Monday, October 14, 2013

My First Week as Ms SF Leather

After the weekend's fun, I was super excited to get to work as the titleholder.  I can't say I got off to exactly a flying start... but here's the list of leather-related activities from the last week.

  • Tuesday: picked up my vest from Mr. S with the patch on it.  Here I am modeling it - I think it looks GREAT. Do you agree?
  • Wednesday: started this blog.
  • Thursday: set up some temporary business cards - they will do fine until I get to a print shop.
  • Friday: taught Exiles Orientation class with Marilyn, Allison and Judith.  I was terribly overexcited, because this was the first occasion I could wear the title patch even semi-officially.  I think my exuberance helped the Orientation to be even more fun, because it played so well into my role in the skit as the "newbie top".
  • Saturday: attended an open play party at SF Citadel. Nerine and Jessie were there, escorting the Newbie Munch on a guided tour.  It was great to see my "sash mom" (or maybe my big sister?) Nerine, and as well it was fantastic to see such a large queer contingent in attendance. My date was extremely hot!  We reprised our characters from my contest fantasy. Sorry, no pictures from this event, per the Citadel's strict policy. 
  • Still Saturday: attended Black Saturday at the Powerhouse, at the invitation of Big Red (pictured), who was hosting the evening.  This is my sash husband Andy Cross's home bar and event, so I was thrilled to have this be my first official presentation as the new female titleholder.  It was great to meet my sash husband's husband, Carlton.  And I got to hang out with my hot date and watch thrilling demos and super-cute go-go boys.  A fantastic night, and a great end to a fantastic first week as Ms SF Leather!

Friday, October 11, 2013

Titleholder sex

I have been trained that a titleholder's first duty on winning is, if they have a partner or date, to have sex incorporating the title sash or patch. This might involve, for example, having sex lying on top of said item, or spanking / being spanked with it.

As a married person, I think it's a good tradition to have sex right away, so my wife at least has something to remember during the year ahead, when I may often be absent or too tired to, you know...

Anyway, I am pleased to report that we did break in the patch that night. Marilyn says it has amazing super-powers. I said it might have also had something to do with my famous power of endurance. Which did give out eventually, see pic. 





Thursday, October 10, 2013

My speech from the contest

I've been asked to post my speech by some friends who couldn't come to the contest.  Here it is, along with a pic of me delivering it.  It's amazing how few words a person can say in under 90 seconds!


In 1994, I had a conversation with my mother that went something like this:

“Remind me again … why are you going to Toronto?”
“I’m going to a leather conference.“
“A leather conference?  Is that like …  handbags?”
“Er-r-r, no, not exactly… “   Then I explained it to her.  Tactfully …  and not in much detail. 

We never discussed it again.  But she knows that I am here tonight, competing in a “handbag competition”.

Fast forward, to this year’s Pride celebration.  My synagogue is having a booth, for the first time ever.  I can’t sign up for a volunteer shift, because I am already working all day at Leather Alley.  I am not quite ready to explain. So I cop out and just say I have a different commitment.

Then on the Pride Sunday, I drop by the synagogue’s booth, and explain that I am on a break from volunteering at Leather Alley.  No one asks about handbags. Or anything else.  But the best part is – that nothing changes for me at the synagogue!

Coming out is a risk, but I have come to realize that there is a great deal of power in simply being yourself.  Thank you.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

The Ms. SF Leather contest 2013

The Ms. San Francisco Leather contest was decided on Saturday October 5th.  There were three contestants: Beth Bicoastal, Katerina Du Lac, and myself.  
 
The contest weekend kicked off with a Friday evening meet ‘n’ greet at the newly refurbished SF Eagle.  We contestants displayed our baskets of items for auction, sold raffle tickets, and received our contestant numbers.  I got a lesson from Head Judge Daddy Vick Germany on how to sell raffle tickets the “dirty way”, which served me well during the evening.  See what a quick study I was: here I am, measuring Big Red's inseam.
 
 
 
Then on Saturday afternoon, at the Hotel Whitcomb, we had rehearsals for our fantasies, and we were each interviewed by the judging panel.  The judges, apart from Daddy Vick whom I already mentioned, were Tony Hunter, first runner-up for Mr SF Leather 2013; MS SF Leather 2011 Miss Bethie Bee; the incomparable Donna Sachet; and secret judge angel, Women's International Leather Legacy 2013! The contestants were well and truly grilled, if my experience was anything to go by.  I admit I did enjoy the experience – but then, I am well known as a masochist.
 
Doors opened Saturday at 6:30 for the cocktail hour.  Everyone was dressed up in their finest, and looked gorgeous!  The room was packed with hot leathermen and women.  Then at 7:30, the contest started.  As a contestant, I am not the best one to report on this, since I missed a lot what with being backstage changing outfits all evening!  I can tell you that not only did outgoing MS SF Leather Nerine Mechanique receive an official proclamation from the state, Queen Cougar got one too, for her many years of achievement and her 20 year anniversary as Ms SF Leather 1993.  Please correct me if I am wrong, as I didn’t hear the speech.  There was a wonderful parade of colors.  The contestants delivered speeches,


 
were tortured by MCs Darren Bondy and the lovely Miranda, and performed our fantasies.  I especially enjoyed my fantasy ...
 

 
 
Then finally, there was a great tallying of scores and a handing out of awards.  Katerina received the Leather Heart award, the first runner-up was Beth, and I won the title.  Here is a picture of me looking terribly overexcited, with outgoing titleholder Nerine.  Please check her shoes.  I will NOT be filling those!

 
 
If you have ever remotely considered running for a title, I thoroughly recommend Ms SF Leather.  The contest is well organized, and the producers do their best to make the whole process fun.  Which it was, I think for all three of us.  And I am here to tell you that it is possible to win the title in a variety of gender identities, body types, and presentation styles, as long as you are able to represent leatherwomen.
 

 
 
Check out more pictures of the event by Rich Stadtmiller at www.richtrove.com.
 
Ms. SF Leather's website is http://mssfleather.org