My VD weekend... just gotta share. Avoid if you don't want TMI.

It has been raining here in the Bay Area now for days. And I don't mean that heavy fog that people here tend to mistake for true precipitation. No, it's been really, really raining. And we are all happy about it because maybe, just maybe our area won't be on fire all summer long this year.

Anyway, the only reason I mentioned this is that, as much as we are grateful for the rain, it threatened to mess up our plans for Valentines Day. This year we planned an adventure. Rather than flowers, cards, and candy (which is not in our tightened budget right now or good for us), we decided to take a hike. This was at a place called Bay Point, about 30 minutes from where we live. The hike is about 2.5 miles along a marshy bird sanctuary just inland from the bay. With all the rain, we thought maybe it'd be too muddy. It was and we went anyway. For the entire time we were there, it did not rain a single drop. We walked and hiked (very easy hike) and talked and took wrong turns and got muddy and wet and laughed and we were the only ones out there the entire time. It was wonderful.

We got back to the car and changed shoes and then went to get lunch. Had a wonderful lunch and came home and napped a bit. After we headed out to a club in Oakland for Butch/Femme VD dance. It was not as well attended as we had hoped but we stayed for a little while. I wore size 8 black pencil pants and a sequined, spaghetti strapped top (froze my ass off but I looked good) and black high heels. Z and I danced some. We were just about to leave when some people came in that I have had issues with in the past. Had to play the make-nice, hi-how-are-you game for as long as I could stand it and then we left. It nearly put a damper on our evening and required a little chat when we got home but it turned out okay. (One of the downsides of being poly.)

Sunday came with lots of rain. The Dykes on Bikes ride planned was cancelled so Z and I stayed in bed (except to get required food and coffee every few hours) most of the day.

Begin TMI: 
I have a lovely collection of canes and have used them extensively. However, I've never been on the receiving end and Z has never used them so we spent a few hours "training". OMG it was lovely. We finished up just in time for a nap and then up to get ready for a dinner sponsored by some folks in our M/s community. M/s is Master/slave and it's a lifestyle that is consentual and for the purpose of growth and learning, oh and wonderful pleasure. It has nothing to do with doing anything agains one's will. Anyway, look it up or PM me if you have questions and I'm happy to educate.

Anyway, the dinner was an M/s dinner with the slaves serving and with formal rules. I wore a black lacy hot short sweet outfit and Z was in traditional full leather. I had also spent part of the afternoon cleaning and conditioning Z's chaps and vest. Gawd I love doing that!!!! 

The dinner was very formal, five courses. I got to sit at Z's feet before dinner during the ****tail time (all the slaves did) and didn't have to talk (which was such a relief) and just got to sit and listen (one of the many perks of being the 's'). At dinner, I got to serve Z and eat what my food plan allowed. I had about 3 tablespoons of chicken soup, a few bites of meat, about a tablespoon of mashed potatoes, few bites of root veggies (yum) and two bites of a hard boiled egg. I was quite full. After dinner, the Masters (both men and women by the way) went to the "parlor" while the rest of us slaves (men and woman by the way) hung out in the kitchen and cleaned up. This was where we got to talk and get to know each other. There were about 15 of us in all. It was great.

One of the most amazing things happened. There was a Master there whom I have known for about five years. I've played before with one of her slaves and we've even served on event committees together. She told me after that it wasn't until we were sitting across from each other over dinner that she recognized me. I was astounded.

Highlights: I sat on the floor with my legs curled around me comfortably!!!!! for an hour. I stood and worked in the kitchen for a long time without my back, feet, legs hurting. I felt normal and unselfconscious wearing very little clothing. I moved with grace in my service. Z told me how proud she was of me... of the work I've done to get to this place.

I fell asleep last night very contented... more so than I have in a very long time.

congratulations! it sounds like you had a great time, and thanks for sharing your activities in a caring and thoughtful way. i know a lot of people jump to conclusions.

i love how we stop to appreciate the small things like being able to sit comfortably on the floor. i went to a bowl game and ended up texting everyone i knew that i actually fit in the stadium seat!

sal

Thank Sal. It's a difficult dynamic for most non-leather (and some leather) people to understand because it's so loaded with buttons that get pushed about equality (i.e. feminist, racial, et al.). My belief is that every relationship has a power component. Sometimes it's shared such that it looks equal but it never really is. What we embrace and play with is the beauty in the power exchange. What I give Z is my gift of surrender of my authority (as I'm very dominant in my own nature). And what she gives me is care, guidance, protection. It's a huge trust thing. Neither of us need those things but to have them from ther other is amazing. It's deepened our relationship and required us to really do a lot of inner work. And it's hot and fun too. Hey if we can't have fun and get pleasure, why bother? For some it's role play. We do it 24/7 to varying degrees of formality. Around the house and in our daily, no one would even notice but the energy is there. It's really nice for us to have opportunity to be formal.

I love hearing about how changes in our body effect changes in how we perceive and feel. Sitting in a stadium seat!!! I noticed the last time I went to the movies. I thought they had replaced the seats with wider ones. LOL... nope ass just smaller. It's so great!!! 

I love the way you can write about these things.  There are so many lifestyle choices that work for people.  I have been in past relationships in the D/s world and it can be great.  I too am a dominant control freak in the rest of my life.  I think it often is this way.  There has to be somewhere in your life you can trust someone else to be in control.  I think Powerexchange is very hot.  Just sayin :)

Thank you Barb... I would never presume to convincse others of this way of life but here on the board it feels safe to be out in who I am. I love that about this place. I also have times where I have others in service to me. I just had a boi for over two years. S/he moved away and we've parted ways as far as the D/s goes but are still very close friends. I don't do this long distance. I have both kinds of needs in my life... to serve (Z only) and to be served (open to takers LOL). Actually I've very choosy in my D/s and there has to be a very spiritual element to it. Being that we are poly in our leather, it works well for us both. All needs get met ... well sometimes and with often quite a lot of work. LOL 

there is a wonderful feeling in completely trusting someone fully and just "be" in the moment rather than having to analyze it.  One of my leather brothers has a hard time with that and doesn't enjoy subbing for anyone because he's always thinking about it.  Just let go of that and experience the awesomeness of the experience your Dominant partner is giving you.........there's time for talk and cuddling later :)

You are so right on with this Aaron. For me D/s (whether I'm the D or the s) is about trust. Being the submissive, though means being able to surrender to the trust. As someone who is normally very controlled and disciplined in my everyday life, it feels like a miracle to just let go and be in someone's care. It is only during those times I don't have to think or care or plan or wonder or be afraid that I'm going to do anything wrong. All I need to do is obey and that's easy! Otherwise, I can just be... and it's a wonderful thing.

The one time you can actually sway witht he breeze......letting your Dominant just flow through you since you are an extension of the Dominant at the time........it IS wonderful :)

Exactly. I found myself, when Z was complimented about me in front of me, feeling totally proud... not as much of myself but far more so of Her because of that extension. In a way, it allows me to feel free to feel more. (?) Don't know if that makes sense but I have a feeling you know what I mean. There is no censoring inside because of any hang ups about myself. Because really it's not about me and that is incredibly freeing. And seriously the only opinion that matters in that moment is my Master's and if She is happy with me... well... what else is there! During the compliment it was Her face I was looking at, not the person paying the compliment.

It's an entirely different world... that's for sure.

Look at all these things I didn't know about you LOL!! It's HOT!!!! 

That sounds like an amazing VD weekend!