the agenda for the contest to make sure that we were not disqualified.  Where is the White Rabbit and his watch? *giggles*  This is really not a problem for me since I tend to be early to everything.

At the joint meeting of producers, judges and contestants, Jeffrey Payne and others went through what was expected of the contestants (be on time, please!) and it was noted that the Rocky Mountain Leather Sir was withdrawing because of illness.  To support his title Sir, the Rocky Mountain Leather boy also withdrew but they were both remaining for the contest to support the rest of us.  I wanted to cry because it would be so hard to have come so far and not be able to finish the journey.  I hope he is able to recover and continue his Leather life.  We received our event badges and programs.  I was excited and humbled to see all of the ads of support from the Mid-Atlantic Region (THANK YOU SO MUCH!)  Since I had already put in my basket for the silent auction, Sir and I went to the Leather Library to look around and see Mama Vi Johnson. 

We had a rehearsal of the introduction/meet and greet function in the afternoon, which turned out to be just the contestants listening to how things would go smoothly and simply (we all hoped!).  Because it was early, a second rehearsal was cancelled and we just had to show up for the actual event.  I took a nap before the evening events so I would be fresh for my duties as a contestant. 

The Mid-Atlantic Title Family - ready for introductions

Behind the curtain at the stage was so dark I just asked my fellow contestants and contest wranglers to push me in the direction I needed to go.  I was happy to get on the stage and off of it without falling on my face; that would have made keeping my dignity a bit difficult.  *giggles*  We received the No. 8 as Mid-Atlantic Title Family and I received my contestant medallion from Ruin.  Sir Tatsujin Paris said he was not able to take still pictures because of the lack of light but he was able to get a video.  At  the Meet and Greet, I spoke with my judges and even got to spend some time with Sir Khiki.

The last event was the roasting of the 2012 titleholders.  WOW!  It was harsh at times and I wonder if Sir Jack Duke will ever have another date after all of the comments.

My outfit for the Dallas Eagle Roasting