Title activities report - September 2014

September was a busy month. My step-aside looming, I was determined to get as much out of my last month in the title as possible. I began to realize I would miss my sash. I even slept in it for a few nights....

But I am getting ahead of myself.

• September 7. I had a photo shoot with Morgan from nakedeyephotography.com. I wanted more pictures of myself in the aforementioned sash, and Morgan took some great ones. Here's one of my favorites.
  
• September 12-14. I went with my wife Marilyn to Seattle, for the 25th anniversary of some good friends of ours. The party was fantastic, and we got to celebrate with our friends, meet new people, and reconnect with folks we hadn't seen for ages. We got dressed up and took selfies. And in between the chatting and eating and drinking, we made an appearance at the Cuff for a puppy event. Look at this adorable dog!
  
  
  
  
•  September 16. I went to Joe's Barbershop to get my hair cut, as I do every six weeks or so. Joe's just celebrated its tenth anniversary. My barber, and the proprietor, Joe Gallagher, is a really great guy, and also happens to be International Mr. Leather 1996. He has given me some useful advice, as well as making me look good. Thanks, Joe!
  
• September 18. Folsom Street Fair weekend is upon us! It may be only Thursday but that never stopped anyone from throwing a fabulous event. We got to see a lot of SD Holman's photos from the book Butch: Not Like the Other Girls, at a book launch party. Thanks to the Austin Law Group for hosting these beautiful pictures - and the party.
• September 19. I attended and demoed at The Exiles' meet and greet. In the past we had held our meet and greets for people other than men (our usual demographic), or all women and transpeople, a bit more inclusive. This time we threw caution to the winds and included everyone. Hurrah! Some great guys showed up. The demos were off the hook. Mine was a blast, for sure. Sorry for lack of pictures, but this is a work safe blog. Then I went along to the Queer Leather Happy Hour's 5-year anniversary event at the Armory club. Packed! Amazing crowd of great people. I couldn't stay long because I had a long day on Saturday ...
• September 20. Joined the Golden Gate Guards for their annual Leather Cruise on the bay. Hung out with my wife, my contest producers, and lots of hot leathermen. Then we went to a great party at Alchemy. I didn't have particular plans when I arrived, and ended up involved in some impromptu hijinks. Then I went home to bed because I had a long day on Sunday ...
• September 21. The day of the big fair! We started out going to Donna Sachet's famous annual brunch. It was fabulous. Many titleholders and scene celebrities from near and far were in attendance.Here's my favorite iphone picture from the event.
  
  You can see a lot more pictures from this event at Richtrove.com. Rich Stadtmiller takes tons of great pictures of our community, and his pictures from many, many community events can be found on his site.He is doing a great service to the community. Thanks Rich! 
• Still not even noon yet... After the brunch, we went to the fair. Along with Scott BigRed Farrell, Mr. San Francisco Leather 2014, I got to announce all the titleholders on the main stage. It was awesome fun, and I found out that someone videoed the whole thing and put it on YouTube! Which means you can watch it here if you like.
• Then it was the whole afternoon at the fair. We had a Mama's Family photo by Rich Stadtmiller,
  
  and I stopped in to Mark Chester's studio for a quick snap in the sash.

  

  pic: Mark Chester

  
  

  That evening I went to the Crave! event at the SF Citadel. And some very interesting things transpired. But that, dear reader, is a whole other tale best saved for another time.
• September 22. I completed the work on my new tattoo. Here is a front view of it. I love it! Suzanne at Modern Electric Studio is a genius.
  
  

My title year was almost complete. I did some fun stuff in those last few days. I'll post about it soon. Thanks for reading!

Title activities report - August 2014

I can't believe it's already a new year. I got so very behind on my blog! I'm afraid I was too busy having an absolutely amazing time to tell you about it. I apologize for the delay. Without further ado, here's another episode of my adventures.

• August 2. With my wife Marilyn, I attended the Santa Clara County Leather Association formal leather/uniform dinner. SCCLA is a social and educational leather club serving the San Jose and South Bay area. This was a well-attended and fun evening, with good food, entertainment and a silent auction. It was lovely to see many of the Golden Gate Guards in attendance in their beautiful uniforms. We got to feel virtuous while enjoying ourselves too, because the event was a fundraiser to benefit the St Jude Children's Research Hospital. 
  
• August 3. First of three tattoo sessions with Suzanne Shifflett at Modern Electric Studio. Suzanne has done some amazing work on me. This was just the first session. It looks great here, but wait until you see the shading and color! Keep reading and I will show you more.
  
• August 8-9. I attended the Oregon State Leather contest, produced in Portland, OR by Blackout Leather Productions. I had already planned to go, to attend the step-downs of Mr Oregon State Leather 2013 Bill, Ms Oregon State Leather 2013 Stormy, and Oregon State Bootblack 2013 (also International Ms Bootblack) Dara, but then I was fortunate to be selected to serve as one of the judges for the 2014 contest. I had a great weekend. It was a lot of fun judging alongside Mr. LA Leather 2014 Eric Paul Leue, our head judge American Leatherman 2013 Aaron Duke, and the three outgoing titleholders.
  
  There were no contestants for the Bootblack contest this year, but we had excellent contestants for Mr. and Ms. Oregon State Leather. I am sure the 2014 titleholders, Mr. Sir Steven and Shawna, will do a great job representing Oregon State, Blackout Leather Productions, and their local community.
  
  I was graciously hosted by my new friend Norah, who was my glamorous date for the contest, 
  
  afterward took me to a really fun party, about which I shall say no more (it's a bit like Vegas: what happens there ... stays there), and later taught me a useful new skill. After which, we went geocaching!
• August 22. I had my second tattoo session with Suzanne. We got most of the shading done.
  
• August 23. Attended and co-hosted the joint Ms SF Leather / Exiles beer bust at the SF Eagle,which was an amazing success, in great part thanks to a big turnout from the men's leather community,
  
  
  and then went on to the Mr. and Ms. Alameda County Leather contest. The Alameda County Leather Corps (ACLC) is a a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving the East Bay community. Their stated primary mission is to provide education, fund-raising and fellowship. I have seen the new titleholders, Mr. Alameda County Leather Al Parso and Ms. Alameda County Leather Luna Bear, all over the Bay Area, so I know they are doing a good job of visibly representing their club and community.
  
• Labor Day weekend. The month ended with a bang! With my wife Marilyn, I attended Camp Queer, a long weekend summer-camp-style kinky mountain playground in the hills above Guerneville on the Russian River. Perfect weather, full board accommodation, clothing optional pool, indoor and outdoor play space, and a great variety of lovely people attending. It was so fun! This was not a "sash function" for me by any means, but I did want to give the organizers a shout out here. It was so fun!

August was indeed a busy and fun month. My blog entry for September will include some pictures from the fantastic time I had the whole weekend of Folsom Street Fair. I'll get to that soon... I promise.